Using evidence-based imaging referral guidelines to facilitate value-based imaging: Are they all the same?

Vienna, AustriaPurpose or Learning Objective: This study establishes the concordance of three imaging referral guidelines from the ACR, ESR, and RCR, and examines the emergency department cervical spine imaging appropriateness rates. Methods or Background: A retrospective analysis of the electronic medical records was performed between 1st October to 31st December, 2022, evaluating 452 radiography and 153 CT imaging referrals. Evaluation of the appropriateness rating was dichotomised to either ‘indicated’ or ‘not indicated’ for analytical and practical purposes. The inter-rater agreement for the imaging referral guidelines was calculated using Fleiss' Kappa and Cohen's Kappa. Results or Findings: The overall appropriateness rate of X-ray cervical spine imaging referrals was 13.3% -75.2%, depending on the imaging referral guidelines utilised. The appropriateness rate of CT cervical spine was 90.8%, which was an identical rate for all three of the guidelines. Fleiss' Kappa indicated the guidelines for X-ray of the cervical spine had slight agreement (κ = 0.135 (95% CI, 0.088 to 0.183), p < 0.001) and almost perfect agreement amongst guidelines for CT cervical spine (κ = 1.000 (95% CI, 0.909 to 1.091), p < 0.001). For pairwise comparison, ACR AC and ESR iGuide for X-ray demonstrated moderate agreement (κ = 0.765, p < 0.001); however, RCR iRefer had no level of agreement with both. For CT, there was almost perfect agreement between all the guidelines. Conclusion: The guidelines demonstrated slight agreement for X-ray cervical spine and almost perfect agreement for CT cervical spine, complicating audit process and influencing audit output. Multidisciplinary buy-in positively impacts CT cervical spine appropriateness rates. Harmonising and prioritising guideline development for commonly encountered clinical scenarios is required.SingHealth Talent Development FundSingapore General Hospital Scholarshi

Bianca Ross, Britannia et Hibernia: Nationale und kulturelle Identitäten im Irland des 17. Jahrhunderts. Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Carl Winter, 1998. 433 pp.

This monograph, originally a Habilitationsschrift or postdoctoral thesis, was submitted by Bianca Ross in 1996 to the Philipps-Universität, Marburg. It is one of a series of interdisciplinary studies on the theme Nationale und Kulturelle Identität als Problem in der Frühen Neuzeit. Fieldwork which was conducted in Dublin in July and August 1992 was funded by the German Research Foundation. The latter body also provided a subvention towards publication costs (p. 7)

Ag Freastal ar Ghlao an Chrotaigh: Eachtra Le Beo agus Raja

Nuair atá bithgheilleagar i bhfeidhm go mbíonn speiceas scáthach faoi chosaint agus ag bláthú. Faoi sciatháin an chrotaigh agus faoina ghob fada gleoite, tugtar cosaint do neart créatúiríní eile chomh maith.European Commission Horizon 2020Science Foundation IrelandBioBeo Horizon Europe ProjectBiOrbic, SFI Bioeconomy Research Centre2025-02-26 JG: PDFs replaced at author's reques

Biomimetic polymer surfaces by high resolution molding of the wings of different cicadas

Recent studies have shown that insect wings have evolved to have micro- and nanoscale structures on the wing surface, and biomimetic research aims to transfer such structures to applicationspecific materials. Herein, we describe a simple and cost-effective method of replica molding the wing topographies of four cicada species using UV-curable polymers. Different polymer blends of polyethylene glycol diacrylate and polypropylene glycol diacrylate were used as molding materials and a molding chamber was designed to precisely control the x, y, and z dimensions. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed that structures ranged from 148 to 854 nm in diameter, with a height range of 191-2368 nm, and wing patterns were transferred with high fidelity to the crosslinked polymer. Finally, bacterial cell studies show that the wing replicas possess the same antibacterial effect as the cicada wing from which they were molded. Overall, this work shows a quick and simple method for patterning UV-curable polymers without the use of expensive equipment, making it a highly accessible means of producing microstructured materials with biological properties.European Commission - Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)Science Foundation IrelandIrish Research Counci

Writing Global History: Henry van de Verde and the Belgian House of Friendship Building

Introduction to Henry van der Velde, Art Nouveau in Belgium and in its relation to the Cong

Evaluating the effects of occupancy on energy use and indoor environmental quality in residential building archetypes over spatial and temporal scales

