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Natural gas hydrates have attracted interest as a potential future energy resource to meet the expected growth in the global energy demand. One of the key challenges to be tackled for commercial production is gas hydrate re-formation in production lines. Such hydrate blockages have been a major concern of flow assurance in the oil and gas industries, and typically occur during start-up, shut-in, and restart operations. This study sheds light on the behavior of methane hydrate slurries in pure water systems under shut-in conditions and their transition to solid blockages during system restart: a key risk factor in gas hydrate production. Flowloop experiments were conducted to measure the critical stress required to restart flow in hydrate slurries, which were accompanied by visual observations using an in-line video camera. A transition from smooth restart to a critical stress requirement was observed at 4–5 vol % of hydrate; visually, this corresponded to complete occupancy of the flow cross section with porous aggregated hydrate particles in a loosely packed network. The critical stress increased with higher hydrate volume fractions per the behavior of yield stress for a general suspension: it was not affected by the shut-in period, suggesting that annealing was not a factor at the volume fractions measured. Further, hydrate blockage occurred in several restart operations at approximately 18 vol % of hydrate even though the video camera had captured partial yielding before the blockage occurred. These results show a progression in slurry behavior as a function of hydrate volume fraction, offering insights into varied mechanisms for blockage formation, and operational strategies to minimize blockage risk.

ABSTRACTCareer development is an essential component of graduate employability, particularly for students undertaking degree programs that are not aligned to a specific vocational outcome. For undergraduate career development to be effective, it should be embedded into the curriculum and involve the academic teaching staff. This approach enhances the relationships between academics and students, and improves student course engagement. Thus, it is imperative that we understand academics’ perceptions and current teaching practices associated with their students’ career development as we strategize how to better prepare graduates for work. This research explored the views of academics on supporting their students’ career development in three non-vocational undergraduate health science degree programs (Biomedical Science, Nutritional Science and Psychology) at an Australian university. A constructionist qualitative inquiry framework was utilised, with semi-structured focus groups. Framework thematic analysis was utilised for the focus group transcripts. Three major themes (attitudes and beliefs, teaching and learning approaches, and challenges), and ten sub-themes were identified. Similar views identified across academics included that students’ careers education should be the responsibility of all university staff as well as the students, that academics have limited knowledge of the employment outcomes of their graduates, and that employability skills development should be embedded into the curriculum. There were divergent views on the expertise of academics to provide careers advice, with academics in two degree programs lacking confidence with careers advising as they had limited employment experience beyond research and teaching. This research provides insight into academics’ views and attitudes about supporting their students’ career development and has broader implications for curricular development and academic roles.

Synthetic materials designed for improved biomimicry of the extracellular matrix must contain fibrous, bioactive, and mechanical cues. Self-assembly of low molecular weight gelator (LMWG) peptides Fmoc-DIKVAV (Fmoc-aspartic acid-isoleucine-lysine-valine-alanine-valine) and Fmoc-FRGDF (Fmoc-phenylalanine-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-phenylalanine) creates fibrous and bioactive hydrogels. Polysaccharides such as agarose are biocompatible, degradable, and non-toxic. Agarose and these Fmoc-peptides have both demonstrated efficacy in vitroand in vivo. These materials have complementary properties; agarose has known mechanics in the physiological range but is inert and would benefit from bioactive and topographical cues found in the fibrous, protein-rich extracellular matrix. Fmoc-DIKVAV and Fmoc-FRGDF are synthetic self-assembling peptides that present bioactive cues “IKVAV” and “RGD” designed from the ECM proteins laminin and fibronectin. The work presented here demonstrates that the addition of agarose to Fmoc-DIKVAV and Fmoc-FRGDF results in physical characteristics that are dependent on agarose concentration. The networks are peptide-dominated at low agarose concentrations, and agarose-dominated at high agarose concentrations, resulting in distinct changes in structural morphology. Interestingly, at mid-range agarose concentration, a hybrid network is formed with structural similarities to both peptide and agarose systems, demonstrating reinforced mechanical properties. Bioactive-LMWG polysaccharide hydrogels demonstrate controllable microenvironmental properties, providing the ability for tissue-specific biomaterial design for tissue engineering and 3D cell culture.

