Resummation of Nonalternating Divergent Perturbative Expansions

A method for the resummation of nonalternating divergent perturbation series is described. The procedure constitutes a generalization of the Borel-Pad\'{e} method. Of crucial importance is a special integration contour in the complex plane. Nonperturbative imaginary contributions can be inferred from the purely real perturbative coefficients. A connection is drawn from the quantum field theoretic problem of resummation to divergent perturbative expansions in other areas of physics.Comment: 5 pages, LaTeX, 2 tables, 1 figure; discussion of the Carleman criterion added; version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Recommendations for culturally safe clinical kidney care for First Nations Australians: a guideline summary

Introduction: First Nations Australians display remarkable strength and resilience despite the intergenerational impacts of ongoing colonisation. The continuing disadvantage is evident in the higher incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among First Nations Australians. Nationwide community consultation (Kidney Health Australia, Yarning Kidneys, and Lowitja Institute, Catching Some Air) identified priority issues for guideline development. These guidelines uniquely prioritised the knowledge of the community, alongside relevant evidence using an adapted GRADE Evidence to Decision framework to develop specific recommendations for the management of CKD among First Nations Australians. Main recommendations: These guidelines explicitly state that health systems have to measure, monitor and evaluate institutional racism and link it to cultural safety training, as well as increase community and family involvement in clinical care and equitable transport and accommodation. The guidelines recommend earlier CKD screening criteria (age ≥ 18 years) and referral to specialists services with earlier criteria of kidney function (eg, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], ≤ 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 , and a sustained decrease in eGFR, > 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year) compared with the general population. Changes in management as result of the guidelines: Our recommendations prioritise health care service delivery changes to address institutional racism and ensure meaningful cultural safety training. Earlier detection of CKD and referral to nephrologists for First Nations Australians has been recommended to ensure timely implementation to preserve kidney function given the excess burden of disease. Finally, the importance of community with the recognition of involvement in all aspects and stages of treatment together with increased access to care on Country, particularly in rural and remote locations, including dialysis services.David J Tunnicliffe, Samantha Bateman, Melissa Arnold-Chamney, Karen M Dwyer, Martin Howell, Azaria Gebadi, Shilpa Jesudason, Janet Kelly, Kelly Lambert, Sandawan William Majoni, Dora Oliva, Kelli J Owen, Odette Pearson, Elizabeth Rix, Ieyesha Roberts, Kimberly Taylor, Gary A Wittert, Katherine Widders, Adela Yip, Jonathan Craig, Richard K Phoo

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) in inland and inshore waters: assessment and minimumisation of risks to public health. Revised guidance

This is the first revision of the guidance document under the same title that was published by the Scottish Executive Health Department in 2002. The approach advocated for managing the risks to human and animal health of exposure to blue-green algal toxins continues to centre on production and implementation of “Local Action Plans”. These should be co-ordinated by the NHS Boards in Scotland and should be agreed by the various stakeholders identified herein. This document includes guidance on the content and structure of these Local Action Plans and should be regarded as a resource to assist in their production, as well as fulfilling the requirements of Article8 (Cyanobacterial risks)of the Bathing Waters Directive(2006/7/EC). The Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD) proposes to review and, if necessary, reissue this guidance document every five years. However, it is recognized that the value of this guidance lies in its practical implementation. The SEHD would therefore welcome feedback, which should be addressed to the SEHD’s Scientific Adviser at St Andrew‘s House, Edinburgh EH13DG. Should this feedback indicate a specific need, then a further version of this guidance will be produced sooner

Nuptial food gifts influence female egg production in the scorpionfly Panorpa cognata

Engqvist L. Nuptial food gifts influence female egg production in the scorpionfly Panorpa cognata. Ecological Entomology. 2007;32(3):327-332.1. Before copulation, male Panorpa cognata scorpionflies offer females a salivary secretion, which is consumed by the female during copulation. It has previously been demonstrated that this nuptial food gift functions as mating effort by increasing male attractiveness and by increasing ejaculate transfer during copulation. 2. In this study, the effect of saliva consumption on female reproductive output was investigated, and thus the possibility that nuptial food gifts also serve as paternal investment. The experimental design enabled the effect of nuptial gift consumption to be disentangled from other possible effects of multiple mating or increased copula duration. 3. The results showed that saliva consumption increases female egg production by on average 8% (4.5 eggs) per consumed salivary mass, whereas mean egg weight was not influenced. 4. These results have important implications for the evolution and maintenance of both male nuptial gifts and female polyandry in this and other species