scholarly journals HEALTH OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES: DIAGNOSING, IDENTIFYING GAPS AND NEEDS

2021 ◽  
pp. 4-8
Author(s):  
Yu. M. Petrashyk ◽  
H. S. Saturska ◽  
N. O. Terenda ◽  
L. V. Lishtaba ◽  
N. O. Slobodian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Target Audience ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Health Diagnosis

Purpose: to identify features of diagnosing the health of local communities, to examine the current state and changes in the approaches to identifying gaps and needs for action planning. Materials and Methods. The study makes use of the current data on approaches to identifying gaps and needs health diagnostics of local communities in Ukraine and the world. Results. There are five types of models for health diagnosis and needs assessment: epidemiological diagnosis, public health diagnosis, social diagnosis, asset diagnosis, and rapid diagnosis. Each model has its own vision, as well as advantages and disadvantages. In practice, the selected model can be supplemented with elements of other models in accordance with the resources and purpose of the assessment. Determining the population to be assessed is an important early stage in assessing community health. It can be determined geographically, by a specific area, place of work, residence, or study. The state health department can target the entire population, while a small local non-profit agency is likely to focus only on potential customers. The use of very specific parameters to determine the population makes the assessment more focused and detailed, allows very specific adaptation of health measures. Conclusions. When assessing community health, the boundaries of the target audience may change during data collection and analysis. Analysis and interpretation of epidemiological data may reveal that only working mothers are at high risk for health problems that the organization can address. This refinement of the target audience can occur because of a community health assessment.

scholarly journals A Review of Techniques for RSS-Based Radiometric Partial Discharge Localization

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 909
Author(s):  
David W. Upton ◽  
Keyur K. Mistry ◽  
Peter J. Mather ◽  
Zaharias D. Zaharis ◽  
Robert C. Atkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Systems ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Partial Discharge ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Electrical Insulation ◽  
Acoustic Detection ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Catastrophic Failures ◽  
Radiometric Detection

The lifespan assessment and maintenance planning of high-voltage power systems requires condition monitoring of all the operational equipment in a specific area. Electrical insulation of electrical apparatuses is prone to failure due to high electrical stresses, and thus it is a critical aspect that needs to be monitored. The ageing process of the electrical insulation in high voltage equipment may accelerate due to the occurrence of partial discharge (PD) that may in turn lead to catastrophic failures if the related defects are left untreated at an initial stage. Therefore, there is a requirement to monitor the PD levels so that an unexpected breakdown of high-voltage equipment is avoided. There are several ways of detecting PD, such as acoustic detection, optical detection, chemical detection, and radiometric detection. This paper focuses on reviewing techniques based on radiometric detection of PD, and more specifically, using received signal strength (RSS) for the localization of faults. This paper explores the advantages and disadvantages of radiometric techniques and presents an overview of a radiometric PD detection technique that uses a transistor reset integrator (TRI)-based wireless sensor network (WSN).

scholarly journals 4DCT radiotherapy for NSCLC: a review of planning methods

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hutchinson ◽  
P. Bridge
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Organs At Risk ◽  
Patient Comfort ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Optimal Method ◽  
Early Stage Disease ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Stage Disease

AbstractPurposeTo establish whether the use of a passive or active technique of planning target volume (PTV) definition and treatment methods for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) deliver the most effective results. This literature review assesses the advantages and disadvantages in recent studies of each, while assessing the validity of the two approaches for planning and treatment.MethodsA systematic review of literature focusing on the planning and treatment of radiation therapy to NSCLC tumours. Different approaches which have been published in recent articles are subjected to critical appraisal in order to determine their relative efficacy.ResultsFree-breathing (FB) is the optimal method to perform planning scans for patients and departments, as it involves no significant increase in cost, workload or education. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) is the fastest form of delineation, however it is noted to be less accurate than the ten-phase overlap approach for computed tomography (CT). Although gating has proven to reduce margins and facilitate sparing of organs at risk, treatment times can be longer and planning time can be as much as 15 times higher for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This raises issues with patient comfort and stabilisation, impacting on the chance of geometric miss. Stereotactic treatments can take up to 3 hours to treat, along with increases in planning and treatment, as well as the additional hardware, software and training required.ConclusionFour-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) is superior to 3DCT, with the passive FB approach for PTV delineation and treatment optimal. Departments should use a combination of MIP with visual confirmation ensuring coverage for stage 1 disease. Stages 2–3 should be delineated using ten-phases overlaid. Stereotactic and gated treatments for early stage disease should be used accordingly; FB-IMRT is optimal for latter stage disease.

scholarly journals Compensation Models for Community Health Workers: Comparison of Legal Frameworks across Five Countries

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine Ballard ◽  
Carey Westgate ◽  
Rebecca Alban ◽  
Nandini Choudhury ◽  
Rehan Adamjee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Law Firms ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Compensation Mechanisms ◽  
Legal Frameworks

Abstract Background Despite the life-saving work they perform, community health workers (CHWs) have long been subject to global debate about their remuneration. There is now, however, an emerging consensus that CHWs should be paid. As the discussion evolves from whether to financially remunerate CHWs to how to do so, there is an urgent need to better understand the types of CHW payment models and their implications. Methods This study examines the legal framework on CHW compensation in five countries: Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, and South Africa. In order to map the characteristics of each approach, a standardized questionnaire was developed and targeted at local law firms. The questionnaire covered legal structures and requirements for compensation of CHWs, CHW compensation mechanisms, CHW legal protections and benefits, and alignment of national CHW policies with global guidelines. Results The five countries profiled represent possible archetypes for CHW compensation: Brazil (public), Ghana (volunteer-based), Nigeria (private), Rwanda (cooperatives with performance based incentives) and South Africa (hybrid public/private). Advantages and disadvantages of each model with respect to (i) CHWs, in terms of financial protection, and (ii) the public sector, in terms of ease of implementation, are outlined. Conclusions While a strong legal framework does not necessarily translate into high-quality implementation, it is the first necessary step. While certain approaches to CHW compensation - particularly public-sector or hybrid models with public sector wage floors - best institutionalize recommended CHW protections, political will and long-term financing often remain obstacles. Removing ecosystem barriers - such as multilateral and bilateral restrictions on the payment of salaries - can help governments institutionalize CHW payment.

scholarly journals Google Trends as a method to predict new COVID-19 cases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tado Jurić
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Physician Visits ◽  
Local Media ◽  
Digital Monitoring ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Official Data

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we develop a method that can detect and predict the emergence of new cases of COVID-19 at an early stage. With this method, we try to lay the empirical basis for the development of the model of digital monitoring and prediction of the occurrence of new cases of COVID-19 in Croatia, relying on the analytical tool Google Trends (GT).ResultsIn Croatia search activities using GT for terms such as ‘‘PCR +Covid”, “PCR + test”, and symptoms “cough + corona”, “pneumonia + corona”; “muscle pain + corona” correlate strongly with officially reported cases of the disease. Google Trends tools are suitable for predicting the emergence of new COVID-19 cases in Croatia, and that the data collected by this method correlate with official data.The benefit of this method is reliable estimates that can enable public health officials to prepare and better respond to the possible return of a pandemic in certain parts of the country. If a region experiences an early, sharp increase in Covid-19-like-illness Google searches, it may be possible to focus additional resources on that region to identify the etiology of the outbreak, providing extra medical capacity or raising local media awareness as necessary.Because the relative frequency of certain queries is highly correlated with the percentage of physician visits in which a patient presents with Covid-19 symptoms, this method can serve as an early alarm to predict the emergence of new cases of COVID-19 in the specific area in Croatia.

scholarly journals Therapeutic potential of exosomes and their derivatives

2018 ◽  
pp. 129-131
Author(s):  
И.Ю. Малышев ◽  
Л.В. Кузнецова ◽  
О.П. Буданова
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Drug Delivery Systems ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Delivery Systems ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Natural Origin ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Efficient Delivery ◽  
Synthetic Drug

В обзоре представлены современные данные о механизмах диагностики, планирования и оценки успешности терапии различных заболеваний с помощью экзосом, об использовании их как нанопереносчиков (т.е. нановезикул для эффективной доставки молекул). За последние годы разработано большое количество разных, в основном синтетических, систем доставки лекарственных средств, недостатками этих систем является плохая биосовместимость и органическая неспособность к высокоточной доставке загруженных веществ. По сравнению с синтетическими системами доставки лекарственных средств, экзосомы - вследствие своего естественного происхождения - могут обладать большими преимуществами, такими, как лучшая биосовместимость и повышенная устойчивость к разрушительному воздействию иммунной системы. Описана технология производства наноструктур, разработка и производство с помощью бионанотехнологий так называемых «полностью синтетических экзосомоподобных нановезикул», преимущества и недостатки этих методов. This review presents current data on mechanisms for diagnosis, planning, and evaluation of success in the treatment of various diseases using exosomes as nanocarriers (i.e., nanovesicles for efficient delivery of molecules). In recent years, a large number of different, mainly synthetic drug delivery systems has been developed. Disadvantages of these systems are poor biocompatibility and organic inability to deliver high-precision loaded substances. Compared with synthetic drug delivery systems, exosomes due to their natural origin may provide great advantages, such as better biocompatibility and increased resistance to detrimental effects of the immune system. This review describes in detail a technology of nanostructure production, the development and production of so-called fully synthetic exosome-like nanovesicles using bionanotechnology, and advantages and disadvantages of these methods.

