scholarly journals Dosimetry Audit in Modern Radiotherapy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katia Manolova Sergieva
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Protection ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Clinical Environment ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Radiotherapy Dosimetry ◽  
Safety Considerations ◽  
Dose Measurements ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Modern Radiotherapy

The clinical specialty of radiotherapy is an essential part of the multidisciplinary process of treatment of malignant neoplasms. Modern radiotherapy is a very complex process of treatment planning and delivery of radiation dose. Radiotherapy reached a very high degree of complexity and sophistication and expected to represent an added value for the cancer patients in terms of clinical outcomes and improved radiation protection. The concept of verifying the realized dose in the medical applications of ionizing radiation was introduced in the early 20th century shortly after the first application of X-rays for the treatment of cancer. Dosimetry audit identify areas for improvement and provide confidence in safety and efficacy, which are essential to creating a clinical environment of continuous development and improvement. Over the years, the audits have contributed to good dosimetry practice and accuracy of dose measurements in modern radiotherapy. Dosimetry audit ensures, that the correct therapeutic dose is delivered to the patients undergoing radiotherapy and play a key role in activities to create a good radiation protection and safety culture. Patient safety is of paramount importance to medical staff in radiotherapy centers and safety considerations are an element in all aspects of the day-to-day clinical activities.

scholarly journals Hydro-morphodynamics 2D modelling using a discontinuous Galerkin discretisation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Clare ◽  
James Percival ◽  
Stephan Kramer ◽  
Athanasios Angeloudis ◽  
Colin Cotter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Discontinuous Galerkin ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Ocean Model ◽  
Suspended Sediment Transport ◽  
Secondary Currents ◽  
Meandering Channel ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Coastal Ocean Model ◽  
High Degree

<p>The development of morphodynamic models to simulate sediment transport accurately is a challenging and highly complex process given the non-linear and coupled nature of the sediment transport problem. We implement a new depth-averaged coupled hydrodynamic and sediment transport model within the coastal ocean model Thetis, built using the code generating framework Firedrake which facilitates code flexibility and optimisation benefits. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first full morphodynamic model using a discontinuous Galerkin based finite element discretisation, to include both bedload and suspended sediment transport. We apply our model to problems with non-cohesive sediment and account for effects of gravity and helical flow by adding slope gradient terms and parametrising secondary currents. For validation purposes and to demonstrate model capability, we present results from the common test cases of a migrating trench and a meandering channel comparing against experimental data and the widely used model Telemac-Mascaret.</p><p>There is a high degree of uncertainty associated with morphodynamic models, in part due to incomplete knowledge of various physical, empirical and numerical closure related parameters in both the hydrodynamic and morphodynamic solvers. We therefore also present examples of how an adjoint model can be used to calibrate or invert for the values of these parameters from either experimental results or real-world erosion profiles.</p>

scholarly journals The analysis of individual Visegrad group members’ agrarian export sensitivity in relation to selected macroeconomic aggregations

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-342
Author(s):  
Miroslav Svatoš ◽  
Luboš Smutka
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Trade ◽  
Added Value ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Grocery Industry ◽  
Agricultural Exports ◽  
Group Members ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Visegrad Group

This paper analyzes the development of agricultural trade of the countries of the Visegrad Group with emphasis on development of the value of agricultural exports of the individual countries. The subject matter of the analysis is the sensitivity of the commodity structure of agricultural exports of individual countries and the identification of aggregations that are the least and the most sensitive to changes to the external and internal economic environment. From the conducted research, agricultural trade in the V4 countries was found to have developed very dynamically from 1993 to 2008, while the commodity structure of exports has constantly narrowed as the degree of specialization of the individual countries has increased (this applies especially to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary). From the results of analysis of sensitivity to changes of selected variables relating to the development of the value of agricultural exports of the individual V4 countries, it appears that the aggregations that react most sensitively to changes are those that are the subject of re-exports, followed by the aggregations that are characterized by a high degree of added value. In general it can be said that products of agricultural primary production exhibit less sensitivity in comparison with grocery industry products. This is confirmed by the general trend arising from the very nature of consumer behaviour.

