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Potable water scarcity is one of the major issues that has been affecting millions of lives. It became serious in underprivileged remote communities that are unable to afford conventional water supply and treatment systems. Passive solar desalination systems as a cost-effective option for water supply are becoming more feasible in remote areas. However, low water yield and poor reliability are the main deficiencies that need improvement. This article reviews recent studies conducted on performance improvement and water cost reduction of passive solar stills associated with new designs and modifications appropriate for remote areas to identify the most effective designs. The individual effect of each component’s design on performance parameters (water yield, thermal efficiency, and unit water cost) has been reported and discussed. The design specifications and outcomes of studies were reviewed and presented in tables to give a broad view of activities in the area, and to provide future studies with data for validation purposes. This article shows knowledge gaps and opportunities for future research through a distinct classification of studies to shape a clear roadmap on the development of passive solar stills. The most effective designs of components with respect to their application in remote or disaster-stricken areas with no access to power infrastructure were determined. In addition, issues around the structural design complexity and operational reliability associated with new designs were presented.

Background The Effect of Ticagrelor on Health Outcomes in diabEtes Mellitus patients Intervention Study (THEMIS) evaluated ticagrelor compared to placebo for the prevention of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and cardiovascular (CV) death in 19 220 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with no prior myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke. THEMIS-PCI was a pre-specified subgroup of 11 154 patients who had a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) when entering the study. In THEMIS, ticagrelor reduced CV death, MI or stroke, although with an increase in major bleeding compared to aspirin alone, and there was a significant interaction between a prior history of PCI and the net benefit of ticagrelor. In the THEMIS-PCI population, ticagrelor plus aspirin provided a favourable net clinical benefit with a significant 15% reduction in all-cause death, MI, stroke, fatal bleed, or intracranial haemorrhage. Objective The objective of this analysis was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of ticagrelor for the prevention of CV events based on the results of the THEMIS-PCI population using a lifetime horizon from a Swedish healthcare perspective. Methods A lifetime Markov state transition model was developed with health states aligned to the THEMIS trial endpoints. Health state transitions were informed by parametric survival equations fitted to patient level data from THEMIS-PCI population. Treatment discontinuation rates were informed by the THEMIS-PCI population, with all patients assumed to discontinue treatment with ticagrelor after four years. The incidence of bleeding and dyspnoea were modelled as adverse events. Costs (2019 Euros) and utility data were derived from the published literature and the THEMIS-PCI population, respectively, and discounted at 3.0% annually. Probabilistic (PSA) and deterministic sensitivity analysis (DSA) were conducted to quantify uncertainty of key input parameters. Results Treatment with ticagrelor plus aspirin over four years resulted in estimated Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gains of 0.09 at an incremental cost of €1,891 compared to aspirin alone. The estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was €19,959/QALY. PSA indicated that ticagrelor was cost-effective in 93% of simulations using a willingness-to-pay threshold of €47,000/QALY and DSA showed that cost-effectiveness was robust to changes in key input parameters (ICER range: €16,504 to €25,012/QALY). Conclusion Based on the results of the THEMIS trial, dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor plus aspirin is likely to be a cost-effective treatment compared with aspirin alone for the prevention of CV events in patients with T2DM and CAD with a history of PCI. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): AstraZeneca

