bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic rarity of electrical and electronic waste: Assessment and policy implications for critical materials
Authors: Campbell‐Johnston Kieran , Roos Lindgreen Erik , Mondello Giovanni , Gulotta Teresa Maria , Vermeulen Walter J. V. , Salomone Roberta
Published: January 2023

The strategic relevance of extracting raw materials from waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the EU is increasing due to value chain risks caused by geopolitical instability, accessibility of specific minerals, and decreasing reserves due to growing extraction rates. This article examines the quantities of so‐called critical raw materials (CRMs) originating within WEEE streams from a depletion perspective. Presently, current recycling targets are based solely on mass collection and recycling rates. We examine the potential limitations of this approach using an exergy‐based indicator named thermodynamic rarity. This indicator represents the exergy costs needed for producing materials from the bare rock to market. The case of Italy is used to explore the application of the indicator at the macro (national) and micro (company) level for the product categories “small electronics” and “screens and monitors.” Our estimations show significant differences between the mass and rarity of materials within Italian WEEE streams. While iron accounts for more than 70% of the weight of the product categories analyzed, it accounts for less than 15% of the rarity. Similarly, several CRMs with a small mass have a higher rarity value, for example, tungsten with less than 0.1% of the mass and over 6% of the rarity. The policy context is reflected upon, where it is argued that thermodynamic rarity can provide novel insights to support end‐of‐life WEEE decision‐making processes, for example, target development and recycling standards setting to help prioritize material monitoring and recovery options.
Implementation strategies to promote compassionate nursing care of complex patients: An exploratory sequential mixed methods study
Authors: Younas Ahtisham , Porr Caroline , Maddigan Joy , Moore Julia , Navarro Pablo , Whitehead Dean
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Individuals with multiple physical and, or, mental health issues and, or, drug‐related problems are known as complex patients. These patients are often recipients of poor‐quality care. Compassionate nursing care is valuable to promote better care experiences among this patient population. Implementation strategies should be designed to enhance compassionate nursing care delivery. The study aimed to gain understanding of barriers to compassionate care delivery to propose implementation to promote compassionate nursing care of complex patients.

Design

An exploratory sequential mixed methods study was conducted.

Methods

Phase 1 was the qualitative component during which 23 individuals with multimorbidities were interviewed for exploring their perceptions of barriers to compassionate nursing care. The barriers were integrated with implementation science frameworks using the building technique during phase 2 to develop a Q‐sort survey of implementation strategies for phase 3. Nurses, nurse managers, health care administrators, policymakers, and compassionate care experts responded to the survey by ranking the 21 implementation strategies, out of which five met the Q‐factor analysis criteria.

Results

Participant‐perceived barriers to nurse compassion could be categorized under knowledge, intentions, skills, social influences, behavioral regulation, reinforcement, emotion, and environmental context and resources. The five highest‐ranked strategies included facilitation, consultation with stress experts, involvement of patients and families, modeling compassion through shadowing, and utilizing implementation teams.

Conclusions

Enablement and modeling were the integration functions represented by the highest‐ranked implementation strategies. Enabling nurses to provide compassionate care through emotional support and mental health counseling, and, modeling compassion and compassionate care through shadowing were recommended and rated as highly relevant by the majority of stakeholders.

Clinical Relevance

Enhancing nurses compassionate behaviors toward complex patients requires facilitating them in enacting compassion in practice through modeling and support from organizations and nurse managers.
EGCG inhibits hypertrophic scar formation in a rabbit ear model
Authors: Song Yajuan , Wang Tong , Yang Liu , Wu Junzheng , Chen Lin , Fan Xiao , Zhang Zhe , Yang Qing , Yu Zhou , Song Baoqiang
Published: January 2023

Objective

Hypertrophic scarring is a common skin fibro‐proliferative disease, but currently there has no satisfactory drugs for anti‐scar treatments. Previous study showed that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main catechin in green tea, improved wound healing and tissue fibrosis in both rats and mice. In the present study, the therapeutic effects of EGCG on hypertrophic scar were analyzed using a rabbit ear hypertrophic scar model.

Materials

A rabbit ear model of hypertrophic scarring was used. DMSO, 0.5 mg EGCG/wound, 1.0 mg EGCG/wound or triamcinolone were injected subcutaneously once a week for 4 weeks. The scar elevation index (SEI) was measured using HE staining images, the collagen fibers were examined by Masson’ trichrome staining images, and the number of capillaries in hypertrophic scar were calculated by CD31 staining images. The mRNA levels in the scar tissues were detected by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR).

Results

Gross observation and histological evaluation showed the inhibitory effects of EGCG on hypertrophic scar formation at both doses, and decreased scar height and SEI were detected. EGCG also attenuated the mean collagen area fraction and decreased the number of capillaries in scar tissues. qRT‐PCR revealed that EGCG significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of TGF‐β1, Col I, Col III, α‐SMA, and eNOS.

