26199 research outputs found
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Geoengineering and Public Value: Toward a Global Climate Sensibility
No full textCurrently characterized by complexity, uncertainty, and controversy the future of potentially vital yet risky geoengineering (GE) technologies is far from certain as even at-scale research is presently lacking. Moreover, there is no governance framework at an appropriate scale to provide oversight and control over GE. Given the complexity of G an anticipatory form of governance will be an essential precursor to the investigation and implementation of GE. Such a governance architecture requires agility given the uncertain impact and interaction between GE initiatives upon global climate systems which create new relationships between allies and adversaries. A governance framework based upon the globally held (though individually prioritized) human value set could accommodate a diversity of interests and a human perspective on the impact of GE on the common good at a range of scales. A public value perspective could, it is suggested, create the global sensibility necessary for the emergence of a global public sphere grounded in the everyday lives of individual citizens across the globe
Motion capture dataset of 137 post-operative total hip replacement patients performing activities of daily living
No full textThree-dimensional motion capture is a powerful tool in clinical and engineering applications, but it can be time consuming, expensive, and difficult to access patient populations. Here, we present an open-access dataset comprising 3D motion capture and ground reaction force data from 137 post-operative total hip replacement patients performing eight activities of daily living (ADLs): normal walking, fast walking, stair ascent, stair descent, sit-to-stand, stand-to-sit, lunge, and squat. Data were collected using a 10-camera Vicon system and two AMTI force plates, and are provided in C3D and txt file format, compatible with inverse dynamic analysis platforms (e.g Visual 3D, MOKKA) and musculoskeletal modelling platforms (e.g. OpenSim, AnyBody). Each file includes synchronised marker trajectories, analog force data, and participant metadata (e.g. age, sex, BMI, operated limb, time since surgery). This dataset offers a unique opportunity to study functional biomechanics across a range of ADLs, enabling applications in musculoskeletal modelling, rehabilitation assessment, and the development of machine learning algorithms
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes Following Active Surveillance, Surgery and Radiotherapy of Meningiomas in NF2-related Schwannomatosis
No full textBackground
Meningiomas affect up to 80% of patients with NF2-related schwannomatosis during their lifetime. They are managed by active monitoring, surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This paper aims to synthesize the existing data, evaluate outcomes and inform future trial design.
Methods
Systematic review and meta-analysis conducted using the PRISMA framework. Six databases were searched from inception to September 2025. Patient demographics, intervention data and outcomes were collected and pooled analyses performed. Studies were appraised using the NIH quality assessment tool.
Results
Fifteen studies with 937 patients and 3637 meningiomas were included. The pooled proportion of female patients was 59.6% (95% CI: 55.4-63.7). 2082 tumors were monitored (mean follow-up 5.55-9.18 years) with a weighted mean growth rate of 0.508 cm3/year (95% CI: 0.0244-0.992) (available in 748 meningiomas). The weighted pooled proportion of monitored patients who developed de novo meningiomas across 3 studies was 24.6% (95% CI: 2.73-58.7). Surgical resection was performed in 203 meningiomas, with an under-reported post-intervention follow-up and a pooled risk of tumor recurrence of 12.5% (95% CI: 7.98-17.9). SRS was used in 665 meningiomas. The pooled risk of treated tumor progression was 6.29% (95% CI: 4.57-8.25), median follow-up 3.58-9.25 years. The pooled local control rates at 3 and 5 years were 97.1% (95% CI: 94.7-98.8) and 91.2% (95% CI: 88.4-93.6), respectively.
Conclusion
NF2-associated meningiomas are challenging to manage due to their multiplicity, high growth rate and WHO grade. Active monitoring, surgery and SRS are viable treatment options. Here, we evaluate existing outcome data to guide future trial design
CONSORT Compliance of Randomized Controlled Trials in Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review
No full textBackground
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are essential for evaluating surgical interventions, yet adherence to CONSORT reporting guidelines remains inconsistent. Transparent reporting is especially critical in rhinoplasty due to individualized outcomes and diverse surgical techniques. This systematic review assesses adherence to the CONSORT-NPT guidelines in rhinoplasty RCTs and identifies key reporting deficiencies.
