Using generative adversarial networks to create graphical user Interfaces for video games

Designing and creating a Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a difficult and slow process. It requires a number of professions to all contribute to its development and it can be heavily detrimental to a product if implemented poorly. This research aims to investigate a method of using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to generate new and usable designs for GUIs. GANs are a relatively new architecture for adversarial learning and have been used to good effect in replicating instances of a real dataset. The primary aim is to develop a GAN that is capable of processing a collection of existing GUIs and learn how to replicate these to allow for creation of further designs. These GUI designs need to be formatted in a manner that enables modification, allowing for them to be used by a development team to enhance their production process. Completed work demonstrates numerous approaches at using GANs to create text files that contain the component elements of a GUI. Their results and the release of a similar research paper (GUIGAN) has led to a new approach focusing on more abstract data representation, with a quality control system for ensuring the output data is properly formatted. It is hypothesised that the approach will develop a model capable of creating new, editable GUI designs

Vegetation-Hydrogeomorphology Interactions in a Low-Energy, Human-Impacted River

The work leading to this paper received funding from the European Union's FP7 programme under grant agreement no. 282656 (REFORM)

High-temporal resolution fluvial sediment source fingerprinting with uncertainty: a Bayesian approach

This contribution addresses two developing areas of sediment fingerprinting research. Specifically, how to improve the temporal resolution of source apportionment estimates whilst minimizing analytical costs and, secondly, how to consistently quantify all perceived uncertainties associated with the sediment mixing model procedure. This first matter is tackled by using direct X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRFS) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) analyses of suspended particulate matter (SPM) covered filter papers in conjunction with automatic water samplers. This method enables SPM geochemistry to be quickly, accurately, inexpensively and non-destructively monitored at high-temporal resolution throughout the progression of numerous precipitation events. We then employed a Bayesian mixing model procedure to provide full characterization of spatial geochemical variability, instrument precision and residual error to yield a realistic and coherent assessment of the uncertainties associated with source apportionment estimates. Applying these methods to SPM data from the River Wensum catchment, UK, we have been able to apportion, with uncertainty, sediment contributions from eroding arable topsoils, damaged road verges and combined subsurface channel bank and agricultural field drain sources at 60- and 120-minute resolution for the duration of five precipitation events. The results presented here demonstrate how combining Bayesian mixing models with the direct spectroscopic analysis of SPM-covered filter papers can produce high-temporal resolution source apportionment estimates that can assist with the appropriate targeting of sediment pollution mitigation measures at a catchment level

Diagnosing problems of fine sediment delivery and transfer in a lowland catchment

This paper is a product of research conducted within the REFORM collaborative project funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement 282656

Recurrent seasonal outbreak of an emerging serotype of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC O55:H7 Stx2a) in the south west of England, July 2014 to September 2015.

The first documented British outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O55:H7 began in the county of Dorset, England, in July 2014. Since then, there have been a total of 31 cases of which 13 presented with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). The outbreak strain had Shiga toxin (Stx) subtype 2a associated with an elevated risk of HUS. This strain had not previously been isolated from humans or animals in England. The only epidemiological link was living in or having close links to two areas in Dorset. Extensive investigations included testing of animals and household pets. Control measures included extended screening, iterative interviewing and exclusion of cases and high risk contacts. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed that all the cases were infected with similar strains. A specific source could not be identified. The combination of epidemiological investigation and WGS indicated, however, that this outbreak was possibly caused by recurrent introductions from a local endemic zoonotic source, that a highly similar endemic reservoir appears to exist in the Republic of Ireland but has not been identified elsewhere, and that a subset of cases was associated with human-to-human transmission in a nursery

A comparison of short term radiological alignment outcomes of the patient specific and standard instrumentation for primary total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The aim of this study was to review the radiological alignment outcomes of patient Specific (PS) cutting blocks and Standard Instrumentation in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty. Methods: We hypothesized that the use of PS techniques would significantly improve sagittal, coronal and rotational alignment of the prosthesis on short term. We performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis including all the randomised controlled trials (RCT) using PS and standard (ST) total knee arthroplasty to date. Results: A total of 538 PS TKA and 549 ST TKA were included in the study. Statistical analysis of the outliers for femoral component sagittal, coronal and rotational positioning, tibial component sagittal and coronal positioning and the overall mechanical axis were assessed. We found that there was no significant benefit from using PS instrumentation in primary knee arthroplasty to aid in the positioning of either the tibial or femoral components. Furthermore sagittal plane tibial component positioning was worse in the PS than the traditional ST group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that at present PS instrumentation is not superior to ST instrumentation in primary total knee arthroplasty. Level of evidence: Level 1, Systematic review of therapeutic studies. Keywords: Alignment, Meta-analysis, Patient-specific, Total knee arthroplast