Turing's Genius - Defining an apt microcosm.

Alan Turing (1912–1954) is widely acknowledged as a genius. As well as codebreaking during World War II and taking a pioneering role in computer hardware design and software after the War, he also wrote three important foundational papers in the fields of theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence, and mathematical biology. He has been called the father of computer science, but he also admired by mathematicians, philosophers, and perhaps more surprisingly biologists, for his wide-ranging ideas. His influence stretches from scientific to cultural and even political impact. For all these reasons, he was a true polymath. This paper considers the genius of Turing from various angles, both scientific and artistic. The four authors provide position statements on how Turing has influenced and inspired their work, together with short biographies, as a starting point for a panel session and visual music performance

The Role of Compensatory Beliefs in Rationalizing Environmentally Detrimental Behaviors

Compensatory green beliefs (CGBs) reflect the idea that a pro-environmental behavior (e.g., recycling) can off-set the negative effects of an environmentally detrimental behavior (e.g., driving). It is thought that CGBs might help explain why people act in ways that appear to contradict their pro-environmental intentions, and inconsistently engage in pro-environmental behaviors. The present study sought to investigate the nature and use of CGBs. A series of interviews suggested that participants endorsed CGBs to: (a) reduce feelings of guilt with respect to (the assumed or actual) negative environmental impact of their actions, and (b) to defend their green credentials in social situations. Participants also justified detrimental behaviors on the basis of higher loyalties (e.g., family’s needs), or the perceived difficulty of performing more pro-environmental actions. In addition to shedding light on how, when, and why people might hold and use CGBs, the research also provides new insight into how CGBs should be assessed

Scoping the future law and social justice - listening & hearing from the frontline: final report