Background Serum potassium (SK+) is a vital electrolyte, which level is maintained by adjusting renal K+ excretion. Variability in SK+ has been linked to increased risk of mortality and other adverse clinical events in patients in intensive care and/or receiving haemodialysis, prompting a similar investigation in cardiovascular patients. Purpose To examine the effect of SK+ variability on all-cause mortality (ACM) and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), comprising arrhythmia, [subsequent records of] HF, myocardial infarction, or stroke, in patients with heart failure (HF) or resistant hypertension (RHTN). Methods Patients aged ≥18 years with HF or RHTN were identified from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD, primary care data) and linked Hospital Episode Statistics (HES, secondary care data). HF and RHTN were defined through READ codes recorded during the study period (2008-June 2018) or the five-year look-back period (2003–2007). Index date was set to 1st January 2008 or initial diagnosis; whichever occurred later. Mean SK+ and variability of measurements (quantified as standard deviation [SD] and each patient categorised as low or highly variable based on the median SD of the cohort), and crude incidence rates of ACM and MACE were estimated over a follow-up period from index date to event or end of follow-up (death, loss to follow-up or end of study, whichever was earlier). Results The eligible population included 317,135 RHTN patients and 84,210 HF patients with a mean follow-up of 6.37 (SD 3.06) and 5.01 (SD 3.20) years, respectively. In both cohorts, higher mean SK+ ≥5.0 mmol/L was associated with increased rates of ACM and MACE relative to a mean SK+ of 3.5–5 mmol/L (Table 1). High SK+ variability was associated with increased incidence of adverse outcomes, with rates consistently higher in the high SK+ variability group compared to low-variability patients with the same diagnosis and mean SK+ category (Table 1); all comparisons were statistically significant except for ACM in HF patients with mean SK+ ≥5 mmol/L. Conclusion Independently of mean SK+, increased variability in SK+ levels was associated with an increased rate of mortality and MACE in patients with RHTN or HF. Careful SK+ monitoring and management to maintain SK+ concentrations may improve the outcomes of patients with RHTN and HF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): AstraZeneca

Background Hyper- and hypokalaemia are frequent complications in patients with heart failure (HF). The association between all-cause mortality (ACM), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and serum potassium (K+) has previously been characterised in a UK incident HF population, with hypo- and hyperkalaemic patients being at increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Purpose This study aimed to assess the generalisability and findings of previously published risk equations in a broader HF population, spanning both incident and prevalent HF cases regardless of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and to explore the relationship between duration of HF and elevated risk associated with hypo- or hyperkalaemia. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using linked UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD and Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data. Eligible patients included individuals ≥18 years with HF (identified using READ codes) during the study period (January 2008 to June 2018) or five-year lookback period (2003 to 2007). Patients' index date was set to 1st January 2008 for prevalent patients or date of HF diagnosis for incident patients. Adverse clinical outcomes included ACM and MACE, a composite of arrhythmia, HF, myocardial infarction and stroke. Published risk equations for ACM and MACE for incident HF without CKD were refitted to this broader study population using original covariates and model forms. Coefficient values were adjusted for the inclusion of HF duration (≤5 and >5 years). Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were recalculated with K+ concentration 4.5 to Results The HF cohort consisted of 84,210 patients with a mean follow-up of 5.01 years. The cohort was predominantly male (53.0%), with a mean age of 77.3 years at index. Ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation and type 2 diabetes were present in 42.24%, 61.39%, 40.89% and 20.38% of the population, respectively. CKD stage 3+ was present in 39.13% of patients, with a cohort mean estimated glomerular filtration rate of 56.9 mL/min/1.73m2 at index. Crude ACM and MACE event rates were 159.5 (95% confidence interval (CI): 157.9–161.0) and 575.8 (95% CI: 572.8–578.7) per 1,000 patient years, respectively. Hypo- and hyperkalaemia were generally associated with increased risk of ACM and MACE in comparison with patients with K+ concentrations of 4.5 to Conclusion A real-world analysis of UK patients suggests that previously published associations between hypo- and hyperkalaemia and increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes in an incident HF population are generalisable to a cohort of incident and prevalent HF patients, irrespective of HF duration and the presence of comorbid CKD. Improved monitoring and management of K+ may have the potential to improve outcomes in these patients. Figure 1. IRRs of ACM and MACE Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): AstraZeneca