Though, because of the difficulty of grappling with everything, Schoonmaker and I talk instead about individual sequences and shots, which Powell and Pressburger served up with greater skill than practically anyone else ever has. They set up their own production company, The Archers, then divvied up the work of making movies, with Pressburger sticking to the more writerly tasks and Powell the more directorly (though Schoonmaker emphasises that "they wrote together much more than anyone realises"). The title cards for their films read, "Written, Produced and Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.". [Extracted from the article]

That said, Biller did intend for her Bluebeard's Castle to be a movie. And the next film by Anna Biller - the director of The Love Witch, one of the best films of 2017 - is… well, it's not actually a film. This version of the story is set in a misty England - Biller confesses to being "a complete Anglophile" - and features a lot of drapery, lipstick and diaphanous clothing. [Extracted from the article]

The physician associate (PA) role is gaining momentum as a healthcare professional who supports medical workload in primary care, yet there is a lack of clinical literature around how best to clinically supervise this new role. This seems especially pertinent amid the recent funding initiatives that encourage employment of PAs to aid the increasing demands in primary care, especially with the added stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need for clinical supervisors to be aware of what their responsibilities are when employing and supervising a PA. Qualitative feedback from a cohort of primary care PAs in Sheffield alongside the authors’ own expertise have been collated to produce recommendations to supplement existing documentation from the Faculty of Physician Associates. The paper seeks to rapidly initiate a starting point in clinical literature around the breadth of considerations within PA supervision. These recommendations include, but are not limited to, a discussion at the onset of PA employment of mutual needs and a specified supervisory schedule, alongside named clinicians who generally address clinical and pastoral components periodically. This accompanies an induction into the practice and general clinical support that is initially more intensive but otherwise remains available when the PA feels it is required.

Objectives Widespread global transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), continues. Many questions remain about asymptomatic or atypical infections and transmission dynamics. We used comprehensive contact tracing of the first 2 confirmed patients in Illinois with COVID-19 and serologic SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing to determine whether contacts had evidence of undetected COVID-19.Methods Contacts were eligible for serologic follow-up if previously tested for COVID-19 during an initial investigation or had greater-risk exposures. Contacts completed a standardized questionnaire during the initial investigation. We classified exposure risk as high, medium, or low based on interactions with 2 index patients and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Serologic testing used a SARS-CoV-2 spike enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on serum specimens collected from participants approximately 6 weeks after initial exposure to either index patient. The 2 index patients provided serum specimens throughout their illness. We collected data on demographic, exposure, and epidemiologic characteristics.Results Of 347 contacts, 110 were eligible for serologic follow-up; 59 (17% of all contacts) enrolled. Of these, 53 (90%) were health care personnel and 6 (10%) were community contacts. Seventeen (29%) reported high-risk exposures, 15 (25%) medium-risk, and 27 (46%) low-risk. No participant had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The 2 index patients had antibodies detected at dilutions >1:6400 within 4 weeks after symptom onset.Conclusions In serologic follow-up of the first 2 known patients in Illinois with COVID-19, we found no secondary transmission among tested contacts. Lack of seroconversion among these contacts adds to our understanding of conditions (ie, use of PPE) under which SARS-CoV-2 infections might not result in transmission and demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing is a useful tool to verify epidemiologic findings.

