Enhanced prediction of stock markets using a novel deep learning model PLSTM-TAL in urbanized smart cities.

Accurate predictions of stock markets are important for investors and other stakeholders of the equity markets to formulate profitable investment strategies. The improved accuracy of a prediction model even with a slight margin can translate into considerable monetary returns. However, the stock markets' prediction is regarded as an intricate research problem for the noise, complexity and volatility of the stocks' data. In recent years, the deep learning models have been successful in providing robust forecasts for sequential data. We propose a novel deep learning-based hybrid classification model by combining peephole LSTM with temporal attention layer (TAL) to accurately predict the direction of stock markets. The daily data of four world indices including those of U.S., U.K., China and India, from 2005 to 2022, are examined. We present a comprehensive evaluation with preliminary data analysis, feature extraction and hyperparameters' optimization for the problem of stock market prediction. TAL is introduced post peephole LSTM to select the relevant information with respect to time and enhance the performance of the proposed model. The prediction performance of the proposed model is compared with that of the benchmark models CNN, LSTM, SVM and RF using evaluation metrics of accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, AUC-ROC, PR-AUC and MCC. The experimental results show the superior performance of our proposed model achieving better scores than the benchmark models for most evaluation metrics and for all datasets. The accuracy of the proposed model is 96% and 88% for U.K. and Chinese stock markets respectively and it is 85% for both U.S. and Indian markets. Hence, the stock markets of U.K. and China are found to be more predictable than those of U.S. and India. Significant findings of our work include that the attention layer enables peephole LSTM to better identify the long-term dependencies and temporal patterns in the stock markets' data. Profitable and timely trading strategies can be formulated based on our proposed prediction model.

Patient access to healthcare services and optimisation of self-management for ethnic minority populations living with diabetes: a systematic review.

A higher risk of diabetes mellitus in South Asian and Black African populations combined with lower reported access and self-management-related health outcomes informed the aims of this study. Our aims were to synthesise and evaluate evidence relating to patient self-management and access to healthcare services for ethnic minority groups living with diabetes. A comprehensive search strategy was developed capturing a full range of study types from 1995-2010, including relevant hand-searched literature pre-dating 1995. Systematic database searches of MEDLINE, Cochrane, DARE, HTA and NHSEED, the British Nursing Index, CAB abstracts, EMBASE, Global Health, Health Management Information Consortium and PsychInfo were conducted, yielding 21,288 abstracts. Following search strategy refinement and the application of review eligibility criteria; 11 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), 18 qualitative studies and 18 quantitative studies were evaluated and principal results extracted. Results suggest that self-management practices are in need of targeted intervention in terms of patients' knowledge and understanding of their illness, inadequacy of information and language and communication difficulties arising from cultural differences. Access to health-care is similarly hindered by a lack of cultural sensitivity in service provision and under use of clinic-based interpreters and community-based services. Recommendations for practice and subsequent intervention primarily rest at the service level but key barriers at patient and provider levels are also identified.

An exploratory study of the follow-up care needs of patients treated for colorectal cancer.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore patient perceptions of their experiences of follow-up care after treatment for colorectal cancer. BACKGROUND: The optimal follow-up strategy for colorectal cancer is not known, and although patients are seen in traditional outpatient follow-up clinics, this system may not meet psycho-social and information needs. DESIGN: An exploratory qualitative study. METHOD: In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 patients who had completed treatment for colorectal cancer. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: One dominant theme emerged from the data with several sub-themes. The dominant theme was 'knowing what to expect' after bowel surgery. The subthemes related to 'living with altered bowel function', the ways patients gathered information about their condition through 'trial and error' and 'information and support from specialist nurses'. Patients who did not have a stoma were particularly vulnerable and expressed a need for more information on knowing what to expect after surgery. The role of the colorectal nurse specialist was vital in providing information and support; in particular, nurse-led clinics provided continuity of care and information that was tailored to individual need. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional hospital follow-up does not always address patients' psycho-social and information needs. Nurse-led services were commented on favourably in terms of providing information that was tailored to individual need as well as being responsive to urgent patient concerns; future innovative strategies for providing follow-up care for patients with colorectal cancer should draw on the specialist knowledge and skills of these nurses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurse-led clinics and/or telephone follow-up by specialist nurses may be effective models of care for this particular patient group, providing appropriate access for meeting clinical, psycho-social and information needs.

Pharmacists' changing views of their supplementary prescribing authority.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the views and experiences of pharmacists in England before and after they registered as supplementary prescribers. METHOD: Eight pharmacists were recruited from training courses; seven from secondary care and one from primary care and interviewed during training and again after registration. In the first interviews, topics included previous experience, views on current roles, responsibilities and accountability for prescribing and how these might change. In the second interviews, the pharmacists discussed how these had actually changed after gaining supplementary prescribing authority, how their role worked in practice and how they saw it developing in the future. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Descriptions of anticipated and actual changes in their roles, responsibilities and accountability before and after registration as supplementary prescribers RESULTS: The pharmacists anticipated that training would legitimise their current 'informal' prescribing practices, with increased legal responsibility and accountability, but experienced many procedural delays in implementing their new role. Pharmacists who were already heavily involved with prescribing were more likely to work as prescribers, but not necessarily within the clinical management plan framework. The desire to maintain the efficiency of their existing clinical services impacted negatively on the pharmacists' ability or willingness to prescribe in this legally approved manner. CONCLUSION: Clear and realistic expectations need to be set by the pharmacists as to what is achievable and greater attention needs to be paid to minimising delays between the end of training and the beginning of practice, to minimise reduction in motivation and redeployment of staff.