Efficient Learning of the Parameters of Non-Linear Models using Differentiable Resampling in Particle Filters

It has been widely documented that the sampling and resampling steps in particle filters cannot be differentiated. The {\itshape reparameterisation trick} was introduced to allow the sampling step to be reformulated into a differentiable function. We extend the {\itshape reparameterisation trick} to include the stochastic input to resampling therefore limiting the discontinuities in the gradient calculation after this step. Knowing the gradients of the prior and likelihood allows us to run particle Markov Chain Monte Carlo (p-MCMC) and use the No-U-Turn Sampler (NUTS) as the proposal when estimating parameters. We compare the Metropolis-adjusted Langevin algorithm (MALA), Hamiltonian Monte Carlo with different number of steps and NUTS. We consider two state-space models and show that NUTS improves the mixing of the Markov chain and can produce more accurate results in less computational time.Comment: 35 pages, 10 figure

Global wealth disparities drive adherence to COVID-safe pathways in head and neck cancer surgery

Peer reviewe

Temple-na-Skellig and St Kevin's Bed, Glendalough

Glendalough sees almost a million visitors each year, and many of the key archaeological sites are heavily visited, but two important locations are very difficult to access. These are the artificial cave of “Saint Kevin’s Bed” and the Church and settlement evidence at Temple-na-Skellig found in a remote location on south of the Upper Lake, surrounded by steep cliffs.Heritage CouncilWicklow County CouncilNational Monuments ServiceNational Parks and Wildlife ServiceUCD College of Social Sciences and La

The Fergus Estuary and Islands: discovering a maritime historic landscape in Co. Clare

This report describes the results of a Heritage Council‐funded research project entitled ‘The Fergus estuary and islands project: Discovering a maritime historic landscape in Co. Clare', which was funded by a Heritage Council Heritage Research grant (R00412) for 2010. The project explored the distinctive maritime cultural landscapes of the Fergus estuary, Co. Clare, through an intertidal archaeology of the estuarine channels and the shorelines of the islands found on the lower Fergus estuary, Co. Clare (particularly, in 2010, around Inishloe, Inishtubrid, Horse Island and Shore Island). The project also had a particular focus on the archaeology of the Boarland Rock medieval fishweir complex (Fig.1). The Fergus Estuary and Islands project (2008‐2010) has been remarkably successful, uncovering a range of entirely new archaeological sites: there are 131 archaeological sites listed in the project catalogue (see Appendix 1), 127 of which were completely unknown when the survey began in 2008.Other funderHeritage Council ‘Heritage Research Grants 2010’ R00412Author has checked copyrightkpw6/8/1

Clinician consensus on “Inappropriate” presentations to the emergency department in the better data, better planning (BDBP) census: a cross-sectional multi-centre study of emergency department utilisation in Ireland

Background Utilisation of the Emergency Department (ED) for non-urgent care increases demand for services, therefore reducing inappropriate or avoidable attendances is an important area for intervention in prevention of ED crowding. This study aims to develop a consensus between clinicians across care settings about the “appropriateness” of attendances to the ED in Ireland. Methods The Better Data, Better Planning study was a multi-centre, cross-sectional study investigating factors influencing ED utilisation in Ireland. Data was compiled in patient summary files which were assessed for measures of appropriateness by an academic General Practitioner (GP) and academic Emergency Medicine Consultant (EMC) National Panel. In cases where consensus was not reached charts were assessed by an Independent Review Panel (IRP). At each site all files were autonomously assessed by local GP-EMC panels. Results The National Panel determined that 11% (GP) to 38% (EMC) of n=306 lower acuity presentations could be treated by a GP within 24-48 h (k=0.259; p<0.001) and that 18% (GP) to 35% (EMC) of attendances could be considered “inappropriate” (k=0.341; p<0.001). For attendances deemed “appropriate” the admission rate was 47% compared to 0% for “inappropriate” attendees. There was no consensus on 45% of charts (n=136). Subset analysis by the IRP determined that consensus for appropriate attendances ranged from 0 to 59% and for inappropriate attendances ranged from 0 to 29%. For the Local Panel review (n=306) consensus on appropriateness ranged from 40 to 76% across ED sites Conclusions Multidisciplinary clinicians agree that “inappropriate” use of the ED in Ireland is an issue. However, obtaining consensus on appropriateness of attendance is challenging and there was a significant cohort of complex heterogenous presentations where agreement could not be reached by clinicians in this study. This research again demonstrates the complexity of ED crowding, the introduction of evidence-based care pathways targeting avoidable presentations may serve to alleviate the problem in our EDs.</p

Clinician consensus on "inappropriate" presentations to the Emergency Department in the Better Data, Better Planning (BDBP) census: a cross-sectional multi-centre study of Emergency Department utilisation in Ireland

Background: Utilisation of the Emergency Department (ED) for non-urgent care increases demand for services, therefore reducing inappropriate or avoidable attendances is an important area for intervention in prevention of ED crowding. This study aims to develop a consensus between clinicians across care settings about the "appropriateness" of attendances to the ED in Ireland. Methods: The Better Data, Better Planning study was a multi-centre, cross-sectional study investigating factors influencing ED utilisation in Ireland. Data was compiled in patient summary files which were assessed for measures of appropriateness by an academic General Practitioner (GP) and academic Emergency Medicine Consultant (EMC) National Panel. In cases where consensus was not reached charts were assessed by an Independent Review Panel (IRP). At each site all files were autonomously assessed by local GP-EMC panels. Results: The National Panel determined that 11% (GP) to 38% (EMC) of n = 306 lower acuity presentations could be treated by a GP within 24-48 h (k = 0.259; p Conclusions: Multidisciplinary clinicians agree that "inappropriate" use of the ED in Ireland is an issue. However, obtaining consensus on appropriateness of attendance is challenging and there was a significant cohort of complex heterogenous presentations where agreement could not be reached by clinicians in this study. This research again demonstrates the complexity of ED crowding, the introduction of evidence-based care pathways targeting avoidable presentations may serve to alleviate the problem in our EDs.</p