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Climate-resilient housing features in rental housing: Linking tenant satisfaction with rental premiums for retrofit decisions
No full textMeeting net-zero targets and adapting to climate change requires substantial investments in retrofitting the existing housing stock with climate-resilient features. In rental housing, which lags substantially behind owner-occupied housing in terms of sustainability investments, it remains unclear whether the features that enhance tenants’ quality of life under changing climatic conditions also translate into rent premiums. This paper examines whether climate-resilient housing features (defined as features that enhance energy, water, and thermal performance of housing in response to climatic variability and energy insecurity) differ in their effects on housing satisfaction versus rental value. Understanding the potential trade‑off is essential to unlock further sustainability-related investments in rental housing. Using the 2022 Australian housing conditions dataset and multilevel mixed models, we find that climate-resilient housing features are more closely associated with housing satisfaction than with rent. Among the eight features studied, only outdoor shutters/awnings and double-glazed windows have ‘rent premiums’ of 2.5% and 3.7%, respectively, while also positively influencing housing satisfaction. Solar panels were significant only in the base rental model. Three other features (i.e., charging stations for electric vehicles, ceiling and wall insulation, and solar panels) positively influence satisfaction but are unrelated to rents. We discuss the implications of our findings for housing retrofit, sustainability investments, and housing policy
Efficacy of a personalised alcohol approach bias modification smartphone app in people accessing outpatient alcohol use disorder treatment: A randomised controlled trial
No full textBACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that delivering approach bias modification (ApBM) during residential alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment helps prevent post-treatment relapse. However, few studies have examined ApBM's efficacy for AUD in outpatients. We trialled a personalised ApBM smartphone app in individuals receiving outpatient AUD treatment. DESIGN: This double-blind RCT randomised participants to receive ApBM or sham training, adjunctive to treatment as usual. SETTING: Participants were recruited from alcohol and other drug treatment services in Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 79 participants (mean age 46.6 years; 45 male, 34 female) installed the app between May 2022 and January 2024. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: In the ApBM condition, the app delivered personalised, gamified ApBM. Notifications prompted participants (n = 39) to complete 2 ApBM sessions weekly for 4 weeks. The control version prompted participants (n = 40) to complete a weekly sham-training task for 4 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was number of standard drinks (10 g pure alcohol) consumed in week 4 of the intervention period, self-reported in the app. Secondary outcomes included past-week standard drinks at 8-week and 16-week follow-ups, past-week drinking days, past-week heavy drinking days (HDDs; days when ≥5 standard drinks were consumed) and questionnaire measures of AUD severity, quality of life and alcohol craving. Primary analyses followed an intention-to-treat (ITT) approach, with secondary complete-case sensitivity analyses also conducted for all outcomes. FINDINGS: Groups did not statistically significantly differ in the primary outcome [values from ITT negative binomial model: ApBM = 75.49 standard drinks, control = 71.34 standard drinks, difference = 4.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -42.37 to 50.69, P = 0.859]. Most analyses of secondary outcomes showed statistically non-significant effects, with the only exception being past-week standard drinks at the 16-week follow-up, where ApBM participants showed statistically significantly larger decreases than controls in past-week standard drinks (reduction of 14.6, relative to baseline, versus 2.1 in controls; interaction β = -12.53, 95% CI = -23.85 to -1.22; P = 0.030). Time x group interaction effects were statistically non-significant for all other secondary outcomes (Ps > 0.069). CONCLUSIONS: A smartphone app using approach bias modification showed no evidence for reducing alcohol use among alcohol use disorder outpatients after 4 weeks, or evidence for effects on most secondary outcomes, although 16-week follow-up results suggested that approach bias modification may have facilitated delayed/longer-term reductions in alcohol use
Transforming research with quantum computing
No full textQuantum computing is a novel method of computation that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to handle highly challenging situations in a very short amount of time. Quantum technology has the ability to significantly impact worldwide advancement, even prior to the complete deployment of quantum machines. Quantum technology for communication, computation, and sensors has the capacity to revolutionise many industries, and several nations are making investments in this promising field. This includes research investments from both the public and commercial sectors. This article delves into the recent quantum computing advancements and the potential opportunities made possible by quantum technology in the next few decades. We outline a vision and scientific innovation for embracing the quantum age, as well as explore the pioneering applications of quantum computing. We also highlight software tools and platforms for quantum programming to unlock the power of computing and revolutionize the world. Finally, we identify the groundbreaking impacts of quantum computing on next-generation research and discuss the benefits of unleashing its revolutionary capabilities
A fixed brain seeded amplification assay to complement neuropathological prion disease diagnosis
