scholarly journals How to Obtain a Reliable Estimate of Occupational Exposure? Review and Discussion of Models’ Reliability

Author(s):  
Spinazzè ◽  
Borghi ◽  
Campagnolo ◽  
Rovelli ◽  
Keller ◽  
...  

Evaluation and validation studies of quantitative exposure models for occupational exposure assessment are still scarce and generally only consider a limited number of exposure scenarios. The aim of this review was to report the current state of knowledge of models’ reliability in terms of precision, accuracy, and robustness. A systematic review was performed through searches of major scientific databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed), concerning reliability of Tier1 (“ECETOC TRA”-European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals Targeted Risk Assessment, MEASE, and EMKG-Expo-Tool) and Tier2 models (STOFFENMANAGER® and “ART”-Advanced Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Tool). Forty-five studies were identified, and we report the complete information concerning model performance in different exposure scenarios, as well as between-user reliability. Different studies describe the ECETOC TRA model as insufficient conservative to be a Tier1 model, in different exposure scenarios. Contrariwise, MEASE and EMKG-Expo-Tool seem to be conservative enough, even if these models have not been deeply evaluated. STOFFENMANAGER® resulted the most balanced and robust model. Finally, ART was generally found to be the most accurate and precise model, with a medium level of conservatism. Overall, the results showed that no complete evaluation of the models has been conducted, suggesting the need for correct and harmonized validation of these tools.

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 526-529
Author(s):  
Obadeh Bassam Abdel-Rahman Al-Qaraleh

The purpose of the work is to analyze the scientific literature on the constitutional features of the occurrence and course of psoriasis. The analysis of modern scientific literature in the scientific databases PubMed, eLIBRARY.RU and Web of Science was carried out. A review of the literature indicates the current state of the problem of such a disease as psoriasis, which is not only a skin lesion but also a serious socio-psychological problem. Given its chronic nature, lack of etiopathogenetic treatment, and knowing the trigger factors in the right way, it would be a good idea to look for early predisposition for the disease and to form risk groups for such individuals. Ideal in terms of efficiency and cheapness, given the results of the above studies, could be anthropological studies. The study of the constitutional features of the occurrence and course of psoriasis for the population of Ukraine is thus a priority and topical area of research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 496-517
Author(s):  
Yangcheng Liu ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Jiaqi Wang ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Changlan Chen ◽  
...  

Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. Trev. and Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Juss, are two species of Patrinia recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia with the same Chinese name “Baijiangcao” and similar therapeutic effect in traditional Chinese medicine. The present article is the first comprehensive review on the chemical composition and pharmacological activities of these herbs. In this review, data on chemical constituents and pharmacological profile of the two herbs are provided. This review discusses all the classes of the 223 compounds (phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, terpenes, saponins and volatile components, etc.) detected in the two herbs providing information on the current state of knowledge of the phytochemicals present in them. In the past three years, our research group has isolated and identified about more than 100 ingredients from the two herbs. Therefore, we published a systematic review of our research papers and studies on the two herbs were carried out using resources such as classic books about Chinese herbal medicine and scientific databases including Pubmed, Web of Science, SciFinder, CNKI. etc. The present review discusses the most thoroughly studied pharmacological activities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antitumor and antiviral activities) of the two herbs. This comprehensive review will be informative for scientists searching for new properties of these herbs and will be important and significant for the discovery of bioactive compounds from the two herbs and in complete utilization of Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. ex Trev. and Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Juss.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 4323-4331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wouter J. M. Knoben ◽  
Jim E. Freer ◽  
Ross A. Woods

Abstract. A traditional metric used in hydrology to summarize model performance is the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). Increasingly an alternative metric, the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE), is used instead. When NSE is used, NSE = 0 corresponds to using the mean flow as a benchmark predictor. The same reasoning is applied in various studies that use KGE as a metric: negative KGE values are viewed as bad model performance, and only positive values are seen as good model performance. Here we show that using the mean flow as a predictor does not result in KGE = 0, but instead KGE =1-√2≈-0.41. Thus, KGE values greater than −0.41 indicate that a model improves upon the mean flow benchmark – even if the model's KGE value is negative. NSE and KGE values cannot be directly compared, because their relationship is non-unique and depends in part on the coefficient of variation of the observed time series. Therefore, modellers who use the KGE metric should not let their understanding of NSE values guide them in interpreting KGE values and instead develop new understanding based on the constitutive parts of the KGE metric and the explicit use of benchmark values to compare KGE scores against. More generally, a strong case can be made for moving away from ad hoc use of aggregated efficiency metrics and towards a framework based on purpose-dependent evaluation metrics and benchmarks that allows for more robust model adequacy assessment.


