Nominal Process Research Articles

Helping Educational Leaders Mobilize Evidence (HELM): The iterative redesign of the Leadership and Organizational Change for Implementation (LOCI) intervention for use in schools.

Few "intervention agnostic" strategies have been developed that can be applied to the broad array of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in schools. This paper describes two studies that reflect the initial iterative redesign phases of an effective leadership-focused implementation strategy-Leadership and Organizational Change for Implementation (LOCI)-to ensure its acceptability, feasibility, contextual appropriateness, and usability when used in elementary schools. Our redesigned strategy-Helping Educational Leaders Mobilize Evidence (HELM)-is designed to improve principals' use of strategic implementation leadership to support the adoption and high-fidelity delivery of a universal EBP to improve student outcomes. In Study 1, focus groups were conducted (n = 6) with 54 district administrators, principals, and teachers. Stakeholders provided input on the appropriateness of original LOCI components to maximize relevance and utility in schools. Transcripts were coded using conventional content analysis. Key themes referencing low appropriateness were summarized to inform LOCI adaptations. We then held a National Expert Summit (Study 2) with 15 research and practice experts. Participants provided feedback via a nominal group process (NGP; n = 6 groups) and hackathon (n = 4 groups). The research team rated each NGP suggestion for how actionable, impactful/effective, and feasible it was. We also coded hackathon notes for novel ideas or alignment with LOCI components. Study 1 suggestions included modifications to LOCI content and delivery. Study 2's NGP results revealed most recommendations to be actionable, impactful/effective, and feasible. Hackathon results surfaced two novel ideas (distributed leadership teams and leaders' knowledge to support educators EBP use) and several areas of alignment with LOCI components. Use of these iterative methods informed the redesign of LOCI and the development of HELM. Because it was collaboratively constructed, HELM has the potential to be an effective implementation strategy to support the use of universal EBP in schools.

Номинация растений по признаку сходства с другими растениями в финно-пермских языках

Phytonymy, an important part of the nominal vocabulary, is a subject of study that has significance in linguistics and other disciplines such as history and ethnography. This paper examines the nomination of plants by comparing them with other plant names from the vocabulary of Finno-Permic languages. The aim is to describe how the folk names of a plant are nominat-ed based on their similarity to other plants by analyzing common nomination patterns in relat-ed languages and examining various aspects of the nomination process. The data were taken from various lexicographic sources, monographs, and articles. In total, more than a hundred folk phytonyms were considered. These are complex nouns comprising two or three components connected by a subordinating conjunction. The plant name to which the nomination object is compared takes the last place in such phytonyms. The names under consideration were found to be produced mostly based on two main attributes: resemblance to another plant and an additional characteristic such as color, habitat, growth period, taste, or fragrance. Flora vocabulary was studied mainly by descriptive methods, with component and semantic analysis approaches used in some cases. In the Finno-Permic languages, plant nomination based on similarity with another plant is less prevalent compared to nominations based on other features. We believe that it is due to the late origin of this intricate form of nomination that has led to its separate development in each language. Several plants, such as willow, peas, anemone, and horsetail, are particularly prevalent as objects of comparison.

A practical approach for transfer function estimation using short, transient process data

Increased productivity in the industrial sector requires optimal closed loop performance. This can be solely achieved through optimal tuning of the controller parameters, which requires reliable and efficient process data, further employed in process estimations or high quality models. Most of the classical identification methods require long input-output data sets. In this paper we propose a technique to extract process information from short transient process data. The method is based on short sine test which can be superimposed on nominal process inputs, and estimates the process impulse response, consequently providing a band limited, but highly accurate, frequency response. This in turn is used to accurately estimate a high order plus dead time model. The method is reliable and requires less effort compared to classical step based methods. The main features of the proposed method are: 1) it uses a short duration test based on a sine input; 2) it produces accurate models in the presence of stochastic disturbances; and 3) it can be executed in open or closed loop. Numerical examples are provided to validate the theoretical approach and demonstrate the accuracy of the estimation.

