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

A mathematical model with flexible negotiation strategies for agent based negotiations in dynamic e-commerce environments

In this paper, a mathematical model with flexible negotiation strategies for agent based negotiations is developed which can be applied suitably in bilateral/multilateral multi-issue negotiation environments. Unlike the existing approaches for offer value computation for the negotiation issues, this model considers not only the reservation values but also the offer values proposed in the preceding negotiation round. This approach for offer value computation enables the traders to reach consensus much quicker than the existing approaches. This model considers the compelling urge of the trader in buying/selling a product based on which the reservation values are adjusted automatically at the end of the negotiation process in order to reach consensus in a deal which is otherwise not possible. The formula devised in this model to determine the concession speed of each negotiation issue handles the dynamicity of the negotiation environment and reflects the importance of each negotiation issue from the traders’ perspective. The effectiveness of the proposed strategies is evaluated using various hypothetical cases representing the real-world negotiation scenarios in an e-commerce environment. The test results show that the proposed negotiation strategies are able to optimize the utility process and also improve the rate of reaching consensus in the negotiation process. Keywords: Software agent, e-Commerce negotiation, Bi-lateral, Multi-lateral, Multi-issu

SPIN RELAXATION IN DISORDERED NICKEL-ZINC FERRITES USING MÖSSBAUER EFFECT

Des effets de fluctuation ont été observés dans un large domaine de température en dessous de TN dans les spectres des ferrites mixtes avec x = 0,25, 0,5 et 0,75. Les formes théoriques des spectres générées sur ordinateur à l'aide du modèle stochastique de relaxation de spin ionique sont en bon accord avec les spectres expérimentaux pour les 3 ferrites. Le temps de relaxation (τ) ainsi déterminé dépend faiblement de la température en dessous de TN. Aux environs de TN, il décroît rapidement. τ augmente avec la concentration en ions Zn2+. Un tel comportement a été expliqué (1) comme provenant d'un désordre dans la distribution des ions Ni2+ et Fe3+ sur les sites A et B ainsi que de la présence d'ions Zn2+.Fluctuation effects have been observed in the spectra of the mixed ferrites NixZn1-xFe2O4 (x = 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75) over wide range of temperatures below their magnetic transition temperatures. Theoretical line shapes, computed using the stochastic model of ionic spin relaxation show good agreement with the experimental spectra of all the three ferrites. The relaxation time (τ), thus determined, is weakly dependent on temperature below TN. Around TN it decreases rapidly. τ increases with increase in the concentration of Zn2+ ions. Such a behaviour has been explained earlier to arise from the presence of disorder in the distribution of Ni2+ and Fe3+ ions at A and B sites as well as from the presence of Zn2+ ions

Cardiac health diagnosis using heart rate variability signals - A comparative study

Intelligent Automation and Soft Computing10123-3

INTERNATIONAL TV NEWS, FOREIGN AFFAIRS INTEREST AND PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE: A comparative study of foreign news coverage and public opinion in 11 countries

This article investigates the volume of foreign news provided by public service and commercial TV channels in countries with different media systems, and how this corresponds to the public's interest in and knowledge of foreign affairs. We use content analyses of television newscasts and public opinion surveys in 11 countries across five continents to provide new insight into the supply and demand for international television news. We find that (1) more market-oriented media systems and broadcasters are less devoted to international news, and (2) the international news offered by these commercial broadcasters more often focuses on soft rather than hard news. Furthermore, our results suggest that the foreign news offered by the main TV channels is quite limited in scope, and mainly driven by a combination of national interest and geographic proximity. In sum, our study demonstrates some limitations of foreign news coverage, but results also point to its importance: there is a positive relationship between the amount of hard international news coverage and citizens' level of foreign affairs knowledge. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC