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Physical activity or structured exercise is beneficial in a wide range of circumstances. Nevertheless, individual-level data on differential responses to various types of activity are not yet sufficient in scale, duration or level of annotation to understand the mechanisms of discrete outcomes nor to support personalized recommendations. The Apple Heart & Movement Study was designed to passively collect the dense physiologic data accessible on Apple Watch and iPhone from a large real-world cohort distributed across the US in order to address these knowledge gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells represent a commercially successful photovoltaic technology, with an annual production capacity approaching 20 GW. However, improving the open‐circuit voltage (VOC) remains challenging. This study aims to deepen the understanding of charge carrier recombination in CdTe solar cells and to explore alternative dynamical characterization methods that address the limitations found in conventionally used time‐resolved photoluminescence for CdTe solar cells. Transient photovoltage and transient photocurrent techniques are utilized to investigate charge carrier dynamics under conditions resembling real‐world solar cell operation. The results reveal that an effective nonradiative recombination lifetime of 580 ns dominates the charge dynamics at VOC values below 850 mV. Above this threshold, radiative recombination becomes significant, with a radiative recombination coefficient of 1.1 × 10−9 cm3 s−1. Additionally, the stationary charge carrier density at 1 sun is determined to be around 1 × 1014 cm−3. By accurately determining both radiative and nonradiative recombination, this work provides a comprehensive understanding of carrier dynamics in high‐performing CdTe devices and paves the way for improving the VOC and performance of CdTe solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adequate characterization of internal modes of climate variability (MoV) is a prerequisite for both accurate seasonal predictions and climate change detection and attribution. Assessing the fidelity of climate models in simulating MoV is therefore essential; however, doing so is complicated by the large intrinsic variations in MoV and the limited span of the observational record. Large ensembles (LEs) provide a unique opportunity to assess model fidelity in simulating MoV and quantify intermodel contrasts. In this work, these goals are pursued in four recently produced LEs: the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) versions 1 and 2 LEs, and the Community Earth System Model (CESM) versions 1 and 2 LEs. In general, the representation of global coupled modes is found to improve across successive E3SM and CESM versions in conjunction with the fidelity of the base state climate while the patterns of extratropical modes are well simulated across the ensembles. Various persistent shortcomings for all MoV are however identified and discussed. The results both demonstrate the successes of these recent model versions and suggest the potential for continued improvement in the representation of MoV with advances in model physics. Significance Statement: Modes of variability play a critical role in prediction of seasonal to decadal climate variability and detection of forced climate change, but historically many modes have been poorly simulated by coupled climate models. Using recently produced large ensembles, this work demonstrates the improved simulation of a broad range of internal modes in successive versions of the E3SM and CESM and discusses opportunities for further advances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-efficiency, lightweight, and flexible solar cells are sought for a variety of applications particularly when high power density and flexible form factors are desired. Development of solar cells on flexible substrates may also offer production advantages in roll-to-roll or sheet-to-sheet processes. Here, we report device efficiencies of 17.2% and 14.6%, under AM1.5G and AM0 irradiances, respectively, for a flexible, lightweight, CdTe-based solar cell. To advance the efficiency relative to the highest previously reported AM1.5G value of 16.4%, we used an indium gallium oxide (IGO) emitter layer on a cadmium stannate (CTO) transparent conductor, which was deposited on 100-μm thick Corning® Willow® Glass. A sputtered CdSe layer was employed to incorporate Se into a CdTe absorber that was deposited by close-space sublimation, and CuSCN was used as a hole transport layer between the CdTe and the back metal electrode. The IGO and CTO layers remained intact during the high temperature film processing as seen in cross-sectional imaging and elemental mapping. This device configuration offers great promise for building-integrated photovoltaics, space applications, and higher rate manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a great deal of interest in increasing the energy yield from thin film solar cells by implementing bifacial operation. However, deleterious band bending and high interface recombination at the back transparent electrode can cause problems. Herein, it is investigated how bifacial thin film devices perform when illuminated through the front, back, and simultaneously through both interfaces using numerical modeling. It is shown that the downward band bending near the back interface is reduced during illumination when the carrier concentration is low. This effect is not found when the doping is relatively high, but the minority carrier distribution is still modified. Under either condition, the power generated under bifacial illumination exceeds the sum of the power generated when the illumination is solely from the back or the front. It is also shown that the back‐illuminated device performance is independent of the angle at which the light enters the back of the device, which provides accommodation for scattered light. Finally, the power enhancement is calculated for bifacial devices relative to front‐illuminated devices, and is shown that any significant loss in frontside power generation is difficult to overcome with back illumination under real‐world albedo conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate system and its spatio-temporal changes are strongly affected by modes of long-term internal variability, like the Pacific decadal variability (PDV) and the Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV). As they alternate between warm