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Stone artefacts on submerged land surfaces:a response to Larcombe et al.
Get PDFLarcombe et al. (2025) challenge the work of the Deep History of Sea Country team regarding the provenance and mobility of lithic artefacts on the seafloor of Murujuga, Northwestern Australia. They propose that these artefacts were originally deposited on terrestrial Holocene landforms, and subsequently transported into the marine environment, challenging our interpretation of primary deposition on pre-inundation land surfaces. The authors largely base their conclusions on a hydrodynamic model and a 32-year satellite-derived shoreline dataset. Here we highlight the critical shortcomings in their approach including the application of a low resolution and poorly validated regional hydrodynamic model to infer current speeds at the local site level and by extension the transport of lithic artefacts at the seabed, and the analysis and interpretation of satellite derived shorelines which, when scrutinised, were found to be unrepresentative of real-world conditions. By emphasizing the importance of rigorous field validation and contextual site analyses, we reaffirm the preservation and integrity of Murujuga’s underwater cultural heritage, while challenging the scientific rigor of the conclusions presented by Larcombe et al
Free‐standing halogen‐bonded nanosheets formed by ultrasonic liquid exfoliation
Get PDFStrong in-layer interactions are typically considered a key requirement for exfoliating layered materials to form nanosheets. Here, the formation of free-standing nanosheets held together by halogen bonding interactions is reported for the first time. Layered co-crystals are synthesized using either iodo- or bromo-functionalized halogen bond donors with pyridyl functionalized acceptors. Sonication resulted in dissolution in a range of polar organic solvents; however, stable suspensions showing Tyndall scattering are observed for the iodo-systems after exfoliation in water. Atomic force microscopy confirms the formation of micron-sized nanosheets approaching monolayer thickness. Powder X-ray diffraction of the nanosheets shows preferred orientation along the (1 1 0) plane, which confirms that the nanosheets are composed of halogen-bonded chains in one dimension, and π–π stacking interactions in the second. The iodo-nanosheets are stable in acidic and alkaline conditions and when heated at 80 °C for 48 h. Comparisons between the iodo- and bromo- analogues confirm that stronger halogen bonding is likely responsible for the difference in stability. The remarkable stability shown by these nanosheets held together by only supramolecular interactions calls for re-evaluation of the conventional understanding of the requirements for forming 2D materials and establishes halogen-bonded nanosheets as an exciting new class of materials
Mirosław Michał Sadowski, Intersections of Law and Memory: Influencing Perceptions of the Past, Abingdon, Oxon and New York, Routledge, 2024, 304 pp, hb, £135.00
Get PDFBook review of Intersections of Law and Memory: Influencing Perceptions of the Past by Mirosław Michał Sadowsk
The clinical implications and cost-effectiveness of the provision of medical in addition to surgical catheter insertion for peritoneal dialysis in people with kidney failure
Get PDFBackground
High-quality and timely peritoneal access is essential for effective peritoneal dialysis (PD). Existing comparisons of medical compared to surgical catheter insertion have focused on the incidence of catheter events, but the cost-effectiveness of providing medical in addition to surgical catheter insertion in a dual pathway, compared to providing surgical insertion alone has not been evaluated.
Methods
Data from the UK Catheter study, exploring how patient, service and insertion technique factors interact was used to estimate the comparative rates of catheter events between medical and surgical catheter insertion. A cost-effectiveness model estimates the health benefits and costs of providing medical in addition to surgical catheter insertion, compared to surgical insertion alone. Parametric modelling estimated time to catheter events, haemodialysis and transplantation to populate the model.
Results
Data on 769 first catheter insertions informs the model (325 medical and 444 surgical). Fewer catheter events were observed with medical insertion. The dual insertion pathway (69% medical, 31% surgical) was therefore associated with lower lifetime catheter events (3.18 vs. 3.34) and longer time on PD (3.07 vs. 3.00 years) than a purely surgical insertion pathway. The lifetime mean differences in quality-adjusted life years (7.12 vs. 7.00) and near identical costs (£226,549 vs. £226,764) meant dual insertion pathway was likely to be cost-effective, a finding robust to a series of sensitivity analyses.
