Aircraft ground taxiing contributes significantly to carbon emissions and engine wear. The electric towing tractor (ETT) addresses these issues by towing the aircraft to the runway end, thereby minimising ground taxiing. As the complexity of ETT towing operations increases, both the towing distance and time increase significantly, and the original method for estimating the number of ETTs is no longer applicable. Due to the substantial acquisition cost of ETT and the need to reduce waste while ensuring operational efficiency, this paper introduces for the first time an ETT quantity estimation model that combines simulation and vehicle scheduling models. The simulation model simulates the impact of ETT on apron operations, taxiing on taxiways and takeoffs and landings on runways. Key timing points for ETT usage by each aircraft are identified through simulation, forming the basis for determining the minimum number of vehicles required for airport operations using a hard-time window vehicle scheduling model. To ensure the validity of the model, simulation model verification is conducted. Furthermore, the study explores the influence of vehicle speed and airport scale on the required number of ETTs. The results demonstrate the effective representation of real-airport operations by the simulation model. ETT speed, airport runway and taxiway configurations, takeoff and landing frequencies and imbalances during peak periods all impact the required quantity of ETTs. A comprehensive approach considering these factors is necessary to determine the optimal number of ETTs.

An investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections in Canada was initiated in July 2020. Cases were identified across several provinces through whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Exposure data were gathered through case interviews. Traceback investigations were conducted using receipts, invoices, import documentation, and menus. A total of 515 cases were identified in seven provinces, related by 0–6 whole-genome multi-locus sequence typing (wgMLST) allele differences. The median age of cases was 40 (range 1–100), 54% were female, 19% were hospitalized, and three deaths were reported. Forty-eight location-specific case sub-clusters were identified in restaurants, grocery stores, and congregate living facilities. Of the 414 cases with exposure information available, 71% (295) had reported eating onions the week prior to becoming ill, and 80% of those cases who reported eating onions, reported red onion specifically. The traceback investigation identified red onions from Grower A in California, USA, as the likely source of the outbreak, and the first of many food recall warnings was issued on 30 July 2020. Salmonella was not detected in any tested food or environmental samples. This paper summarizes the collaborative efforts undertaken to investigate and control the largest Salmonella outbreak in Canada in over 20 years.

Although the specific outcrop from which the original kaolin at Kauling (Gaoling) Mine, China, was collected cannot now be relocated, samples were collected and studied from the mine tunnel, country rock, and pegmatite which constitute the sources of kaolin in this region. The kaolin is a residual product of weathering. Where the parent rock was a granite the clay is a mixture of platy and elongate kaolin-group minerals, whereas from the pegmatite portion of the parent rock it is halloysite(10Â) with elongate morphology. These mineral identifications are based on X-ray powder diffractograms, scanning electron micrographs, differential thermograms, and an infrared spectrum hitherto not documented for material from this area.

Although the Kauling locality is the region for which kaolin is named, the mineral kaolinite is a defined species without a specific type locality. The 11th century Chinese locality was not mentioned in the two classic research papers defining kaolinite. The data on the Chinese kaolin, therefore, cannot be used directly to provide criteria for sharply differentiating the otherwise vague boundary between the minerals kaolinite and halloysite(7Å). Pertinent questions on these kaolin-group mineral relationships are brought into clearer focus.

Translation is the process of turning observations in the research laboratory, clinic, and community into interventions that improve people’s health. The Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program is a National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) initiative to advance translational science and research. Currently, 64 “CTSA hubs” exist across the nation. Since 2006, the Houston-based Center for Clinical Translational Sciences (CCTS) has assembled a well-integrated, high-impact hub in Texas that includes six partner institutions within the state, encompassing ∼23,000 sq. miles and over 16 million residents. To achieve the NCATS goal of “more treatments for all people more quickly,” the CCTS promotes diversity and inclusion by integrating underrepresented populations into clinical studies, workforce training, and career development. In May 2023, we submitted the UM1 application and six “companion” proposals: K12, R25, T32-Predoctoral, T32-Postdoctoral, and RC2 (two applications). In October 2023, we received priority scores for the UM1 (22), K12 (25), T32-Predoctoral (20), and T32-Postdoctoral (23), which historically fall within the NCATS funding range. This report describes the grant preparation and submission approach, coupled with data from an internal survey designed to assimilate feedback from principal investigators, writers, reviewers, and administrative specialists. Herein, we share the challenges faced, the approaches developed, and the lessons learned.

