Specific Requirements Research Articles

Structured Pruning for Deep Convolutional Neural Networks: A Survey.

The remarkable performance of deep Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is generally attributed to their deeper and wider architectures, which can come with significant computational costs. Pruning neural networks has thus gained interest since it effectively lowers storage and computational costs. In contrast to weight pruning, which results in unstructured models, structured pruning provides the benefit of realistic acceleration by producing models that are friendly to hardware implementation. The special requirements of structured pruning have led to the discovery of numerous new challenges and the development of innovative solutions. This article surveys the recent progress towards structured pruning of deep CNNs. We summarize and compare the state-of-the-art structured pruning techniques with respect to filter ranking methods, regularization methods, dynamic execution, neural architecture search, the lottery ticket hypothesis, and the applications of pruning. While discussing structured pruning algorithms, we briefly introduce the unstructured pruning counterpart to emphasize their differences. Furthermore, we provide insights into potential research opportunities in the field of structured pruning. A curated list of neural network pruning papers can be found at: https://github.com/he-y/Awesome-Pruning. A dedicated website offering a more interactive comparison of structured pruning methods can be found at: https://huggingface.co/spaces/he-yang/Structured-Pruning-Survey.

Demand and key technology for a LEO constellation as augmentation of satellite navigation systems

A Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation augmenting satellite navigation is important in the future development of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). GNSS augmented by LEO constellations can improve not only the accuracy of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), but also the consistency and reliability of secure PNT system. This paper mainly analyzes the diverse demands of different PNT users for LEO augmented GNSS, including the precision demand in real-time, the availability demand in special areas, the navigation signal enhancement demand in complex electromagnetic environments, and the integrity demand with high security. Correspondingly, the possible contributions of LEO constellations to PNT performance are analyzed from multiple aspects. A particular attention is paid to the special PNT user requirements that cannot be fulfilled with existing GNSS, such as the PNT service demand in the polar regions and the onboard GNSS orbit determination demand of some LEO satellites. The key technologies to be considered in the constellation design, function realization, and payload development of the LEO-augmented navigation system are summarized.

Special aspects of guarding and protecting sports facilities

Aim: The arrangement and organisation of sports events is a coordinated activity involving several organisations. The purpose of the research is to examine and reveal the special guarding and protection requirements of sports facilities and sports event venues. Methodology: After collecting and processing the reference literature, the Authors applied a qualitative method and focused on the methods and means of providing sports facilities, and looked for specifics from their own point of view. During the research, they used both empirical and logical methods. In order for the earned knowledge to contribute to the solution of practical problems, they chose the activity of practice-oriented research. Findings: Starting from the 1960s, and mainly from the 1980s, the arrangement and organisation of sports events is not just a professional sports issue. The capital injected by economic actors was aimed at organising family, cultural and entertainment events. As a result, unlike before, the sports facilities initially became multi-functional, and then the modern facilities became multi-functional venues. Due to its multi-functionality, special requirements for the security and protection of the venues and the facilities created in their surroundings, with different sports and economic purposes, have developed.

Special aspects of guarding and protecting sports facilities

Aim: The arrangement and organisation of sports events is a coordinated activity involving several organisations. The purpose of the research is to examine and reveal the special guarding and protection requirements of sports facilities and sports event venues. Methodology: After collecting and processing the reference literature, the Authors applied a qualitative method and focused on the methods and means of providing sports facilities, and looked for specifics from their own point of view. During the research, they used both empirical and logical methods. In order for the earned knowledge to contribute to the solution of practical problems, they chose the activity of practice-oriented research. Findings: Starting from the 1960s, and mainly from the 1980s, the arrangement and organisation of sports events is not just a professional sports issue. The capital injected by economic actors was aimed at organising family, cultural and entertainment events. As a result, unlike before, the sports facilities initially became multi-functional, and then the modern facilities became multi-functional venues. Due to its multi-functionality, special requirements for the security and protection of the venues and the facilities created in their surroundings, with different sports and economic purposes, have developed. Value: The basis of the security technology of sports facilities and the commercial, economic, entertainment, cultural and service units located in them is the security of objects, as well as personal and property security. Guarding and protecting the proper operation of the facilities is an organised and coordinated activity in the same way as in the case of sports events held in the facilities, but the method of implementation is not the same.

Antenatal health and perinatal outcomes of Pacific Islander women in Australia with and without gestational diabetes: A ten-year retrospective cohort study.

