Geometry of Policy Improvement

We investigate the geometry of optimal memoryless time independent decision making in relation to the amount of information that the acting agent has about the state of the system. We show that the expected long term reward, discounted or per time step, is maximized by policies that randomize among at most $k$ actions whenever at most $k$ world states are consistent with the agent's observation. Moreover, we show that the expected reward per time step can be studied in terms of the expected discounted reward. Our main tool is a geometric version of the policy improvement lemma, which identifies a polyhedral cone of policy changes in which the state value function increases for all states.Comment: 8 page

Coordinating UoS engagement events

This booklet is Coordinating UoS Engagement Events and provides further information and details on ways in which diverse teams across the University can help you to maximise the impact of your public & community engagement activities. Aims of this eBook: • Specifically focuses on how to get started with planning and running an engagement event, with links • Provides guidance and advice on evaluating and documenting your engagement event • Provides information about the training & development and internal funding available • Encourages reflection and self-evaluation throughout the development process • Sign-posts to useful internal and external resources, tools, tips and techniques • Promotes goal setting and development of confidence and capabilit

Getting started with impact

This booklet is Getting Started with Impact and provides further information and details on ways in which to embed real-world impact from the outset of your research projects to ensure maximum benefit to your publics and stakeholders. Aims of this eBook: • Specifically focuses on how to get started with impact, with links to templates • Provides information about the training & development and internal funding available • Encourages reflection and self-evaluation throughout the development process • Sign-posts to useful internal and external resources, tools, tips and techniques • Promotes goal setting and development of confidence and capabilit

Working with Government and influencing policy

This booklet is Working with Government and Influencing Policy and provides further information and details on ways in which to engage with and influence policy makers and other key stakeholders to maximise the reach and significance of your research impact. Aims of this eBook: • Specifically focuses on how to get started with policy engagement, with links • Provides information about the training & development and internal funding available • Encourages reflection and self-evaluation throughout the development process • Sign-posts to useful internal and external resources, tools, tips and techniques • Promotes goal setting and development of confidence and capabilit

Developing widening engagement activities and events

This booklet is Developing Widening Engagement Activities and Events and provides further information and details about the process and a practical guide to delivering events to connect to and communicate your research. Aims of this eBook: • Specifically focuses on designing, developing and delivering public engagement (PE) in person events and activities, with useful links and tools • Used alongside PDR and Development Plans to identify development opportunities • Supports decision making and work in areas of research impact, finding funding for research and in preparation for the REF and KEF processes as well as supporting individual and organisational objectives • Sets out expectations and limitations of the possibilities to help focus time and resource appropriately • Facilitates preparation in advance of key milestones and PE events in the annual calendar • Encourages reflection and self-evaluation throughout the development process • Sign-posts to useful resources, tools, tips and techniques • Promotes goal setting and development of confidence and capabilit

Quick start guide to public & community engagement

This booklet is Getting Started with Public & Community Engagement and provides further information and details about the process of public engagement with research. Aims of this eBook: • Specifically focuses on widening engagement (this is largely focussed on the public engagement of research but also touches upon elements of widening participation and enterprise), with useful links and tools • Provides detailed information about the training and development available • Designed to help plan your attendance and participation in appropriate training • Used alongside PDR and Development Plans to identify development opportunities • Support decision making and work in areas of research impact, finding funding for research and in preparation for the REF and KEF processes as well as supporting individual and organisational objectives • Sets out expectations and limitations of the training to help focus time and resource appropriately • Facilitates preparation in advance of attendance and participation • Encourages reflection and self-evaluation throughout the development process • Sign-posts to useful resources, tools, tips and techniques • Promotes goal setting and development of confidence and capabilit

RNA-Seq analysis and comparison of corneal epithelium in keratoconus and myopia patients

