bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vision Zero and Other Road Safety Targets
Authors: Edvardsson Björnberg Karin
Published: November 2022

Every year, around 1.3 million people are killed on the road and another 20–50 million are severely injured. This makes road safety one of the most critical global public health issues. To address the negative trend, the international community has responded with the adoption of road safety targets. Sustainable Development Goals 3.6 and 11.2 are two examples. Also at the national level, goals and targets are increasingly used to steer work towards improved road safety. The frequent use of goals and targets in road safety policy makes it interesting to investigate under what conditions the adopted goals can be expected to be achieved. This chapter summarizes the main themes and conclusions of research that have been conducted on goal-setting in road safety policy and management to date. Drawing on previous research, it outlines and discusses a set of criteria that road safety goals should meet in order to be achievement-inducing, that is, have the capacity to guide and induce efforts towards the vision of zero fatalities and serious injuries on the road.
Vision Zero in Norway
Authors: Elvik Rune
Published: November 2022

This chapter describes the adoption of Vision Zero in Norway and some of the impacts on transport safety policy that can be traced to it. These impacts concern the following:

the demand for improved knowledge about the effects of road safety measures,

the creation of a new forum for developing road safety policy,

the adoption of quantified road safety targets and a system for management by objectives based on road safety indicators,

the identification of roads suitable for conversion to motorways or to 2+1 roads based on the Swedish model,

the revision of speed limit policy and

the revision of standards for the design and use of guardrails.

It is argued that the adoption of Vision Zero has had a major impact on road safety policy in Norway and may have contributed to speeding up the decline in the number of traffic fatalities and serious injuries after the year 2000.
Vision Zero in Lithuania
Authors: Žuraulis Vidas , Pumputis Vidmantas
Published: November 2022

This chapter covers statistical data and initiatives related to the challenges and achievements of road safety in Lithuania. After providing an overview and an evaluation of previous programs to improve road safety in Lithuania, we discuss a selection of various improvements and assessment of safe traffic measures and their efficiency through relevant information from research and statistical data analysis. Priorities to achieve safer behavior of road users, safer streets and roads, safer vehicles, safer rail transport, and higher survival rates after accidents are discussed in more detail. The country-specific issues of pedestrian fatalities in dark hours, intensive land transportation due to geographical location, and accidents related to railway level crossings are also presented.
Vision Zero in EU Policy: An NGO Perspective
Authors: Townsend Ellen , Avenoso Antonio
Published: November 2022

This chapter documents the roots of Vision Zero in EU road safety policymaking and is written from the perspective of the European Transport Safety Council, an NGO that has been deeply engaged in the topic for more than 25 years, from the very beginning of EU road safety policy in the mid-1980s to its first adoption in 2011 and on to the present day. The chapter shows that the Vision Zero approach is now integrated into the new EU road safety strategy. The presence of elements of Vision Zero during the different timeframes is presented. These include ethics, shared responsibility, the philosophy of building a system which allows for error and, finally, creating a mechanism for change. The current EU road safety strategy, which adopts these elements, is reviewed in more detail. More recent implementation is illustrated by references to Vision Zero within two recent, important pieces of road safety legislation, on infrastructure and vehicle safety.

This chapter is written by ETSC and based on the organization’s interest and key role in the discussions. It refers to EU official documents going back to 1984, ETSC’s own reports and the institutional experience of ETSC and of the two authors. Despite every effort being made to be as objective as possible, the chapter is written from the perspectives of two active participants in the discussions and is therefore not a truly independent account. However, it is hoped that the material presented is useful nonetheless.
Establishing Vision Zero in New York City: The Story of a Pioneer
Authors: Kristianssen Ann-Catrin
Published: November 2022

Vision Zero was established in 2014 as the foundation of the New York City road safety policy. The purpose of this chapter is to understand why and how Vision Zero was introduced as well as by whom and with what tools. The chapter focuses on understanding this policy change in New York City and is based on a document study and 18 semi-structured interview with 19 respondents city administration staff, researchers, media, and NGOs. The analysis is made by looking closer at the state of four aspects by the time of the establishment of Vision Zero – problem framing, policy formulation, political actors, and proposed solutions. This theoretical framework is mainly based on the work of John Kingdon (Agenda, Alternatives, and Public Policies. Little, Brown, Boston, 1984) and Michael Howlett (Public Policy Adm 34(4):405–430, 2019). The chapter states that there were several factors leading to the adoption of Vision Zero. First, the road safety problems were not as serious as in many other regions of the USA, but compared to other major cities in the western world, the fatalities and serious injuries in New York City were deemed unacceptable by politicians, NGOs, and the public. The imminent problem on the ground was further emphasized by several high-profile cases of child fatalities in traffic crashes. Second, the Vision Zero policy or philosophy was a coherent and above all a successfully tested policy based on a scientific foundation. The credit for introducing Vision Zero in the New York City context is given to non-governmental organizations such as Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets and specific public administrators in key positions. These actors were all searching for new solutions, and as the politicians placed road safety high on the agenda, a window of opportunity was opened to Vision Zero. In addition, politicians, with the support and pressure from NGOs, established a policy program based on Vision Zero, and this program further established a belief in Vision Zero as a credible way forward. There was and is criticism directed towards the policy based on equity and that Vision Zero risks strengthening discriminatory structures. The basic idea of adapting the physical infrastructure to accommodate human mistakes is challenging in many American contexts, but in a diverse city such as New York, this approach may be able to address equity, according to several respondents, if based on solid crash data. The Vision Zero in New York City differs from the original Swedish version in mainly two ways: the focus in New York on law enforcement and on the behavior of the individual road user.
Traffic Safety in India and Vision Zero
Authors: Tiwari Geetam , Mohan Dinesh
Published: November 2022

