Road Forward Research Articles

Incentive Regulation: Expectations, Surprises, and the Road Forward

Forty years have passed since an inflation-adjusted price cap, widely called RPI-X, was proposed as a way of controlling prices in the UK’s newly privatised monopoly telecommunications company by a form of incentive regulation. The paper traces developments since then in several jurisdictions, within the context of a wider field of changing regulatory governance involving legislatures and governments as well as regulatory agencies. The focus is on, first, the experience of increasing complexity of the incentive schemes adopted, and second on the growing political salience of regulatory decisions which adds goals such as net zero, with more direct quantitative targets, to maximising consumer welfare. The implications of these changes for regulatory interventions are considered.

Atomic layer deposition of magnetic thin films: Basic processes, engineering efforts, and road forward

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is known as a key enabler of the continuous advances in device engineering for microelectronics. For instance, the state-of-the-art transistor technology depends entirely on ALD-grown high-κ materials. Another application branch where ALD could potentially play a similar important role in future is the magnetic thin film devices. Spin-based devices based on high-quality magnetic thin films are anticipated to provide high-efficiency operations with low power consumption. The strict quality demands the magnetic thin films must fulfill in the next-generation applications form the strong bases for the efforts to implement ALD in this application area. In this first comprehensive review on the topic, our aim is to provide an insightful account of the ALD processes so far developed for magnetic materials and to highlight the application-relevant magnetic properties of the thus fabricated thin films. Moreover, we discuss the various innovative engineering efforts made toward different multi-layered and nanostructured composite materials and complex architectures uniquely enabled by the sophisticated self-terminated film-growth mechanism of ALD. The review is finished with a brief outlook toward the future prospects and challenges in the field.

Teaching special care dentistry in the undergraduate curriculum: Challenges, opportunities, and the road forward

Teaching special care dentistry in the undergraduate curriculum: Challenges, opportunities, and the road forward

Reengagement With China: The Challenges and Road Forward for Academic Leaders

Reengagement With China: The Challenges and Road Forward for Academic Leaders

Migraine genetics: Status and road forward

Migraine is considered a multifactorial genetic disorder. Different platforms and methods are used to unravel the genetic basis of migraine. Initially, linkage analysis in multigenerational families followed by Sanger sequencing of protein-coding parts (exons) of genes in the genomic region shared by affected family members identified high-effect risk DNA mutations for rare Mendelian forms of migraine, foremost hemiplegic migraine. More recently, genome-wide association studies testing millions of DNA variants in large groups of patients and controls have proven successful in identifying many dozens of low-effect risk DNA variants for the more common forms of migraine with the number of associated DNA variants increasing steadily with larger sample sizes. Currently, next-generation sequencing, utilising whole exome and whole genome sequence data, and other omics data are being used to facilitate their functional interpretation and the discovery of additional risk factors. Various methods and analysis tools, such as genetic correlation and causality analysis, are used to further characterise genetic risk factors. We describe recent findings in genome-wide association studies and next-generation sequencing analysis in migraine. We show that the combined results of the two most recent and most powerful migraine genome-wide association studies have identified a total of 178 LD-independent (r2 < 0.1) genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), of which 99 were unique to Hautakangas etal., 11 were unique to Choquet etal., and 68 were identified by both studies. When considering that Choquet etal. also identified three SNPs in a female-specific genome-wide association studies then these two recent studies identified 181 independent SNPs robustly associated with migraine. Cross-trait and causal analyses are beginning to identify and characterise specific biological factors that contribute to migraine risk and its comorbid conditions. This review provides a timely update and overview of recent genetic findings in migraine.

The spatial contours of transnational activism: conceptual implications and the road forward

ABSTRACT The conclusion to this special issue concentrates on the conceptual and especially the methodological dimensions of the editors’ findings, presenting them in four steps. In doing so, it sketches the ways in which their approach can change the understanding of the spatial transformations associated with ‘transnationalism’, also beyond the history of political activism during Europe’s ‘long’ 1970s. More precisely, the text first assesses the role of space in transnational history by contending that there is great heuristic value in analysing the physical and geographical dimensions of transnational interactions. It then discusses the overlaps and mismatches between the three kinds of transnational spaces they have identified: imagined spaces of solidarity and belonging; spaces of social experience and political action; and spaces of knowledge circulation. Thirdly, it emphasizes the infrastructural underbelly and its impact on the various forms of exchange before, in a fourth and final step, the article discusses how their approach helps with the arrival of a more sophisticated understanding of the significance of transnational connections. All in all, the editors argue that a more elaborate understanding of space has the potential to open up a whole new field of enquiry. It can help to generate fresh insights into the history of activism and social movements, but also to arrive at a better understanding of the very nature of transnational processes.

