Metrological support of maintenance by the technical state of communication means

Modern and prospective communication means are among the most knowledge-driven, high-tech types of industrial products, which are subject to enhanced requirements for quality and efficiency of application. The effective functioning of modern communication means is provided by built-in software, including metrological support. In this paper, we consider the specifics of metrological maintenance of large-scale communication facilities (tens and hundreds of thousands of elements) consisting of separate subunits, the serviceability, maintenance, and recovery of which can be performed autonomously. It is proposed to enhance the efficiency of the by-state-maintenance (also called maintenance by the technical state) by accounting for the specifics of metrological support, establishing an optimal sequence of operations, selecting the measuring instruments in accordance with relevant requirements. To do this, one has to use a combined indicator composed of individual parameters of the tests and the probability of their preferred choice. This allows to assess the technical condition of the communication means with a given probability during a minimal time. In addition, one can estimate the time of maintenance, taking into account the metrological reliability and the probability of correct evaluation of the result of checking the parameters by the measuring instruments. The order of implementation of the obtained results is formalized in the form of an algorithm and an example of their realization is presented.

Evaluation of population frequency for age-dependent multifactorial disorders

Aim. Description of the method to calculate the population incidence of age- and sex-dependent multifactorial diseases. Methods. For the analysis, we used statistical material of psychiatric hospitals in the Kharkiv region for 2016. Calculation of the population frequency was carrying out according to the methodology used in demographic studies. Results. In medical genetics, population frequency is mainly used for prognostic purposes to assess the genetic load of a population or to calculate the probability to inherit a disease. Evaluation of the population frequency of multifactorial disease is complicated by varying age of onset, differential survival, different thresholds of hereditary predisposition for men and women. Prevalence, which is often used instead population frequency, is not a gene pool characteristic and is not useful for genetic analysis and risk assessment. The population frequency, calculated for affective disorders by the proposed method (0.184%), is 1.33 times higher than the prevalence rate (0.138%), that is, a third of cases when using the prevalence turns out to be lost that distorts the derived genetic indicators. Conclusions. For the correct evaluation of the population frequency, the age-specific incidence for two sexes separately must be estimated, followed by the calculation of the cumulative frequencies. Keywords: multifactorial diseases, prevalence, morbidity, population frequency.

Impact of video quality when evaluating video-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a randomized, controlled simulation trial

Background Although not routinely established during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), video-assisted CPR has been described as beneficial in the communication with emergency medical service (EMS) authorities in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest scenarios. Since the influence of video quality has not been investigated systematically and due to variation of quality of a live-stream video during video-assisted CPR, we investigated the influence of different video quality levels during the evaluation of CPR performance in video sequences. Methods Seven video sequences of CPR performance were recorded in high quality and artificially reduced to medium and low quality afterwards. Video sequences showed either correct CPR performance or one of six typical errors: too low and too high compression rate, superficial and increased compression depth, wrong hand position and incomplete release. Video sequences were randomly assigned to the different quality levels. During the randomised and double-blinded evaluation process, 46 paramedics and 47 emergency physicians evaluated seven video sequences of CPR performance in different quality levels (high, medium and low resolution). Results Of 650 video sequences, CPR performance was evaluable in 98.2%. CPR performance was correctly evaluated in 71.5% at low quality, in 76.8% at medium quality, and in 77.3% at high quality level, showing no significant differences depending on video quality (p = 0.306). In the subgroup analysis, correct classification of increased compression depth showed significant differences depending on video quality (p = 0.006). Further, there were significant differences in correct CPR classification depending on the presented error (p < 0.001). Allegedly errors, that were not shown in the video sequence, were classified in 28.3%, insignificantly depending on video quality. Correct evaluation did not show significant interprofessional differences (p = 0.468). Conclusion Video quality has no significant impact on the evaluation of CPR in a video sequence. Even low video quality leads to an acceptable rate of correct evaluation of CPR performance. There is a significant difference in evaluation of CPR performance depending on the presented error in a video sequence. Trial registration German Clinical Trial Register (Registration number DRKS00015297) Registered on 2018-08-21.