Conclusion

EGCG may serve as a useful candidate therapeutic drug for hypertrophic scar via inhibiting fibrotic gene expression and suppressing angiogenesis.
An improved human skin explant culture method for testing and assessing personal care products
Authors: Zhou Linli , Ji Wei , Dicolandrea Teresa , Finlay Deborah , Supp Dorothy , Boyce Steven , Wei Karl , Kadekaro Ana Luisa , Zhang Yuhang
Published: January 2023

Background

Cultured human skin models have been widely used in the evaluation of dermato‐cosmetic products as alternatives to animal testing and expensive clinical testing. The most common in vitro skin culture approach is to maintain skin biopsies in an airlifted condition at the interface of the supporting culture medium and the air phase. This type of ex vivo skin explant culture is not, however, adequate for the testing of cleansing products, such as shampoos and body washes. One major deficiency is that cleansing products would not remain confined on top of the epidermis and have a high chance of running off toward the dermal side, thus compromising the experimental procedure and data interpretation.

Materials and Methods

Here, we describe an improved ex vivo method for culturing full‐thickness human skin for the effective testing and evaluation of skin care products by topical application.

Results

This newly developed ex vivo human skin culture method has the ability to maintain healthy skin tissues for up to 14 days in culture. Importantly, the model provides a quick and safe way to evaluate skin care products at different time points after single or repetitive topical applications using a combined regimen of leave‐on and wash‐off. We found that the results obtained using the new skin culture method are reproducible and consistent with the data collected from clinical testing.

Conclusion

Our new ex vivo skin explant method offers a highly efficient and cost‐effective system for the evaluation and testing of a variety of personal care products and new formulations.
Relationship between out‐of‐facility deliveries and distance and travel time to delivery facilities in Hokkaido, Japan: An ecological study
Authors: Saito Yoshihiro , Asakura Toshiaki , Takashi Kimura , Umazume Takeshi , Watari Hidemichi , Tamakoshi Akiko
Published: January 2023

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the distance and travel time from each municipality to the nearest delivery facilities in the other municipalities and the frequency of out‐of‐facility deliveries in Hokkaido.

Methods

Vital statistics from 2016 to 2020 were used. For municipalities without delivery facilities, the distance and travel time from the town office of each municipality to the nearest delivery facility was measured using Google maps. Negative binomial regression with an offset term was used to calculate the relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of out‐of‐facility delivery for distance (<30, 30–59, ≥60 km), and travel time by car (<30, 30–59, and ≥60 min) from the town office to the nearest delivery facility compared with the presence of delivery facilities.

Results

The overall rate of out‐of‐facility deliveries in Hokkaido was 2.1‰; in municipalities with delivery facilities, 1.8‰, and in municipalities without delivery facilities, 3.1‰. The adjusted RRs (95% CIs) for out‐of‐facility deliveries were significantly higher in municipalities with less than 30 km and travel time of less than 30 min to delivery facilities, 2.63 (1.34–5.17) and 2.76 (1.36–5.58), respectively, compared to municipalities with delivery facilities. However, the adjusted RR of out‐of‐facility delivery for municipalities ≥30 km was higher, although the difference was not significant.

Conclusions

Even in municipalities with a distance to delivery facilities of less than 30 km or travel time of less than 30 min, we should keep in mind the occurrence of out‐of‐facility deliveries.
Anti‐Judaism versus anti‐Semitism: The racialization of Jews in late antiquity
Authors: Binyam Yonatan
Published: January 2023

This article interrogates the arbitrary distinctions made between “anti‐Judaism” and “anti‐Semitism” by contextualizing the treatment of Jews in Roman late antiquity within the broader framework of premodern critical race studies. It illustrates the value of employing models such as racialization and monstrification when reconstructing the various iterations of anti‐Jewish prejudice that populate the long history of Christianity. More specifically, it outlines the modes of racialization utilized in two fourth‐century Christian writings: Eusebius's two‐part apology and the Pseudo‐Hegesippus. While Eusebius's work serves as an example of the racialization of Jews through ethnographic mythmaking, the so‐called Pseudo‐Hegesippus demonstrates the use of monstrification in the service of creating an affective culture of fear and hatred toward Jews. Such examples of Christian race‐making in late antiquity contribute to the task of tracing the developments of premodern race beyond the medieval period and disrupts the arbitrary and limiting distinctions made between anti‐Judaism and anti‐Semitism.
Impact of direct‐acting antiviral treatment on health utility in patients with chronic hepatitis C in hospital and community settings
Authors: Wong William W. L. , Wong Josephine , Bremner Karen E. , Saeed Yasmin , Mason Kate , Phoon Arcturus , Martel‐Laferrière Valérie , Bruneau Julie , Feld Jordan J. , Feng Zeny , Baguley Elizabeth , Lee Samuel S. , Powis Jeff , Krahn Murray D.
Published: January 2023

Background

Direct‐acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have transformed chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment. Continued affordable access to DAAs requires updated cost‐effectiveness analyses (CEA). Utility is a preference‐based measure of health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) used in CEA. This study evaluated the impact of DAAs on utilities for patients with CHC in two clinical settings.

