The London School of Economics and Political Science

This study analyzes how prices negotiated by Medicare in the US compare with net prices before negotiation, ceiling prices, and list prices in 6 other high-income countries.

The British model of harm reduction has been referenced as a pioneering approach to substance use in Europe. While many have described the development of UK drug policy through different governments, few studies have focused on the role that drug user activists played in the UK drug policy reform movement. We examine the different conceptualisations of UK drug user activists in literature, including published academic journals and grey literature (news articles, podcasts, websites and unpublished dissertations). We describe the different conceptualisations of ‘the drug user activist’ based on chronological periods relevant to drug policy, namely: Pre-Misuse of Drugs Act (1870–1971), Misuse of Drugs Act (1971–1988), Thatcherite and AIDS crisis (1988–1998), New Labour and Internet (1998–2010), and Contemporary (2010 to present). In the 1900s, we see a shift from drug users portrayed as victims coming from privileged backgrounds to middle class people who displayed problematic behaviours. After the passage of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, drug user activists started to organise themselves and deliver education and outreach services. This was further amplified during the AIDS crisis and the Thatcherite era where drug users were involved in developing what later became the model for the public health approach to substance use. Drug user engagement with the government was strengthened during the New Labour government with the formation of the National Treatment Authority. Outside of government, drug users formed alliances which were crucial in ensuring accountability from the government. Upon the abolishment of the NTA, the organisations of drug users weakened. Drug user activists continued their initiatives, albeit on a smaller scale, while trying to rebuild the drug user movement. Further forms of documentation are needed to develop a more holistic historical account of drug user activism in the UK.

This chapter sets the context for the whole book by describing the broad context of digital transformations focusing on digital platforms across many domains in contemporary life. Platforms are now a key type of societal infrastructure governing many social, institutional and interpersonal interactions. The chapter then introduces literature describing how platforms are increasingly understood in relationship to families. This is both in terms of the family as a social unit and how the family conducts its interior and exterior lives through or ‘on’ platforms. The chapter describes the theories and concepts that have been used to explain how families use platforms to ‘compose’ themselves and how families are addressed and identified as a social unit through and by digital platforms. Contemporary ideas of the family itself are of course in a change of flux and the chapter goes onto describe how the sociology of the family is reconceptualising what the family might mean in the context of radical social restructuring and individualisation. The chapter ends by trying to conceptualise the relationship between families and platforms and how this relationship may be better understood by researching the activities of platformizatio n.

Chapter 3 investigates how processes of platformization play out in relation to the spaces and spatial arrangements of family life, focusing in particular on the idea of the home. Given that family life, including the meaning of the home, are constructed through relational practices and that these practices are increasingly platformized (that is, occurring through and in relation to platforms), this chapter asks: how is the platformization of the family reshaping and extending the home? Drawing on qualitative empirical data from our own projects and existing literature, we examine how platforms are implicated in family life within the physical space of the home and how platforms might be used to extend the idea of home beyond a physical space of co-location. We argue that, on one hand, the use of platforms reconfigures how the physical home is experienced by those within it—sometimes fracturing the idea of the home as a private space and other times supporting the practices of care, intimacy, and organisation that give it meaning as a home—while on the other, it extends relational practices beyond the physical boundaries of the home, opening up new possibilities for families to practice care and intimacy across distance.

The $\alpha$-quantile $M_{t,\alpha }$ of a stochastic process has been introduced in Miura (Hitotsubashi J Commerce Manag 27(1):15–28, 1992), and important distributional results have been derived in Akahori (Ann Appl Probab 5(2):383–388, 1995), Dassios (Ann Appl Probab 5(2):389–398, 1995) and Yor (J Appl Probab 32(2):405–416, 1995), with special attention given to the problem of pricing $\alpha$-quantile options. We straightforwardly extend the classical monodimensional setting to ${\mathbb {R}}^d$ by introducing the hyperplane $\alpha$-quantile, and we find an explicit functional continuity set of the $\alpha$-quantile as a functional mapping ${\mathbb {R}}^d$-valued càdlàg functions to ${\mathbb {R}}$. This specification allows us to use continuous mapping and assert that if a ${\mathbb {R}}^d$-valued càdlàg stochastic process X a.s. belongs to such continuity set, then $X^n\Rightarrow X$ (i.e., weakly in the Skorokhod sense) implies $M_{t,\alpha }(X^n)\rightarrow ^\text {w}M_{t,\alpha }(X)$ (i.e., weakly) in the usual sense. We further the discussion by considering the conditions for convergence of a ‘random time’ functional of $M_{t,\alpha }$, the first time at which the $\alpha$-quantile has been hit, applied to sequences of càdlàg functions converging in the Skorokhod topology. The Brownian distribution of this functional is studied, e.g., in Chaumont (J Lond Math Soc 59(2):729–741, 1999) and Dassios (Bernoulli 11(1):29–36, 2005). We finally prove the fact that if the limit process of a sequence of càdlàg stochastic processes is a multidimensional Brownian motion with nontrivial covariance structure, such random time functional applied to the sequence of processes converges—jointly with the $\alpha$-quantile—weakly in the usual sense.

