The Overlap Package

Camera traps - cameras linked to detectors so that they fire when an animal is present - are a major source of information on the abundance and habitat preferences of rare or shy forest animals. Modern cameras record the time of the photo, and the use of this to investigate diel activity patterns was immediately recognised (Gri?ffiths and van Schaik, 1993). Initially this resulted in broad classfication of taxa as diurnal, nocturnal, crepuscular, or cathemeral (van Schaik and Gri?ths, 1996). More recently, researchers have compared activity patterns among species to see how overlapping patterns may relate to competition or predation (Linkie and Ridout, 2011; Carver et al., 2011; Ramesh et al., 2012; Carter et al., 2012; Kamler et al., 2012; Ross et al., 2013). Ridout and Linkie (2009) presented methods to fit kernel density functions to times of observations of animals and to estimate the coe?cient of overlapping, a quantitative measure ranging from 0 (no overlap) to 1 (identical activity patterns). The code they used forms the basis of the overlap package. Although motivated by the analysis of camera trap data, overlap could be applied to data from other sources such as data loggers, provided data collection is carried out around the clock. Nor is it limited to diel cycles: tidal cycles or seasonal cycles, such as plant flowering or fruiting or animal breeding seasons could also be investigated

An On-Farm experimental philosophy for farmer-centric digital innovation

In this paper, we review learnings gained from early On-Farm Experiments (OFE) conducted in the broad acre Australian grain industry from the 1990s to the present day. Although the initiative was originally centered around the possibilities of new data and analytics in precision agriculture, we discovered that OFEs could represent a platform for engaging farmers around digital technologies and innovation. Insight from interacting closely with farmers and advisors leads us to argue for a change in the ways we approach OFE research. Acknowledging that conditions have changed and drawing from business and social sciences, we suggest that OFE approaches today should develop aspects related to skill development, value generation and value sharing, the social dimension of change, and a renewed focus on farmer-centric research to better bridge industry requirements and scientist inputs

Presentations of Wess-Zumino-Witten Fusion Rings

The fusion rings of Wess-Zumino-Witten models are re-examined. Attention is drawn to the difference between fusion rings over Z (which are often of greater importance in applications) and fusion algebras over C. Complete proofs are given characterising the fusion algebras (over C) of the SU(r+1) and Sp(2r) models in terms of the fusion potentials, and it is shown that the analagous potentials cannot describe the fusion algebras of the other models. This explains why no other representation-theoretic fusion potentials have been found. Instead, explicit generators are then constructed for general WZW fusion rings (over Z). The Jacobi-Trudy identity and its Sp(2r) analogue are used to derive the known fusion potentials. This formalism is then extended to the WZW models over the spin groups of odd rank, and explicit presentations of the corresponding fusion rings are given. The analogues of the Jacobi-Trudy identity for the spinor representations (for all ranks) are derived for this purpose, and may be of independent interest.Comment: 32 pages, 3 figures, added references, minor additions to text. To be published in Rev. Math. Phy

A critical reflection on the development of the Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC)

Purpose The Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC) was initially set up with the purpose of bringing autistic people, including scholars and activists (but not exclusively), together with early career researchers and practitioners who work with autistic people, with the aim being to build a community where those who wished to see more significant involvement of autistic people in autism research could share knowledge and expertise. Approach This article explores the development of the PARC network, reflecting upon its activities and ethos within current Higher Education (HE) practices and structures. Findings In supporting autistic individuals in their attempts to establish themselves within academic systems that may not always be considerate or accommodating, the existence of PARC creates a structure with which autistic people can influence social change. PARC serves as a network of support, strengthening the presence of autistic scholars in academia. It also provides a structure through which autistic people are able to demonstrate helpful practices with which to engage more broadly. Value The PARC network is the first autistic-led venture of its kind in the UK to have a sustained impact. PARC is growing to become an important element in the field of autism studies both by supporting the emerging autistic academics and by promoting ethical and participatory research methods and practices

Combining qualitative and quantitative operational research methods to inform quality improvement in pathways that span multiple settings

BACKGROUND: Improving integration and continuity of care across sectors within resource constraints is a priority in many health systems. Qualitative operational research methods of problem structuring have been used to address quality improvement in services involving multiple sectors but not in combination with quantitative operational research methods that enable targeting of interventions according to patient risk. We aimed to combine these methods to augment and inform an improvement initiative concerning infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) whose complex care pathway spans multiple sectors. METHODS: Soft systems methodology was used to consider systematically changes to services from the perspectives of community, primary, secondary and tertiary care professionals and a patient group, incorporating relevant evidence. Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis of national audit datasets was conducted along with data visualisation designed to inform service improvement within the context of limited resources. RESULTS: A 'Rich Picture' was developed capturing the main features of services for infants with CHD pertinent to service improvement. This was used, along with a graphical summary of the CART analysis, to guide discussions about targeting interventions at specific patient risk groups. Agreement was reached across representatives of relevant health professions and patients on a coherent set of targeted recommendations for quality improvement. These fed into national decisions about service provision and commissioning. CONCLUSIONS: When tackling complex problems in service provision across multiple settings, it is important to acknowledge and work with multiple perspectives systematically and to consider targeting service improvements in response to confined resources. Our research demonstrates that applying a combination of qualitative and quantitative operational research methods is one approach to doing so that warrants further consideration

