A fair CoP? MRF sampling, testing and reporting: Big problems caused by small particles. Part 1: Compliance difficulties and data validity

2020 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2094109
Author(s):  
Alan Robert McKenzie Kirk ◽  
Zarreen Banon Mokaddam

The Regulations governing Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in England require that they report on the quality of both the incoming mixed wastes and the single-stream recyclate products, with the results being made available on a public register. In this investigation, tests were conducted on a number of mixed wastes from different suppliers being processed at a qualifying MRF to evaluate how effective the Regulations (or MRF Code of Practice (MRF CoP)) were in generating useful, meaningful information. The empirical evidence obtained showed that MRF CoP in its current form has a number of serious flaws which detract from the validity and value of the reported operational data. The statutory definition of ‘material particles’ in the mixed wastes given in the MRF CoP means that compliance with the MRF CoP is impracticable, and in order to overcome this it will be necessary to re-word the definition of ‘material particles’. Empirical evidence also invalidated the explicit assumption made in the MRF CoP that the composition of the material particles is identical to that of the bulk materials, and consequently the basis for the mandatory apportioning of the weight of the material particles has no logical foundation and apportioning leads to distortion in the reported data. Changes will be required to the present statutory requirements for reporting operational results if the recorded information is to have meaning and relevance for stakeholders in the system.

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-107185
Author(s):  
Sara Kate Heide

Defining quality of life is a difficult task as it is a subjective and personal experience. However, for the elderly, this definition is necessary for making complicated healthcare-related decisions. Commonly these decisions compare independence against safety or longevity against comfort. These choices are often not made in isolation, but with the help of a healthcare team. When the patient’s concept of quality of life is miscommunicated, there is a risk of harm to the patient whose best interests are not well understood. In order to bridge this gap in understanding and unite seniors with their caretakers as a cohesive team, we need to establish a definition of quality of life. In this paper, my personal experiences with the elderly will be analysed along with five essays on the topic of ageing. These sources provide clear evidence that quality of life for seniors is majorly determined by the ability to preserve one’s lifelong identity. When making difficult decisions in geriatric healthcare, this greater understanding of the determinants of life quality will allow treatments to best serve the elderly. Defining quality of life allows healthcare providers to shift the focus from minimising disability toward maximising ability. I believe this shift would provide seniors with better health outcomes and properly enhance the quality of their years.


Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 512
Author(s):  
Carmen Cipriano-Crespo ◽  
Marta Rodríguez-Hernández ◽  
Pablo Cantero-Garlito ◽  
Lorenzo Mariano-Juárez

Background: Disability causes changes in the eating process, which is central to the definition of each individual’s social and psychological spaces. Methods: This is a qualitative study based on grounded theory. Interviews were carried out in clinical hospital settings and headquarters of several disability organisations. The study included 27 individuals, aged between 18–75 years. All participants had a disability that caused a functional deficiency in the occupational aspects of the eating process. Results: The respondents’ narratives were analysed through observations made in different contexts, allowing us to describe and understand the significance attributed by the participants to their reality and experiences. Three key themes emerged from the analysis: (1) waning bodies (assumption of a diminished corporality); (2) redefinition of food-related social spaces; and (3) perceived burdensomeness, shame, and loneliness. Conclusions: Assisted feeding tends to prioritise the nutritional component of food ingestion. However, cultural, social, and contextual factors have a critical impact on an individual’s well-being and quality of life. This study stresses the importance of re-addressing intervention models affecting differently-abled people and incorporating approaches that take into account the contextual aspects of occupational therapy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. P. SÁFADI ◽  
S. GONZÁLEZ-AYALA ◽  
A. JÄKEL ◽  
H. WIEFFER ◽  
C. MORENO ◽  
...  

SUMMARYMeningococcal disease is mostly endemic in Latin America, with periodic occurrences of outbreaks and epidemics over the last few decades. This literature review summarizes the available epidemiological data for this region between 1945 and 2010. Incidence rates and serogroup distribution differ from country to country and over time. Serogroups A, B, and C have all been major causes of meningococcal disease since the 1970s. In the last decade serogroups W135 and Y may now be emerging in certain countries, with serogroup A virtually disappearing. Although progress has been made in improving and coordinating the surveillance of invasive disease, the uniformity and quality of reported data reflect the fact that the current surveillance systems focus on passive rather than active reporting, hence the reliability of data may vary between countries. Consideration of vaccination policies to control meningococcal disease can only be made with a sufficient understanding of the changing epidemiology in the region.


