Urban expansion simulation with an explainable ensemble deep learning framework.

Urban expansion simulation is of significant importance to land management and policymaking. Advances in deep learning facilitate capturing and anticipating urban land dynamics with state-of-the-art accuracy properties. In this context, a novel deep learning-based ensemble framework was proposed for urban expansion simulation at an intra-urban granular level. The ensemble framework comprises i) multiple deep learning models as encoders, using transformers for encoding multi-temporal spatial features and convolutional layers for processing single-temporal spatial features, ii) a tailored channel-wise attention module to address the challenge of limited interpretability in deep learning methods. The channel attention module enables the examination of the rationality of feature importance, thereby establishing confidence in the simulated results. The proposed method accurately anticipated urban expansion in Shenzhen, China, and it outperformed all the baseline methods in terms of both spatial accuracy and temporal consistency.

Data and its role in reducing the risk of disasters in the built environment.

In accordance with the Sendai framework, we need to protect our global neighbours from the risk of future disasters. This short paper calls for the disaster risk reduction (DRR) community to make investments in standardising and collecting the muchneeded vulnerability-relevant exposure data to help quantify, and therefore reduce risk.

Information sharing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study about face masks.

This article contributes an empirical analysis of information sharing practices on Twitter relating to the use of face masks in the context of COVID-19. Behavioural changes, such as the use of face masks, are often influenced by people's knowledge and perceptions, which in turn can be affected by the information available to them. Face masks were not recommended for use by the UK public at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to developments in scientific understanding, the guidance changed and by the end of 2020 they were mandatory on public transport and in shops. This research examines tweets in this longitudinal context and, therefore, provides novel insights into the dynamics of crisis communication in an ongoing crisis event with emerging scientific evidence. Specifically, analysis of the content of tweets, external resources most frequently shared, and users sharing information are considered. The conclusions contribute to developing understanding of the digital information ecology and provide practical insights for crisis communicators. Firstly, the analysis shows changes in the frequency of tweets about the topic correspond with key guidance and policy changes. These are, therefore, points in time official channels of information need to utilise the public's information seeking and sharing practices. Secondly, due to changes in face mask guidance and policy, the current literature on digital information ecology is insufficient for capturing the dynamic nature of a long-term ongoing crisis event. Challenges can arise due to the prolonged circulation of out-of-date information, i.e. not strategic misinformation, nor "mis"-information at all, which can have serious ramifications for crisis communication practitioners. Thirdly, the role of traditional media and other journalism/broadcasting platforms in shaping conversations is evident, as is the potential for scientific organisations' and individual people's Twitter user accounts. This plurality of contributors needs to be acknowledged and understood to inform crisis communication strategies.

A randomized controlled study of acupuncture for pain relief during first trimester surgical termination of pregnancy performed under local analgesia.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture reduces pain levels in many painful conditions. This study compared pain levels during surgical termination of first trimester pregnancy by suction evacuation (SE) under local analgesia with and without the use of acupuncture. METHODS: In all, 60 nulliparous women undergoing SE before 10 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned into one of the following three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio according to a computer-generated randomization list. In the control group, women received oral diazepam 5 mg and intramuscular (i.m.) injection of pethidine 30 and 15 min, respectively, prior to SE. In the acupuncture group, women received acupuncture 10 min before SE until the end of SE while oral diazepam 5 mg and i.m. injection of normal saline were given. In the combined group, women received acupuncture in addition to the drugs in the control group. Data from 52 participants were analysed. Pain scores during and after SE, post-operative side-effects and satisfaction levels were compared. RESULTS: The three groups had similar baseline characteristics. The median pain levels during SE differed significantly between the control, acupuncture, and combined groups (80, 50 and 66 mm, respectively, p = 0.03). Pain levels during SE in the acupuncture and combined groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. However, the anxiety scores did not differ between the three groups after SE (p = 0.86). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can provide additional benefit in terms of pain relief in women undergoing first trimester termination of pregnancy by SE under local analgesia.

COVID-19 and science advice on the 'Grand Stage': the metadata and linguistic choices in a scientific advisory groups' meeting minutes.