scholarly journals The International Energy Security Risk Index in Sustainable Energy and Economy Transition Decision Making—A Reliability Analysis

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3691
Author(s):  
Iztok Podbregar ◽  
Goran Šimić ◽  
Mirjana Radovanović ◽  
Sanja Filipović ◽  
Damjan Maletič ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Energy Security ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Security Risk ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Methodological Errors ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
Weighting Coefficients ◽  
Development And Management ◽  
High Degree

The world economy and society are in a complex process of transition characterized by a high degree of uncertainty. Therefore, further development and management of the transition will largely depend on the quality of the decisions made and, accordingly, on the decision-making process itself. The main goal of this study is to analyze the reliability of International Energy Security Risk Index as a tool to support the process of energy and economy transition decision making, as closely related and highly interdependent phenomena. The index is composed of 29 aggregated variables (grouped into eight categories), and the research is conducted on a research sample of 25 countries over a period of 36 years. The reliability assessment is performed by using Multiple Regression Analysis. Multicollinearity test, plus Multicollinearity test with Variance Inflation Factors, is used for methodological verification. The test results indicate a high degree of unreliability of the Index, as is concluded based on the observed errors in its methodological settings. These errors primarily relate to a high degree of multicollinearity in all 29 variables, whereby independent variables lose their independence and thus jeopardize reliability of the total Index. Out of the eight groups of variables, the fuel imports group is the only one that does not show big methodological errors. The paper presents a recommendation for the improvement of the observed Index (review of the role of individual variables found to be particularly methodologically indicative), as well as a recommendation for different distribution of weighting coefficients.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Conserved Rhoptry-Associated Leucine Zipper-Like Protein in the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 879-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Haase ◽  
Ana Cabrera ◽  
Christine Langer ◽  
Moritz Treeck ◽  
Nicole Struck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Gene Knockout ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
High Degree

ABSTRACT One of the key processes in the pathobiology of the malaria parasite is the invasion and subsequent modification of the human erythrocyte. In this complex process, an unknown number of parasite proteins are involved, some of which are leading vaccine candidates. The majority of the proteins that play pivotal roles in invasion are either stored in the apical secretory organelles or located on the surface of the merozoite, the invasive stage of the parasite. Using transcriptional and structural features of these known proteins, we performed a genomewide search that identified 49 hypothetical proteins with a high probability of being located on the surface of the merozoite or in the secretory organelles. Of these candidates, we characterized a novel leucine zipper-like protein in Plasmodium falciparum that is conserved in Plasmodium spp. This protein is expressed in late blood stages and localizes to the rhoptries of the parasite. We demonstrate that this Plasmodium sp.-specific protein has a high degree of conservation within field isolates and that it is refractory to gene knockout attempts and thus might play an important role in invasion.

scholarly journals Characteristics of intellectual capital, competitiveness and industrial policies of innovation-intensive sectors in Serbia

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 14-30
Author(s):  
Gordana Kokeza ◽  
Mihailo Paunović
Keyword(s):  
Growth Model ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Industrial Policies ◽  
Structural Capital ◽  
High Level ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Further Development

This paper explores the characteristics of intellectual capital, competitiveness and industrial policies of innovation-intensive sectors in Serbia. It consists of four parts. The first part presents the characteristics of intellectual capital as the basis of economic growth and competitiveness. The second part analyses the characteristics of national intellectual capital and competitiveness of individual countries in the global economy, while the third part of the paper discusses the competitiveness of the Serbian economy and gives recommendations for a new growth model. The fourth part of the paper is concerned with analysis of the characteristics of intellectual capital and industrial policies of innovation-intensive companies in Serbia, presenting also the results of the research study. The paper proposes that the new growth model of the domestic economy should be based on advanced industrial production and services with a high degree of added value, as well as the application of new economic policies, which should be based on a heterodox approach. It is also concluded that the level of development of intellectual capital of the analyzed companies is at a relatively high level, their structural capital is relatively developed, and the surveyed companies have an excellent reputation. Finally, it is concluded that further development of innovation-intensive sectors implies the application of appropriate industrial policies specific for containing the elements of both vertical and horizontal policies which should focus on encouraging development and innovation.

