Lancaster University

About: Lancaster University is a education organization based out in Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 13080 authors who have published 44563 publications receiving 1692277 citations. The organization is also known as: The University of Lancaster & Lancaster University.

Features of 20 133 UK patients in hospital with covid-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol: prospective observational cohort study.

Abstract: Objective To characterise the clinical features of patients admitted to hospital with coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) in the United Kingdom during the growth phase of the first wave of this outbreak who were enrolled in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK (CCP-UK) study, and to explore risk factors associated with mortality in hospital. Design Prospective observational cohort study with rapid data gathering and near real time analysis. Setting 208 acute care hospitals in England, Wales, and Scotland between 6 February and 19 April 2020. A case report form developed by ISARIC and WHO was used to collect clinical data. A minimal follow-up time of two weeks (to 3 May 2020) allowed most patients to complete their hospital admission. Participants 20 133 hospital inpatients with covid-19. Main outcome measures Admission to critical care (high dependency unit or intensive care unit) and mortality in hospital. Results The median age of patients admitted to hospital with covid-19, or with a diagnosis of covid-19 made in hospital, was 73 years (interquartile range 58-82, range 0-104). More men were admitted than women (men 60%, n=12 068; women 40%, n=8065). The median duration of symptoms before admission was 4 days (interquartile range 1-8). The commonest comorbidities were chronic cardiac disease (31%, 5469/17 702), uncomplicated diabetes (21%, 3650/17 599), non-asthmatic chronic pulmonary disease (18%, 3128/17 634), and chronic kidney disease (16%, 2830/17 506); 23% (4161/18 525) had no reported major comorbidity. Overall, 41% (8199/20 133) of patients were discharged alive, 26% (5165/20 133) died, and 34% (6769/20 133) continued to receive care at the reporting date. 17% (3001/18 183) required admission to high dependency or intensive care units; of these, 28% (826/3001) were discharged alive, 32% (958/3001) died, and 41% (1217/3001) continued to receive care at the reporting date. Of those receiving mechanical ventilation, 17% (276/1658) were discharged alive, 37% (618/1658) died, and 46% (764/1658) remained in hospital. Increasing age, male sex, and comorbidities including chronic cardiac disease, non-asthmatic chronic pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, liver disease and obesity were associated with higher mortality in hospital. Conclusions ISARIC WHO CCP-UK is a large prospective cohort study of patients in hospital with covid-19. The study continues to enrol at the time of this report. In study participants, mortality was high, independent risk factors were increasing age, male sex, and chronic comorbidity, including obesity. This study has shown the importance of pandemic preparedness and the need to maintain readiness to launch research studies in response to outbreaks. Study registration ISRCTN66726260.

Model-based Geostatistics

Abstract: An overview of model-based geostatistics.- Gaussian models for geostatistical data.- Generalized linear models for geostatistical data.- Classical parameter estimation.- Spatial prediction.- Bayesian inference.- Geostatistical design.

The Dynamics of Social Practice: Everyday Life and how it Changes

Abstract: The Dynamics of Social Practice Introducing Theories of Practice Materials and Resources Sequence and Structure Making and Breaking Links Material, Competence and Meaning Car-Driving: Elements and Linkages Making Links Breaking Links Elements Between Practices Standardization and Diversity Individual and Collective Careers The Life of Elements Modes of Circulation Transportation and Access: Material Abstraction, Reversal and Migration: Competence Association and Classification: Meaning Packing and Unpacking Emergence, Disappearance and Persistence Recruitment, Defection and Reproduction First Encounters: Networks and Communities Capture and Commitment: Careers and Carriers Collapse and Transformation: The Dynamics of Defection Daily Paths, Life Paths and Dominant Projects Connections Between Practices Bundles and Complexes Collaboration and Competition Selection and Integration Coordinating Daily Life Circuits of Reproduction Monitoring Practices-as-Performances Monitoring Practices-as-Entities Cross-Referencing Practices-as-Performances Cross-Referencing Practices-as-Entities Aggregation Elements of Coordination Intersecting Circuits Representing the Dynamics of Social Practice Representing Elements and Practices Characterizing Circulation Competition, Transformation and Convergence Reproducing Elements, Practices and Relations between Them Time and Practice Space and Practice Dominant Projects and Power Promoting Transitions in Practice Climate Change and Behaviour Change Basis of Action Processes of Change Positioning Policy Transferable Lessons Practice Theory and Climate Change Policy Configuring Elements of Practice Configuring Relations between Practices Configuring Careers: Carriers and Practices Configuring Connections Practice Oriented Policy Making

Cosmological Inflation and Large-Scale Structure

Abstract: This textbook provides graduate students with a thorough and up-to-date introduction to inflationary cosmology. Enormous progress has been made in this area in the last few years and this book is the first to provide a modern and unified overview. It covers all aspects of inflationary cosmology and carefully compares predictions with the latest observations, including those of the cosmic microwave background, the clustering and velocities of galaxies and the epoch of structure formation. Problems are included throughout to help the student to develop a thorough understanding. With the host of international experiments currently being performed and planned for the near future (including NASA's MAP satellite, and the European Space Agency's Planck mission), inflationary cosmology promises to be one of the most exciting and fruitful topics of research in science in the next decade. This book provides graduate students with the ideal introduction.

Marginal maximum likelihood estimation of item parameters: Application of an EM algorithm.

Abstract: Maximum likelihood estimation of item parameters in the marginal distribution, integrating over the distribution of ability, becomes practical when computing procedures based on an EM algorithm are used By characterizing the ability distribution empirically, arbitrary assumptions about its form are avoided The Em procedure is shown to apply to general item-response models lacking simple sufficient statistics for ability This includes models with more than one latent dimension