Data ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Helder F. Castro ◽  
Jaime S. Cardoso ◽  
Maria T. Andrade

The ever-growing capabilities of computers have enabled pursuing Computer Vision through Machine Learning (i.e., MLCV). ML tools require large amounts of information to learn from (ML datasets). These are costly to produce but have received reduced attention regarding standardization. This prevents the cooperative production and exploitation of these resources, impedes countless synergies, and hinders ML research. No global view exists of the MLCV dataset tissue. Acquiring it is fundamental to enable standardization. We provide an extensive survey of the evolution and current state of MLCV datasets (1994 to 2019) for a set of specific CV areas as well as a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the results. Data were gathered from online scientific databases (e.g., Google Scholar, CiteSeerX). We reveal the heterogeneous plethora that comprises the MLCV dataset tissue; their continuous growth in volume and complexity; the specificities of the evolution of their media and metadata components regarding a range of aspects; and that MLCV progress requires the construction of a global standardized (structuring, manipulating, and sharing) MLCV “library”. Accordingly, we formulate a novel interpretation of this dataset collective as a global tissue of synthetic cognitive visual memories and define the immediately necessary steps to advance its standardization and integration.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4664
Author(s):  
Majid Mohammadhosseini ◽  
Alessandro Venditti ◽  
Claudio Frezza ◽  
Mauro Serafini ◽  
Armandodoriano Bianco ◽  
...  

Herein, a comprehensive review is given focusing on the chemical profiles of the essential oils (EOs), non-volatile compounds, ethnobotany, and biological activities of different Haplophyllum (Rutaceae family) species. To gather the relevant data, all the scientific databases, including Scopus, ISI-WOS (Institute of Scientific Information-Web of Science), and PubMed and highly esteemed publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, Taylor and Francis, etc., were systematically retrieved and reviewed. A wide array of valuable groups of natural compounds, e.g., terpenoids, coumarins, alkaloids, lignans, flavonoids, and organic acids have been isolated and subsequently characterized in different organic extracts of a number of Haplophyllum species. In addition, some remarkable antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cytotoxic, antileishmanial, and antialgal effects as well as promising remedial therapeutic properties have been well-documented for some species of the genus Haplophyllum.


Conservation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-284
Author(s):  
Vladyslav Zakharovskyi ◽  
Károly Németh

This research presents a literature review of published scientific literature on the Coromandel Peninsula, a well-known region of the northern part of the North Island of New Zealand. It contains many biological, geological, and historical features and is well known for beautiful scenery, resulting from a volcanic rock-dominated terrestrial environment influenced by oceanic factors at the coast. All these factors have combined to make the Coromandel a popular tourism destination for New Zealanders and offshore visitors. In researching the current state of knowledge of the region, we searched three scientific databases to define the main ways of studying the region. The results demonstrated a high interest in biological and environmental factors, reflected in the type and scale of conservation measures applied to flora and fauna of the region. Additionally, specificity of geological evolution was a highly examined subject, in the context of hydrothermal alteration as related to gold and silver mineralization resulting in extensive exploration and mining. Meanwhile, indigenous cultural aspects of the land were not recognizable as expected within Western scientific literature, even though the region contains sites recognized as some of the earliest Māori habitations. Therefore, we suggest future studies to expand our understanding of scientific, cultural, and social aspects of the region as applied to the field of conservation in the region.


Author(s):  
Hamed Fathi ◽  
Fatemeh Faraji ◽  
Niusha Esmaealzadeh ◽  
Shahram Eslami ◽  
Mohammad Bagher Mohammadi Laeeni