'Scoping the Future Law and Social Justice – Listening & Hearing from the Frontline' ran for eight months from November 2021 until June 2022. The project aimed to identify research priorities for the AHRC in the area of law and social justice, a broad field of study with diverse points of focus. It explores the role that the law and legal institutions play in addressing contemporary social challenges such as those associated with gender, the COVID-19 pandemic, modern slavery, hate crime, inequality, the digital revolution, capitalism, and climate change to achieve a more just society, particularly around meeting the needs and safeguarding the rights of excluded, vulnerable and marginalised communities. In considering the subthemes identified by the AHRC (governance, citizenship & representation, transitional justice, and cultures of exclusion), we note that many of the current debates in these fields are underpinned by the notion of accountability. The project was designed around four workstreams (WS), which were designed to align with the AHRC and broader UKRI priorities. An interdisciplinary team at Nottingham Trent University undertook a comprehensive theoretical and empirical inquiry, informed by participatory action research, to formulate thematic and format-based recommendations for the AHRC. The research was co-designed with our research partners whom we refer to as ‘trusted intermediaries’ (TIs). Feedback and guidance were received from the Advisory Group (AG), represented by members of academia and the public whose work is broadly related to social justice issues. Six meetings with the AG, either collectively or individually were held, and their feedback has been indispensable for sharpening our project design and reflecting on progress. The team adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining a literature (scoping) review as well as qualitative data collection and analysis. Through different stages of the project, we have developed three templates to enable consistent collation of data across the research team. The first template sought to elicit the gaps in the existing literature. The second reflected on the data collected through individual interviews or focus groups. The third triangulated the literature, transcripts from interviews, and transcript and field notes analysis against five benchmarks which had been identified at the beginning of the project in consultation with our TIs. Overall, we conducted 29 partners and TI semi-structured interviews, and six interviews and three focus groups with service-users. Analysis of this data led to findings and team discussions. A first draft of the report was presented at a Roundtable for feedback from TIs and the government officials present. High quality research in the field of social justice, broadly defined, in the area of social justice is complex and multi-layered. This report recommends that future research in the field priorities stakeholder engagement that enables ongoing and respectful participatory research models involving the active co-design and collaboration of research partners. This should ensure that the nature of challenges in the field are properly understood, rather than based on assumptions contained in much of the established literature that may be outdated or may not be evidenced through the lived experiences of beneficiaries. While the research was commissioned by the AHRC, there are clear overlaps with the remit of the ESRC. Causes of social injustice (as the data and access to justice literature reflect) are complex and multi-layered, and key issues often intersect, compound, and are often structural in nature. Accordingly, academic ‘silos’ can be unhelpful in seeking to provide impactful and effective solutions to social injustice. This project has revealed fundamental inequities in policy and administrative settings that exacerbate exclusion. This report recommends that future research should prioritise interdisciplinary and participatory approaches which adopt shared language which cuts across disciplinary boundaries and is accessible to frontline service providers and end-users. While the research team for this project drew from expertise across different fields of law, politics and social psychology, we appreciate that future cross-disciplinary research might usefully draw upon the wider range of subject areas falling within the AHRC’s remit, including (but not limited to) to history, archaeology, anthropology, philosophy, languages, literature and the creative arts. This conclusion is based on our finding that creative pursuits can potentially play a useful role in reducing community isolation, build confidence, improve public trust and civic participation. The importance of interdisciplinary and cross-/multidisciplinary practise is also an area emerging as a way to improve responsiveness. This was noted by the REF2021 panel to be a point of strength and vibrancy in the current research landscape. The research findings also highlight the importance of using non-technical and accessible language and non- judgemental ways of working in order to gain buy-in from frontline service-providers, including groups who represent the interests of socially excluded communities. Such an approach would help to combat research fatigue and the sense of ‘being used but not included’ which had been flagged by a number of our TIs in relation to their involvement previous academic research projects. It is well established that austerity and competition for limited resources has had a major impact upon this sector. The sense of exhaustion and distrust should be acknowledged in in formulating future research strategies. While our own approach to this project can be characterised as iterative, reflective and responsive so as to enable a sense of ‘buy-in’ among our TIs, this has clearly not been the case in many previous research exercises. The allocation of future research funding should bear in mind the importance of co-design and collaboration to ensure that such funding represents value for money and that the nature of any findings are practical, relevant and evidence-based. These recommendations are in line with the REF panel’s observation that ‘the strongest submissions included Impact at all Points of the Research strategy and provided support, training and resources to develop External partnerships and relationships,’ further noting the ‘importance of outward focussing research with the outside organisation as ‘of vital importance to social progress and development. Our recommendations for the AHRC focus is on the general characteristics of the support needed, specific recommendations for next steps, aims, type, scale, timelines, justification of support needed as well as partners and their roles. 1. The AHRC would benefit from funding mid to long term “Engagement Research”: with local communities, NGOs (including Foodbanks, Legal Advice Centres, Domestic Abuse services with modest additional resources so as not to deflect from service delivery on the front line), local government, policy makers, corporations, legal practitioners etc. We have identified four themes for Engagement Research (trust, accountability, vulnerability, citizen’s rights) and 10 topics. 2. The AHRC should fund Fellowships that utilise opportunities to work on internship/externship models to partner with third sector agencies so that on-the ground practical realities can shape and support empirical, comparative, theoretical and doctrinal research to address current global and domestic challenges. These areas of study are key to address particular challenges for which researchers may find it difficult to secure funding from other sources due to the nature of their discipline and research. These fellowships may follow three different routes: AHRC Scholarship Fellowships, AHRC Interdisciplinary Fellowships, and AHRC Engagement Fellowships. We have identified six themes to engage with for AHRC. 3. AHRC should fund an independently evaluated pilot Digital Hub for police, which serves an important role in supplementing community policing by building and retaining useful shared information. Project design is in line with equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) criteria – which were taken into consideration not only with respect to how we have formed our team and distributed the tasks, but also how we recruited and drew on the expertise of partners and participants within the project

Evidence-Based Mental Health Programs in Schools: Barriers and Facilitators of Successful Implementation

