Finding Temporal Paths Under Waiting Time Constraints

Computing a (short) path between two vertices is one of the most fundamental primitives in graph algorithmics. In recent years, the study of paths in temporal graphs, that is, graphs where the vertex set is fixed but the edge set changes over time, gained more and more attention. A path is time-respecting, or temporal, if it uses edges with non-decreasing time stamps. We investigate a basic constraint for temporal paths, where the time spent at each vertex must not exceed a given duration $$\varDelta $$ Δ , referred to as $$\varDelta $$ Δ -restless temporal paths. This constraint arises naturally in the modeling of real-world processes like packet routing in communication networks and infection transmission routes of diseases where recovery confers lasting resistance. While finding temporal paths without waiting time restrictions is known to be doable in polynomial time, we show that the “restless variant” of this problem becomes computationally hard even in very restrictive settings. For example, it is W[1]-hard when parameterized by the distance to disjoint path of the underlying graph, which implies W[1]-hardness for many other parameters like feedback vertex number and pathwidth. A natural question is thus whether the problem becomes tractable in some natural settings. We explore several natural parameterizations, presenting FPT algorithms for three kinds of parameters: (1) output-related parameters (here, the maximum length of the path), (2) classical parameters applied to the underlying graph (e.g., feedback edge number), and (3) a new parameter called timed feedback vertex number, which captures finer-grained temporal features of the input temporal graph, and which may be of interest beyond this work.

Self-managed medication abortion outcomes: results from a prospective pilot study

Background To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a prospective study to measure self-managed medication abortion outcomes, and to collect preliminary data on safety and effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion, we recruited callers to accompaniment groups (volunteer networks that provide counselling through the out-of-clinic medication abortion process by trained counselors over the phone or in-person). Methods In 2019, we enrolled callers to three abortion accompaniment groups in three countries into a prospective study on the safety and effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion with accompaniment support. Participants completed up to five interview-administered questionnaires from baseline through 6-weeks after taking the pills. Primary outcomes included: (1) the number of participants enrolled in a 30-day period, (2) the proportion that had a complete abortion; and (3) the proportion who experienced any warning signs of potential or actual complications. Results Over the 30-day recruitment period, we enrolled 227 participants (95% of those invited), and retained 204 participants (90%) for at least one study follow-up visit. At the 1-week follow-up, two participants (1%) reported a miscarriage prior to taking the pills, and 202 participants (89% of those enrolled and 99% of those who participated in the 1-week survey) had obtained and taken the medications. Three weeks after taking the medications, 192 (95%) participants reported feeling that their abortion was complete. Three (1.5%) received a surgical intervention, two (1%) received antibiotics, and five (3%) received other medications. Participants did not report any major adverse events. Conclusion These results establish the feasibility of conducting prospective studies of self-managed medication abortion in legally restrictive settings. Further, the high effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion with accompaniment support reported here is consistent with high levels of effectiveness reported in prior studies. Trial registration ISRCTN95769543.

Self-managed medication abortion outcomes: results from a prospective study

Background: To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a prospective study to measure self-managed medication abortion outcomes, and to collect preliminary data on safety and effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion, we recruited callers to accompaniment groups (volunteer networks that provide counselling through the out-of-clinic medication abortion process by trained counselors over the phone or in-person).Methods: In 2019, we enrolled callers to three abortion accompaniment groups in three countries into a prospective study on the safety and effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion with accompaniment support. Participants completed up to five interview-administered questionnaires from baseline through six-weeks after taking the pills. Primary outcomes included: (1) the number of participants enrolled in a 30-day period, (2) the proportion that had a complete abortion; and (3) the proportion who experienced any warning signs of potential or actual complications.Results: Over the 30-day recruitment period, we enrolled 227 participants (95% of those invited), and retained 204 participants (90%) for at least one study follow-up visit. At the one-week follow-up, two participants (1%) reported a miscarriage prior to taking the pills, and 202 participants (89% of those enrolled and 99% of those who participated in the one-week survey) had obtained and taken the medications. Three weeks after taking the medications, 192 (95%) participants reported feeling that their abortion was complete. Three (1.5%) received a surgical intervention, two (1%) received antibiotics, and five (3%) other medications. Participants did not report any major adverse events.Conclusion: These results establish the feasibility of conducting prospective studies of self-managed medication abortion in legally restrictive settings. Further, the high effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion with accompaniment support reported here is consistent with high levels of effectiveness reported in prior studies. Trial Registration: ISRCTN95769543

Interactive mapping of language and memory with the GE2REC protocol

Previous studies have highlighted the importance of considering cognitive functions from a dynamic and interactive perspective and multiple evidence was brought for a language and memory interaction. In this study performed with healthy participants, we present a new protocol entitled GE2REC that interactively accesses the neural representation of language-and-memory network. This protocol consists of three runs related to each other, providing a link between tasks, in order to assure an interactive measure of linguistic and episodic memory processes. GE2REC consists of a sentence generation (GE) in the auditory modality and two recollecting (2REC) memory tasks, one recognition performed in the visual modality, and another one recall performed in the auditory modality. Its efficiency was evaluated in 20 healthy volunteers using a 3T MR imager. Our results corroborate the ability of GE2REC to robustly activate fronto-temporo-parietal language network as well as temporal mesial, prefrontal and parietal cortices in encoding during sentence generation and recognition. GE2REC is useful because it: (a) requires simultaneous and interactive language-and-memory processes and jointly maps their neural basis; (b) explores encoding and retrieval, managing to elicit activation of mesial temporal structures; (c) is easy to perform, hence being suitable for more restrictive settings, and (d) has an ecological dimension of tasks and stimuli. GE2REC may be useful for studying neuroplasticity of cognitive functions, especially in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who show reorganization of both language and memory networks. Overall, GE2REC can provide valuable information in terms of the practical foundation of exploration language and memory interconnection.