Conclusion
Offering medical in addition to surgical catheter insertion techniques has the potential to improve clinical outcomes and is likely to be highly cost-effective compared to surgical insertion alone
Community challenge towards consensus on characterization of biological tissue: C4Bio’s first findings
No full textThis study investigates methodological variability across various expert laboratories worldwide, with regards to characterizing the mechanical properties of biological tissues. Two testing rounds were conducted on the specific use case of uniaxial tensile testing of porcine aorta. In the first round, 24 labs were invited to apply their established methods to assess inter-laboratory variability. This revealed significant methodological diversity and associated variability in the stress–stretch results, underscoring the necessity for a standardized approach.
In the second round, a consensus protocol was collaboratively developed and adopted by 19 labs in an attempt to minimize variability. This involved standardized sample preparation and uniformity in testing protocol, including the use of a common cutting and thickness measurement tool. Despite protocol harmonization, significant variability persisted across labs, which could not be solely attributed to inherent biological differences in tissue samples.
These results illustrate the challenges in unifying testing methods across different research settings, underlining the necessity for further refinement of testing practices. Enhancing consistency in biomechanical experiments is pivotal when comparing results across studies, as well as when using the resulting material properties for in silico simulations in medical research
Using discrete choice experiments (DCEs) to compare social and personal preferences for health and well-being outcomes
Get PDFBackground
Economic evaluations in health typically assume a nonwelfarist framework, arguably better served by preferences elicited from a social perspective than a personal one. However, most health state valuation studies elicit personal preferences, leading to a methodological inconsistency. No studies have directly compared social and personal preferences for outcomes using otherwise identical scenarios, leaving their empirical relationship unclear.
Aim
This unique study examines whether the choice of eliciting preferences from a social or personal perspective influences valuations of health and well-being outcomes.
Methods
Using discrete choice experiments, social and personal preferences for health and well-being attributes were elicited from the UK general public recruited from an internet panel (n = 1,020 personal, n = 3,009 social surveys). Mixed logit models were estimated, and willingness-to-pay (WTP) values for each attribute were calculated to compare differences between the 2 perspectives.
Results
While no significant differences were observed in the effects of physical and mental health, loneliness, and neighborhood safety across the 2 perspectives, significant differences emerged in WTP values for employment and housing quality. For instance, other things being the same, personal preferences rate being retired as more preferable than being an informal caregiver, but the social preferences rate them in the reverse order.
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate that the perspective matters, particularly for valuing outcomes such as employment and housing. These findings indicate that the exclusive use of personal preferences to value states such as employment and housing quality may potentially lead to suboptimal resource allocation, given that such valuations reflect individual rather than societal benefit. This highlights the importance of considering perspective especially in the resource allocation of public health interventions
Corporate governance in Libya: a systematic review and comparative analysis with UK standards
No full textPurpose
This study aims to evaluate current corporate governance (CG) practices in Libya, identify gaps in the literature and compare these practices with UK CG standards, with a special emphasis on enhancing the role of the board of directors and its committees within the Libyan banking sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a systematic literature review approach, this research comprehensively assesses existing CG literature in Libya to identify gaps and suggest avenues for future research. Additionally, this study conducts a comparative analysis of CG practices in two different jurisdictions: Libya and the UK. This approach facilitates a critical reassessment of the Libyan CG code and proposes strategic modifications to enhance board functionalities and governance practices in the country.
Findings
The review emphasizes the urgent need for in-depth CG research in Libya, noting the strong impact of UK academic models on Libyan governance studies. The comparative analysis points out serious weaknesses in the governance of Libya’s banking sector, highlighting the necessity for focused research and extensive reforms. It calls for notable improvements in board functions, addressing governmental interference and resolving legal deficiencies. Furthermore, the study urges the Central Bank of Libya to adopt and enforce stricter governance standards, which are crucial for improving governance quality.
