A Dataset of Anatomical Environments for Medical Robots: Modeling Respiratory Deformation

Anatomical models of a medical robot's environment can significantly help guide design and development of a new robotic system. These models can be used for benchmarking motion planning algorithms, evaluating controllers, optimizing mechanical design choices, simulating procedures, and even as resources for data generation. Currently, the time-consuming task of generating these environments is repeatedly performed by individual research groups and rarely shared broadly. This not only leads to redundant efforts, but also makes it challenging to compare systems and algorithms accurately. In this work, we present a collection of clinically-relevant anatomical environments for medical robots operating in the lungs. Since anatomical deformation is a fundamental challenge for medical robots operating in the lungs, we describe a way to model respiratory deformation in these environments using patient-derived data. We share the environments and deformation data publicly by adding them to the Medical Robotics Anatomical Dataset (Med-RAD), our public dataset of anatomical environments for medical robots

Living with diversity: Negotiating difference in Northcote

This document is part of a series of four project briefs (CaDDANZ briefs 8-11) which collate distinct but interrelated sets of key findings from a research project that examined how older adults of 65 years and above create and maintain a sense of home and community in the Auckland neighbourhood of Northcote. This study forms part of a wider suite of projects within the MBIE-funded CaDDANZ research programme which collectively investigate facets of population change and diversity in a range of different contexts. Overall, CaDDANZ aims to develop greater understanding of how diversity affects society and how, in turn, institutions can better respond to diversity. This neighbourhood-based study sits within a growing body of social science scholarship that has recognised the importance of ‘the local’ because this is where diversity is lived and negotiated in everyday interactions. While much of the academic literature and policy discourses home in on ethnicity and culture, we would like to stress that diversity is complex and multiply determined by a broad range of factors, including gender, age, ability and socio-economic status

Meanings and experiences of community among older adult residents of Northcote

This document is part of a series of four project briefs (CaDDANZ briefs 8-11) which collate distinct but interrelated sets of key findings from a research project that examined how older adults of 65 years and above create and maintain a sense of home and community in the Auckland neighbourhood of Northcote. This study forms part of a wider suite of projects within the MBIE-funded CaDDANZ research programme which collectively investigate facets of population change and diversity in a range of different contexts. Overall, CaDDANZ aims to develop greater understanding of how diversity affects society and how, in turn, institutions can better respond to diversity. This neighbourhood-based study sits within a growing body of social science scholarship that has recognised the importance of ‘the local’ because this is where diversity is lived and negotiated in everyday interactions. While much of the academic literature and policy discourses home in on ethnicity and culture, we would like to stress that diversity is complex and multiply determined by a broad range of factors, including gender, age, ability and socio-economic status

Urban regeneration and community building in Northcote

This document is part of a series of four project briefs (CaDDANZ briefs 8-11) which collate distinct but interrelated sets of key findings from a research project that examined how older adults of 65 years and above create and maintain a sense of home and community in the Auckland neighbourhood of Northcote. This study forms part of a wider suite of projects within the MBIE-funded CaDDANZ research programme which collectively investigate facets of population change and diversity in a range of different contexts. Overall, CaDDANZ aims to develop greater understanding of how diversity affects society and how, in turn, institutions can better respond to diversity. This neighbourhood-based study sits within a growing body of social science scholarship that has recognised the importance of ‘the local’ because this is where diversity is lived and negotiated in everyday interactions. While much of the academic literature and policy discourses home in on ethnicity and culture, we would like to stress that diversity is complex and multiply determined by a broad range of factors, including gender, age, ability and socio-economic status

Ageing and wellbeing in Northcote

This document is part of a series of four project briefs (CaDDANZ briefs 8-11) which collate distinct but interrelated sets of key findings from a research project that examined how older adults of 65 years and above create and maintain a sense of home and community in the Auckland neighbourhood of Northcote. This study forms part of a wider suite of projects within the MBIE-funded CaDDANZ research programme which collectively investigate facets of population change and diversity in a range of different contexts. Overall, CaDDANZ aims to develop greater understanding of how diversity affects society and how, in turn, institutions can better respond to diversity. This neighbourhood-based study sits within a growing body of social science scholarship that has recognised the importance of ‘the local’ because this is where diversity is lived and negotiated in everyday interactions. While much of the academic literature and policy discourses home in on ethnicity and culture, we would like to stress that diversity is complex and multiply determined by a broad range of factors, including gender, age, ability and socio-economic status

An Application of Multi-band Forced Photometry to One Square Degree of SERVS: Accurate Photometric Redshifts and Implications for Future Science

