Semantics through Pictures

A diagrammatic approach to the semantics of OO modelling notations is proposed. This is based on an innovative and expressive notation dubbed ''constraint diagrams'', which can be used to precisely characterise a range of sophisticated, static constraints on OO models. Other notations, such as those found in UML, can be viewed as projections of constraint diagrams. Work on using constraint diagrams at the core of a 3D modelling notation is also briefly described as a means of similarly providing the semantics of diagrams imposing constraints on dynamic behaviour

Dundee ADHD continuing care proforma (revised)

These are two proforma (one for males the other for females) that facilitate the recording of clinical information about the ongoing clinical status of children and adolescents receiving treatment for ADHD. Whilst the Dundee ADHD care pathway has recorded similar clinical information in a standardised way for the last 10 years the previous clinical records required a new document for each clinic visit. This made it more difficult to assess the development of clinical response over time and increased the time required by clinicians to make evidence based treatment decisions. These revised proforma allow the clinician to view the information from up to 12 clinic visits at the same time and therefore simplify the clinical task and improving clinical care. The proforma were designed as a part of a collaboration between graphic and product designers and clinicians that was made possible through the wider ADHD Behavioural Clinical Data (ABCD) data visualisation collaboration funded through and award from the University of Dundee

Changes of the cosmic-ray mass composition in the 10^{14} - 10^{16} eV energy range

Changes of the cosmic-ray mass composition at the `knee' of the cosmic-ray flux spectrum near 10^{15} eV energy are investigated using data from ten Cosmic Ray Tracking (CRT) detectors and the HEGRA air-shower array on La Palma, Canary Islands. The analysis is based on the angular distribution of muons in air showers. Results can be easily expressed in terms of of primary cosmic rays. We find a rise of below 10^{15} eV, consistent with direct measurements. Simple cosmic-ray composition models are presented which are fully consistent with our results as well as the JACEE flux and composition measurements and the flux measurements of the Tibet AS-gamma collaboration.Comment: 22 pages, 11 Postscript figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

To what extent has Sustainable Intensification in England been achieved?

Agricultural intensification has significantly increased yields and fed growing populations across the planet, but has also led to considerable environmental degradation. In response an alternative process of ‘Sustainable Intensification’ (SI), whereby food production increases while environmental impacts are reduced, has been advocated as necessary, if not sufficient, for delivering food and environmental security. However, the extent to which SI has begun, the main drivers of SI, and the degree to which degradation is simply ‘offshored’ are uncertain. In this study we assess agroecosystem services in England and two contrasting sub-regions, majority-arable Eastern England and majority-pastoral South-Western England, since 1950 by analysing ecosystem service metrics and developing a simple system dynamics model. We find that rapid agricultural intensification drove significant environmental degradation in England in the early 1980s, but that most ecosystem services except farmland biodiversity began to recover after 2000, primarily due to reduced livestock and fertiliser usage decoupling from high yields. This partially follows the trajectory of an Environmental Kuznets Curve, with yields and GDP growth decoupling from environmental degradation above ~£17,000 per capita per annum. Together, these trends suggest that SI has begun in England. However, the lack of recovery in farmland biodiversity, and the reduction in UK food self-sufficiency resulting in some agricultural impacts being ‘offshored’, represent major negative trade-offs. Maintaining yields and restoring biodiversity while also addressing climate change, offshored degradation, and post-Brexit subsidy changes will require significant further SI in the future