Background Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure (HF), resistant hypertension (RHTN) and diabetes are at an increased risk of hyperkalaemia (HK) which can be potentially life-threatening, as a result of cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest leading to sudden death. In these patients, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi), are used to manage several cardiovascular and renal conditions, and are associated with an increased risk of HK. Assessing the burden of HK in real-world clinical practice may concentrate relevant care on those patients most in need, potentially improving patient outcomes and efficiency of the healthcare system. Purpose To assess the burden of HK in a real-world population of UK patients with at least one of: RHTN, Type I or II diabetes, CKD stage 3+, dialysis, HF, or in receipt of a prescription for RAASi. Methods Primary and secondary care data for this retrospective study were obtained from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and linked Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). Eligible patients were identified using READ codes defining the relevant diagnosis, receipt of indication-specific medication, or, in the case of CKD, an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤60 ml/min/1.73m2 within the study period (01 January 2008 to 30 June 2018) or in the five-year lookback period (2003–2007). The index date was defined as 01 January 2008 or first diagnosis of an eligible condition or RAASi prescription, whichever occurred latest. HK was defined as K+ ≥5.0 mmol/L; thresholds of ≥5.5 mmol/L and ≥6.0 mmol/L were explored as sensitivity analyses. Incidence rates of HK were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results The total eligible population across all cohorts was 931,460 patients. RHTN was the most prevalent comorbidity (n=317,135; 34.0%) and dialysis the least prevalent (n=4,415; 0.5%). The majority of the eligible population were prescribed RAASi during follow-up (n=754,523; 81.0%). At a K+ threshold of ≥5.0 mmol/L, the dialysis cohort had the highest rate of HK (501.0 events per 1,000 patient-years), followed by HF (490.9), CKD (410.9), diabetes (355.0), RHTN (261.4) and the RAASi cohort (211.2) (Figure 1). This pattern was still observed at alternative threshold definitions of HK. Conclusion This large real-world study of UK patients demonstrates the burden of hyperkalaemia in high-risk patient populations from the UK. There is a need for effective prevention and treatment of HK, particularly in patients with CKD, dialysis or HF where increased incidence rates are observed which in turn will improve patient outcomes and healthcare resource usage. Figure 1. Rates of HK by condition Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): AstraZeneca

One aim of emancipatory social movements is to make political communities more inclusive. The way in which a movement pursues transformative political change depends on its account of how political actors understand one another as members of a shared community. Drawing on the antebellum political thought of Black abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Martin Delany, I argue that acknowledgement is a mode of practical understanding that effectively combats exclusionary ideas of political community. I acknowledge you as a fellow member of my political community because you enact a commitment to the community's fundamental principles; enacting such a commitment is what makes you a member of the community. My acknowledgement itself consists in a responsiveness to the fact—independent of my own judgment— that you are a member of the community. This responsiveness manifests in how we comport ourselves in relation to one another in daily political life, which is the primary locus of intervention for effective efforts at making political communities more inclusive.

In this article, a novel floating salt rejecting solar still with a low vacuum condition on the evaporation chamber is developed and the performance is experimentally investigated. The new design adopts solar heat localization for interfacial evaporation and capillary water circulation to improve the evaporation rate and prevent the basin surface from residual salt accumulation. The basin is made in tubular structure composed of multi layers of porous foam and hydrophilic cellulose fabric for improved capillary water supply. The solar still consists of an external condensing coils coupled with the basin structure. It completely submerges into the water while the solar still is floating in the saline water reservoir (e.g. oceans). This enables the natural cooling of the condensing coils which increases the condensation rate. A low-cost hemispherical clear acrylic cover is used to capture the solar radiation from all directions on the basin. The system performance was examined under different scenarios. The system was found to generate distilled water at a daily rate of 4.3 L m−2 d−1 with the distillation efficiency of 35.6% during summer in Melbourne, Australia. The life cycle cost per litre of drinking water generated by the solar still is calculated at 4.7US ¢ L−1 which is substantially lower than conventional solar stills. This system is expected to have a lower maintenance cost as it does not require as much periodic cleaning. The new system developed is a feasible alternative to address the water security challenge for water-stressed communities at remote areas or disaster-stricken areas with no access to an energy infrastructure.