and cold phases, the interplay between PDV and AMV varies over decadal to multidecadal timescales. Here, we use a causal discovery method to derive fingerprints in the Atlantic–Pacific interactions and to investigate their phase-dependent changes. Dependent on the phases of PDV and AMV, different regimes with characteristic causal fingerprints are identified in reanalyses in a first step. In a second step, a regime-oriented causal model evaluation is performed to evaluate the ability of models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) in representing the observed changing interactions between PDV, AMV and their extra-tropical teleconnections. The causal graphs obtained from reanalyses detect a direct opposite-sign response from AMV to PDV when analyzing the complete 1900–2014 period and during several defined regimes within that period, for example, when AMV is going through its negative (cold) phase. Reanalyses also demonstrate a same-sign response from PDV to AMV during the cold phase of PDV. Historical CMIP6 simulations exhibit varying skill in simulating the observed causal patterns. Generally, large-ensemble (LE) simulations showed better network similarity when PDV and AMV were out of phase compared to other regimes. Also, the two largest ensembles (in terms of number of members) were found to contain realizations with similar causal fingerprints to observations. For most regimes, these same models showed higher network similarity when compared to each other. This work shows how causal discovery on LEs complements the available diagnostics and statistical metrics of climate variability to provide a powerful tool for climate model evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used multicriteria decision analysis to quantitatively compare two prototype buildings, both designed using equivalent mass timber and steel structural systems across four decision criteria of seismic resiliency, global warming potential, superstructure cost, and durability. The 5-story and 12-story prototype buildings were both located at an arbitrary site in Seattle, WA. The first three decision criteria were quantitatively measured for each prototype building and durability was assumed to be equivalent between the alternatives. Seismic resiliency was measured using the median expected annual loss calculated using as a percentage of predicted building replacement cost using a procedure in line with FEMA P-58. The global warming potential was measured over the production, construction, and end-of-life stages using the life-cycle analysis program Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings (IE4B). The superstructure cost was calculated as the average cost per square meter using 10 estimating variations that attempt to account for uncertainty in market rates of material, labor, and mass timber design efficiency. Five decision-maker scenarios were analyzed that span the practical range of decision-maker priorities, as informed by discussions with architects and engineers active in the Pacific Northwest. Results from this study showed that for decision-maker cases where the global warming priority was low, steel buildings were the preferred choice. For cases with moderate to high global warming priority and low priority on cost, mass timber buildings were the preferred choice. However, for decision-maker scenarios with moderate priority on both global warming potential and cost, the steel and mass timber buildings were approximately equivalent. Finally, a hybrid steel–timber alternative was presented as a possible sweet-spot solution that merged the benefits of each building material and minimized their drawbacks, making it the most-preferred solution for the case of moderate priority on both cost and global warming potential. The hybrid case was also close second in ranked choice for all other scenarios examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, antimony sulfoselenide (Sb2(S, Se)3) thin‐film solar cells are fabricated by a hydrothermal method followed by a post‐deposition annealing process at different temperatures and the impact of the annealing temperature on the morphological, structural, optoelectronic, and defect properties of the hydrothermally grown Sb2(S, Se)3 films is investigated. It is found that a proper annealing temperature leads to high‐quality Sb2(S, Se)3 films with large crystal grains, high crystallinity, preferred crystal orientation, smooth and uniform morphology, and reduced defect density. These results show that suppressing deep‐level defects is crucial to enhance solar cell performance. After optimizing the annealing process, Sb2(S, Se)3 solar cells with an improved power conversion efficiency 2.04 to 8.48% are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative contributions of external forcing and internal processes to the observed spatial and temporal characteristics of "Atlantic Multidecadal Variability" (AMV) are still under debate. Here, the efficacy of the commonly‐used "global temperature residual method" for isolating the internal component of AMV is investigated by means of model Large Ensembles where the truth is known a priori. In this method, local sea surface temperature variability associated with global‐mean temperature (G) is removed via linear regression, and the residuals regressed upon the North Atlantic residual timeseries. We show that this method introduces spurious connections over the Indo‐Pacific due to the fact that G in any single realization includes both external and internal components: the latter dominated by influences from Pacific Decadal Variability independent of AMV. This methodological shortcoming can be overcome by using the forced component of G in the residual method applied to individual model realizations and to observations. Plain Language Summary: The phenomenon known as "Atlantic Multidecadal Variability" (AMV) has been widely studied and has important climate effects over Africa, Asia, Europe, and eastern North America. Recently, there has been considerable debate regarding the relative contributions of natural processes within the coupled ocean‐atmosphere system versus human influences related to aerosol emissions on the spatial and temporal character of AMV. An accurate separation of these natural and anthropogenic contributions has proven challenging due to limitations of the data record. Statistical techniques aimed at isolating the natural component of AMV often yield conflicting results. Here, we investigate one widely‐used approach based on removing variability associated with global‐mean temperatures. We show that the conventional application of this method aliases another well‐known phenomenon, "Interdecadal Pacific Variability," onto the pattern of natural AMV. However, with a simple modification to the method, the true pattern of natural AMV can be recovered. Key Points: A common method for isolating the internal component of Atlantic Multidecadal Variability is to remove fluctuations associated with global‐mean temperatureThis method introduces spurious Indo‐Pacific connections in model Large Ensembles and observations due to internal variations in global‐mean temperatureA revised method based on removing fluctuations associated with the forced component of global‐mean temperature mitigates this issue [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disentangling the effects of internal variability and anthropogenic forcing on regional climate trends remains a key challenge with far-reaching implications. Due to its largely unpredictable nature on timescales longer than a decade, internal climate variability limits the accuracy of climate model projections, introduces challenges in attributing past climate changes, and complicates climate model evaluation. Here, we highlight recent advances in climate modeling and physical understanding that have led to novel insights about these key issues. In particular, we synthesize new findings from large-ensemble simulations with Earth system models, observational large ensembles, and dynamical adjustment methodologies, with a focus on European climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bandgap gradient is a proven approach for improving the open-circuit voltages (VOCs) in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and Cu(Zn,Sn)Se2 thin-film solar cells, but has not been realized in Cd(Se,Te) thin-film solar cells, a leading thin-film solar cell technology in the photovoltaic market. Here, we demonstrate the realization of a bandgap gradient in Cd(Se,Te) thin-film solar cells by introducing a Cd(O,S,Se,Te) region with the same crystal structure of the absorber near the front junction. The formation of such a region is enabled by incorporating oxygenated CdS and CdSe layers. We show that the introduction of the bandgap gradient reduces the hole density in the front junction region and introduces a small spike in the band alignment between this and the absorber regions, effectively suppressing the nonradiative recombination therein and leading to improved VOCs in Cd(Se,Te) solar cells using commercial SnO2 buffers. A champion device achieves an efficiency of 20.03% with a VOC of 0.863 V. Bandgap gradient is a promising approach to improve the open-circuit voltage in thin film solar cells. Here, authors incorporate a Cd(O,S,Se,Te) region to realize the bandgap gradient at front interface and demonstrate Cd(Se,Te) solar cells with reduced recombination and a champion efficiency of 20.03%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic cystic fluid (PCF) analysis is frequently used for cyst diagnosis with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) being the most accepted biomarker. Low glucose levels in PCF were previously suggested as a marker for mucinous cysts. A bed-side glucometer is a point-of care, immediate, simple, and cheap method which requires a small volume of PCF. Objectives: The aim of our study was to identify the optimal glucose cut-off level for identifying mucinous cysts, evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of glucose compared to CEA, and validate glucometry against reference laboratory biochemical analysis. Design: A single-center prospective cohort study. Methods: Consecutive patients aged 18 and older, who underwent pancreatic cyst evaluation, at the Tel Aviv Medical Center between 2016 and 2021 were analyzed. Cyst type was defined based on clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings. Glucose was measured using laboratory biochemical analysis and two glucometers. Receiver operating characteristic analysis derived sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated and McNemar test was used to compare between methods. Results: One hundred and one PCF samples were evaluated. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve for identifying mucinous cysts using glucometer, glucose laboratory, and their combination were 0.88 (p < 0.001), 0.92 (p < 0.001), and 0.93 (p < 0.001), respectively. A glucose level of 87 mg/dL was identified as the optimal laboratory glucose threshold value to detect mucinous cyst with a sensitivity of 90.9%, specificity of 83.3%, and accuracy of 89.3, higher in comparison to cyst fluid CEA. Furthermore, PCF glucose levels had the strongest association with mucinous cysts. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PCF glucose level is more accurate than CEA for the diagnosis of mucinous cysts. Glucometry glucose level assessment demonstrated an excellent correlation with laboratory glucose measurements and may become a useful diagnostic test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifacial solar cells have the potential to maintain energy output higher than monofacial devices under unfavorable weather conditions. A transparent back‐buffer layer which can passivate the interface and improve the minority carrier lifetime is critical in CdTe‐based bifacial devices. Herein, solution‐processed CuxCryOz as a promising back‐buffer for CdTe/CdS solar cells is demonstrated. The carrier lifetimes measured at the front and back of the device are 31.2 and 3.1 ns, respectively, which correspond to an increase of ≈38% and 138%, respectively, compared to the reference device. This dramatic improvement in lifetime results in a 100% increase in short‐circuit current measured with backside illumination. The best bifacial device has efficiencies 7.6% and 12.5%, respectively, from back and front illumination, yielding a bifaciality factor of 0.60. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disentangling the effects of internal variability and anthropogenic forcing on regional climate change remains a key challenge with far-reaching implications. Due to its largely unpredictable nature on timescales longer than a decade, internal climate variability limits the accuracy of climate model projections, introduces challenges in attributing past climate changes, and complicates climate model evaluation. Here, we highlight recent advances in climate modeling and physical understanding that have led to novel insights on these key issues. In particular, we synthesize new findings from Large Ensemble simulations with Earth System Models, Observational Large Ensembles, and "dynamical adjustment" methodologies, with a focus on European climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate system and its spatio-temporal changes are strongly affected by modes of long-term internal variability, like the Pacific Decadal Varibility (PDV) and the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV). As they alternate between warm and cold phases, the interplay between PDV and AMV varies over decadal to multidecadal timescales. Here, we use a causal discovery method to derive fingerprints in the Atlantic-Pacific interactions and investigate their phase-dependent changes. Dependent on the phases of PDV and AMV, different regimes with characteristic causal fingerprints are identified in reanalyses in a first step. In a second step, a regime-oriented causal model evaluation is performed to evaluate the ability of models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) in representing the observed changing interactions between PDV, AMV and their extra-tropical teleconnections. The causal graphs obtained from reanalyses detect a direct opposite-sign response from AMV on PDV when analysing the complete 1900-2014 period, and during several defined regimes within that period, for example, when AMV is going through its negative (cold) phase. Reanalyses also demonstrate a same-sign response from PDV on AMV during the cold phase of PDV. Historical CMIP6 simulations exhibit varying skill in simulating the observed causal patterns. Generally, Large Ensemble (LE) simulations showed better network similarity when PDV and AMV are out of phase compared to other regimes. Also, the two largest ensembles (in terms of number of members) were found to contain realizations with similar causal fingerprints to observations. For most regimes, these same models showed higher network similarity when compared to each other. This work shows how causal discovery on LEs complements the available diagnostics and statistics metrics of climate variability to provide a powerful tool for climate model evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate system and its spatio-temporal changes are strongly affected by modes of long-term internal variability, like the Pacific Decadal Varibility (PDV) and the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV). As they alternate between warm and cold phases, the interplay between PDV and AMV varies over decadal to multidecadal timescales. Here, we use a causal discovery method to derive fingerprints in the Atlantic-Pacific interactions and investigate their phase-dependent changes. Dependent on the phases of PDV and AMV, different regimes with characteristic causal fingerprints are identified in reanalyses in a first step. In a second step, a regime-oriented causal model evaluation is performed to evaluate the ability of models participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) in representing the observed changing interactions between PDV, AMV and their extra-tropical teleconnections. The causal graphs obtained from reanalyses detect a direct opposite-sign response from AMV on PDV when analysing the complete 1900–2014 period, and during several defined regimes within that period, for example, when AMV is going through its negative (cold) phase. Reanalyses also demonstrate a same-sign response from PDV on AMV during the cold phase of PDV. Historical CMIP6 simulations exhibit varying skill in simulating the observed causal patterns. Generally, Large Ensemble (LE) simulations showed better network similarity when PDV and AMV are out of phase compared to other regimes. Also, the two largest ensembles (in terms of number of members) were found to contain realizations with similar causal fingerprints to observations. For most regimes, these same models showed higher network similarity when compared to each other. This work shows how causal discovery on LEs complements the available diagnostics and statistics metrics of climate variability to provide a powerful tool for climate model evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupled walls are a common lateral load resisting system for buildings located in seismic regions. Coupling beams create a ductile link between walls that increase the structure's resistance to lateral forces and its ability to dissipate seismic energy. During a major seismic event, coupling beams dissipate energy by yielding and acting as a fuse. Replaceable steel coupling beams are an alternative to conventionally and diagonally-reinforced concrete coupling beams and offer the advantage of improved constructability and post-earthquake reparability. Previous studies on replaceable steel coupling beams have focused on shear yielding beams, while this study focused on flexure-yielding beams. Five two-third-scaled, cantilever steel coupling beams with reduced beam sections (RBSs) were tested under fully reversed cyclic loading. The primary test variables were parallel or single steel coupling beams, RBS cut geometry, and moment end-plate to embedded plate wall connection. Coupling beams with and without RBS cuts had deformation capacities of 8% or greater and 6%, respectively. Using RBS cuts within the parameters of AISC 358-16 resulted in the largest ductility. The moment end-plate to embedded plate connection was determined to have a significant effect on the beam stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has far reaching impacts through atmospheric teleconnections, which make it a prominent driver of global interannual climate variability. As such, whether and how these teleconnections may change due to projected future climate change remains is a topic of high societal relevance. Here, ENSO Surface Temperature (TAS) and Precipitation (PR) teleconnections between the historical and high‐emission future simulations are compared in more than 31 models from Phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. We find significant future (2081–2100) TAS and PR teleconnection changes over approximately 50% of teleconnected regions in December‐February relative to 1950–2014. The large majority of these significant teleconnection changes suggest that an amplification of the historical teleconnections will occur, however, some regions also display a significant teleconnection dampening. Further to this, in many regions these ENSO teleconnection changes scale with the projected warming