Time-Space Constrained Codes for Phase-Change Memories

Phase-change memory (PCM) is a promising non-volatile solid-state memory technology. A PCM cell stores data by using its amorphous and crystalline states. The cell changes between these two states using high temperature. However, since the cells are sensitive to high temperature, it is important, when programming cells, to balance the heat both in time and space. In this paper, we study the time-space constraint for PCM, which was originally proposed by Jiang et al. A code is called an \emph{$(\alpha,\beta,p)$-constrained code} if for any $\alpha$ consecutive rewrites and for any segment of $\beta$ contiguous cells, the total rewrite cost of the $\beta$ cells over those $\alpha$ rewrites is at most $p$. Here, the cells are binary and the rewrite cost is defined to be the Hamming distance between the current and next memory states. First, we show a general upper bound on the achievable rate of these codes which extends the results of Jiang et al. Then, we generalize their construction for $(\alpha\geq 1, \beta=1,p=1)$-constrained codes and show another construction for $(\alpha = 1, \beta\geq 1,p\geq1)$-constrained codes. Finally, we show that these two constructions can be used to construct codes for all values of $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $p$

Applying theories of health behaviour and change to hearing health research: time for a new approach

Objective: In recent years, there has been an increase in the application of behavioural models, such as social cognition models, to the promotion of hearing health. Despite this, there exists a well-developed body of literature that suggests such models may fail to consistently explain reliable amounts of variability in human behaviours. Design: This paper provides a summary of this research across selected models of health-related behaviour, outlining the current state of the evidence. Results: Recent work in the field of behaviour change is presented together with commentary on the design and reporting of behaviour change interventions. Conclusions: We propose that attempts to use unreliable models to explain and predict hearing health behaviours should now be replaced by work which integrates the latest in behaviour change science, such as the Behaviour Change Wheel and Theoretical Domains Framework

Time for change: a new training programme for morpho-molecular pathologists?

The evolution of cellular pathology as a specialty has always been driven by technological developments and the clinical relevance of incorporating novel investigations into diagnostic practice. In recent years, the molecular characterisation of cancer has become of crucial relevance in patient treatment both for predictive testing and subclassification of certain tumours. Much of this has become possible due to the availability of next-generation sequencing technologies and the whole-genome sequencing of tumours is now being rolled out into clinical practice in England via the 100 000 Genome Project. The effective integration of cellular pathology reporting and genomic characterisation is crucial to ensure the morphological and genomic data are interpreted in the relevant context, though despite this, in many UK centres molecular testing is entirely detached from cellular pathology departments. The CM-Path initiative recognises there is a genomics knowledge and skills gap within cellular pathology that needs to be bridged through an upskilling of the current workforce and a redesign of pathology training. Bridging this gap will allow the development of an integrated 'morphomolecular pathology' specialty, which can maintain the relevance of cellular pathology at the centre of cancer patient management and allow the pathology community to continue to be a major influence in cancer discovery as well as playing a driving role in the delivery of precision medicine approaches. Here, several alternative models of pathology training, designed to address this challenge, are presented and appraised