Objectives\ud The Eighth Mount Hood Challenge (held in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in September 2016) evaluated the transparency of model input documentation from two published health economics studies and developed guidelines for improving transparency in the reporting of input data underlying model-based economic analyses in diabetes.\ud \ud Methods\ud Participating modeling groups were asked to reproduce the results of two published studies using the input data described in those articles. Gaps in input data were filled with assumptions reported by the modeling groups. Goodness of fit between the results reported in the target studies and the groups’ replicated outputs was evaluated using the slope of linear regression line and the coefficient of determination (R2). After a general discussion of the results, a diabetes-specific checklist for the transparency of model input was developed.\ud \ud Results\ud Seven groups participated in the transparency challenge. The reporting of key model input parameters in the two studies, including the baseline characteristics of simulated patients, treatment effect and treatment intensification threshold assumptions, treatment effect evolution, prediction of complications and costs data, was inadequately transparent (and often missing altogether). Not surprisingly, goodness of fit was better for the study that reported its input data with more transparency. To improve the transparency in diabetes modeling, the Diabetes Modeling Input Checklist listing the minimal input data required for reproducibility in most diabetes modeling applications was developed.\ud \ud Conclusions\ud Transparency of diabetes model inputs is important to the reproducibility and credibility of simulation results. In the Eighth Mount Hood Challenge, the Diabetes Modeling Input Checklist was developed with the goal of improving the transparency of input data reporting and reproducibility of diabetes simulation model results.

Aims Insulin therapy is indicated for people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus; however, treatment‐related weight gain and hypoglycaemia represent barriers to optimal glycaemic management. This study assessed the health economic value of maintained reductions in HbA1c, BMI and hypoglycaemia incidence among the UK Type 1 diabetes population. Methods The Cardiff Type 1 Diabetes Model was used to estimate lifetime costs, life‐years and quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs) for individuals with Type 1 diabetes at different baseline HbA1c, BMI and hypoglycaemic event rates. Results were discounted at 3.5%, and the net monetary benefit associated with improving Type 1 diabetes management was derived at £20 000/QALY gained. Per‐person outputs were inflated to national levels using UK Type 1 diabetes prevalence estimates. Results Modelled subjects with an HbA1c of 86 mmol/mol (10.0%) were associated with discounted lifetime per‐person costs of £23 795; £12 649 of which may be avoided by maintaining an HbA1c of 42 mmol/mol (6.0%). Combined with estimated QALY gains of 2.80, an HbA1c of 42 mmol/mol (6.0%) vs. 86 mmol/mol (10.0%) was associated with a £68 621 per‐person net monetary benefit. Over 1 year, unit reductions in BMI produced £120 per‐person net monetary benefit, and up to £197 for the avoidance of one non‐severe hypoglyceamic event. Conclusions Maintained reductions in HbA1c significantly alleviate the burden associated with Type 1 diabetes in the UK. Given the influence of weight and hypoglycaemia on health economic outcomes, they must also be key considerations when assessing the value of Type 1 diabetes technologies in clinical practice., What's new? This study demonstrated the burden of inadequate Type 1 diabetes management, and quantified the value of reducing HbA1c, weight and hypoglycaemia frequency among the UK Type 1 diabetes population.Significant cost savings, quality‐adjusted life‐year gains and net monetary benefit were predicted in those who achieve HbA1c targets recommended in national guidelines; nevertheless, any incremental improvement in glycaemic management substantially reduced the burden of Type 1 diabetes mellitus on individuals and healthcare systems.Given the influence of weight and hypoglycaemia on health economic outcomes, these factors should also be key considerations when assessing the value of Type 1 diabetes technologies.

