News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeff Tollefson
Summary: The Environmental Protection Agency has released draft regulations that pave the way for a major shift to electric vehicles.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vadim V. Klimontov, Olga Saik, Anton Korbut
Summary: Glucose variability plays a crucial role in the development of diabetes complications, affecting target organs through oxidative stress, glycation, chronic inflammation, and other pathways. This creates a vicious cycle that worsens the condition and highlights the need to consider GV as a therapeutic target in diabetes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Economics
Mudit Kumar Singh
Summary: This paper addresses the knowledge gap by studying the relationship between state capacity and energy transition policy, and constructs a new conceptual framework to guide local energy transition efforts.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yuanyuan Zhou, Zhiyong He, Shuliang Zhao
Summary: The study suggests that the government should consider both enterprises and individuals in agricultural residue recycling, and the amount of subsidy is a key factor in policy effectiveness. A scientific dynamic adjustment mechanism should be established to ensure the effective implementation of policies.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Steffen Both, Martin Schaeferling, Florian Sterl, Egor A. Muljarov, Harald Giessen, Thomas Weiss
Summary: Nanophotonic chiral sensing, which exploits the strong light-matter interaction in nanophotonic resonators, has gained significant attention for its potential applications in life science and chemistry. However, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying interactions is still lacking. In this study, we present a general theory that describes chiral light-matter interactions in arbitrary resonators, providing deep insights for customization and enhancement of such interactions. Our theory efficiently predicts spectra and identifies two dominant contributions: chirality-induced resonance shift and changes in excitation and emission efficiencies of the resonator modes.
Article
Immunology
Mark Hanly, Timothy Churches, Oisin Fitzgerald, C. Raina MacIntyre, Louisa Jorm
Summary: The Australian government aims to vaccinate the adult population by the end of October 2021, but faces logistical challenges. The key factor determining the duration of the vaccine rollout is the number of doses that can be administered per day. Speed is crucial to minimize lockdown risks and epidemic waves.
Article
Business
Vera Schulhof, Detlef van Vuuren, Julian Kirchherr
Summary: This study fills the research gap by applying a scenario method and analyzing qualitative interviews and desk research. It proposes four possible scenarios for the future development of the Belt and Road Initiative and examines their impact on economic globalization, multilateralism, and sustainability.
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Chris Impey
Summary: This overview discusses the current status and future prospects of the search for life in the universe. It explores three realms of space where the search for life is being conducted - habitable locations in our Solar System, exoplanet atmospheres, and potential signs of extraterrestrial civilizations. The article assesses the likelihood of success in each realm and identifies the most promising near-term prospects for detection, such as the search for biomarkers in exoplanet atmospheres. The article also mentions the potential discovery of relic traces of life in ancient Mars rocks and the challenges of searching for extraterrestrial intelligence. Ultimately, the discovery of life, particularly on an exoplanet, is deemed to be one of the most significant milestones in scientific history.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Casey Keat-Chuan Ng, John Payne, Felicity Oram
Summary: The Small Habitats Matrix (SHM) concept utilizes small habitats on private lands to mitigate ecological degradation, particularly in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. By modeling a linkage between terrestrial and aquatic habitats, it is expected to optimize meta-population vitality for various wildlife communities.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Paula Morella, Maria Pilar Lamban, Jesus Royo, Juan Carlos Sanchez
Summary: Climate change, resource scarcity, and a growing world population are challenging traditional agriculture. As a result, new cultivation systems like vertical farming are emerging. Vertical farming depends on indoor cultivation, unaffected by climate, but it requires higher water and light consumption compared to traditional agriculture. New technologies and sensors are necessary to reduce consumption and improve efficiency. Additionally, the profitability of vertical farming remains uncertain and needs further investigation.
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Jop Havinga, Kym Bancroft, Andrew Rae
Summary: The academic literature views hazard reporting as an extension of incident reporting and emphasizes on the collection of safety data for proactive actions and learning processes. However, in practice, hazard reporting mainly coordinates remedial actions rather than focusing on learning and memory-related functions.
Article
Nursing
Maria Demir, Elin Hakansson, Jenny Drott
Summary: This study describes nurses' and specialist nurses' experiences of moral distress in surgical care and how it affects their daily work. The results show that a lack of personnel and complex patient needs are the main sources of moral distress. Moral distress can have severe consequences for patient safety, individual nurses, and future healthcare.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
David S. Guttery, Mohammad Zeeshan, Anthony A. Holder, Eelco C. Tromer, Rita Tewari
Summary: This article discusses the impact of technological advances in cell biology, evolutionary bioinformatics, and genome-wide functional studies on our understanding of meiosis in Apicomplexa, and emphasizes the importance of studying this stage.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Business
Timo Busch, Michael L. Barnett, Roger Leonard Burritt, Benjamin W. Cashore, R. Edward Freeman, Irene Henriques, Bryan W. Husted, Rajat Panwar, Jonathan Pinske, Stefan Schaltegger, Jeff York
Summary: One of the most debated topics in corporate sustainability literature is the business case. While it has long been praised for connecting profit motives with environmental initiatives, it is now facing vehement criticism. Some argue for stronger regulatory frameworks, while others believe that the private sector's capabilities are crucial for driving sustainability innovations. This article seeks to unite these differing views by emphasizing the need for a broader stakeholder approach that focuses on impacts, collaboration, and economic restraint.
BUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robyn E. Wootton, Hannah J. Jones, Hannah M. Sallis
Summary: The successful prevention of mental illness relies upon the identification of causal, modifiable risk factors. Mendelian randomisation (MR) is a method that uses genetic variation to identify causal effects between risk factors and outcomes in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. While MR studies are increasing in psychiatry, there are limitations to consider, along with the importance of clear causal questions and sensitivity analyses.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
S. Kelly, P. Redmond, S. King, C. Oliver-Williams, G. Lame, E. Liberati, I Kuhn, C. Winter, T. Draycott, M. Dixon-Woods, J. Burt
Summary: This systematic review on training healthcare professionals in intrapartum electronic fetal monitoring found little evidence of impact on neonatal outcomes. More research is needed to improve the evidence base for training in this area.
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sanjeev Singh, Marc Mendelson, Surya Surendran, Candice Bonaconsa, Oluchi Mbamalu, Vrinda Nampoothiri, Adam Boutall, Mark Hampton, Puneet Dhar, Tim Pennel, Carolyn Tarrant, Andy Leather, Alison Holmes, Esmita Charani
Summary: This study investigates the barriers to effective infection management and antimicrobial stewardship across high-infection-risk surgical pathways in South Africa and India. It identifies the neglect of existing roles of healthcare professionals, particularly the ownership of decisions by operating surgeons, as a critical obstacle to integrated care. The study concludes that recognizing implicit HCP roles and implementing a framework approach involving nurse leadership and pharmacist empowerment are essential for optimized care.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carolyn Tarrant, Andrew M. Colman, David R. Jenkins, Edmund Chattoe-Brown, Nelun Perera, Shaheen Mehtar, W. M. I. Dilini Nakkawita, Michele Bolscher, Eva M. Krockow
Summary: This study identified multi-level influences on broad-spectrum antibiotic overuse, with drivers found at individual, social, and structural levels. Structural drivers varied significantly across environments, highlighting the need for antimicrobial stewardship efforts to address context-specific conditions.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Elizabeth Sutton, Julian Bion, Russell Mannion, Janet Willars, Elizabeth Shaw, Carolyn Tarrant
Summary: Most NHS hospital trusts in England responded to the introduction of national standards for 7-day services by focusing on hitting targets and achieving compliance with the standards. Compliance-based responses were associated with a hierarchical organisational culture and focus on external performance. Trusts that took a commitment-based approach tended to have a developmental organisational culture and a history of higher performance across the board.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Health Care Sciences & Services
Carolyn Tarrant, Eva M. Krockow
BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Eva M. Krockow, Carolyn Tarrant, Andrew M. Colman
Summary: The prescribing of antibiotics can be seen as a social dilemma where the overuse of antibiotics for immediate risks to individual patients can result in a suboptimal outcome for society in the long run. Doctors face the challenge of balancing individual patient interests with the collective good when prescribing antibiotics.