This chapter presents the current state of traffic safety in India and a brief overview of history of traffic safety policies in India. The road safety policy adopted by the Government of India does not have any specific targets; however, the government has accepted the UN sustainable development goals (SDG) and targets in 2016. SDG 3.6 is related to road traffic injuries, and it requires that the fatalities due to road traffic crashes must be reduced by 50% by 2030. The last section of the chapter presents a roadmap for selected cities in India for achieving SDG target 3.6 by 2030 and discusses the results in the context of “Vision Zero” for India.
What the Car Industry Can Do: Mercedes-Benz’ View
Authors: Schöneburg Rodolfo , Baumann Karl-Heinz
Published: November 2022

The car industry faces some extreme challenges. Alongside the key task that we face of making individual transport climate-neutral, and alongside the new technological opportunities for communication and networking across our whole environment, it is clear that the user behavior of vehicle drivers and of all other road users is also going to change. Bearing all these aspects in mind, our overriding goal remains to make the traffic on our roads safer. Many of the activities in this context are summarized in the Mercedes-Benz “Vision of accident-free driving.” The current plateauing of road fatality statistics across the countries of the West is a clear signal that we need to intensify our efforts even further. And indeed, there are still plenty of levers that can be applied in order to optimize and improve these figures.

Following a review of the current situation from the perspective of Mercedes-Benz, the opportunities for further optimization of vehicle safety are now presented in the guise of the latest Experimental Safety Vehicle, ESF 2019, which above all addresses the new possibilities offered by increasing connectivity and automation. Many of the innovative concepts under consideration have a chance of reaching the market in future vehicles, either as they are or in a modified form; in other cases the discussion around them will lead to new ideas and proposed solutions.

The Integral Safety Strategy by Mercedes-Benz is a holistic approach that defines safety in four phases: (1) safe driving, (2) assisting in a critical driving situation with accident prevention systems and anticipatory protection elements such as PRE-SAFE® systems, (3) during a crash, for example, occupant and partner protection, and, finally, (4) after a crash, deploy systems for the rescue phase. All four phases must be high priorities during the development of the vehicle.

Even with an optimistic view of the vehicle-based opportunities, this chapter will demonstrate that vehicle measures alone will not be sufficient to solve all traffic safety issues, as road transportation is just too complex. All the factors that impact road safety, and which will need to play their part in delivering “Vision Zero,” must be addressed; in other words, infrastructural measures and people in traffic, too. As with the Mercedes-Benz strategy of Integral Safety, we shall only be able to make major advances toward “Vision Zero” if all influencing factors are properly investigated as part of an integrated examination of road safety.
Driver Distraction: Mechanisms, Evidence, Prevention, and Mitigation
Authors: Regan Michael A. , Oviedo-Trespalacios Oscar
Published: November 2022

In this chapter, the reader is introduced to the topic of driver distraction: its definition and mechanisms; its impact on driving performance and safety; approaches to preventing it; evidence-based injury prevention and mitigation countermeasures; and new frames of reference for conceptualizing distraction as traditional driving functions and tasks become increasingly automated. Some strategies that might be considered by societal stakeholders in setting a coordinated agenda for the management of distracted driving going into the future are also presented. Until all vehicles can safely drive themselves, in all conditions, all of the time, it is unlikely that, for driver distraction, Vision Zero will be achieved. In the meantime, however, there is much that can be done to slow its spread and mitigate it effects.
What Is a Vision Zero Policy? Lessons from a Multi-sectoral Perspective
Authors: Kristianssen Ann-Catrin , Andersson Ragnar
Published: November 2022

