Processing Steps Research Articles

Alzheimer-mutant γ-secretase complexes stall amyloid β-peptide production.

Missense mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin-1 (PSEN1) cause early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and alter proteolytic production of secreted 38-to-43-residue amyloid β-peptides (Aβ) by the PSEN1-containing γ-secretase complex, ostensibly supporting the amyloid hypothesis of pathogenesis. However, proteolysis of APP substrate by γ-secretase is processive, involving initial endoproteolysis to produce long Aβ peptides of 48 or 49 residues followed by carboxypeptidase trimming in mostly tripeptide increments. We recently reported evidence that FAD mutations in APP and PSEN1 cause deficiencies in early steps in processive proteolysis of APP substrate C99 and that this results from stalled γ-secretase enzyme-substrate and/or enzyme-intermediate complexes. These stalled complexes triggered synaptic degeneration in a C. elegans model of FAD independently of Aβ production. Here we conducted full quantitative analysis of all proteolytic events on APP substrate by γ-secretase with six additional PSEN1 FAD mutations and found that all six are deficient in multiple processing steps. However, only one of these (F386S) was deficient in certain trimming steps but not in endoproteolysis. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy in intact cells revealed that all six PSEN1 FAD mutations lead to stalled γ-secretase enzyme-substrate/intermediate complexes. The F386S mutation, however, does so only in Aβ-rich regions of the cells, not in C99-rich regions, consistent with the deficiencies of this mutant enzyme only in trimming of Aβ intermediates. These findings provide further evidence that FAD mutations lead stalled and stabilized γ-secretase enzyme-substrate and/or enzyme-intermediate complexes and are consistent with the stalled process rather than the products of γ-secretase proteolysis as the pathogenic trigger.

The effect of adsorbent shaping on the equilibrium and kinetic CO2 adsorption properties of ZIF-8

To be used at scale, adsorbents must be shaped into macroscopic objects, e.g. pellets, granules, and monoliths. Shaping may involve various processing steps and additives that collectively contribute to the final equilibrium and kinetic sorption properties of the adsorbent. Understanding the fundamental links between these processing steps and the resulting sorption performance is needed to rationalise the design of shaped adsorbents. Our study aims to advance the state of knowledge in this area. By focusing on ZIF-8, a prototypical metal organic framework (MOF), and CO2, a common small gas adsorbate, we compared a commercial binderless ZIF-8 extrudate and two purpose-made ZIF-8 pellets shaped with a blend of binders. We used analytical, spectroscopic, and imaging techniques to characterise the samples’ chemical, textural, and morphological properties. In addition, we collected equilibrium and kinetic CO2 adsorption data at 283, 293, and 303 K and up to 1 bar. The binderless ZIF-8 extrudate exhibited a homogeneous structure with BET area, micro- and meso-porosity only slightly reduced compared to ZIF-8 powder. The ZIF-8 pellets also maintained the overall BET area of the ZIF-8 powder, but displayed enhanced macroporosity and skeletal density as well as reduced microporosity – features that likely result from the pressure-induced strains of pelletisation. The extrudates are much less mechanically robust than the pellets. All samples displayed CO2 adsorption capacity in line with the CO2 uptake of their respective components. The CO2 kinetics measurements reveal clear distinctions between binderless ZIF-8 extrudate and ZIF-8 pellets, the latter indicating a behaviour associated with the additional presence of macropores. Our study presents quantifiable evidence for the effect of adsorbent shaping on gas adsorption equilibria and kinetics, providing a valuable resource for preliminary process design.

