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Microplastics in the air: Weather and polymer influences on deposition trends across a rural–urban gradient
Full text linkAtmospheric microplastics are an emerging concern, yet their deposition dynamics across different landscapes and weather conditions remain poorly understood. We investigated microplastic deposition along a rural-to-urban gradient in England, sampling Wytham Woods (rural), Summertown (suburban), and Oxford City (urban) every 2–3 days from May to July 2023. Using high-resolution μFTIR spectroscopy, we quantified 21 polymer types across four size fractions (25–50 μm, 50–75 μm, 75–100 μm, and >100 μm) and analysed their deposition patterns in relation to weather variables. Deposition rates varied from 12 to 500 particles/m²/day, with Wytham Woods recording the highest overall deposition and Oxford City exhibiting the greatest polymer diversity. The 25–50 μm size fraction dominated in all sites, comprising up to 99 % of total deposition during high-concentration events. Polymer prevalence varied by site, with polyethylene terephthalate most abundant in Wytham Woods, polyethylene in Summertown, and ethylene vinyl alcohol in Oxford City. Weather conditions influenced deposition trends. Higher atmospheric pressure suppressed deposition, while increased wind speed and winds from the northeast enhanced it. Rainfall reduced overall deposition but increased the proportion of larger microplastics (50–75 μm). These findings challenge the assumption that urban areas consistently experience the highest microplastic loads, emphasising the impact of weather patterns on microplastic dispersion and deposition. This study highlights the need for further research into long-term deposition patterns of microplastics, focusing on specific polymer types and sizes, and their relationship with short-term and seasonal weather variations across diverse landscapes
The Paradox of Seclusion: Regional Differences in Female Employment and Wages in Urban India
No full textWhy are urban gender wage gaps lower in northern than in southern states of India, despite greater gender equality (in non-wage dimensions) in the south? I show that this is due to greater suppression of women’s low-wage employment in the north, resulting in stronger positive selection: selection-corrected gaps that impute wages for the non-employed based on observed and unobserved characteristics are similar for both north and south. I suggest that stronger social norms in the north that stigmatise women’s wage work produce lower employment rates, particularly among less-educated, low-wage women who do not have access to white-collar jobs. These patterns of participation introduce significant selection biases in the measurement of gender wage gaps and help explain why urban gender wage gaps are lower in the north
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs After Abdominal Surgery: An Umbrella Review of Existing Evidence
Full text linkBackground: Multi-modal analgesia is recommended for enhanced recovery after colorectal and abdominal surgery. Previous
reviews have reported highly discordant observations around the benefits and risks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs). This umbrella review aimed to provide a recommendation based on the best available evidence.
Methods: A systematic search was performed for reviews exploring benefits and risks of NSAIDs after abdominal surgery.
The quality of reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 tool. Outcomes of interest comprised clinical efficacy (pain, opioid
consumption, return of gut function) and safety (intestinal bleeding, anastomotic leak, acute kidney injury). The presence of discordant conclusions across reviews was investigated using the Jadad decision algorithm to determine the best available evidence.
Results: Twenty-seven reviews were included, reporting evidence for pain (n=10/27), opioid-consumption (n=11/27), gut function (n=4/27), bleeding (n=1/27), anastomotic leak (n=13/27), and acute kidney injury (n=2/27). The quality of all reviews
was ‘critically low’. The reviews were concordant in showing that NSAIDs reduce pain, opioid consumption, and time to gut
recovery. Studies reporting anastomotic leak after colorectal surgery were highly discordant. The best available evidence showed
an increased risk of anastomotic leak with non-selective NSAIDs, but not convincingly for COX-2 inhibitors.
Conclusion: NSAIDs after abdominal surgery reduce pain, opioid consumption, and the time to gut recovery. In the context of
colorectal surgery, non-selective NSAIDs may increase the risk of anastomotic leak, but this is based on low quality data. Their
use should be limited to selective NSAIDs until robust evidence is available to guide decision-making
Evaluation of a novel 4-day decellularisation protocol for porcine flexor tendons: A comparative study with a 26-day process
Full text linkRupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is a common sports-related injury that lacks intrinsic healing capacity, often necessitating surgical intervention. Our group has developed a new graft biomaterial, the decellularised porcine super flexor tendon (pSFT), designed to mitigate immune rejection post-implantation by removing cellular components. The current 26-day decellularisation process attenuates the mechanical properties of the graft, potentially disrupting the structural micro-cues that influence cell repopulation and integration. This study investigates a shortened 4-day protocol to determine whether mechanical properties are preserved more closely to native, unprocessed tissue.
Histological analysis and DNA quantification confirmed effective cell removal for both the 26-day and 4-day protocols. Native, 26-day processed, and 4-day processed grafts were mechanically evaluated through stress relaxation and failure testing. Following stress relaxation testing, several Maxwell-Weichert viscoelastic parameters were found to significantly differ between 26-day and native groups (E0, E1, E2 & τ2), whereas between 4-day and native groups fewer significant differences were found (E1 & E2). Following failure testing, again several parameters were found to significantly differ between 26-day and native groups (PFAIL, UTS, Elinear and εT), whereas between 4-day and native groups only one parameter was significantly different (Elinear).
These findings indicate that the 4-day decellularisation process better preserves the native tissue mechanical properties, potentially reducing structural alterations and improving suitability for anterior cruciate ligament replacement
Influence of cross-shear and contact stress on the wear of UHMWPE on boost-diffusion-treated additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V
Full text linkThe more widespread adoption of additive manufacturing (AM) in the biomedical industry has enabled the production of patient-specific implants. When used in joint replacements (or as a bearing material), it is essential to understand the wear behaviour of additively manufactured implants when subjected to loading and motion that simulate their intended use. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of cross-shear and contact stress on the wear behaviour of ultra-high molecular weight polyethene (UHMWPE) against boost-diffusion-treated (BD-treated) AM Ti-6Al-4V under varying conditions. Multidirectional pin-on-plate wear testing was conducted across cross-shear ratios from 0 to 0.3 and contact stresses ranging from 0.56 to 14 MPa. Surface characterisation techniques were used before and after wear testing to gain insights into the wear mechanisms. The wear of UHMWPE against BD-treated Ti-6Al-4V was compared to that of CoCr and untreated wrought Ti-6Al-4V. Results revealed that against BD-treated Ti-6Al-4V, UHMWPE wear was initially high due to the high surface roughness; however, continued wear testing led to polishing of the BD-treated Ti-6Al-4V, a reduction in the dynamic friction coefficient, and a decrease in wear rate. The high initial surface finish of the BD-treated Ti-6Al-4V resulted from the oxidation heat treatments. However, following wear testing surface degradation was absent, highlighting the potential benefit of the surface treatment in AM patient-specific implants
Structured electrolytes facilitate Grotthuss-type transport for enhanced proton-coupled electron transfer reactions
Full text linkConcentrated hydrogen-bonded electrolytes (CoHBEs) are structured, electrochemically stable, less-volatile alternatives to aqueous and dilute nonaqueous electrolytes, however, with high viscosities that limit molecular diffusion. This work provides an understanding of the proton conduction mechanism in CoHBEs based on mixtures of acids and azoles and establishes a link between the structurally dictated transport properties and the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reaction rates that can be leveraged for enhancing electrochemical reactions. Diffusion and relaxation NMR studies suggest a breaking of the viscosity–conductivity tradeoff, where at high azole concentrations (>45 mol%), Grotthuss transport is more likely with lowered proton transfer energy barriers between the azole and the acid according to the machine learning (ML) accelerated ab initio path integral MD (AI-PIMD) simulations. Proton conduction pathways are found to be switchable between the hydrogen bonding networks of the acid and the azole, with imidazole chain forming structures better facilitating Grotthuss hopping. Supported by small-angle neutron scattering studies, the chains are found to have six member molecules on average with maximum of 3 to 4 imidazole/imidazoliums at 50 to 60 mol%. Despite their high viscosities, the measured PCET rates for quinones and phenazines measured in the protic CoHBEs present relatively high electron transfer rate constants (k0 ~ 10−4 cm/s), validated by rotating disc electrode and scanning electrochemical microscopy measurements. The results demonstrate that strategic tuning of hydrogen-bond donor–acceptor interactions enables the decoupling of proton transport and viscosity, thereby impacting PCET reactions
Cardiovascular safety of testosterone therapy—Insights from the TRAVERSE trial and beyond: a position statement of the European Expert Panel for Testosterone Research
Full text linkIntroduction
Testosterone therapy has become a cornerstone treatment for men with hypogonadism, offering significant benefits such as improved sexual function, mood, muscle mass, and bone density. However, concerns about its cardiovascular safety have historically tempered its use. This position statement synthesizes the current evidence on the cardiovascular safety of testosterone therapy, drawing from key studies including the TRAVERSE trial, other trials, and recent meta-analyses.
Background and importance
Testosterone therapy aims to restore testosterone levels in men with hypogonadism, a condition associated with increased cardiovascular and metabolic risks. Early research produced mixed results, with some studies suggesting a potential increase in cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke, while others indicated possible cardiovascular benefits, particularly in men with coexisting conditions like metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Findings from recent studies
The TRAVERSE trial, a large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled study, provided robust evidence that testosterone therapy does not significantly increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Testosterone therapy was found to effectively mitigate anemia in hypogonadal men, highlighting a dual benefit of increasing red blood cell production while managing cardiovascular risks. The findings from the TRAVERSE trial align with those from previous meta-analyses that concluded that testosterone therapy is safe and does not increase cardiovascular risk.