Pacific Islander (PI) women in Australia have an increased risk of gestational diabetes (GDM); however, their perinatal outcomes are poorly understood. The aim was to determine the maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes of PI women with and without GDM compared to Australian/European (AE)-born women. A retrospective analysis of perinatal outcomes of singleton deliveries >20 weeks' gestation between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020 was conducted at a tertiary provider (Melbourne, Australia). Antenatal details and birth outcomes were extracted from the Birth Outcome Systems database. t-Tests and χ2, univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship between ethnicity and outcomes. Of 52,795 consecutive births, 24,860 AE women (13.3% with GDM) and 1207 PI-born women (20.1% with GDM) were compared. PI women had significantly greater pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and significantly lower rates of smoking and nulliparity. PI women with GDM had higher rates of pre-eclampsia (P < 0.001), large-for-gestational age (LGA) neonates (P = 0.037) and neonatal hypoglycaemia (P = 0.017) but lower rates of small-for-gestational age neonates (P = 0.034). Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)/special care nursery requirements did not increase. After having adjusted for covariates, PI women's risk of LGA neonates (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86-1.31) was attenuated; however, risk of pre-eclampsia (aOR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.01-2.21) and neonatal hypoglycaemia (aOR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.01-1.96) still increased. They were less likely to require a primary caesarean section (aOR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.73-0.99). PI women have higher BMI and GDM rates, contributing to an increased likelihood of adverse perinatal outcomes. BMI is a modifiable risk factor that could be addressed prenatally.

RECYCLING OF ASPHALT PAVEMENT AGGREGATES AND WASTE PLASTIC BOTTLES IN ADDITION TO HOT-MIX ASPHALT PRODUCTION: ADEQUATE RECYCLING RATE

This study focused on the recycling of asphalt pavement aggregates and waste plastic bottles (WPB) in addition to hot-mix asphalt (HMA) production. To achieve this objective, non-probable sampling methods were used to gather samples from the study locations. Crushed stone aggregate (CSA), bitumen, mineral filler, reclaimed asphalt pavement aggregate (RAPA), and WPB were the ingredients employed based on the requirements in the standard specification for asphalt concrete production. Initially, the Marshall Stability Test was then carried out using CSA with 6% and bitumen levels of 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, and 6% by weight of the total mix to ascertain what the bitumen content should be with RAPA with replacement rates of 10, 20, and 30% and that of WPB with 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14%. In the Marshall Stability Test, which consisted of three trials of 195 samples and 60 mix designs, 45 were for the control mix and 150 for the replacement proportion. In the Marshall Stability Test, the ideal value for CSA was 5.1%; for RAPA, 5.1%; and for WPB, 7.7, 5.5, 5.4, 5.0, 5.5, and 5.4% optimum bituminous content (OBC). 20% RAPA and 10% WPB by weight of OBC in the stability-modified asphalt mix satisfies Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA) and American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) specifications for all qualities tested. Finally, for improved asphalt mix performance, a combined 70% CSA, 20% RAPA, and 10% WPB should be used in asphalt mixes at 5.0% OBC. These experimental Marshal Stability Test findings satisfy the necessary specifications of ERA and ASTM for all tests used in HMA production. Thus, this proportion is strongly advised.

Examining the Use of Intelligent Conversational Voice-Assistants for Improved Mobility Behavior of Older Adults in Smart Cities

Intelligent Conversational Voice-assistants (ICV) can interpret the speech of human and respond back using synthesized voices and are increasingly employed for interacting with different applications. ICV offers promising tool to address the increasing mobility accessibility challenge faced by older people. Yet, irrespective of the increased ageing population, studies that employed ICV to improve the mobility, walkability, and wayfinding of older people are scarce. This is because the development of ICV in the mobility domain presents several designs, technical, and linguistic challenges. A systematic literature review was adopted grounded on secondary data from the literature and descriptive analysis was employed. Grounded on user-centred design perspective based on the “ability-based design framework” and “ISO 9241-110 framework for ergonomics of human-system interaction.” Therefore, this study describes the requirement specifications needed to design an ICV suitable for supporting the mobility behavior of older people. Findings from this paper identifies the perceived factors that influences the use of ICV by older people. Additionally, findings from this study discusses how ICV that simulates human-like behavior can provide personalized mobility, walkability, and wayfinding guide when older people walk in cities. This study provides recommendations for the implementation of a user-centred ICV for safe, independent, accessible mobility for older people in urban environment.