Vision Zero is a term mainly connected with road traffic safety and has its roots in the Swedish road safety strategy. It was formally adopted by the Swedish parliament in 1997, and due to the initial success of lowering the number of deaths in traffic crashes significantly, it has become a role model for road safety strategies in countries and cities all over the world. In Sweden, Vision Zero for road safety has also inspired the introduction of Vision Zero policies in other sectors, and this chapter focuses on Vision Zero from a multi-sectoral perspective. The purpose of this chapter is twofold: to present five different cases of Vision Zero policies and to discuss what constitutes a Vision Zero policy based on these five cases. The five cases are found in road traffic safety, fire safety, patient safety, suicide, and workplace safety. Every case has its unique preconditions in terms of laws, actors, scope, etc., but they are also similar in relation to injury prevention and the ambition to decrease the number of deaths and serious injuries. The five Vision Zero policies are summarized by presenting the problem and problem framing, the goal, measures, and solutions as well as leading actors and governing structures. We find that the problem itself is quite self-explanatory in each case but that the problem framing and attribution of responsibility differ. All cases have on paper been inspired by the road safety strategies, but the systems approach, so intimately connected with Vision Zero, is more or less absent in the cases of fire safety and suicide. Furthermore, in the field of fire safety, responsibility is placed on the individual and on the business sector rather than based on a shared responsibility and ultimately on the system designers. In all five cases, there are a set of measures in place, but there are differences in implementation due to temporal factors and also what kind of governing and steering structures are in place. There is also a difference in internal support where the Vision Zero for suicide stands out as having less support among agencies working with the issue. Finally, the monitoring systems differ from case to case. The Vision Zero for road traffic safety stands out as having a monitoring and evaluating system based on specific safety targets ultimately aiming toward zero (management by objectives). Based on the empirical findings, we argue that besides having a clear problem and problem framing, a toolbox of measures, a monitoring system, and a governing structure, a policy based on a visionary approach with an ambition to reach zero needs additional perspectives or criteria in order to be successful: (1) ascientificapproach to problem framing and solutions, (2) acomprehensiveapproach, (3) along-termcommitment, and (4) a system and structure based ongovernance. These criteria do not necessarily have to be in place in order to adopt Vision Zero, but they are a prerequisite for building a system based on Vision Zero.
Vision Zero in Sweden: Streaming Through Problems, Politics, and Policies
Authors: Belin Matts-Åke
Published: November 2022

In 1997, the Riksdag, the Swedish Parliament, adopted Vision Zero as a new goal and strategy for road safety in Sweden (Swedish Government 1997). In the more than 20 years since the Vision Zero policy was adopted, it has spread internationally as a model of a public road safety policy (OECD/ITF 2008, 2016; World Health Organization 2017). It is not only in the transport sector that Vision Zero has attracted interest; it has also spread and continues to spread to other sectors of Swedish society such as fire safety, patient safety, occupational accidents, and suicide (Kristianssen et al. 2018). Although, road safety policies and strategies can be developed and adopted by a variety of actors at different levels in the society in a democracy, parliaments have a special position, and it establishes an exclusive legitimacy in the society. According to the Swedish Constitution (Swedish Parliament 2016), all public power proceeds from the people, and the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament) is the foremost representative of the people. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the Swedish Parliament and the Swedish Government and how road safety, as a public policy, finds its way into public agenda in a competing political environment. The decision to adopt Vision Zero in Sweden was a rather radical change (Belin et al. 2011) of that time safety policy. This chapter examines the political decision-making process that preceded the decision by the Swedish Parliament to adopt the Vision Zero policy in 1997 (Swedish Parliament 1997) and the decision to re-evaluate Vision Zero in 2004 (Swedish Parliament 2004).
Classifying BPS bosonic Wilson loops in 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 Chern-Simons-matter theories
Authors: Drukker Nadav , Kong Ziwen , Probst Malte , Tenser Marcia , Trancanelli Diego
Published: November 2022

Abstract

We study the possible BPS Wilson loops in three-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 Chern-Simons-matter theory which involve only the gauge field and bilinears of the scalars. Previously known examples are the analogues of the Gaiotto-Yin loops preserving four supercharges and “latitude” loops preserving two. We carry out a careful classification and find, in addition, loops preserving three supercharges, further inequivalent classes of loops preserving two supercharges and loops preserving a single supercharge. For each of the classes of loops, we present a representative example and analyse their full orbit under the broken symmetries.
Spectrum of large N glueballs: holography vs lattice
Authors: Dymarsky Anatoly , Melnikov Dmitry
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Recently there has been a notable progress in the study of glueball states in lattice gauge theories, in particular extrapolating their spectrum to the limit of large number of colors N. In this note we compare the large N lattice results with the holographic predictions, focusing on the Klebanov-Strassler model, which describes a gauge theory with $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 supersymmetry. We note that glueball spectrum demonstrates approximate universality across a range of gauge theory models. Because of this universality the holographic models can give reliable predictions for the spectrum of pure SU(N) Yang-Mills theories with and without supersymmetry. This is especially important for the supersymmetric theories, for which no firm lattice predictions exist yet, and the holographic models remain the most tractable approach. For SU(N) theories with large N the lattice non-supersymmetric and holographic supersymmetric predictions for the mass ratios of the lightest states in various sectors agree up to 5–8%, supporting the proposed universality. In particular, both lattice and holography give predictions for the 2++ and 1−− mass ratio, consistent with the known constraints on the pomeron and odderon Regge trajectories.
Strong lensing time-delay cosmography in the 2020s
Authors: Treu Tommaso , Suyu Sherry H. , Marshall Philip J.
Published: November 2022