We calculate the energy levels of a quantum particle on a cylindrical surface with non-circular cross-section in uniform electric and magnetic fields. Using separation of variables method and a change of independent variable, we show that the problem can be reduced to a one-dimensional Schrodinger equation for a periodic potential. The effects of varying the shape of the cross-section while keeping the same perimeter and the strengths of the electric and magnetic fields are investigated for elliptical, corrugated, and nearly-rectangular tubes with radial dimensions of the order of a nanometer. The geometric potential has minima at the angular positions where there is a significant amount of curvature. For the elliptical and corrugated tubes, it is shown that as the tube departs from the circular shape of cross-section the double-degeneracy between the energy levels is lifted. For the nearly-rectangular tube, it is shown that energy level crossings occur as the horizontal dimension of the tube is varied while keeping the same perimeter and radius of circular corners. The interplay between the curvature and the strength of the electric and magnetic fields determines the overall behavior of the energy levels. As the strength of the electric field increases, the overall potential gets skewed creating a potential well on the side corresponding to the more negative electric potential. The energy levels of the first few excited states approach more positive values while the ground state energy level approaches a more negative value. For large electric fields, all bound state energy levels tend to more negative values. The contribution of weak magnetic fields to the overall potential behaves in the same way as the electric field contribution but with its sign depending on the direction of the component of the momentum parallel to the cylindrical axis. Large magnetic fields lead to pairing of energy levels reminiscent of 2D Landau levels for the elliptical and nearly-rectangular tubes.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage renal disease (ESRD) pose a significant global health burden. Approximately 40% of people with type 2 diabetes develop CKD. The Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events (DECLARE)-TIMI 58 trial showed a reduced rate of the composite endpoint of sustained decrease of ≥40% in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to Disclosure P. McEwan: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca. Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd. B. Kartman: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. Stock/Shareholder; Self; AstraZeneca. H. Bennett: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca. Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd. C. Edmonds: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. I.A. Gause-Nilsson: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. Funding AstraZeneca

Sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors have demonstrated reduced incidence of cardiovascular (CV) events, which cannot be fully explained by effects on HbA1c, body weight or blood pressure. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) economic models link treatment-related changes in risk factor levels to long-term incidence of CV events via risk equations (RE). This study assessed the performance of commonly used CV RE in T2DM to the CV outcomes trial DECLARE-TIMI 58. Ten sets of RE were coded in MS-Excel (ADVANCE, ARIC, BRAVO, Framingham, Fremantle, New Zealand CVD, QRisk3, Swedish NDR, UKPDS 68 and 82) to predict annual probabilities of CV events and applied to baseline characteristics and 1-year treatment effects (HbA1c, weight and blood pressure) for dapagliflozin (DAPA) versus placebo (PLA) from DECLARE-TIMI 58. Predicted event rates for myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF) and stroke and the relative risks (RR) associated with DAPA versus PLA were estimated and compared to the closest reported trial outcome. Of the ten sets of RE, seven predicted composite CV outcomes, demanding assumptions to predict risk of individual events; only UKPDS and BRAVO predicted all three events. When comparing trial observations against predictions averaged across RE, correlation was greater for absolute event rates (R2: 0.92) than RRs (R2: 0.42). ARIC, Fremantle and New Zealand RE considerably overpredicted risk of MI and stroke compared to the trial. RE typically underpredicted the effect of DAPA on HF (average predicted RR: 0.89 versus reported hazard ratio 0.73, CI: 0.61 to 0.88) and MI (average predicted RR: 0.93 versus reported hazard ratio 0.89, CI: 0.77 to 1.01). Existing methods of CV risk prediction evaluated in this study did not accurately predict the treatment benefits observed in DECLARE-TIMI 58. The development of DECLARE-TIMI 58-specific risk equations may be required to robustly evaluate the long-term clinical and economic impact of DAPA in T2DM. Disclosure P. McEwan: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca. Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd. V. Foos: Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd., IQVIA. H. Bennett: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca. Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd. B. Kartman: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. Stock/Shareholder; Self; AstraZeneca. C. Edmonds: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. I.A. Gause-Nilsson: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. Funding AstraZeneca

