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Optimising TIAMO Shim Modes for Non-conventional RF Coils at 7T
No full textMotivation: Ultra-high-field MRI is hindered by signal homogeneity issues due to non-uniform B1+ fields. While TIAMO improves image quality by using phase shim pairs, existing methods are incompatible with non-conventional RF coils, which are emerging in UHF imaging.
Goal(s): This study aimed to optimise TIAMO phase shim pairs for non-conventional RF coils to enhance signal homogeneity for UHF-MR.
Approach: We optimised phase shim using B1+ and B1- maps from various custom RF coils, and validated them on a 7T MR scanner.
Results: The optimisation led to significant improvements in image homogeneity, demonstrating the feasibility of extending TIAMO to non-conventional coils.
Impact: This abstract will allow the application of TIAMO on non-conventional RF coils (i.e. coils without a fixed phase increment between adjacent transmit channels) for 7T MR
Integrating temperature into the Arabidopsis circadian system
Get PDFThis review discusses how temperature signals are integrated into the Arabidopsis circadian clock and proposes Temperature-Dependent Alternative Splicing (TDAS) of core clock genes as an additional mechanism to adapt the circadian system to temperature changes. We present examples of TDAS in a range of organisms, pointing towards a conserved mechanism that enables temperature adaptation
Frequency-band estimation of the number of factors
No full textWe introduce consistent estimators for the number of shocks driving large-dimensional dynamic factor models. Our estimator can be applied to single frequencies and specific frequency bands, making it suitable for disentangling shocks affecting dynamic models with a factor model representation. Noticeably, our estimator requires the time-series and cross-section size to diverge simultaneously without any constraint, and it is free of nuisance parameters, such as penalization terms. Our methodology appears ideal for macroeconomic analysis, as one can investigate how many shocks drive the business cycle or the long run, although the applicability of our methods is much wider, given the popularity of GDFMs in economics and finance. Its small-sample performance in simulations is excellent. We apply our estimator to the FRED-QD dataset, finding that the U.S. macroeconomy is driven by two shocks: an inflationary demand shock and a deflationary supply shock. Our methodology permits one to accurately estimate the number of shocks that drive medium-sized DSGE models despite their moderate cross-sectional size
Beyond the classroom: strengthening pupil engagement, attendance and belonging through alternative education and community partnerships
Get PDFSchool attendance is essential for pupils’ success, wellbeing, and future opportunities. In Scotland, post-pandemic absenteeism remains a persistent challenge, especially among young people facing intersecting barriers such as poverty, trauma, or emotional and behavioural difficulties. Re-engaging at-risk pupils requires contextually responsive, relationship-centred approaches that extend beyond the classroom.
This study presents an illuminative evaluation of a 10-week, community-based educational programme developed in partnership with a local boxing and fitness gym. The programme integrated structured physical activity, mentorship and psychoeducational learning grounded in widely used school-based models, aiming to support emotional regulation, belonging, and school re-engagement for pupils aged 11–13. Rather than a formal therapeutic intervention, the programme was framed as a small-scale, place-based response nurturing engagement through educational dialogue and trusted relationships.
Qualitative data from pupils, parents, teachers and community stakeholders was supplemented by descriptive school attendance data, the study explored how participants experienced changes in engagement, behaviour, and wellbeing. Thematic analysis revealed perceived improvements in motivation, self-awareness, and connection across school, home and within the community. Among the seven participating pupils, school attendance increased within a range of 16%- 55% increase during the 10-week program with this trend being maintained 3-month post. These figures are presented descriptively to illustrate patterns of re-engagement. Rather than asserting generalisable outcomes, this paper offers a situated case study of how collaborative educationally grounded community partnerships, can support reconnection in the lives of disengaged pupils. It contributes to ongoing conversations around equity, trauma-informed education, and the potential of alternative spaces to promote inclusion and belonging in post-pandemic schooling
Crowdfunding as an alternative way for women-led SMEs in Scotland to access finance
No full textThis paper explores the potential role of crowdfunding as an alternative financing avenue for women-led Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland. Traditional financing routes are increasingly challenging for women entrepreneurs, who face significant biases and barriers in securing investment. The paper argues that crowdfunding can be a viable alternative financing route for SMEs, with a particular focus on women-led SMEs. This argument is based on research on a project led by the Scottish Women’s Business Centre (WBC) that sought to develop and pilot a crowdfunding platform. The platform used a reward and donation-based crowdfunding model that was tailored to female entrepreneurs. The findings from the project highlight two important insights. First, crowdfunding’s viability as a financing method is underscored by its ability to raise capital and increase business visibility, although this success is heavily dependent on the nature of each business and the effectiveness of its promotional strategies. Second, developing and implementing a crowdfunding platform involves addressing the technical and operational aspects of it. In the project, challenges were encountered, including how to integrate it with existing systems, and the need for careful design of payment processes. These challenges require a business to be flexible in its approach when partaking in crowdfunding, along with robust support from the platform’s technical staff to assist with issues of troubleshooting and managing payment systems
Search for tt¯H/A → tt¯tt¯ production in proton-proton collisions at √s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