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More than a third of the world's amphibian species are listed as Threatened or Extinct, with a recent assessment identifying 45 Australian frogs (18.4% of the currently recognised species) as ‘Threatened' based on IUCN criteria. We applied structured expert elicitation to 26 frogs assessed as Critically Endangered and Endangered to estimate their probability of extinction by 2040. We also investigated whether participant experience (measured as a self-assigned categorical score, i.e. ‘expert' or ‘non-expert') influenced the estimates. Collation and analysis of participant opinion indicated that eight species are at high risk (>50% chance) of becoming extinct by 2040, with the disease chytridiomycosis identified as the primary threat. A further five species are at moderate–high risk (30–50% chance), primarily due to climate change. Fourteen of the 26 frog species are endemic to Queensland, with many species restricted to small geographic ranges that are susceptible to stochastic events (e.g. a severe heatwave or a large bushfire). Experts were more likely to rate extinction probability higher for poorly known species (those with in-situ population refuges to alleviate the impacts of disease and climate change.

Australia hosts approximately 10% of the world’s reptile species, the largest number of any country. Despite this and evidence of widespread decline, the first comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of Australian terrestrial squamates (snakes and lizards) was undertaken only recently. Here we apply structured expert elicitation to the 60 species assessed to be in the highest IUCN threat categories to estimate their probability of extinction by 2040. We also assessed the probability of successful reintroduction for two Extinct in the Wild (EW) Christmas Island species with trial reintroductions underway. Collation and analysis of expert opinion indicated that six species are at high risk (>50%) of becoming extinct within the next 20 years, and up to 11 species could be lost within this timeframe unless management improves. The consensus among experts was that neither of the EW species were likely to persist outside of small fenced areas without a significant increase in resources for intense threat management. The 20 most imperilled species are all restricted in range, with three occurring only on islands. The others are endemic to a single state, with 55% occurring in Queensland. Invasive species (notably weeds and introduced predators) were the most prevalent threats, followed by agriculture, natural system modifications (primarily fire) and climate change. Increased resourcing and management intervention are urgently needed to avert the impending extinction of Australia’s imperilled terrestrial reptiles.

•Age should not be a limiting factor for brachytherapy in patients with localised cancer or for palliation in metastatic disease.•In tumour streams where brachytherapy forms part of the curative management, it should not be omitted in elderly patients who are medically fit for treatment.•Treatment decisions should factor in patient preferences, the relative merits of different therapeutic approaches and maintaining minimal impact on quality of life.

Sarcopenia is characterised by progressive and extensive skeletal muscle degeneration and is associated with functional decline. Sarcopenia has primary and secondary aetiology, arising as a result of the ageing process or through chronic cytokine-mediated inflammation (associated with health conditions including cancer), respectively. Diagnosis of sarcopenia is dependent upon detection of reduced skeletal muscle strength, mass and performance. A combination of non-radiological and radiological methods can be used to assess each of these in turn to accurately diagnose sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is known to adversely affect outcomes of patients with various forms of cancer. Early identification of sarcopenia is imperative in improving patient care and overall prognosis. Various interventions, such as resistance exercise, nutritional support, and amino acid and vitamin supplementation have shown promise in the management of sarcopenia. However, further insight into novel interventions and indeed, assessment of the benefits of management of sarcopenia in terms of survival, are required to better support cancer patients.

Large predators are particularly susceptible to population declines due to large area requirements, low population density, and conflict with humans. Their low density and secretive habits also make it difficult to know the spatial extent, size, and connectivity of populations; declines hence can go unnoticed. Here, we quantified decline in a large marsupial carnivore, the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus gracilis), endemic to the Wet Tropics rainforest of northeast Australia. We compiled a large database of occurrence records and used species distributional modeling to estimate the distribution in four time periods (Pre-1956, 1956–1975, 1976–1995, 1996–2016) using climate layers and three human-use variables. The most supported variables in the distribution models were climatic, with highly suitable quoll habitat having relatively high precipitation, low temperatures, and a narrow annual range in temperature. Land-use type and road density also influenced quoll distribution in some time periods. The modeling revealed a significant decline in the distribution of D. m. gracilisover the last century, with contraction away from peripheral areas and from large areas of the Atherton Tablelands in the center of the distribution. Tests of the change in patch availability for populations of 20, 50, and 100 individuals revealed a substantial (17–32%) decline in available habitat for all population sizes, with a particular decline (31–40%) in core habitat (i.e., excluding edges). Six remaining populations were defined. Extrapolating capture–recapture density estimates derived from two populations in 2017 suggests these populations are small and range from about 10 to 160 individuals. Our total population estimate sums to 424 individuals, but we outline why this estimate is positively skewed and that the actual population size may be < 300 individuals. Continued decline and apparent absence in areas of highly suitable habitat suggests some threats are not being captured in our models. From our results, we provide management and research recommendations for this enigmatic predator.