Risk equations (RE) from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) remain the most commonly used within economic models of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, clinical practice has evolved since UKPDS reported and the applicability of these RE to contemporary T2DM patients is uncertain. The Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events (DECLARE)-TIMI 58 trial assessed cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in a broad T2DM population treated with dapagliflozin (DAPA) versus placebo (PLA). This study aimed to assess the performance of the UKPDS 82 RE in the DECLARE-TIMI 58 population. RE for myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF) and stroke were applied to baseline characteristics and 12-month effects of DAPA versus PLA on HbA1c, weight and blood pressure from DECLARE-TIMI 58. Predicted annual probabilities were converted to event rates per 1,000-person years and associated relative risks (RR) for DAPA versus PLA derived for comparison to trial outcomes. Due to misalignment of the UKPDS and DECLARE-TIMI 58 endpoints, predictions of congestive heart failure were compared to observed incidence of hospitalization for HF and stroke to ischemic stroke, respectively. Predicted (study reported) rates per 1,000 person years for MI, HF and stroke were 8.15 (11.7), 2.47 (6.20) and 3.28 (6.90) for DAPA, and 8.53 (13.2), 2.59 (8.50) and 3.46 (6.80) for PLA. Predicted RR of MI, HF and stroke for DAPA versus PLA were 0.96, 0.95, 0.95, respectively, compared to reported hazard ratios of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.77, 1.01), 0.73 (0.61, 0.88) and 1.01 (0.84, 1.21) in DECLARE-TIMI 58. UKPDS 82 RE did not predict the reduction in CV events demonstrated for DAPA versus PLA based on risk factor improvements observed in DECLARE-TIMI 58. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that suggests the CV effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors such as DAPA cannot be fully described via treatment-induced changes in conventional prognostic factors. Disclosure P. McEwan: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca. Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd. V. Foos: Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd., IQVIA. H. Bennett: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca. Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd. B. Kartman: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. Stock/Shareholder; Self; AstraZeneca. C. Edmonds: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. I.A. Gause-Nilsson: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. Funding AstraZeneca

Insulin-treatment in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is associated with elevated risk of hypoglycaemia and weight gain, which may act as a barrier to achieving optimal glycaemic control. For patients inadequately controlled by insulin alone, adjunct dapagliflozin can reduce body weight and improve glycaemic control without increased risk of hypoglycaemia. This study aimed to empirically quantify the inter-relationships between hypoglycaemia, body mass index (BMI) and quality of life using DEPICT-2 trial data. A two-stage linear regression framework evaluated (1) the relationship between hypoglycaemic fear score (HFS) and the occurrence of severe hypoglycaemia, the number of documented symptomatic events and patient age, and (2) the relationship between health-related utility (EQ-5D) and prognostic factors for utility, including HFS and BMI. Model selection was based on clinically-relevant factors. A linked evidence approach correlated the relationship between treatment, hypoglycaemia incidence and HbA1c over 52-weeks, to the relationships captured within the regression models. HFS increased as a function of incidence of severe hypoglycaemia (coefficient estimate (CE): 14.62, p=0.004) and frequency of symptomatic events (log transposed, CE: 1.32, p=0.0026). In turn, increased HFS and increased BMI were both independently associated with a significant reduction in utility (CE 0.0024, p Disclosure J. Gordon: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc., Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk A/S, Pfizer Inc., Takeda Canada, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. L.M. Beresford-Hulme: None. H. Bennett: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca. Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd. A. Tank: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. C. Edmonds: Employee; Self; AstraZeneca. P. McEwan: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca. Employee; Self; Health Economics and Outcomes Research Ltd.