Consensus and clinical implications
There is consensus that testosterone therapy, when prescribed to appropriately selected patients and monitored regularly, is safe from a cardiovascular standpoint, with the potential benefits outweighing the risks when the therapy is used responsibly. Current guidelines recommend individualized treatment plans with careful monitoring, especially of hematocrit levels. This position statement amalgamates previous knowledge with current data and is in agreement with recent United States Food and Drug Administration label changes for testosterone products
Chinese and Japanese capitalisms: a comparative analysis of co-ordination problems in vehicle electrification paths
No full textThis article investigates the divergent automobile electrification trajectories of China and Japan, the world’s largest car exporters. Inspired by Regulation Theory approaches, it analyses how their capitalisms’ distinct configurations of socio-economic institutions, including state–economic relations, labour relations, inter-firm competition, financial regimes and the integration into the global economy, have produced different electrification approaches. Supported by Beijing’s de jure electrification strategies through state policies and regulations, China’s automakers have leapfrogged to all-spectrum green vehicles and battery components and dominated global battery electric vehicle production and supply chains. Meanwhile, de facto strategies have been dominant in Japan, where electrification emerged through enterprise-led initiatives and market competition. Japan’s automakers with globally diversified businesses have responded to vehicle demands and regulations of different markets, focusing on currently profitable hybrid electric vehicles, but have lagged in battery electric vehicle development, with limited backing from the state. This article argues that the divergent electrification paths are attributable to their capitalisms’ institutional architectures, which have caused distinctive co-ordination problems (excess capacity, weak consumption and geo-political tensions for China’s and Japan’s weakened public–private ties and corporate risk-taking). Amid geo-political tensions and competition over advanced technologies, major economies worldwide have increasingly favoured de jure strategies, enhancing de-globalisation risk
The co-production trap: Sino-foreign co-productions weaken foreign movies’ appeal in China
Full text linkPurpose
After decades of growth, China has become the world’s second-largest movie market. Unsurprisingly, foreign studios have long targeted China, often through Sino-foreign co-productions – movies jointly produced by foreign and Chinese studios, exempt from China’s import quota on foreign movies. Drawing on consumer cosmopolitanism, this study examines whether and how being a Sino-foreign co-production (vs purely foreign production) affects the box-office performance of foreign movies in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Using secondary data on 769 foreign movies released in China in 2006–2019, we test whether Sino-foreign co-productions (vs purely foreign productions) exhibit lower box-office performance. Additionally, we examine three quality signals – (1) star power, (2) director power, and (3) studio power – and three foreignness signals – (4) cultural distance, (5) economic distance, and (6) political distance from China – as potential moderators that may mitigate the negative effect of co-production on box-office performance.
Findings
Sino-foreign co-productions perform worse at the box-office compared to purely foreign movies. This negative effect is mitigated by signals of quality – star, director, and studio power – and foreignness – cultural, economic, and political distance from China.
Originality/value
The findings advance research on the antecedents of box-office performance in China and contribute to the literature on international partnerships in cultural industries. They also offer insights for foreign studios seeking to enhance the box-office performance of their movies and for policymakers overseeing international collaborations
Clinical advisors at NHS 111 improve accuracy for paediatric patients and their advice is more reliably followed: a retrospective observational cohort study
Full text linkObjective
To determine whether National Health Service (NHS) 111 advice regarding paediatric patients given by clinically trained health advisors (CHAs) is, as previously found for adult patients, less risk-averse, more accurate and complied with more than that given by non-clinically trained health advisors (NHAs)
Design
Retrospective observational study using routinely collected, linked NHS urgent care data.
Setting
NHS 111 triaging services in Yorkshire and the Humber, 2014–2017.
Patients
Children (<16 years) who were the subject of a call to NHS 111.
Main outcome measures
The recommendation given, whether the patient attended the emergency department (ED) within 48 hours and if so whether the patient was admitted to hospital, or considered ‘non-urgent’. Adjusted logistic regressions were used for analysis.
Results
972 221 calls were analysed (26.5% CHA; 73.5% NHA). CHAs were more likely than NHAs to recommend guardian/self-care (OR 45, 95% CI 44 to 46), and less likely to recommend ambulance dispatch (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.51), ED attendance (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.77 to 0.8) or primary care (OR 0.163; 95% CI 0.161 to 0.165). Patients were less likely to attend ED following guardian/self-care recommendations from CHAs versus NHAs (OR=0.64; 95% CI 0.56 to 0.74), but no more likely to be admitted if they did attend (OR 1.2; 95% CI 0.8 to 1.8). Callers were more likely to terminate a call before receiving a formal recommendation from a CHA (OR 2.02; 95% CI 2.0 to 2.1). Call-terminators were less likely to attend ED (OR 0.128; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.13) and more likely to be considered non-urgent if attending ED (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.3) if advised by a CHA.
Conclusions
Paediatric patient journeys suggest triage by CHAs is less risk-averse and more accurate. Patients are more likely to avoid attending ED if advised to by a CHA. Callers who terminate a call early may typically represent the ‘worried well’. CHAs may better identify these patients and discourage them from attending ED in prerecommendation conversation. This has implications for the cost-benefit balance of NHS 111 staffing
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