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Capacitated Facility Location Problem under Uncertainty with Service Level Constraints
Get PDFClassic facility location models often assume customer demands to be deterministic, although real-world demand is usually uncertain, especially in long-term strategic planning. While stochastic programming models are widely used to address uncertainty, the default approach of ensuring that the facility capacities are met at all times, i.e., for every scenario, can sometimes produce overly conservative solutions. This paper presents a novel stochastic programming model that incorporates a range of service level restrictions that allow demand to be unsatisfied with a certain probability and up to a certain amount. Concerning the former, we use two α-service level constraints, a well-known local and a new global constraint, while the latter is controlled through two β-service level constraints that take the expected value and the maximum value of the excess demand into account. The service levels are incorporated in the stochastic programming model using chance constraints. To solve the model’s deterministic equivalent, we implement a Benders’ decomposition and a modified sample average approximation algorithm with concentration sets. We carry out experiments on randomly generated data sets and a real-world inspired case study in Scotland to compare the performance of models with different service level combinations, as well as with the classical penalty model
From nations to regions:Electoral volatility in European multi-level politics
Get PDFEuropean politics has experienced increasing turbulence, with much focus on the volatility of national elections. However, it remains unclear whether such instability extends to the sub-national level. This article investigates patterns of electoral instability in regional elections and their relationship with volatility at the national level. Drawing on a quantitative analysis of approximately 500 regional elections across 58 regions in four Western European countries, it disaggregates regional volatility into its territorial components and examines processes of political regeneration, marked by the rise of new parties challenging established ones. The findings show that regional elections often mirror the volatile dynamics observed nationally. However, this link weakens in sub-national systems dominated by regionalist parties, characterised by stronger meso-level institutions and higher levels of regional economic prosperity. These results highlight the importance of territorial context in shaping manifestations of electoral instability and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of multi-level party system change
Knowledge cues to human origins facilitate self-disclosure during interactions with chatbots
Get PDFChatbots are emerging as a self-management tool for supporting mental health, appearing across commercial and healthcare settings. Whilst chatbots are valued for their perceived lack of judgement, they lack the emotional intelligence and empathy to build trust and rapport with users. A resulting debate questions whether chatbots facilitate or hinder self-disclosure. This study presents a within-subjects experimental design investigating the parameters of self-disclosure in social interactions with chatbots in an open domain. Participants engaged in two short social interactions with two chatbots: one with the knowledge they were conversing with a chatbot and one with the false belief they were conversing with a human. A significant difference was found across both treatments, with participants disclosing more to the chatbot that was introduced as a human, as well as perceiving themselves to do so, perceiving this chatbot as more comforting, and to be demonstrating higher rates of agency and experience compared to the chatbot that was introduced as a chatbot. However, significant findings also indicated participants’ disclosures to the chatbot that was introduced as a chatbot were more sentimental, and they found it to be friendlier compared to the chatbot that was introduced as a human. These results indicate that whilst cues to a chatbot’s human origins enhance self-disclosure and perceptions of mind, when the artificial agent is perceived against one’s social expectations, it may be viewed negatively on social factors that require higher cognitive processing
Disclosure of intimate partner violence among gay and bisexual men:A narrative inquiry