level, with higher warming leading to larger teleconnection changes. Plain Language Summary: The El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has far reaching impacts through atmospheric teleconnections, which make it a prominent driver of global interannual climate variability. As such, whether and how these teleconnections may change due to projected future climate change remains a topic of high societal relevance. Here, ENSO surface temperature (TAS) and precipitation (PR) teleconnections between the historical and high‐emission future simulations from Phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project are compared. Focusing on the season when ENSO typically peaks (December‐February), we find significant future (2081–2100) TAS and PR teleconnection changes over approximately half of teleconnected regions relative to 1950–2014. The large majority of these significant teleconnection changes suggest that an amplification of the historical teleconnections will occur, however, some regions also display a significant teleconnection dampening. Further to this, in many regions these ENSO teleconnection changes scale with the projected warming level. This scaling of teleconnection changes with warming suggests that a lot of the changes to ENSO teleconnections can be avoided by minimizing future warming, or vice versa, larger year to year TAS and PR variability due to ENSO is likely to be experienced with strong future warming. Key Points: El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) teleconnection changes are found over ∼50% of teleconnected regions in December‐February for the period 2081–2100, relative to 1950–2014The large majority of these projected teleconnection changes suggest that an amplification of the historical teleconnections will occurENSO teleconnection changes largely scale with the projected warming level (i.e., higher warming leads to larger teleconnection changes) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and colorectal cancer (CRC) and polyps is controversial. Objectives: To compare the prevalence of CRC and colorectal polyps among patients with IPMN and matched average risk individuals. Methods: A match cross-sectional historical study comparing colonoscopy findings of 310 patients with IPMN cysts who underwent at least one colonoscopy examination from 2004 through 2019, with 310 age- and gender-matched average risk participants who underwent a screening colonoscopy. CRC and polyps were assessed in both groups. The prevalence and odds ratio were calculated. Results: CRC was diagnosed in 16 of 310 patients with IPMN (5.2%), and at least one polyp was detected in 96 patients (31%). The prevalence of CRC was greater among patients with IPMN than in matched individuals [5.2% versus 1.3%, p = 0.012, prevalence odds ratio (POR) 4, confidence interval (CI) 1.29–16.44]. The overall prevalence of polyps was not higher among patients with IPMN than in matched individuals (31% versus 26.8%, p = 0.291, POR 1.22, CI 0.85–1.76). However, the prevalence of colorectal adenomas with high-grade dysplasia was higher in patients with IPMN than in matched individuals (4.2% versus 1%, p = 0.02, POR 4.33, CI, 1.19–23.7). The prevalence of large polyps (i.e. more than 20 mm in size) was also greater in patients with IPMN than in matched individuals (6.1% versus 1.9%, p = 0.011, POR 3.6, CI, 1.29–12.40). Conclusion: Patients with IPMN have a significantly higher prevalence of CRC and advanced polyps than the average risk population. In view of our findings, we suggest that once the diagnosis of IPMN is made, special consideration of CRC should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the first line treatment for choledocholithiasis. In many occasions, several attempts of ERCP are performed until failure is declared and surgical treatment is applied, in many times following procedure-related complications. We present the results of surgical management of patients with choledocholithiasis following repeated failures of ERCP due to impaction of multiple large stones.Methods: Patients that underwent surgical treatment for choledocholithiasis following repeated ERCP attempts between January 2006 and December 2018 were retrospectively assessed. Post-ERCP complications were evaluated and the surgical approach, technique, and outcomes were assessed.Results: One hundred and two patients were operated on for choledocholithiasis following repeated failed ERCP. All the patients had at least 2 failed attempts (mean = 3.2 ± 1.7), and 25 (23.5%) suffered major ERCP-related complications. Following choledochotomy and stone extraction, bilioenteric anastomosis was done in the vast majority of patients (90.2%), most commonly choledochoduodenostomy (62%). Thirty-eight (37%) patients had minimally invasive procedure (laparoscopic n = 26, robotic assisted n = 12). Major post-operative complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3) occurred in 24 patients (23.5%). Nine patients (8.8%) were re-operated and 10 (9.8%) were readmitted within 30 days from surgery. Three patients died within 30 days from surgery. Older patients had significantly more ERCP attempts and suffered higher post-operative mortality. During a median follow-up of 70 months, the only biliary complication was an anastomotic stricture in one patient.Conclusion: Surgery for CBDS after failure of ERCP is safe and provides a highly effective long-term solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as an additive in the active layer of organic photovoltaics (OPV) to improve charge extraction is gaining weight in the research community. While SWNTs can transport charge carriers orders of magnitudes faster than conventional polymers, they also quench excitons and trap‐free charges, reducing device performance. Such influences of SWNTs on OPV device performance remain inadequately explored and incompletely understood. Herein, the impact of SWNTs, enriched in (6,5) chirality, on the charge generation and extraction properties of two different OPV devices is studied by femtosecond‐microsecond transient absorption spectroscopy and transient photovoltage/photocurrent techniques. It is shown that depending on the donor material properties (e.g., energetics), SWNTs can reduce carrier generation by quenching the excitons and increase carrier recombination through trapping processes. Then, by performing an analytical calculation of the current–voltage characteristics of the devices using the parameters determined via the transient measurements, it is shown