Approximating Holant problems by winding

We give an FPRAS for Holant problems with parity constraints and not-all-equal constraints, a generalisation of the problem of counting sink-free-orientations. The approach combines a sampler for near-assignments of "windable" functions -- using the cycle-unwinding canonical paths technique of Jerrum and Sinclair -- with a bound on the weight of near-assignments. The proof generalises to a larger class of Holant problems; we characterise this class and show that it cannot be extended by expressibility reductions. We then ask whether windability is equivalent to expressibility by matchings circuits (an analogue of matchgates), and give a positive answer for functions of arity three

Inverkip power station

Architectural review of Inverkip Power Station. Inverkip power station is an oil-fired power station located on the eastern shore of the Firth of Clyde on the west coast of Scotland - between Inverkip and Wemyss Bay in Inverclyde. The coastal location meant the station could draw its cooling water from the sea, obviating the need for the large parabolic towers normally associated with such installations. Resultantly, the most imposing feature of the station is its 778 foot (236 m) high chimney - the third tallest chimney in the UK, and Scotland's tallest freestanding structure

Subcontractors' liability for project delays

The paper addresses the contractual problem of how main contractors pass on liability for project delays to their subcontractors; a topic that is difficult and has not been grasped properly in the previous literature. The survey reveals that the ‘normal’ approach is illogical and that the issue is misunderstood by a significant proportion of practitioners in the UK

UCL (University College London) Libraries Masterplan: Masterplanning Report

BDP were appointed to undertake a Masterplan for the UCL Main Library and the UCL Science Library and to identify how these buildings could be re-ordered to significantly improve the quality of the library environment and to facilitate the delivery of library services. An initial brief was agreed with UCL’s Estates Management Committee and a Masterplan Steering Group established including academic representatives, library staff and design consultants. To inform the development of this brief, UCL Library Services undertook a number of consultation exercises with users of the Library; students, academic staff and external users, together with Library staff. A number of visits to exemplar library buildings in the UK and continental Europe were also undertaken to inform the development of options for the buildings. Following the development and review of initial options for both the Main Library and Science Library, it was agreed a further, hypothetical New Build Central Library Option should be reviewed, to accommodate a relocated and consolidated library service encompassing 7 of the 16 existing libraries currently distributed across the UCL Estate

“It’s a matter of building bridges…” – feasibility of a carer involvement intervention for inpatients with severe mental illness

Background Family and friends (carer) involvement in the treatment of people with mental illness is widely recommended. However, the implementation remains poor, especially during hospital treatment, where carers report being excluded from care decisions. Methods We developed structured clinical procedures to maximise carer involvement in inpatient treatment. The aim of this study was to test their feasibility across four inpatient wards in East London and explore experiences of the participants. The intervention was delivered by clinicians (social therapists, nurses and psychiatrists) who were trained by the research team. Thirty patients and thirty carers received the intervention and completed research assessments and qualitative interviews after the intervention. 80% of the patients were followed up after six weeks of admission to complete quantitative questionnaires. Six clinicians were interviewed to explore their views on the intervention. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Results The intervention was found to be feasible to be delivered within the first week of admission in more than a half of the patients (53%) who provided consent. The main reasons why the interventions was not delivered in the remaining 47% of patients included staff or carers not being available, withdrawal of consent from the patient or patient being discharged prior to the intervention. Two themes were identified through thematic analysis. The first captured participant experiences of the intervention as facilitating a three-way collaborative approach to treatment. The second covered how patients’ mental states and practicalities of inpatient care acted as barriers and facilitators to the intervention being implemented. Conclusions Carer involvement in hospital treatment for mental illness is more difficult to implement than is commonly thought. This study has shown that a simple structured approach can facilitate a trialogue and that patients, clinicians and carers appreciate this approach to care. Our intervention provides clear and simple manualised clinical procedures that clinicians can follow. However, even the implementation of such procedures may be challenging in the absence of wider organisational support. The involvement of senior managers and clinical leaders might play a key role in overcoming barriers and support front-line clinicians to prioritise and implement carer involvement