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Parametric amplification in imperfect capacitive ring-based MEMS gyroscopes using quadratic electrostatic nonlinearity
Get PDFIn this paper quadratic electrostatic forces are used to apply tunable parametric excitation to enhance rate-sensitivity in imperfect capacitive ring-based Coriolis Vibrating Gyroscopes (CVG) subjected to electrostatic nonlinearity. Using a mathematical model, implementation is achieved by selecting electrode configurations capable of decoupling the drive, tuning and parametric excitation whilst achieving ideal device performance. For a 16 electrode device operating in the í µí± = 2 in-plane mode it is shown that parametric excitation can be generated by applying a harmonic pump voltage with spatial distributions of í µí± í µí± = 3, 5, 11 or 13. For í µí± í µí± = 3, conditions are obtained for the pump voltage amplitude and phase to achieve nonlinear frequency balancing to trim the CVG at a chosen operating amplitude whilst amplifying the rate output and sensitivity. It is found that the level of imperfection and electrostatic nonlinearity modify the required pump voltage phase, and the phase changes as the pump voltage amplitude is increased to enhance parametric amplification. It is also shown that large pump voltage amplitudes desensitise the rate sensitivity gain to the effects of imperfection. Theoretical results are presented to demonstrate enhanced rate sensitivity, and are validated against results obtained using the finite element method. Results are also presented to investigate the effect of mechanical damping on non-resonant coupling and the pump voltage needed to enhance rate sensitivity gain
Identification of significant SNPs and the quantification of correlation using genomic informational field theory (GIFT)
Get PDFGiven data on genotypes and phenotypes from a sample population, we show how ordering the data by phenotype and analysing the information contained in the corresponding list of genotypes can identify those SNPs which have a significant correlation with phenotype. We derive formulae for p-values to quantify the significance of each SNP, and show how to analyse the correlations between different SNPs. As well as using classical covariance and correlations, we introduce an information-theoretic measure of correlation which is based on Shannon's informational entropy. This variational formulation also gives rise to other ways of determining the strength of a SNP's influence on phenotype in a biallelic population using 'field' functions which account for the relationship between phenotype and genotype. By computing this field for each SNP, we are able to quantify the correlations between SNPs. The results are shown to depend on the number of each genostate (aa, Aa and AA) in the population in a predictable manner. The methods are illustrated using data on horse height
A rapid geometry reconstruction method for automated dry fibre placement (ADFP) preforms using real-time manufacturing data
Get PDFThis paper introduces a rapid geometry reconstruction technique designed to capture variability in real time during Automated Dry Fibre Placement (ADFP). The approach supports enhanced quality control, facilitates downstream process and structural modelling, and enables the creation of a digital product passport for in-service monitoring and proactive maintenance. By integrating laser scanning and machine motion data collected during fibre deposition, the method generates detailed computer-aided design (CAD) models with solid representations of individual tapes.Demonstration panels are produced using a laboratory-scale ADFP machine and subsequently infused with liquid resin. The accuracy of the reconstructed geometries was validated through optical microscopy, revealing tape width measurement errors within 2.5 %. Positional and angular deviations of the deposited tapes were constrained to ±1 mm and ±2°, respectively. These deviations were predominantly concentrated within the initial ∼180 mm of each course, attributed to insufficient tape tension at the onset of deposition.In-plane shear testing reveals a direct correlation between the digitally identified gaps and overlaps and the localised strain variations measured via digital image correlation. Although these defects have minimal impact on the in-plane shear modulus, they are shown to significantly influence premature failure and reduce the ultimate shear strength of the composite. Notably, gaps of up to 5 mm in width were observed, corresponding to a decrease in ultimate strength of up to 13 %
International clinical opinion on transparency, standardisation, and calibration alignment in the performance evaluation of systems for continuous glucose monitoring
No full textContinuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is now central to diabetes management, yet variation in how respective medical products are evaluated limits meaningful comparison between CGM systems. Three barriers currently constrain reliable interpretation of glucose-derived measures. The first is limited transparency: in several regulatory settings, particularly those using Conformité Européenne marking, clinical-study reports, reference-method information and analytical documentation required for market authorisation are not publicly accessible. The second barrier is heterogeneity in study procedures. Existing evaluations use different reference-glucose methods, sampling strategies, glucose-manipulation protocols and participant characteristics, leading to accuracy estimates that cannot be interpreted consistently across systems. The third