Introduction: Zingiber officinale Rose (ginger) has been used for many purposes in traditional medicine since 2500 years ago. This study intends to introduce the ginger plant, some of their applications in the field of human health in traditional and modern medicine, and their conformity with Islamic and Quranic findings. Material and Methods: Administrative and therapeutic information of ginger plant has been searched in related and valid books, scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, SID, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Ginger keyword has been searched in the Quran and hadiths and its medicinal and pharmacological properties; also in traditional Persian medicine and laboratory studies, the day, was collected from published articles. In order to confirm the obtained information, it was matched with Quranic and narration versions, and the obtained information was analyzed, compiled, and presented. Results: Avicenna has mentioned the positive effects of ginger in his Canon of Medicine. The Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health in Iran has also introduced ginger as a dietary supplement. Ginger is one of those plants which name is mentioned in the Quran, in verse 17 of Surah Al-Insan. In narrations and quoting scientists as well as in modern medicine and articles, the effects and application of this plant in the field of medicine and nutrition have been mentioned. Conclusion: The results have shown that the use of ginger in nutrition as a spice or supplement and in Persian medicine as a medicament has a scientific and practical basis, and studies on this issue are confirmed both in science and Islam. Findings obtained from laboratory and clinical studies can also be effective in the proper use and preparation of appropriate medicinal forms of this plant.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gessica Mina Kim Jesus ◽  
Daniel Jugend

PurposeDespite the potential of open innovation (OI) to reduce barriers to the adoption of the circular economy (CE), little is known about the integration of the two themes and how OI could contribute to a more sustainable economy. The objective of this study is to investigate how OI can contribute to the adoption of the CE.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a systematic review of the literature sampled from the Scopus and Web of Science scientific databases.FindingsThe main findings of the study are (1) the utilization of OI within CE is still a recent phenomenon, one which emphasizes the collaboration between stakeholders and the co-creation approach; (2) the collaboration of stakeholders can be applied to align the objectives of interested parties, in a joint effort to resolve the environmental problems of the three levels of CE and (3) an action-creation approach can be adopted as a strategy to encourage the participation of consumers in the development of environmentally sustainable products, which may favor the transition to the CE.Originality/valueThe article presents the state of the art on the CE guided by OI, highlighting the opportunities and challenges of the correlation between the two themes. The article also shows the theoretical and practical implications for an OI-driven circular economy.


Author(s):  
Airton Zancanaro ◽  
José Leomar Todesco ◽  
Fernando Ramos

Open educational resources (OER) is a topic that has aroused increasing interest by researchers as a powerful contribution to improve the educational system quality and openness, both in face to face and distance education. The goal of this research is to map publications related to OER, dating from 2002 to 2013, and available through the Web of Science and Scopus scientific databases as well as in the OER Knowledge Cloud open repository. Data were used to explore relevant aspects related to the scientific production in OER, such as: (i) number of publications per year; (ii) most cited publications; (iii) authors with higher number of publications; (iv) institutions and countries with more publications and (v) most referenced bibliography by the authors. The analysis has included 544 papers, written by 843 authors, from 338 institutions, from 61 different countries. Moreover, the analysis has included the publications referenced and the author’s keywords, considering 6,355 different publications and 929 different keywords. Besides presenting a bibliographic mapping of the research on OER, this paper also intends to contribute to consolidate the idea that OER is a promising field for researchers, in line with the spreading of the Open movement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. e05101724172
Author(s):  
Sara Lorena de Pádua Souza ◽  
Valdinete Vieira Nunes ◽  
Izabel de Jesus Cândido ◽  
Valéria Mota de Brito ◽  
Lucas Alexandre dos Santos Rocha ◽  
...  

Proteins and enzymes are informative biochemical markers frequently used in plant studies. The objective of this work was to present the studies with enzymes and proteins used as biochemical markers in crops and forest species—the articles prospected in the Scopus and Web of Science scientific databases in December 2020. The keywords were a combination of "agricultural" or "forest" with the Boolean operator and the enzymes' name: alcohol dehydrogenase/ADH, malate dehydrogenase/MDH, alpha-amylase/AMS, peroxiredoxin/PERX, and LEA proteins. Eighty-two articles addressed enzymes in agricultural or forest species were included in the analysis. The articles were published from 1976 to 2020, with an average annual publication of 12.2. Three hundred thirty-seven authors developed the annual percentage growth rate of 2.52% and articles. The most studied crops are Oryza sativa L., Glycine max L., Zea mays L., Hordeum vulgare L., specimens of the genera Triticum and Brassica. The forest species were Pinus, Picea, Nothofagus, Quercus, and Sorbus, and Fagus sylvatica L. The main tissues used for extraction are leaves, seeds, buds, and roots. The studies mainly deal with enzymes or proteins as markers associated with abiotic stresses and the structure or genetic diversity.


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