Enhancing Tax Dispute Resolution: A Proposal for Amendments to the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 for Strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

This research paper proposes for amending the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in resolving tax disputes in Pakistan. The proposal addresses challenges faced in the current ADR framework, particularly related to the accreditation of retired judges and delays in the nomination process. Key recommendations include recognizing established ADR centers as authorized entities for nominating retired judges and specifying the role of retired High Court judges in chairing ADR committees. Proposed amendments to Section 134A of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 are outlined, along with the benefits and justifications for these amendments. The paper concludes with a call for swift implementation of the proposed amendments to improve taxpayer confidence and strengthen the integrity of the tax administration system.

Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Protection of Refugees and Refugee Camps

Abstract The Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention was established to recognize and protect non-material aspects of culture. Through an analysis of the experience of Bhutanese refugees, we argue that the Convention could be used to aid, protect, and acknowledge refugees in the absence of other mechanisms. Bhutanese refugees began living in camps in 1991, and a population remains in camps without formal international or national support. During this residency, the culture and identity of the Bhutanese refugees were transformed. As sites of cultural meaning and transformation for the refugees, the camps should be protected. Unfortunately, the current state-centric process for nominating intangible cultural heritage for protection excludes stateless and minority groups, such as refugees. Consequently, the nomination process should be amended to allow for bottom-up, community-led nominations.

Observations regarding extended causative verbal adverbials in the modern turkish language

In the grammatical structure of the Turkish language, the ablative case suffix can also in certain contexts express causation. Thus, causative adverbial phrases can be derived by adding the ablative case suffix to noun phrases formed during the process of nominalization by transforming the initial clauses with finite predicates, where the function of the correlative is marked by verbal nouns ending in -DIk / -(y)AcAk. Based on concrete (con)textual examples, this paper aims to analyze grammatical and semantic structures of causative adverbial phrases derived by adding the ablative case suffix to noun phrases formed during the process of nominalization by transforming the initial clauses with finite predicates. A contrastive analysis, which also analyzes semantically similar syntactic structures in the Bosnian language, is used to indicate similarities and differences within syntactic structures expressing causation in these two genetically and typologically different languages. The basic sources of the analysis are the following novels by Kemal Tahir: Esir Şehrin İnsanları, Esir Şehrin Mahpusu and Yol Ayrımı. Keywords: Turkish language, Bosnian language, causative adverbial phrases, ablative case suffix, initial noun clauses

Exploring the conditions for youth representation: a qualitative comparative analysis of party parliamentary groups

Research on the underrepresentation of youth in parliaments has rarely focused on political parties. This is surprising as parties are central in the selection of candidates and therefore should play an important role in determining the demographic composition of elected politicians. We created a data set of party parliamentary groups between 2017 and 2020 and conducted a linear regression as well as a fuzzy set QCA. Building upon previous literature, we expected the share of young Members of Parliament (MPs) to be higher under the following conditions: a low/high GDP per capita, a proportional representation electoral system, decentralized nomination processes, strong party youth organizations, an inclusive party ideology and young party structures. Our research support previous findings that electoral systems matter. Furthermore, our results indicate that whilst ideology might be a significant factor by itself, it becomes influential especially in combination with PR systems. The role of strong youth organizations, decentralized selectorates and party age seem to be highly context-dependent and more ambivalent. In summary, there is no singular condition under which we observe adequate youth representation, but rather different configurations of conditions. By applying the newest guidelines on good practices in QCA research, we present one of the first applications of these techniques in party and representation research.