Methods

This prospective longitudinal study included patients aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with CHC and scheduled to begin DAA treatment, from two tertiary care hospital clinics and four community clinics in Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal. Patients completed two utility instruments (EQ‐5D‐5L and Health Utilities Index 2/3 (HUI2/3)) before treatment, 6 weeks after treatment initiation, and 12 weeks and 1 year after treatment completion. We measured utilities for all patients, and for hospital‐based and community‐based groups.

Results

Between 2017 and 2020, 209 patients (126 hospital‐based, 83 community‐based; average age 53 years; 65% male) were recruited, and 143 completed the 1‐year post‐treatment assessment. Pre‐treatment, utilities were (mean ± standard deviation) 0.77 ± 0.21 (EQ‐5D‐5L), 0.69 ± 0.24 (HUI2) and 0.58 ± 0.34 (HUI3). The mean changes at 1‐year post‐treatment were 0.035, 0.038 and 0.071, respectively. While utilities for hospital‐based patients steadily improved, utilities for the community‐based cohort improved between baseline and 12‐weeks post‐treatment, but decreased thereafter.

Discussion

This study suggests that utilities improve after DAA treatment in patients with CHC in a variety of settings. However, community‐based patients may face challenges related to comorbid health and social conditions that are not meaningfully addressed by treatment. Our study is essential for valuing health outcomes in CHC‐related CEA.
Use of designing for behaviour change framework in identifying and addressing barriers to and enablers of animal source feeding to children ages 8–23 months in Bandarban Hill District in Bangladesh: Implications for a nutrition‐sensitive agriculture programme
Authors: Kalam Md Abul , Asif Chowdhury A. A. , Stormer Ame , Bishop Treena , Jackson‐deGraffenried Meredith , Talukder Aminuzzaman
Published: January 2023

Inadequate diet quality is a cause of undernutrition among children 6–23 months of age in Bangladesh, particularly in remote and isolated areas such as Bandarban District. Feeding animal source foods can help to combat stunting and wasting problems among children, but it may not be accessible or acceptable. A barrier analysis using the Designing for Behavior Change Framework was conducted in Bandarban district with participants from 4 ethnic groups, to explore potential barriers and key motivators by examining 12 behavioural determinants of consumption of animal‐source food in complementary feeding for children 8–23 months. Data were collected from 45 mothers of children 8–23 months, who provided animal‐source foods to their children (doers), and from 45 mothers who did not (non‐doers), for a total of 90 interviews. Nine determinants were statistically significantly different between doers and non‐doers as follows: self‐efficacy, positive consequences, negative consequences, social norms, access, reminders, perceived risk, perceived severity and perceived action efficacy. Nearby access to purchase animal‐source foods, rearing poultry or livestock at home and the support of household and community members are enablers to feeding animal‐source food. In contrast, these same factors are barriers for non‐doers. The lack of money to spend on animal‐source foods is also a barrier. An integrated nutrition‐sensitive and gender‐transformative animal‐based food production, and inclusive market programme could increase access to meat and eggs at the household level, increase opportunities to earn income and support gender‐equitable household workloads and decision‐making for optimal child feeding.
A review on health and well‐being at work: More than stressors and strains
Authors: Sonnentag Sabine , Tay Louis , Nesher Shoshan Hadar
Published: January 2023

Research in psychology and organizational behavior has made substantial progress in understanding what affects employee health and well‐being. In this review article, we describe how characteristics of individual workplaces (job resources, job stressors), interpersonal and teamwork factors, leadership, and specific employee behaviors contribute to health and well‐being. We summarize findings from intervention research and discuss how health and well‐being, in turn, predict perceived work characteristics and behavior at work. We highlight emerging topics in the field (job‐related health and well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic, technology‐enabled connectivity to work, micro‐interventions, dynamism in health and well‐being). We include a cross‐cultural and international perspective and address issues related to diversity and inclusion in organizations. We provide suggestions on how research can proceed in the future and point to practical implications that can improve employee health and well‐being.
Mineralogical and sulfur isotopic characteristics of Archean greenstone belt‐hosted gold mineralization at the Tau deposit of the Mupane gold mine, Botswana
Authors: Seaba Onameditse Lulu , Imai Akira , Yonezu Kotaro , Baliki Kemmonye
Published: January 2023