In dominant public, political and media narratives of Gypsy and Traveller communities, they have often been associated with criminality, deviance, violence, idleness and reluctance to assimilate into settled society. A discourse of othering predicated on negative stereotypes further affect their marginalisation and social exclusion. This empirical article critically examines reflections on, and responses to, these dominant narratives among practitioners who have engaged with Gypsy and Travellers operationally and strategically, in relation to crime and criminal justice. We find evidence of compliance with dominant narratives which include perceptions that deny and minimise experiences of victimisation and racism, while also suggesting a predisposition to criminality and violence among Gypsy and Travellers.

Libertarian paternalism (LP) draws on behavioral economics to advocate for noncoercive, nonfiscal policy interventions to improve individual well‐being. However, growing criticism is encouraging behavioral policymaking—long dominated by LP approaches—to consider more structural and fiscally impactful interventions as valid responses to behavioral findings. Keynesian social philosophy allows behavioral policymaking to incorporate these new perspectives alongside existing LP approaches.

How can scientific progress be conceived best? Does science mainly undergo revolutionary paradigm shifts? Or is the evolution of science mainly cumulative? Understanding whether science advances through cumulative evolution or through paradigm shifts can influence how we approach scientific research, education and policy. The most influential and cited account of science was put forth in Thomas Kuhn’s seminal book The structure of scientific revolutions. Kuhn argues that science does not advance cumulatively but goes through fundamental paradigm changes in the theories of a scientific field. There is no consensus yet on this core question of the nature and advancement of science that has since been debated across science. Examining over 750 major scientific discoveries (all Nobel Prize and major non-Nobel Prize discoveries), we systematically test this fundamental question about scientific progress here. We find that three key measures of scientific progress—major discoveries, methods and fields—each demonstrate that science evolves cumulatively. First, we show that no major scientific methods or instruments used across fields (such as statistical methods, X-ray methods or chromatography) have been completely abandoned, i.e. subject to paradigm shifts. Second, no major scientific fields (such as biomedicine, chemistry or computer science) have been completely abandoned. Rather, they have all continuously expanded over time, often over centuries, accumulating extensive bodies of knowledge. Third, scientific discoveries including theoretical discoveries are also predominately cumulative, with only 1% of over 750 major discoveries having been abandoned. The continuity of science is most compellingly evidenced by our methods and instruments, which enable the creation of discoveries and fields. We thus offer here a new perspective and answer to this classic question in science and the philosophy and history of science by utilizing methods from statistics and empirical sciences.

Background The advent of new chronic conditions such as long COVID-19 raises the question of whether and, if so, how best to establish new disease registries for such conditions. Prompted by the potential need for a long COVID-19 registry, we examined experiences of existing UK disease registries to understand barriers and enablers to establishing and sustaining a register, and how these have changed over time. Methods We undertook semi-structured interviews between November 2022 and April 2023 with individuals representing six disease registries that collect individual-level longitudinal data on people diagnosed with a chronic condition. Results Registries examined were developed by a few individuals, usually clinicians, to gain a greater understanding of the disease. Patient voices were largely absent from initial agenda setting processes, but, over time, all registries sought to increase patient involvement. Securing long-term funding was cited as the biggest challenge; due to limited funds, one of the registries examined no longer actively recruits patients. Charities devoted to the diseases in question were key funders, though most registries also sought commercial opportunities. Inclusion on the NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio was also considered a vital resource to support recruitment and follow-up of participants. All registries have sought to minimise the primary data collected to reduce the burden on clinicians and patients, increasingly relying on linkage to other data sources. Several registries have developed consent procedures that enable participants to be contacted for additional data collection. In some cases, the initial patient consent and data sharing permissions obtained had limited the flexibility to adapt the registry to changing data needs. Finally, there was a need to foster buy-in from the community of patients and clinicians who provide and/or use the data. Conclusion We identified six key considerations when establishing a sustainable disease registry: (1) include a diverse set of stakeholders; (2) involve patients at every stage; (3) collect a core data set for all participants; (4) ensure the data system is flexible and interoperable with the wider data landscape; (5) anticipate changing data needs over time; and (6) identify financial opportunities to sustain the registry’s activities for the long term.

