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Sustainable long-term solutions to managing tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are integral for mines to operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The long-term storage of subaqueous tailings can pose significant safety, environmental, and economic risks; therefore, alternative containment strategies for maintaining geochemical stability of reactive materials must be explored. In this study, the physical and geochemical stabilization of coal tailings using microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) was evaluated at a laboratory pilot scale. Three application techniques simulated commonly used agricultural approaches and equipment that could be deployed for field-scale treatment: spraying on treatment solutions with irrigation sprinklers, mixing tailings and treatment solutions with a rototiller, and distributing treatment solutions via shallow trenches using an excavator ripper. Test cells containing 1.0 × 1.0 × 0.5 m of tailings were treated with ureolytic bacteria (Sporosarcina pasteurii) and cementation solutions composed of urea and calcium chloride for 28 days. Penetrometer tests were performed following incubation to evaluate the extent of cementation. The spray-on application method showed the greatest strength improvement, with in an increase in surface strength of more than 50% for the 28-day testing period. The distribution of treatment solution using trenches was found to be less effective and resulted in greater variability in particle size distribution of treated tailings and would not be recommended for use in the field. The use of rototilling equipment provided a homogenous distribution of treatment solution; however, the disruption to the tailings material was less effective for facilitating effective cementation. Bacterial plate counts of soil samples indicated that S. pasteurii cultures remained viable in a tailings environment for 28 days at 18 °C and near-neutral pH. The treatment was also found to stabilize the pH of tailings porewater sampled over the 28-day incubation period, suggesting the potential for the treatment to provide short-term geochemical stability under unsaturated conditions.

BACKGROUND: Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) is an evidence-based, brief, semi-structured psychotherapy designed to help patients with advanced cancer cope with the practical and profound challenges of their illness. However, no study to date has investigated its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness in adults with malignant glioma, despite the well-documented incidence of psychological distress in this vulnerable and underserved population. METHODS: Fourteen patients with glioma and elevated symptoms of depression and/or death anxiety enrolled in the trial: 83% glioblastoma, 75% female, M(age) = 56 years (SD = 15.1; range = 27–81). Feasibility was assessed based on established metrics. Acceptability was measured by post-session surveys and post-intervention interviews. Preliminary intervention effects were explored using paired t-tests, comparing psychological distress at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: Of the 14 enrolled patients, 12 were evaluable. Nine completed the study (75% retention rate). Three patients withdrew due to substantial disease progression which affected their ability to participate. Participants reported high perceived benefit, and all recommended the program to others. Baseline to post-intervention assessments indicated reductions in death anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depression, and increases in spirituality. Quality of life and fear of cancer recurrence remained stable throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: CALM appears feasible for use with adults with malignant glioma. Enrollment and retention rates were high and comparable to psychotherapy trials for patients with advanced cancer. High perceived benefit and reductions in symptoms of death anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depression were reported by participants. These findings are extremely encouraging and support further study of CALM in neuro-oncology.

Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 11.3 fb−1 collected at center-of-mass energies from 4.23 to 4.70 GeV with the BESIII detector, we observe the process e+e−→ π0π0ψ2(3823) for the first time with a statistical significance of 6.0 standard deviations. The ratio of average cross sections for e+e−→ π0π0ψ2(3823) and π+π−ψ2(3823) is determined to be $$ \mathcal{R}=\frac{\sigma \left[{e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {\pi}^0{\pi}^0{\psi}_2(3823)\right]}{\sigma \left[{e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-}{\psi}_2(3823)\right]}=0.57\pm 0.14\pm 0.05 $$ R = σ e + e − → π 0 π 0 ψ 2 3823 σ e + e − → π + π − ψ 2 3823 = 0.57 ± 0.14 ± 0.05 , which is consistent with expectations from isospin symmetry. Here and below, the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. The mass of the ψ2(3823) is measured to be M[ψ2(3823)] = 3824.5 ± 2.4 ± 1.0 MeV/c2. Due to the limited data sample, an upper limit of 18.8 MeV at 90% confidence level is set on the intrinsic width of ψ2(3823).

Recent nanotechnology advances enable fabrication of layered structures with controllable inter-layer gap, giving the ultra-violet (UV) lasers access to solid-state plasmas which can be used as medium for electron acceleration. By using a linearly polarized 3 fs-long laser pulse of 100 nm wavelength and 10$$^{21}$$ 21 W/cm$$^2$$ 2 peak intensity, we show numerically that electron bunches can be accelerated along a stack of ionized graphene layers. Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations reveal a new self-injection mechanism based on edge plasma oscillations, whose amplitude depends on the distance between the graphene layers. Nanometre-size electron ribbons are electrostatically catapulted into buckets of longitudinal electric fields in less than 1 fs, as opposed to the slow electrostatic pull, common to laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) schemes in gas-plasma. Acceleration then proceeds in the blowout regime at a gradient of 4.79 TeV/m yielding a 0.4 fs-long bunch with a total charge in excess of 2.5 pC and an average energy of 6.94 MeV, after travelling through a graphene target as short as 1.5 $$\upmu $$ μ m. These parameters are unprecedented within the LWFA research area and, if confirmed experimentally, may have an impact on fundamental femtosecond research.

