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ABSTRACT Various small‐scale experiments were performed to provide data for developing a model to predict the thermal response of LLM‐105 over a wide range of conditions. The thermal decomposition of LLM‐105 was studied as a function of sample mass, confinement of volatile products, and preheating time in both isothermal and ramped heating experiments. The thermal decomposition of LLM‐105 is a two‐step process, as shown by the two exothermic peaks in the heat flow profiles, which were fitted to two nth‐order autocatalytic reaction models with a similar activation energy of ∼289 kJ/mol. The magnitude and shape of these peaks varied with sample mass and confinement. Increasing sample mass enhanced the second exotherm with respect to the first one, while increasing the level of confinement promoted a transition from a sublimation‐dominated regime towards thermal decomposition. The effect of LLM‐105 particle size on the rate of weight loss was evident for open‐pan experiments, where bigger particles sublimed at lower temperatures than smaller particles. Thermal response and solid residue composition of LLM‐105 samples were analyzed following preheating for different durations. Longer preheating times caused a shift of the second exotherm to lower temperatures and a decrease in the reaction enthalpy, confirming that LLM‐105 decay is a consecutive reaction mechanism, probably autocatalytic. The kinetic model derived from ramped experiments was validated against the measured LLM‐105 fraction remaining and the enthalpy remaining of the solid residue as a function of preheating times and showed good agreement.

IntroductionOsteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heritable skeletal disorder and comprises various subtypes that differ in clinical presentation, with Type I considered the least severe and Types III/IV the most severe forms. The study aim was to understand the OI patient diagnostic and treatment journey across Europe.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative, descriptive study to understand the OI patient journey. A selection of people with OI/their caregivers and clinicians involved in OI-patient care from across Europe were interviewed using a specially developed questionnaire.ResultsBetween May 2022 and July 2022, 22 people with OI/caregivers and 22 clinicians (endocrinologists, orthopaedic surgeons, geneticists and metabolic specialists) from across Europe were interviewed. Our study showed various areas of concerns for the OI community. Timely diagnosis of OI is essential; misdiagnoses and a delay to treatment initiation are all too common. There are a lack of consensus guidelines regarding optimal treatments (including when bisphosphonate therapy should be initiated and the route of administration) and patient management throughout the duration of the patient’s life. Adult OI patients do not have a medical home and are often managed by endocrinologists and rheumatologists. Adult care is often reactive based on the development of new symptoms. The psychosocial burden of OI impacts on the patient’s quality of life.ConclusionsThere is an urgent need for increased awareness about OI and its wide range of symptoms. In particular, there is a need for consensus guidelines outlining the optimum care throughout the duration of the OI patient’s life.

In the United States, many states are implementing goals to achieve 100% carbon free power generation by 2050 or sooner. California has one of the more aggressive goals to achieve 100% carbon free generation of its retail power sales by 2045. California has excellent solar resources, but to accomplish this goal, California’s power utilities will need new zero carbon resources that can replace the natural gas units that they currently rely on for suppling power at night. Appropriately configured concentrating solar power plants with thermal energy storage are an option to serve this nighttime load. These plants would be designed to take advantage of CSP’s low-cost thermal energy storage and collect and store energy during the day and then be dispatched to produce power at night. The U.S. Department of Energy has funded a study to identify the design of a CSP plant that optimally meets the evolving CA grid needs. This will be done by taking a fresh look at how CSP technologies can best be designed to meet the emerging nighttime market for carbon free power generation or zero-carbon firm resources. The paper provides an overview of the study and present preliminary findings on the California power market requirements, CSP configurations, technoeconomic analysis, siting opportunities, and key issues for CSP deployment in this market.

Low activity levels and poor physical function are associated with technique failure and mortality in people receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). Adequate levels of physical function are required to maintain independence for people choosing this predominantly home-based therapy. The objective of this study was to identify the exercise-related perceptions and practices of PD clinicians globally. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of PD clinicians from English-, Thai-, Spanish-, and Portuguese-speaking PD-prevalent countries exploring clinicians' perceptions and practices of swimming, activity following PD catheter insertion, lifting, and falls prevention. This study was convened by the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis and Global Renal Exercise Network between July and December2021. Of 100 of the highest PD-prevalent countries, 85 responded and were represented in the findings. A total of 1125 PD clinicians (448 nephrologists, 558 nephrology nurses, 59 dietitians, and 56 others) responded from 61% high-income, 32% upper middle-income and 7% lower middle-income countries. The majority (n= 1054, 94%) agreed that structured exercise programs would be beneficial for people receiving PD. Most respondents believed people on PD could perform more exercise (n= 907, 81%) and that abdominal strengthening exercises could be safely performed (n= 661, 59%). Compared to clinicians in high-income countries, clinicians from lower middle-income status (odds ratio [OR], 5.57; 1.64 to 18.9) are more likely to promote participation in physical activity. Clinicians know the importance of physical activity in people receiving PD. Exercise counseling and structured exercise plans could be included in the standard care of people receiving PD to maintain independence.