Methods
A systematic review following PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 guidelines was conducted. Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE were searched for rhinoplasty RCTs published between 2017 and 2024. Adherence to the 25-item CONSORT-NPT checklist was evaluated, and study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and GRADE framework. Descriptive statistics summarized compliance trends, and correlations with journal impact factor and author count were analyzed.
Results
Ninety-seven studies met inclusion criteria, with a mean CONSORT adherence of 68.8%. Objectives (97.9%) and structured abstracts (94.8%) were well reported; however, trial registration (53.6%) and funding disclosures (51.5%) were inconsistently provided. Most trials were single center (94.8%), with limited participants (47.4% of studies enrolled 50 or fewer participants), reducing generalizability. No significant correlations emerged between CONSORT adherence and journal impact factor or author count. Most studies (68.8%) originated from the Middle East. Study quality was generally high or moderate according to GRADE, with predominantly low or moderate risk of bias.
Conclusion
Although CONSORT adherence in rhinoplasty RCTs is moderate, substantial gaps persist in trial registration, funding disclosure, and core methodological reporting. Strengthening enforcement of CONSORT guidelines is the foremost priority for improving research quality. Broader collaboration and geographic inclusion may support external validity but are secondary to rigorous reporting standards. Addressing these deficits will strengthen patient safety, reproducibility, and evidence-based counseling in rhinoplasty.
Level of Evidence I
This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266
Adaptive Multi-Stage Hybrid Localization for RIS-Aided 6G Indoor Positioning Systems: Combining Fingerprinting and Geometric Methods with Condition-Aware Fusion
No full textReconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) represent a paradigm shift in wireless communications, offering unprecedented control over electromagnetic wave propagation for next-generation 6G networks. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for high-precision indoor localization exploiting cooperative multi-RIS deployments. We introduce the adaptive multi-stage hybrid localization (AMSHL) algorithm, a novel approach that strategically combines fingerprinting-based and geometric time-difference-of-arrival (TDoA) methods through condition-aware adaptive fusion. The proposed framework employs a 4-RIS cooperative architecture with strategically positioned panels on room walls, enabling comprehensive spatial coverage and favorable geometric diversity. AMSHL incorporates five key innovations: (1) a hybrid fingerprint database combining received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and TDoA features for enhanced location distinctiveness; (2) a multi-stage cascaded refinement process progressing from coarse fingerprinting initialization through to iterative geometric optimization; (3) an adaptive fusion mechanism that dynamically adjusts algorithm weights based on real-time channel quality assessment including signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and geometric dilution of precision (GDOP); (4) a robust iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) solver with Huber M-estimation for outlier mitigation; and (5) Bayesian regularization incorporating fingerprinting estimates as informative priors. Comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations at 3.5 GHz carrier frequency with 400 MHz bandwidth demonstrate that AMSHL achieves a median localization error of 0.661 m, root-mean-squared error (RMSE) of 1.54 m, and mean-squared error (MSE) of 2.38 m2, with 87.5% probability of sub-2m accuracy, representing a 4.9× improvement over conventional hybrid fingerprinting in median error and a 7.1× reduction in MSE (from 16.83 m2 to 2.38 m2). An optional sigmoid-based fusion variant (AMSHL-S) further improves sub-2m accuracy to 89.4% by eliminating discrete switching artifacts. Furthermore, we provide theoretical analysis including Cramér–Rao lower bound (CRLB) derivation with an empirical MSE comparison to quantify the gap between practical algorithm performance and theoretical bounds (MSE-to-CRLB ratio of approximately 4.0×104), as well as a computational complexity assessment. All reported metrics have been cross-validated for internal consistency across formulas, tables, and textual descriptions; improvement factors and error statistics are verified against primary simulation outputs to ensure reproducibility. The complete simulation framework is made publicly available to facilitate reproducible research in RIS-aided positioning systems
Greening Gastroenterology: Strategies to Reduce the Carbon Footprint in Clinical Practice
