A Platform for the Analysis of Qualitative and Quantitative Data about the Built Environment and its Users

There are many scenarios in which it is necessary to collect data from multiple sources in order to evaluate a system, including the collection of both quantitative data - from sensors and smart devices - and qualitative data - such as observations and interview results. However, there are currently very few systems that enable both of these data types to be combined in such a way that they can be analysed side-by-side. This paper describes an end-to-end system for the collection, analysis, storage and visualisation of qualitative and quantitative data, developed using the e-Science Central cloud analytics platform. We describe the experience of developing the system, based on a case study that involved collecting data about the built environment and its users. In this case study, data is collected from older adults living in residential care. Sensors were placed throughout the care home and smart devices were issued to the residents. This sensor data is uploaded to the analytics platform and the processed results are stored in a data warehouse, where it is integrated with qualitative data collected by healthcare and architecture researchers. Visualisations are also presented which were intended to allow the data to be explored and for potential correlations between the quantitative and qualitative data to be investigated

Scanning nano-spin ensemble microscope for nanoscale magnetic and thermal imaging

Quantum sensors based on solid-state spins provide tremendous opportunities in a wide range of fields from basic physics and chemistry to biomedical imaging. However, integrating them into a scanning probe microscope to enable practical, nanoscale quantum imaging is a highly challenging task. Recently, the use of single spins in diamond in conjunction with atomic force microscopy techniques has allowed significant progress towards this goal, but generalisation of this approach has so far been impeded by long acquisition times or by the absence of simultaneous topographic information. Here we report on a scanning quantum probe microscope which solves both issues, by employing a nano-spin ensemble hosted in a nanodiamond. This approach provides up to an order of magnitude gain in acquisition time, whilst preserving sub-100 nm spatial resolution both for the quantum sensor and topographic images. We demonstrate two applications of this microscope. We first image nanoscale clusters of maghemite particles through both spin resonance spectroscopy and spin relaxometry, under ambient conditions. Our images reveal fast magnetic field fluctuations in addition to a static component, indicating the presence of both superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic particles. We next demonstrate a new imaging modality where the nano-spin ensemble is used as a thermometer. We use this technique to map the photo-induced heating generated by laser irradiation of a single gold nanoparticle in a fluid environment. This work paves the way towards new applications of quantum probe microscopy such as thermal/magnetic imaging of operating microelectronic devices and magnetic detection of ion channels in cell membranes.Comment: 22 pages including Supporting Information. Changes to v1: affiliations and funding information updated, plus minor revisions to the main tex

Assessing the Public’s Views on Prison and Prison Alternatives: Findings from Public Deliberation Research in Three Australian Cities

Consistent with other high income countries in the West, prisons are being built or expanded in every Australian state and territory to house increasing numbers of prisoners. Despite decreasing crime victimisation rates in Australia, incarceration rates have doubled over the last thirty years. Australia’s use of imprisonment has major economic and social equity costs, especially given the over-representation of Indigenous Australians and other socially disadvantaged groups in prison. Evidence increasingly points to the limitation of incarceration as a tool for effective offender rehabilitation suggesting that a new policy agenda on responses to offending is warranted. Yet, public opinion is generally assessed and perceived to hold punitive views towards offenders. Such views are typically assessed using non-deliberative opinion polls. Research and perceived public opinion of this kind can be an obstacle to policy reform and a justification for prison expansion. This paper reports on a project that uses a Citizens Jury approach in three Australian cities. The aim of these Citizens Juries was to provide an opportunity for citizens to critically engage in and deliberate on the issues that underlie offending, and society’s responses to it. This paper provides substantive insight into the considered views of members of the public on issues of criminal justice and makes recommendations about the value of the Citizens Jury method to explore public opinion on criminal justice issues. This has broader implications for the use of deliberative methodologies in other highly politicised public policy fields

Nontargeted screening using gas chromatography– atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry: Recent trends and emerging potential

Gas chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS) is a powerful non-targeted screening technique that promises to accelerate the identification of environmental pollu-tants. Currently, most GC–HRMS instruments are equipped with electron ionization (EI), but atmospheric pressure ionization (API) ion sources have attracted renewed interest because: (i) colli-sional cooling at atmospheric pressure minimizes fragmentation, resulting in an increased yield of molecular ions for elemental composition determination and improved detection limits; (ii) a wide range of sophisticated tandem (ion mobility) mass spectrometers can be easily adapted for opera-tion with GC–API; and (iii) the conditions of an atmospheric pressure ion source can promote structure diagnostic ion–molecule reactions that are otherwise difficult to perform using conventional GC–MS instrumentation. This literature review addresses the merits of GC–API for nontargeted screening while summarizing recent applications using various GC–API techniques. One perceived drawback of GC–API is the paucity of spectral libraries that can be used to guide structure elucida-tion. Herein, novel data acquisition, deconvolution and spectral prediction tools will be reviewed. With continued development, it is anticipated that API may eventually supplant EI as the de facto GC–MS ion source used to identify unknowns

Can only intelligent children do mind reading: The relationship between intelligence and theory of mind in 8 to 11 years old

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mind reading ability of children has evoked wide interest, but its relationship with general cognitive abilities remains obscure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied the relationship between the mind reading ability and general intelligence. Children (N = 105) between 8 to 11 years from educational institutions were assessed for the mind reading ability using <it>Picture Sequencing Task </it>and <it>Unexpected Contents Theory of Mind task</it>. We used <it>Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire </it>to rule out psychiatric morbidity. An independent investigator quantified intelligence and adaptive behavior with <it>Binet- Kamat Test of intelligence </it>and <it>Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale </it>respectively. We employed bivariate and multivariate statistical tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We demonstrated that mind reading ability was not significantly related to general intelligence or its domains except for the social intelligence after controlling the confounders methodologically and statistically.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings argue that mind reading skill exists as an independent cognitive domain and has clinical, research as well as educational implications.</p

Real-world evaluation of ocrelizumab in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review

Ocrelizumab; Multiple sclerosisOcrelizumab; Esclerosis múltipleOcrelizumab; Esclerosi múltipleAcross its clinical development program, ocrelizumab demonstrated efficacy in improving clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosis, including annualized relapse rates and confirmed disability progression. However, as with any new treatment, it was unclear how this efficacy would translate into real-world clinical practice. The objective of this study was to systematically collate the published real-world clinical effectiveness data for ocrelizumab in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and primary progressive multiple sclerosis. A search strategy was developed in MEDLINE and Embase to identify articles reporting real-world evidence in people with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis or primary progressive multiple sclerosis receiving treatment with ocrelizumab. The search focused on English language articles only but was not limited by the country in which the study was conducted or the time frame of the study. Additional manual searches of relevant websites were also performed. Fifty-two studies were identified reporting relevant evidence. Real-world effectiveness data for ocrelizumab were consistently favorable, with reductions in relapse rate and disease progression rates similar to those reported in the OPERA I/OPERA II and ORATORIO clinical trials, including in studies with more diverse patient populations not well represented in the pivotal trials. Although direct comparisons are confounded by lack of randomization of treatments, outcomes reported suggest that ocrelizumab has a similar or greater efficacy than other therapy options. Initial real-world effectiveness data for ocrelizumab appear favorable and consistent with results reported in clinical trials, providing clinicians with an efficacious option to treat patients with multiple sclerosis.This study was funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche