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Peer interventions for hepatitis C testing and treatment in OECD countries : a systematic scoping review
Get PDFServices delivered by peer workers (people with lived/living experience) are recommended to find, test, and treat those at risk of hepatitis C (HCV). However, there is a lack of knowledge around the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of existing HCV peer interventions and how these drive effectiveness and impact. This systematic scoping review aimed to identify the activities of peer interventions, their reported outcomes, and mechanisms of change. We systematically searched five databases (Scopus, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Web of Science) for peer-reviewed papers which described HCV peer interventions in OECD countries published between 2012 and 2022, informed and structured by the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews and scoping review reporting guidance. All identified studies were double screened at title and abstract and full text stage. Twenty-nine studies met our inclusion criteria. In 23 studies, peer workers delivered interventions, mostly focused on outcomes for intervention recipients. Peer workers improved HCV care linkage, testing, treatment and SVR12 rates. Peer workers themselves reported increased confidence, job satisfaction, improved mental wellbeing, employability and social integration into communities. Key activities and peer intervention elements were occasionally documented, but more often omitted. None of the included studies explicitly documented or theorised underlying mechanisms, that is, how or why peer interventions work. The lack of details and mechanistic descriptions of peer interventions negatively impact the ability to optimise and enhance peer-led HCV care. This potentially undermines the elimination of HCV at population level
Uncertainty and inconsistency of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical intervention effects with multiple competitive statistical models
Get PDFQuantifying the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is essential for formulating lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. To enable a more reliable and rigorous evaluation of NPIs based on time series data, we reanalyse the official evaluation of NPIs in Germany. As the first part of a multi-step validation and verification project, we focus on properly analysing statistical uncertainties for time series data. Using a set of 9 competitive statistical methods for estimating the effects of NPIs and other determinants of disease spread on the effective reproduction number R(t), we find significantly wider confidence intervals than the official evaluation. In addition to vaccination and seasonality, only few NPIs – such as restrictions in public spaces – can be confidently associated with variations in R(t), but even then effect sizes have large uncertainties. Furthermore, due to multicollinearity in NPI activation patterns, it is difficult to distinguish potential effects of NPIs in public spaces from other interventions that came into force early, such as physical distancing. In future, NPIs should be more carefully designed and accompanied by plans for data collections to allow for a timely evaluation of benefits and harms as a basis for an effective and proportionate response
A Modular Teleoperation System for Reliable and Safer Robotic Manipulation with Integrated Force and Visual Feedback
Get PDFTeleoperation enables humans to operate robots safely in hazardous or inaccessible environments. Traditional systems rely heavily on visual feedback, which often limits accuracy in contact-rich tasks. Tactile sensors (capacitive. piezoelectric, piezoresistive, visual-tactile) offer high sensitivity but suffer from drift, complexity, fragility, and poor performance under high loads. Load cells provide a robust and scalable alternative for industrial-grade force sensing
A new dating for the origins of tourism : evidence from Göbeklitepe, Türkiye
Get PDFGöbeklitepe, built around 12,000 years ago and recognized as the world’s earliest monumental ritual centre, has the potential to reshape debates on the origins of tourism. Challenging the mainstream view that situates tourism solely in modern times, this study examines whether activities at Göbeklitepe align with the four fundamental principles of tourism – temporary stay, motivation, economic exchange, and socio-cultural interaction. A systematic literature review was conducted, synthesizing 68 studies and comparing archaeological findings with tourism theory. Results indicate that faith-based motivations, periodic gatherings, and temporary visits created economic and socio-cultural dynamics resembling tourism practices, suggesting Göbeklitepe may be interpreted as a form of proto-tourism destination
Navigating sustainable growth : green innovation as a mediator between CSR Engagement and firm value in emerging markets
No full textResearch on the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR), green innovation, and firm value remains contentious, debating whether CSR acts as a value-enhancing driver or a cost-inducing burden; this study constructs a unified theoretical framework—drawing on the attention-based view, stakeholder theory, and institutional theory—to reconcile these perspectives, finding empirically that CSR engagement significantly enhances firm value by promoting green innovation. We uncover critical boundary conditions: financial constraints significantly weaken the CSR–green innovation link, while executive compensation incentives significantly strengthen it, and ownership type (SOE vs. POE) moderates all these relationships; these results deepen the theoretical understanding of the CSR–innovation–value nexus and offer actionable insights for firms and policymakers pursuing sustainable growth in emerging economies
Farrow-based true time-delay FPGA wideband digital beamforming architecture
No full textThis paper presents a flexible FPGA digital beamforming architecture to steer an array for wideband radio frequency signals. The architecture combines True Time-Delay (TTD) units and phase-shifting to beamform at digital baseband. The TTDs utilize low order, coefficient-symmetric Farrow structures to rapidly and flexibly adjust fractional sample delays applied to wideband signals with minimal FPGA resources. Bandpass sampling is employed to further reduce resource and power consumption. The designed Farrow structure’s group delay and magnitude characteristics are evaluated. Measured beam patterns are demonstrated through simulation of the proposed FPGA receive array using fixed-point arithmetic. The multiplier utilization of the proposed system is estimated and compared with the literature. Promising results open discussions to hardening Farrow structure cores on FPGAs to serve multiple signal processing techniques required in future communications systems without consuming programmable logic fabric
Progress and critical challenges in slicing of thin semiconductor wafers using ultra-fine diamond wire
Get PDFDiamond wire sawing (DWS) has emerged as the dominant wafer slicing technology owing to its superior surface quality, reduced kerf loss, and high processing efficiency. To further reduce costs, the industry is pursuing thinner wafers (<150 μm for photovoltaic silicon) and adopting finer diamond wires (<35 μm in diameter) to maximize yield per ingot. However, slicing of such thin wafers with ultra-fine diamond wires poses significant technical barriers to widespread adoption. This paper presents a systematic review of progress in wafer thinning and wire diameter reduction for slicing, with emphasis placed particularly on critical challenges for industrial implementation. The main challenges can be summarized as follows: thin wafers exhibit an elevated breakage rate owing to the intrinsic brittleness of silicon in combination with increasing wafer dimensions; saw marks with depths on the order of several micrometers can substantially deteriorate device performance and impose additional complexity on subsequent surface treatment processes; wafer warp becomes increasingly pronounced as thickness decreases, resulting in handling difficulties and yield losses during wafer fabrication; and the use of ultra-fine wires (<35 μm) accelerates wire wear and breakage, thereby increasing wire-related costs and potentially degrading the quality of the sliced wafers. The review begins by examining the fundamental principles of DWS, covering both cutting mechanisms and wire characteristics. It then analyzes the underlying causes of these key challenges and their potential impacts on slicing performance. Finally, the paper outlines potential solutions and future research directions for advancing thin-wafer slicing technology with ultra-fine diamond wires
Impact of gabapentinoids’ reclassification policy and COVID-19 on gabapentinoids’ utilization pattern and their associated mortality in Scotland and Northern Ireland : a segmental regression analysis
Get PDFBackground: Gabapentinoids are commonly used for neuropathic pain but are increasingly linked with misuse/mortality. In 2019, the UK reclassified them as Schedule 3 controlled drugs. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic created additional uncertainty regarding their utilization. We aimed to examine the impact of reclassification and COVID-19 on gabapentinoid utilization and related mortality in Scotland and Northern Ireland (NI). Research design/methods: A population-based, cross-national study was conducted using prescribing datasets (April/2018–February/2025). Utilization was measured as total items dispensed per 1,000 inhabitants and defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants/day. Gabapentinoid-related mortality data were analyzed in parallel. Segmented regression assessed changes in trends following the 2019 reclassification and two COVID-19 lockdowns. Results: Overall utilization was higher in Scotland than NI. In Scotland, pregabalin prescribing significantly increased over the study period, while NI demonstrated a decline, largely attributable to formulary restrictions. Neither reclassification nor pandemic lockdowns were associated with statistically significant changes in prescribing patterns. Mortality rates showed no significant correlation with utilization in either country. Conclusions: Gabapentinoid utilization does not appear to have been significantly affected by the reclassification or by COVID-19. Cross-national differences underscore the influence of formulary guidance, highlighting the need for harmonized policies/patient-level research to inform safe prescribing
Single transmission phase- and frequency-modulated coded excitation for enhanced inspection of thick complex industrial components using a scalable, flexible, lead-free, ultrasonic array
Get PDFTo address the growing challenge of applying ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation to complex industrial components, flexible ultrasonic arrays have emerged as a conformable solution to inspect such geometries, thereby removing the need for custom-designed wedges to conform to surfaces. Flexible lead-based arrays have been used in prior research. They offer high piezoelectric coefficient, however, they pose human health and environmental risks, and fail to comply with global initiatives including the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulation enacted by the European Union. Although numerous studies on the piezoelectric properties of lead-free materials have been conducted, the uptake of technology and implementation in practice has been slow. In this work, a scalable, RoHS-compliant, flexible ultrasonic array was employed to improve operability in thick convex and concave components. However, the lead-free array exhibits lower piezoelectric coefficient compared to its lead-based counterparts, resulting in reduced signal quality. To tackle this shortcoming, single transmission phase-modulated Barker and frequency-modulated chirp excitation schemes, in conjunction with pulse compression, were employed to improve the signal quality. Subsequently, their impact was studied in terms of imaging quality, through Full Matrix Capture (FMC) acquisition methodology and Total Focusing Method (TFM) imaging, and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) measurements. A novel SNR method was presented. Existing SNR approaches evaluate image quality by calculating it within a designated area surrounding the target, where the noise level is quantified as the root mean square of the image noise, omitting any indication of the target. In addition to the noise level, artifacts from matched filters and sidelobes require quantitative evaluation. The new SNR technique was proposed to automate the selection of regions when characterising the SNR. The SNR was calculated across regions of varying size, with the region size where the SNR values converged being selected. This technique was utilised in a comparative analysis including a single-cycle pulse excitation, modulated Barker and chirp excitation schemes with equivalent energy levels in simulation and experimentally. The simulated and experimental results showed good agreement, with some discrepancies attributed to imperfections in the experimental conditions. SNR improvement exceeding 2.6 dB was observed experimentally, with the coded excitation techniques showing higher SNR and better image quality without sacrificing acquisition speed. Moreover, sidelobe artifacts were evident in all TFM images, while the coded excitation images further exhibited matched filter processing artifacts. The flexibility of the array was assessed in the subsequent two experiments to determine its effectiveness in improving operability in complex-geometry samples. The convex and concave samples pre-aligned the array to promote a converging and diverging ultrasonic beam, respectively. In all cases, the array demonstrated excellent conformity with the components, and the coded excitation schemes consistently achieved better imaging quality relative to the pulse excitation case
A novel bio-inspired compound restrictor for high-precision aerostatic bearings : design and evaluation
Get PDFCompound restrictors are widely adopted in aerostatic bearings due to their good static performance and ease of fabrication. However, further enhancement of their performance using surfaces with groove structures designed is still rarely researched. Inspired by the unique fluid controllability of the biomimetic hexagonal micro-pattern, this paper proposes a novel bio-inspired aerostatic bearing design to realize high stability without compromising load capacity and static stiffness. Air mass flow rate, another key factor affecting its static performance, is also considered. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation study reveals that setting suitable divergence angle enables better pressurized airflow controllability. The key structural parameters were calculated using the resistance network method (RNM). The results were further verified through experimental measurements. Performance tests of the prototyped aerostatic linear motion stage verified the theoretical modelling accuracy. A positioning accuracy (perpendicular to the stage feed direction) of less than 15 nm/10 mm was achieved, which was almost half of that of the conventional linear bearing stage under the same conditions (8 μm bearing clearance, 0.2 MPa supply pressure)
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