scholarly journals Bionanomaterials: Advancements in Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Chhabra ◽  
Kajol Bhati
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Chronic Wounds ◽  
Wound Care ◽  
Health Care Organization ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Volume Ratio ◽  
Wound Healing Process ◽  
Care Organization ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
High Degree

Abnormal wound healing represents a major healthcare issue owing to upsurge number of trauma and morbid physiology which ultimately posed a healthcare burden on patient, society and health care organization. A wound healing is a complex process so effective management of chronic wounds is often hard. Recently in addition to many conventional wound treatment’s advances in bionanomaterial are attaining much attention in wound care and skin tissue engineering. Bionanomaterials are biomolecule-based nanocomposite synthesized by plants, microbes and animals which possess high degree of biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity and bioactive assets. Bioactive assets like antimicrobial, immune modulatory, cell proliferation and angiogenesis of biomolecules forms fortunate microenvironment for the wound healing process. Nature has provided us with a significant set of biomolecules like chitosan, hyaluronic acid, collagen, cellulose, silk fucoidan etc. have been exploited to construct engineered bionanomaterials. These biopolymeric nanomaterials are currently researched comprehensively as they have higher surface to volume ratio and high chemical affinity showing a promising augmentation of deadly wounds. In this chapter we aimed to highlight the biological sources and bioengineering approaches adapted for biopolymers so they facilitate wound healing process.

scholarly journals Analytic Correlation Filtration: A New Tool to Reduce Analytical Complexity of Metabolomic Datasets

Metabolites ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monnerie ◽  
Petera ◽  
Lyan ◽  
Gaudreau ◽  
Comte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Source Code ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
Metabolomics Data ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Analytical Correlation ◽  
Grouping Method ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Analytical Complexity ◽  
Mass Information

Metabolomics generates massive and complex data. Redundant different analytical species and the high degree of correlation in datasets is a constraint for the use of data mining/statistical methods and interpretation. In this context, we developed a new tool to detect analytical correlation into datasets without confounding them with biological correlations. Based on several parameters, such as a similarity measure, retention time, and mass information from known isotopes, adducts, or fragments, the algorithm principle is used to group features coming from the same analyte, and to propose one single representative per group. To illustrate the functionalities and added-value of this tool, it was applied to published datasets and compared to one of the most commonly used free packages proposing a grouping method for metabolomics data: ‘CAMERA’. This tool was developed to be included in Galaxy and will be available in Workflow4Metabolomics (http://workflow4metabolomics.org). Source code is freely available for download under CeCILL 2.1 license at https://services.pfem.clermont.inra.fr/gitlab/grandpa /tool-acf and implement in Perl.

scholarly journals Physicochemical and Biological Characterization of a Biosimilar Trastuzumab

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A. López-Morales ◽  
Mariana P. Miranda-Hernández ◽  
L. Carmina Juárez-Bayardo ◽  
Nancy D. Ramírez-Ibáñez ◽  
Alexis J. Romero-Díaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reference Product ◽  
World Health ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Pharmacological Studies ◽  
Comparability Exercise ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Degree Of Similarity

According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of malignant neoplasms and endocrine, blood, and immune disorders will increase in the upcoming decades along with the demand of affordable treatments. In response to this need, the development of biosimilar drugs is increasing worldwide. The approval of biosimilars relies on the compliance with international guidelines, starting with the demonstration of similarity in their physicochemical and functional properties against the reference product. Subsequent clinical studies are performed to demonstrate similar pharmacological behavior and to diminish the uncertainty related to their safety and efficacy. Herein we present a comparability exercise between a biosimilar trastuzumab and its reference product, by using a hierarchical strategy with an orthogonal approach, to assess the physicochemical and biological attributes with potential impact on its pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity. Our results showed that the high degree of similarity in the physicochemical attributes of the biosimilar trastuzumab with respect to the reference product resulted in comparable biological activity, demonstrating that a controlled process is able to provide consistently the expected product. These results also constitute the basis for the design of subsequent delimited pharmacological studies, as they diminish the uncertainty of exhibiting different profiles.

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