Although schools can improve children’s access to mental health services, not all school-based providers are able to successfully deliver evidence-based practices. Indeed, even when school clinicians are trained in evidence-based practices (EBP), the training does not necessarily result in the implementation of those practices. This study explores factors that influence implementation of a particular EBP, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS). Semi-structured telephone interviews with 35 site administrators and clinicians from across the United States were conducted 6–18 months after receiving CBITS training to discuss implementation experiences. The implementation experiences of participants differed, but all reported similar barriers to implementation. Sites that successfully overcame such barriers differed from their unsuccessful counterparts by having greater organizational structure for delivering school services, a social network of other clinicians implementing CBITS, and administrative support for implementation. This study suggests that EBP implementation can be facilitated by having the necessary support from school leadership and peers

Creative analogy use in a heterogeneous design team: The pervasive role of background domain knowledge

We integrated two research traditions – one focusing on analogical reasoning, the other on knowledge sharing – with the aim of examining how designers’ unique knowledge backgrounds can fuel analogy-based creativity. The present dataset afforded a unique opportunity to pursue this aim since the design dialogue derived from team members with highly disparate educational backgrounds. Our analyses revealed that analogies that matched (versus mismatched) educational backgrounds were generated and revisited more frequently, presumably because they were more accessible. Matching analogies were also associated with increased epistemic uncertainty, perhaps because domain experts appreciate the challenge of mapping such analogies between domains. Our findings support claims from the knowledge-sharing literature for a direct route from knowledge diversity through analogical reasoning to novel idea production

The presentation, diagnosis and management of non-traumatic wrist pain: an evaluation of current practice in secondary care in the UK NHS

AbstractObjectivesThe study aims were to assess the burden of non-traumatic wrist pain in terms of numbers of referrals to secondary care, and to characterise how patients present, are diagnosed and are managed in secondary care in the United Kingdom National Health Service.MethodsTen consecutive patients presenting with non-traumatic wrist pain were identified retrospectively at each of 16 participating hospitals and data was extracted for twelve months following the initial referral.ResultsThe 160 patients consisted of 100 females and 60 males with a median age of 49, accounting for approximately 13% of all new hand/wrist referrals. The dominant wrist was affected in 60% of cases and the mean symptom duration was 13.3 months. Diagnoses were grouped into: osteoarthritis (OA) (31%), tendinopathy (13%), ganglion (14%), ulnar sided pain (17%) and other (25%). The OA group was significantly older than other groups, while other groups contained a predominance of females.The non-surgical interventions in decreasing frequency of usage were: steroid injections (39%), physiotherapy (32%), splint (31%) and analgesics (12%). Of those who underwent surgery, all patients had previously received non-surgical treatment, however 42% had undergone only one non-surgical intervention.ConclusionNon-traumatic wrist pain represents a significant burden to secondary care both in terms of new patient referrals and in terms of investigation, follow up and treatment. Those presenting with osteoarthritis are more likely to be older and male, while those presenting with other diagnoses are more likely to be younger and female

Dimensions of creative evaluation: Distinct design and reasoning strategies for aesthetic, functional and originality judgments

Our analysis of the DTRS 10 dataset examined evaluative reasoning taking place during expert ‘design critiques’. We focused on key dimensions of creative evaluation (originality, functionality and aesthetics) and ways in which these dimensions impact reasoning strategies and suggestions offered by experts for how the student could continue. Each dimension was associated with a specific underpinning ‘logic’ determining how these dimensions were evaluated in practice. Our analysis clarified how these dimensions triggered reasoning strategies such as running mental simulations or making design suggestions, ranging from ‘go/kill’ decisions to loose recommendations to continue without directional steer. The findings advance our theoretical understanding of evaluation behavior in design and alert practicing design evaluators to the nature and consequences of their critical appraisals

How does community context influence coalitions in the formation stage? a multiple case study based on the Community Coalition Action Theory