RE Methods for Virtual Reality Software Product Development: A Mapping Study

Software practitioners use various methods in Requirements Engineering (RE) to elicit, analyze, and specify the requirements of enterprise products. The methods impact the final product characteristics and influence product delivery. Ad-hoc usage of the methods by software practitioners can lead to inconsistency and ambiguity in the product. With the notable rise in enterprise products, games, and so forth across various domains, Virtual Reality (VR) has become an essential technology for the future. The methods adopted for RE for developing VR products requires a detailed study. This article presents a mapping study on RE methods prescribed and used for developing VR applications including requirements elicitation, requirements analysis, and requirements specification. Our study provides insights into the use of such methods in the VR community and suggests using specific RE methods in various fields of interest. We also discuss future directions in RE for VR products.

Fabrication and load test of ITER assembly tools for lifting heavy components

Korea Domestic Agency (ITER Korea, KODA) has procured 44 kind's assembly tools for ITER project. The assembly tools are classified by the steel structure, lifting table and lifting accessory. ‘PF 1, 6 and Central Solenoid Lifting Frame’ (CS Lifting Frame) and ‘Sector Lifting Tool’ (SLT) are the representative assembly tool classified the lifting accessory. The assembly tools handle the heavy component which over 1,000 tones for payload. In this reason, the verification of the strength of the tools is very important and the integrity of lifting accessory tools was verified by not only structural analysis but also load test at factory under 1.5 times the payload for minimum 15 min. It is the requirements of the technical specification. The main role of PF 1, 6 and CS Lifting Frame is to lift and transfer the ITER components (PF1 coil, PF6 coil and CS coil) from the assembly hall to the tokamak fit and their temporary support positions. The CS coil is heaviest component in payloads handled by CS Lifting Frame. The weight is about 1,000 tones and CS Lifting Frame was verified by 1,500 tones load test. Sector Lifting Frame is to lift and transfer the 40° sector module from Sector Sub-Assembly Tool (SSAT) to tokamak fit. The sector module consists of Vacuum Vessel (VV), VV Thermal Shield and Two Toroidal Flied Coils. The total weight of the sector module is about 1,300 tones and Sector Lifting Frame was verified by 2,000 tones load test. The load test was carried out according to test procedure approved by IO. This paper describes the overall test method, customized test JIG and result of the lifting tools for handling heavy components of ITER.

CHEKG: a collaborative and hybrid methodology for engineering modular and fair domain-specific knowledge graphs

Ontologies constitute the semantic model of Knowledge Graphs (KGs). This structural association indicates the potential existence of methodological analogies in the development of ontologies and KGs. The deployment of fully and well-defined methodologies for KG development based on existing ontology engineering methodologies (OEMs) has been suggested and efficiently applied. However, most of the modern/recent OEMs may not include tasks that (i) empower knowledge workers and domain experts to closely collaborate with ontology engineers and KG specialists for the development and maintenance of KGs, (ii) satisfy special requirements of KG development, such as (a) ensuring modularity and agility of KGs, (b) assessing and mitigating bias at schema and data levels. Toward this aim, the paper presents a methodology for the Collaborative and Hybrid Engineering of Knowledge Graphs (CHEKG), which constitutes a hybrid (schema-centric/top-down and data-driven/bottom-up), collaborative, agile, and iterative approach for developing modular and fair domain-specific KGs. CHEKG contributes to all phases of the KG engineering lifecycle: from the specification of a KG to its exploitation, evaluation, and refinement. The CHEKG methodology is based on the main phases of the extended Human-Centered Collaborative Ontology Engineering Methodology (ext-HCOME), while it adjusts and expands the individual processes and tasks of each phase according to the specialized requirements of KG development. Apart from the presentation of the methodology per se, the paper presents recent work regarding the deployment and evaluation of the CHEKG methodology for the engineering of semantic trajectories as KGs generated from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) data during real cultural heritage documentation scenarios.

How to achieve fair and efficient cooperative vehicle routing?

