Nesta

AimsThe link between health and economic prosperity is well established, yet quantifying the value of illness prevention remains challenging due to lack of comprehensive metrics. Obesity exemplifies this issue, having widespread societal and health care impacts but limited prevention funding. Existing metrics often fail to capture broader effects of prevention of obesity. This study aimed to identify key components for a holistic metric to assess obesity and cardiometabolic health progression, better articulating value of prevention.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a targeted literature review to identify existing individual and composite metrics for prevention in adults, agnostic of disease or risk factor. We categorized endpoints into: (i) holistic composite measures; (ii) user‐centred composite measures; (iii) health outcome composite measures; (iv) single clinical endpoints. Metrics were evaluated against eight criteria including holistic outcome, cardiometabolic relevance, data feasibility, geographical generalizability, established outcome, economic modelling methodology, stakeholder relevance and preventive value; alongside semi‐structured review from six clinical, health economics and policy experts.ResultsCardiometabolic endpoints numbering 74 were identified: 7 holistic composites, 16 user‐centred composites, 31 health‐based composites and 20 single clinical endpoints. Five endpoints were shortlisted according to assessment criteria and expert input: waist‐to‐height ratio, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose and the 12‐Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐12). These endpoints collectively reflected physiological cardiometabolic risk factors with an adverse association with obesity, while SF‐12 provided health‐related quality‐of‐life measurement.ConclusionsWe developed a novel framework that shortlisted five key cardiometabolic outcome measures for assessing obesity primary prevention benefits, with potential applications in health economic modelling and public health.

This study investigates the nanomechanical and tribological behavior of multilayered nitride/carbonitride nanostructured superlattice type coatings (NTCs) composed of alternating TiAlSiNb-N and TiCr-CN sublayers, deposited via high-power ion-plasma magnetron sputtering (HiPIPMS) technique. Reinforced with refractory elements Cr and Nb, the NTC samples exhibit high nanohardness (39–59 GPa), low friction, and excellent wear resistance. A novel analytical approach was introduced to extract stress–strain field (SSF) gradients and divergences from nanoindentation data, revealing alternating strain-hardening and strain-softening cycles beneath the incrementally loaded indenter. The discovered oscillatory behavior, consistent across all samples under the investigation, suggests a general deformation mechanism in thin films under incremental loading. Fourier analysis of the SSF gradient oscillatory pattern revealed a variety of characteristic dominant wavelengths within the length-scale interval (0.84–8.10) nm, indicating multi-scale nanomechanical responses. Additionally, the NTC samples display an anisotropic coating morphology exhibited as unidirectional undulating surface roughness waves, potentially attributed to atomic shadowing, strain-induced instabilities, and limited adatom diffusion. These findings deepen our understanding of nanoscale deformation in advanced PVD coatings and underscore the utility of SSF analysis for probing thin-film mechanics.

IntroductionRising rates of obesity in the UK poses a significant public health concern. Conventional interventions centred around individual responsibility have yielded limited success, resulting in obesity rates doubling since 1990. The Obesity Blueprint project, led by Nesta, aims to consolidate existing evidence regarding the impact of interventions for obesity, and model these impact on a single outcome of interest.ObjectivesThe objective of Phase 1 of the Blueprint project is to synthesise the available evidence for obesity interventions across the health, food, and education system. Findings will be synthesised into a technical report tailored to stakeholders, including policymakers and civil servants.MethodsA search strategy has been designed to identify relevant systematic reviews published from 2010 onwards. MEDLINE and the Cochrane database of systematic reviews will be searched, and grey literature will be identified through Google Scholar and online searches. Titles and abstracts are screened, and full texts of relevant titles/abstracts are reviewed. All relevant reviews will be critically appraised using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses to select the highest quality and most up-to-date review for data extraction. Statistical modelling combines the findings into an evidence summary table, enabling a comparative analysis of intervention impact, reach, and cost on a standardised outcome measure.SignificanceThe Obesity Blueprint project will provide policymakers and civil servants with a comprehensive resource to guide evidence-based decision-making in the fight against obesity. It will provide an evidence-based summary of interventions’ effectiveness and cost-effectiveness related to various obesity-related categories. By synthesising findings and employing statistical modelling techniques, the project enables informed decision-making and enhances the understanding of the impact and implications of different interventions in obesity policy.

