Requirements for a maritime transition in line with the Paris Agreement

The shipping industry is a hard-to-abate sector in today's society. Although past studies have looked at levels of carbon pricing, fuel savings, and the upscaling of green fuel availability separately, we combine these critical parameters for a green transition of the shipping industry to show what it takes to reach sectoral emissions reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement. We utilize a least-cost optimization model drawing on data on, e.g., emissions with lifecycle elements and the costs of green fuel production. We find that reaching maritime reduction targets for a green transition requires high growth rates for green fuel availability, carbon pricing beyond 300EUR/tCO₂eq, and at least 50% in fuel demand savings compared to today's demand projection for 2050. The results show the importance of immediate climate action if maritime emissions reduction goals are to be achieved.

The role of computerised tomography in predicting visual outcome in ocular trauma patients

PURPOSE

Ocular blast injuries in the military setting are particularly associated with significant maxillofacial trauma and/or brain injury. The opportunity to perform a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation is frequently limited in the acute multiple trauma scenario. We aim to describe the relationship between the clinical effects of acute ocular and orbital blast trauma with the findings on computerised tomography (CT).

METHODS

This was a retrospective consecutive case series of all soldiers with facial and/or suspected ocular injuries. A total of 80 eyes that had suffered blast injuries of varying severity were studied. Assessment of orbital and ocular CT images were performed by military consultant radiologists. A comparison was made with actual clinical findings. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

No pathological findings were described in 37 of the 80 eyes imaged by orbital and ocular CT scans. Clinically, these eyes and orbits were all found to be intact, or had minor trauma. All foreign bodies and penetrating eye injuries were successfully diagnosed by CT. Absence of an orbital fracture did not rule out a globe injury. However, a corneal or scleral defect was less likely when an orbital fracture was absent.

CONCLUSION

The eye is a delicate structure prone to injury that requires urgent repair if breached. It is difficult to assess thoroughly in the unconscious or distressed patient. In this context, CT imaging is invaluable to be able to make a relatively confident prediction of clinical findings and decide upon the necessity for acute ophthalmic surgical intervention.

Hypothetical and certain inferences from conditional arguments read in texts

In 3 experiments, affirmative and hypothetical probes were presented after narrative texts containing conditional arguments. According to the data, readers represented modus ponens deductions as certain, except when it was only a weakly necessary cause of a given effect. They represented any logically invalid inferences resulting from affirming the conditional consequent as hypothetical, except when it was the effect of strongly sufficient cause. Accordingly, readers must be processing conditional syntax as an asymmetric constraint. However, the underlying causal knowledge can be sufficient either to discredit or warrant the inferences. Thus according to the theory of natural logic, readers can draw formal deductions and be convinced of their necessity. This provides further evidence that readers can represent their inferences as hypothetical (N. Campion, 2004).

The prevalence of the arcuate artery: a cadaveric study of 72 feet

The purpose of this study was to quantify the occurrence of the arcuate artery. The arcuate artery was defined as that artery branching off the dorsalis pedis artery at or below the level of the tarsometatarsal joint, tending laterally across the bases of metatarsals 2 through 4, and supplying dorsal metatarsal arteries 2 through 4. The arcuate artery was present in 16.7% of 72 cadaver feet that were dissected and examined, suggesting that the arcuate artery is not the primary blood supply to dorsal metatarsal arteries 2 through 4 as is commonly described. It was determined that the lateral tarsal artery supplied dorsal metatarsal arteries 2 through 4 more frequently (47.2%) than the arcuate artery. The proximal perforating arteries as well as various combinations of all three sources were also found to contribute complete blood supply to dorsal metatarsal arteries 2 through 4. Therefore, a consistent dorsal arterial network, which differentiates throughout development, better explains the blood supply of the dorsal forefoot than the arcuate artery.