Determining the research priorities for emergency care within the Western Cape province of South Africa: A consensus study

IntroductionLow- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionally affected by conditions requiring emergency care but there are limited contextually appropriate studies performed within these settings involving the patient population and healthcare systems they aim to benefit. Over the past five years, researchers in the Western Cape of South Africa have produced approximately 20 % of all emergency care publications from Africa, yet no agreed list of research priorities exists. Establishing research priorities, via recognised consensus methods, can ensure that efforts and resources in LMICs are more appropriately targeted to the need. MethodUsing a modified Delphi study, we invited a range of public and private representatives from different professional emergency care cadres within the Western Cape to identify current evidence gaps and consensus research priorities across the four areas of the WHO Emergency Care Systems framework: scene care, prehospital care, facility-based care, and the emergency care system itself. We then purposively selected eleven experts holding key academic and management positions to form a panel and perform a nominal group technique process to discuss these identified research priorities and establish a final list of priority research questions. ResultForty of the sixty-six (61 %) emergency care professionals invited contributed to the Delphi phase of the study, with representation from all professional cadres. After deduplication, 154 research topics were identified in the first round. In the second round, 94 (61 %) topics were considered research priorities by at least 80 % of participants. Following the nominal group technique discussion, 26 questions were established as consensus research priorities having been ranked as a top ten priority by over 50 % of panellists. ConclusionWe were able to successfully collate expert opinion and identify existing emergency care knowledge gaps within the Western Cape province of South Africa. Key topics identified for future work included questions on current health-seeking behaviour, dispatch, interfacility transfer, and staff burnout.

Senator Ayogu Eze v. Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi and Ors: An Answer to Locus Standi and Jurisdiction in Nigerian Jurisprudence

Equally settled is the fact that as at the moment, the only window opened for the courts to entertain action on and/or concerning nomination of candidates for any election by political parties is as provided under section 87(8) or (9) or (10) of the Electoral, Act 2010, (as amended)... “As a result of the above provision conferring (sic) this court has held, in very many cases, that only an aspirant in the primary election conducted by the political party can question the result or nomination or declaration of any person by the party as the winner of the primary election. Consequently, the sponsored candidate of the political party concerned in the election in issue. It follows, therefore, that no other person or member of the political party concerned, has the locus to challenge or question the nomination of any candidate by a political party for any election.” Even at the risk of repetition, the appellant was not a candidate in the governorship primary election that was held in Enugu State in 2015, as such he lacked the locus to challenge the declaration of the 4th respondent as the winner of the said primary. However, section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) gives the courts very limited jurisdiction to ensure that in the selection or nomination process, political parties do not act arbitrarily but within the confines of their constitution and Electoral Guidelines, and in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. The appellant failed to bring himself within the purview of section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act He was not an aspirant in the primary election from which the 4th respondent emerged. He therefore lacked the locus standi to institute the action. There is no reason to interfere with the sound reasoning of the court. Jurisdiction is the bedrock of every litigation be it civil of criminal, however, in this case, the court is heavily clothed with jurisdiction to entertain a matter bordering on political parties primary elections by virtue of section 87(8) or (9) or (10) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended..., Locus-Standi is an indisputable principle of law that can be raised at any stage of judicial proceedings, locus-Standi determines whether a party to a litigation is armed with power or legal capacity to institute an action before the courts of law, however Senator Ayogu Eze who is the plaintiff/ respondent lacked the right of action, on his failure to participate in primary elections organized by the national committee headed by king Asara; has forfeited or negatived his legal capacity to institute action in the court of first instance.

Authority and Performance of the Acting Village Head in the Development of Ureng Country, Leihitu District, Central Maluku Regency