Get PDFThis study explored the barriers and facilitators experienced by gay and bisexual men (GBM) in Scotland when recognising, help seeking and disclosing intimate partner violence (IPV). Using a narrative inquiry approach, we conducted in depth interviews with 10 GBM survivors to understand their lived experiences of IPV and the influences on accessing support. Participants described IPV as multifaceted, encompassing coercive control, psychological, physical, sexual, and financial abuse, often normalised or overlooked due to societal stigmas and heteronormative frameworks. A three-level framework emerged from the analysis, identifying barriers and facilitators in IPV recognition, help-seeking, and systemic service responses. Key findings revealed the invisibility of GBM IPV within dominant social and service narratives, fears of judgment or misrecognition during help-seeking, and a lack of tailored, culturally safe support. Facilitators of disclosure included GBM affirming environments, empathetic professionals, and accessible pathways, particularly in sexual health clinics. The study underscores the urgent need for services to adopt inclusive practices, improve professional training, and integrate GBM-specific support frameworks. These findings contribute to addressing critical gaps in IPV responses, advancing culturally safe interventions for GBM survivors within Scotland and beyond
'This Toll Must be Paid at Koblenz':Merchants and the 'Feudal Revolution' in the eleventh-century Rhineland
Get PDFCoinfection affects the phenotypic but not genetic resistance of cattle to common parasites
Get PDFBackgroundGenetic variation in host resistance to individual parasites is well documented in cattle; however, the influence of coinfection on these genetic responses to selection remains poorly characterized. In particular, it is unclear how concurrent exposure to multiple parasite species alters phenotypic expression, heritability estimates, or genetic correlations between resistance traits. To address these gaps, we evaluated the impact of coinfection on the genetic architecture of parasite resistance in yearling Nellore calves naturally challenged with ectoparasites (ticks) and endoparasites (gastrointestinal nematodes and Eimeria spp.). Using longitudinal parasite count data, we estimated genetic parameters and examined how coinfection modifies both individual parasite resistance and the genetic correlations among traits.ResultsOur results confirmed that coinfection is a common phenomenon (almost ¾ of samples contained multiple parasites) and that resistance to individual parasites is a heritable trait. Furthermore, coinfection with Eimeria spp. reduced the phenotypic resistance to nematodes, and vice versa. We observed diverse genetic associations for resistance to different parasites, including positive, negative, and nonsignificant correlations. Notably, coinfection had no significant effect on genetic resistance to individual parasites, nor did it alter genetic variances or associations between resistance to different parasites.ConclusionsWhile coinfection may influence the outcomes of nongenetic parasite control programs, its impact on genetic control strategies appears minimal. In other words, genetic resistance of Nellore cattle to three key parasite species appears to be robust and unaffected by the presence of coinfection.<br/
Towards a Digital Twin of a Proprietary Hydraulic System: Energy Consumption Optimisation
Get PDFFastBlade is a facility featuring a proprietary hydraulic system, capable of recovering energy in fatigue tests of tidal turbine blades. However, both the energy consumption and the output quality greatly rely on the loading frequency, due to the system’s parasitic losses, energy recovery, and flowrate limitations. Therefore, the aim of this work is to propose a digital twin (DT) model leveraging real-time system monitoring to assure (1) high-accuracy, repeatable actuation parameters, and (2) optimised energy consumption. Therefore, fatigue tests at different frequencies are carried out, where process capability indices (PCIs) are used as an indication of the output quality, and the energy consumption is evaluated. PCI values show that increasing test frequency results in poorer output adherence to the desired values. The energy consumption analysis shows that adjusting frequency can result in energy savings exceeding 90%. The results are used to design a DT, where the maintenance of satisfactory PCI values is prioritised through closed-loop frequency control. Provided that satisfactory outputs are delivered, frequency is adjusted to minimise energy consumption. A mathematical model is developed based on historic energy consumption data, and is used to provide an estimate of the projected energy usage at all stages of a test. Extending the range of tested parameters, as well as using actual energy measurements to update the model online are presented as future work
Occupational and environmental livestock exposures are associated with alterations in the upper respiratory tract microbiome