COVID-19 and community band participation: Impacts and the road forward

The purpose of this study was to survey members of New Horizons International Music Association (NHIMA) instrumental ensembles and community band members (N = 1184) with regard to their music-making experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of the survey revealed that New Horizons Band (NHB) members and community band members value the social aspect of rehearsals the most, and that suspension of these rehearsals had negative impact on participants’ experiences. Results also indicate that less than 20 per cent of participants engaged in remote learning with their NHB group, suggesting a need to examine the use of technology and remote learning strategies both among senior adult musicians and within the contexts of community music-making.

Psychopathology and Neurocognition in the Era of the p-Factor: The Current Landscape and the Road Forward

Neurocognitive abilities have frequently been claimed to be involved in the aetiology of psychopathology. Neurocognitive deficits have been reported across many disorders, and theoretical perspectives associate these deficits to the onset and maintenance of the symptomology. Recently, the heterogeneity of symptoms, and comorbidity of disorders, have motivated the development of structural models of psychopathology. Structural models indicate that factors such as internalising, externalising, thought disorder and the p-factor account for a wide variety of symptomology. It is unclear how neurocognitive abilities are best examined within these structures to advance our understanding of psychopathology. In this paper, we use Caspi et al.’s seminal writings as a framework to describe how neurocognitive abilities have been previously associated with categorical disorders and recently associated, and claimed to drive, the factors of psychopathology. We discuss the implications of the p-factor as a substantive construct or statistical artefact, and how this impacts the exploration of neurocognitive abilities and psychopathology. Further, we provide the case for alternative structural approaches, describe an innovative hypothesis of neurocognitive functioning, the multidimensional hypothesis, and explain how this may further our understanding of the heterogeneity of neurocognitive performance and psychopathology at the individual level. Finally, we provide a road forward for the future examination of neurocognitive abilities in psychopathology.

Adsorbents for real-scale water remediation: Gaps and the road forward

Over the last couple of decades, academic research on adsorbents has been flourishing. The preparation, functionalization, and adsorption performance evaluation have grown explosively. Novel adsorbents have demonstrated excellent capabilities to remove metal ions and organic contaminants from aqueous environments having different physicochemical conditions. This article presents gaps and potential research possibilities related to economic assessment, benchmarking of synthetic real wastewaters, adsorptive (component) additivity, constraints of process scale-up, process intensification, and modeling, simulation and optimization of large-scale adsorption-based water remediation systems. These discussions foster fresh ideas and investigations in the cognate science and engineering disciplines so that industrial applications of novel adsorbents for innovative water treatment matures both technically and cost-effectively.

LEADING BY INCLUSION: A ROAD FORWARD

AbstractThe author states that inclusive leadership is necessary for leading in the next 25 years, which will continue to be complex and unpredictable. In looking at links between diversity and inclusion, the author shows the difference in these terms: “Diversity describes the reality of today's global workforce: demographic diversity, but also diversity of values, beliefs and experiences. Inclusion describes the set of practices required to successfully lead this diverse workforce.” Several “tough truths” are examined; which in the author's words are: (1) Inclusion can only be demonstrated by inclusive behaviors. (2) Inclusive behaviors must be demonstrated at the leadership level. (3) Leaders who practice inclusion must hold those who report to them to account for doing so as well. The author says that she can “recommend three inclusive leadership practices that help mitigate against stress and position organizations to thrive, even in times of crisis.” These are, in her words: (1) Strengthen connectedness. (2) Practice advanced listening. (3) Be real. She concludes that the “only reliable way leaders can foster the robust and creative participation needed to thrive under such conditions is to lead in a way that enables their people to feel safe, seen and valued.”

道路病害探地雷达模型试验与GprMax正演模拟

道路病害探地雷达模型试验与GprMax正演模拟

A closer look at cannabimimetic terpenes, polyphenols, and flavonoids: a promising road forward.

A closer look at cannabimimetic terpenes, polyphenols, and flavonoids: a promising road forward.

Persistent challenges in Alzheimer’s disease modeling: Pragmatic solutions to inform the road forward

AbstractBackgroundThe credibility of economic evaluations of emerging Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapies will depend on addressing persistent structural and data challenges with transparent and evidence‐based approaches. This study describes methodological challenges recurring throughout the AD modeling literature and recommends practical solutions for future researchers.MethodSystematic literature reviews of economic models in AD were supplemented by a targeted review of recently published models. The findings from the reviews and the approaches used in recent models were synthesized to identify remaining structural and data challenges. Data availability and anticipated health technology assessment requirements were used to inform potential solutions to these challenges.ResultWe identified four fundamental challenges for models used to evaluate emerging AD therapies: (1) quantifying heterogeneity in population characteristics and the natural history of disease progression and dementia onset; (2) assembling evidence supporting the extrapolation of short‐term trial endpoints to long‐term benefits; (3) addressing data gaps in costs, utilities, and mortality by disease severity accounting for age; and (4) bridging differences in populations, endpoints, and care settings across datasets and markets. We recommend analyses of existing longitudinal datasets to understand variability and prognostic factors within and between datasets, matching patient characteristics and progression patterns across datasets and clinical trials (challenges 1, 4). Existing longitudinal datasets also can be used to generate evidence of correlation between short‐term clinical trial endpoints and long‐term progression in support of model extrapolations (challenge 2). Long‐term follow‐up of clinical trial participants should be planned to validate findings from these analyses. Previously collected data on costs, utilities, and mortality should be reanalyzed to isolate AD‐specific estimates across disease severity levels accounting for the impact of aging (challenge 3). Crosswalks between study populations, symptom measures, and biomarker criteria should be created to support adaption of economic models to local markets (challenges 1, 3, 4). Finally, models should be developed with flexibility in their structural assumptions to address uncertainty inherent in these recommended solutions.ConclusionPragmatic solutions tailored to the available data and the anticipated profiles of therapies in late‐stage development should be pursued to support near‐term decision making and inform the design of long‐term evidence‐generation efforts.