Determination of degradation for sulfo-SIAB, SM(PEG)2, and sulfo-GMBS by RPLC-UV analysis

Bi-functional N-Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) linkers are widely used in the conjugation processes linking an immunogen with a carrier protein capable of boosting immunity. A potential vaccine candidate against HIV-1, called fusion peptide (FP), is covalently linked to the recombinant tetanus toxoid heavy-chain fragment C (rTTHC) via this type of linker. A reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC-UV) method was used to monitor the linker’s degradation kinetics in various buffers, mimicking the steps in the conjugation process. The kinetics of the reactivities of the linkers are revealed in this study and can provide a good guidance to help effective conjugation process before these linkers are completely hydrolyze to the inactive degradants. Three cross-linkers degradation pathways were evaluated: Sulfosuccinimidyl (4-iodoacetyl) aminobenzoate (Sulfo-SIAB), PEGylated SMCC (SM(PEG)2), and N-γ-maleimidobutyryl-oxysulfosuccinimide ester (Sulfo-GMBS). We have reported kinetics for Sulfo-SIAB.

Life cycle assessment of Al-Cu-Ag-Si recycling process from photovoltaic waste

As raw materials become increasingly scarce, it is important to efficiently recycle PV panels to recover the highest quantity and quality of secondary raw materials. This study evaluates the environmental impact and the related benefits of an innovative process for c-Si PV panels recycling, which permits to recover most of the raw materials contained in them. Life Cycle Assessment analysis was carried out with “grave-to-cradle” perspective. Inventory was supported by data from a pilot plant located in Venice (Italy). ReCiPe 2016 method was used for the impact assessment. The results showed that environmental benefits are due to the recovery of aluminium, copper, silicon, silver and glass. Normalization of impact assessment results demonstrates main relevant impact categories of this process, and gravity analysis underlines what steps in the recycling process mainly contribute to the environmental benefits. Sensitivity analysis showed that quality of recovered materials influences the environmental profile of recycling process.

A Method for Sorting High-Quality Fresh Sichuan Pepper Based on a Multi-Domain Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Algorithm.

Post-harvest selection of high-quality Sichuan pepper is a critical step in the production process. To achieve this, a visual system needs to analyze Sichuan pepper with varying postures and maturity levels. To quickly and accurately sort high-quality fresh Sichuan pepper, this study proposes a multi-scale frequency domain feature fusion module (MSF3M) and a multi-scale dual-domain feature fusion module (MS-DFFM) to construct a multi-scale, multi-domain fusion algorithm for feature fusion of Sichuan pepper images. The MultiDomain YOLOv8 Model network is then built to segment and classify the target Sichuan pepper, distinguishing the maturity level of individual Sichuan peppercorns. A selection method based on the average local pixel value difference is proposed for sorting high-quality fresh Sichuan pepper. Experimental results show that the MultiDomain YOLOv8-seg achieves an mAP50 of 88.8% for the segmentation of fresh Sichuan pepper, with a model size of only 5.84 MB. The MultiDomain YOLOv8-cls excels in Sichuan pepper maturity classification, with an accuracy of 98.34%. Compared to the YOLOv8 baseline model, the MultiDomain YOLOv8 model offers higher accuracy and a more lightweight structure, making it highly effective in reducing misjudgments and enhancing post-harvest processing efficiency in agricultural applications, ultimately increasing producer profits.

Net hydrogen bond interaction driven supramolecular deep eutectic solvent formation: The case of cyclodextrins

Supramolecular deep eutectic solvents (SUPRADESs) as green designer solvents can be applied to facilitate key steps of separation, extraction, catalysis, and drug transport processes. However, so far, the details concerning the formation mechanism of SUPRADESs are still not clear, thus hindering full development. The present study is dedicated to the theoretical exploration of the structural properties of co-formers that can form SUPRADESs with cyclodextrins (CDs) to design better-performing task-specific SUPRADESs and further structural modifications. Firstly, a series of aliphatic organic acids (AOAs) with similar structures were screened for forming the SUPRADESs. The structure-property relationship showed that co-formers with a higher hydrogen-bond donating ability were found to favor the propensity to form SUPRADESs. Based on this finding, an empirical rule originating from molecular surface electrostatic potential (ESP) descriptors was proposed that can preliminarily predict the formation possibility of SUPRADESs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations in conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations further demonstrated that the formation of SUPRADESs mainly depends on the net hydrogen donating ability of co-formers, which is affected by the electron-withdrawing substituent, the carbon chain length, and the molecular self-association degree. Overall, this study provides important guidance to develop novel and green functional SUPRADESs, which will greatly simplify the SUPRADES manufacturing process and reduce the time cost.

