bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efecto alelopático de extractos acuosos de Azadirachta indica en la germinación de Solanum lycopersicum
Authors: Santana-Baños Yoerlandy , Del Busto-Concepción Armando , Rodríguez-Espinosa Frank Leidis , Carrodeguas-Díaz Sergio , Cándano-Sánchez Adanay , Dago-Dueñas Yusniel
Published: November 2022

Los extractos vegetales constituyen una alternativa promisoria en el manejo de plagas, pero con frecuencia se subestima su influencia sobre el crecimiento de las plantas. En la presente investigación se determinó el efecto alelopático de extractos acuosos de Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (nim) sobre semillas certificadas de Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Pingüino (tomate), en condiciones de laboratorio. Los extractos se prepararon al 5 % m/v empleando por separado hojas y semillas y por dilución, las concentraciones utilizadas en el ensayo fueron: 0,0 % (control), 0,5 %, 1,0 %, 1,5 % y 2,0 % v/v. La siembra de semillas se realizó en placas de Petri sobre papel de filtro, distribuidas en un diseño completamente al azar con arreglo factorial y cuatro réplicas por concentración. Los resultados mostraron un estímulo en la germinación con extracto acuoso de semillas de A. indica al 0,5 % y una reducción con el extracto de hoja al 2,0 %. La longitud del hipocótilo aumentó en todas las concentraciones respecto al control y la longitud de la radícula disminuyó con el incremento de la concentración de los extractos, alcanzando una reducción superior al 20 % respecto al control. La masa fresca total de las plántulas no arrojó diferencias entre las concentraciones de los extractos y el control, y se concluyó que existe un efecto alelopático diferenciado de A. indica en la germinación de S. lycopersicum que podría aprovecharse en el contexto de una agricultura sostenible, aunque se sugiere la evaluación de los extractos en especies de arvenses.
Phenotype Algorithms to Identify Hidradenitis Suppurativa Using Real-World Data: Development and Validation Study
Authors: Hardin Jill , Murray Gayle , Swerdel Joel
Published: November 2022

Background

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a potentially debilitating, chronic, recurring inflammatory disease. Observational databases provide opportunities to study the epidemiology of HS.

Objective

This study’s objective was to develop phenotype algorithms for HS suitable for epidemiological studies based on a network of observational databases.

Methods

A data-driven approach was used to develop 4 HS algorithms. A literature search identified prior HS algorithms. Standardized databases from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (n=9) were used to develop 2 incident and 2 prevalent HS phenotype algorithms. Two open-source diagnostic tools, CohortDiagnostics and PheValuator, were used to evaluate and generate phenotype performance metric estimates, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value.

Results

We developed 2 prevalent and 2 incident HS algorithms. Validation showed that PPV estimates were highest (mean 86%) for the prevalent HS algorithm requiring at least two HS diagnosis codes. Sensitivity estimates were highest (mean 58%) for the prevalent HS algorithm requiring at least one HS code.

Conclusions

This study illustrates the evaluation process and provides performance metrics for 2 incident and 2 prevalent HS algorithms across 9 observational databases. The use of a rigorous data-driven approach applied to a large number of databases provides confidence that the HS algorithms can correctly identify HS subjects.
Training a Deep Contextualized Language Model for International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision Classification via Federated Learning: Model Development and Validation Study
Authors: Chen Pei-Fu , He Tai-Liang , Lin Sheng-Che , Chu Yuan-Chia , Kuo Chen-Tsung , Lai Feipei , Wang Ssu-Ming , Zhu Wan-Xuan , Chen Kuan-Chih , Kuo Lu-Cheng , Hung Fang-Ming , Lin Yu-Cheng , Tsai I-Chang , Chiu Chi-Hao , Chang Shu-Chih , Yang Chi-Yu
Published: November 2022

Background

The automatic coding of clinical text documents by using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) can be performed for statistical analyses and reimbursements. With the development of natural language processing models, new transformer architectures with attention mechanisms have outperformed previous models. Although multicenter training may increase a model’s performance and external validity, the privacy of clinical documents should be protected. We used federated learning to train a model with multicenter data, without sharing data per se.

Objective

This study aims to train a classification model via federated learning for ICD-10 multilabel classification.

Methods

Text data from discharge notes in electronic medical records were collected from the following three medical centers: Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital, and Taipei Veterans General Hospital. After comparing the performance of different variants of bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT), PubMedBERT was chosen for the word embeddings. With regard to preprocessing, the nonalphanumeric characters were retained because the model’s performance decreased after the removal of these characters. To explain the outputs of our model, we added a label attention mechanism to the model architecture. The model was trained with data from each of the three hospitals separately and via federated learning. The models trained via federated learning and the models trained with local data were compared on a testing set that was composed of data from the three hospitals. The micro F1 score was used to evaluate model performance across all 3 centers.