barrier is calibration alignment. Even with full transparency and aligned procedures, CGM systems may differ because their calibration algorithms are trained on distinct reference-glucose datasets, influencing reported glucose ranges, automated insulin-delivery behaviour and interpretation during device transitions. A modified Delphi process involving clinicians, laboratory scientists, and researchers identified these issues as the principal determinants of comparability. During this process, the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine released a validated framework for performance evaluation of CGM systems, providing a unified approach to reference-method selection, dynamic in-clinic testing, and structured reporting. Adoption would reduce procedural variability but does not resolve calibration-alignment differences. This international clinical opinion proposes a pathway towards internationally interpretable CGM evaluation: immediate transparency of clinical evidence, routine declaration of calibration alignment, and progressive adoption of validated standardised procedures. These steps provide a foundation for reliable interpretation and globally comparable assessment of CGM technologies
A mass conservation model to study the evolution of coastal soft cliffs driven by sea level rise over multi-century timescales
No full textSoft cliffed coasts are particularly vulnerable to erosion and their retreat depends on environmental, geological and geomechanical factors. In this work, we use a mathematical modelling approach to understand effects of future global sea level rise on these coasts over multiple centuries. We develop a simple mass conservation model, equating mate rial eroded from a cliff to the sediment required for foreshore adaptation to sea level rise. The model considers geological differences between cliff and beach sediment, variable and uncertain rates of sea level rise, and the complex inland topography a cliff may erode through. The model is solved analytically, and long-term behaviours discussed, including conditions for an equilibrium recession rate or a change in coastal typology. Methods for obtaining estimates of model parameters are detailed and an application of the depth of closure concept to multi-century timescales proposed. The model is applied to the Holderness coast, United Kingdom. It predicts an acceleration of cliff retreat due to rising sea levels over the next centuries, though local topographical features may cause temporary deceleration. No long-term equilibrium behaviour is identified. The study also estimates that vulnerable locations along this coast will experience a change in coastal typology within the next few hundred years. These findings highlight the importance of inland topography in determining an eroding cliffed coast’s resilience to sea level rise. We propose that the relative sea level rise corresponding to typology change should be used as an indicator of cliff resilience to sea level rise, instead of current cliff height
Modelling speed and inter-race intervals to assess post-race recovery in racing greyhounds
Get PDFThe recovery of greyhounds post-race has important welfare implications, primarily to avoid over-running and prevent greyhounds with subclinical injuries from racing. Both situations could reasonably be expected to reduce speed, which may be identified by comparing the successive race performances of individual greyhounds. The focus of this analysis was on reportedly sound greyhounds. Thus, the hypothesis was that changes in speed could be linked with the inter-race intervals, and that shorter inter-race intervals would compromise glycogen restoration and therefore affect performance in subsequent races. A dataset contained 206,686 runs made by 12,883 reportedly sound GBGB-licenced greyhounds and was analysed using multilevel (mixed effects) models. Speed was slightly elevated above baseline from two days between races and declined over increasing inter-race periods up to 12 days between races. Inter-race intervals of two or more days had no biologically significant effects and were less than the normal variations in speed. Due to an absence of data for one day between races, this period could not be modelled. The findings are consistent with the fact that glycogen stores are normally restored by two days after fast exercise, and a ruling that greyhounds should not race more frequently than every fourth day is reasonable and would include greyhounds which might take slightly longer to recover. Performance depression after four days’ rest might suggest a subclinical injury. Expanded datasets are required to determine the effect of a one-day gap between races
The Use of Portfolios for Leadership Preparation for Aspiring Principals: A Swedish Case Study
No full textThis study explores the use of portfolios in preparing aspiring principals in Sweden. Forty postgraduate students used portfolios to document course content, reflections, and observations, assessed on themes like leadership, governance, and quality monitoring. Analysis showed strong foundational knowledge but limited development in reflection and practical application. Gender comparisons revealed minimal differences overall, though men reflected more on leadership, while women focused on resource management. The findings highlight portfolios’ value as both assessment and reflective tools, suggesting a need to enhance curriculum elements that support deeper reflection and real-world application in leadership education
Automated quantification of mesenteric hyperaemia in Crohn’s disease using time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography
No full textBackground: Mesenteric hypervascularity (“comb sign”) reflects active inflammation in Crohn’s disease (CD) but is judged qualitatively on cross-sectional imaging. Despite its clinical relevance, no objective, quantitative MRI-based measures exist to assess this feature. This study aims to develop and evaluate an automated, contrast-free time-of-flight MR angiography (ToF-MRA) method for quantifying mesenteric vascularity in CD by comparing these measurements with healthy controls and assess the method’s repeatability and susceptibility to confounding by adiposity or prior bowel resection surgery. Methods: Twenty-three patients with active CD and seventeen healthy controls underwent abdominal ToF-MRA scans. A fully automated pipeline was developed to segment mesenteric vessels on 18 rotating maximum-intensity projections, skeletonised vessels, and count branching points to compute an Arborisation Index. Secondary analyses included a BMI-matched sub-cohort, a prior-resection comparison, and associations with BMI and visceral adipose tissue from Dixon MRI scans. Repeatability was assessed using repeated scans acquired during the same visit. Results: The Arborisation Index was higher in CD patients than in healthy controls (122.7 ± 37.1 vs. 98.4 ± 24.6; p = 0.02; d = 0.7) and this difference persisted in 10 BMI-matched pairs (145 ± 36 vs. 103 ± 24; p = 0.008; d = 1.4). Prior bowel resection (n = 11) did not influence the measure (p = 0.42). Short-term repeatability was good, with coefficients of variation of 8.9 ± 6% in CD and 8.5 ± 5% in controls. The Arborisation Index showed no significant correlation with BMI or visceral adipose volume. Conclusion: The Arborisation Index demonstrated significant group-level differences between CD patients and healthy controls, showed good short-term repeatability, and appears technically robust to adiposity and surgical history. Larger longitudinal studies are required to establish its biological meaning, clinical relevance, and responsiveness to inflammatory activity
When time matters: generalization gradients in delay and trace conditioning procedures
No full textTwo online experiments investigated whether the weakening of cue-outcome temporal contiguity impacts generalization gradients. Participants experienced strong temporal contiguity (the offset of a cue coincides with the onset an outcome) or weak temporal contiguity (there is a temporal gap between the offset of a cue and the onset of an outcome) in a continuous predictive learning task. Initial training involved a double negative discrimination, in which there was one reinforced cue (aqua-color rectangle) and two non-reinforced cues (one greener and one bluer than the reinforced cue), and participants had to make a response whenever they predicted the outcome. After training, in the generalization test phase, outcome expectancy in the presence of several stimuli along the full green-blue dimension was tested. Outcome expectancy was assessed with discrete ratings in Experiment 1 (n=252) and a behavioral dependent measure (button presses, similar to the training phase) in Experiment 2 (n=250). Regardless of the type of measure, when participants experienced weak cue-outcome temporal contiguity they showed a broader generalization response, although differences were more prominent in the green side of the color dimension. Furthermore, no significant differences emerged between the two groups experiencing strong temporal contiguity but differing in cue duration (controlling stimulus onset asynchrony, SOA), suggesting that cue-outcome temporal contiguity plays a more critical role than cue duration in shaping generalization. Overall, this result advances our understanding of the role of temporal contiguity at a basic level, while opening the possibility to study it as a critical factor in more applied settings
Multidisciplinary meeting for breast cancer care: EUSOMA recommendations for optimization
Get PDFIntroduction: In breast cancer care multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs) are fundamental. Recently, the increasing number of patients, the complexity of cancer treatments, the shortages of specialists, and constrained hospital budgets have underscored the urgency of optimizing MDM processes to ensure that every patient benefits from thorough and timely multidisciplinary evaluation. Material and methods: The European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) set up a multidisciplinary working group of international experts to develop consensus-based recommendations to optimize MDM management. To obtain insights into the current state of MDM organization and management within Europe and elsewhere, the experts designed and conducted an international survey. Results: Briefly, the survey showed that most centres held a weekly MDM, either in person, online or combining the modalities, which lasted for 1−2 h. Discussion times for each case varied with its complexity. Some differences emerged between European and non- European breast cancer centres. The recommendations for improving MDM management focused on: i) timing, venue, logistics, administrative support; ii) technologies/equipment; iii) documentation; iv) planning and preparation; v) structure; vi) minutes/reporting; and viii) other issues. Conclusion: Optimizing MDM ensures that each patient receives the most appropriate, guideline-aligned treatment, tailored to individual needs. With the present recommendations, EUSOMA wishes to support breast centres in improving and standardizing MDM management
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