Improving the welfare and quality of life of village communities, in development supported by the presence of village heads. Appointment of village heads in the community as the implementation of village governance, namely through elections. However, if the village head cannot carry out his duties in accordance with the term of office due to several factors in accordance with Article 54 Paragraph (1) of government regulation Number 47 of 2015 concerning Villages, the district government will appoint an acting substitute for the village head to carry out village administration. In this regard, research was conducted on the acting village heads in the development of Negeri Ureng. With the aim of research to find out 1. Authority of the Acting village head in development in Negeri Ureng, 2. Performance of the Acting Village Head in developing Negeri Ureng, 3. Factors supporting and inhibiting the performance of the Acting Village Head in developing Negeri Ureng. the type of research used in this research is qualitative research using a qualitative descriptive approach. With data collection techniques, namely by observation, interviews and documentation. The results of the research show that the authority of the Acting Village Head is to regulate the government and facilitate the process of nomination, appointment, up to the appointment of the definitive King. The performance of the Acting Village Head is considered good by the community because it has been enjoyed and is beneficial to the community. The supporting factors for the performance of the Acting Village Head are people who have known previous officials, government staff, and the public who like the Acting Village Head. The inhibiting factors for the performance of the Acting Village Head are the people who do not like officials, and the budget/costs.

OP66 Adoption Of The World Health Organization Algorithm For Essential Medicines In The Philippine National Formulary Listing Process

IntroductionThe Philippine National Formulary (PNF) System preceded the health technology assessment (HTA) process in the Philippines, which was institutionalized in 2019. The transition led to previously prioritized topics of expert bodies overseeing the PNF System being endorsed to the HTA Council. However, the advent of COVID-19 forced the HTA Philippines to focus on emergency assessment needs and financing recommendations for the national government, resulting in limited capacity to assess non-public health emergency topics. To address this and improve patient access to medicines, we adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) process for evaluating and selecting medicines in the National Essential Medicines List (NEML).MethodsIn assessing the pre-pandemic topics, we matched the population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes of the WHO clinical evidence reviews with those scoped with relevant stakeholders and performed local costing analyses to ensure applicability of findings to the Philippine setting. When needed, we subjected the topics to price negotiation or conducted qualitative assessments.ResultsWe found the method efficient in expediting the decision-making process of the HTA Council. However, given the limited internal capacity of the HTA Philippines to conduct assessments for all ongoing HTA tracks, some of the topics responsive to Universal Health Care will be outsourced to the HTA Research Network, which is yet to be established. There is also a need to improve alignment among the topics being assessed, since the priorities of the proponents, national health program, and national payer have already evolved.ConclusionsIt is important to identify the priority areas for stakeholders as part of the topic nomination process, account for analytic capacity when setting the number of topics for HTA, establish mechanisms to allow proponents to conduct HTAs based on the HTA Council’s methodological standards, and proactively work with the national regulatory agency on horizon scanning and early HTA. We also recommend efficient monitoring, evaluation, and updating of the Philippine HTA guidelines so that they are more responsive to the needs of the healthcare system and the Filipino people.

Virtually Prioritizing a Community's Needs: What Would Make it Easier for People who are Experiencing Homelessness to Manage Their Diabetes?

Introduction: During the pandemic, a group of people with lived experience (co-researchers) was convened for a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project in Calgary, AB that aimed to explore and address barriers to managing diabetes while experiencing homelessness. The group met bi-weekly using a videoconferencing platform on internet-enabled tablets. Objectives: Our aim is to explain the process we undertook to virtually engage in priority setting to identify a research priority for the CBPR project. Methods: Co-researchers participated in 17 focus group discussions about barriers to managing diabetes while experiencing homelessness, following which they were asked to brainstorm responses to the question, “What would make it easier for people who are experiencing homelessness to manage their diabetes?” In subsequent meetings, the responses were grouped to form categories. From those, the group chose the priority using a modified nominal group process, which involved sequentially ranking, then rating the categories. Ranking involved picking 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th choices, and rating involved distributing 0 to 10 points amongst the categories. Results: Seven categories were formed: Healthcare; Screening for Diabetes; Housing and Shelter; Access to Medications and Supplies; Healthy Food; Diabetes Awareness; and Diabetes Education. Among these, Diabetes Awareness was given the most votes during the ranking and the most points during the rating exercises. Therefore, this is the topic our research will be focused on. Conclusion: We will conduct research for the purpose of increasing diabetes awareness, among shelter staff specifically, and use forum theatre and a short narrative film to share the findings.