The Mupane gold deposit, which is one of the numerous gold occurrences in the Tati Greenstone Belt in the northeastern part of Botswana, consists of four orebodies, namely Tau, Tawana, Kwena, and Tholo deposits. The present research, which focuses on the genesis of the Tau deposit, was based on ore petrography, mineral chemistry of sulfides, and sulfur isotope data. Mineralogical characteristics of the host rocks indicate that banded iron formation at the Tau deposit includes iron oxides (magnetite), carbonates (siderite and ankerite), silicates (chlorite and amphibole), and sulfides (arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite). The deposit features arsenopyrite‐rich zones associated with biotite‐chlorite veins, which are indicative of the precipitation of arsenopyrite concomitant with potassic alteration. The replacement of magnetite by pyrrhotite in some samples suggests that sulfidation was likely the dominant gold precipitation mechanism because it is considered to have destabilized gold‐thiocomplexes in the ore‐forming fluids. Based on textural relationships and chemical composition, arsenopyrite is interpreted to reflect two generations. Arsenopyrite 1 is possibly early in origin, sieve textured with abundant inclusions of pyrrhotite. Arsenopyrite 1 was then overgrown by late arsenopyrite 2 with no porous textures and rare inclusions of pyrrhotite. Gold mineralization was initiated by focused fluid flow and sulfidation of the oxide facies banded iron formation, leading to an epigenetic gold mineralization. The mineralogical assemblages, textures, and mineral chemistry data at the Tau gold deposit revealed two‐stage gold mineralizations commencing with the deposition of invisible gold in arsenopyrite 1 followed by the later formation of native gold during hydrothermal alteration and post‐depositional recrystallization of arsenopyrite 1. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric analysis of arsenopyrite from the Tau deposit revealed that the hydrothermal event responsible for the formation of late native gold also affected the distribution of other trace elements within the grains as evidenced by varying trace elements contents in arsenopyrite 1 and arsenopyrite 2. The range of δ34S of gold‐bearing assemblages from the Tau deposit is restricted from +1.6 to +3.9‰, which is typical of Archean orogenic gold deposits and indicates that overall reduced hydrothermal conditions prevailed during the gold mineralization process at the Tau deposit. The results from this study suggest that gold mineralization involved multi‐processes such as sulfidation, metamorphism, deformation, hydrothermal alteration, and gold remobilization.
Social support from weak ties: Insight from the literature on minimal social interactions
Authors: Moreton Joshua , Kelly Caitlin S. , Sandstrom Gillian M.
Published: January 2023

When people face difficult life events, such as cancer or bereavement, they fare better when they receive support. These “experiencers” are likely to seek and receive support from a wide range of people, from close others to acquaintances. Indeed, the social support literature has long acknowledged the value of having a diverse support network. Research suggests that experiencers often perceive “weak ties” (i.e., acquaintances) as sources of support, and that experiencers sometimes prefer to get support from weak ties rather than strong ties. Providing support can be challenging for all kinds of supporters, however weak ties may be more likely than strong ties to allow worries about their inability to provide effective support to stop them from providing any support at all, thus depriving experiencers of opportunities for additional support. In this paper, we focus on the fact that often the provision of support occurs via a social interaction. We draw on the social psychology literature on minimal social interactions to suggest reasons why potential weak tie supporters might doubt their ability to provide effective support, and to generate advice to encourage potential supporters to reach out. Finally, we suggest future areas of research, with the ultimate goal of helping to expand the support that is available for people experiencing difficult life events.
MdMYB305–MdbHLH33–MdMYB10 regulates sugar and anthocyanin balance in red‐fleshed apple fruits
Authors: Zhang Shuhui , Wang Hui , Wang Tong , Liu Wenjun , Zhang Jing , Fang Hongcheng , Zhang Zongying , Peng Futian , Chen Xuesen , Wang Nan
Published: January 2023

Sugar and anthocyanin are important indicators of fruit quality, and understanding the mechanism underlying their accumulation is essential for breeding high‐quality fruit. We identified an R2R3‐MYB transcription factor MdMYB305 in the red‐fleshed apple progeny, which was positively correlated with fruit sugar content but negatively correlated with anthocyanin content. Transient injection, stable expression [overexpressing and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9)], and heterologous transformation of tomato confirmed that MdMYB305 promotes the accumulation of sugar and inhibits the synthesis of anthocyanin. A series of molecular experiments (such as electrophoretic mobility shift and luciferase assays) confirmed that MdMYB305 combines with sugar‐related genes (MdCWI1/MdVGT3/MdTMT2) and anthocyanin‐related genes (MdF3H/MdDFR/MdUFGT), promoting and inhibiting their activities, and finally regulating the sugar and anthocyanin content of fruits. In addition, the study also found that MdMYB305 competes with MdMYB10 for the MdbHLH33 binding site to balance sugar and anthocyanin accumulation in the fruits, which provides a reference value for exploring more functions of the MYB‐bHLH‐MYB complex and the balance relationship between sugar and anthocyanin in the future.
Validity of donor‐reported iron supplementation practices obtained at the time of donation
Authors: Crowder Lauren A. , Cable Ritchard G. , Spencer Bryan R.
Published: January 2023

Background

Iron supplementation (IS) improves blood donors' iron stores and allows more frequent blood donation. Understanding the accuracy of self‐reported IS is helpful for potential application of IS practices to donor eligibility or donation intervals.

Methods

Successful whole blood and red cell apheresis donors completed a survey at donation on the use of select dietary supplements. Respondents reporting use of either iron pills (IP) or multivitamins (MV) were invited by email to complete a similar follow‐up survey 6–8 weeks later and to provide the quantitative iron content of IS by referring the donor to the pill bottle label. Consistency between baseline and follow‐up responses was assessed overall and by pill type and demographic variables.