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Community coalitions are rooted in complex and dynamic community systems. Despite recognition that environmental factors affect coalition behavior, few studies have examined how community context impacts coalition formation. Using the Community Coalition Action theory as an organizing framework, the current study employs multiple case study methodology to examine how five domains of community context affect coalitions in the formation stage of coalition development. Domains are history of collaboration, geography, community demographics and economic conditions, community politics and history, and community norms and values.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were from 8 sites that participated in an evaluation of a healthy cities and communities initiative in California. Twenty-three focus groups were conducted with coalition members, and 76 semi-structured interviews were conducted with local coordinators and coalition leaders. Cross-site analyses were conducted to identify the ways contextual domains influenced selection of the lead agency, coalition membership, staffing and leadership, and coalition processes and structures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>History of collaboration influenced all four coalition factors examined, from lead agency selection to coalition structure. Geography influenced coalition formation largely through membership and staffing, whereas the demographic and economic makeup of the community had an impact on coalition membership, staffing, and infrastructure for coalition processes. The influence of community politics, history, norms and values was most noticeable on coalition membership.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Findings contribute to an ecologic and theory-based understanding of the range of ways community context influences coalitions in their formative stage.</p

Big-Data Science in Porous Materials: Materials Genomics and Machine Learning

By combining metal nodes with organic linkers we can potentially synthesize millions of possible metal organic frameworks (MOFs). At present, we have libraries of over ten thousand synthesized materials and millions of in-silico predicted materials. The fact that we have so many materials opens many exciting avenues to tailor make a material that is optimal for a given application. However, from an experimental and computational point of view we simply have too many materials to screen using brute-force techniques. In this review, we show that having so many materials allows us to use big-data methods as a powerful technique to study these materials and to discover complex correlations. The first part of the review gives an introduction to the principles of big-data science. We emphasize the importance of data collection, methods to augment small data sets, how to select appropriate training sets. An important part of this review are the different approaches that are used to represent these materials in feature space. The review also includes a general overview of the different ML techniques, but as most applications in porous materials use supervised ML our review is focused on the different approaches for supervised ML. In particular, we review the different method to optimize the ML process and how to quantify the performance of the different methods. In the second part, we review how the different approaches of ML have been applied to porous materials. In particular, we discuss applications in the field of gas storage and separation, the stability of these materials, their electronic properties, and their synthesis. The range of topics illustrates the large variety of topics that can be studied with big-data science. Given the increasing interest of the scientific community in ML, we expect this list to rapidly expand in the coming years.Comment: Editorial changes (typos fixed, minor adjustments to figures

A prospective, randomised, controlled, double-blind phase I-II clinical trial on the safety of A-Part® Gel as adhesion prophylaxis after major abdominal surgery versus non-treated group

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Postoperative adhesions occur when fibrous strands of internal scar tissue bind anatomical structures to one another. The most common cause of intra-abdominal adhesions is previous intra-abdominal surgical intervention. Up to 74% of intestinal obstructions are caused by post surgical adhesions. Although a variety of methods and agents have been investigated to prevent post surgical adhesions, the problem of peritoneal adhesions remains largely unsolved. Materials serving as an adhesion barrier are much needed.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This is a prospective, randomised, controlled, patient blinded and observer blinded, single centre phase I-II trial, which evaluates the safety of A-Part^®Gel as an adhesion prophylaxis after major abdominal wall surgery, in comparison to an untreated control group. 60 patients undergoing an elective median laparotomy without prior abdominal surgery are randomly allocated into two groups of a 1:1- ratio. Safety parameter and primary endpoint of the study is the occurrence of wound healing impairment or peritonitis within 28 (+10) days after surgery. The frequency of anastomotic leakage within 28 days after operation, occurrence of adverse and serious adverse events during hospital stay up to 3 months and the rate of adhesions along the scar within 3 months are defined as secondary endpoints. After hospital discharge the investigator will examine the enrolled patients at 28 (+10) days and 3 months (±14 days) after surgery.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This trial aims to assess, whether the intra-peritoneal application of A-Part^®Gel is safe and efficacious in the prevention of post-surgical adhesions after median laparotomy, in comparison to untreated controls.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT00646412</p