No full textClimate change is an escalating global health concern, and healthcare delivery contributes meaningfully to environmental impact, with gastroenterology among the more resource-intensive clinical fields. This narrative review explores the environmental footprint of gastroenterology - especially endoscopic practices - and presents actionable strategies to reduce its carbon emissions without compromising care quality. Endoscopic procedures, high in energy consumption and medical waste generation, contribute substantially to the specialty’s carbon output. Additional contributors include pharmaceutical waste, inefficient waste management, and travel-related emissions from both patients and professionals. The review identifies several practical interventions, such as promoting combined procedures, reducing unnecessary biopsies, adopting reusable accessories, and implementing telemedicine and virtual conferencing to minimize travel. Sustainable disinfection technologies like plasma-activated gas and UVC light, alongside green pharmacy principles and antibiotic stewardship, are highlighted as promising innovations. Barriers to implementation - ranging from economic and regulatory constraints to clinician resistance - are critically examined, with recommendations to embed sustainability in clinical guidelines, staff training, and procurement practices. Real-world case studies underscore the feasibility and benefits of adopting sustainable gastroenterological practices across varied healthcare settings. Ultimately, the review calls for systemic transformation driven by standardized sustainability metrics, investment in green technologies, and equitable global collaboration. As climate change increasingly intersects with gastrointestinal health, greening gastroenterology is not only feasible but imperative for ensuring both environmental and patient well-being
Spatially resolved polarization swings in the supermassive binary black hole candidate OJ 287 with first Event Horizon Telescope observations
No full textWe present the first Event Horizon Telescope 1.3,mm observations of the supermassive binary black hole candidate The observations achieved an unprecedented angular resolution of 18 ăs and reveal significant structural and polarization variability over just five days, marking the shortest timescale on which such changes have been directly imaged in this source. The inner jet exhibits a twisted ridgeline structure, with features displaying apparent superluminal motions up to about 22,c. The linear polarization maps reveal three main polarized features whose electric-vector position angles (EVPAs) change substantially over the time span of our observations, including a component with a radial polarization consistent with being produced by a recollimation shock. Most notably, we directly resolved two innermost jet components whose EVPAs rotate in opposite directions. The faster component, moving at ,ăs/day (), exhibits counterclockwise EVPA swings of roughly 3.7^̧irc per day, while the slower component, with a proper motion of ,ăs/day (), rotates clockwise at approximately 2.5^̧irc per day. Previous studies inferred helical magnetic fields in AGN jets from time-resolved or integrated polarization variability but lacked the angular resolution to directly image this effect. Our results provide spatially resolved evidence that a helical magnetic field threads the jet’s collimation and acceleration zone, ruling out models based on the superposition of unresolved components. Our analysis suggests that propagating shocks interact with a Kelvin–Helmholtz plasma instability, illuminating different phases of the helical magnetic field and producing the observed polarization spatial and temporal variability. Moreover, our model naturally accounts for the more rapid polarization rotation observed in the faster moving component. Our model predicts even more rapid swings in polarization, which could be tested with future observations featuring a more densely sampled time coverage
Calculating the demagnetisation factors and their volume distribution within (a) assemblies of discrete magnetic elements and (b) solid magnetic samples of any given shape: A material-independent and multi-scalar polar model approach
No full textMeasuring the magnetic characteristics of a magnetic sample, it is critical to evaluate the self-demagnetisation field, because it reduces the effective magnetic field experienced by the sample. The demagnetisation factor depends on the shape and nature of the sample, whether it is a solid, ordered assembly of magnetic elements, or randomly packed magnetic powder in a containing vessel. Literature provides limited information on the demagnetisation factor of packed powders, typically for a restricted number of container shapes. This paper introduces algorithms based on a polar model written in MATLAB 2022b, which calculates not only the average demagnetisation factor but also the entire distribution of demagnetisation factors for the constituent particles and, by extension, to any assembly of magnetic elements within a given volume. Furthermore, this study explains how to enhance the efficiency of these algorithms, reduce runtime, and apply them to any container shape.