Results

Of 2444 donors answering the baseline survey, 40% (978) reported MV or IP at donation, 354 of whom completed the follow‐up survey. A majority of survey respondents (56%–61%) reported taking iron across the two surveys, and 21%–24% took MV but were uncertain if their pills contained iron. Of 215 reporting IS at baseline, overall concordance at follow‐up was 68% and was higher for donors who were female, ≥50‐years old, and taking iron as an iron pill rather than in a multivitamin.

Conclusion

Consistency of donor responses may be insufficient for use in guiding donor eligibility. Referring donors to their pill bottles was unsuccessful in improving the high frequency of uncertain responses. Incorporating IS into donor eligibility determinations is a complex endeavor that will benefit from careful planning and from post‐implementation monitoring.
Non‐invasive hemoglobin estimation for preoperative anemia screening
Authors: Hornedo‐González Kevin D. , Jacob Adam K. , Burt Jennifer M. , Higgins Andrew A. , Engel Elizabeth M. , Hanson Andrew C. , Belch Lisa , Kor Daryl J. , Warner Matthew A.
Published: January 2023

Background

Preoperative anemia is common and associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. Assessment of hemoglobin concentrations may facilitate optimization prior to surgery. However, phlebotomy‐based hemoglobin measurement may contribute to patient discomfort and iatrogenic blood loss, which makes non‐invasive hemoglobin estimation attractive in this setting.

Study Design and Methods

This is a prospective study of adult patients presenting for preoperative evaluation before elective surgery at a tertiary care medical center. The Masimo Pronto Pulse CO‐Oximeter was utilized to estimate blood hemoglobin concentrations (SpHb), which were then compared with hemoglobin concentrations obtained via complete blood count. Receiver operating curves were used to identify SpHb values maximizing specificity for anemia detection while meeting a minimum sensitivity of 80%.

Results

A total of 122 patients were recruited with a median (interquartile range) age of 66 (58, 72) years. SpHb measurements were obtained in 112 patients (92%). SpHb generally overestimated hemoglobin with a mean (± 1.96 × standard deviation) difference of 0.8 (−2.2, 3.9) g/dL. Preoperative anemia, defined by hemoglobin <12.0 g/dL in accordance with institutional protocol, was present in 22 patients (20%). The optimal SpHb cut‐point to identify anemia was 13.5 g/dL: sensitivity 86%, specificity 81%, negative predictive value 96%, and positive predictive value 53%. Utilizing this cut‐point, 60% (73/122) of patients could have avoided phlebotomy‐based hemoglobin assessment, while an anemia diagnosis would have been missed in <3% (3/122).

Conclusion

The use of SpHb devices for anemia screening in surgical patients is feasible with the potential to reliably rule‐out anemia despite limited accuracy.
Distorted and Victimized Lives of Women in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale
Authors: V Victor Vinoth. , M Vijayakumar
Published: January 2023

This study intends to evaluate Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale from the viewpoint of feminist theorist Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex, which offers a more nuanced perspective on sexuality and gender. Beauvoir's philosophy centres on the societal systems of oppression that designate women as ‘Other’ to a male reputation. According to her, femininity is something that society imposes on women, and feminism cannot be reduced to a basic biological statement. According to her, ‘Other’ best reflects the primary social function of a woman. She disputes the vocabulary that defines women based on their biology and asserts that biology is the primary cause of women's subjugation in patriarchal societies. She believes that sexuality contributes to the subjugation and exploitation of women. According to Beauvoir, the prostitution business and the heterosexual lifestyle are the two most visible instances of women's exploitation. Clearly, she rejects the notion that heterosexuality is the norm in sexual encounters. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how Atwood employs conjecture to examine feminist issues in The Handmaid's Tale, such as women's identity loss, subordination in a patriarchal society, and exploitation in a consumer culture where the female body is considered an object. In her novel, Atwood examines issues pertaining to the subjugation of women, such as gender inequality and the flaws of the patriarchal system.
Effects of Panel Misalignment in a Deployable Origami-Based Optical Array
Authors: Roubicek Clark , Gao Guangjun , Li Hui , Stephen Mark , Magleby Spencer P. , Howell Larry L.
Published: January 2023

Deployable origami-based arrays can offer many benefits for a wide variety of engineering applications. However, alignment in the deployed state is a primary challenge of these arrays; in optical systems, local (single panel) and global (entire array) misalignment can drastically reduce performance. The objective of this work is to compare the relative sensitivities of different degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) of misalignment in deployable origami-based optical arrays and specify which have the greatest effect on performance. To accomplish this, we suggest a practice for defining local and global misalignment in deployable origami-based arrays, we simulate misalignment perturbations and record the resulting power output, and we use compensation techniques to restore as much lost power as possible. We use a deployable LiDAR telescope based on the hexagonal twist origami pattern as a case study, though the conclusions could be extended to other origami-based systems. From simulation, we find that the DOFs which are the most sensitive to misalignment and for which compensation is not effective are the local decenter X (467% power loss per mm misalignment), local decenter Y (463% power loss per mm misalignment), local tilt (357% power loss per degree misalignment), and local tip (265% power loss per degree misalignment) misalignments. These results could help minimize the need for compensation or position sensing and help optical systems designers to know which DOFs should be carefully controlled to maximize energy output.
The Importance of Transparency in Regulation
Authors: Miranda Samuel , Caruso Ralph
Published: January 2023