We present the third data release from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) project. The release contains observations of 32 pulsars obtained using the 64-m Parkes ‘Murriyang’ radio telescope. The data span is up to 18 yr with a typical cadence of 3 weeks. This data release is formed by combining an updated version of our second data release with $\sim$3 yr of more recent data primarily obtained using an ultra-wide-bandwidth receiver system that operates between 704 and 4032 MHz. We provide calibrated pulse profiles, flux density dynamic spectra, pulse times of arrival, and initial pulsar timing models. We describe methods for processing such wide-bandwidth observations and compare this data release with our previous release.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be associated with sleep difficulties and decreased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Lemborexant (LEM), a dual-orexin-receptor-antagonist approved to treat adults with insomnia, increases total sleep time (TST) and REM sleep, and demonstrated respiratory safety in subjects with mild through severe OSA. Sleep architecture was thus analyzed after LEM treatment in those subjects. Methods: Studies E2006-A001-102 and E2006-A001-113 enrolled adults with mild (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥5 – <15) or moderate (AHI ≥15 – <30)/severe (AHI ≥30) OSA without insomnia. Subjects received LEM 10mg (LEM10) or placebo (PBO) in 2 treatment periods, Days 1 (D1) and 8 (D8), separated by ≥14 days. Least-squares-mean (minutes) for each sleep stage was compared. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were recorded. Results: Thirty-nine subjects with mild and 33 with moderate/severe OSA were randomized. On both days, TST was significantly higher in the LEM period for these subjects. Total non-REM on D1 in subjects with mild OSA and on both days in subjects with moderate/severe OSA were higher with LEM than PBO; REM also significantly increased in subjects with mild and moderate/severe OSA. Most TEAEs were mild. Conclusions: In OSA subjects without insomnia, LEM was associated with higher TST, non-REM, and REM versus PBO.

Background: There is a well-established reciprocal relationship between pain and poor sleep. Therefore, we evaluated whether an approved sleep-promoting drug, lemborexant (LEM), could improve sleep in older adults who reported both insomnia and pain. Methods: Study E2006-G000-304 (NCT02783729) was a 1-month, placebo (PBO)- and active-controlled study in subjects (age ≥55y) with insomnia disorder. Those reporting some/severe pain on the pain/discomfort dimension of the EQ-5D-3L at baseline were included. Subjects were randomized to placebo (PBO), LEM 5mg (LEM5), 10mg (LEM10) or zolpidem (not reported here). Changes from baseline (CFB) in objective sleep parameters latency-to-persistent sleep (LPS) and total-sleep-time (TST) were analyzed in paired polysomnograms. Results: 183/743 (24.6%) subjects in the PBO (n=55/208[26.4%]), LEM5 (n=78/266[29.3%]) and LEM10 (n=50/269[18.6%]) treatment groups reported some/extreme pain at baseline, with median LPS (minutes): 31.0, 29.4, 42.1, respectively. Respective median CFB for LPS at the beginning (Nights[NT]1/2: +2.5, –8.4, –15.8; P<0.005) was significantly larger/decreased for LEM5/LEM10 versus PBO and LEM5 at treatment end (NT29/30: –7.1, –9.9, –9.0; P=0.031). Mean baseline TST (minutes) was 335.3 (PBO), 336.3 (LEM5), 324.3 (LEM10), and mean CFB was significantly larger/increased (P<0.001) for LEM5/LEM10 versus PBO at NT1/2 and NT29/30. Conclusions: Results suggest LEM may effectively treat insomnia in older adults with comorbid pain.

Support: Eisai Inc.

Background: Some sleep-promoting medications are associated with cognitive impairment, making treatment of comorbid obstructive-sleep-apnea (OSA) and insomnia (COMISA) challenging. Lemborexant is a dual-orexin-receptor-antagonist approved for insomnia treatment. This post-hoc analysis evaluated cognition in the subgroup of subjects with mild-OSA (apnea-hypopnea-index ≥5–<15 events/h-of-sleep). Methods: Study E2006-G000-304 was a 1-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)- and active-comparator (zolpidem-ER 6.25mg [ZOL])-controlled study of lemborexant 5/10mg (LEM5/LEM10). Subjects ≥55y with insomnia disorder/sleep maintenance problems were enrolled (N=1006). A cognitive-performance assessment battery (CPAB) was performed at morning waketime of Days(D)2/3 and D30/31. Change-from-baseline (CFB) for mean power-of-attention (PoA), continuity-of-attention (CoA), quality-of-memory (QoM), and speed-of-memory-retrieval (SoMR) for CPAB tasks was analyzed. Results: The mild-OSA subgroup comprised 410 (40.8%) subjects. On D2/3 and D30/31, CFB for PoA, CoA, QoM, and SoMR for LEM5/LEM10 were not significantly different than PBO. On D2/3, PoA and QoM were significantly worse with ZOL vs PBO; QoM was significantly better with LEM5/LEM10 vs ZOL. On D30/31, SoMR was significantly worse with ZOL vs PBO and significantly better with LEM5/LEM10 vs ZOL. LEM safety in the subgroup was consistent with the overall study population. Conclusions: Memory and attention domains in subjects with COMISA characterized by mild-OSA were not impacted by LEM, unlike ZOL.