Gwarowe nazwy roślin derywowane semantycznie od nazw chorób

DIALECT PLANT NAMES SEMANTICALLY DERIVED FROM NAMES OF DISEASES It is possible to distinguish three groups among dialect phytonyms derived from names of diseases:1) names which originated from names of diseases due to the process of neosemantisation, 2) names morphologically derived from names of diseases, 3) collocations a) with the name of the disease, b) with an adjective derived from the name of the disease. In the article phytonyms from the first group have been analyzed and the focus is on determining their semantic motivations and thusdepicting the factors which underlie the nomination processes that led to their appearance. In the most typical situation neosemantisation is motivated by the purpose i.e. for the treatment of which disease or ailment the plant was used for. Other motivational hypotheses are primarily connected with the look of the plant or its specific part which may resemble a disease symptom (as it is in the case of kołtun and similar names) or trigger more indirect associations with diseases (like in the case of names of the kind ślepota and kurza ślepota).

Do political parties always prefer loyalists? Evidence from South Korea.

This paper examines the relationship between ideological polarization and party disloyalty, focusing on the moderating role of the status of a political party in the legislature, i.e., the ruling party or the opposition party. It hypothesizes that the ruling party is willing to endorse disloyal candidates whose issue positions are not close to their own party's platform, whereas the opposition party is likely to punish disloyal candidates to demonstrate party unity in the nomination process. The present study tests this hypothesis, using data from South Korea, where the nomination process for the parliamentary election is dominated by party leaders. The results are by and large consistent with the hypotheses. In line with previous studies, our results suggest that party loyalty is one of the driving forces of polarization in politics. In order to fully understand party polarization at the level of political elites, it is necessary to consider heterogeneous effects of party members' behavior on candidate selection, varying across the party's status, either the ruling party or the opposition party.

THE REJECTION OF ROE v WADE BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT AFTER FIVE DECADES – A SEISMIC DECISION

The recent dramatic about-turn of the United States Supreme Court (USSC) in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organisation (Dobbs) in May 2022 regarding the rights of women in the United States to an abortion has caused a major uproar. Overruling one of the most famous of all USSC cases, Roe v Wade (410 US 113 (1973) (Roe)), five decades after it was decided, has had major repercussions. To fully comprehend the impact that Roe had on the United States, it is opportune to give an overview of Roe, which was a dramatic judgment and became established law for 50 years. In revisiting Roe, it is difficult to understand why such a clear and well-reasoned majority judgment has been overruled.Roe raised serious legal, moral and religious issues. The central issue was whether a woman had a legal right to an abortion. The USSC by a majority of seven to two held that woman had a constitutionally protected right to an abortion. As will be seen, Roe based its decision on its interpretation specifically of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.All major cases before the USSC can be put into two categories – abortion cases and all others. Abortion remains the central legal issue before that court. It defines the judicial philosophies of the justices of the USSC. It dominates their nomination and confirmation processes. The abortion controversy is sensitive and emotional. It generates vigorous, opposing views. It inspires deep and absolute convictions. A person’s philosophy, experiences, exposure to the raw edges of human existence, religious beliefs, and attitudes towards family values, and the moral standards a person establishes and seeks to observe all influence their thinking about abortion.It arguably delineates the difference between the National Democratic and Republican parties. When, during the confirmation proceedings of the present Chief Justice Roberts, he was asked about his views on Roe, he was careful not to commit himself. His answer was that Roe was settled as a precedent of the court and entitled to be respected under the principles of stare decisis, but he added that the justices of the Supreme Court do sometimes reverse their own precedents.Abortion issues remain eternal. Does a woman have a legal right to an abortion? Is the termination of a pregnancy a decision to be made by a woman and her doctor, or is the protection of potential human life a legitimate interest of the State? At what point does an unborn person acquire legal rights that are protected under the law? The majority and dissenting judgments in Roe represent the full spectrum of legal approaches to these and related questions. However, no court decision exists in a vacuum and the controversial issues raised in Roe continue to be raised and debated in the legal and political life of the United States, as they do in other jurisdictions.