The validity of the algorithms was assessed by calculating the data for three common container shapes described in literature over a range of aspect ratios: cuboids, ellipsoids, and cylinders. The calculated mean demagnetisation factors matched those found in the literature, typically within 0.05%, 0.1%, and 1%, respectively, for these shapes, demonstrating that the algorithms could be extrapolated to calculate demagnetisation data for any container shape; by extension, the magnetometric demagnetisation factor (zero susceptibility) for any solid shape, a hitherto unattainable parameter.
As the method reduces to calculations based on geometry alone, it is material-independent and can be applied to any macro-, meso-, or microscale of interest
‘A matter that stirs strong feelings’: Britain and the Soviet Wives Affair, 1945-54
No full textHistorians tend to ascribe the onset of the Anglo-Soviet Cold War in the wake of the German defeat in 1945 to matters such as differences over Eastern Europe, but certain other influences have not received much attention. In particular, strains arose from how thirty-four Service and British Embassy personnel based in the Soviet Union during the Second World War and soon after married local women. The British authorities warned the intending husbands that the wives might not be able to leave, because doing so required either an exit visa or permission to relinquish Soviet citizenship. The former depended on consent from the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the latter from no less than the Supreme Soviet of the Presidium. A British regulation stipulated that, for security reasons, anyone marrying a Soviet citizen would be transferred home promptly, which obliged the husbands to leave their wives behind in the belief that they would soon be reunited in Britain. By the end of 1945, when Anglo-Soviet relations were still relatively favourable in the light of the common struggle against Nazi Germany, the Soviet government had accommodated British appeals by permitting eighteen wives to leave but over the next few years, against the background of the developing Cold War, refused all except one of the others. Furthermore, unless the wives unable to leave the Soviet Union spurned their British husbands they faced hostility and persecution from the authorities there. Two wives who left for Britain decided to return, which the Soviet government exploited zealously to emphasise the iniquities of British social-democracy and to discourage Soviet citizens from thinking that life might be better abroad. This article, which draws mainly on the records of the British Foreign Office, focuses on the period from the end of the war to 1954, when the Moscow government revealed that the last of the wives still in the Soviet Union had dissolved their marriages
Universal maternal testing for group B streptococcus in late pregnancy: process outcomes and alongside qualitative study for the GBS3 trial
No full textBackground
One in five pregnant women/birthing people carry Group B streptococcus in the gut or genital tract, and over half of them will pass it to their child during pregnancy, labour (most commonly) or after birth. Most babies exposed to maternal GBS remain well, but 1 in 1750 newborns in the UK and Ireland develop early-onset GBS infection. Introducing routine testing for Group B streptococcus (GBS) for all pregnant women and birthing people in late pregnancy may reduce cases of early-onset infection in the newborn but would likely increase the number of women given antibiotics during labour.
The GBS3 trial (ISRCTN49639731) is a cluster-randomised trial involving approximately 320,000 women/birthing people from 80 maternity units in England and Wales. It will determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of routine testing, compared to the current risk-factor based strategy.
Methods
To obtain details of the timing, coverage and outcome of the testing process and use of IAP, about 130 consecutive maternity records of women who birthed after 32 weeks’ gestation and who were not scheduled for a planned caesarean birth, and the corresponding neonatal records, were scrutinised at each participating maternity unit.
We performed a baseline qualitative study to inform the trial design to explore women’s views on the acceptability of different methods of GBS testing in pregnancy, including self-swabbing procedures.
We explored the acceptability of different methods of routine testing for GBS colonisation to pregnant women and health care professionals (HCPs), and examined the barriers and facilitators to their implementation.
Results
We received detailed demographic data for 9179 women. Overall, in both testing groups, 72 % of women were offered a vaginal-rectal swab for GBS. Of those women offered a swab, 82 % accepted a vaginal-rectal swab. Of the women with a swab taken, 17 % were positive for GBS. 87 % of women had a test result ≥ 4 hours before birth.
Our baseline and embedded qualitative studies found that GBS testing is acceptable to most women and HCPs.
Conclusion
GBS testing is acceptable to pregnant women and health care professionals in the UK. When GBS testing is offered to eligible women, the offer is accepted, the test performed and a result available to guide the offer of IAP in a timely fashion for the majority of women