A distributed knowledge-based approach to flexible automation : the contract-net framework

Includes bibliographical references (p. 26-29)

Exploring the Potential of the Web-Based Virtual World of Second Life to Improve Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes

Provides an overview of Second Life, an Internet-based virtual world, and summarizes discussions among addiction recovery experts about integrating virtual reality into behavioral treatment as a way to teach patients new responses to real environments

Calibration of BVRI Photometry for the Wide Field Channel of the HST Advanced Camera for Surveys

We present new observations of two Galactic globular clusters, PAL4 and PAL14, using the Wide-Field Channel of the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and reanalyze archival data from a third, NGC2419. We matched our photometry of hundreds of stars in these fields from the ACS images to existing, ground-based photometry of faint sequences which were calibrated on the standard BVRI system of Landolt. These stars are significantly fainter than those generally used for HST calibration purposes, and therefore are much better matched to supporting precision photometry of ACS science targets. We were able to derive more accurate photometric transformation coefficients for the commonly used ACS broad-band filters compared to those published by Sirianni, et al. (2005), owing to the use of a factor of several more calibration stars which span a greater range of color. We find that the inferred transformations from each cluster individually do not vary significantly from the average, except for a small offset of the photometric zeropoint in the F850LP filter. Our results suggest that the published prescriptions for the time-dependent correction of CCD charge-transfer efficiency appear to work very well over the ~3.5 yr interval that spans our observations of PAL4 and PAL14 and the archived images of NGC2419.Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in PAS

The adoption and use of Through-life Engineering Services within UK Manufacturing Organisations

Manufacturing organisations seek ever more innovative approaches in order to maintain and improve their competitive position within the global market. One such initiative that is gaining significance is ‘through-life engineering services’. These seek to adopt ‘whole life’ service support through the greater understanding of component and system performance driven by knowledge gained from maintenance, repair and overhaul activities. This research presents the findings of exploratory research based on a survey of UK manufacturers who provide through-life engineering services. The survey findings illustrate significant issues to be addressed within the field before the concept becomes widely accepted. These include a more proactive approach to maintenance activities based on real-time responses; standardisation of data content, structure, collection, storage and retrieval protocols in support of maintenance; the development of clear definitions, ontologies and a taxonomy of through-life engineering services in support of the service delivery system; lack of understanding of component and system performance due to the presence of ‘No Fault Found’ events that skew maintenance metrics and the increased use of radio-frequency identification technology in support of maintenance data acquisition

Exploratory evaluation of variation in statin take up amongst high risk patients in Nottingham City

This report is from a small qualitative study evaluating variation in statin take up following risk assessment as part of the UK's NHS Health Checks programme. Previous studies at the practice level have found lower than expected take up of statins from the Health Checks programme, and it has been suggested that this may be due to patients' and doctors' beliefs about treating risk rather than disease⁠. From interviews with a small sample of patients and GPs we suggest that greater variation may be a consequence of shared-decision making. The trends we identified have implications for primary care practice, if corroborated in a large study. Our results therefore provide a basis for further research in this area

Exploratory evaluation of variation in statin take up amongst high risk patients in Nottingham City

This report is from a small qualitative study evaluating variation in statin take up following risk assessment as part of the UK's NHS Health Checks programme. Previous studies at the practice level have found lower than expected take up of statins from the Health Checks programme, and it has been suggested that this may be due to patients' and doctors' beliefs about treating risk rather than disease⁠. From interviews with a small sample of patients and GPs we suggest that greater variation may be a consequence of shared-decision making. The trends we identified have implications for primary care practice, if corroborated in a large study. Our results therefore provide a basis for further research in this area

Consultation on the Public Inquiry into Historical Child Abuse in Scotland and other Scottish Government Commitments to Survivors of Historical Child Abuse

This report sets out the process of the consultation and engagement with survivors of historical abuse and other stakeholders. It provides an analysis of the consultation responses. This addressed the aims of the Public Inquiry into Historical Child Abuse, its scope and remit, and the attributes of the Chair and Panel. It also addressed other matters considered by the consultation; commemoration of historical abuse, survivor support fund, and the Time Bar

The work of community gardens: reclaiming place for community in the city

The growth of community gardens has become the source of much academic debate regarding their role in community empowerment in the contemporary city. In this article, we focus upon the work being done in community gardens, using gardening in Glasgow as a case study. We argue that while community gardening cannot be divorced from more regressive underlying economic and social processes accompanying neoliberal austerity policies, it does provide space for important forms of work that address social needs and advance community empowerment. In developing this argument we use recent geographical scholarship concerning the generative role of place in bringing together individuals and communities in new collective forms of working. Community gardens are places that facilitate the recovery of individual agency, construction of new forms of knowledge and participation, and renewal of reflexive and proactive communities that provide broader lessons for building more progressive forms of work in cities