Results

The F1 scores of PubMedBERT, RoBERTa (Robustly Optimized BERT Pretraining Approach), ClinicalBERT, and BioBERT (BERT for Biomedical Text Mining) were 0.735, 0.692, 0.711, and 0.721, respectively. The F1 score of the model that retained nonalphanumeric characters was 0.8120, whereas the F1 score after removing these characters was 0.7875—a decrease of 0.0245 (3.11%). The F1 scores on the testing set were 0.6142, 0.4472, 0.5353, and 0.2522 for the federated learning, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital, and Taipei Veterans General Hospital models, respectively. The explainable predictions were displayed with highlighted input words via the label attention architecture.

Conclusions

Federated learning was used to train the ICD-10 classification model on multicenter clinical text while protecting data privacy. The model’s performance was better than that of models that were trained locally.
Adoption of mHealth Technologies by Community Health Workers to Improve the Use of Maternal Health Services in Sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for a Mixed Method Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Kachimanga Chiyembekezo , Divala Titus H , Ket Johannes C F , Kulinkina Alexandra V , Zaniku Haules R , Murkherjee Joia , Palazuelos Daniel , Abejirinde Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade , Akker Thomas van den
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that mobile health technologies (mHealth) enhance the use of maternal health services. However, there is limited evidence of the impact of mHealth use by community health workers (CHWs) on the use of maternal health services in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE

This mixed method systematic review will explore the impact of mHealth use by CHWs on the use of the maternal health continuum of care (antenatal care, intrapartum care, and postnatal care [PNC]), as well as barriers and facilitators of mHealth use by CHWs when supporting maternal health services.

METHODS

We will include studies that report the impact of mHealth by CHWs on the use of antenatal care, facility-based births, and PNC visits in sub-Saharan Africa. We will search 6 databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Africa Index Medicus), with additional articles identified from Google Scholar and manual screening of references of the included studies. The included studies will not be limited by language or year of publication. After study selection, 2 independent reviewers will perform title and abstract screening, followed by full-text screening to identify the final papers to be included. Data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment will be performed using Covidence software by 2 independent reviewers. We will use a Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool to perform risk-of-bias assessments on all included studies. Finally, we will perform a narrative synthesis of the outcomes, integrating information about the effect of mHealth on maternal health use and barriers and facilitators of mHealth use. This protocol follows the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols) guidelines.

RESULTS

In September 2022, we conducted an initial search in the eligible databases. After removing duplicates, we identified 1111 studies that were eligible for the title and abstract screening. We will finalize the full-text assessment for eligibility, data extraction, assessment of methodological quality, and narrative synthesis by June 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review will present new and up-to-date evidence on the use of mHealth by CHWs along the pregnancy, childbirth, and PNC continuum of care. We anticipate the results will inform program implementation and policy by highlighting the potential impacts of mHealth and presenting contextual factors that should be addressed to ensure the success of the programs.

CLINICALTRIAL

PROSPERO CRD42022346364; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=346364

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/44066
Symptom Burden before and after Dialysis Initiation in Older Patients
Authors: de Rooij Esther N.M. , Meuleman Yvette , de Fijter Johan W. , Jager Kitty J. , Chesnaye Nicholas C. , Evans Marie , Caskey Fergus J. , Torino Claudia , Porto Gaetana , Szymczak Maciej , Drechsler Christiane , Wanner Christoph , Dekker Friedo W. , Hoogeveen Ellen K.
Published: November 2022

Background and objectives

For older patients with kidney failure, lowering symptom burden may be more important than prolonging life. Dialysis initiation may affect individual kidney failure–related symptoms differently, but the change in symptoms before and after start of dialysis has not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the course of total and individual symptom number and burden before and after starting dialysis in older patients.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

The European Quality (EQUAL) study is an ongoing, prospective, multicenter study in patients ≥65 years with an incident eGFR ≤20 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Using the dialysis symptom index (DSI), 30 symptoms were assessed every 3–6 months between 2012 and 2021. Scores for symptom number range from zero to 30 and, for burden, from zero to 150, with higher scores indicating more severity. Using mixed effects models, we studied symptoms during the year preceding and the year after dialysis initiation.

Results

We included 456 incident patients on dialysis who filled out at least one DSI during the year before or after dialysis. At dialysis initiation, mean (SD) participant age was 76 (6) years, 75% were men, mean (SD) eGFR was 8 (3) ml/min per 1.73 m2, 44% had diabetes, and 46% had cardiovascular disease. In the year before dialysis initiation, symptom number increased +3.6 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], +2.5 to +4.6) and symptom burden increased +13.3 (95% CI, +9.5 to +17.0). In the year after, symptom number changed −0.9 (95% CI, −3.4 to +1.5) and burden decreased −5.9 (95% CI, −14.9 to −3.0). At dialysis initiation, “fatigue,” “decreased interest in sex,” and “difficulty becoming sexually aroused” had the highest prevalence of 81%, 69%, and 68%, respectively, with a burden of 2.7, 2.4, and 2.3, respectively. “Fatigue” somewhat improved after dialysis initiation, whereas the prevalence and burden of sexual symptoms further increased.