Multiply imaged time-variable sources can be used to measure absolute distances as a function of redshifts and thus determine cosmological parameters, chiefly the Hubble Constant H$$_0$$

0

. In the two decades up to 2020, through a number of observational and conceptual breakthroughs, this so-called time-delay cosmography has reached a precision sufficient to be an important independent voice in the current “Hubble tension” debate between early- and late-universe determinations of H$$_0$$

0

. The 2020s promise to deliver major advances in time-delay cosmography, owing to the large number of lenses to be discovered by new and upcoming surveys and the vastly improved capabilities for follow-up and analysis. In this review, after a brief summary of the foundations of the method and recent advances, we outline the opportunities for the decade and the challenges that will need to be overcome in order to meet the goal of the determination of H$$_0$$

0

from time-delay cosmography with 1% precision and accuracy.
Herstellung und Durchführung von Großversuchen an Faserspritzbetontübbingen
Authors: Kühbacher Manuel
Published: November 2022

Der Lehrstuhl für Subsurface Engineering wurde beauftragt, Großversuche zur Ermittlung des Trag- und Verformungsverhaltens von Spritzbetontübbingen mit Makrokunststofffasern durchzuführen. Zur Tübbingherstellung wurde dazu eine bereits vorhandene Tübbingschalung auf eine Tunnelbaustelle transportiert und untertage im Verzweigungsbereich platziert. Die Betonage der insgesamt vier Versuchstübbinge erfolgte mit dem Vorort eingesetzten Kunststofffaserverstärkten Spritzbeton mit einem Bewehrungsgehalt von 5 kg/m3.

In weiterer Folge wurden Großversuche an den Spritzbetontübbingen am Tübbingprüfstand der Montanuniversität Leoben durchgeführt. Durch die aus den ersten Versuchen gewonnenen Erkenntnisse konnten zahlreiche Optimierungsmaßnahmen für dessen Herstellung erarbeitet und bei den zuletzt hergestellten Versuchstübbingen umgesetzt werden.
Pragmatic, Persistent, and Precarious: The Pathways of Three Minority Ethnic Women in STEM Higher Education
Authors: Wong Billy , Copsey-Blake Meggie
Published: November 2022

Minority ethnic women are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) higher education. Whilst existing studies, mostly in the US context, have provided valuable insights into racial and gender inequalities, there appears to be limited research in the UK. Through the lens of science identity, this article draws on qualitative data which was collected over three years, to appreciate how minority ethnic women develop their identity and belonging in STEM higher education, from the start to the end of their degrees. We present three case studies: (1) Nancy, a British East Asian Computer Science student, who appears pragmatic as she understands the extrinsic value of her degree, despite negative feelings and experiences; (2) Carol, a Black British Biomedical student, who can be seen as persistent, as supported by her intrinsic commitment to work in healthcare; and (3) Mawiya, a British Middle Eastern Mathematics student, whose experiences are somewhat precarious, because she must continuously negotiate her mathematics identity, which is often in question by herself and others. We discuss and compare the similarities and differences in the higher education pathways of these students. We also highlight the nuances of identity development and identity management, and consider multiple social inequalities for minority ethnic women. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of the findings for policy and practice.
IonMonger 2.0: software for free, fast and versatile simulation of current, voltage and impedance response of planar perovskite solar cells
Authors: Clarke Will , Bennett Laurence J. , Grudeva Yoana , Foster Jamie M. , Richardson Giles , Courtier Nicola E.
Published: November 2022

The second generation of the open-source MATLAB-based software tool , for solving drift–diffusion models of charge transport in planar perovskite solar cells, is presented here. This version is based upon a generalisation of the original drift–diffusion model of charge carrier and ion motion in the perosvkite cell, as described in Courtier (J Comput Electron 18:1435–1449, 2019). The generalised model has the flexibility to capture (1) non-Boltzmann statistics of charge carriers in the transport layers, (2) steric effects for the ions in the perovskite layer, (3) generation of charge carriers from light made up of a spectrum of different wavelengths and, (4) Auger recombination. The updated software is significantly more stable than the original version and also adds the ability to simulate impedance spectroscopy measurements as well as transient voltage and/or illumination protocols. In addition, it is fully backwards compatible with the original version and displays improved performance through refinement of the underlying numerical methods. Furthermore, the software has been made accessible to a wider user base by the addition of , a version that leverages MATLAB’s live scripts and eliminates the need for a detailed knowledge of MATLAB’s syntax.
The Behavioral and Neurochemical Changes Induced by Boldenone and/or Tramadol in Adult Male Rats
Authors: Mowaad Noha A. , El-Shamarka Marwa E. A. , Khadrawy Yasser A.
Published: November 2022