Get PDFA search is presented for a heavy scalar (H) or pseudo-scalar (A) predicted by the two-Higgs-doublet models, where the H/A is produced in association with a top-quark pair (tt¯H/A), and with the H/A decaying into a tt¯ pair. The full LHC Run 2 proton–proton collision data collected by the ATLAS experiment is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of fb⁻¹. Events are selected requiring exactly one or two opposite-charge electrons or muons. Data-driven corrections are applied to improve the modelling of the tt¯ +jets background in the regime with high jet and b-jet multiplicities. These include a novel multi-dimensional kinematic reweighting based on a neural network trained using data and simulations. An H/A-mass parameterised graph neural network is trained to optimise the signal-to-background discrimination. In combination with the previous search performed by the ATLAS Collaboration in the multilepton final state, the observed upper limits on the tt¯H/A → tt¯tt¯ production cross-section at 95% confidence level range between 14 fb and 5.0 fb for an H/A with mass between 400 GeV and 1000 GeV, respectively. Assuming that both the H and A contribute to the tt¯tt¯ cross-section, tan β values below 1.7 or 0.7 are excluded for a mass of 400 GeV and 1000 GeV, respectively. The results are also used to constrain a model predicting the pair production of a colour-octet scalar, with the scalar decaying into a tt¯ pair
The ACPGBI AI taskforce report: A mixed-methods roadmap for AI in colorectal surgery
Get PDFThe ACPGBI has commissioned a taskforce to devise a strategy for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into colorectal surgery. This report aims to (i) map current AI adoption amongst UK colorectal surgeons; (ii) evaluate knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and experience of AI technologies; and (iii) establish priority recommendations to drive innovation across the specialty. A prospective 45-item questionnaire was circulated to the ACPGBI membership. Questionnaire findings were explored at a multidisciplinary round table of surgeons, allied professionals, computer scientists and lawyers. Strategic recommendations were then generated. 122 members responded (75.4% consultants; 72.1% male; modal age 41-50 years). Although 43.5% used AI daily, only one third said they could explain key concepts within AI. 86.9% anticipated routine future-AI use, with documentation and imaging ranked highest. 88.5% endorsed formal AI training. Major obstacles were unclear regulation, cost, medicolegal liability and professional or patient distrust. The round table generated 17 recommendations across clinical, educational and research domains and a ten-point action plan, including the establishment of a Colorectal AI Committee and the creation of an open-source colorectal foundational data initiative. This taskforce report combines questionnaire insights from the ACPGBI membership and expert debate into 17 key recommendations and a ten-point action plan that will set the direction of future colorectal AI practice. The objective is to establish a framework through which colorectal surgical practice can be augmented by safe, trustworthy AI
Political parties and democratic deliberation: a symposium
Get PDFDeliberative democracy is used increasingly around the world and experiences relevant public support across several countries. However, political parties remain generally reluctant to engage in deliberation. This symposium explains why some parties engage with deliberative practices whereas others disregard them in several countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. The symposium contributes theoretically to the literature by proposing analytical frameworks that explain parties’ approaches toward deliberative practices. The symposium’s empirical contribution lies in the identification of several variables that have been understudied so far in the research about parties and deliberation, including competition gains, organizational conflicts, and information deficit
Transition towards healthcare ‘net zero’: modelling condition-specific patient travel carbon emission estimations by transport mode in a retrospective population-based cohort study, Greater Glasgow, UK
Get PDFObjectives: To estimate condition-specific patient travel distances and associated carbon emissions across common chronic diseases in routine National Health Service (NHS) care, and to assess the potential carbon savings of modal shifts in transportation.
Design: Retrospective population-based cohort study.
Setting: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Scotland.
Participants: 6599 patients aged 50–55 years at diagnosis, including cardiovascular disease (n=1711), epilepsy (n=1044), cancer (n=716), rheumatoid arthritis (RA; n=172) and a matched control group based on age, sex and area-level deprivation (n=2956).
Main outcome measures: Annual home-to-clinic distances and associated carbon emissions modelled under four transport modes (petrol car, electric car, bus, train) across five time points: 2-year prediagnosis, diagnosis year and 2-year postdiagnosis.
Results: Mean annual travel distances to hospital varied by condition and peaked at diagnosis. Patients with cancer had the highest travel distances (161 km/patient/year for men; 139 km/patient/year for women), followed by RA (approximately 78 km/patient/year). The matched control group travelled <2 km/patient/year on average. Assuming 100% petrol car use, estimated condition-specific emissions ranged from 16.5 kg CO2/patient/year to 8.0 kg CO2/patient/year. Bus travel resulted in intermediate emissions, estimated between 10.5 and 8.0 kg CO2/patient. When travel was modelled using electric vehicles, emissions dropped between 3.5 and 2.7 kg for all conditions. Train travel produced similarly low emissions. Reducing petrol car travel from 100% to 60% lowered emissions up to 6.6 kg CO2/patient.
Conclusions: Condition-specific estimates of healthcare-related travel emissions provide baseline understanding of the opportunities and challenges for decarbonising healthcare. Emission reduction is most achievable through modal shift, yet such shifts depend on factors beyond NHS control—such as transport infrastructure, digital access and social equity. Multisectoral strategies, including targeted telemedicine and integrated transport and urban planning, are critical to achieving net-zero healthcare while maintaining equitable access to care
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