Conclusions

Symptom burden worsened considerably before and stabilized after dialysis initiation. “Fatigue,” “decreased interest in sex,” and “difficulty becoming sexually aroused” were considered most burdensome, of which only “fatigue” somewhat improved after dialysis initiation.
Sustainability Practices and Supply Chain Resilience in the Development of a Circular Economy: A Study of Nigeria
Authors: Abbas Usman , Hassan Shehu U. , Usman Nuraddeen M.
Published: November 2022

Sustainable Supply Chain Management has become an essential portion of business strategy for almost all sectors. However, not so much is understood about the wider effects of sustainability practices on the ability of the SC to endure disruptions. The aim of this study was therefore to scrutinize the effect of sustainability practices on supply chain resilience in the development of a circular economy in Nigeria. This study was steered within the horizon of qualitative method with a philosophical research paradigm of constructivism. The study used twenty-one (21) Consumer Goods Firm in Nigeria as population and sample. Primary data was explored using key informant interview. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected. The study reveals that sustainability practices contribute to supply chain resilience in the development of a circular economy. The research concluded that, cradle to cradle practice, environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability play a major role in ensuring resiliency of consumer goods firms’ supply chains especially in developing a circular economy. The outcome of this research is expected to lead to the development of a circular economy in Nigeria. The study will be of significance to Nigerian government, consumer goods companies, practitioners, regulatory bodies, and researchers.
La reconfiguración del orden letrado: el Colegio de San Juan de Letrán de la Ciudad de México (1790-1867)
Authors: Ríos Zuñiga Rosalina
Published: November 2022

Hoy en día, pocos podrían señalar, salvo por la nomenclatura de unas calles o la estación del metro, el lugar exacto donde se ubicaba en la Ciudad de México el Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, uno de los más emblemáticos durante la etapa colonial y parte del siglo XIX. En este libro, Rosalina Ríos aborda el lapso de su historia que corre de fines del siglo XVIII hasta 1867, año de su cierre, con la intención de trazar las líneas generales de un proceso que llevó a la reconfiguración del orden letrado, que implicó la paulatina modernización de las corporaciones educativas y su tránsito hacia formas más escolarizadas. La autora documenta su desarrollo institucional y financiero, así como a los individuos que lo componían y lo hacían funcionar -autoridades, catedráticos, estudiantes, sin olvidar a los que ocupaban los escaños más humildes en la jerarquía como los trabajadores domésticos-, quienes experimentaron los grandes cambios y las crisis de su época: terremotos, guerras, revueltas, devaluaciones y epidemias. Pone especial atención en aspectos urbanísticos que llevaron a la transformación del espacio y, por tanto, a la desaparición del inmueble que albergó a la corporación durante siglos, lo cual marcó el fin de ésta. No faltan en este relato detalles de la vida cotidiana decimonónica.
Study on Catalytic Reduction of Methylene Blue Using Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized via Green Route
Authors: Khansole Dr. Sandeep V.
Published: November 2022

Abstract: We have synthesized silver nanoparticles using silver nitrate and Azadirachta indica (Neem) aqueous leaf extract at room temperature. The method used for synthesis is simple, rapid, environmental free and do not involve toxic chemicals. The terpenoids and flavonoids available in neem plant leaf extract act as both capping and reducing agents. The synthesized nanoparticles are characterized UV Visible spectroscopy, X ray diffraction analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The synthesized AgNPs are used for study of the catalytic degradation of methylene blue by sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in presence of AgNPs as catalyst. The 100% degradation of methylene blue was achieved by (NaBH4+AgNPs) in just 08 minutes which highlights the efficient catalytic activity of AgNPs.
Symmetry Protected Topological Order in Open Quantum Systems
Authors: de Groot Caroline , Turzillo Alex , Schuch Norbert
Published: November 2022

We systematically investigate the robustness of symmetry protected topological (SPT) order in open quantum systems by studying the evolution of string order parameters and other probes under noisy channels. We find that one-dimensional SPT order is robust against noisy couplings to the environment that satisfy a strong symmetry condition, while it is destabilized by noise that satisfies only a weak symmetry condition, which generalizes the notion of symmetry for closed systems. We also discuss "transmutation" of SPT phases into other SPT phases of equal or lesser complexity, under noisy channels that satisfy twisted versions of the strong symmetry condition.
Responsabilidad civil sin causalidad
Authors: Trejos Teherán Luis Daniel
Published: November 2022