Thermal and energy efficiency in 3D-printed buildings: Review of geometric design, materials and printing processes

Applying 3D printing in construction is a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional methods. However, the thermal and energy performance of 3D-printed buildings remains underexplored, particularly regarding the interactions between geometric design, material selection, and printing parameters. This review addresses this gap by critically examining how the main steps of the printing process impact the thermal efficiency of 3D-printed buildings. Key findings indicate that material development needs to focus on mixes that balance thermal properties,printability,and structural integrity. The review demonstrates how optimising wall cross-sections and cavity shapes can reduce thermal conductivity and enhance energy efficiency. Innovative geometric designs, such as cellular and honeycomb structures, have shown improvements in thermal insulation. Optimising printing parameters, such as extrusion rate and nozzle travel speed, is crucial to minimising thermal bridges and reducing material anisotropy. Advanced numerical models, validated by experimental data and incorporating factors like inhomogeneous porosity, anisotropy, and surface roughness, are essential for accurately predicting the thermal behaviour of 3D-printed structures. The review underscores the need for large-scale, long-term performance studies of 3D-printed buildings under diverse climatic conditions. Additionally, developing standardised fabrication protocols and testing methods is essential for ensuring consistent quality and broader adoption. Addressing these research gaps is crucial to fully realising the potential of 3D printing in sustainable construction and accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing in the construction sector.

Heterogeneous degradation of chloramphenicol antibiotic by peroxymonosulfate activated by FeS and FeS2: Mechanism and effects of catalysts dosage and pH

Antibiotics in the environmental waters pose long-term threat to ecological safety because of their persistent and potential toxic nature. FeS and FeS2 were proved to be efficient catalysts for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and the generation of sulfate radical generation for refractory pollutant degradation. However, their performance for antibiotic degradation has not yet been comparatively and comprehensively investigated. Herein, the FeS/PMS and FeS2/PMS systems were developed to explore chloramphenicol (CAP) degradation under equal conditions. The results show that CAP was efficiently degraded in both two systems, with a removal efficiency exceeding 90 % within 120 min using 6 mM PMS and 0.6 g/L catalysts.Acceleration in degradation rate was observed in the FeS2/PMS system when the catalyst dosage ranged from 0.1 g/L to 1.0 g/L (constant PMS concentration) with a reaction rate constant (kobs) of 2.1-fold higher than that in the FeS/PMS system. However, the kobs were comparable with the PMS concentration range (constant catalyst dosage) in the two systems, suggesting that the catalysts were the rate-limiting step in CAP degradation process. The initial pH strongly affected CAP degradation in the FeS/PMS system but had little effect on that in the FeS2/PMS system. Surface Fe2+ played a dominant role in PMS activation, and S22−/S2− facilitated Fe2+ regeneration. Further, both FeS and FeS2 had stable activity for PMS activation during long-term use. This study proves the effectiveness of FeS and FeS2 for PMS activation for antibiotic degradation and differentiates their catalytic qualities, which will provide alternative heterogeneous catalysts for practical application.

