(r, k, ε)-anonymization: Privacy-preserving data publishing algorithm based on multi-dimensional outlier detection, k-anonymity, and ε-differential privacy

In recent years, there has been a tremendous rise in both the volume and variety of big data, providing enormous potential benefits to businesses that seek to utilize consumer experiences for research or commercial purposes. The general data protection regulation (GDPR) implementation, on the other hand, has introduced extensive control over the use of individuals’ personal information and placed many limits. Data anonymization technologies have become an important solution for businesses trying to generate value from data while adhering to GDPR limitations. To address these challenges, researchers have developed various methods, including k-anonymity and ε -differential privacy, offering solutions for both industry and academia. However, protecting individuals’ privacy against diverse attack attempts presents significant challenges for anonymization models that rely solely on a single technique, highlighting the need for more adaptable and hybrid approaches. In this study, a new hybrid anonymization algorithm called (r, k, ε )-anonymization has been proposed, which combines k-anonymity and ε -differential privacy models in a consistent framework and provides stronger privacy guarantees compared to existing privacy-preserving models. The proposed algorithm is capable of overcoming well-known shortcomings of the k-anonymity and ε -differential privacy models, and it has been confirmed by extensive tests on real-world datasets. The proposed (r, k, ε )-anonymization algorithm outperforms k-anonymity and ε -differential privacy in terms of the average error rate measure, achieving data utility increases of 31.74% and 26.99%, respectively

Value-based outcome evaluation methods used by occupational therapists in primary care: a scoping review

Objective: This scoping review aimed to map how occupational therapists are evaluating the outcomes of services they provide within primary care. This evidence has been considered in relation to how identified outcome evaluation methods align to principles of value-based healthcare. Introduction: Primary care services are experiencing unprecedented demands and occupational therapy is an allied health profession supporting health and care provision in primary care, using a timely and proactive approach. There has been a notable increase in occupational therapy roles across primary care services in the last decade, however the mechanisms used to evaluate outcomes and the wider impact of these services remain under researched. Value-based healthcare, a global transformative approach, has ambitions to establish better health outcomes for individuals and communities through addressing value in system wide care. However, it is not yet clear how evaluation methods used within occupational therapy align to the principles of a value-based agenda. Inclusion criteria: Peer reviewed journal articles and gray literature written in the English language were included to identify outcome evaluation methods being used by occupational therapists to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of occupational therapy services provided in primary care. Outcome evaluation methods used exclusively for the purpose of conducting research and not capturing data within an occupational therapy primary care setting as part of routine clinical practice were excluded. Methods: This review, undertaken during June and July 2022 used JBI scoping review methodology and included from their earliest dates of availability until date of search, sources from; Cochrane, MEDLINE via Ovid, Embase via Ovid, CINAHL via EBSCOhost, Scopus, AMED and Web of science electronic databases and gray literature. Two reviewers extracted data and were supported by use of a template. Findings have been mapped using a framework developed on value-based healthcare key principles. Results: From 2396 articles, 16 eligible studies were included in the review. Of these nine were quantitative and seven were of mixed method design. Occupational therapy services represented were mainly heterogeneous and presented from seven countries. Four services were part of multidisciplinary programmes of care and 12 were providing occupational therapy specific services. Identified outcome evaluation methods broadly aligned to principles of value-based healthcare, with most alignment noted for measures evidencing the aim of establishing better health. A wide range of evaluation methods were described to address both individual and service level outcomes with the use of patient reported outcome measures identified in 13 studies. To capture patient experience, most studies reported doing this in a variety of ways whilst the aim of reducing the per capita cost of healthcare was least represented in the literature. Conclusion: This scoping review has highlighted a multifaceted but inconsistent approach to measuring the outcomes of occupational therapy provided in primary care. This has implications for establishing effectiveness and capturing data at scale to assist with wider planning of care and to enable the profession to evidence its contribution to value-based healthcare

Graphics processor unit accelerated design of multimode interference reflectors

A modified three-part algorithm based on extracting effective scattering matrix parameters is presented for the design of multimode interference reflectors. In contrast to previous work, each stage of the suggested simulation strategy is completed in the frequency domain. We demonstrate that this new approach is able to calculate the reflectivity of a multimode interference reflector across a 2D parameter space 7.2 times faster than a standard GPU accelerated three-part simulation and over 68 times faster than a typical CPU implementation

Stress‐induced hyperphagia? Characterising the activity of the ghrelin axis in male rats with high anxiety behaviour