El presente artículo se encarga de estudiar el cambio paradigmático que propone la Corte Suprema de Justicia en la Sentencia SC-13925 (2016), ya que desecha el nexo causal como criterio de imputación del daño y propone una sustitución por la imputación normativa. Así, la Corte recoge el criterio antes mencionado y lo utiliza en la Sentencia S-C002 (2018) como elemento de imputación. De esta manera, se constituye la base de la reestructuración de la responsabilidad civil. Las ideas centrales de este texto giran en torno a tres aspectos. El primero estudia la estructura clásica de la responsabilidad civil. El segundo reconoce la postura de la Corte Suprema de Justicia respecto del nuevo elemento introducido en las sentencias objeto de estudio. Por último, se realiza una explicación a la reestructuración de la responsabilidad civil. Para la consecución de los objetivos se encontró, mediante el análisis documental y jurisprudencial, que existe contraposición doctrinal respecto de la causalidad como criterio de imputación. Además, se pudo concluir que, debido a las falencias de la causalidad, es imperativo reestructurar la responsabilidad civil.
Monitoreo electrónico de convictos en Brasil: alternativa al super encarcelamiento
Authors: Dezordi Wermuth Maiquel Ângelo
Published: November 2022

Este artículo aborda la configuración de la sociedad de riesgo globalizada y sus efectos en el orden jurídico criminal de Brasil. El aumento de pautas de seguridad, incluso con la mitigación de los derechos humanos fundamentales, se problematiza a fin de reflejar el sistema penitenciario y el surgimiento del monitoreo electrónico como condición de posibilidad para reducir el encarcelamiento masiva en el país. El problema que guía la investigación se puede resumir en la siguiente pregunta: ¿en qué medida el monitoreo electrónico contribuye efectivamente a reducir el número de personas encarceladas en Brasil? El método de investigación utilizado es hipotético-deductivo, con técnica de investigación bibliográfica y análisis documental. Como resultado, la investigación encuentra que el uso del monitoreo electrónico, como lo demuestran las estadísticas del diagnóstico de la política de monitoreo electrónico en Brasil, representa una medida importante para minimizar los efectos del encarcelamiento masivo en el sistema penitenciario nacional.
El culto al Ángel Custodio y sus manifestaciones artísticas en Zaragoza durante los siglos XV y XVI
Authors: MILLAN RABASA Marc
Published: November 2022

En este artículo estudiamos la llegada del culto al Ángel Custodio a Zaragoza y las diferentes expresiones artísticas de esta devoción. En primer lugar, abordamos el desarrollo de la procesión en su honor. Después, nos centramos en la capilla del consistorio de la ciudad, aportando precisiones sobre la localización original del Ángel Custodio de Pere Joan. Finalmente, analizamos el mecenazgo del canónigo Agustín Pérez (doc. 1568-1588) y las diferentes disputas que mantuvieron el concejo y el cabildo catedralicio a propósito de estas festividades.
The policy of gender mainstreaming in fishing communities for poverty reduction
Authors: Purwanti Ani , Mahfud Muh. Afif , Wibawa Kadek Cahya Susila , Natalis Aga
Published: November 2022

This study aims to find out the policy of gender mainstreaming for women in the fishery sector (Guzman & Kacperczyk, 2019). Women are placed at the bottom of the occupational hierarchy despite women having a significant role in this sector (Szymkowiak, 2020). This study uses qualitative analysis with secondary data which are analyzed by content analysis. The results obtained in this study are as follows. National and regional laws on the fishery sector in Indonesia related to gender mainstreaming is still partial because this is only related to the empowerment aspect. Meanwhile, the protection sphere of the fisherwoman has not been included. This restricts woman’s access to several facilities namely fishing instrument (fishing boat), fishing cultivation equipment (fishing hatchery), marketing (cool chain), and packaging facility. This condition makes fisherwomen live in poverty and makes the gender gap still exist in this sector. This condition will be a vicious circle if there is no policy change in the Indonesian government. So, it is necessary for the government to review the bias gender policy in fishery regulation.
Identity of historical areas of a city: interaction between nature and man
Authors: Dijokiene Dalia , Paškauskiene Aurelija
Published: November 2022

The article discusses the preservation of urban peculiarity, visual uniqueness and cultural identity in the world affected by globalisation processes. First of all, the urban identity as such is discussed, a study of literary sources helps identify factors that shape urban identity. Tangible and intangible factors are distinguished. Second, in order to reveal the problems of identification and fostering of the identity of historical parts of cities and to verify the urban identity shaping methodology described in this article, historical suburbs of Vilnius in the southeast part of the Old Town are analysed in detail. The performed research of peculiarities of the urban fabric of the historical suburbs has showed very vividly that both the man made physical environment and the features of the natural environment present are significant for urban identity. In the studied suburbs, expressive terrain, also a river and its valley play a significant role for the formation and identity of a place. Man made built-up, ensembles, street routes and even the built-up function adapted to natural conditions. The close interaction between natural conditions and human activities has led to the identity of these historical territories. It is noted that urban identity should not be perceived as unchanging – it is a process that is shaped rather deliberately. Urban design, architecture and landscape architecture are activities that help create urban identity.
Analytical computation technique for calculation the effective geometrical solid angle and the efficiency of cubic scintillation crystal with side cylindrical hole
Authors: Badawi Mohamed , Thabet Abouzeid
Published: November 2022