Abelian Sandpile Model on the Honeycomb Lattice

We check the universality properties of the two-dimensional Abelian sandpile model by computing some of its properties on the honeycomb lattice. Exact expressions for unit height correlation functions in presence of boundaries and for different boundary conditions are derived. Also, we study the statistics of the boundaries of avalanche waves by using the theory of SLE and suggest that these curves are conformally invariant and described by SLE2.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figure

Identifying improvements to complex pathways: evidence synthesis and stakeholder engagement in infant congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVES: Many infants die in the year following discharge from hospital after surgical or catheter intervention for congenital heart disease (3–5% of discharged infants). There is considerable variability in the provision of care and support in this period, and some families experience barriers to care. We aimed to identify ways to improve discharge and postdischarge care for this patient group. DESIGN: A systematic evidence synthesis aligned with a process of eliciting the perspectives of families and professionals from community, primary, secondary and tertiary care. SETTING: UK. RESULTS: A set of evidence-informed recommendations for improving the discharge and postdischarge care of infants following intervention for congenital heart disease was produced. These address known challenges with current care processes and, recognising current resource constraints, are targeted at patient groups based on the number of patients affected and the level and nature of their risk of adverse 1-year outcome. The recommendations include: structured discharge documentation, discharging certain high-risk patients via their local hospital, enhanced surveillance for patients with certain (high-risk) cardiac diagnoses and an early warning tool for parents and community health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Our recommendations set out a comprehensive, system-wide approach for improving discharge and postdischarge services. This approach could be used to address challenges in delivering care for other patient populations that can fall through gaps between sectors and organisations

Logarithmic two-point correlators in the Abelian sandpile model

We present the detailed calculations of the asymptotics of two-site correlation functions for height variables in the two-dimensional Abelian sandpile model. By using combinatorial methods for the enumeration of spanning trees, we extend the well-known result for the correlation $\sigma_{1,1} \simeq 1/r^4$ of minimal heights $h_1=h_2=1$ to $\sigma_{1,h} = P_{1,h}-P_1P_h$ for height values $h=2,3,4$. These results confirm the dominant logarithmic behaviour $\sigma_{1,h} \simeq (c_h\log r + d_h)/r^4 + {\cal O}(r^{-5})$ for large $r$, predicted by logarithmic conformal field theory based on field identifications obtained previously. We obtain, from our lattice calculations, the explicit values for the coefficients $c_h$ and $d_h$ (the latter are new).Comment: 28 page

Evolution of multi-parametric MRI quantitative parameters following transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate

To determine the evolution of prostatic multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) signal following transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy

In vitro stability and immunoreactivity of the native and recombinant plant food 2S albumins Ber e 1 and SFA-8

Background The ability of an intact protein to reach the circulatory system may be a prerequisite to allergenicity and many allergens, particularly those from plant foods, have been found to be consistently more resistant to digestion by pepsin than other proteins. Objective This study assessed the pepsinolytic stability of native 2S albumins from Brazil nut and sunflower seed and their recombinant versions produced in Pichia pastoris. The physicochemical stability of native and recombinant Brazil nut 2S albumins and recombinant sunflower seed 2S albumin was also assessed. The immunoreactivity of native Brazil nut 2S albumin and recombinant 2S albumins was compared using serum from patients allergic to Brazil nuts and animals immunized with native 2S albumins. Methods Digestibility was measured in simulated gastric fluid followed by SDS-PAGE. Circular dichroism spectra were used to analyse unfolding, as proteins were denatured by temperature, pH and guanidinium chloride. Immunoreactivity was assessed by immunoblot, RAST and ELISA. Results Brazil nut 2S albumin was significantly more resistant to proteolytic digestion than other Brazil nut proteins. It was also resistant to thermally and chemically induced denaturation. Equally high resistance to proteolytic digestion was observed with sunflower seed 2S albumin. The recombinant albumins mirrored their native counterparts in stability and immunoreactivity. Conclusion The important food allergen Brazil nut 2S albumin is as stable to digestion as is sunflower seed 2S albumin, whose allergenicity has yet to be determined. The 2S albumins and their recombinant counterparts could not be easily denatured by physicochemical treatments. The results suggest that 2S albumin is the only Brazil nut protein to reach the gut immune system intact. The production of properly folded recombinant proteins will facilitate mechanistic studies as well as diagnostic testing and antigen-based therapies