A partial wave analysis on the process e+e− → ωπ+π− is performed using 647 pb−1 of data sample collected by using the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII storage ring at center-of-mass (c.m.) energies from 2.000 GeV to 3.080 GeV. The Born cross section of the e+e− → ωπ+π− process is measured, with precision improved by a factor of 3 compared to that of previous studies. A structure near 2.25 GeV is observed in the energy-dependent cross sections of e+e− → ωπ+π− and ωπ0π0 with a statistical significance of 7.6σ, and its determined mass and width are 2232 ± 19 ± 27 MeV/c2 and 93 ± 53 ± 20 MeV, respectively, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. By analyzing the cross sections of subprocesses e+e− → ωf0(500), ωf0(980), ωf0(1370), ωf2(1270), and b1(1235)π, a structure, with mass M = 2200 ± 11 ± 17 MeV/c2 and width Γ = 74 ± 20 ± 24 MeV, is observed with a combined statistical significance of 7.9σ. The measured resonance parameters will help to reveal the nature of vector states around 2.25 GeV.

Purpose Facing the end of life may trigger significant distress in family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. However, few studies have addressed the spiritual and existential concerns of these family caregivers in their end-of-life care journey. This study aimed to understand the spiritual and existential experience of family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer facing the end of life in Brazil. Methods A purposive sample of 16 family caregivers of hospitalized terminally ill cancer patients in Brazil participated in in-depth interviews. Data collection and analysis were based on interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results Three superordinate themes in their spiritual and existential experience were identified: (i) connectedness through caregiving, personal relationships, and spiritual beliefs; (ii) shifting hope: from death as a possibility to preparation for impending death; (iii) reframing suffering and meaning. For these caregivers, the relationship with the patient and with others, their spiritual beliefs, and hope were significant sources of meaning. Hope was sustained by death avoidance, oscillating with death acceptance and hope that it would occur with comfort. Family caregivers also experienced existential and spiritual suffering in the form of guilt, suppressed emotions, and loneliness. Conclusion Health care providers should address and support caregivers’ spiritual needs and their relationships with the patient and others during end-of-life care and facilitate reflection regarding existential concerns, meaning, and preparation for impending death.

Purpose We investigated relationships between domains of quality of dying and death in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers’ bereavement outcomes and the moderating effect of patient age at death. Methods Bereaved caregivers of deceased patients with advanced cancer who had participated in an early palliative care trial completed measures of grief (Texas Revised Inventory of Grief [TRIG]), complicated grief (Prolonged Grief Inventory [PG-13]), and depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression [CESD-10]). They also completed the Quality of Dying and Death measure (QODD), which assesses patients’ symptom control, preparation for death, connectedness with loved ones, and sense of peace with death. Results A total of 157 bereaved caregivers completed the study. When patient age × QODD subscale interactions were included, greater death preparation was related to less grief at patient death (past TRIG: β = − .25, p = .04), less current grief (present TRIG: β = − .26, p = .03), less complicated grief (PG-13: β = − .37, p = .001), and less depression (CESD-10: β = − .35, p = .005). Greater symptom control was related to less current grief (present TRIG: β = − .27, p = .02), less complicated grief (PG-13: β = − .24, p = .03), and less depression (CESD-10: β = − .29, p = .01). Significant patient age × connectedness interaction effects for current grief (present TRIG: β = .30, p = .02) and complicated grief (PG-13: β = .29, p = .007) indicated that, with less connectedness, younger patient age at death was associated with greater caregiver grief. Conclusion Better end-of-life death preparation and symptom control for patients with cancer may attenuate later caregiver grief and depression. Less connectedness between younger patients and their families may adversely affect caregiver grief.

We consider the problem of achieving high stability and linearity of phase liquid-crystal space-time light modulators, which are widely used for optical reconstruction of diffractive optical elements, including holograms. Modern high-resolution space-time light modulators one uses a digital signal addressing circuit, which leads to phase shift fluctuations during the frame. For the modern high-resolution phase liquid crystal space-time light modulator Santec SLM-200, the dependences of the phase shift on the level of the addressed signal and time from the beginning of the frame have been measured. Using the Santec SLM-200 light modulator, optical reconstruction of images from diffractive elements of different types was performed, their diffraction efficiency and the quality of the reconstructed images were evaluated. The values of the diffraction efficiency were obtained in the range of 3–10%; a sharp drop in the brightness of the reconstructed images is observed with distance from the optical axis in the plane of reconstruction.

