Improving And Enhancing Scenario Planning: Futures Thinking

This book presents a contemporary view of the approaches and theories informing global scenario planning and foresight science. The collection of chapters details new and broader views of futures thinking, scenario methodologies, innovative developments, and practical applications that reflect the evolution of the field into the 21st century. The collection of insights is not exhaustive, but rather serves as a bridge from last century’s foundations into this century’s innovations. Our global team of authors span multiple generations and demographics, representing industry leaders, award winning scientists, consultants, and emerging researchers. The chapters are divided across six sections that reflect the path of scenario development, from foundation to validation. This book is best viewed as the latest addition to the robust library of existing volumes in scenario planning and foresight science. The purpose of the book is to provide insights with guidance for practitioners and support for academics

Electrical Tree Image De-Noising using Threshold Wavelet Transform and Wiener Filter

Electrical treeing occurred in solid dielectric materials, especially in electrical application with high voltage. The occurrence of electrical tree happens when high electric fields applied, causing tiny channels or paths to form. The main issue during the data collection process is the changes of lighting, making it difficult to study the tree's propagation length, fractal dimension, and growth rate due to corrupted images. This research aims to analyse electrical tree structure images in XLPE material using a CCD camera and develop image de-noising techniques to suppress noise on the electrical tree image. The performance was then analysed using the Otsu thresholding algorithm for accurate segmentation. The methodology was divided into four phases: sample preparation, experimental setup, image pre-processing in MATLAB, and testing four de-noising filters: Wiener, median, NLM, and Gaussian. The Wiener filter with higher PSNR, SNR, and RMSE was selected and using superimposed method, both threshold wavelet transforms and wiener was combined to eliminate the noise. Finally, the proposed method of superimposed was tested with the Otsu thresholding method to evaluate accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the combination filter. Based on the analysis of PSNR, SNR, and RMSE, the performance of the threshold wavelet and Wiener filter (TWWF) de-noising technique improves the image quality of the electrical tree structure. Thus, for the Otsu thresholding segmentation algorithm analysis, it also had the highest values in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity

Proximity to cancer rehabilitation and exercise oncology by geography, race, and socioeconomic status

Background: Cancer rehabilitation and exercise oncology (CR/EO) have documented benefits for people living with and beyond cancer. The authors examined proximity to CR/EO programs across the United States with respect to population density, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and cancer incidence and mortality rates. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2022–2023. Online searches were initiated to identify CR/EO programs. Geocoding was used to obtain latitudinal and longitudinal geospatial coordinates. Demographic data were abstracted from the 2020 5‐year American Community Survey. Cancer incidence and mortality data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. US 2013 Rural‐Urban Continuum Code (RUCC) classification was used to define counties as either urban (RUCC 1–3) or rural (RUCC 4–9). Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between being far from a program and census‐tract level factors. Results: In total, 2133 CR/EO programs were identified nationwide. The distance from a program increased with decreasing population density: rural tracts were 17.68 ± 0.24 miles farther from a program compared with urban tracts (p < .001). Program proximity decreased as the neighborhood deprivation index increased (p < .001). Exercise oncology programs were less common than cancer rehabilitation programs in tracts with a larger proportion of minority residents (p < .001). Conclusions: Prior research has documented that underrepresented populations have worse cancer‐related symptoms and higher cancer mortality. Herein, the authors document their findings that these same populations are less likely to have proximity to CR/EO programs, which are associated with improved cancer‐related symptoms and cancer mortality outcomes. To realize the positive outcomes from CR/EO programming, efforts must focus on supporting expanded programming and sustainable payment for these services

Coupled magneto-mechanical growth in hyperelastic materials: Surface patterns modulation and shape control in bio-inspired structures

Magneto-mechanical coupling in the growth of soft materials presents challenges due to the complex interactions between magnetic fields, mechanical forces, and growth-induced deformations. While growth modeling has been extensively studied, integrating magnetic stimuli into growth processes remains underexplored. In this work, we develop a 3D governing system for capturing the coupled magneto-mechanical growth behaviors of soft materials. Based on the governing system, we propose a finite element framework, where the robustness and accuracy of the proposed framework are demonstrated through numerical simulations, including the uniaxial loading of a circular tube, a mesh convergence study, and surface pattern evolution. We also conduct experiments on surface pattern modulation in magneto-active soft materials. Specifically, we fabricate film–substrate samples and apply growth-induced instabilities combined with external magnetic fields to generate tunable surface patterns. To demonstrate the capabilities of our method, we apply our numerical framework to mimic the biological morphogenesis, such as the inversion process of the algal genus Volvox. Our study shows that integrating magneto-mechanical coupling with growth effects allows for flexible control over surface patterns, significantly enhancing the adaptability and responsiveness of soft materials. This work paves the way for innovative designs of adaptive and programmable soft materials, with potential applications in soft robotics, biomimetic structures, and tissue engineering

Driving total factor productivity: The spillover effect of digitalization in the new energy supply chain

