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A critical comparison of Pb-loaded organosilica and ion-exchange resins, with bispicolylamine ligands, for adsorption of iodide: evidence of a ‘matrix effect’ on uptake properties
No full textIon-exchange resins currently rely upon petrochemicals for their manufacture. Alternative materials are under consideration to create adsorbents for selective removal of ions from water. However, there has been little investigation of the impact on these adsorbent chemistries on the resulting fundamental adsorption behaviour. Presented here is an investigative comparison of metal-loaded polymeric and silica-based adsorbents for the remit of selective radioiodine (in the form of iodide) capture, using lead ions, chelated by bispicolylamine (BPA) ligands to create iodide affinity. The results indicate marked differences in uptake behaviour between the two materials. The ion-exchange resin (M4195-Pb) displayed more thermodynamically-favourable iodide capture, with a calculated uptake of 338 ± 12 mg g−1, and retained some selectivity in the presence of acid, and 10 M equivalents of nitrate and molybdate. The silica had much lower capacity of 46.5 ± 7.6 mg g−1, but adsorbed extremely rapidly, reaching near capacity in <1 min. Generally, the binding of both Pb2+ and iodide were significantly destabilised by the silica matrix, which was attributed primarily to a H-bonding interaction between the BPA ligand and the adsorbent surface. It did however, result in generally better thermal stability of the bound iodide. This appears to be the first report of this nature into this ‘matrix effect’ phenomenon and demonstrates that great care is required in the future design of ion-exchange and adsorption media using alternate support chemistries
Sewer misconnection: Recommendations for increasing sewer connections in low-income urban communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh
No full textIn Dhaka, Bangladesh, sewer misconnections persist despite sewer infrastructure expansion by the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA). This mixed-method cross-sectional study aimed to develop targeted, evidence-based interventions to increase sewer connections in urban communities. We surveyed 384 households and conducted 10 in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions across five DWASA zones. Using the Risks, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, and Self-regulation (RANAS) framework, we identified key psychological factors influencing sewer connection behaviours. Building on these insights, we mapped psychological factors to Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) to develop tailored interventions. Households those were not-connected to sewer exhibited significantly lower awareness of sanitation-related health risks, less confidence in navigating connection procedures, and weaker perceptions of the social benefits of sewer linkage. Qualitative findings revealed widespread dissatisfaction with dysfunctional drainage systems, high connection costs, inadequate maintenance support from DWASA, and bureaucratic delays as significant barriers. These results highlight a complex interplay of psychological, financial, and administrative challenges limiting sewer uptake. Based on these insights, we propose a comprehensive intervention package integrating health education to improve risk awareness, community role models to shift social norms, practical technical guidance to simplify connection processes, and income-adjusted financial incentives to ease economic burdens. The study emphasises the urgent need for integrated, multi-sectoral strategies that address behavioural, structural, and economic barriers simultaneously. Implementing these interventions reduces sewer misconnections, an often-overlooked source of environmental contamination and public health risk, and would advance equitable and sustainable sanitation in rapidly urbanising cities like Dhaka
Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for adults with substance use disorder that have a co‐occurring common mental health disorder: an umbrella review
No full textIssues
People with substance use disorders can have co-occurring mental disorders.
Approach
An umbrella review was conducted to identify evidence of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for adults (aged 18+) with substance use disorders and co-occurring common mental health disorders. Systematic reviews were sought of randomised controlled trials of psychosocial interventions compared to each other, treatment as usual or wait-list. Five databases were systematically searched in February 2024. Data, including critical appraisal (Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist), were extracted by one reviewer and checked by another. Data were discussed in a narrative review.
Key Findings
Of 5420 unique records, 28 systematic reviews were included. The methodological quality of the reviews was good. Most reviews focused on depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. There was much heterogeneity between reviews, and randomised controlled trials within reviews. Most of the interventions and many of the treatment-as-usual comparators resulted in significant improvement in substance use and mental health disorders. Results suggested integrated (co-ordinated) treatment for co-occurring diagnosis patients was better than treating one condition alone, and usually better than parallel uncoordinated services. There was limited evidence assessing sequential treatment, but this suggested similar effectiveness to integrated treatment.
Implications
Implications for current practise could not be recommended due to heterogeneity. Improvement shown by all types of psychosocial intervention including active comparators precluded recommending one type of intervention over another.
Conclusion
Further research is needed comparing integrated with parallel or sequential treatment, with follow-up of 6 months or longer, and sample size large enough to encompass dropout
Tobacco dependence support during and following an acute mental health inpatient admission:a cross-sectional survey of care provision in England
No full textGovernance, regulation and public trust in xenotransplantation
No full textPurpose of review
Across the world, several solid organ xenotransplants have been reported as being provided to deceased people and to living patients. In the US, xenotransplants to living patients have been authorised under the Food and Drug Administration’s Expanded Access program, and clinical liver and kidney xenotransplants have also been reported in China. During 2025, the first clinical trials of kidney and liver xenotransplants have been approved in the US. These developments make it necessary to understand the regulatory and governance issues and challenges raised by clinical xenotransplants.