Navigating the Long Road Forward for Maximizing PrEP Impact Among Adolescent Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has tremendous potential to decrease new HIV infections among populations at high risk, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). That potential is already becoming realized among adult MSM, where PrEP uptake has increased rapidly in the past several years. However, expanding PrEP access to adolescent MSM (AMSM) will be more challenging. This commentary reviews the existing scientific literature relevant to PrEP use for AMSM and highlights critical areas in need of further attention before PrEP is likely to impact the HIV epidemic among adolescents. We highlight concerns that need to be addressed in the areas of (1) achieving adequate coverage of PrEP in the adolescent population, (2) increasing awareness and access, (3) supporting adherence and maintenance, and (4) ensuring that PrEP does not perpetuate existing disparities. Across all of these domains, we highlight the central roles of parents and healthcare providers in supporting AMSM PrEP utilization. Finally, we suggest a number of areas of future research that must be addressed before PrEP is likely to see wide implementation among AMSM.

Clinical Gestalt for Early Prediction of Delayed Functional and Symptomatic Recovery From Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Is Inadequate

Clinical Gestalt for Early Prediction of Delayed Functional and Symptomatic Recovery From Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Is Inadequate

The dubious role of institutions in international business: A road forward

Our commentary returns to the conundrum of how institutions matter in international business (IB) by revisiting the 2018 JIBS Decade Award article by Jackson and Deeg (2008) on Comparing Capitalisms. We first synthesize their main insights around institutional diversity and track its significant impact within IB and other management fields. We then suggest three main takeaways that could move Jackson and Deeg’s agenda further in terms of developing a more nuanced approach to institutions in IB. We close with suggestions for future research and urge IB scholars to be more cautious when drawing on different strands of institutions theory.

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis: The Road Forward in Canada.

The use of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is increasing as the list of indications it can test for constantly expands. This raises new challenges for clinicians and prospective parents regarding possible uses and calls for guidance. Policy approaches towards PGD vary greatly worldwide. The 2004 Canadian Assisted Human Reproduction Act does not provide guidance, except for prohibiting non-medical sex selection. Criminal legislation is an unsuitable policy instrument to regulate human genetics and reproductive medicine. We call for professional societies to issue guidelines regarding the uses of PGD that would establish the standard of care and legal norms. Such guidelines should be based on a patient-centered approach and respect individual autonomy in reproductive decision-making. Canadian approaches to PGD should also consider issues related to equity of access. Moreover, since PGD often raises concerns about eugenic uses, guidelines should also consider its societal impact and its implementation should be accompanied by policies that maintain or increase social support for people with disabilities. Finally, public engagement could provide an evidence-base regarding Canadian societal values and concerns that should guide regulatory reform, for example, the regulation of non-medical sex selection through PGD.

Genetics of gestational duration and preterm delivery – The first replicated findings, how did get here and the road forward

Genetics of gestational duration and preterm delivery – The first replicated findings, how did get here and the road forward

The Road Forward

The Road Forward

Dry deposition of particles to canopies—A look back and the road forward

AbstractThe so‐called accumulation‐size range of airborne particles is the center of a continuing disagreement about the formulation of dry deposition. Some contemporary meteorological and air quality models use theoretical developments based on early wind tunnel and other controlled experiments, while other models consider the bulk properties of the underlying surface and the ability of atmospheric turbulence to deliver particles to it. This dichotomy arose when the first micrometeorological measurements of particle deposition velocities became available, yielding numbers exceeding the highest expectations of the then‐current models based on assumptions about inertial impaction and interception. The model predictions had previously been shown to be in accord with theoretical treatments of filtration. A common reaction was to distrust the field experimental results, but the experimental findings were supported by subsequent studies. The difference between model predictions and field measurements appears greatest for densely vegetated canopies. Ongoing research is investigating factors that could give rise to the discrepancy, e.g., turbulence intermittency, leaf orientation, leaf morphology, leaf flutter, electrical charges, and a number of phoretic effects. In the meantime, many investigators are faced with a decision as to whether to make use of parameterized field results or theoretical descriptions of behaviors that are not yet well examined. Here the history of the ongoing disagreement is reviewed, and some possible resolutions are presented.