© 2017 The Author(s). Keratoconus is a common degenerative corneal disease that can lead to significant visual morbidity, and both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in its pathogenesis. We compared the transcriptome of keratoconus and control epithelium using RNA-Seq. Epithelial tissues were obtained prior to surgery from keratoconus and myopia control patients, undergoing collagen cross-linking and photorefractive keratectomy, respectively. We identified major differences in keratoconus linked to cell-cell communication, cell signalling and cellular metabolism. The genes associated with the Hedgehog, Wnt and Notch1 signaling pathways were down-regulated in keratoconus. We also identified plasmolipin and Notch1 as being significantly reduced in keratoconus for both gene and protein expression (p < 0.05). Plasmolipin is a novel protein identified in human corneal epithelium, and has been demonstrated to have a key role in epithelial cell differentiation in other tissues. This study shows altered gene and protein expression of these three proteins in keratoconus, and further studies are clearly warranted to confirm the functional role of these proteins in the pathogenesis of keratoconus

Author Correction: RNA-Seq analysis and comparison of corneal epithelium in keratoconus and myopia patients.

In the original version of this Article, a relevant paper on the detection of PLLP in human corneal epithelium during KC pathogenesis was not cited. This article is now cited as Ref 56 and discussed. As a result, in the Conclusion, "Notch1 and PLLP have not previously been linked to KC pathogenesis. PLLP has not been previously reported to be expressed in human corneal epithelium, although its roles in other tissues suggests it could play a critical role in normal corneal epithelial cellular activities, and interact with the Notch1 signaling pathway." now reads: "Notch1 has not previously been linked to KC pathogenesis. PLLP was reported to be upregulated in KC corneal epithelium compared to normal through proteomic analysis56. Both previous finding and our paper suggested an abnormal expression of PLLP in KC, however our study showed PLLP was down-regulated in KC. The difference can be attributed to the sample types and preparation. Myopia rather than normal corneal samples were used as control in this study. We measured and compared PLLP expression in each sample, whereas the previous study used pooled sample56 and therefore may mask the individual differences. The role of PLLP in human corneal epithelium is unclear, however findings from studies in other tissues suggest that it could be important in maintaining normal corneal epithelial cellular activities and interact with the Notch 1 signalling pathway." Subsequent references in the Article have been renumbered accordingly. The original Article has been corrected

Wetlands In a Changing Climate: Science, Policy and Management

Part 1 of this review synthesizes recent research on status and climate vulnerability of freshwater and saltwater wetlands, and their contribution to addressing climate change (carbon cycle, adaptation, resilience). Peatlands and vegetated coastal wetlands are among the most carbon rich sinks on the planet sequestering approximately as much carbon as do global forest ecosystems. Estimates of the consequences of rising temperature on current wetland carbon storage and future carbon sequestration potential are summarized. We also demonstrate the need to prevent drying of wetlands and thawing of permafrost by disturbances and rising temperatures to protect wetland carbon stores and climate adaptation/resiliency ecosystem services. Preventing further wetland loss is found to be important in limiting future emissions to meet climate goals, but is seldom considered. In Part 2, the paper explores the policy and management realm from international to national, subnational and local levels to identify strategies and policies reflecting an integrated understanding of both wetland and climate change science. Specific recommendations are made to capture synergies between wetlands and carbon cycle management, adaptation and resiliency to further enable researchers, policy makers and practitioners to protect wetland carbon and climate adaptation/resiliency ecosystem services

Determinants for the success of software startups: Insights from a regional cluster

In recent years, we have seen a growing interest in technology-based companies and intensive knowledge. Several regional clusters have appeared supported in dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems which, alongside intrinsic aspects of the business, are important determinants of the success of new companies. However, most startups created in these innovation-oriented spaces do not survive the first years of life, due to the high competitiveness of the technological market, due to deficiencies in the business model, due to the support conditions provided by the surrounding ecosystem, and finally due to a weak adjustment between all these dimensions. Among several models available, the Early-Life Decision Model (ELDM) presents itself as an interesting framework for studying the development and success conditions of software companies. This article discusses the application of the ELDM based on a series of interviews conducted to 15 Portuguese software startups installed in a technological cluster located in the northeast of Portugal. Based on the results obtained, it was appropriate to add a new dimension to the ELDM model (learning) and complementing it with the perspectives of the business type and internal versus external determinants.This work was supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013