Science advice for governments attracted great scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the public spotlight on institutions and individual experts-putting science advice on the 'Grand Stage'. A review of the academic literature identified transparency, a plurality of expertise, the science and policy 'boundary', and consensus whilst addressing uncertainty as key themes. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has been the primary provider of coordinated scientific and technical advice to the UK Government during emergencies since 2009. Using the first 89 of SAGE's meeting minutes (study period: 22 January 2020-13 May 2021), the 'metadata' and linguistic choices are analysed to identify how SAGE's role and protocols are communicated. This includes understanding which experts were regularly taking part in discussions, the role of scientific experts in the science advisory system and their influence on policy choices, and the degree of consensus and uncertainty within this group of experts-all of which relate to the degree of transparency with the public. In addition, a temporal analysis examines how these practices, such as linguistically marking uncertainty, developed over the period studied. Linguistic markers indexing certainty and uncertainty increased, demonstrating a commitment to precise and accurate communication of the science, including ambiguities and the unknown. However, self-references to SAGE decreased over the period studied. The study highlights how linguistic analysis can be a useful approach for developing an understanding of science communication practices and scientific ambiguity. By considering how SAGE presents to those outside the process, the research calls attention to what remains 'behind the scenes' and consequently limits the public's understanding of SAGE's role in the COVID-19 response.

Speed or deliberation: a comparison of post-disaster recovery in Japan, Turkey, and Chile.

This paper compares recovery in the wake of three recent earthquakes: the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011; the Van earthquake in Turkey in October 2011; and the Maule earthquake in Chile in February 2010. The authors visited all three locations approximately 12-18 months after the incidents and interviewed earthquake specialists, disaster managers, urban planners, and local authorities. A key challenge to post-disaster recovery planning is balancing speed and deliberation. While affected communities must rebuild as quickly as possible, they must also seek to maximise the opportunities for improvement that disasters provide. The three case studies bring this dilemma into stark relief, as recovery was respectively slow, fast, and just right in the aftermath of the events: the Government of Japan adopted a deliberate approach to recovery and reconstruction; speed was of the essence in Turkey; and an effective balance between speed and deliberation was achieved in Chile.

Acupuncture in reproductive medicine.

Acupuncture is increasingly being used in reproductive medicine. This review summarizes the evidence of acupuncture in pain relief for oocyte retrieval, improving pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization treatment, management of ovulation disorders, male subfertility, primary dysmenorrhea, endometriosis and menopausal symptoms. However, most of the studies are nonrandomized uncontrolled trials, case reports or case series. For randomized controlled trials, the sample size is underpowered and blinding of assessors is lacking. Different acupuncture protocols and controls are used. These heterogeneities make it difficult to compare studies and draw any firm conclusions. Further studies should also evaluate the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture and investigate the underlying mechanism of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture for frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

The role of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate has not been evaluated in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. This randomized double-blind study aimed to determine whether acupuncture performed on the day of FET improves clinical outcomes. On the day of FET, 226 patients were randomly allocated to either real or placebo acupuncture according to a computer-generated randomization list in sealed opaque envelopes. They received a session of real or placebo acupuncture for 25 min on site immediately after FET. The anxiety level and serum cortisol concentration were evaluated before and after real and placebo acupuncture. There were no significant differences in rates of overall pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, live birth and implantation in the placebo acupuncture group, when compared with the real acupuncture group. The anxiety level and serum cortisol concentration were similar for both groups. Only the placebo acupuncture group had significantly higher ongoing pregnancy (P=0.022) and implantation rates (P=0.038) than those who declined to join the study and received no acupuncture. In conclusion, comparable pregnancy and live birth rates of FET treatment were found in patients who had one session of real or placebo acupuncture after FET.

A randomized double blind comparison of real and placebo acupuncture in IVF treatment.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been used during IVF treatment as it may improve outcome, however, there are concerns about the true efficacy of this approach. This randomized double blind study aimed to compare real acupuncture with placebo acupuncture in patients undergoing IVF treatment. METHODS: On the day of embryo transfer (ET), 370 patients were randomly allocated to either real or placebo acupuncture according to a computer-generated randomization list in sealed opaque envelopes. They received 25 min of real or placebo acupuncture before and after ET. The endometrial and subendometrial vascularity, serum cortisol concentration and the anxiety level were evaluated before and after real and placebo acupuncture. RESULTS: The overall pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the placebo acupuncture group than that in the real acupuncture group (55.1 versus 43.8%, respectively, P = 0.038; Common odds ratio 1.578 95% confidence interval 1.047-2.378). No significant differences were found in rates of ongoing pregnancy and live birth between the two groups. Reduction of endometrial and subendometrial vascularity, serum cortisol concentration and the anxiety level were observed following both real and placebo acupuncture, although there were no significant differences in the changes in all these indices between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Placebo acupuncture was associated with a significantly higher overall pregnancy rate when compared with real acupuncture. Placebo acupuncture may not be inert. Trial registered with HKClinicalTrials.com: number HKCTR-236.