The localised crack induced by external load on an individual cross laminated timber (CLT) structural element will generate stress concentrations, which leads to the failure of a structural member. A better understanding of the structural performance of CLT in terms of its strength and failure modes under transverse loading needs to be developed to ensure structural stability, safety and resilience of mass timber buildings. The monitoring and prediction of crack initiation and the failure modes of structural elements before and after localised deformation could enable the mitigation of severe damage in timber buildings. In this study, four-point bending tests were conducted and the digital image correlation (DIC) technique was used as a cost-effective solution to monitor the crack initiation and growth behaviour and predict the failure types of Australian radiata pine CLT panels under out-of-plane loading. Both a speckled surface pattern and the natural grain of the timber were used in the DIC analysis. This will aid with the development of efficient performance-based design guidelines for timber buildings. Based on the crack growth rates and strain fields, the DIC technique can predict the failure locations and modes, namely rolling shear or delamination. This study also highlighted that DIC analysis with a natural grain of timber can be used to measure the crack growth rates in CLT.

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is increasingly being used in commercial and residential construction in Australia due to its inherent strength and sustainability credentials. Until recently, infrastructure building projects using CLT have been reliant on imported products from overseas manufacturers. There is now a viable Australian grown and fabricated CLT product from Radiata pine. This paper summarises the experimental results on the mechanical behaviour of Australian Radiata pine CLT panels in out-of-plane bending and shear. Three-layer 105 mm thick panels and five-layer 145 mm panels with three different spans were tested. The results demonstrate strong correlations to existing theoretical models and were used to validate the finite element model (FEM) developed in this research. The experimental results showed that the average bending stiffness of the CLT panels were marginally greater than theoretical values. The maximum bending strength for Radiata pine exceeded the characteristic strength of 14.0 MPa for grade XLG1 external laminas, with three-layer CLT samples averaging 28.7 MPa and five-layer CLT samples averaging 26.8 MPa. The maximum observed shear stresses ranged from 1.55 MPa to 2.18 MPa, which also exceeded the rolling shear characteristic strength of 1.2 MPa for the feedstock. The results also highlighted that the shear strength decreases with an increasing thickness of the CLT panel.

Considering that there are a significantly large number of variables and several steps, in a chemical process, modeling of such a method is non-trivial. Moreover, the process has a non-linear and transience dependence on the conditions. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Deep Learning methods based on ANNs have been widely recognized as one of the most influential modeling and learning techniques for nonlinear systems. The salient feature of ANN-based modeling is that the detailed mathematical information about the process steps is not pre-determined or fed to the system; instead, the learning takes place by using the training examples. Therefore, it is not surprising that ANN-based modeling is used for predicting the outcomes of chemical processes. Experimental data will be required to train the model and also to validate the predictions.

Development of trust demands personal knowledge and is time consuming; at least so scholars have argued for several decades. Very little work has been done to investigate why in some cases people act as if there are high levels of trust with strangers. While there has been some studies related to the rapid formation of trust, the time perspective differs widely between studies. This is the first study to approach this paradox with an experimental research design; Looking at leadership behavior as a predictor of trust. We were able to identify a trusting intention within the initial sixty seconds of the first meeting between strangers. We propose this form of trust is based of schematic evaluations, and can be operationalized as Immediate Trust. Tillit krever personlig kjennskap, og tar tid å bygge; dette har i hvert fall vært den ledende antakelsen i tillitslitteraturen. Veldig lite forskning har undersøkt hvorfor mennesker som er ukjente for hverandre allikevel kan samarbeide som om de skulle hatt høyt tillitsnivå mellom hverandre. Selv om noen studier har sett på tillit kan vokse frem hurtig, har tidsperspektivet i disse studiene vært svært varierende. Dette er det første studiet som har sett på tillit med en eksperimentell tilnærming. Ved å se på ledelsesatferd og emosjonell stabilitet som prediktorer for tillit kunne vi identifisere en tillitsintensjon innen de første seksti sekundene av det første møtet mellom to ukjente. Vi mener en slik form for tillit er basert på kognitive skjemaevalueringer og kan operasjonaliseres som umiddelbar tillit. Masteroppgave i psykologi MAPSYK360