CURRENT OPINION IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Primary Health Care
Carol Sinnott, Jordan M. Moxey, Sonja Marjanovic, Brandi Leach, Lucy Hocking, Sarah Ball, Alexandros Georgiadis, Guillaume Lame, Janet Willars, Mary Dixon-Woods
Summary: Although problems that impair task completion, known as operational failures, have been little studied, this research quantified the time GPs spend on different activities during clinical sessions and identified the nature and impact of operational failures. The study showed that operational failures disrupt patient care, impair experiences of work, and impose burden in an already pressurised system, highlighting the need for coordinated action to support GPs.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Mary Dixon-Woods, Emma L. Aveling, Anne Campbell, Akbar Ansari, Carolyn Tarrant, Janet Willars, Peter Pronovost, Imogen Mitchell, David W. Bates, Christian Dankers, James McGowan, Graham Martin
Summary: Healthcare workers are an important source of information about safety concerns, but failures of voice persist. This study found that determining what can be voiced is not simply a matter of applying objective criteria, but involves discretionary judgement in specific organizational and cultural contexts. The determination of voiceable concerns is not solely based on the features of the concern, but also on whether the person who noticed the concern felt it was voiceable.
JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH & POLICY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Elisa Liberati, Natalie Richards, Jennie Parker, Janet Willars, David Scott, Nicola Boydell, Vanessa Pinfold, Graham Martin, Peter B. Jones, Mary Dixon-Woods
Summary: This study examines the experiences of accessing mental health services during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England, using the concept of candidacy. The findings indicate that the pandemic-induced service changes had significant effects on people's eligibility for care, reshaping their perceptions of what issues deserved attention and their entitlement to care. Healthcare professionals faced complex decisions and ethical dilemmas regarding care provision, which could impact equity.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Graham Martin, Sarah Chew, Imelda McCarthy, Jeremy Dawson, Mary Dixon-Woods
Summary: The NHS in England has implemented policies aimed at increasing openness and transparency regarding quality and safety. The evaluation of these policies reveals a mixed picture, influenced by organizational history and heterogeneity. Key conditions for sustained progress in improving openness include authentic integration into organizational mission, effective administrative systems, flexibility in implementation, and a spirit of continuous inquiry and improvement.
JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH & POLICY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Surya Surendran, Enrique Castro-Sanchez, Vrinda Nampoothiri, Shiny Joseph, Sanjeev Singh, Carolyn Tarrant, Alison Holmes, Esmita Charani
Summary: This study investigates the roles of patient carers in infection-related care on surgical wards in a South Indian hospital. The findings reveal that carers play important but unrecognized roles in patient care, actively participating in personal and clinical care activities. However, there is a misalignment between their actual roles and how they are positioned by the organization and healthcare workers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Health Care Sciences & Services
Carolyn Tarrant, Rachel Lewis, Natalie Armstrong
BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Elizabeth Sutton, Natalie Armstrong, Louise Locock, Simon Conroy, Carolyn Tarrant
Summary: This study aims to investigate the use, potential negative consequences, and effective conditions of visual identifiers for patients with dementia. Through case studies and interviews with experts and patients, it was found that visual identifiers can facilitate personalized care, resource prioritization, and coordination of care. However, inconsistent standards, lack of individual patient information, and stigma associated with dementia diagnosis can undermine their effectiveness. Optimizing the use of identifiers requires consensus, support, training, and meaningful engagement with caregivers and patients.
BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Katie W. Cornthwaite, Pauline Hewitt, Jan van Der Scheer, Imogen A. F. Brown, Jenni Burt, Eliane Dufresne, Mary Dixon-Woods, Tim Draycott, ABC Contributor Gr, Thiscovery Authorship Grp, Rachna Bahl
Summary: This study aimed to assess the views, understanding, and current practices of maternity professionals regarding impacted fetal head at cesarean birth, in order to provide guidance on standardized definition, clinical management approaches, and training. The findings showed a high level of agreement on the definition of impacted fetal head and the need for a multi-professional team approach to management. There was also a significant demand for training in the management of impacted fetal head.
ACTA OBSTETRICIA ET GYNECOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