Boldenone and tramadol are abused among large sectors of adolescents. Therefore, the behavioral changes concerned with memory and cognitive functions and neurochemical variations were investigated in the cortex of rats treated with boldenone and/or tramadol. Rats were divided into control and rats treated with boldenone, tramadol, or both drugs. At the end of the treatment period, the memory and cognitive functions were evaluated by the Y-maze test (YMT) and elevated plus maze test (EPMT) and the motor activity was determined by the open field test (OFT). The cortex was dissected to carry out the neurochemical analyses. Rats treated with boldenone and/or tramadol showed impaired memory and cognitive functions and reduced motor activity. A significant increase in lipid peroxidation (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) were observed in the cortex of rats treated with boldenone and/or tramadol. The levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) decreased significantly. Western blot data showed a significant decrease in Bcl2 and a significant increase in caspase-3 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rats treated with boldenone and/or tramadol. These changes were associated with neuronal death as indicated from the histopathological examination.

The present findings indicate that boldenone and/or tramadol induced impairment in memory and cognitive functions. These changes could be mediated by the increase in oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, reduced AChE level, and reduced number of survived neurons in the cortex as indicated from the decreased Bcl2 level and the histological examination.
Comparison of the Impact of COVID-19 on Veterans Affairs and Non-federal Hospitals: a Survey of Infection Prevention Specialists
Authors: Schildhouse Richard J. , Gupta Ashwin , Greene M. Todd , Fowler Karen E. , Ratz David , Hausman Mark S. , Saint Sanjay
Published: November 2022

Background

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, it is critical to understand characteristics that have allowed US healthcare systems, including the Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-federal hospitals, to mount an effective response in the setting of limited resources and unpredictable clinical demands generated by this system shock.

Objective

To compare the impact of and response to resource shortages to both VA and non-federal healthcare systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

Cross-sectional national survey administered April 2021 through May 2022.

Participants

Lead infection preventionists from VA and non-federal hospitals across the US.

Main Measures

Surveys collected hospital demographic factors along with 11 questions aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the hospital’s COVID response.

Key Results

The response rate was 56% (71/127) from VA and 47% (415/881) from non-federal hospitals. Compared to VA hospitals, non-federal hospitals had a larger average number of acute care (214 vs. 103 beds, p<.001) and intensive care unit (24 vs. 16, p<.001) beds. VA hospitals were more likely to report no shortages of personal protective equipment or medical supplies during the pandemic (17% vs. 9%, p=.03) and more frequently opened new units to care specifically for COVID patients (71% vs. 49%, p<.001) compared with non-federal hospitals. Non-federal hospitals more frequently experienced increased loss of staff due to resignations (76% vs. 53%, p=.001) and financial hardships stemming from the pandemic (58% vs. 7%, p<0.001).

Conclusions

In our survey-based national study, lead infection preventionists noted several distinct advantages in VA versus non-federal hospitals in their ability to expand bed capacity, retain staff, mitigate supply shortages, and avoid financial hardship. While these benefits appear to be inherent to the VA’s structure, non-federal hospitals can adapt their infrastructure to better weather future system shocks.
Robotic-assisted spine surgery allows for increased pedicle screw sizes while still improving safety as indicated by elevated triggered electromyographic thresholds
Authors: Kanaly Charles W. , Backes Danielle M. , Toossi Nader , Bucklen Brandon
Published: November 2022

The present study used triggered electromyographic (EMG) testing as a tool to determine the safety of pedicle screw placement. In this Institutional Review Board exempt review, data from 151 consecutive patients (100 robotic; 51 non-robotic) who had undergone instrumented spinal fusion surgery of the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions were analyzed. The sizes of implanted pedicle screws and EMG threshold data were compared between screws that were placed immediately before and after adoption of the robotic technique. The robotic group had significantly larger screws inserted that were wider (7 ± 0.7 vs 6.5 ± 0.3 mm; p < 0.001) and longer (47.8 ± 6.4 vs 45.7 ± 4.3 mm; p < 0.001). The robotic group also had significantly higher stimulation thresholds (34.0 ± 11.9 vs 30.2 ± 9.8 mA; p = 0.002) of the inserted screws. The robotic group stayed in the hospital postoperatively for fewer days (2.3 ± 1.2 vs 2.9 ± 2 days; p = 0.04), but had longer surgery times (174 ± 37.8 vs 146 ± 41.5 min; p < 0.001). This study demonstrated that the use of navigated, robot-assisted surgery allowed for placement of larger pedicle screws without compromising safety, as determined by pedicle screw stimulation thresholds. Future studies should investigate whether these effects become even stronger in a later cohort after surgeons have more experience with the robotic technique. It should also be evaluated whether the larger screw sizes allowed by the robotic technology actually translate into improved long-term clinical outcomes.
A Case of Multicystic Biliary Hamartoma with a Marked Peribiliary Gland Component Successfully Treated by Purely Laparoscopic Anatomical Liver Resection
Authors: Kai Keita , Ide Takao , Tanaka Tomokazu , Yukimoto Kumpei , Irie Hiroyuki , Noshiro Hirokazu , Aishima Shinichi
Published: November 2022

Background

Multicystic biliary hamartoma (MCBH) is an extremely rare benign liver lesion characterized by a gross well-circumscribed multicystic honeycomb appearance. This report presents a MCBH case with a marked peribiliary gland component which showed unusual histology.