The European Union’s ambitious 2030 target to reduce energy consumption by 30% underscores the need for effective energy policies in the residential building sector. Accurate energy consumption estimation at various spatial and temporal scales is complex and computationally intensive. Archetypes simplify this task but often overlook critical factors such as occupancy uncertainty and the relationship between energy use and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). This can lead to significant performance gaps between estimated and measured energy consumption. Addressing these challenges is essential for developing reliable decision-support tools and aligning energy estimates with measured energy usage. This thesis explores the impact of occupancy and the energy-IEQ relationship on energy consumption across multiple spatial and temporal scales, using Irish residential building archetypes as a case study. To achieve this, the thesis develops methodologies for creating various occupancy models, which are then integrated into residential archetypes to estimate energy consumption at different spatial and temporal scales. Furthermore, the correlation between energy consumption and IEQ is analysed to establish a balance between energy efficiency and maintaining healthy indoor environments. By deepening the understanding of occupancy and the energy-IEQ relationship, this study focuses on enhancing the capabilities and robustness of residential building archetypes for estimating energy consumption at multiple spatial and temporal scales through three distinct contributions to knowledge. The first contribution (Chapter 2) of this thesis focuses on developing a deterministic occupancy model, as a representative of a large number of dwellings, using Time Use Survey (TUS) data to generate day-wise occupancy schedules. This model is based on a specific set of rules, including the number of occupants, dwelling type, month of the year, and day of the week. The model converts the recorded activity in the TUS data into presence/absence profiles, providing insights into energy use related to daily activities. When validated against measured gas consumption data, the deterministic model demonstrates significant improvements in predicting heating energy consumption, with annual variations of approximately 10% and daily variations of up to 50% compared to standard occupancy models. Monthly heating and electricity consumption show variations of approximately 25% and 32%, respectively, compared to the base case. On a more granular level, daily variations in heating and electricity consumption are reported as 50% and 12%, respectively, compared to the base case with standard and conventional schedules. The second contribution (Chapter 3) devises a methodology to develop a Probabilistic Occupancy Model (UPOM), representative of a large number of dwellings, that is suitable for residential energy analysis over multiple spatial scales. The occupancy model is developed using Bayesian Neural Networks (BNNs) based on Time Use Survey (TUS) data. The multi-class classification model predicts four occupancy states, providing probability distributions that capture the uncertainty inherent in each prediction. The UPOM achieved 90% accuracy in predicting nighttime occupancy states and an average accuracy of 64% during the day, reflecting variations in daytime activities. Comparative analyses are conducted between the UPOM, a deterministic model, and standard occupancy models in terms of estimating heating energy consumption at various spatial and temporal scales. Statistical analyses using Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s honestly significant difference (Tukey HSD) tests confirmed the statistical significance of the differences among models, establishing UPOM as the most reliable for estimating energy consumption followed by the deterministic model. To further extend the capabilities of occupancy-based archetypes, the third contribution (Chapter 4) proposes a low-computational methodology based on a metamodel approach tailored for rapid prediction and optimisation of heating energy consumption (kWh), thermal discomfort (hours), and elevated CO2 levels (hours) under the influence of occupancy. The framework evaluates the impact of occupancy on the Pareto optimal front, balancing these three objectives for energy-efficient, naturally ventilated residential buildings in a temperate oceanic climate. For this purpose, a synthetic dataset is generated via parametric simulation using a validated EnergyPlus model of a representative dwelling archetype. The parametric simulation includes a range of occupancy-related parameters such as metabolic rates, occupancy density, clothing value and window operations, along with other building input parameters. The metamodel-based optimisation significantly reduces computation time by 80% compared to physicsbased optimisation, maintaining a high correlation coefficient of 0.98 between the two approaches. By including occupancy-related variables in the study, this study ensures that the predicted results and optimised design and operational parameters are resilient, and within acceptable limits, as recommended by the WHO and CIBSE TM59, whilst minimising the heating consumption to align with appropriate standards for energy-efficient homes. By integrating realistic occupancy behaviour and the strong relationship between energy consumption and IEQ, the study provides robust archetypes that enhance the prediction accuracy of energy consumption at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Policymakers can leverage these findings to refine and update building performance standards, ensuring they reflect real-world conditions and promote better compliance and implementation across the residential building sector. The enhanced predictive accuracy and reduced optimisation time facilitated by this research encourage the adoption of more efficient building management systems and retrofitting practices. This supports the development of sustainable building policies that prioritise both energy efficiency and IEQ in residential dwellings