Recent findings
Key regulatory and governance issues remain to be addressed before xenotransplant clinical trials begin, including identifying the responsible regulator, drafting informed consent protocols, and establishing long-term monitoring regimens. International cooperation and collaboration are key to establishing appropriate and effective regulatory regimes and frameworks which enable science to proceed while offering the necessary protections to those involved. Public awareness, education and trust are central to the success of clinical xenotransplantation.
Summary
Starting xenotransplant clinical trials too soon without appropriate regulation and governance, may affect public trust in this biotechnology specifically and science more generally. The possible risks of xenotransplantation necessitate exploration of global harmonisation and regulatory frameworks for clinical xenotransplantation
Corrigendum to “Integrated in-situ imaging and diffraction flow cell technology (NX-DRT) for advanced corrosion studies” [Corrosion Science, Volume 258 (2025) 1–12]
No full textThe authors regret: The declaration of competing interest was incorrect in the original paper. With this corrigendum we want to clarify that the authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder moderates functional connectivity in people with psychosis:cPTSD moderates functional connectivity in psychosis
No full textBackground: Altered functional connectivity in several functional networks has been found in people with psychosis, especially in the default mode (DMN), salience (SAL) and central executive (CEN) networks. Functional connectivity in people with psychosis is influenced by traumatic life experiences. Trauma histories typical of people with psychosis are associated with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), but no studies have explored whether post-traumatic sequelae contribute to functional dysconnectivity in people with psychosis. Methods: Using resting-state fMRI, we compared two groups meeting diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (N = 106); one group additionally met ICD-11 criteria for comorbid cPTSD, whereas the other did not. We assessed between-group differences in functional connectivity between 15 pre-defined regions of the DMN, SAL and CEN. Post-hoc correlations were used to test whether intra- and/or inter-network connectivity related to cPTSD symptom severity in the comorbid cPTSD group. Results: The comorbid cPTSD group demonstrated significantly lower functional connectivity within the DMN, SAL and CEN, as well as increased negative connectivity between the SAL and CEN. The control group showed significantly decreased connectivity of the DMN with the SAL and CEN. PTSD symptoms correlated positively with intra-SAL connectivity and DMN-SAL dysconnectivity, whereas DSOs correlated positively with intra-SAL dysconnectivity and reduced DMN-CEN connectivity. Conclusions: Our findings broadly align with the tripartite network model explaining psychopathology in terms of DMN, SAL and CEN dysconnectivity. Intra-network dysconnectivity in subgroups of people with psychosis may relate to post-traumatic sequelae, whereas inter-network dysconnectivity may be more central in trauma-unrelated psychoses
Systematic common components in ESG ratings across legal origins
No full textThis study investigates the systematic components of ESG ratings by applying a multilevel factor model using the GCC approach. Leveraging ESG data from MSCI and Refinitiv across countries grouped by legal origin (English, French, German, and Scandinavian), we identify a single global factor consistently present across aggregate ESG scores and individual E/S/G pillars, reflecting the globalisation of ESG standards. However, the number and influence of local factors vary across legal origins and data providers. Notably, Refinitiv ratings are dominated by global factors, while MSCI ratings exhibit stronger local factor influence. These findings reveal rater-specific divergences and mixed evidence on the role of legal origin in shaping ESG performance. We argue that enhancing the relative importance of global factors — through harmonised ESG disclosure standards — can improve the consistency and predictive power of ESG ratings. Policy implications include the need for global mandatory reporting frameworks
From sales exaptation to digital transformation: Value creation from remote selling
No full textDigital transformation of sales practices was accelerated during the pandemic as it necessitated a rapid shift to remote selling for many organizations. However, traditional sales' reliance on onsite visits, collaborative sales team meetings, and in-person interactions with customers have raised questions on the viability of remote selling in the B2B sales context. This qualitative study explores how sales organizations rapidly responded to these disruptions to create value for remote buyers. Through in-depth interviews with sales managers engaged in remote selling, we reveal new value creation mechanisms via digital channels, enhancing both sales efficiency and customer relationships, the realization of which is followed by organizations' deliberate efforts to assimilate remote selling. We argue this rapid shift can be better understood through evolutionary concepts of exaptation and subsequent adaptation, providing insights into organizational response to radical environmental changes. More specifically, we propose a processual framework where crisis-induced salesforce exaptation prompts organizations to accelerate technology adoption and capability development, which in turn catalyzes organizational changes to propel businesses into digital transformation trajectories. Our research contributes to the literature on crisis-driven innovation and exaptation theory for analyzing rapid transformations. We offer practical insights to address the challenges of incorporating digital technologies into sales structures