Case Presentation

A 63-year-old Japanese male was admitted to our hospital for a detailed examination of a hepatic cystic lesion, which was originally detected 14 years ago and had slowly enlarged. A preoperative imaging study revealed a well-demarcated multicystic lesion without communication to the biliary tracts. The possible clinical diagnoses were mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) or MCBH. The lesion was successfully resected by purely laparoscopic right anterior sectionectomy. The cut surfaces of resected specimens grossly exhibited a well-circumscribed multicystic lesion with a thick septum. Histologically, the cyst wall was covered by cuboidal epithelial cells resembling epithelium of the bile duct while abundant small ducts, which morphologically resembled peribiliary glands, were observed among the fibrous stroma of the thick septum. Although possible pathological diagnosis varied, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct, biliary adenofibroma, MCN and MCBH, the lesion was finally diagnosed as MCBH with a marked peribiliary gland component.

Conclusions

MCBH can contain abundant peribiliary glands in the fibrous stroma. A pathologist should be careful not to diagnose such peribiliary glands in MCBH as neoplastic glands.
Unequally and Non-linearly Weighted Averaging Operators as a General Homogenization Approach for Phase Field Modeling of Phase Transforming Materials
Authors: von Oertzen V. , Kiefer B.
Published: November 2022

The phase field method has been shown to have tremendous potential to serve as a continuum modeling approach of microstructural evolution mechanisms in many contexts, such as alloy solidification, fracture, and chemo-mechanics. By replacing sharp interfaces between phases with a diffuse representation, additional degrees of freedom, namely order parameters, enter the continuum model, in order to describe the current phase state at each material point. Single-phase properties thus need to be interpolated carefully within diffuse interface regions by applying mixture rules subject to specific, microscopic constraints in an underlying homogenization framework. However, there exists a variety of well-established nonlinear interpolation schemes—especially incorporating symmetric or hyperspherical order parameters—for which it turns out that they cannot consistently be described within conventional homogenization theories. To overcome this problem, an extension toward unequally, non-linearly weighted averaging operators is presented, in which conventional, unweighted homogenization represents a special case. The embedding of Reuss–Sachs, Taylor–Voigt, and rank-one convexification models—extended by nonlinear interpolation—within the proposed framework is demonstrated by identifying necessary constraints on corresponding weighting functions. Since this concept establishes a generalization of conventional homogenization, the following question arises: Could any effective property interpolation within the diffuse interface fit into the proposed framework by choosing appropriate weighting functions, and if so, under which microscopic constraints? To this end, the concepts of macroscopic links and domain relations are introduced and applied for conventional homogenization schemes in phase field modeling. Important, yet often subtle, implications of such theoretical considerations on the prediction of microstructure formation and evolution by means of phase field modeling are the focus of discussion in this contribution.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS): development path based on carbon neutrality and economic policy
Authors: Shen Minghai , Kong Fulin , Tong Lige , Luo Yang , Yin Shaowu , Liu Chuanping , Zhang Peikun , Wang Li , Chu Paul K. , Ding Yulong
Published: November 2022

In order to limit global warming to 2 °C, countries have adopted carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emission. However, it is currently facing challenges such as controversial investment costs, unclear policies, and reduction of new energy power generation costs. In particular, some CCS projects are at a standstill. To promote the development of CCS projects in different countries, this paper reviews and compares energy conservation and emission reduction policies and different national goals. From a policy perspective, CCS-driven policies are analyzed. Based on this, corresponding policy recommendations are put forward, in order to promote the healthy development of global CCS technology and deal with climate issues more effectively. With less than 10 years away from the short-term goal, promoting the development and application of CCS projects requires scientific research from universities, enterprises and governments in order to attain zero or negative CO2 emission. On the basis of focusing on the development of CCS technology, according to the actual situation of each country, the appropriate application of CCS engineering should focus on the development of science and technology, rather than a unified requirement around the world.
COVID-19 Outbreak Related to PM10, PM2.5, Air Temperature and Relative Humidity in Ahvaz, Iran
Authors: Khaniabadi Yusef Omidi , Sicard Pierre , Dehghan Bahram , Mousavi Hassan , Saeidimehr Saeid , Farsani Mohammad Heidari , Monfared Sadegh Moghimi , Maleki Heydar , Moghadam Hojat , Birgani Pouran Moulaei
Published: November 2022