In the gamma-ray spectroscopy field, the radiometric examination for small
quantities of natural samples is extremely significant. Therefore, the
gamma-ray spectrometry calibration process must be prepared with good
precision for several energies, matrices of sources or samples, and
source-to-detector shapes. This manuscript considers a new uncomplicated
analytical computation technique to calculate the effective geometrical
solid angle and the efficiency of cubic scintillation crystal with a side
cylindrical hole. The computations can be done by using a simple method,
with a few essential limitations, that describes radioactive point sources
located inside the side cylindrical hole and a high-efficiency cubic NaI(Tl)
detector, come together with a low background as well. The technique
stands on a trouble-free solid angle analytical formula for the detection
system, using an accurate relation for the detector cavity, united with
rough formulas controlling the interactions in the gamma-ray source and the
materials introduced in between the source and the gamma-ray spectrometry.
This new technique is not restricted to certain sources, because several
source shapes can correspond to a homogeneous huge number of point sources
and the detector geometry can be represented as a set of border points. The
technique simply can be useful to obtain the full-energy peak efficiency
in the future, challenging developments for low-energy gamma-ray
spectroscopy.
Study on kinetic parameters characteristics of pebble bed reactor using HTR-proteus facility
Authors: Zuhair Z , Luthfi Wahid , Sriyono S , Suwoto S , Setiadipura Topan
Published: November 2022

The inherent safety feature of a pebble-bed reactor can be observed from its
kinetic parameters. Proper modeling for calculating the reactor kinetic is
also a concern for safe operation during normal and transient conditions.
This study is intended to investigate the kinetic parameters
characteristics of a pebble bed reactor using HTR-Proteus. A series of
calculations were conducted using MCNP6 code and ENDF/B-VII library. The
calculation results show that the negative value on core temperature
reactivity is affected dominantly by the Doppler broadening effect. Prompt
neutron lifetime l and mean generation time ? are slightly changed due to an
increase in fuel temperature, moderator, and reflector that changed the
neutron moderation and absorption over this part of the reactor. For (Th,
U)O2, UO2, and PuO2 cores, the effective delayed neutron fraction
?eff values are more influenced by 233U, 235U, and 239Pu, respectively. In
terms of stability during reactivity insertion, the UO 2 core is more stable
and easier to control because its ?eff value is the largest compared to (Th,U)O2
and PuO 2 cores. It can be concluded that temperature must
be controlled because it does not only affect the reactivity but also
kinetic parameters as part of developing inherent safety features on the
pebble-bed reactor.
Comparative study of the MeV ion channeling implantation induced damage in 6H-SiC by the iterative procedure and phenomenological CSIM computer code
Authors: Gloginjic Marko , Erich Marko , Mravik Zeljko , Vrban Branislav , Cerba Stefan , Lüley Jakub , Filová Vendula , Katovský Karel , Stastný Ondej , Burian Jiri , Petrovic Srdjan
Published: November 2022

Due to its unique material properties, such as extreme hardness and radiation
resistance, silicon carbide has been used as an important construction
material for environments with extreme conditions, like those present in
nuclear reactors. As such, it is constantly exposed to energetic particles (e.g., neutrons) and consequently subjected to gradual crystal lattice degradation. In this article, the 6H-SiC crystal damage has been simulated by
the implantation of 4 MeV C3+ ions in the (0001) axial direction of a single
6H-SiC crystal to the ion fluences of 1.359 1015 cm-2, 6.740 1015 cm-2, and
2.02 1016 cm-2. These implanted samples were subsequently analyzed by Rutherford and elastic backscattering spectrometry in the channeling
orientation (RBS/C & EBS/C) by the usage of 1 MeV protons. Obtained spectra
were analyzed by channeling simulation phenomenological computer code
(CSIM) to obtain quantitative crystal damage depth profiles. The
difference between the positions of damage profile maxima obtained by CSIM
code and one simulated with stopping and range of ions in matter (SRIM), a
Monte Carlo based computer code focused on ion implantation simulation in
random crystal direction only, is about 10%. Therefore, due to small
profile depth shifts, the usage of the iterative procedure for calculating
crystal damage depth profiles is proposed. It was shown that profiles
obtained by iterative procedure show very good agreement with the ones
obtained with CSIM code. Additionally, with the introduction of channeling
to random energy loss ratio the energy to depth profile scale conversion,
the agreement with CSIM profiles becomes excellent.
Impact of stringent tolerance criteria on verification of absorbed dose distributions and evaluation through inhomogeneous media
Authors: Obajdin Nevena , Smilovic-Radojcic Djeni , Rajlic David , Svabic-Kolacio Manda , Jurkovic Slaven
Published: November 2022