The annual audit plan of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which was issued in November 2020, included an audit of the NRC’s practice of allowing “drop-in” visits. These are closed meetings of senior executives of licensees and NRC management. NRC procedures assume that “drop-in” visits do not concern any matters that are related to pending regulatory decisions that could affect the interests of those licensees. The audit objective was to determine whether NRC policies and procedures for non-public interactions with industry stakeholders are adequate to prevent compromise of the independence of agency staff or the appearance of conflicts of interest. The results of this audit were issued in August 2022. In 2017, the OIG conducted another audit [USNRC, OIG-17-A-23, “Audit of NRC's 10 CFR 2.206 Petition Review Process,” August 22, 2017, ADAMS No. ML17234A561] that focused on the public’s trust and confidence in the NRC. That audit examined the procedure that the NRC staff used to evaluate 10 CFR §2.206 enforcement petitions. The OIG found that the NRC staff had not issued a single enforcement order, as the result of 38 enforcement petitions that it had received in the prior three fiscal years, ending in 2016. The OIG concluded that the lack of such actions could adversely affect the public’s perspective on the effectiveness of the agency’s 10 CFR 2.206 petition process. Both audits are discussed in context with examples that illustrate the NRC’s implementation of its policy of transparency, in theory and practice.
Manufacturing Strategies to Mitigate Deformation Twinning in Magnesium
Authors: Rustom Shelby , Paudel YubRaj , Mujahid Shiraz , Cagle Matthew , Anantwar Prathmesh , Hazeli Kavan , Moser Robert , Paliwal Bhasker , Rhee Hongjoo , El Kadiri Haitham , Barrett Christopher D.
Published: January 2023

Magnesium (Mg) alloys exhibit poor room temperature ductility, which prohibits forming operations in cost-effective industrial settings and the use of these alloys in critical safety components. Profuse twinning in Mg alloys is widely associated with high strain path anisotropy and low material ductility. Twinning typically propagates across the grains through the autocatalysis phenomena in typical texture conditions. Twin–twin and twin–slip interactions often lead to high strain incompatibilities and eventually failure. One way to avoid such premature failure is to prevent the early nucleation of twins. This research tests a hypothesis that a strong yet ductile phase surrounding each individual grain in traditional polycrystals could inhibit twin accommodation effects and thus twin nucleation and autocatalysis mechanisms at grain boundaries. As a proof-of-concept for testing this hypothesis, sharply textured magnesium sheets plated with different materials were subjected to four-point bending to assess the potential of a surface/grain boundary barrier in limiting twinning extent. The results showed that Mg AZ31 alloy plated with zinc alleviated twin nucleation while improving the strength of the alloy.
Self-localization of monaural microphone using dipole sound sources
Authors: Arikawa Kazuyuki , Hasegawa Keisuke , Nara Takaaki
Published: January 2023

This paper introduces a method for indoor self-localization of a monaural microphone, which is required for various location-based services. By generating two pairs of dipole sound fields, localization is performed on each device, irrespective of the number of devices, based on orthogonal detection of observed signals and some simple operations that are feasible with limited computational resources. A method using multiple source frequencies for enhancing robustness against the effects of reflection and scattering is also proposed. The effectiveness of this method was evaluated by numerical simulations and experiments in an anechoic chamber and indoor environment, and the average errors for the azimuth and zenith angles were 4.8 and 1.9 deg, respectively, in the anechoic chamber and 21 and 11 deg, respectively, in the indoor environment.
Rare cause of small bowel obstruction: diaphragm disease
Authors: Foulser Peter , Al-Khatib Alhamza , Moodie Simon , Youd Philippa
Published: January 2023

Diaphragm disease is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction, caused by circular fibrotic membranes resulting in a narrowed intestinal lumen. It is associated with prolonged non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, and often requires surgical resection. We report the case of a man in his 50s presenting with recurrent anaemia and intermittent small bowel obstruction. Exploratory laparoscopy identified three distinct areas of congested, thickened and narrowed ileum. Symptoms resolved following small bowel resection. Histological examination found elongated mucosal folds with ulceration and submucosal fibrosis consistent with diaphragm disease. Common radiological findings include small bowel strictures and thickening, mucosal hyperenhancement, and small bowel dilatation. In this case, on retrospective review of the initial CT scan, it is possible to appreciate circumferential mural thickening correlating with the histological findings. This case highlights the importance of rigorous examination of CT imaging and the utility of exploratory laparoscopy in diagnosing diaphragm disease.
Protocol for a modelling study to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of indefinite anticoagulant therapy for first unprovoked venous thromboembolism
Authors: Khan Faizan , Thavorn Kednapa , Coyle Doug , van Katwyk Sasha , Tritschler Tobias , Hutton Brian , Le Gal Gregoire , Rodger Marc , Fergusson Dean
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Deciding whether to stop or extend anticoagulant therapy indefinitely after completing at least 3 months of initial treatment for a first unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a challenge for clinicians, patients and policy makers. Guidelines suggest an indefinite duration of anticoagulant therapy in these patients, yet its benefits, harms and costs have not been formally assessed. The aim of this proposed modelling study is to assess the differences in clinical benefits, harms and costs of stopping versus continuing anticoagulant therapy indefinitely for a first unprovoked VTE.