A cooperative is a business entity with the primary objective of providing benefits, services, and goods to its members, who both own and exercise democratic control over it. In the context of a cooperative, a fleet typically consists of vehicles owned by self-concerned individually rational owners who prioritize their own efficiency and the fairness of the system. This fairness refers to how their individual gain aligns with the gain of others. In this paper, we focus on the routing of such cooperative fleets. Considering only the fleet’s efficiency in terms of minimising its overall cost, the studied problem corresponds to the multiple Traveling Salesman Problem (mTSP). However, our interest lies in finding both efficient and fair solutions, so we propose two new variants of this problem that integrate and maximise the fleet’s egalitarian and elitist social welfare. Additionally, to enhance the balance between fleet efficiency and fairness, we propose the systematic elitist and systematic egalitarian social welfare optimisation algorithm. Through simulation results, we observe a wide diversity of routes depending on the approach considered. Therefore, a cooperative may choose a model that best balances its fleet’s efficiency and fairness based on its specific requirements.

Priming through Persuasion: Towards Secure Password Behavior

Users tend to create weak passwords even for the important accounts. The prior research shed light on user's insecure password behavior, and why the interventions, including requirement specification (e.g., password composition policies) and feedback systems (e.g., password meters) fail in practice. To this end, we propose and evaluate the concept: priming-through-persuasion in the realm of secure password creation. In particular, we created visual designs, aimed at priming users about the repercussions of weak passwords before their password creation. We base our designs on two forms of persuasion methods: pathos and logos. Pathos appeals to people's emotion in order to persuade them towards an expected behavior, where logos-based rhetoric appeals to a person's sense of reason. We conducted a lab study including participatory design and semi-structured interview with 20 participants. We updated our designs in an iterative manner based on the feedback from our participants in the lab study. To evaluate our updated designs, we conducted a between-subject online study with 131 participants over Amazon Mechanical Turk. Our study provides insight into how the use of persuasion techniques contributed to user attachment and engagement with the design, as well as the comprehension of the conveyed message about password vulnerabilities. Our findings lead to the guideline for future research on leveraging the priming-through-persuasion to complement the existing techniques in encouraging users towards secure behavior.

The influence of soil carbonates on highbush blueberry plants in the conditions of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

The article studies the influence of soil carbonates on the plants, the yield and the quality of highbush blueberries in the conditions of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The carbonates in the soil solution lead to an increase in soil pH, which negatively affects its development. High bush blueberries have special soil requirements for normal growth and development. It is necessary to provide the plant with a breathable substrate with an optimal acidity level of up to 5.5 units. Acidic conditions are necessary due to the unique structure of the root system: highbush blueberries are completely devoid of root hairs; their function is performed by a colony of fungi, which constitutes mycorrhiza in symbiosis with the plant. Mycorrhiza functions only in acidic conditions. The research provides average data for the period of 2021-2023. Blueberry plants grown in carbonate areas are characterized by weak growth, few shoots to form, low foliage and chlorosis due to reduced food availability. The size of the berries and their taste play a huge role for producers. The measurement of this parameter showed that in the main part of the field, under the best growing conditions, the average diameter of the berries is 17 mm, which is 23.5% more than in carbonate areas, where the diameter is, on average, 13 mm. The accumulation of sugar in berries with increased soil carbonate decreases by2.3%, which significantly affects their taste. As a result of the research, a negative effect of soil carbonates on the development of blueberry plants has been noted, as well as yield reduction by 79.5%. The negative effect of increasing pH to neutral or, especially, slightly alkaline on plant development is associated with deterioration of nutrition and poor development of the root system.

Translation System for Sign Language Learning

Sign language display software converts text/speech to animated sign language to support the special needs population, aiming to enhance communication comfort, health, and productivity. Advancements in technology, particularly computer systems, enable the development of innovative solutions to address the unique needs of individuals with special requirements, potentially enhancing their mental well-being. Using Python and NLP, a process has been devised to detect text and live speech, converting it into animated sign language in real-time. Blender is utilized for animation and video processing, while datasets and NLP are employed to train and convert text to animation. This project aims to cater to a diverse range of users across different countries where various sign languages are prevalent. By bridging the gap between linguistic and cultural differences, such software not only facilitates communication but also serves as an educational tool. Overall, it offers a cost-effective and widely applicable solution to promote inclusivity and accessibility.