Get PDFLivestock farm emissions have been linked to respiratory health, potentially mediated through alterations in the respiratory microbiota. We investigated the associations between occupational and environmental livestock farm exposures and changes in the upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiome. Nasopharyngeal (NP) and oropharyngeal (OP) swabs were collected from goat farmers (91 NP and 96 OP samples) and rural residents (956 NP and 954 OP samples), and microbial community composition was characterised using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. First, we compared the respiratory microbiome of goat farmers and residents to assess the effects of occupational exposure. Next, we evaluated how varying levels of environmental livestock exposure influenced the microbiome of rural residents. Goat farmers exhibited higher NP microbial diversity but lower OP diversity compared to the residents. NP samples from farmers had higher relative abundances of the genera Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas and Jeotgalicoccus, and lower abundances of Corynebacterium, Lawsonella and Nocardioides. In the OP of goat farmers, Rothia was the most significantly increased genus. Residential exposure levels - assessed through livestock density (pigs, cattle, poultry, and goats) and modelled livestock-related microbial emissions - were not associated with overall microbiome diversity or composition. However, increasing livestock exposure was associated with subtle taxonomic shifts, particularly in the NP. Our findings highlight the pronounced influence of occupational exposure on the URT microbiome and the more subtle effects of environmental exposure, both of which may have implications for respiratory health.</p
Tackle characteristics and suspected concussion:Recommendations to improve high school girls' rugby tackle safety
Get PDFObjectives To evaluate the association between tackle characteristics and suspected concussion among Canadian high school girls' rugby union players. Methods A case-control video-analysis study was used to examine the association between a priori tackle characteristics (eg, type, height, head position) and suspected concussion. For every concussive tackle event, six non-concussive tackle events were matched for game and team. Penalised logistic regression was used to estimate ORs with 95% CIs for concussion given tackle characteristics. Results 33 concussive tackle events, including 38 concussions, were identified. 20 were ball carrier concussions (53%). 261 (228 non-concussive, 33 concussive) tackle events, including 632 individual tackler and ball carrier instances, were coded. All ball carrier head contact intensity types were associated with concussion compared with no head contact. A trip tackle type (OR: 4.41, 95% CI 1.25 to 15.61), illegal tackle type (OR: 4.41, 95% CI 2.67 to 7.29), deceleration (OR: 14.03, 95% CI 4.65 to 42.30) and no change of speed (OR: 18.81, 95% CI 10.04 to 35.24) increased concussion odds for ball carriers. A tap (OR: 10.64, 95% CI 2.00 to 56.62) and trip tackle type (OR: 5.91, 95% CI 3.18 to 10.99), two (OR: 3.38, 95% CI 1.13 to 10.07) or three (OR: 13.91, 95% CI 1.74 to 111.53) tacklers within the event, and a head-down position (OR: 40.54, 95% CI 27.78 to 59.18) increased concussion odds for tacklers. Higher tackler contact on ball carrier (tackle height) increased concussion odds for ball carrier (reference: knee-to-upper-leg; waist-to-sternum OR: 2.27, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.80; sternum-to-armpit OR: 5.65, 95% CI 1.40 to 22.87) and tacklers (sternum-to-armpit OR: 4.20, 95% CI 1.26 to 14.03). Conclusion Numerous tackle characteristics were associated with ball carrier and tackler concussion. This is the first study to identify tackle height on ball carrier as a risk factor for concussion in girls' rugby. Future directions should consider tackle training programmes and lower tackle height as potential concussion prevention solutions.</p
Experience of uncertainty in prostate cancer:A qualitative study
Get PDFBackground: Prostate cancer is characterised by significant uncertainty, yet men’s lived experiences of uncertainty in this context remain underexplored. Existing research has primarily focused on uncertainty related to informational needs, the pre-treatment phase, or men under active observation. Little attention has been paid to uncertainty that extends beyond informational gaps or affects those who have undergone active treatment. Objective: This study aimed to address this gap by exploring how men experience uncertainty throughout the prostate cancer journey. Gaining such insight is essential for informing more holistic and responsive care. Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 men diagnosed with prostate cancer who were either undergoing or had completed active treatment. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four overarching themes were developed: (1) Aspects of uncertainty, including ambiguity around the cancer trajectory, interpersonal relationships, and the future; (2) Initial responses to uncertainty, including emotional distress and avoidant behaviours; (3) Managing uncertainty, including strategies used to cope and adapt; and (4) Posttraumatic growth, highlighting positive changes attributed to navigating prostate cancer and its uncertainty. Conclusions: Uncertainty is a pervasive and enduring aspect of the prostate cancer experience, extending beyond diagnosis into treatment and survivorship. It complicates psychological adjustment and calls for adaptive management. Support interventions should address not only informational, but also emotional and relational dimensions of uncertainty, promoting openness and acceptance, perspective-taking, values-driven living, and dyadic adjustment
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