The reconstruction methods, which are based on compressed sensing (CS), make it possible to record and reconstruct information basing on its sparse or compressed representation. In this work, we study resistance of CS-based single-pixel imaging to partial loss of the intensity of the recorded radiation from an object with a limited area of the detector. The problem was solved experimentally by implementing the so-called single-pixel camera, as well as detecting optical radiation from the object and reconstructing its image with the use of CS methods. The method resistance to spatial radiation losses is estimated as a function of the size and shape of the detector aperture. The quality of image reconstruction depending on the two following factors is assessed: the fraction of the intensity of the detected radiation and the quantity of single-pixel detections. The results can ensure significantly wider application of the method to reconstruct data, both detected in dynamic and scattering media (including the introduction of various apertures and Fourier filtering) and in the case of significant spatial radiation losses.

This paper discusses the problem of characterizing digital cameras and the determination of their noise characteristics, which is relevant for contemporary photographic equipment. The issues of limiting the accuracy of data obtained with digital cameras, related to the photosensor noise, are also highlighted. The European Machine Vision Association standard EMVA 1288 for measurement and presentation of specifications for machine vision sensors and cameras, and fast automatic segmentation of non-uniform target (ASNT) noise estimation methods are compared. The noise characteristics of the photosensors of the machine vision camera PixeLink PL-B781F, scientific camera Retiga R6, and amateur camera Canon EOS M100 are investigated. The accuracies of the measurement results and speed of calculation and the method implementation are also analyzed. The assessment of the temporal noise revealed that the ASNT method is not inferior in terms of accuracy compared to the standard method and can be implemented significantly faster, even with additional images taken into account for accuracy improvement.

We present the results of simulation of image recognition using invariant correlation filters. The possibilities of exploiting color information and preprocessing for quality improvement of subpixel image correlation matching are shown.

Despite enormous changes in medicine over the last 50 years, the oral presentation of newly admitted patients remains a core activity in academic teaching hospitals. With increased pace and complexity of care, it is time to refresh this tradition, as its efficiency and utility in contemporary practice are open to question. In this paper, we suggest a revised structure to help presenters organize their thoughts before the oral presentation and provide an online tool for doing so. We then offer tips on how to present the facts and inferences to the team in a compelling and memorable fashion; how to tell a story. Organizing information and oral presentation are advanced skills that require repeated practice to learn. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11606-021-06964-6.

Industrial symbiosis is implemented less often than a detailed scientific examination of individual cases would suggest. The barriers to industrial symbiosis have been widely discussed in the literature. This paper aims to show that many of the barriers that have to be overcome and that are specific for industrial symbiosis can be classified as information asymmetries from a theoretical-economics perspective. In this article, we substantiate this argument (i) on the basis of the general classification of industrial symbiosis as a regional exchange, (ii) on the basis of the barriers identified in the literature, and (iii) on the basis of empirical experience in four Austrian case studies. Potential support options for third parties that address information asymmetries are discussed.

The ion-beam sputtering (IBS) grid laser cleaning process is described as an alternative to manual cleaning and sandblasting in terms of surface morphology, roughness, and speed. It has been demonstrated that nanosecond fiber laser processing can be successfully used for controlled cleaning of complex grid surfaces at high speed and low surface impact, which is important for increasing the life of expensive parts. Under optimal conditions for single-pass processing, the scanning speed in the focal plane of a 160 mm F-Theta lens was 8 m/s at a laser pulse energy of 300 μJ, a pulse width of 120 ns, and a repetition rate of 100 kHz.

We characterize the landscape of somatic mutations-mutations occurring after fertilization-in the human brain using ultra-deep (~250×) whole-genome sequencing of prefrontal cortex from 59 donors with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 15 control donors. We observe a mean of 26 somatic single-nucleotide variants per brain present in ≥4% of cells, with enrichment of mutations in coding and putative regulatory regions. Our analysis reveals that the first cell division after fertilization produces ~3.4 mutations, followed by 2-3 mutations in subsequent generations. This suggests that a typical individual possesses ~80 somatic single-nucleotide variants present in ≥2% of cells-comparable to the number of de novo germline mutations per generation-with about half of individuals having at least one potentially function-altering somatic mutation somewhere in the cortex. ASD brains show an excess of somatic mutations in neural enhancer sequences compared with controls, suggesting that mosaic enhancer mutations may contribute to ASD risk.