Methods and analysis

We will develop a probabilistic Markov model, adopting a 1-month cycle length and a lifetime horizon, to estimate life-years, quality-adjusted life-years, costs and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for a simulated population of patients with a first unprovoked VTE who will receive indefinite duration of anticoagulant therapy versus a population who will not receive extended treatment after completing 3 months of initial anticoagulant therapy. The economic evaluation will adopt a third-party payer perspective relating to a Canadian publicly funded healthcare system. Estimates for the probability of relevant clinical events will be informed by systematic reviews and meta-analyses, while costs and utility values will be obtained from published Canadian sources. Stratified analyses based on sex, age and site of initial VTE will also be performed to identify subgroups of patients with a first unprovoked VTE in whom continuing anticoagulant therapy indefinitely might prove to be clinically beneficial and cost-effective over stopping treatment. We will also conduct sensitivity and scenario analyses to assess robustness of study findings to changes in individual or groups of key parameters.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not applicable for this study. The results will be disseminated through presentations at relevant conferences and in a manuscript that will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.
Are non-invasive or minimally invasive autopsy techniques for detecting cause of death in prenates, neonates and infants accurate? A systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy
Authors: O'Keefe Hannah , Shenfine Rebekka , Brown Melissa , Beyer Fiona , Rankin Judith
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive or minimally invasive autopsy techniques in deaths under 1 year of age.

Design

This is a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy. The protocol is registered on PROSPERO.

Participants

Deaths from conception to one adjusted year of age.

Search methods

MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), the Cochrane Library, Scopus and grey literature sources were searched from inception to November 2021.

Diagnostic tests

Non-invasive or minimally invasive diagnostic tests as an alternative to traditional autopsy.

Data collection and analysis

Studies were included if participants were under one adjusted year of age, with index tests conducted prior to the reference standard.

Data were extracted from eligible studies using piloted forms. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. A narrative synthesis was conducted following the Synthesis without Meta-Analysis guidelines. Vote counting was used to assess the direction of effect.

Main outcome measures

Direction of effect was expressed as percentage of patients per study.

Findings

We included 54 direct evidence studies (68 articles/trials), encompassing 3268 cases and eight index tests. The direction of effect was positive for postmortem ultrasound and antenatal echography, although with varying levels of success. Conversely, the direction of effect was against virtual autopsy. For the remaining tests, the direction of effect was inconclusive.

A further 134 indirect evidence studies (135 articles/trials) were included, encompassing 6242 perinatal cases. The addition of these results had minimal impact on the direct findings yet did reveal other techniques, which may be favourable alternatives to autopsy.

Seven trial registrations were included but yielded no results.

Conclusions

Current evidence is insufficient to make firm conclusions about the generalised use of non-invasive or minimally invasive autopsy techniques in relation to all perinatal population groups.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021223254.
UK national trainee survey of hepatology training, research and the future workforce
Authors: Li Wenhao , Abbas Nadir , Brennan Paul N , Mcdowell Hannah , Navaratnam Janardhan , Phoolchund Anju , Scott Robert , Shearer Jessica , White Helen , Tavabie Oliver D
Published: January 2023

Objective

The increasing prevalence of liver disease in the UK means there is a pressing need to expand the hepatology workforce. This survey aims to evaluate current hepatology training provision, and trainee attitudes towards future careers in hepatology.

Method

An electronic survey was distributed to higher specialty gastroenterology and hepatology trainees in the UK between March and May 2022.

Results

138 trainees completed the survey covering all training grades and regions of the UK. 73.7% reported receiving adequate hepatology training currently, with 55.6% intending to become future hepatologists. Trainee preference for future hepatology consultant posts in specialist liver centres were almost threefold higher compared with district general hospitals (60.9% vs 22.6%). All trainees, irrespective of training grade reported high confidence in managing decompensated cirrhosis in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Senior trainees (grade ST6 and higher), without advanced training programme (ATP) experience reported significantly lower confidence in managing viral hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma and post-transplant patients compared with equivalent trainees with ATP experience. For junior trainees (IMT3–ST5), remaining in their current deanery was the most important factor when considering future hepatology training application.