that the increased recombination also relates to morphological changes induced by the SWNTs. These results shed light on the performance limiting factors of the SWNTs when incorporated into the active layer of the solar cells. This work thus can accelerate the blend optimization process for high‐performance organic solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adam Phillips is a leading psychoanalyst and author. Phillips was educated at Clifton College and studied English Literature at Oxford University. He trained to be a psychoanalyst at the Institute of Child Psychology. Across the course of his professional career, he has worked at Guys Hospital, with a school for 'maladjusted children', at Camberwell Child Guidance Clinic and at Charing Cross Hospital in the Department of Child Psychiatry. He now works in private practice. Phillips is the author of many works, including Terrors and Experts (1997), In Writing: Essays on Literature (2016), Attention Seeking (2019) and his most recent book, The Cure for Psychoanalysis (2021). He also served as the General Editor of the New Penguin Classics Translations of the works of Sigmund Freud. The conversation begins by exploring the way mental health has become a topic of public interest as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The opportunities and challenges in Phillips's experience working with schools and for young people's mental health services during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s are then discussed. Questions about the nature of psychoanalysis are introduced, and the discussion turns towards the relationship between philosophy, literature and psychoanalysis. There is a brief discussion of connections between Phillips's work and the philosophy of Stanley Cavell. Phillips's essays on schools and education are explored in connection with ideas of omniscience, sadomasochism and 'experiments in living'. The conversation ends with a glimpse of school as a place to cultivate one's interest and one's sociability with others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is impaired following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). CSL112 is an intravenous preparation of human plasma-derived apoA-I formulated with phosphatidylcholine (PC). CSL112 is intended to improve CEC and thereby prevent early recurrent cardiovascular events following AMI. AEGIS-I (ApoA-I Event Reducing in Ischemic Syndromes I) was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging phase 2b study, designed to evaluate the hepatic and renal safety of CSL112. Here, we report an analysis of a pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) substudy of AEGIS-I. Methods: AMI patients were stratified by renal function and randomized 3:3:2 to 4, weekly, 2-hour infusions of low- and high-dose (2 g and 6 g) CSL112, or placebo. PK/PD assessments included plasma concentrations of apoA-I and PC, and measures of total and ABCA1-dependent CEC, as well as lipids/lipoproteins including high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), ApoB, and triglycerides. Inflammatory and cardio-metabolic biomarkers were also evaluated. Results: The substudy included 63 subjects from AEGIS-I. CSL112 infusions resulted in rapid, dose-dependent increases in baseline corrected apoA-I and PC, which peaked at the end of the infusion (Tmax ≈ 2 hours). Similarly, there was a dose-dependent elevation in both total CEC and ABCA1-mediated CEC. Mild renal impairment did not affect the PK or PD of CSL112. CSL112 administration was also associated with an increase in plasma levels of HDL-C but not non-HDL-C, LDL-C, apoB, or triglycerides. No dose-effects on inflammatory or cardio-metabolic biomarkers were observed. Conclusion: Among patients with AMI, impaired CEC was rapidly elevated by CSL112 infusions in a dose-dependent fashion, along with an increase in apoA-I plasma concentrations. Findings from the current sub-study of the AEGIS-I support a potential atheroprotective benefit of CSL112 for AMI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The canonical index of "Atlantic Multidecadal Variability" (AMV) is the low‐pass filtered timeseries of sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) averaged over the North Atlantic. This index and its associated SSTA spatial pattern confound externally forced climate change and internally generated climate variability. The internal component of AMV is commonly isolated by either subtracting the global‐mean SSTA or removing the pattern of SSTA associated with the global‐mean. This study evaluates the skill of each method with regard to the spatial pattern of internal AMV, using nine coupled model Large Ensembles over the period 1940–2100 as a testbed in which the true internal AMV is known a priori. The first method aliases the structure of forced climate change onto internal AMV, while the second method is generally robust to climate change. The models simulate realistic patterns of internal AMV, although such an assessment is hampered by the brevity of the observational record. Plain Language Summary: As anthropogenic climate change escalates, conventional methods aimed at isolating modes of natural climate variability from forced changes may be inadequate. This study considers the "Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation" (also known as "Atlantic Multidecadal Variability"), a well‐known phenomenon canonically defined from the timeseries of sea surface temperatures averaged over the North Atlantic basin. A simple and widely used approach for removing the anthropogenic signal from this index and its associated spatial pattern is to subtract the global‐mean temperature at each location and time. However, this method aliases the pattern of forced climate change onto the pattern of natural AMV. A simple alternative approach based on subtracting the pattern of anthropogenic climate change associated with global‐mean temperature is much more successful at isolating the natural component of AMV within a background changing climate. The conclusions are based on evidence from nine different state‐of‐the‐art coupled climate model "large ensembles," which serve as methodological testbeds by providing robust estimates of the true structure of the models' natural of modes of variability under human‐induced climate change. The results have general implications for how modes of natural variability are defined in a future warming world. Key Points: A common index of Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV) is