In this study, we assessed several points related to the incidence of COVID-19 between March 2020 and March 2021 in the Petroleum Hospital of Ahvaz (Iran) by analyzing COVID-19 data from patients referred to the hospital. We found that 57.5% of infected referrals were male, 61.7% of deaths by COVID-19 occurred in subjects over 65 years of age, and only 2.4% of deaths occurred in younger subjects (< 30 years old). Analysis showed that mean PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were correlated to the incidence of COVID-19 (r = 0.547, P < 0.05, and r = 0.609, P < 0.05, respectively) and positive chest CT scans (r = 0.597, P < 0.05, and r = 0.541, P < 0.05 respectively). We observed that a high daily air temperature (30–51 °C) and a high relative humidity (60–97%) led to a significant reduction in the daily incidence of COVID-19. The highest number of positive chest CT scans were obtained in June 2020 and March 2021 for daily air temperature ranging from 38 °C and 49 °C and 11 °C and 15 °C, respectively. A negative correlation was detected between COVID-19 cases and air temperature (r =  − 0.320, P < 0.05) and relative humidity (r =  − 0.384, P < 0.05). In Ahvaz, a daily air temperature of 10–28 °C and relative humidity of 19–40% are suitable for the spread of coronavirus. The highest correlation with the number of COVID-19 cases was found at lag3 (r = 0.42) and at lag0 with a positive chest CT scan (r = 0.56). For air temperature and relative humidity, the highest correlations were found at day 0 (lag0). During lockdown (22 March to 21 April 2020), a reduction was observed for PM10 (29.6%), PM2.5 (36.9%) and the Air Quality Index (33.3%) when compared to the previous month. During the pandemic period (2020–2021), the annual mean concentrations of PM10 (27.3%) and PM2.5 (17.8%) were reduced compared to the 2015–2019 period.
Pandemic pedagogies: reflections on pedagogical approaches to art and design librarianship during a pandemic
Authors: Williams Laura
Published: November 2022

The covid-19 pandemic instigated a rapid digital shift in UK higher education libraries, changing the way teaching was delivered. The digital shift of the pandemic meant library teaching was reimagined for online delivery, however pedagogical principles were challenged by new ways of working. How can a pedagogical approach for art and design librarianship adapt to online delivery when grounded in embodied, material and sensory experiences? Taking a reflective approach which brings together personal experience with discussion of selected literature, this article explores how pedagogical approaches to art and design librarianship have been continually reshaped by the pandemic.
The particularities of a ballet collection: the Nélida Piñon Collection at Instituto Cervantes Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Paschoa Carlos Alberto Della , Melo Elisete de Sousa
Published: November 2022

The authors discuss a bibliographical collection focused on ballet, the personal library of the Brazilian writer and academic of Galician descent Nélida Piñon. The academic donated her private library to Instituto Cervantes Rio de Janeiro in 2022.

This article is based on a paper presented at 'Challenges of art librarianship: 2020 and beyond'.1
Outflows and disks in post-RGB objects — products of common envelope ejection?
Authors: Sarkar Geetanjali , Sahai Raghvendra
Published: November 2022

Interacting binaries within a common envelope, wherein the primary is a red giant are believed to result in a recently identified evolutionary class – the dusty post-RGB stars. Our SED modeling of eight post-RGBs in the LMC indicates the presence of geometrically thick disks with substantial opening angle in addition to the outer shells. We estimated the total dust mass (and gas mass assuming gas-to-dust ratio) in the disks and shells and set constraints on the dust grain compositions and sizes. The only known Galactic object of this class is the Boomerang nebula. Additionally, we present a DUSTY model of the Boomerang that can serve as a template for 2D modeling of the object using RADMC-3D. 2D modeling is essential to dissect the morphology of the spatially-unresolved post-RGBs in the LMC. These models may then be tested with future HST and ALMA imaging, together with JWST spectroscopy of these objects.
The interplay between mass-loss and binarity
Authors: Sana Hugues
Published: November 2022

Most stars with birth masses larger than that of our Sun belong to binary or higher order multiple systems. Similarly, most stars have stellar winds. Radiation pressure and multiplicity create outflows of material that remove mass from the primary star and inject it into the interstellar medium or transfer it to a companion. Both have strong impact on the subsequent evolution of the stars, yet they are often studied separately. In this short review, I will sketch part of the landscape of the interplay between stellar winds and binarity. I will present several examples where binarity shapes the stellar outflows, providing new opportunities to understand and measure mass loss properties. Stellar winds spectral signatures often help clearly identifying key stages of stellar evolution. The multiplicity properties of these stages then shed a new light onto evolutionary connections between the different categories of evolved stars.
Latent growth analysis of children’s height growth trajectories
Authors: Wake Senahara Korsa , Zewotir Temesgen , Muluneh Essey Kebede
Published: November 2022

Characterizing and quantifying the trajectories of variables of interest through time in their field of study is of interest to a range of disciplines. The aim of this study was to investigate the growth speed in height of children and its determinants. A total of 3401 males and 3200 females from four low- and middle-income countries with measured height on five occasions from 2002 to 2016 were included in the study. Data were analyzed using a latent growth model. The results of the study reported that children in four low- and middle-income countries exhibited substantial growth inequalities. There was a significant gender difference in change of growth with males had a higher baseline, rate of change, and acceleration in height growth than females. Comparing the component of slopes across countries, the growth change inequalities were observed among children. These inequalities were statistically significant, with the highest rate of change observed in Peru and Vietnam.
Craton Destruction Induced by Drastic Drops in Lithospheric Mantle Viscosity
Authors: Wang Lu , Liu Jia , Xu Qi‐Hu , Xia Qun‐Ke
Published: November 2022