Development of self-care strategies to promote young Iranian women’s sexual health: an explanatory sequential mixed method study protocol

BackgroundIn contemporary Iran, the nation's traditional and deeply religious society is currently experiencing swift transformations in its moral, cultural, and social aspects. It is, therefore, not surprising to observe shifts in people's attitudes toward sexuality, largely attributed to the profound impact of widespread social networks, the proliferation of information technology, and increased levels of education. Unmarried young women may potentially face adverse consequences from engaging in extramarital sexual relationships across various aspects of their lives. Acknowledging the pivotal role of self-care in influencing the sexual behaviors of young women, the objective of this study is to compile a comprehensive list of self-care strategies aimed at improving the sexual well-being of young, single Iranian women.MethodsThe research will unfold in three distinct phases: Phase 1: Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Method Study This initial phase encompasses both quantitative and qualitative aspects. It begins with a cross-sectional survey, where we will gather data from 400 unmarried female students aged 18 to 29 years, utilizing a cluster random sampling method at Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Data collection will involve the use of a researcher-designed questionnaire. Subsequently, the qualitative phase will involve conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with female students from the University. To analyze this qualitative data, we will employ the content analysis approach. The findings obtained from both phases will be combined. Phase 2: Narrative Review In the second stage of the study, we will conduct an extensive narrative review to explore existing strategies related to the subject matter comprehensively. This review will serve as the foundational basis for our subsequent analysis. Phase 3: Strategy Prioritization In the final phase, we will prioritize the proposed strategies using a nominal group process, soliciting expert advice. This step will result in the definitive list of strategies that emerge from the study.DiscussionThis study pioneers the field of sexual health, with the goal of developing a protocol for creating self-care strategies based on the perspectives of young, unmarried Iranian women. It offers potential evidence-based insights into current developments in the physical, psychological, and social aspects of sexual health within this demographic. Additionally, it aims to furnish essential information to healthcare policymakers regarding the sexual health of young women.

CEO power and the strategic selection of accounting financial experts to the audit committee

AbstractWe examine the role of CEO power in the appointment of accounting financial experts (AFEs) to firm audit committees. Our results show that firms with powerful CEOs have a lower likelihood of appointing AFEs to their audit committees. In addition, effective AFEs—those characterized by experience, high status, and social independence from the CEO—are less likely to be appointed in firms with powerful CEOs. In the presence of powerful CEOs, effective AFEs are also less likely to be designated audit committee chair. The absence of effective AFEs is associated with the use of accounting discretion by powerful CEOs to meet or just beat analyst earnings forecasts. We find no evidence that AFEs choose to avoid serving on the boards of firms with powerful CEOs. Our findings are consistent with powerful CEOs influencing board appointments post‐Sarbanes‐Oxley Act through informal channels, including through their social ties with nominating committees. Our results suggest that current regulations prohibiting CEO involvement in the director nomination process and specifying who qualifies as a financial expert may be insufficient to ensure audit committee effectiveness and financial reporting quality.