Conclusions

There is a significant need to deliver widely available training on the management of complex liver disease to improve non-ATP trainee confidence. Innovative job planning strategies are required to encourage trainees to pursue careers outside of specialist liver centres. Expansion of hepatology training networks with wider geographical coverage are needed to address the growing need for more hepatologists around the UK.
LIQUID - Treatment of high-grade dural arteriovenous fistulas with Squid liquid embolic agent: a prospective, observational multicenter study
Authors: Vollherbst Dominik F , Boppel Tobias , Wallocha Marta , Berlis Ansgar , Maurer Christoph J , Weber Werner , Fischer Sebastian , Bock Alexander , Meckel Stephan , Bohner Georg , Liebig Thomas , Herweh Christian , Bendszus Martin , Chapot René , Möhlenbruch Markus A
Published: January 2023

Background

Endovascular embolization is a feasible treatment for cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs). New embolic agents aim to improve the success of DAVF embolization.

Objective

To assess the safety, efficacy, and short-term outcome of the treatment of DAVFs using the new liquid embolic agent Squid.

Methods

The LIQUID study is a prospective, observational multicenter study on the treatment of high-grade (Cognard type ≥3) DAVFs with the embolic agent Squid. The primary outcome measures were safety (ie, morbidity and mortality), as well as the occlusion rate 90 to 180 days after treatment.

Results

In eight centers, 53 patients (mean age 59.8 years, 22.6% female) were treated in 55 treatment sessions. Of the DAVFs, 56.6% were Cognard type III, 41.5% type IV, and 18.9% were ruptured. Squid 18 was used in 83.6% and Squid 12 in 32.7% of the treatments. The overall rate of intraprocedural or postprocedural adverse events (AEs) was 18.2%. Procedure-related AEs resulting in permanent morbidity were observed in 3.6%. One patient (1.8%) died unrelated to the procedure due to pulmonary embolism. The final complete occlusion rate at 90 to 180 days was 93.2%. After a mean follow-up of 5.5 months, the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was stable or improved in 93.0%. In one of the patients, worsening of the mRS score was related to the procedure (1.8%).

Conclusion

Squid is a safe and effective liquid embolic agent for the treatment of high-grade DAVFs.
Look who’s talking: contributions to evidence-based decision making for commercial fisheries in Atlantic Canada
Authors: Hamelin Kayla M. , Hutchings Jeffrey A. , Bailey Megan
Published: January 2023

Fisheries are complex social–ecological systems, meaning that the achievement of 'sustainable' fisheries demands a multifaceted approach, involving ecological, economic, social, and institutional dimensions. Addressing these diverse concerns requires the collection and synthesis of new sources of information by science-advising bodies and the engagement of multiple knowledge types from rightsholders and stakeholders. The 'modernized' (2019) Fisheries Act in Canada allows for a diverse range of considerations to form the basis of fisheries management decisions, including knowledge from community or industry groups, but it remains unclear where and when such information is available, how this information is prioritized, who contributes to information-gathering processes, and what the management consequences of information use might be. The present study uses a selection of science-advising documents and briefing notes for decision makers to explore the information and priorities informing fisheries management decisions in Atlantic Canada, with a focus on how rightsholders and stakeholders contribute to the process. These findings can inform efforts to adopt an inclusive and participatory approach to evidence-based decision making to achieve sustainable fisheries, in the broadest sense of the word.
Geometry of weighted Lorentz–Finsler manifolds II: A splitting theorem
Authors: Lu Yufeng , Minguzzi Ettore , Ohta Shin-ichi
Published: January 2023

We show an analog of the Lorentzian splitting theorem for weighted Lorentz–Finsler manifolds: If a weighted Berwald spacetime of nonnegative weighted Ricci curvature satisfies certain completeness and metrizability conditions and includes a timelike straight line, then it necessarily admits a one-dimensional family of isometric translations generated by the gradient vector field of a Busemann function. Moreover, our formulation in terms of the [Formula: see text]-range introduced in our previous work enables us to unify the previously known splitting theorems for weighted Lorentzian manifolds by Case and Woolgar–Wylie into a single framework.
Branching rule and coadjoint orbit for Heisenberg Gelfand pairs
Authors: Rahali Aymen
Published: January 2023

Let [Formula: see text] be a closed connected subgroup of the unitary group [Formula: see text] and let [Formula: see text] be the [Formula: see text]-dimensional Heisenberg group ([Formula: see text]). We consider the semidirect product [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is a Gelfand pair. Let [Formula: see text] be the respective Lie algebras of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be the natural projection. It was pointed out by Lipsman, that the unitary dual [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is in one-to-one correspondence with the space of admissible coadjoint orbits [Formula: see text] (see [10]). Let [Formula: see text] be a generic representation of [Formula: see text] and let [Formula: see text]. To these representations we associate, respectively, the admissible coadjoint orbit [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (via the Lipsman’s correspondence). We denote by [Formula: see text] the number of [Formula: see text]-orbits in [Formula: see text] which is called the Corwin–Greenleaf multiplicity function. The Kirillov–Lipsman’s orbit method suggests that the multiplicity [Formula: see text] of an irreducible [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text] occurring in the restriction [Formula: see text] could be read from the coadjoint action of [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text] In this paper, we show that [Formula: see text] For the special case [Formula: see text] (maximal torus in the unitary group [Formula: see text]) and [Formula: see text], we prove that [Formula: see text]