Convex recovery of tensors using nuclear norm penalization

The subdifferential of convex functions of the singular spectrum of real matrices has been widely studied in matrix analysis, optimization and automatic control theory. Convex analysis and optimization over spaces of tensors is now gaining much interest due to its potential applications to signal processing, statistics and engineering. The goal of this paper is to present an applications to the problem of low rank tensor recovery based on linear random measurement by extending the results of Tropp to the tensors setting.Comment: To appear in proceedings LVA/ICA 2015 at Czech Republi

What makes an industrial control system security testbed credible and acceptable? Towards a design consideration framework

The convergence of Industrial Control System (ICS) with Information Technologies (IT) coupled with the resulting and widely publicized cyber security incidents have made ICS security and resilience issues of critical concern to operators and governments. The inability to apply traditional IT security practice to ICSs further complicates the challenges of effectively securing critical industrial systems. To investigate these challenges without impacting upon live system operations, testbeds are being widely used as viable options to explore, develop and assess security risks and controls. However, how an ICS testbed is designed, and its attributes, can directly impact not only on its viability but also its credibility and acceptance for use as a whole. Through a systematic review and analysis of ICS security testbed design factors, a novel outline conceptual mapping of design factors for building credibility and acceptance is proposed. These design considerations include: design objectives, implementation approach, architectural component coverage, core operational characteristics, and evaluation approach

Effectiveness of an influenza vaccine programme for care home staff to prevent death, morbidity, and health service use among residents: cluster randomised controlled trial

Objective To determine whether vaccination of care home staff against influenza indirectly protects residents.Design Pair matched cluster randomised controlled trial.Setting Large private chain of UK care homes during the winters of 2003-4 and 2004-5.Participants Nursing home staff (n = 1703) and residents (n = 2604) in 44 care homes (22 intervention homes and 22 matched control homes).Interventions Vaccination offered to staff in intervention homes but not in control homes.Main outcome measures The primary outcome was all cause mortality of residents. Secondary outcomes were influenza-like illness and health service use in residents.Results In 2003-4 vaccine coverage in full time staff was 48.2% (407/884) in intervention homes and 5.9% (51/859) in control homes. In 2004-5 uptake rates were 43.2% (365/844) and 3.5% (28/800). National influenza rates were substaritially below average in 2004-5. In the 2003-4 period of influenza activity significant decreases were found in mortality of residents in intervention homes compared with control homes (rate difference - 5.0 per 100 residents, 95% confidence interval - 7.0 to - 2.0) and in influenza-like illness (P = 0.004), consultations with general practitioners for influenza-like illness (P = 0.008), and admissions to hospital with influenza-like illness (P = 0.009). No significant differences were found in 2004-5 or during periods of no influenza activity in 2003-4.Conclusions Vaccinating care home staff against influenza can prevent deaths, health service use, and influenza-like illness in residents during periods of moderate influenza activity

Leprosy in England and Wales 1953-2012: surveillance and challenges in low incidence countries

OBJECTIVE: To review all notified cases of leprosy in England and Wales between 1953 and 2012. DESIGN: National surveillance study of all reported cases. SETTING: England and Wales. OUTCOME: Number and characteristics of reported cases. RESULTS: During this period, a total of 1449 leprosy cases were notified. The incidence fell from 356 new cases notified between 1953 and 1962 to 139 new cases between 2003 and 2012. Where data were available, leprosy was more common in men, 15-45 year olds and those from the Indian subcontinent. There was considerable undernotification in 2001-2012. CONCLUSIONS: The high level of under-reporting indicates a need for improved surveillance in the UK. Public Health England, in collaboration with the UK Panel of Leprosy opinion, has revised the UK Memorandum on Leprosy in order to provide updated guidance on diagnostic procedures, treatment, case management, contact tracing and notification

The Internet of Things in Ports: Six Key Security and Governance Challenges for the UK (Policy Brief)

In January 2019, the UK Government published its Maritime 2050 on Navigating the Future strategy. In the strategy, the government highlighted the importance of digitalization (with well-designed regulatory support) to achieve its goal of ensuring that the UK plays a global leadership role in the maritime sector. Ports, the gateways for 95% of UK trade movements, were identified as key sites for investment in technological innovation. The government identified the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT), in conjunction with other information-sharing technologies, such as shared data platforms, and Artificial Intelligence applications (AI), to synchronize processes within the port ecosystem leading to improved efficiency, safety, and environmental benefits, including improved air quality and lower greenhouse gas emissions

Assessment of causal link between psychological factors and symptom exacerbation in inflammatory bowel disease:a protocol for systematic review of prospective cohort studies

Background Inflammatory bowel disease is an idiopathic chronic disease that affects around 28 million people worldwide. Symptoms are distressing and have a detrimental effect on patients’ quality of life. A possible link between exacerbation of symptoms and psychological factors has been suspected but not established. Previous reviews concerned with this link had conceptual and methodological limitations. In this paper we set out a protocol that lays the foundations for a systematic review that will address these shortcomings. The aim of this review is to provide researchers and clinicians with clarity on the role of psychological factors in inflammatory bowel disease symptom exacerbation.Method/design We will identify all original, published, peer reviewed studies relevant to the topic and published in English from inception to November 2012. The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsychINFO will be systematically searched. The search terms will include: inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psychological stress, mental stress, life stress, family stress, hassles, social stress, coping, mood disorders, anxiety and depression in sequential combinations.Studies will be screened according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria by two reviewers. We will include clinical prospective cohort studies of all human participants aged 18 years or over with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. All eligible papers will be independently and critically appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool by two reviewers. Two reviewers will independently extract and synthesise data from the studies using a predefined data extraction sheet. Disagreements will be resolved by discussion between reviewers and a third party will be consulted if agreement is not reached. Synthesised data will be analysed using Bradford Hill criterion for causality. If data permits, meta-analysis will be performed.Discussion This study will provide the most comprehensive review and synthesis of current evidence around the link between psychological factors and symptom exacerbation in inflammatory bowel disease. Results will inform clinicians in appropriate intervention development for this patient group that would reduce symptom exacerbation and therefore improve patients’ quality of life

Correction: The Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire: Mokken Scaling Analysis

This is the final version. Available from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this record

The development and sea trials of a subsea holographic camera for large volume in-situ recording of marine organisms

We describe the development, construction and sea testing of an underwater holographic camera (HoloCam) for in situ recording of marine organisms and particles in large volumes of sea water. HoloCam comprises a laser, power supply, holographic recording optics and plate holders, a water-tight housing and a support frame. Added to this are control electronics such that the entire camera is remotely operable and controllable from ship or dock-side. Uniquely the camera can simultaneously record both in-line and off-axis holograms using a pulsed frequency doubled Nd-YAG laser. In-line holography is capable of producing images of organisms with a resolution of better than 10 Pm (at concentrations up to a few thousand per cubic centimetre at the smallest sizes). Off-axis holograms of aquatic systems of up to 50,000 cm3 volume, have been recorded. Following initial laboratory testing, the holo-camera was evaluated in an observation tank and ultimately was tested in Loch Etive, Scotland. In-line and off-axis holograms were recorded to a depth of 100 m. We will present results on the test dives and evaluation of the camera performance

The use of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for improving quality of life for inflammatory bowel disease patients:study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial with embedded process evaluation

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition with an unpredictable disease course. Rates of anxiety and depression among IBD patients in relapse (active disease symptoms) as well as in remission are higher than in the general population. Previous studies suggest that the prolonged effect of pain, anxiety, distress and depression have a detrimental effect on patients’ quality of life (QoL). Poor QoL in itself is associated with further symptom relapse. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a psychological group intervention that has the potential to improve QoL. When used in other chronic conditions, it demonstrated reduced negative effect from pain and psychological factors at completion of an 8-week MBCT course. The effect of MBCT has never been researched in IBD. The aim of this study is to obtain the information required to design a full scale randomised controlled trial (RCT) that will examine the effectiveness of MBCT in improving quality of life for IBD patients.Methods/Design: This is an exploratory RCT with embedded process evaluation. Forty IBD patients will be recruited from NHS outpatient gastroenterology clinics and will be randomised to either a MBCT (intervention) group or to await-list (control) group. All participants will undergo 16 h of structured group training over an 8-week period, with the control group starting 6 months later than the intervention group. Primary outcomes are recruitment, completion/retention rates and adherence and adaptation to the MBCT manual for IBD patients. The secondary outcome is to assess the feasibility of collecting reliable and valid data on proposed outcome measures such as quality of life, anxiety, depression, disease activity and mindful awareness. The process evaluation will use a survey and focus groups to assess the acceptability of the intervention and trial procedures for IBD patients.Discussion: The outcomes of this study will help define the barriers, uptake and perceived benefits of MBCT program for IBD patients. This information will enable the design of a full-scale study assessing the effect of MBCT on quality of life for IBD patients