Digital Transformation Framework in Consumer Goods Wholesale Industry SMEs : Case Study in Wholesale SMEs of Babelan Districk

Small and Medium Industry (SMEs) is one type of business that has experienced a fairly developed growth valuation. Consumer goods wholesale SMEs have experienced rapid growth in the sales sector, specifically in the Babelan sub-district the consumer goods wholesale industry still uses a manual control system in running its business. The sales process with the Conventional System is carried out starting from stock control, sales activity control, sales process, cashier and revenue generation is still done manually. The manual control process causes a slow counting process, and a long process of re- ordering goods and losing assets. The solution needed at this time is the creation of a framework for Digital Transformation Steps in the sales process to facilitate the control of wholesale consumer goods business processes. The digital transformation framework is expected to modernize the sales process starting from the cashier system, revenue control system, sales activity control process and make it easier for wholesalers to order goods. This applied research is expected to be able to provide suggestions for wholesale consumer goods businesses in running their business in a more efficient and practical direction and can be a recommendation to be able to carry out a digitally transformed sales process.

Public Procurement in Local Government: A Tool for Good Governance, Value Creation, and Sustainable Development

Worldwide, government adopts various methods and strategies for Good Governance (GG), Value Creation (VC) and Sustainable Development (SD) in public sector. One of such methods is Public Procurement (PP), a strategic instrument for public policy initiatives and a tool to stimulate GG, VC, SD, economic growth, and competitive markets. However, in Local Government (LG), PP process is often exposed to fraudulent activities, mistrust, non-competitive, non-transparent and non-accountable or politicized, these hampered GG, VC, and SD. It is against this background, that the study examined PP fundamental principles, mechanism for effective operation, essentials steps for LG PP process, and using fundamental principles as moderating variables in PP process to achieve GG, VC and SD. The study employed exploratory research design. Consequently, the study concluded that PP is a strategic tool to achieve GG, VC and SD in LG. Besides, the moderating variables of PP process in LG is not only prerequisite for GG, VC and SD but a means to guarantee integrity, fair pricing standard, trust, widening SMEs participation, and also to solve societal and climatic problems prevailing at the LG areas. Therefore, the study recommends that LG should have financial, administrative, and political autonomy to drive procurement policy for GG, VC, SD, and societal sustainability. Additionally, professionalizing and adoption of E-procurement in LG will ensure efficient service delivery and seamless procurement process. Furthermore, procurement officials should exhibit efficiency, transparency, accountability and probity in procurement process to avoid bureaucracy and corrupt practices pertinent to award of contract and payment.

Development and Characterization of N2O-Plasma Oxide Layers for High-Temperature p-Type Passivating Contacts in Silicon Solar Cells.

Full-area passivating contacts based on SiOx/poly-Si stacks are key for the new generation of industrial silicon solar cells substituting the passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology. Demonstrating a potential efficiency increase of 1 to 2% compared to PERC, the utilization of n-type wafers with an n-type contact at the back and a p-type diffused boron emitter has become the industry standard in 2024. In this work, variations of this technology are explored, considering p-type passivating contacts on p-type Si wafers formed via a rapid thermal processing (RTP) step. These contacts could be useful in conjunction with n-type contacts for realizing solar cells with passivating contacts on both sides. Here, a particular focus is set on investigating the influence of the applied thermal treatment on the interfacial silicon oxide (SiOx) layer. Thin SiOx layers formed via ultraviolet (UV)-O3 exposure are compared with layers obtained through a plasma treatment with nitrous oxide (N2O). This process is performed in the same plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) chamber used to grow the Si-based passivating layer, resulting in a streamlined process flow. For both oxide types, the influence of the RTP thermal budget on passivation quality and contact resistivity is investigated. Whereas the UV-O3 oxide shows a pronounced degradation when using high thermal budget annealing (T > 860 °C), the N2O-plasma oxide exhibits instead an excellent passivation quality under these conditions. Simultaneously, the contact resistivity achieved with the N2O-plasma oxide layer is comparable to that yielded by UV-O3-grown oxides. To unravel the mechanisms behind the improved performance obtained with the N2O-plasma oxide at high thermal budget, characterization by high-resolution (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (HR-(S)TEM), X-ray reflectometry (XRR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is conducted on layer stacks featuring both N2O and UV-O3 oxides after RTP. A breakup of the UV-O3 oxide at high thermal budget is observed, whereas the N2O oxide is found to maintain its structural integrity along the interface. Furthermore, chemical analysis reveals that the N2O oxide is richer in oxygen and contains a higher amount of nitrogen compared to the UV-O3 oxide. These distinguishing characteristics can be directly linked to the enhanced stability exhibited by the N2O oxide under higher annealing temperatures and extended dwell times.