Support: Eisai Inc.

Background: Lemborexant (LEM), a dual-orexin-receptor-antagonist approved to treat adults with insomnia, increases total sleep time (TST) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or co-morbid insomnia and OSA (COMISA) report sleeping difficulties and reduced REM, therefore sleep architecture was analyzed during LEM treatment. Methods: Study E2006-G000-304 (NCT02783729) was a 1-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)- and active-comparator zolpidem-ER 6.25mg (ZOL)-controlled study in adults ≥55y with insomnia disorder. Subjects received PBO, LEM 5mg (LEM5), 10mg (LEM10), or ZOL. Least-square-mean duration of each sleep stage (minutes) was compared from pooled data on Nights (NT)1/2 and NT29/30 for mild OSA subjects (apnea hypopnea index ≥5 to <15 events/h). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were recorded. Results: Of 409 subjects with mild OSA (LEM5=114/LEM10=105/ZOL=112/PBO=78) change from baseline (CFB) in TST and REM sleep was significantly larger with both LEM doses versus ZOL/PBO on both nights. CFB for total nonREM sleep was significantly higher (P<0.0001) with both LEM doses versus PBO on both nights. LEM5 showed significantly higher (P<0.05) nonREM sleep versus ZOL at NT29/30. Most TEAEs were mild/moderate. Conclusions: LEM significantly increased TST, REM, and nonREM sleep versus PBO in subjects with insomnia and mild OSA. Data support LEM treatment in the COMISA population.

From 2016–2019, dry bulb onions were the suspected cause of three multistate outbreaks in the United States. We investigated a large multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections that caused illnesses in both the United States and Canada in 2020. Epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback investigations were conducted to determine the source of the infections, and data were shared among U.S. and Canadian public health officials. We identified 1127 U.S. illnesses from 48 states with illness onset dates ranging from 19 June to 11 September 2020. Sixty-six per cent of ill people reported consuming red onions in the week before illness onset. Thirty-five illness sub-clusters were identified during the investigation and seventy-four per cent of sub-clusters served red onions to customers during the exposure period. Traceback for the source of onions in illness sub-clusters identified a common onion grower in Bakersfield, CA as the source of red onions, and onions were recalled at this time. Although other strains of Salmonella Newport were identified in environmental samples collected at the Bakersfield, CA grower, extensive environmental and product testing did not yield the outbreak strain. This was the third largest U.S. foodborne Salmonella outbreak in the last 30 years. It is the first U.S. multistate outbreak with a confirmed link to dry bulb onions, and it was nearly 10-fold larger than prior outbreaks with a suspected link to onions. This outbreak is notable for its size and scope, as well as the international data sharing that led to implication of red onions as the primary cause of the outbreak. Although an environmental assessment at the grower identified several factors that likely contributed to the outbreak, no main reason was identified. The expedient identification of the outbreak vehicle and response of multiple public health agencies allowed for recall and removal of product from the marketplace, and rapid messaging to both the public and industry on actions to protect consumers; these features contributed to a decrease in cases and expeditious conclusion of the outbreak.

Background: Despite a higher prevalence of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) amongst Canadian Indigenous peoples, there is a paucity of studies focused on Indigenous TSCI. We present the first Canada-wide study comparing TSCI amongst Canadian Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively-collected TSCI data from the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (RHSCIR) from 2004-2019. We divided participants into Indigenous and non-Indigenous cohorts and compared them with respect to demographics, injury mechanism, level, severity, and outcomes. Results: Compared with non-Indigenous patients, Indigenous patients were younger, more female, less likely to have higher education, and less likely to be employed. The mechanism of injury was more likely due to assault or transportation-related trauma in the Indigenous group. The length of stay for Indigenous patients was longer. Indigenous patients were more likely to be discharged to a rural setting, less likely to be discharged home, and more likely to be unemployed following injury. Conclusions: Our results suggest that more resources need to be dedicated for transitioning Indigenous patients sustaining a TSCI to community living and for supporting these patients in their home communities. A focus on resources and infrastructure for Indigenous patients by engagement with Indigenous communities is needed.