Customized multi-group cross section generation with NJOY for discrete ordinates computed tomography and radiography simulation

The purpose of this work was to explore the creation of photoatomic multi-group cross section libraries to be used with a software package DOCTORS (Discrete Ordinates Computed TOmography and Radiography Simulator). This software solves the linear Boltzmann equation using the discrete ordinates method [1]. To create these libraries, NJOY2016 was used, creating both fine and broad energy multi-group cross section files. The cross section\u27s accuracy was tested against an equivalent Monte Carlo simulation using MCNP6. Two simulation geometries were used. The first, a cylindrical water phantom with a single source projection placed in front, simulating an X-ray radiography. The second used the same water phantom with 16 cone beam sources placed evenly around the phantom to simulate a computed tomography (CT) scan. The accuracy of the fine energy multi-group cross sections when used in DOCTORS has been verified. The accuracy of the broad energy multi-group cross sections when used in DOCTORS shows that more work must be done before they can be used reliably --Abstract, page iii

Future Developments in Home Buying and Selling

This report was commissioned by the Council of Mortgage Lenders to assess what developments there have been in the home buying and selling industry in the last five years and to assess what future developments there might be in the next few years. The overall aim is to gauge the impact of market developments on the problems in the current system and to assess whether a compulsory seller's pack would bring about a material difference to the industry

Monitoring Industry Initiatives to Improve the Homebuying and Selling Process

This report assesses a number of industry-led initiatives designed to speed up the process of buying and selling a home. The study is intended to inform the future changes in the system of home buying and selling in England and Wales, and it is the second study of three being prepared by Martin Hamblin for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). The first study, "The key to easier home buying and selling" (DETR 1998) looked at bottlenecks in the system and consumer and professionals' suggestions for change. One of these suggestions was the introduction of a seller's pack, already being used by several companies in different locations. This report provides a detailed look at the operation, content and success of full and part seller's packs and how the industry views these. The third report in the series will be an assessment of a pilot seller's pack scheme in the Bristol area, being supported by the DETR

Prolonged anxiety on habituation of the cold shock response

Variation in the cold shock response (CSR) can be explained by physiological factors, habituation; and possibly "psychological" influences. Acute anxiety on cold-water immersion (CWI) increases the magnitude of the CSR in unhabituated volunteers and eliminates the reduction in the response seen after habituation. Recently it was demonstrated that habituation of the CSR includes a significant perceptual component. When the threat of CWI scenario was reduced, anxiety associated with being immersed was also reduced. In contrast, prolonged anxiety during repeat CWIs may prevent habituation. Therefore, it was hypothesized that prolonged anxiety reduces the extent of CSR habituation

Street Crime in London: Deterrence, Disruption and Displacement

In early 2002 the Government implemented the Street Crime Initiative (SCI) in response to a rapid rise in street crime and growing public and media concern. The report examines the nature of street crime in the capital during 2001/02 and the early stages of the government initiative designed to tackle it. The study takes an innovative approach combining offence statistics, information gathered from interviews with offenders and those involved in the Street Crime Initiative (SCI) and crime mapping techniques to assess the impact of the SCI. It pays particular attention to how these offences can displace into other forms of crime or shift across time or place. It was precisely these issues which led the Government Office for London ultimately to commission this study in order to understand the nature of street crime across the London region

Understanding recruitment to a perioperative randomised controlled trial: protocol for a mixed-methods substudy nested within a feasibility trial of octreotide infusion during liver transplantation

Introduction Recruitment to perioperative randomised controlled trials is known to be challenging. Qualitative methods offer insight into barriers and enablers to participation. This is a substudy within a feasibility randomised controlled trial of octreotide infusion during liver transplantation at two National Health Service hospitals, which will evaluate patient and staff experiences of trial processes. By sharing formative understanding from these methods with the trials team we aim to improve staff-patient interactions and hence recruitment rates. Methods and analysis This prospective mixed-methods study will comprise two workstreams. First, after consent to the randomised controlled trial is sought, all patients will be invited to complete a questionnaire to explore their perceptions of the information given to them and motivating factors that influenced their decision to consent or not. Questionnaires will be analysed using descriptive statistics and framework analysis. If the recruitment:approach ratio drops below a predetermined ratio or if there are any specific recruitment concerns from the trials team, a second workstream involving mixed-methods fieldwork will be implemented. This will involve audiorecording of recruitment consultations and a follow-up semistructured interview to explore patients' perception of their decision-making regarding recruitment. Semistructured interviews will also be conducted with the recruitment team to establish their views about the trial, barriers to recruitment and ways to overcome them. Recruitment consultations will be analysed using Q-QAT methodology and interviews will be analysed using framework analysis. Findings from both workstreams will be formatively fed back to the trials team to enable iterative improvement to recruitment processes. Ethics and dissemination Approval has been granted by Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee (ref 20/NW/0071), the Health Research Authority and the local Research and Development offices. A manuscript detailing the summative findings will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number NCT04941911

Exploring athletes’ perceptions of coach stress in elite sport environments

The present study aimed to extend research that has focused on the identification of stressors associated with coaching practice by systematically evaluating how such stressors effect athletes, and more broadly, the coach-athlete relationship. A total of 13 professional and national level athletes were interviewed to address the three study aims: how they detect when a coach is encountering stressors; how coach experiences of stress effects them as an athlete; and, how effective the coach is when experiencing stress. Following content analysis, the data suggested athletes were able to detect when a coach was experiencing stress and this was typically via a variety of verbal and behavioural cues. Despite some positive effects of the coach experiencing stress, the majority were negative and varied across a range of personal influences on the athlete, and effects on the general coaching environment. It was also the broad view of the athletes that coaches were less effective when stressed, and this was reflected in performance expectations, perceptions of competence, and lack of awareness. The findings are discussed in relation to the existing theory and with reference to their implications for applied practice, future research, and development of the coach athlete relationship

Exploring athletes’ perceptions of coach stress in elite sport environments

The present study aimed to extend research that has focused on the identification of stressors associated with coaching practice by systematically evaluating how such stressors effect athletes, and more broadly, the coach-athlete relationship. A total of 13 professional and national level athletes were interviewed to address the three study aims: how they detect when a coach is encountering stressors; how coach experiences of stress effects them as an athlete; and, how effective the coach is when experiencing stress. Following content analysis, the data suggested athletes were able to detect when a coach was experiencing stress and this was typically via a variety of verbal and behavioural cues. Despite some positive effects of the coach experiencing stress, the majority were negative and varied across a range of personal influences on the athlete, and effects on the general coaching environment. It was also the broad view of the athletes that coaches were less effective when stressed, and this was reflected in performance expectations, perceptions of competence, and lack of awareness. The findings are discussed in relation to the existing theory and with reference to their implications for applied practice, future research, and development of the coach athlete relationship