Collective marks are marks which distinguish the goods or services of the members of the association which is the proprietor of the mark. An association of vegetarian restaurants might allow its members to display a collective mark to show that they are members: other trade associations may do likewise, allowing members to advertise the fact that they subscribe to a code of practice such as that for the motor industry. There are detailed provisions governing collective marks in schedule 1 to the Act. There was no similar provision in the 1938 Act. Section 49 brings UK law into line with most Continental systems. Protection of collective marks is required under Article 15 of the directive. Collective marks may be, and frequently are, used with other trademarks. In addition to the collective mark, the trader will operate under its own trademark which identifies its goods or services. Since collective marks do not distinguish the goods or services of the proprietor from those of others, a modified definition of such a mark is required. Paragraph 2 of schedule 1 provides that a collective mark distinguishes the goods or services of members of the association from those of other undertakings. Collective marks which designate the geographical origin of the goods or services may be registered. This is, of course, a significant departure from the normal rule of trademarks: but given the peculiar function of a collective mark, it is appropriate. The proprietor of a collective mark may not prohibit the use of geographical signs or indications ‘in accordance with honest practices in industrial or commercial matters’. A manufacturer cannot be prevented from saying that his goods are made in a particular place just because that place happens to be a registered collective trademark. Certification marks


Author(s):  
K. T. Tokuyasu

During the past investigations of immunoferritin localization of intracellular antigens in ultrathin frozen sections, we found that the degree of negative staining required to delineate u1trastructural details was often too dense for the recognition of ferritin particles. The quality of positive staining of ultrathin frozen sections, on the other hand, has generally been far inferior to that attainable in conventional plastic embedded sections, particularly in the definition of membranes. As we discussed before, a main cause of this difficulty seemed to be the vulnerability of frozen sections to the damaging effects of air-water surface tension at the time of drying of the sections.Indeed, we found that the quality of positive staining is greatly improved when positively stained frozen sections are protected against the effects of surface tension by embedding them in thin layers of mechanically stable materials at the time of drying (unpublished).


2020 ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
Sergei S. Kapitonov ◽  
Alexei S. Vinokurov ◽  
Sergei V. Prytkov ◽  
Sergei Yu. Grigorovich ◽  
Anastasia V. Kapitonova ◽  
...  

The article describes the results of comprehensive study aiming at increase of quality of LED luminaires and definition of the nature of changes in their correlated colour temperature (CCT) in the course of operation. Dependences of CCT of LED luminaires with remote and close location of phosphor for 10 thousand hours of operation in different electric modes were obtained; the results of comparison between the initial and final radiation spectra of the luminaires are presented; using mathematical statistics methods, variation of luminaire CCT over the service period claimed by the manufacturer is forecast; the least favourable electric operation modes with the highest CCT variation observed are defined. The obtained results have confirmed availability of the problem of variation of CCT of LED luminaires during their operation. Possible way of its resolution is application of more qualitative and therefore expensive LEDs with close proximity of phosphor or LEDs with remote phosphor. The article may be interesting both for manufacturers and consumers of LED light sources and lighting devices using them.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Indarti ◽  
Theo Postma

Innovative companies generally establish linkages with other actors and access external knowledge in order to benefit from the dynamic effects of interactive processes. Using data from 198 furniture and software firms in Indonesia, this study shows that the quality of interaction (i.e. multiplexity) as indicated by the depth of knowledge absorbed from various external parties and intensity of interaction (i.e., tie intensity) are better predictors of product innovation than the diversity of interaction.


Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 72-83
Author(s):  
Tushar Kadian

Actually, basic needs postulates securing of the elementary conditions of existence to every human being. Despite of the practical and theoretical importance of the subject the greatest irony is non- availability of any universal preliminary definition of the concept of basic needs. Moreover, this becomes the reason for unpredictability of various political programmes aiming at providing basic needs to the people. The shift is necessary for development of this or any other conception. No labour reforms could be made in history till labours were treated as objects. Its only after they were started being treating as subjects, labour unions were allowed to represent themselves in strategy formulations that labour reforms could become a reality. The present research paper highlights the basic needs of Human Rights in life.


Author(s):  
Mark Oprenko

The definition of the multimorbidity concept reveals insufficient specificity of the comorbidity and multimorbidity definitions and, as a result, confusion in the use of these terms. Most authors are unanimous that the “core” of multimorbidity is presence of more than one disease in a patient. These coexisting diseases can be pathogenetically interconnected and non-interconnected. Regardless, the degree of multimorbidity always affects prognosis and quality of life.


Author(s):  
D. N. Kalacheva

Herein, the main features and rules of using guaranteed values when analyzing the quality of rocket - space equipment products are considered. The definition of the guaranteed value and the form of its presentation is given. It is indicated that guaranteed value is distributed and is characterized by the frequency distribution law. The main methods of representation and conversion of guaranteed values are statistical. Examples of determining the basic characteristics of guaranteed values are given.


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