No full textPrion diseases are rare neurodegenerative disorders that share misfolding of the normal cellular prion protein into disease-causing isoforms known as "prions" as the critical pathophysiological event. Definite diagnosis can only be achieved through neuropathological confirmation. The neuropathological features of prion disease are well described; however, some molecular subtypes are typified by characteristic neuropathological features that are subtle or absent. Prion seeding assays have excellent specificity and have considerably improved premortem diagnostic accuracy but they have reduced sensitivity for some uncommon prion disease molecular subtypes. We developed a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue-based prion seeding assay to serve as a complementary diagnostic tool for prion diseases. Fixed brain tissue was prepared through an optimized process involving careful defacing of tissue blocks prior to sampling and then stepwise deparaffinization and homogenization. Fixed tissue homogenates are then tested in an adapted version of a diagnostic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) prion seeding assay, which utilizes full-length recombinant hamster prion protein as substrate. Two examples illustrate the utility of the assay by confirming prion seeding in fixed brain tissue from previously neuropathologically misdiagnosed obligate carriers of 2 different prion protein gene mutations. The importance of careful tissue sampling to rigorously maintain the diagnostic specificity of this assay is also highlighted
More parks, more justice? Unpacking distributional and recognitional justice in Shanghai’s urban greening policies
No full textUrban greening is increasingly promoted in global cities, but justice concerns in green planning are largely framed through Western experiences, with limited attention to non-Western planning contexts. This study examined justice-related issues in Shanghai’s greening policies by applying a “4A” approach that analyses four key dimensions of urban park provision: adequacy, availability, accessibility, and attractiveness. Based on policy documents and 38 interviews with planning stakeholders, the findings reveal limited integration of justice despite significant progress in greening. Park planning prioritises quantitative targets and spatial parity, with little attention paid to social diversity and the specific needs of vulnerable groups. Local contextual factors, such as multilevel governance divergence, development stages, regulatory constraints, and growth-driven narratives, collectively influence justice integration in green planning. This paper proposes a multidimensional framework linking justice dimensions, planning requirements, and local contextual conditions. By offering empirical insights from a non-Western, state-led planning context, it contributes to global environmental justice debates. The study calls for a shift from supply-driven approaches to justice-oriented planning that actively recognises and responds to diverse social needs
Beyond Neural Connections: Using Strathern to Explore Knowledge-making at the Intersections of the Social and Neurosciences
No full textThis article considers how Marilyn Strathern’s work on Western knowledge conventions can usefully contribute to debates at the intersection of the social and neurosciences: first, to understanding the nature of work at this intersection; and second, to providing new avenues for interdisciplinary engagement. The neuroscience explosion in the 1990s and the early twenty-first century held out the promise of understanding increasingly complex phenomena in terms of the brain. As the neurosciences ventured into questions of human sociality, social scientists found it difficult to make meaningful contributions within the confines of conventional models of neuroscientific work. This highlighted the need for conceptual and methodological innovation. In this article, we illustrate how Strathern’s concept of the merographic connection, which conceptualizes the link between overlapping parts belonging to separate wholes, is a useful frame for thinking about the shared objects of the social and neurosciences. We show how her consideration of analogy as an apparatus bringing different domains together assists in understanding work in this area. With social science experiments in working with neuroscientists ongoing, Strathern’s work encourages precision about what is being brought into relationship in interdisciplinary encounters and prompts innovative thinking about what might productively be brought into association
Authoritarian collaboration and repression in the digital age: balancing foreign direct investment and control in internet infrastructure
No full textControlling the digital public sphere has become an important factor of authoritarianism in the twenty-first century. Authoritarian states are reluctant to accept foreign direct investment (FDI) in their internet infrastructure. However, expanding internet infrastructure is expensive, often necessitating FDI. We argue that investment from other autocracies allows incumbent dictators to provide internet access and use it for repressive purposes. Specifically, we contend that the more repressive an authoritarian regime is offline, the higher the share of FDI from other autocracies; and the more FDI from other autocracies, the less FDI prevents the internet from being used for online repression. We analyse how the level of offline repression predicts different ownership structures of internet service providers (ISPs) in authoritarian African countries, and use a difference-in-differences estimator to test how FDI from autocracies affects online repression. Using data from the Telecommunications Ownership and Control dataset, we find a positive relationship between levels of repression and share of FDI from autocracies; if at least one ISP is owned by a foreign-autocratic investor, authoritarian regimes can expand repression online. Our study provides new insights into how authoritarian collaboration enables autocracies both to accept FDI in internet infrastructure and to leverage it for repressive ends