scholarly journals Number of HIV-1 founder variants is determined by the recency of the source partner infection

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 369 (6499) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ch. Julián Villabona-Arenas ◽  
Matthew Hall ◽  
Katrina A. Lythgoe ◽  
Stephen G. Gaffney ◽  
Roland R. Regoes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
High Genetic Diversity ◽  
Partner Characteristics ◽  
Infection Stage ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
Founder Strain

During sexual transmission, the high genetic diversity of HIV-1 within an individual is frequently reduced to one founder variant that initiates infection. Understanding the drivers of this bottleneck is crucial to developing effective infection control strategies. Little is known about the importance of the source partner during this bottleneck. To test the hypothesis that the source partner affects the number of HIV founder variants, we developed a phylodynamic model calibrated using genetic and epidemiological data on all existing transmission pairs for whom the direction of transmission and the infection stage of the source partner are known. Our results suggest that acquiring infection from someone in the acute (early) stage of infection increases the risk of multiple–founder variant transmission compared with acquiring infection from someone in the chronic (later) stage of infection. This study provides the first direct test of source partner characteristics to explain the low frequency of multiple–founder strain infections.

scholarly journals Study on the treatments and countermeasures for liquefiable foundation

2019 ◽  
Vol 272 ◽  
pp. 01012
Author(s):  
Binhua Xu ◽  
Ning He ◽  
Denghua Li
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Soil Liquefaction ◽  
Stress Conditions ◽  
The Other ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Ground Liquefaction

This paper summarizes the current treatments and countermeasures for liquefiable foundations, and divides the existing anti-liquefaction countermeasures into two categories. One of the ideas is proceeding from the properties of liquefiable foundation soils, by the means of improvement for the soil’s qualities to enhance the capacity of soil’s anti-liquefaction in the early stage. The other idea is considering from the stress conditions of liquefiable foundation soils, and to reduce the liquefaction-induced disasters by changing the stress conditions of the soil. The advantages and disadvantages of various anti-liquefaction measures were analysed by verifying the effectiveness of field applications of anti-liquefaction measures against ground liquefaction hazards, and the applicable conditions of various anti-liquefaction measures were classified. This paper provides experience for resisting soil liquefaction disasters.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation for cancer patients: who is appropriate?

2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Seymour
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Ovarian Tissue ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation ◽  
Curative Surgery ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Future Fertility ◽  
Hodgkin's Lymphomas ◽  
The Impact

In recent decades there has been parallel progress in the fields of cancer chemotherapy and reproductive medicine technology, which has led to increasing numbers of women surviving their malignancies, often with significant reproductive impairment, and a range of choices for the potential preservation of fertility, including storage of embryos, mature oocytes, immature oocytes or ovarian tissue. Although each of these procedures has specific relative advantages and disadvantages, there are no clear guidelines for selection of patients for such interventions. There are six distinct issues that should be considered before making any recommendations regarding the appropriateness of any of the range of measures aimed at enhancing the future reproductive capacity of the patient: (1) the risk of sterility with the proposed treatment program; (2) the overall prognosis for the patient; (3) the potential risks of delaying chemotherapy; (4) the impact of any future pregnancy upon the risk of tumour recurrence; (5) the impact of any required hormonal manipulation on the tumour itself; and (6) the possibility of tumour contamination of the harvested tissue. For illustrative purposes, it is reasonable to assume that the preservation of future fertility is likely to be a priority for women under the age of 40 years. Within this group in 1996 in the Australian State of Victoria (total population, ˜4.6 million), there were 837 cases of cancer diagnosed (annual incidence rate, ˜60 per 100 000 population). Of those afflicted, it is estimated that 10% were pre-pubertal, 38% were treated by potentially curative surgery alone, 15% had cancers of the reproductive tract, and 5% were treated with palliative intent. Thus the remaining 32% of patients with invasive cancer in this age group (267 per year) are potentially curable, and require initial treatment, including chemotherapy. These tumours comprise predominantly breast cancer (161 cases or 19%), sarcomas of bone and soft-tissue (32 cases or 4%), and the haematologic malignancies (Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, and the leukaemias, each approximately 25 cases or 3%). Consideration of procedures that may preserve future fertility would be appropriate in this group of patients. Current data relating to the six issues noted earlier using contemporary treatment programmes will be presented and discussed as they apply to each of these categories of patient. An understanding of the relative importance of each of these factors to patients with a range of malignancies will facilitate the safe and appropriate application of the available methods to maintain the possibility of future child-bearing.

