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The split two-layer cartilage-perichondrium underlay technique for tympanoplasty: surgical and functional outcome in 108 adult patients
No full textObjective:
The success of tympanoplasty is mainly defined by the post-operative integrity of the tympanic membrane, as well as the absence of any need for further operating. Among the factors affecting the outcome, the surgical grafting technique is still a matter of debate. Our aim is to report the results of the split two-layer cartilage–perichondrium technique.
Methods:
We carried out a retrospective study of 108 consecutive adult patients undergoing myringoplasty, assessing both surgical and audiological outcomes of the split two-layer cartilage–perichondrium technique, including primary and revision cases.
Results:
Complete perforation closure was observed in 97/108 (89.7 per cent) of the cases; 101/108 (93.5 per cent) had no need for further intervention. Failures were observed only in cases with total perforations without any differences between primary and revision cases. The average air–bone gap improved from 29.75 dB pre-operatively to 5.8 dB post-operatively.
Conclusion:
The results indicate high success rates of the technique with failures occurring only in total perforations
Forum theatre for reconciliation: a drama-based approach to conflict transformation applied to socio-environmental struggles in Bolivia
Get PDFThis paper examines how participatory theatre methods can be used to foster reconciliation and conduct research in communities affected by socio-environmental conflicts. We design and pilot a distinctive drama-based approach to conflict transformation that we call Forum Theatre for Reconciliation (FTR). The method furthers embodied intersubjective understanding as well as a critical analysis of structural causes of conflict. We discuss this approach applied to low-intensity communal conflicts linked to extreme wildfires in Bolivia, where fires exacerbate tensions between different communities and result in (sometimes) violent confrontation and polarising discourse. We identify three key innovations of this peacebuilding approach: rehumanising the Self and Other, co-creating complex and inclusive narratives of conflict, and devising collective response across different perspectives and experiences
The significance of the Citizens Theatre paint frames
Get PDFA paint frame is the vertical structure on which a canvas is hung to allow a scenic artist to paint over a very large area. The Citizens Theatre paint frames are one of the few original working examples in Britain. Samples taken from these frames are made up of multiple layers of paint which have accreted over 100 years as paint flicked off brushes, rollers, and latterly spray guns while the cloths were being painted. Cross-section microscopy, micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR) mapping and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) were used to characterise these layers. Using the results in combination with archival research into scenic art suppliers/manufacturers, newspaper reviews of theatrical performances, and oral histories of scenic artists it has been possible for the first time to relate change in pigments and media within the paint layers with trends in scenic painting practice. This is one aim of ongoing research into the history of British scenic art (https://powertotransform.gla.ac.uk/) connecting the material history of the paint frame, theatrical cloths, and the lives of the scenic painters
Polyaniline/Ta2C MXene nanocomposites for electromagnetic noise reduction
Get PDFMXene-based nanocomposites are potential candidates to meet the escalating challenges posed by EMI and radiation. Despite the promising characteristics of MXene, the synthesis of flexible and long-term stable polymer-MXene nanocomposites with exceptional EMI shielding is considerably challenging. This study investigates novel PANI/Ta2C MXene nanocomposites for EMI shielding. Chemically synthesised PANI/Ta2C MXene nanocomposites are characterized, and their flexible free-standing films are prepared. PANI/Ta2C MXene nanocomposites demonstrate synergistic behaviour to shield EMI superior to either component. A free-standing film of PANI/Ta2C nanocomposite I exhibits an excellent shielding efficiency of 58 dB over a frequency range from 7 to 13 GHz, which corresponds to 99.999% shielding effectiveness and specific shielding performance (SSE) as high as 580 dB/mm. These ultra-thin, lightweight and flexible free-standing films may find application in next-generation EMI shielding solutions for wearable technology, electronic packaging, and aerospace applications
Translanguaging art: Artists’ engagements with languaging in multilingual and migratory contexts
No full textGlobalization of capital flows and the (in)disciplining of nations
Get PDFWe analyze whether the threat of capital flight “disciplines” governments and improves governance. Our findings show that the globalization of capital flows influences governance through two competing channels. When a government effectively manages domestic governance, it seeks to minimize exposure to sudden capital flight driven by external factors. In contrast, when a government fails to manage domestic governance, the threat of capital flight can impose discipline, improving governance and welfare by placing the country in a “golden straitjacket”—the disciplining effect. However, capital flight may also negatively affect governance quality. As a result, this paper proposes a novel and qualified role for modest capital controls. Finally, we present evidence consistent with the predictions of our theoretical framework
Temporal Triadic Closure: Finding Dense Substructures in Social Networks That Evolve Over Time
Get PDFA graph G is c-closed if every two vertices with at least c common neighbors are adjacent to each other. This definition is an abstraction of the triadic closure property exhibited by many real-world social networks, namely, friends of friends tend to be friends themselves. Social networks, however, are often temporal rather than static---the connections change over a period of time. And hence temporal graphs, rather than static graphs, are often better suited to model social networks. Motivated by this, we introduce a definition of temporal c-closed graphs, in which if two vertices u and v have at least c common neighbors during a short interval of time, then u and v are adjacent to each other around that time. Our pilot experiments show that several real-world temporal networks are c-closed for rather small values of c. We also study the computational problems of enumerating maximal cliques and other dense subgraphs in temporal c-closed graphs. A clique in a temporal graph is a subgraph that lasts for a certain period of time, during which every possible edge in the subgraph becomes active often enough; other dense subgraphs are defined similarly. We bound the number of such maximal dense subgraphs in a temporal c-closed graph that evolves slowly, and thus show that the corresponding enumeration problems admit efficient algorithms; by slow evolution, we mean that between consecutive time-steps, the local change in adjacencies remains small. Our work also adds to a growing body of literature on defining suitable structural parameters for temporal graphs that can be leveraged to design efficient algorithms
Bringing MacKay up to date using geographic information systems: a case study for the city of Glasgow
Get PDFLike many cities worldwide, Glasgow is striving to reduce carbon emissions and create a just transition to net zero. Work is underway to develop a route map for the city, setting out the potential pathways to net zero. To do this, a thorough understanding of the current and future energy demands of the city, the availability of low-carbon energy resources, and long-term sustainability indicators is crucial. This paper considers all of these and sets out a novel approach using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to overcome the difficulties of working with several disparate datasets to draw a coherent portrait at both city and sub-city levels and provide spatial visualization of the results, addressing a common limitation in broader energy studies. Energy demand is projected forward to the year 2045 assuming a full and just energy transition takes place and compared to low-carbon energy supply opportunities throughout the city, thereby helping to identify strategic decarbonization priorities and challenges in local neighborhoods. The relevance of the output to current policy and planning is highlighted, and gaps in current plans revealed. The analysis conducted can be replicated for other cities in Scotland using the same data sources, and other cities worldwide where the relevant data exists
FinPersona: An LLM-Driven Conversational Agent for Personalized Financial Advising
No full textConversational financial assistance is gaining increasing attention as a subdomain within the broader field of conversational AI, attracting interest from both the AI and finance communities. The application of conversational agents in finances is a particularly challenging subfield to explore, as financial scenarios require personalization and emotional support, especially during periods of market turmoil. In this paper, we present FinPersona, a Large Language Model (LLM)-driven conversational agent for personalized financial advising. FinPersona enables a non-expert user to explore investment options through conversation and dialogue driven by knowledge of the individual user and their circumstances. Through FinPersona, we aim to illustrate the salient features of a working prototype, as well as raise awareness of the many challenges unique to the financial domain. A video demonstration of the system is available at: https://youtu.be/tvJAYEg73R
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