We apply The Tractor image modeling code to improve upon existing multi-band photometry for the Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS). SERVS consists of post-cryogenic Spitzer observations at 3.6 and 4.5 micron over five well-studied deep fields spanning 18 square degrees. In concert with data from ground-based near-infrared (NIR) and optical surveys, SERVS aims to provide a census of the properties of massive galaxies out to z ~ 5. To accomplish this, we are using The Tractor to perform "forced photometry." This technique employs prior measurements of source positions and surface brightness profiles from a high-resolution fiducial band from the VISTA Deep Extragalactic Observations (VIDEO) survey to model and fit the fluxes at lower-resolution bands. We discuss our implementation of The Tractor over a square degree test region within the XMM-LSS field with deep imaging in 12 NIR/optical bands. Our new multi-band source catalogs offer a number of advantages over traditional position-matched catalogs, including 1) consistent source cross-identification between bands, 2) de-blending of sources that are clearly resolved in the fiducial band but blended in the lower-resolution SERVS data, 3) a higher source detection fraction in each band, 4) a larger number of candidate galaxies in the redshift range 5 < z < 6, and 5) a statistically significant improvement in the photometric redshift accuracy as evidenced by the significant decrease in the fraction of outliers compared to spectroscopic redshifts. Thus, forced photometry using The Tractor offers a means of improving the accuracy of multi-band extragalactic surveys designed for galaxy evolution studies. We will extend our application of this technique to the full SERVS footprint in the future.Comment: accepted to ApJ, 22 pages, 12 figure

Expanding and developing the workforce to serve autistic people and people with intellectual disability

This paper considers current workforce issues facing psychological professionals working in NHS services, examining the challenges, and identifying opportunities to better meet the needs of autistic people and people with an intellectual disability (PwID) across the lifespan. The aim of this paper is to identify and publicly articulate the need for a coherent approach to guide the practice of psychological professionals when helping autistic people and/or PwID. It should be noted that the scope of the paper is limited to autism and intellectual disability. In addressing these broad groups and their co-occurring conditions and needs, we anticipate that many principles could be applied to other neurodevelopmental conditions. We also note the significant potential challenges in linking intellectual disability and autistic populations, hence have attempted – in drawing together a working group to write this paper – to ensure representation from a range of psychological professionals including those in policy, leadership, and training roles, those working in specialist or generic mental health services and undertaking clinical research across the lifespan. Objectives: ■ To help define and support clear action so that all sectors welcome and adequately support people with neurodevelopmental differences, including autistic people and/or PwID. ■ To play a role in the development, planning and evaluation of new psychological professions roles such as the Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAPS) and Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs). ■ To reflect on the obstacles to recruiting to autism and learning disability services and to propose approaches to developing a sustainable psychological workforce in these areas. ■ To recognise where good examples of education and training programmes exist to address training, confidence and competence for all psychological professionals working with those who may be autistic and/or have an ID, and consider how to establish a more consistent approach to education, training and CPD across the workforce. ■ To engage in policy discussions around the current gaps, such as the demand for diagnostic assessments and support which significantly outstrips capacity, whilst highlighting unrealised opportunities, through for example, a systematic approach to training. ■ To advocate for the need for the voice of autistic people and PwID and their families/carers which is often absent from the design and offer of help.</p

Expanding and developing the workforce to serve autistic people and people with intellectual disability

This paper considers current workforce issues facing psychological professionals working in NHS services, examining the challenges, and identifying opportunities to better meet the needs of autistic people and people with an intellectual disability (PwID) across the lifespan. The aim of this paper is to identify and publicly articulate the need for a coherent approach to guide the practice of psychological professionals when helping autistic people and/or PwID. It should be noted that the scope of the paper is limited to autism and intellectual disability. In addressing these broad groups and their co-occurring conditions and needs, we anticipate that many principles could be applied to other neurodevelopmental conditions. We also note the significant potential challenges in linking intellectual disability and autistic populations, hence have attempted – in drawing together a working group to write this paper – to ensure representation from a range of psychological professionals including those in policy, leadership, and training roles, those working in specialist or generic mental health services and undertaking clinical research across the lifespan. Objectives: ■ To help define and support clear action so that all sectors welcome and adequately support people with neurodevelopmental differences, including autistic people and/or PwID. ■ To play a role in the development, planning and evaluation of new psychological professions roles such as the Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAPS) and Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs). ■ To reflect on the obstacles to recruiting to autism and learning disability services and to propose approaches to developing a sustainable psychological workforce in these areas. ■ To recognise where good examples of education and training programmes exist to address training, confidence and competence for all psychological professionals working with those who may be autistic and/or have an ID, and consider how to establish a more consistent approach to education, training and CPD across the workforce. ■ To engage in policy discussions around the current gaps, such as the demand for diagnostic assessments and support which significantly outstrips capacity, whilst highlighting unrealised opportunities, through for example, a systematic approach to training. ■ To advocate for the need for the voice of autistic people and PwID and their families/carers which is often absent from the design and offer of help.</p