PEER-TO-PEER AUDIO STREAMING USING THE TOR NETWORK: PROBLEMS, OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

This article analyses the potential and challenges associated with the implementation of audio streaming in the anonymous Tor network and the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies. The main focus is on discussing the technical and conceptual issues that arise when integrating audio streaming services with the Tor network, including delays, limited bandwidth and other limitations that affect audio quality. The aim of the study is to find practical solutions to the problem of anonymous audio streaming using Tor technologies or other means to preserve anonymity. By analysing different approaches and tools, it becomes apparent that peer-to-peer broadcasting offers a flexible solution that allows audio to be transmitted over P2P networks, reducing the load on individual nodes and optimising bandwidth usage. This solution offers opportunities for scalability, fault tolerance, bandwidth optimisation and latency reduction, making it an attractive option for audio streaming setups. Meanwhile, the Utopia ecosystem, with its decentralised structure and high level of privacy protection, is another potential solution. Not only does it allow bypassing censorship and firewalls, but it also ensures anonymity in communication and data exchange. With its built-in audio and video communication tools, as well as the ability to create private channels and share files, Utopia can become a reliable platform for streaming audio. Thus, based on the analysis, the solution to the problem of anonymous audio streaming may lie in the integration of technologies such as Peercasting and Utopia, which provide not only the technical capability for streaming, but also a high level of privacy protection for users. It is also important to consider the flexibility of these solutions and the ability to adapt to the specifics of anonymous networks and user requirements. The practical significance of the study of audio streaming over Tor using P2P technologies is to develop methods to increase the anonymity and security of audio communications, which is critical in the face of growing threats to privacy on the Internet. This allows to overcome censorship and Internet restrictions in repressive regimes, providing users with freedom of thought and access to information.

Catalyzing satellite communication: A 20W Ku-Band RF front-end power amplifier design and deployment.

This paper presents a groundbreaking Ku-band 20W RF front-end power amplifier (PA), designed to address numerous challenges encountered by satellite communication systems, including those pertaining to stability, linearity, cost, and size. The manuscript commences with an exhaustive discussion of system design and operational principles, emphasizing the intricacies of low-noise amplification, and incorporating key considerations such as noise factors, stability analysis, gain, and gain flatness. Subsequently, an in-depth study is conducted on various components of the RF chain, including the pre-amplification module, driver-amplification module, and final-stage amplification module. The holistic design extends to the inclusion of the display and control unit, featuring the power-control module, monitoring module, and overall layout design of the PA. It is meticulously tailored to meet the specific demands of satellite communication. Following this, a thorough exploration of electromagnetic simulation and measurement results ensues, providing validation for the precision and reliability of the proposed design. Finally, the feasibility of that design is substantiated through systematic system design, prototype production, and exhaustive experimental testing. It is noteworthy that, in the space-simulation environmental test, emphasis is placed on the excellent performance of the Star Ku-band PA within the 13.75GHz to 14.5GHz frequency range. Detailed power scan measurements reveal a P1dB of 43dBm, maintaining output power flatness < ± 0.5dBm across the entire frequency and temperature spectrum. Third-order intermodulation scan measurements indicate a third-order intermodulation of ≤ -23dBc. Detailed results of power monitoring demonstrate a range from +18dBm to +54dBm. Scans of spurious suppression and harmonic suppression, meanwhile, show that the PA evinces spurious suppression ≤ -65dBc and harmonic suppression ≤ -60dBc. Rigorous phase-scan measurements exhibit a phase-shift adjustment range of 0° to 360°, with a step of 5.625°, and a phase-shift accuracy of 0.5dB. Detailed data from gain-scan measurements show a gain-adjustment range of 0dB to 30dB, with a gain flatness of ± 0.5dB. Attenuation error is ≤ 1%. These test parameters perfectly align with the practical application requirements of the technical specifications. When compared to existing Ku-band PAs, our design reflects a deeper consideration of specific requirements in satellite communication, ensuring its outstanding performance and uniqueness. This PA features good stability, high linearity, low cost, and compact modularity, ensuring continuous and stable power output. These features position the proposed system as a leader within the market. Successful orbital deployment not only validates its operational stability; it also makes a significant contribution to the advancement of China's satellite PA technology, generating positive socio-economic benefits.

Synergistically Optimized Thermoelectric and Mechanical Properties of Mg3.2Bi1.5Sb0.5-SiC Composites.