The disruption of the mantle roots of cratons is common after cratonization. Craton destruction, which is characterized by severe lithospheric thinning, extensive thrust and extensional deformation, basin filling, and intense thermal activities, is relatively rare and is generally attributed to intensely reduced viscosity contrasts between the lithospheric mantle root and the underlying asthenosphere. However, the extent of the required viscosity contrast remains unclear. The North China craton (NCC) is a typical example of a partially destroyed craton, with its eastern part experiencing destruction in the Early Cretaceous. In this study, we measured the water content of clinopyroxene phenocrysts in Middle Jurassic lithospheric mantle‐derived, weakly alkaline volcanic rocks from the Shanhaiguan area. Our data and those of previous studies show that the lithospheric mantle in the eastern NCC contained substantial amounts of water (650–2,900 ppm) before craton destruction. In addition, the continuous supply of water by the subducted Paleo‐Pacific slab resulted in a more hydrous lithospheric mantle (up to ca. 9,000 ppm) during the craton destruction. The viscosity contrasts between the lithospheric mantle root and the asthenosphere (with an average viscosity of 3.7 × 1018 Pa s) were 2–8 and 0.3–2 before and during the craton destruction, respectively. Our study indicates that a drastic drop in the lithospheric mantle viscosity, which is controlled by the synergic effects of a high water content and elevated temperature, is required to induce craton destruction.
Global Recharge Data Set Indicates Strengthened Groundwater Connection to Surface Fluxes
Authors: Berghuijs Wouter R. , Luijendijk Elco , Moeck Christian , van der Velde Ype , Allen Scott T.
Published: November 2022

Groundwater is an invaluable global resource, but its long‐term viability as a resource for consumption, agriculture, and ecosystems depends on precipitation recharging aquifers. How much precipitation recharges groundwaters varies enormously across Earth's surface, yet recharge rates often remain uncertain. Here we use a global synthesis of field‐estimated recharge across six continents to show that globally recharge first‐order follows a simple function of climatic aridity. We use this relationship to estimate long‐term recharge in energy‐limited systems outside of permafrost regions. Our aridity‐based recharge estimates are consistent with the global field data but, on average, double previous estimates of global models. Our higher recharge estimates are likely caused by preferential groundwater recharge and discharge occurring at grid scales finer than global models. The higher recharge estimates suggest that more groundwater contributes to evapotranspiration and streamflow than previously represented by global hydrological models and global water cycle diagrams.
Structural deficits in key domains of Shank2 lead to alterations in postsynaptic nanoclusters and to a neurodevelopmental disorder in humans
Authors: Hassani Nia Fatemeh , Woike Daniel , Bento Isabel , Niebling Stephan , Tibbe Debora , Schulz Kristina , Hirnet Daniela , Skiba Matilda , Hönck Hans-Hinrich , Veith Katharina , Günther Christian , Scholz Tasja , Bierhals Tatjana , Driemeyer Joenna , Bend Renee , Failla Antonio Virgilio , Lohr Christian , Alai Maria Garcia , Kreienkamp Hans-Jürgen
Published: November 2022

Postsynaptic scaffold proteins such as Shank, PSD-95, Homer and SAPAP/GKAP family members establish the postsynaptic density of glutamatergic synapses through a dense network of molecular interactions. Mutations in SHANK genes are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and intellectual disability. However, no SHANK missense mutations have been described which interfere with the key functions of Shank proteins believed to be central for synapse formation, such as GKAP binding via the PDZ domain, or Zn2+-dependent multimerization of the SAM domain. We identify two individuals with a neurodevelopmental disorder carrying de novo missense mutations in SHANK2. The p.G643R variant distorts the binding pocket for GKAP in the Shank2 PDZ domain and prevents interaction with Thr(−2) in the canonical PDZ ligand motif of GKAP. The p.L1800W variant severely delays the kinetics of Zn2+-dependent polymerization of the Shank2-SAM domain. Structural analysis shows that Trp1800 dislodges one histidine crucial for Zn2+ binding. The resulting conformational changes block the stacking of helical polymers of SAM domains into sheets through side-by-side contacts, which is a hallmark of Shank proteins, thereby disrupting the highly cooperative assembly process induced by Zn2+. Both variants reduce the postsynaptic targeting of Shank2 in primary cultured neurons and alter glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Super-resolution microscopy shows that both mutants interfere with the formation of postsynaptic nanoclusters. Our data indicate that both the PDZ- and the SAM-mediated interactions of Shank2 contribute to the compaction of postsynaptic protein complexes into nanoclusters, and that deficiencies in this process interfere with normal brain development in humans.