Bio-fabrication of zinc oxide nanoparticles from Brassica juncea (L.) Czern extract: Biological activity and DNA binding capability

Recent years have seen a great deal of interest in the exceptional biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiinflammation, antidiabetic and anticancer activity of various biosynthesized Metal Oxide nanoparticles. Among these metal oxide nanoparticle ZnO NPs is gaining its important in various biological applications is increasingly gain prominence. Thus, the green production of ZnO NPs using plant extract has been demonstrated as a one step, environmentally friendly and cost-effective process. This paper describes the utilization of an aqueous extract of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern seed as a reducing agent in the creation of ZnO NPs from Zinc Sulfate using a green synthesis approach. UV–visible spectroscopic peak at around 363 nm verifies the production of ZnO NPs. FE-SEM was confirmed the spherical forms of produced ZnO NPs. The average particle size of produced ZnO NPs was found to be 13.35 nm from TEM analysis. On screening the ZnO NPs for antioxidant activity it showed scavenging activity with 62.40 %, with IC50 value of 68.30 µg/mL through DPPH assay. The antidiabetic activity was found to be 72 %, with IC50 value of 71.76 μg/mL, using alpha amylase assay. In anti-inflammatory activity, the activity was recorded as 68.50 % and IC50 value as 64.67 µg/mL, using BSA denaturation assay. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited anticancer activity against the MCF-7 and A549 cell lines. The determined IC50 value of produced ZnO NPs for these two cell lines was found to be 43.83 µg/mL and 41.48 µg/mL respectively. Additionally, a hyperchromic shift in the absorbance was noted when CT-DNA interacted with biosynthesized ZnO NPs. These findings confirm that the ZnO NPs synthesized from Brassica juncea (L.) Czern seed exhibit significant biological properties namely antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activity. Among all these activities, the biosynthesized ZnO NPs showed excellent cytotoxic activity with the IC50 values, thus proving its effectiveness.

Introducing a Dilute Single Bath for the Electrodeposition of Cu2(ZnSn)(S)4 for Smooth Layers

Cu2(ZnSn)(S)4 (copper, zinc, tin, and sulfide (CZTS)) provides possible advantages over CuInGaSe2 for thin-film photovoltaic devices because it has a higher band gap. Preparing CZTS by electrodeposition because of its high productivity and lower processing costs, electroplating is appealing. Recently published studies reported that the electrodeposition process of CZTS still faces significant obstacles, such as the sulfur atomic ratio (about half of the whole alloy), deposits’ adhesion, film quality, and optical properties. This work introduces an improved bath that facilitates the direct electroplating of CZTS from one processing step. The precursors used were significantly more diluted than the typical baths mentioned in the last few years. An extensive analysis of the electrochemical behavior at various rotation speeds is presented at room temperature (~22 °C). The deposited alloy’s composition and adherence to the molybdenum back contact are examined with agitation. The annealing process was carried out in an environment containing sulfur, and the metal was not added at this stage. The ultimate sulfur composition was adjusted to 50.2%, about the desired atomic ratio. The compound’s final composition was investigated using the Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy technique. Finally, X-ray diffraction analysis was applied to analyze CZTS crystallography and to measure thickness.

NANO-LM: An updated scorecard for the clinical assessment of patients with leptomeningeal metastases.