While evidence is emerging that the temporal pattern of feeding may influence anxiety, it is unclear to what extent anxiety may itself impact spontaneous feeding behaviour. To address this, we have quantified spontaneous feeding, ghrelin secretion and adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) in male low (LAB) and high (HAB) anxiety‐behaviour rats. LAB and HAB rats showed the expected anxiogenic profile in the elevated plus‐maze, HAB rats avoiding the open arms entirely. A 16% reduction in total food intake in HAB rats (p = .017) was due to a 35% reduction in light phase food consumption (p = .004). However, there were no significant changes in the number or duration of individual feeding events, and the 24‐h feeding profile remained largely unaltered. Although basal circulating ghrelin was comparable in HAB and LAB rats, the 57% elevation in circulating ghrelin induced by a 24‐h fast in LAB rats (p = .022) was completely abolished in HAB rats. In comparison with adult LAB rats, the number of newborn neurones (BrdU+/NeuN+) in the dentate gyrus of HAB rats was elevated by 68% and 103% in the sub‐granular zone and granule cell layer, respectively (p = .0004 and p < .0001), these increases being observed across the rostro‐caudal extent of the hippocampus. In contrast, the number of newborn non‐neuronal (BrdU+/NeuN−) cells was unaltered. Thus, even in the context of the marked anxiety in HAB rats, mild hypophagia occurs without significant alteration in feeding patterns. Despite a blunting of fasting‐induced ghrelin release, elevated AHN suggests an appropriate feedback response to the increased anxiety‐related behaviour

The influence of viscoelasticity on the dynamics of encapsulated microbubbles near a rigid surface forced by ultrasound

The dynamics of thin-shell encapsulated microbubbles (EMBs) in viscoelastic fluids forced by ultrasound are investigated in this paper. EMBs, which are gas-filled microbubbles encased in a stiff albumin or flexible lipid shell, have been shown to improve the performance of biomedical procedures such as ultrasound contrast imaging and sonoporation. To gain computationally efficient initial insights, the flow is assumed irrotational and axisymmetric, and is solved via the boundary element method. The viscoelastic fluid is modelled using the Oldroyd B model with both the fluid and the properties of the shell accounted for through the dynamic boundary condition at the bubble surface. A large bubble shell thickness is found to have a significant stabilising effect on the bubble, markedly reducing bubble deformation and response to the ultrasound pulse. For realistic ultrasound and biological fluid parameters, shell properties appear to dominate over fluid rheology. Although at lower shell thicknesses the dynamics are governed by a competition between viscous, elastic and inertial forces. A larger response is observed for lower frequency ultrasound and for pressure amplitudes typical to sonoporation, large translational movement in the direction of the pulse is predicted as well as deformation and the potential for bubble fragmentation. The model and quantitative insights herein have the potential to form the basis of a low-cost computational tool useful for EMB design, fabrication and characterisation in the near future

What is known about the design, delivery and implementation of mental capacity training in care homes?: a scoping review

To provide high-quality care to people living in care homes, it is crucial that care home staff possess the knowledge and skills necessary to apply the principles of mental capacity legislation. In order to achieve this, training must be delivered and implemented. This review aimed to identify what is known about the design, delivery and implementation of mental capacity-related education and training in care homes. A scoping review was conducted in line with Joanna Briggs Institute guidance, and reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. A total of 3055 records were retrieved by the search and independently screened by two reviewers. A total of 14 papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Results were synthesised and mapped to the TIDieR checklist. The results highlighted two key factors. Firstly, a standardised one-size-fits-all approach to mental capacity legislation training fails to take account of the diverse needs of both care home residents and staff. Secondly, understanding the relationships between these domains can help overcome barriers and enhance facilitators, leading to more effective training outcomes. The review highlights a knowledge gap, with limited research considering the design and delivery of mental capacity related training. This limits the development of consistent and effective training across the sector. Future research should consider issues of diversity among care home staff or residents, to ensure the appropriateness and applicability of training for all those who receive it

Using miniaturized laboratory equipment and DNA barcoding to improve conservation genetics training and identify illegally traded species

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is one of the largest global illegal activities, and it negatively affects biodiversity and sustainable development worldwide. DNA barcoding coupled with high‐throughput sequencing (i.e., metabarcoding) is useful in identifying taxa affected by IWT and has been used routinely for decades. However, for countries lacking laboratory infrastructure, sequencing units, and trained staff, the application of DNA barcoding tools in conservation is limited and depends on slow sample transport processes and molecular analyses carried out abroad. Guinea‐Bissau, on the West African coast, has one of the lowest human development indices in the world and is a biodiversity hotspot threatened by IWT. We explored the potential use of inexpensive and portable miniaturized laboratory equipment (MLE) and DNA barcoding tools to improve training in conservation genetics and identification of traded species. We tested these technologies in tissue samples collected at different times and contexts in Guinea‐Bissau and used 3 primer pairs amplifying mitochondrial DNA fragments. We successfully identified 33 tissue samples to the species level; thus, MLE may accelerate the use of DNA and metabarcoding methods in countries that have low research funding and limited infrastructure. The use of these technologies has the potential to advance the discipline of conservation genetics in Guinea‐Bissau and other countries and to train students and employees of government agencies dedicated to investigating environmental crimes

Who’s on the comedy festival circuit this summer (and where to find them online)

Choosing who to watch at comedy festivals can be tough, and missing a comedian can be gutting. Let Hari Berrow guide you and your ticket purchasing through some of the exciting Welsh talent coming to festivals this year, by showing you where you can find them online