Adjusting plant operating conditions to widen multivariate specification regions for incoming raw materials – An optimization framework

Decision tools to determine the acceptability of an incoming lot of raw materials prior to its purchase from a supplier is essential to ensure efficient quality control. They allow mitigating the propagation of the raw material variability through the process and, ultimately, in the final product quality. Establishing multivariate specifications regions for raw material properties to achieve high and consistent end product quality using latent variable models is key. However, these specifications are typically designed assuming the process operates at nominal conditions. The objective of this work is to enlarge the raw material acceptance region to accept materials having a wider range of properties, and possibly at a lower cost, while meeting final product quality requirements. Using a sequential multi-block partial least squares model (SMB-PLS), the design of multivariate specification regions is combined with optimization of process operating conditions to better cope with fluctuations in raw material properties. An economic criterion is used to assess whether accepting lower cost materials, at the expense of adjusting plant operation, which incurs additional costs, is economically justified. The approach is illustrated using a grinding-flotation plant simulator where the objective is to assess the profitability of different lots of raw materials (i.e. ores). The impact of measurement noise is also investigated. The case studies show that the raw material processability is improved since the number of correctly accepted lots is increased by 7.3 % in comparison with maintaining nominal process conditions.

Influence of spattering on in-process layer surface roughness during laser powder bed fusion

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) based additive manufacturing (AM) holds great promise to efficiently produce high-performance metallic parts. However, LPBF processes tend to incur stochastic melt pool (MP) spattering, which would roughen workpiece in-process surface, thus weakening inter-layer bonding and causing issues like porosity, powder contamination, and recoater intervention. Understanding the consequential effect of MP spattering on layer surface is important for LPBF process control and part qualification. Yet it remains difficult due to the lack of process monitoring capability for concurrently tracking MP spatters and characterizing layer surfaces. In this work, using our lab-designed LPBF-specific fringe projection profilometry (FPP) along with an off-axis camera, we quantitatively evaluate the correlation between MP spattering and in-process layer surface roughness for the first time to reveal the potential influence of MP spatters on process anomaly and part defects. Specifically, a method of automatically and accurately extracting and registering MP spattering metrics is developed by machine learning of the in-situ off-axis camera imaging data. Each image is analyzed to obtain the MP's center location and the spatter count and ejection angle. These MP spatter signatures are registered for each monitored MP across each layer. Then, regression modeling is used to correlate each layer's registered MP spatter signature and its processing parameters with the layer's surface topography measured by the in-situ FPP. We find that the attained MP spatter feature profile can help predict the layer's surface roughness more accurately (> 50 % less error), in contrast to the conventional approaches that would only use nominal process setting without any insight of real process dynamics. This is because the spatter information can reflect key process changes including the deviations in actual laser scan parameters and their effects. The results also corroborate the importance of spatter monitoring and the distinct influence of spattering on layer surface roughness. Our work paves a foundation to thoroughly elucidate and effectively control the role of MP spattering in defect formation during LPBF.

Neurotrophic keratopathy: An updated understanding

PurposeTo propose an updated definition and staging system for neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) and provide consensus on diagnosis and treatment. MethodsA study group was convened to review the data pertinent to NK using a modified nominal group process. They proposed an updated definition for NK and a new 6-step staging system (Neurotrophic Keratopathy Study Group [NKSG] Classification) that can be used in conjunction with the different treatment options available currently or in the future. ResultsNK is defined as the dysfunction of corneal innervation that results in dysregulation of corneal and/or cellular function. It is characterized by loss of corneal sensation and neuronal homeostasis, leading to eventual corneal epithelial breakdown and ultimately keratolysis if untreated. The NKSG classification emphasizes verifying corneal sensation early and distinguishes different epithelial and stromal aspects of NK with the following stages: stage 1 (altered sensation without keratopathy), stage 2 (epitheliopathy/punctate epithelial keratopathy [PEK] without stromal haze), stage 3 (persistent/recurrent epithelial defects without stromal haze), stage 4 (epitheliopathy/PEK or persistent/recurrent epithelial defects with stromal haze), stage 5 (persistent/recurrent epithelial defect with corneal ulceration), and stage 6 (corneal perforation). Treatment consists of a variety of modalities (both indirect and direct). ConclusionsThis updated definition and staging system will provide clinicians with the necessary information to diagnose and treat NK at an early stage before it becomes a sight-threatening disorder. It also provides a framework for evaluating current and future treatment options at distinct stages of the disease.