Originality/value
This study distinctively uses a systematic literature review to identify gaps and set a research agenda in the CG of the banking sector in emerging economies, with a focus on Libya’s unique political, cultural, social and legal contexts. It also conducts a comparative analysis of CG practices between Libya and the UK, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of Libya’s framework. The research identifies critical areas for improvement, aiming to enhance governance practices and inform stakeholders – including government officials, regulators, shareholders and board members – about necessary reforms to strengthen the CG landscape
The Idea of Folk Music
No full textThis chapter uncovers the emergence and early history of the terms folk song and folk music in English during the nineteenth century as they circulated across the Atlantic and around the globe. One person in particular was responsible for this discourse: the prolific author and translator Mary Howitt. I show that these terms initially emerged in direct reference to the German Volkslieder, though they were not associated explicitly with the work of Johann Gottfried Herder nor with any particular nation or region. I use this material to argue that folk music was neither a repertoire nor an idiom, but rather an idea conditioned by Romantic thought. Indeed, it was the concept of folk music that most enchanted writers during this period – writers who were never of the folk they depicted. These terms are a nostalgic reply or retort to the interlaced revolutions and encounters that have defined modernity. Ultimately, this history exemplifies a long intellectual struggle in the West over the meaning and musical significance of working-class culture, nature, time, and colonial alterity
Organ donation and transplantation education in UK medical schools: a protocol for parallel national cross-sectional surveys of students and educators
Get PDFIntroduction
Solid organ transplantation is a cornerstone of care for end-stage organ disease and a critical consideration for all doctors managing chronic conditions such as chronic kidney disease. Transplantation is wholly dependent on organ donation (both living and deceased), with shortages directly limiting access to life-saving therapy and resulting in preventable mortality for patients on waiting lists. Yet undergraduate exposure to organ donation and transplantation (ODT) across UK medical schools is anecdotally poor and not mapped nationally. The most substantive UK evidence is more than two decades old and demonstrates limited exposure and significant knowledge gaps among final-year medical students.
We here describe a protocol for two coordinated national surveys: U-KNOW-RT (Understanding and Knowledge of Renal Transplantation; final-year students) and U-TEACH-ODT (Undergraduate Teaching in ODT; educator leads). Together, these will provide the first UK-wide mapping of undergraduate ODT education, generating contemporary evidence on teaching provision, student exposure, knowledge, attitudes and career intentions. This work will directly inform the design of a standardised national ODT teaching module to ensure that all UK medical graduates attain a core level of literacy in ODT. Survey distribution is scheduled for January 2026, with completion expected by summer 2026.
Methods and analysis
We will conduct two parallel cross-sectional online surveys. U-KNOW-RT will recruit final-year medical students from all 44 UK medical schools via social media, institutional channels and student societies. U-TEACH-ODT will invite deans and senior curriculum leads. The student target is ~1200 responses (≥10 per school) to enable national mapping and triangulation with educator reports. Analyses will follow the Consensus-Based Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies and the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys reporting frameworks. Prespecified outcomes include student knowledge, exposure and attitudes alongside educator-reported curricular provision. Primary analyses will use mixed-effects regression with school-level clustering, agreement between student and educator reports will be quantified and selected items will be readministered to allow 20-year comparisons with legacy surveys.
Ethics and dissemination
This study involves human participants and was granted ethical approval by the University of Sheffield Ethics Department (reference 070914) on 25 November 2025. Participants provided informed consent before taking part. This manuscript reports a study protocol only; no results will be reported. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conferences and feedback to medical schools and national bodies. De-identified data, questionnaires and analysis code will be shared openly on Open science framework.
Trial registration number
OSF preregistration (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/38W5N)
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