Ti-6Al-4V alloy printing — correlations between experimental and numerical modelling melt pool data

This study investigates the influence of processing parameters, specifically laser power and scan speed, on the melt pool characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V alloy during Powder Bed Fusion–Laser Beam (PBF-LB) printing. The objective is to provide a deeper understanding of the melt pool based on in-process melt pool monitoring data obtained from a production scale PBF-LB system (RenAM 500 S), experimental melt pool characterisation from single line print studies, and numerical modelling studies using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The findings demonstrate that laser power has a more pronounced effect on melt pool depth compared to scan speed, for a given line scan energy. This is due to an increased dwell time at elevated temperatures and reduced local cooling rates. A direct correlation is established between melt pool depth, increased emission intensity from in situ monitoring system, and the temperature-time profile derived from numerical modelling. Additionally, melt pool fluid flow based on numerical modelling reveals the presence of intense thermocapillary flow at higher laser power conditions, leading to the retention of porosity along the track. This observation was supported through experimental validation, as evidenced by the increased levels of porosity observed in line scan samples printed at higher laser powers.Science Foundation Irelan

Cyclophilin A Isomerisation of Septin 2 Mediates Abscission during Cytokinesis

The isomerase activity of Cyclophilin A is important for midbody abscission during cell division, however, to date, midbody substrates remain unknown. In this study, we report that the GTP-binding protein Septin 2 interacts with Cyclophilin A. We highlight a dynamic series of Septin 2 phenotypes at the midbody, previously undescribed in human cells. Furthermore, Cyclophilin A depletion or loss of isomerase activity is sufficient to induce phenotypic Septin 2 defects at the midbody. Structural and molecular analysis reveals that Septin 2 proline 259 is important for interaction with Cyclophilin A. Moreover, an isomerisation-deficient EGFP-Septin 2 proline 259 mutant displays defective midbody localisation and undergoes impaired abscission, which is consistent with data from cells with loss of Cyclophilin A expression or activity. Collectively, these data reveal Septin 2 as a novel interacting partner and isomerase substrate of Cyclophilin A at the midbody that is required for abscission during cytokinesis in cancer cells.Science Foundation IrelandUniversity College Dubli

Attaque frontale contre la responsabilité des entreprises

Le 24 avril 2013, l'immeuble industriel Rana Plaza s'est effondré au Bangladesh, provoquant la mort de 1100 ouvriers et ouvrières du textile et 2000 blessés. Le 21 novembre de cette même année, une tragédie s'est également produite en Europe avec l’écroulement du centre commercial Maxima, inauguré en 2011, dans le quartier de Zolitūde à Riga (Lettonie). Bilan: 54 vendeuses, clients et secouristes ont perdu la vie; 41 autres personnes ont été blessées.Unia Trade Unio

Temperature Management of Outborn Preterm Infants During Inter-hospital Transfer After Birth

Preterm infants have higher mortality rates compared to Infants born at term, and require support after birth. Maintaining normal body temperature (normothermia, temperature 36.5°C-37.5°C) after birth is a challenge for preterm infants and abnormal temperature is associated with increased mortality. Preterm infants are at high risk hypothermia (temperature 37.5°C). Preterm infants who are transferred to another hospital after birth for their ongoing care (outborn) are at greater risk of morbidities and mortality than comparable inborn infants. I wished to study how effectively newly born preterm infants’ temperature is kept within the normal range during inter-hospital transport in Ireland. I reviewed the literature concerning temperature control in neonatal transport and identified issues relating to how infant temperature is measured, how thermal supports are used to assist preterm newborns, and inconsistencies in how thermal outcomes are reported. This review also highlights an increase in mortality for infants that are hypothermic following inter-hospital transfer. I performed a retrospective review and a prospective study of preterm infants undergoing inter-hospital transport after birth by the National Neonatal Transport Program. Infants rectal temperature was measured for the prospective study. We identified improved rates of hypothermia at all stages of transport by our transport service. However, this was offset by increasing rates of infant hyperthermia. In the study cohort, skin and axillary temperature were unreliable for detecting abnormal core (rectal) temperature. Thermal supports were infrequently used. Accurately measuring and appropriately managing infant temperature during neonatal transfer is crucial. Improved temperature monitoring during transport of preterm infants, and the use of polyethylene wraps for preterm infants during neonatal transport require further study to improve thermal outcomes