Digitalization assumes a crucial role in augmenting productivity within the new energy sector. However, whether this impelling effect can permeate the entire supply chain remains to be discussed. This study delves into the spillover effect of customers’ digitalization on suppliers’ total factor productivity (TFP), endeavoring to explicate the sources of competitive advantage in China’s new energy industry from a supply chain perspective. Based on Chinese new energy enterprises from 2006 to 2022, we find that: (1) Customers’ digitalization significantly impels suppliers’ TFP, with variations depending on market influence. (2) Mechanism tests reveal that supply chain efficiency represents a pivotal channel, especially manifested in three successive aspects: consolidating, expanding, and deepening vertical connections in the supply chain. (3) Customers’ digitalization impels the growth of new energy suppliers’ TFP, while new energy enterprises do not display the spillover effect on their suppliers. This study provides targeted policy implications for policymakers to guide the growth of supply chain efficiency and TFP

A glossary for social-to-biological research

Research has shown that our socially structured experiences elicit a biological response, leading to the observation that numerous biomarkers (objective biological measures that are representative of various biological processes) are socially patterned. This ‘social-to-biological’ research is of interest to researchers across multiple disciplines and topics and especially to those with an interest in understanding the biological embodiment of the ‘social environment’. Combining social and biomarker data is also of relevance to those examining the biological determinants of social behaviours (for example, the relationship between genetics and certain behaviours like smoking). However, as much of the research involving biomarkers and social data are multidisciplinary, researchers need to understand why and how to optimally use and combine such data. This article provides a resource for researchers by introducing a range of commonly available biomarkers across studies and countries. Because of the breadth of possible analyses, we do not aim to provide an exhaustive and detailed review of each. Instead, we have structured the glossary to include: an easy-to-understand definition; a description of how it is measured; key considerations when using; and an example of its use in a relevant social-to-biological study. We have limited this glossary to biomarkers that are available in large health and social surveys or population-based cohort studies and focused on biomarkers in adults. We have structured the glossary around the main physiological systems studied in research on social to biological transition and those that go across systems and highlight some basic terms and key theoretical concepts

Comparing talent development environments of girls and boys in handball and ice hockey in Norway

Currently, there is little research on successful talent development environments (TDEs) focusing on women and girls. In response, the main aim of the present study was to compare TDEs of age‐specific national teams for girls and boys in the Norwegian context (N = 216: 92 girls and 124 boys). Gender differences were investigated in the two different sports of handball and ice hockey, which in the Norwegian context represent more and less successful sports (handball and ice hockey, respectively). Before investigating gender differences in the two sports, a necessary first step was to investigate the psychometric properties of Norwegian version of the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ‐5). Results support the Norwegian TDEQ‐5 to be a reliable and valid measure within the Norwegian context. The successful sport of Norwegian handball showed no significant gender differences regarding TDE. The less successful and male dominated sport of Norwegian ice hockey showed girls to score lower on several TDEQ factors compared to boys. Results also showed ice hockey having lower TDEQ scores compared to handball. We argue that handball provide similarly functional TDEs for girls and boys, making gender equality a characteristic feature of a TDE that is successful both in terms of mass participation and international achievements

Technical guidance to applicants for the authorisation of Precision Bred Organisms for food and feed: Draft (07.02.2025)

This draft guidance describes the scientific considerations required for evaluating the safety and nutritional aspects of Precision Bred Organisms (PBOs) when seeking marketing authorisation of PBOs for use in the production of food and feed

CEO power and firm decarbonisation efforts

Using a global sample of 899 firms from 26 countries for the period 2000 to 2021, this study investigates the effect of CEO power on firms' decarbonisation efforts. We find that firms with higher levels of CEO power are associated with lower carbon emissions. Further analysis indicates that nationally diverse boards and older board members amplify the negative relationship between CEO power and carbon emissions. Similarly, powerful CEOs with high academic qualifications aggressively pursue corporate decarbonisation. The impact of CEO power on decarbonisation is more noticeable in carbon-intensive industries. Lastly, we document that climate legislation can be catalytic for decarbonisation

Experiences and Health Outcomes of Emerging Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Mixed Methods Study

Background Emerging adults with type 1 diabetes are at risk of poorer diabetes-related health outcomes than other age groups. Several factors affecting the health and experiences of the emerging adults are culture and healthcare specific.Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the experience of emerging adults living with type 1 diabetes in Lebanon, describe their diabetes self-care and diabetes-related health outcomes (HbA1c and diabetes distress), and identify the predictors of these outcomes.Methods A convergent mixed methods design was used with 90 participants aged 18-29 years. Sociodemographic, clinical data, and measures of diabetes distress, social support, and self-care were collected. Fifteen emerging adults participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Multiple linear regression was used to determine predictors of diabetes outcomes. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Data integration was used to present the mixed methods findings.Results The study sample had a mean HbA1c of 7.7% (SD = 1.36) and 81.1 % reported moderate to severe diabetes distress levels. The participants had good levels of diabetes self-care and high levels of social support. HbA1c was predicted by insulin treatment type, age at diagnosis, and diabetes self-care; while diabetes distress was predicted by diabetes knowledge, blood glucose monitoring approach, and diabetes self-care. “Living with type 1 diabetes during emerging adulthood: the complex balance of a chemical reaction” was the overarching theme of the qualitative data, with three underlying themes: “Breaking of bonds: changes and taking ownership of their diabetes”, “The reactants: factors affecting the diabetes experience”, and “Aiming for equilibrium”. The integrated mixed methods results revealed one divergence between the qualitative and quantitative findings related to the complexity of the effect of received social support.Discussion The suboptimal health of the emerging adults despite good self-care highlights the importance of addressing cultural and healthcare specific factors such as diabetes knowledge and public awareness, social support, and availability of technology to improve diabetes health. Findings of this study can guide future research, practice, and policy development