A 5-marker immunohistochemical panel of CK17, MEP1A, PAX8, SMAD4, and CDX2 to distinguish ovarian mucinous carcinoma from metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
No full textAIMS: Metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), albeit uncommon, may involve the ovary, and distinction from primary ovarian mucinous tumours (OMT) poses a diagnostic challenge. Our aim was to develop an ancillary immunohistochemical (IHC) panel to aid in diagnosis and to validate the morphological features of metastatic PDAC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six IHC markers (CDX2, CK17, MEP1A, MUC2, PAX8, SMAD4) selected based on a literature review were stained on tissue microarrays containing 256 PDAC, 102 mucinous ovarian carcinomas (MC) and 58 mucinous borderline ovarian tumours (MBOT). Detailed morphological features were reviewed in 16 ovarian metastases from PDAC, 25 MC, and 9 MBOT. We confirmed that tumours with a size less than 13 cm, bilaterality, ovarian surface involvement, low-power nodularity, infiltrative invasion, pseudomyxoma ovarii despite cystadenoma or borderline areas, and moderate nuclear atypia should raise suspicion for metastatic PDAC and prompt evaluation with the recommended IHC panel. A 5-marker panel consisting of CK17, MEP1A, PAX8, SMAD4, and CDX2 had an overall accuracy of 91.8% (95% CI 88.8%-94.3%) using recursive partitioning, with the highest weight resting on CK17. CK17 was expressed in 80.9% of PDAC compared to 18.6% of MC and 1.7% of MBOT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first ancillary IHC panel to distinguish between PDAC and OMT with high accuracy. These results inform further studies on diagnostic workflows tailored to the complexity of metastatic presentations of tumours at the ovary
Understanding eye care access for autistic adults and families: A convergent mixed-methods study
No full textAutistic people face persistent barriers to accessing healthcare, yet little is known about their experiences receiving eye care, despite elevated rates of vision conditions. This convergent mixed-methods study explored the eye care experiences of 127 autistic adults and 69 parents of autistic children living in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Through an online survey incorporating both structured and open-ended items, we examined access patterns, perceived barriers and enablers, and unmet needs. Quantitative data revealed widespread challenges, including sensory discomfort, communication difficulties, and financial costs, while qualitative responses foregrounded how provider interaction, clinical pacing, and environmental conditions shaped overall experience. Although participants valued clearer communication and sensory-informed adjustments, these were described as insufficient in the face of structural barriers such as affordability and inaccessible service locations. These findings align with emerging models of autism-informed healthcare that advocate for systemic, rather than ad hoc, approaches to accessibility. Our results underscore the need for proactive, cross-sector solutions developed in partnership with autistic people, which embed neurodiversity-affirming principles into eye care design, delivery, and policy. Addressing these inequities is both an ethical and practical imperative if we are to ensure that eye care services are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to diverse ways of being.Lay abstractAutistic people often face barriers when using healthcare services, but little is known about their experiences with eye care. This is important because autistic people are more likely to have vision problems like needing glasses, having a lazy eye, or having trouble with how their eyes work together. In this study, we asked 127 autistic adults and 69 parents of autistic children in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand about their experiences receiving eye care. People completed an online survey that included multiple-choice questions and space to describe their experiences in their own words. Many participants said that eye care could be stressful or confusing. Common challenges included unclear instructions, bright lights, noisy environments, feeling rushed, and staff not understanding autism. Some people avoided going to eye care professionals altogether because they could not afford glasses or found the environment too overwhelming. Participants said that small changes like using plain language, giving more time, and creating a calm environment helped make care more accessible. However, these small changes were not always enough, especially when services were too expensive or hard to get to. To improve access to eye care, changes need to happen at all levels, including how clinics are designed and how staff are trained. These changes should be made together with autistic people to make sure that services meet their needs and feel respectful and welcoming. This study shows the need to redesign eye care so that it works better for autistic people and their families
Augmenting Neural Networks With Time-Varying Weights
No full textABSTRACT
In the macroeconomic forecasting community, there is increasing interest in machine learning methods that can extract nonlinear predictive content from large datasets with a high number of predictors. Meanwhile, time‐varying parameter (TVP) models are known to flexibly model time series by allowing regression coefficients to vary over time. This paper generalizes neural networks to allow for time variation of the weights of the final layer. The variance components of the time‐varying weights are estimated alongside the fixed network weights via an EM algorithm. The result is the time‐varying neural network (TVNN), a fully supervised, nonlinear model, which combines the desirable properties of classical econometric approaches with the predictive capacity of neural networks. The TVNN model yields improved forecasts over similarly tuned feedforward neural networks with fixed weights, recurrent network architectures, and benchmark autoregressive models on time series from the popular FRED‐MD database