Purpose: This paper brings insights from accounting scholarship to the measurement and reporting challenges of metagovernance approaches to sustainable development. Where scholarship on metagovernance—the combination of market, hierarchical and network governance—proposes deductive approaches to such challenges, we contend that a historically informed “abductive” approach offers valuable insight into the realpolitikof intergovernmental frameworks. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts a Foucauldian “archaeological–genealogical” method to investigate the inclusion of climate change as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). It analyses more than 100 documents and texts, tracking the statement forms that crystallise prevailing truth claims across the development of climate and SDG metagovernance. Findings: We show how the truth claims now enshrined in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change constrained the conceptualisation and operationalisation of SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The paper thereby reframes recent measurement and reporting challenges as outcomes of conceptual conflicts between the technicist emphasis of divisions within the United Nations and the truth claims enshrined in intergovernmental agreements. Originality/value: This paper demonstrates how an archaeological–genealogical approach may start to address the measurement and reporting challenges facing climate and SDG metagovernance. It also highlights that the two degrees target on climate change has a manifest variability of interpretation and shows how this characteristic has become pivotal to operationalising climate metagovernance in a manner that respects the sovereignty of developing nations.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first detected in China in December, 2019. In January, 2020, state, local, and federal public health agencies investigated the first case of COVID-19 in Illinois, USA.

"The Future of Wales" by Rhys Thomas is a short read that provides an overview of the current state of Wales, its history, and potential future. The book emphasizes the need for Wales to focus on energy and food production, improved public transport, and cultural and sporting achievements. While the book is written in an accessible style, it does contain some inaccuracies and occasional irritating language. Overall, it offers a unique perspective on Wales and its potential, filling a gap in the political discourse surrounding the nation. [Extracted from the article]

Ludovic Slimak, an archaeologist and author, has made significant discoveries regarding Neanderthals in France. He has found the most complete Neanderthal remains in the country since 1979, including a set of teeth. Slimak's book, "The Naked Neanderthal," explores the history and significance of Neanderthals, describing them as a sophisticated and creative species. He believes that the extinction of Neanderthals was a gradual process, potentially caused by the hyper-efficiency of Homo sapiens. Slimak's ongoing research aims to uncover more about the interaction between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens and its relevance to our understanding of ourselves. [Extracted from the article]

This prompted her other brother, Toby, a keen kayaker, to take on a crazy escapade: paddling around the different areas of the Shipping Forecast in Marcus's memory. It began six years ago, when Katie's brother Marcus died, aged 37, from throat cancer caused by the rare genetic illness Fanconi anaemia. But it was even harder for Toby because, like Marcus, he also had Fanconi anaemia. [Extracted from the article]

David McCloskey He is, I think, what you would expect from a former CIA officer. If all this reminds you of another David - David Cornwell, better known as John le Carré, who began writing thrillers while still an officer in the British intelligence agency MI5 - then you're not the first to make the connection. McCloskey has been rereading le Carré's The Russia House as he finishes his second book, Moscow X, which is slated for publication in October and takes place in the same not-quite-our-own universe as Damascus Station. [Extracted from the article]

Menkes smiles as she recalls one viewer's reaction to this approach: "I love your documentary, but now you've ruined all my favourite films!" Ahead of the screening, I was certainly expectant - I'd seen and admired a number of Menkes's previous fiction films, including The Great Sadness of Zohara (1983) and Phantom Love (2007) - but not that expectant. THE CULTURE "The way we see is everything", says the independent US filmmaker Nina Menkes as I watch her, and she watches me, on a transatlantic video call. [Extracted from the article]