scholarly journals ROLE OF ANIMAL MODELS IN PERIODONTAL RESEARCH - A REVIEW

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Sarah ` Banu ◽  
Jaiganesh Ramamurthy
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Periodontal Diseases ◽  
Human Anatomy ◽  
Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Human Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
Large Animals ◽  
Periodontal Research

Periodontal diseases require treatment at an early stage to prevent further damage and aggravation of the disease. The most commonly seen periodontal diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis. Animals have contributed a major role in studying the different periodontal diseases and providing a proper treatment. Periodontal diseases are either induced in these experimental animal models or can be seen naturally. Different drugs are tested on the animals induced by the disease to find the most effective treatment for that particular disease. Different animals such as mice, rats, pigs, rabbits, hamsters, and rodents are used for the periodontal research. Different animals show a different reaction while some animals show no reaction. Each animal has its own advantages and disadvantages. The use of large animals brings a limitation in the due to its housing difficulties. Animals for periodontal research are chosen depending on their similarity with that of human anatomy and physiology. The use of these animals will help to replicate the disease seen in humans in a better and more accurate way. This will improve the treatment outcome and the prognosis of the disease. The drugs used can, hence, give a better idea about the effect it would have on the human body depending on the effects it shows on the animal models. Hence, the use of appropriate animals for the periodontal research is important to design a better treatment for these diseases. Hence, animal models play an important role in the periodontal research.

scholarly journals Postembryonic development of tapeworms — source of novel phylogenetic characters for analysis of cestode evolution: comparative TEM studies

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 130-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Świderski
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Thick Layer ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Postembryonic Development ◽  
Current Data ◽  
The Body ◽  
Ultrastructural Studies ◽  
Calcareous Corpuscle ◽  
Parenchymal Cells

AbstractUltrastructural features of juvenile cestodes (metacestodes) can provide useful characters for phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses. Until now, however, they have been relatively little utilised (Beveridge 2001, Chervy 2002). The postembryonic development and structure of fully formed metacestodes were examined in two cyclophyllideans: Taenia parva Baer, 1926 (Taeniidae); and Sobolevitaenia verulamii (Mettrick, 1958) Korniushin, 1972 (Dilepididae). In T. parva, three developmental stages were recognized: (1) an early stage of exogenous budding at the surface of the central vesicle; (2) a stage of polycephalic cyst development accompanied by segmentation of the growing metacestode strobila and an obvious decrease in the size of the central vesicle; (3) a fully formed metacestode of the strobilocercus type with 14–24 invaginated scoleces. The tegument, scolex, subtegumental musculature of the strobilar segments, protonephridial system, calcareous corpuscles and medullary parenchyma of larvae exhibit general similarity to the same structures in adults at both LM and TEM levels. The morphogenesis of the metacestode of T. parva is compared with that of polycephalic metacestodes of other Taenia spp. (T. krepkogorski, T. twitchelli and T. endothoracica) and with other asexually multiplying metacestodes (Mesocestoides vogae, hymenolepidids and dilepidids). In S. verulamii, the body of the cysticercoid with invaginated scolex armed with a double crown of rostellar hooks was completely surrounded by the cercomer, which appears to be separated from the cyst and scolex. The surface of the suckers is covered with a thick layer of glycocalyx. Five cell types were distinguished in the sections: (1) perikarya of metacestode tegument; (2) glycolgen-storing parenchymal cells; (3) glandular-type cells with large, electron-dense secretory-like granules; (4) flame cells; and (5) calcareous corpuscle-forming cells. The surface of the cercomer is covered by elongated microvilli, which evidently differ from characteristic microtriches covering all other parts of the metacestode surface. The ultrastructure of S. verulamii evidently differs from that of the other dilepidid cestode examined to date, Lateriporus geographicus, the cyst wall of which more resembles cysticercoids of Hymenolepididae than those of Dilepididae. Concluding remarks: Ultrastructural studies on metacestodes have considerable promise for providing important new characters for phylogenetic analysis. New TEM data on a great variety of cestode species are urgently needed. Until now, this field has not been exploited in a systematic fashion. Until more comprehensive studies become available, the current data are not yet amenable to analysis.

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