There are no validated tools for the clinical neurological assessment of patients with leptomeningeal metastases (LM). However, clinical examination during the course of the disease guides medical management and is part of response assessment in clinical trials. Because neuroimaging may not always be obtained owing to rapid clinical deterioration, clinical neurological assessment of LM is essential, and standardization Is important to minimize rater disagreement. The RANO-LM group launched a 2-steps process, aiming at improving and standardizing the clinical assessment of patients with LM. We report here on the first step: the establishment of a consensus scorecard. The task force had 9 virtual meetings to define general recommendations on neurological assessment and selected domains of interest that should be tested. Fourteen domains of neurological symptoms and signs were selected: level of consciousness, cognition, nausea and vomiting, vision, eye movement, facial strength, hearing, swallowing, speech, limb strength, limb ataxia, walking, bladder bowel functions. For each item, a clear instruction on how to perform the assessment is provided with scoring criteria between 0 and 2. The general clinical status of the patient and use of steroids, pain medications, and anti-emetics should be documented. Neurological sequelae from previous brain metastases or cancer treatment should be rated at the baseline evaluation; it should be specified when symptoms or signs may be related to a condition other than LM. A revised NANO-LM consensus scorecard for clinical assessment has been established. An international prospective validation study of the proposal is currently ongoing (NCT06417710).

Automatic recognition system for concrete cracks with support vector machine based on crack features

Cracks are a common problem in concrete surfaces. With the continuous optimization of machine vision-based inspection systems, effective crack detection and recognition is the core of the entire system. In this study, support vector machine (SVM) was used to distinguish cracks from other regions. To complete the recognition system of the SVM, a framework consisting of an image processing and recognition model was proposed. An algorithm combining the Prewitt operator with the Otsu threshold was proposed for image segmentation. The binary image processed by the new algorithm combined with mathematical morphology can result in a more complete crack zone and fewer interference regions. After the initial parameter extraction, most of the impurity areas were screened by preliminary discrimination, removing 99% of the impurities. This processing step ensured the balance and effectiveness of the samples. To establish an automatic identification model based on SVM with a radial basis function, compactness, occupancy rate, and length–width ratio were selected as input parameters after comparing these three features with all six features of the crack. The recognition accuracy of this system reaches 97.14%, demonstrating that the proposed method is effective and satisfies practical requirements.

The influence of graphene oxide on the microstructure and properties of ultrafine-grained copper processed by high-pressure torsion

New metal matrix nanocomposites with enhanced thermal stability were produced in a three step process consisting of mechanical milling, spark plasma sintering and High-Pressure Torsion (HPT). The nanocomposites consisted of a copper matrix and the addition of 1 wt% Graphene Oxide (GO) as a reinforcement. A nanocrystalline microstructure, enhanced hardness and improved thermal stability were achieved. The grain size of the nanocomposites was ∼55 nm which is almost four time smaller than for Cu HPT at 210 nm. Hardnes and ultimate tensile strength of the nanocomposites reach 250 Hv and 700 MPa, respectively, which was more than three times higher than for the initial material. The most important result is that the nanocomposites remained ultrafine-grained up to 500 ⁰C whereas the Cu HPT fully recrystalized after annealing at 300 ⁰C The report also includes an investigation of the electrical conductivity of the copper-based composite which was slightly better than for copper after HPT together with the wear behaviour of this material. This is one of the first reports on copper reinforced with graphene oxide composites produced by HPT and it gives information on its thermal stability, electrical conductivity and wear behaviour together with the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties.

Impact of Operational Parameters on Pathogen Lethality in Dry and Semi-dry Uncooked Fermented Sausages