Motivated by the surging demand for low-temperature waste heat harvesting, materials with both prominent thermoelectric and good mechanical properties are preferred in practical applications. In this present work, the composite exploration of Te-doped Mg3.2Bi1.5Sb0.5-x vol % nanosized SiC (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5) was carried out, where nanosized SiC is physically dispersed in the matrix in the form of a second phase. SiC second phase compositing further optimized the matrix carrier concentration, resulting in a higher power factor in the service temperature range (the highest value from 28.9 to 31.7 μW cm-1 K-2), and the (ZT)ave from 0.91 to 0.96 compared with the matrix sample. In addition, the SiC second phase effectively enhanced the mechanical properties of composite materials, including flexural strength, microhardness, and modulus. Because of the simultaneous optimization of thermoelectric and mechanical properties, the overall performance of Te-doped Mg3.2Bi1.5Sb0.5-0.05 vol % SiC composite is leveraged to meet special requirements of power generation. It is expected that the addition of SiC should be broadly applicable to address the physical performance in other thermoelectric systems.

Pharmacodynamic study: Astragaloside IV/chitosan/polylactic acid composite electrospinning scaffold for wound healing in diabetic rats

The wound dressing plays an important role in wound repair as a medical textile that temporarily replaces the skin. However, ordinary wound dressings can only cover wounds and supply a protecting function for wounds, cannot meet some special requirements of chronic wounds, especially diabetic wounds. To overcome these drawbacks, in this study, a novel AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressing was developed to promote diabetic wound healing by electrostatic spinning technology. The pharmacodynamics of AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressings were evaluated. In in vitro pharmacodynamic experiment, the effect of the dressing on cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. Cell adhesion to the dressing was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the cell migration ability promoted by the dressing was evaluated by an in vitro cell scratch test. In in vivo pharmacodynamic experiment, we established a skin wound model in diabetic rats. On the 7th and 15th days, we collected tissue samples from both the surrounding area and the wound area. The expressions of CD31 and TGF-β in wound tissue were detected by H&E and Masson three-color staining, respectively. The results showed that the AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressing could promote cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. It also increased collagen deposition and granulation tissue formation at wound. Moreover, it promoted the expression of CD31 and TGF-β factors at early stage, thereby accelerating wound healing. Our results indicated that the AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressing have a potential as a treatment material to accelerate diabetic wound healing.

It’s All in the Backfill: Scrap Heaps, Explosives, and Nausea. Stirring the Soil of a Former WWII Military Base

ABSTRACT Within an archaeology of the contemporary, sites and material remains of the Second World War have in recent years been set more prominently on the agenda of European heritage archaeology. This article presents observations made during archaeological site monitoring of the conversion and remediation of a former WWII military base in Germany. In the course of the project, the sensitivity of the site and its find material against the backdrop of the German history of World War II had to be constantly assessed. Archaeological methods and practices had to be adapted to the specific requirements of the site. Conflicting agendas of various actors and stakeholders involved had to be evaluated, as well as the risks posed by the site’s contamination with unexploded ordnance. Indeed, the backdirt itself, just like the find material it contained, turned out to be a contested and hazardous entity.

Malignant hyperthermia safety - A nationwide survey of publicly funded Swedish healthcare.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare pharmacogenetic disorder that can lead to a life-threatening reaction during general anaesthesia with triggering agents. Prompt life-saving treatment includes the immediate administration of the antidote dantrolene. This study investigated Swedish healthcare providers' awareness and adherence to guidelines and recommendations with respect to MH and whether adherence to safe MH-praxis varies with hospital care-complexity level and private versus public management form. Agreements and procurement specifications between all 21 Swedish County Councils and privately run surgical care providers were reviewed alongside with questionnaire-aided collection of information from 62 publicly funded health care providers (both privately and publicly run). No procurement requirement specification or contract contained requirements on anaesthesia or aspects of MH. All publicly run hospitals stocked dantrolene and 28 out of 52 (54%) stocked the recommended amount. Seven out of nine (78%) of the privately run institutions stocked dantrolene, and one stocked the recommended amount. Publicly run hospitals adhered to recommendations to a greater extent than privately run institutions, both with respect to stocking of dantrolene (p = .02) and to stocking the recommended amount (p = .03). Contracts between Swedish county councils and private surgical care subcontractors rarely outline expectations of standards for the safe practice of anaesthesia such as preparedness to handle a life-threatening MH reaction. Among Swedish publicly funded anaesthesia providers there is room for improvement in adherence to the EMHG guideline on dantrolene availability. Publicly run hospitals seem to have better compliance with these recommendations than privately run institutions. Raising awareness about current guidelines is important to improve safety for known and unknown MH-susceptible individuals.