low‐pass filtered North Atlantic minus global‐mean sea surface temperature (SST)This index aliases the structure of forced climate change onto the pattern of internal AMV in the futureAn alternative index based on removing the forced pattern of SST associated with the global‐mean is generally robust to climate change [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay outlines the importance of faith-based organizations in humanitarian assistance and international development by examining the history of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and its future under the Biden administration. It also describes the findings from the USAID Evidence Summit on Strategic Religious Engagement and puts them in the context of current international crises to demonstrate the essential nature of faith-based organizations to that scope of global development and humanitarian assistance work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large set of deterministic and ensemble forecasts was produced to identify the optimal spacing for forecasting U.S. East Coast snowstorms. WRF forecasts were produced on cloud-allowing (;1-km grid spacing) and convection-allowing (3-4 km) grids, and compared against forecasts with parameterized convection (.;10 km). Performance diagrams were used to evaluate 19 deterministic forecasts from the winter of 2013-14. Ensemble forecasts of five disruptive snowstorms spanning the years 2015-18 were evaluated using various methods to evaluate probabilistic forecasts. While deterministic forecasts using cloudallowing grids were not better than convection-allowing forecasts, both had lower bias and higher success ratios than forecasts with parameterized convection. All forecasts were underdispersive. Nevertheless, forecasts on the higher-resolution grids were more reliable than those with parameterized convection. Forecasts on the cloud-allowing grid were best able to discriminate areas that received heavy snow and those that did not, while the forecasts with parameterized convection were least able to do so. It is recommended to use convection-resolving and (if computationally possible) to use cloud-allowing forecast grids when predicting East Coast winter storms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricate and characterize methylammonium lead halide perovskite film as a novel back contact to CdTe thin‐film solar cells. We apply ~0.75 μm perovskite film at the interface of CdCl2‐activated and Cu‐doped CdTe surface and complete the device with Au back contact. We use Cu/Au back contact as a reference to compare results with novel back contact. Our investigation shows that incorporation of thin layer of perovskite film before the back contact metal reduces back contact barrier effect and improves fill factor (FF) and open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of the solar cells. Our low temperature JV results prove that thin‐film perovskite is a very necessary component in CdTe solar cells to reduce back contact barrier, to minimize interface or surface recombination, to improve collection efficiencies, and to increase the efficiency of solar cells. Our best device shows 7% increase in VOC to 0.875 V and ~7% increase in FF with the highest FF of 81%, and solar cell's efficiency finally increases by 10% with the use of MAPb(I1‐xBrx)3 as an interface layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolving material science and device architectures continue to drive improvements in photovoltaic solar cell performance. Herein, the synthesis and application of p-type transparent copper--zinc--sulfide (Cu--Zn--S) nanocomposite thin films for application as a semi-transparent back buffer layer for cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaics is reported. Earth-abundant and low-toxicity Cu--Zn--S films are prepared at room temperature using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). Transparency in the range of 500--800 nm, low resistivity, and composition-controlled bandgap energy offer a compelling material system for high performance as an electron reflector enabling bifacial cell design. Implementing the Cu--Zn--S hole transport material (HTM) at the CdTe back contact, without intentional introduction of Cu doping, converts simulated AM1.5 sunlight to electricity at an efficiency up to 13.2%, with an average device performance of 13.0%. Intentional Cu doping yields a best efficiency of 14.3% with open-circuit voltage ( VOC) of 848 mV and fill factor (FF) of 77.3% (average 14.1%). Our study shows the clear promise of this material for highly efficient and semi-transparent back contact to CdTe solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolving roles of anthropogenic aerosols (AER) and greenhouse gases (GHG) in driving large-scale patterns of precipitation and SST trends during 1920–2080 are studied using a new set of “all-but-one-forcing” initial-condition large ensembles (LEs) with the Community Earth System Model version 1 (CESM1), which complement the original “all-forcing” CESM1 LE (ALL). The large number of ensemble members (15–20) in each of the new LEs enables regional impacts of AER and GHG to be isolated from the noise of the model’s internal variability. Our analysis approach, based on running 50-yr trends, accommodates geographical and temporal changes in patterns of forcing and response. AER are shown to be the primary driver of large-scale patterns of externally forced trends in ALL before the late 1970s, and GHG to dominate thereafter. The AER and GHG forced trends are spatially distinct except during the 1970s transition phase when aerosol changes are mainly confined to lower latitudes. The transition phase is also characterized by a relative minimum in the amplitude of forced trend patterns in ALL, due to a combination of reduced AER and partially offsetting effects of AER and GHG. Internal variability greatly limits the detectability of AER- and GHG-forced trend patterns in individual realizations based on pattern correlation metrics, especially during the historical period, highlighting the need for LEs. We estimate that <20% of the spatial variances of observed precipitation and SST trends are attributable to AER and GHG forcing, although model biases in patterns of forced response and signal-to-noise may affect this estimate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The progress of electronic health technologies and biobanks holds enormous promise for efficient research. Evidence shows that studies based on sharing and secondary