The use of e-cigarettes may influence later smoking uptake in young people. Evidence and gap maps (EGMs) are interactive on-line tools that display the evidence and gaps in a specific area of policy or research. The aim of this study was to map clusters and gaps in evidence exploring the relationship between e-cigarette use or availability and subsequent combustible tobacco use in people aged < 30 years. We conducted an EGM of primary studies and systematic reviews. A framework and an interactive EGM was developed in consultation with an expert advisory group. A systematic search of five databases retrieved 9057 records, from which 134 studies were included. Systematic reviews were appraised using AMSTAR-2, and all included studies were coded into the EGM framework resulting in the interactive web-based EGM. A descriptive analysis of key characteristics of the identified evidence clusters and gaps resulted in this report. Studies were completed between 2015 and 2023, with the first systematic reviews being published in 2017. Most studies were conducted in western high-income countries, predominantly the United States. Cohort studies were the most frequently used study design. The evidence is clustered on e-cigarette use as an exposure, with an absolute gap identified for evidence looking into the availability of e-cigarettes and subsequent cessation of cigarette smoking. We also found little evidence analysing equity factors, and little exploring characteristics of e-cigarette devices. This evidence and gap map (EGM) offers a tool to explore the available evidence regarding the e-cigarette use/availability and later cigarette smoking in people under the age of 30 years at the time of the search. The majority of the 134 reports is from high-income countries, with an uneven geographic distribution. Most of the systematic reviews are of lower quality, suggesting the need for higher-quality reviews. The evidence is clustered around e-cigarette use as an exposure and subsequent frequency/intensity of current combustible tobacco use. Gaps in evidence focusing on e-cigarette availability, as well as on the influence of equity factors may warrant further research. This EGM can support funders and researchers in identifying future research priorities, while guiding practitioners and policymakers to the current evidence base.

Kakimoji é o termo utilizado para abordar a representação gráfica do som em quadrinhos japoneses, os mangá. E desde a segunda onda do mangá, entre 2013 a 2015(BRAGA JR., 2019), quando houve um significativo aumento da publicação independente, acompanhamos a discussão sobre o que de fato é o mangá brasileiro. Nesta pesquisa, apresentaremos como o elemento da onomatopeia (tratada como kakimoji nesta análise) pode ser abordado enquanto elemento pictórico e/ou esquemático (TWYMAN, 1976) no volume 1 de Lampião, um mangá brasileiro ilustrado por Heitor Amatsu e roteirizado por Carlos. Encontramos e analisamos 102 registros de kakimoji na obra com 120 páginas, a maioria monocromática. Nosso objetivo com tal abordagem é trazer à luz do Design como um quadrinho independente, no formato de mangá brasileiro, pode misturar elementos de culturas distintas, através do emprego da onomatopeia, e, ainda assim, ser consagrado como produção nacional. Além disso, aplicamos as categorias de classificação gráfica da onomatopeia desenvolvidas por Araújo (2021) a fim de investigarmos as características visuais de cada uma, de acordo com traço, cor, escala e movimento.

Resumo. O processo de distribuição de alimentos representa uma importante tarefa para os Bancos de Alimentos, estruturas responsáveis por receber alimentos doados e então distribuí-los a entidades que atendem famílias em situação de insegurança alimentar.Dessa forma, contribuem diretamente para a redução da insegurança alimentar no país e também para a diminuição da fome. A pesquisa operacional pode ser amplamente aplicada nesta área, possibilitando uma ferramenta de auxílio à tomada de decisão. Neste trabalho é proposto um modelo de otimização aplicado ao processo de distribuição de alimentos realizado pelos Bancos de Alimentos.

Objective: Juridical analysis of defaults committed by one of the parties in the Deed of Sale and Purchase Agreement (PPJB) regarding Land Rights. Default is a crucial issue in property transactions, affecting the validity and implementation of contracts. The focus of this research is to identify, analyze and evaluate juridical aspects related to default in the context of PPJB land rights. Method: This research method involves analysis of applicable legal norms, related court decisions, and literature reviews. In this analysis, various forms of default will be discussed, their legal implications, and efforts to resolve them. Apart from that, this article also considers the role of the Sales and Purchase Agreement Management (PPJB) and related parties in preventing and dealing with default. Results: It is hoped that the results of this research can provide guidance for property business people, legal practitioners and researchers to understand the dynamics of default in the context of PPJB land rights. The conclusions of this analysis will illustrate the impact of default on contract integrity and highlight legal strategies that can be taken to handle cases of default in property transactions.

Nesta pesquisa procuro identificar a sub-representação de mulheres negras (pardas e pretas) na política brasileira, apartir da composição do poder local representado pelas Câmaras Municipais, e responder a seguinte questão: quaisas diferenças no perfil sociopolítico das mulheres negras (pretas e pardas) na esfera eleitoral em comparação commulheres brancas? Foi utilizado o repositório de dados do TSE, referente as eleições de 2016 e 2020. O recorte daanálise considerou as eleitas para o cargo de vereadora, em três categorias raciais, brancas, pardas e pretas. Sendoque os dados foram tabulados a partir dos seguintes marcadores: município, estado, raça, gênero, estado civil, idade,escolaridade, partido e ideologia partidária. O modelo de análise utilizado foi o método descritivo. Não obstante oBrasil ser um país com predominância negra, nas eleições de 2016 e 2020 mais de 50% das vereadoras eleitas erammulheres brancas, o que pode indicar que o racismo atua como um obstáculo adicional à inserção de mulheres negrasnos espaços decisórios, em especial as mulheres pretas. As mulheres, em geral, estão sub-representadas nos espaços depoder, devido aos obstáculos que lhes são impostos dentro e fora das estruturas partidárias. Entretanto, a desagrega-ção dos dados por indicadores de raça e gênero, visibiliza a exclusão das mulheres negras nos espaços de poder, apesarde constituírem o maior grupo demográfico representando 28% do total da população brasileira.