Advances of radiation delivery devices have increased the complexity of the
radiation oncology treatments. Herewith, outcome of the treatment, as well
as patient safety, strongly depend on the consistency of absorbed dose
delivery. Both can be ensured by comprehensive system of verification of
calculated absorbed dose distributions. Standard method is evaluation of
calculated absorbed dose distribution according to gamma method, using a 2-D
detector and a homogeneous phantom, to obtain measured dose distribution.
Purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of tolerance
criteria on gamma passing rate. Additionally, the agreement in heterogeneous
phantom was analysed. Absorbed dose calculations were performed using systems Monaco and XiO. Detector with 1020 ionization chambers in homogeneous
phantom and semi-anthropomorphic phantom was used for measurements. Absorbed
dose distributions of around 3500 patients were analysed using gamma method.
In homogeneous phantom, average gamma passing rates were within tolerance
for 3 %/2 mm. For measurements in heterogeneous media, the highest average
gamma passing rate was obtained for small volumes of medium treatment
complexity (??=93.84%), while large volumes of treatment with low
complexity yielded the lowest gamma passing rates (??= 83.22%).
Chemical contaminants in fish, shellfish and fish products on the Serbian market
Authors: Novakov Nikolina , Kartalovic Brankica , Mihaljev Zeljko , Djuric Boban , Vranesevic Jelena , Pelic Milos , Lazic Dusan , Ljubojevic-Pelic Dragana
Published: November 2022

Fish meat and fish products are usually considered as healthy foods, mostly because of their content of unsaturated fatty acids, which have a beneficial effect on human health. On the Serbian market, fish and shellfish are commonly present as fresh, frozen and canned, but not regulating and monitoring the existence of high levels of different chemical hazards can lead to human health problems. The aim of the present paper is to provide an overview of the contamination of fish and their products from the Serbian market with regard to the most significant chemical hazards. The following contaminants are considered: lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, copper, iron and zinc representing heavy metals and metalloids; endrin, aldrin, dieldrin, lindane, endosulfans, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its derivatives as the most significant organochlorine pesticides and; benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b) fluoranthene and chrysene as four priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH4). Bearing in mind that there is no food, including fish and fish products, that does not contain harmful substances and various hazards, there is a need at national and lower
GLP-1 receptor agonists and the risk of thyroid cancer
Authors: Bezin Julien , Gouverneur Amandine , Pénichon Marine , Mathieu Clément , Garrel Renaud , Hillaire-Buys Dominique , Pariente Antoine , Faillie Jean-Luc
Published: November 2022

  

Objective

To determine whether the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (RA) is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer.

Research Design and Methods

A nested case-control analysis was performed using the French national healthcare insurance system database (SNDS). Individuals with type 2 diabetes treated with second-line antidiabetic drugs between 2006 and 2018 were included in the cohort. All thyroid cancers were identified through hospital discharge diagnoses and medical procedures between 2014 and 2018. Exposure to GLP-1 RA was measured within the 6 years preceding a 6-month lag-time period and considered as current use and cumulative duration of use based on defined daily dose (≤1, 1 to 3, >3 years). Cases were matched with up to 20 controls on age, sex, and length of diabetes, using the risk-set sampling procedure. The risk of thyroid cancer related to the use of GLP-1 RA was estimated using a conditional logistic regression adjusted on goiter, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, other antidiabetic drugs and social deprivation index.

Results

2,562 cases of thyroid cancers were included in the study and matched to 45,184 controls. The use of GLP-1 RA for 1 to 3 years was associated with an increased risk of all thyroid cancer (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.58, 95% confidence interval: 1.27 to 1.95), and medullary thyroid cancer (aHR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.04 to 3.05). 

Conclusions

The present study found an increased risk of all thyroid cancer and medullary thyroid cancer with the use of GLP-1 RA, in particular after 1 to 3 years of treatment.
Characterization of the powder stream propagation behavior of a discrete coaxial nozzle for laser metal deposition
Authors: Bohlen Annika , Seefeld Thomas , Haghshenas Armin , Groll Rodion
Published: November 2022

Laser metal deposition (LMD) is a blown powder process which can be used for the additive manufacturing of large components or the generation of functional geometries on semifinished parts. In LMD, it is crucial that both the laser intensity and powder mass flow distribution within the process zone are precisely matched for a welding bead of predefined shape and a consistent layer quality. While there are many common tools for the characterization of laser intensity distributions, a deep understanding of powder propagation behavior is still missing. Therefore, the present work thoroughly characterizes the powder stream propagation behavior of a discrete coaxial nozzle with three angle-adjustable powder jets. A line laser is used to selectively illuminate individual layers horizontally to the nozzle, and the intensity of the illuminated powder is recorded with the aid of a CCD camera. An envelope of the powder distribution is then plotted from the individual layers, analogous to a caustic of a laser beam, and, thus, the powder stream is evaluated. A novel method is presented to compensate for the radial asymmetry of a discrete powder nozzle in the evaluation, thus making it comparable with continuous nozzles. The method is validated by characterizing the powder stream propagation behavior of a three-jet discrete nozzle. Influencing factors on the powder stream are the protective gas flow, the powder mass flow, the angle of the powder nozzles, and the interaction of the three powder jets. The investigations are supplemented by a point-particle large-eddy simulation of the particle-laden flow.
Patient-Centered Communication and Counseling to Ensure Patient Safety Through Correct Use of Medicines: Experiences and Challenges
Authors: Krogstad Tonje , Larsen Rønnaug , Holm Lene Berge , Landmark Cecilie Johannessen , Granås Anne Gerd
Published: November 2022