Self-managed medication abortion outcomes: results from a prospective pilot study

Background: To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a prospective study to measure self-managed medication abortion outcomes, and to collect preliminary data on safety and effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion, we recruited callers to accompaniment groups (volunteer networks that provide counselling through the out-of-clinic medication abortion process by trained counselors over the phone or in-person).Methods: In 2019, we enrolled callers to three abortion accompaniment groups in three countries into a prospective study on the safety and effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion with accompaniment support. Participants completed up to five interview-administered questionnaires from baseline through six-weeks after taking the pills. Primary outcomes included: (1) the proportion that had a complete abortion; and (2) the proportion who experienced any warning signs of potential or actual complications.Results: Over the 30-day recruitment period, we enrolled 227 participants. At the one-week follow-up, two participants (1%) reported a miscarriage prior to taking the pills, and 202 participants (89% of those enrolled and 99% of those who participated in the one-week survey) had obtained and taken the medications. Three weeks after taking the medications, 192 (95%) participants reported feeling that their abortion was complete, and 189 (94%) felt their abortion was complete and had not reported a surgical intervention. Three (1.5%) received a surgical intervention, two (1%) received antibiotics, and five (3%) other medications. Participants did not report any major adverse events.Conclusion: These results establish the feasibility of conducting prospective studies of self-managed medication abortion in legally restrictive settings. Further, these prospectively collected pilot data suggest that self-managed medication abortion with accompaniment support may be safe and effective. Trial Registration: ISRCTN95769543

Interactive mapping of language and memory with the GE2REC protocol

Previous studies have highlighted the importance of considering cognitive functions in a dynamic and interactive perspective and multiple evidence was brought for a language and memory interaction. In this study performed in healthy participants, we developed a new protocol entitled GE2REC that interactively accesses the neural representation of language-and-memory network. This protocol consists of three runs related to each other, providing a link between tasks, in order to assure an interactive measure of linguistic and episodic memory processes. GE2REC consists of a sentence generation (GE) in auditory modality and two recollecting (2REC) memory tasks, one recognition performed in visual modality, and another one recall performed in auditory modality. Its efficiency was evaluated in 20 healthy volunteers using a 3T MR imager. Our results corroborate the ability of GE2REC to robustly activate a fronto-temporo-parietal language network as well as temporal mesial, prefrontal and parietal cortices during encoding and recognition. GE2REC is useful because: (a) requires simultaneous and interactive language-and-memory processes and jointly maps their neural basis; (b) explores encoding and retrieval, managing to elicit activation of mesial temporal structures; (c) is short and easy to perform, hence being suitable for more restrictive settings, and (d) has an ecological dimension of tasks and stimuli. Overall, GE2REC can provide valuable information in terms of the practical foundation of exploration language and memory interconnection.

How long is (too) long?

SummaryForensic psychiatric services care for patients who present with a mental disorder as well as a risk to themselves or others, and have usually been convicted of an offence. Their needs are complex and the length of stay (LoS) in forensic settings is long. LoS is affected by patient factors as well as legal and policy issues. Owing to the considerable economic and ethical issues surrounding lengthy stays in highly restrictive settings, it is crucial that a strategy is developed for how to deal with this patient group.Declaration of interestNone.

Trends in LRE Placement Rates Over the Past 25 Years

The least restrictive environment (LRE) mandate suggests a preference for educating students with disabilities in general education settings provided their needs can be met there. This study examined national trends in the educational placements of students with disabilities ages 6 to 17 in the 50 states and the District of Columbia from 1990 through 2015. Data were retrieved electronically from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Census Bureau websites. Cumulative placement rates were then calculated. Findings indicate that from 1990 through 2015, (a) general education placements increased while more restrictive placements decreased, (b) students in secondary schools continued to be placed in more restrictive settings, and (c) the impact of disability categories on national LRE trends varied. Future research is needed to investigate the effect of increased identification rates in specific disability categories on national placement trends and explore how placement practices vary across schools, districts, and states.

Recommendations for Inclusive Educational Practices in Mathematics for Students With Extensive Support Needs

There is very limited research on inclusive mathematics instruction for students with extensive support needs (i.e., moderate to severe intellectual disability, autism, multiple disabilities) and this is a critical area of need. The purpose of this article is to propose a framework for mathematics instruction for students with extensive support needs in inclusive settings using practices that have been found effective in more restrictive settings, combined with the limited findings on effective inclusive practices for students with extensive support needs. A conceptual model for mathematics instruction for students with extensive support needs is illustrated and described. The proposed model provides guidance for collaborative teams and key stakeholders when planning for mathematics instruction in inclusive settings. Barriers to including students with extensive support needs in general education mathematics settings are discussed and recommendations for overcoming these barriers are described.