The safety of uncooked fermented, dried sausages relies upon controlled fermentation and drying that inactivates pathogenic bacteria. Current guidelines for the production of fermented sausages by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) and related research highlight specific safety parameters. The confidence that processing steps, which do not include cooking, inherently mitigate microbial risks, is challenged by the resilience of pathogens in the dry and acidic environments of these food products. The aim of this work was to examine the length of drying required to achieve a target pathogen reduction across a range of sausage diameters. This study investigated the relationship between product diameter and time required to achieve target reductions of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes, as well as the attainment of specific water activity (aw). The research utilized salami and summer sausage with diameters of 18 mm, 30 mm, 60 mm, 90 mm, and 110 mm. Sausage batter was inoculated with 5 strains each of E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, and S. enterica. Inoculated sausages were processed with fermentation and drying protocols for each sausage type. Smaller diameter sausages reached both the desired pathogen reduction and target aw of 0.85 sooner than larger ones. However, the time to achieve the target aw did not align with the time to achieve the pathogen reduction targets, suggesting that aw alone is not a reliable indicator of safety. Another finding was larger sausages achieved the target pathogen reduction without reaching the target aw, suggesting complex relationship between aw, diameter, and pathogen inactivation. These data support the need for food safety guidelines that consider drying duration, aw, and pathogen behavior for varying sausage diameters. This research contributes to developing more precise safety protocols for producing dry and semi-dry fermented sausages.

Everyone should have their own midwife: Women’s and staff experiences during the implementation of two midwifery continuity of care models in regional Australia

ProblemMidwifery Continuity of Care (MCoC) remains inaccessible for most Australian women; this is especially true in rural and regional areas. BackgroundStrong evidence demonstrates MCoC models improve experiences for women and their babies and are also shown to improve midwifery workforce wellbeing. However, implementation and upscale remains limited. AimTo explore the views and experiences of implementing MCoC for both staff and women, understanding their experiences, concerns and solutions in a regional context. MethodsQualitative data was collected via focus groups with women and healthcare staff, at six and twelve month post implementation. Data was thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke six step process. FindingsThe findings support that ‘women love it’ and midwives working in the new MCoC model ‘loved their job’. The major concern was that not all women could access the model and disconnected communication was problematic during implementation. ‘Sharing stories’ was a solution to overcoming these issues and promoting the positive impact of MCoC - in particular ways of working and adaption to an all-risk midwifery group practice. DiscussionThis study supports widespread evidence that MCoC is valued by both women and staff. In a regional context it is important to recognise challenges faced during implementation and identifying solutions that other maternity services could consider when implementing MCoC. ConclusionThe study offers strong recommendation for regional areas to consider MGP to maintain safe, quality local maternity services.

The diffusion and desorption of tritium on Li2TiO3 (-133) surface from first-principles calculations

Li2TiO3 is one of the most promising solid breeder materials for nuclear fusion reactor. Diffusion on the surface is a vital step of the tritium release process. In this work, the diffusion behavior of tritium atoms on the (-133) surface and the desorption of T2 molecules from the (-133) surface are systematically investigated. Possible adsorption sites, local diffusion pathways, and their corresponding activation energies have been identified using first-principles calculations and the climbing image nudged elastic band (CI-NEB) method. The diffusivity and effective activation energy for tritium diffusion on the (-133) surface have been determined using kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations. The activation energy for T2 desorption from the (-133) surface has also been investigated. The effective activation energy for tritium diffusion on the (-133) surface is found to be 1.06 eV, whereas the activation energy for T2 molecule desorption is 1.46 eV. The (-133) surface exhibits a higher activation energy for tritium diffusion but a lower activation energy for T2 desorption compared to the (001) surface.

Quantification of in-plane stress development during drying of tape-cast ceramic layers by cantilever deflection method

The control of stress development in cast ceramics during drying is usually one of critical steps in ceramic processes, which is important also for additive manufacturing technologies using a suspension as feedstock. This work introduces a method based on the cantilever deflection method, to simultaneously quantify the kinetics of solvent evaporation, the shrinkage and the intensity of in-plane stresses developed during drying. Particular attention is given here to the experimental limits of the method and to the optimization of the experimental conditions to suitably measure the intensity of in-planar stress in the coating. The optimized method is applied to four alumina slurries for the water-based additive manufacturing technology LSD-print. Four stages of drying are identified and discussed in relation with the granulometry and morphology of the alumina ceramic particles.