In this chapter we discuss experiences and challenges regarding patient safety and correct use of medicines. Patient-centered communication and counseling are essential in order to achieve this. Incorrect use of medicines endangers patient safety, and can lead to medication-related problems, which again may have serious consequences for both the patient and society. Some of the most prominent pharmaceutical factors compromising patient safety are: communication challenges, language barriers, variety in health literacy, and self-care without guidance from a healthcare provider. The common theme for most barriers connected to incorrect use of medicines seems to be communication. It is therefore essential for healthcare providers to have good communication skills and be able to provide patient-centered communication and counseling of high quality. This may be the path towards optimizing use of medicines and ensuring patient safety. To improve patient-centered communication and counseling, teaching communication, as well as training courses, should be included in the curricula for healthcare providers, in addition to postgraduate training.
Information Regarding Modification of Oral Solid Medicines in Written Drug Information: Potential Consequences for Patient Safety
Authors: Zeiss Daniel Horst , Amundstuen Linda
Published: November 2022

Oral solid medicines (oral solid dosage forms, OSDFs) are among the most used medications, and have various pharmaceutical designs ranging from relatively simple uncoated tablets with immediate-release properties, to advanced modified-release preparations slowly releasing the active ingredient. Taking medicines correctly is essential to preserve intended effects and avoid adverse effects. Still, modification of OSDFs is a common practice among patients and health care personnel, due to for example, swallowing difficulties. Modifications such as crushing tablets and opening capsules should only be done with a careful assessment of potential risks and benefits. In this study, we systematically reviewed the information relating to modification of OSDFs in the monographs of a commonly used source of medicine information in Norway, Felleskatalogen®. A total of 31 different OSDFs were identified. Results show that information on whether the medicines should be swallowed whole, could be divided, crushed, chewed, or opened, varied widely. Medicines with modified-release characteristic generally had more and stricter recommendations concerning modification than medicines with immediate-release characteristic. Recommendations varied largely between monographs, and different recommendations such as “shall”, “should” or “must” may be interpreted differently among readers. Furthermore, a relatively small proportion of the monographs contained descriptions of the potential consequences of modification.

Based on our observations, a necessary risk-benefit assessment on dosage form manipulation for health care personnel and patients is possibly being impeded. Explicit and unambiguous information, or the development and implementation of a “traffic light model” for dosage form manipulation might reduce the risk of medication errors, and thereby increase patient safety.
Management of Occupational Risk Caused by the Interaction of Coal Mining and Service Enterprises
Authors:   AO «SUEK-Kuzbass», Mazanik I.E. , Rays K.A. ,   AO «SUEK-Kuzbass», Kravchuk I.L. ,   Chelyabinsk Branch of the Institute of Mining of Ural Branch of RAS,   LLC «NIIOGR», Smolin A.V. ,   FGAOU VO «YuUrGU (NIU)»,   LLC «NIIOGR»
Published: November 2022

Outsourcing of service and ancillary work, as a way to increase production productivity while reducing costs, is increasingly used in coal companies. At the same time, a significant proportion of industrial injuries at service and auxiliary enterprises is formed due to the lack of clear regulations for their interaction with mining enterprises. Therefore, the problem of interaction between service and coal mining enterprises of a coal company is considered in the aspect of production risk management. The analysis showed that the legal documents of coal mining enterprises do not contain requirements for the formation and provision of safe working conditions and briefings for third-party workers, and there are no clear boundaries for the responsibility of the parties in case of incidences. The main difficulty in creating safe working conditions for the employees of service enterprises is as follows: it is not defined who exactly, the contractor or the customer, should allocate resources to ensure safe working conditions; the work on ensuring the safety of employees of contracting organizations by the heads of the main enterprises often does not fall into the zone of their attention, since they are busy with their own production problems and tasks. To eliminate these shortcomings, it is advisable to form a unified mechanism for managing production risk for the main and contracting enterprises, which should include measures to create safe working conditions for contractors. The basis of this mechanism should be the control of hazardous production situations. At the same time, situations that arise at the junction of the responsibility of contracting organizations and customer enterprises should be singled out in a separate group - joint operations. The article presents the results of the implementation of the proposed mechanism obtained in the course of the joint work of coal mining enterprises with the Department of Degassing and Utilization of Methane, and the enterprise PE «Spetsnaladka» operating in the underground conditions at the mines of the association AO «SUEK-Kuzbass».
Experimental and Analytical Studies of the Formation of Fire and Explosive Vapor Clouds in the Atmosphere during Leaks and Spills of Liquid Hydrogen
Authors:   FGBU VNIIPO EMERCOM of Russia, Bolodyan I.A. , Vogman L.P. ,   FGBU VNIIPO EMERCOM of Russia
Published: November 2022