use of data/samples have the potential to significantly advance medical knowledge. However, sharing of such resources for international collaboration is hampered by the lack of clarity about ethical and legal requirements for transfer of data and samples across international borders.Main Text: Here, the International Clinical Trial Center Network (ICN) reports the legal and ethical requirements governing data and sample exchange (DSE) across four continents. The most recurring requirement is ethical approval, whereas only in specific conditions approval of national health authorities is required. Informed consent is not required in all sharing situations. However, waiver of informed consent is only allowed in certain countries/regions and under certain circumstances. The current legal and ethical landscape appears to be very complex and under constant evolution. Regulations differ between countries/regions and are often incomplete, leading to uncertainty.Conclusion: With this work, ICN illuminates the unmet need for a single international collaborative framework to facilitate DSE. Harmonising requirements for global DSE will reduce inefficiency and waste in research. There are many challenges to realising this ambitious vision, including inconsistent terminology and definitions, and heterogeneous and dynamic legal constraints. Here, we identify areas of agreement and significant difference as a necessary first step towards facilitating international collaboration. We propose the establishment of a working group to continue the comparison across jurisdictions, create a standardised glossary and define a set of basic principles and fundamental requirements for DSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical properties such as interface energy barriers, defect energy levels, and densities dictate the performance of thin film solar cells. Here, we show that these properties can be quantified in cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin‐film solar cells using admittance spectroscopy‐based techniques. Our results reveal that the electrical properties in CdTe thin‐film solar cells depend on both buffer material and the fabrication atmosphere. We find that only a negligible front contact barrier exists at the CdS/CdTe front junction regardless of the fabrication atmospheres, while an obvious front barriers are observed at the ZnMgO (ZMO)/CdTe junctions. Both CdS/CdTe and ZMO/CdTe solar cells exhibit back contact barrier. The energy level of defects is shallower in CdS/CdTe cells than in ZMO/CdTe cells. The fabrication atmosphere influences the electrical properties, i.e., an oxygen‐free atmosphere reduces the front and back barrier heights and lowers the energy level of defects. The results provide critical insights for understanding and optimizing the performance of CdTe thin‐film solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A personal narrative is presented which focuses on the author's realization that the 1992 general election in Great Britain would yield an unexpected result for Conservatives that was not anticipated by public opinion polls.

A conference paper about ethics in observational market research is presented. A history of observational market research and evolution of privacy law is given. Guidelines for market researchers are mentioned. Guidelines for Internet marketing research being revised by the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR) are discussed.

This paper describes the Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering Large Ensemble (GLENS) project, which promotes the use of a unique model dataset, performed with the Community Earth System Model, with the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model as its atmospheric component [CESM1(WACCM)], to investigate global and regional impacts of geoengineering. The performed simulations were designed to achieve multiple simultaneous climate goals, by strategically placing sulfur injections at four different locations in the stratosphere, unlike many earlier studies that targeted globally averaged surface temperature by placing injections in regions at or around the equator. This advanced approach reduces some of the previously found adverse effects of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering, including uneven cooling between the poles and the equator and shifts in tropical precipitation. The 20-member ensemble increases the ability to distinguish between forced changes and changes due to climate variability in global and regional climate variables in the coupled atmosphere, land, sea ice, and ocean system. We invite the broader community to perform in-depth analyses of climate-related impacts and to identify processes that lead to changes in the climate system as the result of a strategic application of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author provides historical information about marketing research companies. Particular attention is given to why Procter & Gamble interviewers used to have to memorise their questionnaires and conduct the interview without any visible means of recording and why they stopped. Information about the first mass observers is provided. Mass observation identified five different ways of collecting information about people's opinions. Those five ways are also presented in this article.

Recent numerical modeling and experimental work have shown that appropriate conduction band alignment at the emitter/absorber interface is critically important for high efficiency CdTe solar cells. To date, however, the properties of the transparent conducting oxide (TCO)/emitter interface have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we use numerical modeling to determine the role of the conduction band alignment at the TCO/emitter interface. Our findings are increasingly important to device performance as efforts are made to widen the bandgap of the absorber. We also investigate the relative importance of the barrier caused by poor front contact versus the barrier at the back contact. It is well known that a barrier at the back contact can reduce the open circuit voltage of the device and produce rollover in the current density-voltage but is not well appreciated that a barrier at the front of the device can play a completely analogous role. We also show that for optimum device performance at any absorber bandgap, the conduction band of the TCO must be no more than 0.3 eV below the conduction band of the emitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]