This study addresses key challenges in optimizing agricultural industry structures and facilitating intelligent transformation through the application of deep learning algorithms and advanced optimization techniques. An intelligent system for agricultural industry optimization is developed, with convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, Long Short-Term Memory networks, and generative adversarial networks introduced for tasks such as image recognition, time series forecasting, and synthetic data generation. Subsequently, a hybrid optimization method is designed, combining the Genetic Algorithms with particle swarm optimization to improve the model’s global search capability and local convergence speed. The performance of these techniques is rigorously evaluated through extensive experimentation. The results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms conventional algorithms in regression tasks, particularly in terms of computational efficiency, data processing speed, and model training stability, while also exhibiting high scalability. In crop yield prediction, the proposed method achieves superior performance, as evidenced by reductions in both absolute error and mean squared error, along with attaining the highest R² value (0.93). Additionally, in pest and disease detection, the proposed method exceeds other models in accuracy (97.5%), precision (96.8%), recall (97.2%), and F1 score (0.97), underscoring its superior performance in detecting agricultural pests and diseases. The method also significantly surpasses traditional algorithms in crop disease identification accuracy, climate change prediction precision, and the quality of synthetic data generation. This study offers novel technical solutions and decision-making tools for advancing intelligent agriculture.

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of nosocomial implant-associated infections, causing significant morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective diagnostics. Here, we optimise the synthesis of renal-clearable gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) for enhanced catalytic activity with the aim of developing a sensitive colourimetric diagnostic for bacterial infection. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations confirm the stability of glutathione-coated AuNCs and surface access for peroxidase-like activity in complex physiological environments. We subsequently develop a biosensor by encapsulating these optimised AuNCs in bacterial toxin-responsive liposomes, which is extensively studied by various single-particle techniques. Upon exposure to S. aureus toxins, the liposomes rupture, releasing AuNCs that generate a colourimetric signal after kidney-mimetic filtration. The biosensor is further validated in vitro and in vivo using a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel implant infection model. Urine samples collected from mice with bacteria-infected HA hydrogel implants turn blue upon substrate addition, confirming the suitability of the sensor for non-invasive detection of implant-associated infections. This platform has significant potential as a versatile, cost-effective diagnostic tool.

Moving beyond the purely material understanding of infrastructures, new perspectives in infrastructural regionalism assert that infrastructures and regions simultaneously shape each other. Drawing on this reciprocal relationship, we introduce the concept of ‘water regionalism’ to examine how regional factors, dynamics, and complexities shape water infrastructures, and how water infrastructures concurrently shape regions. Through qualitative research methodologies, we empirically demonstrate how this concept operates in practice by examining the history of regional planning and hydraulic infrastructure development in Turkey, particularly the process of how the South-eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) and the GAP region have shaped each other since the 1970s.

Background The widespread adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) further deepens disparities in resource access, particularly among the aging population. However, the relationship between these factors and their resulting impact on cognitive abilities remains uncertain. Objective This study aims to investigate the potential impact of the digital divide on individuals’ cognitive function and its association with the development and reversion of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods This cohort study used data from Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation (BABRI) study applying a multistage cluster sampling design between 2008 and 2020. The digital divide was quantified by the frequency of using ICTs. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), mixed linear models, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to model the association of digital divide and multidomain cognition. Results Among the 10098 participants, nearly half (n=4941, 48.9%) faced the digital divide, which was associated with a worse performance in processing speed (F10096=10.67; P<.001; effect size r=0.42), rather than memory, executive function, and language. The model indicated that individuals’ physical and mental health, combined with their educational and occupational prestige, influenced the resources they attained, which ultimately caused the digital divide. Moreover, longitudinal data revealed that older adults who successfully crossed the digital divide during the tracking process and those who had already done so prior to tracking showed significantly slower rates of decline in processing speed (B=–1.98, P<.05; B=–2.62, P<.01) and general cognitive function (B=3.50, P<.001; B=3.13, P<.01). Additionally, overcoming the digital divide was also associated with a lower risk of developing MCI (hazard ratio [HR] 0.5, 95% CI 0.34-0.74; HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.29-0.62) and a greater probability of reversion from MCI to normal cognition (HR 6, 95% CI 3.77-9.56; HR 9.22, 95% CI 5.63-15.11). Conclusions Overcoming the digital divide was significantly associated with improved cognitive function, a slower aging rate in cognitive performance, a reduced risk of developing MCI, and a higher likelihood of reverting from MCI to normal cognition.

English university admissions increasingly make use of contextual offers , where applicants with certain socio‐demographic characteristics can be offered marginally lower entry conditions. This paper presents novel insights into the impact of contextual offer policy on one institutions' patterns of enrolment in 2022/2023 via a mixed methods contribution analysis. We present evidence that the policy contributed to widening access for targeted students despite the institutions' small and highly selective intake. This effect appears to be driven by increasing applicants' likelihood of accepting an offer and acting as a safety net at confirmation. While contextual offer policies thus appear to be an effective tool to improve targeted students' enrolment at an institution, we find evidence of marginally lower year‐one outcomes for students admitted with contextual offers, highlighting the need for further research to understand the impact of contextual offers on student outcomes and experiences.