Experimental and numerical studies of the process of formation of fire-explosive steam-air clouds in the atmosphere during leaks and spills of liquid hydrogen were carried out. Within their framework, the tasks were performed to determine the size and lifetime of a hydrogen-air cloud with a hazardous concentration of hydrogen from the point of view of explosion and fire hazard (including at the boundary of a visible cloud), and the relationship between the temperature and concentration of combustible gas in a gas-air cloud; studying the effect of cloud temperature on its parameters, the role of atmosphere involvement in the convective hydrogen jet; establishing the influence of moisture content in the atmospheric cloud and the mobility of the environment (wind exposure) on the dynamics of changes in the level of its fire and explosion hazard. It is shown that the humidity of the environment affects the concentration of hydrogen at the boundary of the visible cloud, and, consequently, its fire and explosion hazard. The assessment of the influence of humidity on the parameters of the studied turbulent convective jet indicates that the rate of change in the mass concentration of hydrogen on the axis of the low-temperature jet from the height of ascent depends on the humidity of the medium. The higher the humidity, the sharper the decrease in the mass concentration of hydrogen along the height of the convective jet becomes. In accordance with the calculations, the time for dissipation of a cloud to a fireproof hydrogen concentration in the presence of moisture condensate is reduced by 30 %, and the dissipation time to an explosive concentration of hydrogen is reduced by about 20 %. The coefficient of air involvement α in convective jets of hydrogen-air mixtures with positive buoyancy is 0.12 considering the real enthalpy and absolute humidity of the surrounding air of 15 g/m3 (90 % humidity at 20 °C). This coefficient can be used in the calculations of turbulent convective jets formed during stationary hydrogen evaporation. Wind at low speeds leads to an increase in the maximum transverse dimensions of the cloud, regardless of the concentration in the hydrogen jet, and at high speeds, to their decrease. For emergency hydrogen spills, the most dangerous case when a hydrogen-air cloud of large volumes is formed in the atmosphere, is the case with zero humidity and no wind (in a wide range of values of the initial mass flow of hydrogen: 0.1–100 kg/s).
Risk-Oriented Approach to Providing Employees with Personal Protective Equipment
Authors:   Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Karchina E.I. , Ivanova M.V. ,   Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Glebova E.V. ,   Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University)
Published: November 2022

An example of determining the list of personal protective equipment and flushing agents for an electric and gas welder is considered, taking into account the risk-oriented approach in accordance with the Uniform standards for issuing personal protective equipment and flushing agents. An analysis is also being made of the sufficiency of providing personal protective equipment for an electric and gas welder of LLC Gazprom UGS after the entry into force of the order approving the Uniform standards for issuing personal protective equipment and washing agents. In the course of the study the hazards were identified, and occupational risks were assessed using the Fine-Kinney method for the workplace of an electric and gas welder at LLC Gazprom UGS. Based on the results of the assessment of the occupational risks, a list of personal protective equipment was determined that is required to provide an electric and gas welder in accordance with the Uniform standards for issuing personal protective equipment and washing agents. A comparative analysis of the current norms for the issuance of protective equipment to an electric and gas welder at LLC Gazprom UGS, and the list of protective equipment required to ensure it in accordance with the Uniform Standards for the issuance of personal protective equipment and washing agents showed no significant differences. However, this study showed that the use of a risk-oriented approach to providing workers with personal protective equipment will allow identifying hazards at a particular workplace and selecting more effective protective equipment based on the results of a special assessment of working conditions and occupational risk assessment.
Erken çocukluk dönemindeki çocuklarla katılımcı araştırmalarda karşılaşılabilecek etik sorunlar
Authors: Özok Bulut Nefise
Published: November 2022

Bu çalışmada erken çocukluk dönemindeki çocuklarla katılımcı araştırmaların farklı aşamalarında, araştırmacılar tarafından karşılaşılabilecek sorunlar ve dikkat edilmesi gereken noktalar tartışılmıştır. Tartışma dört başlık etrafında şekillendirilmiştir: (1) Erişim kazanma ve onam süreci; (2) Araştırmanın gerçekleştirildiği ortam; (3) Araştırmanın tasarlanması ve veri toplama süreci; (4) Verilerin analizi ve yaygınlaştırılması. Araştırmacıların sahip olduğu çocuk algısı ve çocuğu kavramsallaştırma şekli, onları araştırma sürecine ne kadar dahil edeceklerini etkilemektedir. Bu çalışmada ilgili konu tartışılırken araştırmacı tarafından çocukların aktif üreticiler olarak görüldüğü sosyal yapılandırmacı bakış açısı benimsenmiştir. Çalışmanın, çocuklarla çalışacak araştırmacılara yol göstereceği düşünülmektedir. Ayrıca çalışma kapsamında paylaşılan bilgi ve örnek araştırmalar, araştırmacılara net bir yön vermek yerine içgörü sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Çocuk hakları ve çocuklarla kurulan ilişkilere dikkat edilerek ve sosyal yapılandırmacı bakış açısı benimsenerek etik anlayışların geliştirilmeye devam edileceği düşünülmektedir.