La obligación de utilización de medios electrónicos en los procesos selectivos: ciudadanos o súbditos

Laburpena: Lan honetan, gaur egun indarrean dagoen arau-esparruak (Administrazio Publikoen Administrazio Prozedura Erkideari buruzko Legeak) zer-nolako aukerak eta mugak xedatzen dituen aztertzen da, hautapen-prozesuetan herritarrak bitarteko elektronikoak erabiltzera behartzeari dagokionez. Hala, kontua behar bezala ebaluatzeko, lanak esparru juridiko horren azterketa orokorra egiten du lehenik, hautapena kudeatzeko eremuan halabeharrez aplikatu behar baita. Gero, arau-esparrua hautapen-prozeduretan eta lotura zuzenik gabeko eremu batzuetan (hala nola, hautapen-organoen funtzionamenduaren araubide juridikoan eta egin beharreko probetan edo ariketetan) nola ezartzen den aztertzen da. Azkenik, administrazioaren jarduera txar batzuk aipatzen dira, kontuaren ikuspegi bateratu eta sistematizatua eskaintzeko. Resumen: Este trabajo examina las posibilidades y límites que el actual marco normativo vigente (LPAC) permite para imponer la obligación de utilización de medios electrónicos a los ciudadanos/as en los procedimientos selectivos. Así, para una correcta evaluación de esta cuestión el trabajo realiza un previo examen general del citado marco jurídico, ya que el mismo resulta de necesaria aplicación al ámbito de la gestión de la selección. Posteriormente, se procede al estudio sobre su implementación concreta en los procedimientos selectivos y a algunos ámbitos en los que su conexión no es directa (régimen jurídico de funcionamiento de los órganos selectivos y las pruebas o ejercicios a desarrollar), finalizando con la referencia a algunas malas prácticas administrativas, de esa manera se ofrece una visión conjunta y sistematizada de la cuestión. Abstract: This work examines the possibilities and limits enabled by the current regulatory framework (LPAC) with respect to imposing the obligation to use electronic media on citizens in selection processes. Thus, for a correct evaluation of this question, the work carries out a prior general examination of the aforementioned legal framework, given its necessary application to the field of recruitment management. Subsequently, a study is carried out on its concrete implementation in selection procedures and in some areas where its connection is not direct (legal operating system of the selection bodies and the tests or exercises to be carried out), ending with the reference to certain poor administrative practices, thus offering a joint and systematized view of the issue.

Clinical Assessment of Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (Imci) Given by Professionals Trained Between 2012 and 2015 in Colombia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background In Colombia, official statistics indicate that infant mortality by 2020 would reach 7.22 per thousand live births. Prevalent and preventable diseases represent 70% of total infant mortality, so strategies such as Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) are still relevant for the country. This research seeks to establish whether the professionals trained in IMCI between 2011 and 2015 apply the strategy in the prevention and care of children under 5 years of age. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in general practitioners, nurses and pediatricians who had some level of training in the IMCI strategy between 2012 and 2015. A survey based on the basic competences established in the framework of the IMCI strategy was used: evaluate, classify, and treat and, in addition, the basic care registry component was incorporated. Results Skills in the IMCI Strategy were observed in 259 consultations for children. 229 children were between 2 months and 5 years old, 30 children were between 0 and 2 months old (84.4% vs 11.6%, respectively). 51.4% of the evaluations were carried out in the Public Health Service Provider Institutions (HPIs) compared to 48.6% (126/259) in the private HPI. In children from 0 to 2 months, 92% of general practitioners, 82.58% of nurses, and 59.39% of pediatricians correctly assessed danger signs. In children from 2 months to 5 years, the health professional who best evaluated the danger signs was the pediatrician with a 70% correct evaluation, followed by nurses and general practitioners with a 65% correct evaluation. Conclusions Pediatricians were shown to perform better on the IMCI strategy in children 2 to 5 years of age. However, in the 0–2-month age group, general practitioners and nurses outperformed pediatricians on the IMCI strategy

Fertility and Pregnancy in End Stage Kidney Failure Patients and after Renal Transplantation: An Update

Sexual life and fertility are compromised in end stage kidney disease both in men and in women. Successful renal transplantation may rapidly recover fertility in the vast majority of patients. Pregnancy modifies anatomical and functional aspects in the kidney and represents a risk of sensitization that may cause acute rejection. Independently from the risks for the graft, pregnancy in kidney transplant may cause preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, and low birth weight. The nephrologist has a fundamental role in correct counseling, in a correct evaluation of the mother conditions, and in establishing a correct time lapse between transplantation and conception. Additionally, careful attention must be given to the antirejection therapy, avoiding drugs that could be dangerous to the newborn. Due to the possibility of medical complications during pregnancy, a correct follow-up should be exerted. Even if pregnancy in transplant is considered a high risk one, several data and studies document that in the majority of patients, the long-term follow-up and outcomes for the graft may be similar to that of non-pregnant women.

Role of evaluation in curricular projection of instruiry

The efficiency of the educational process is dependent on rigorous pedagogical design, the choice and use of the most appropriate teaching-learning strategies and the application of a correct evaluation system. In this article we presented the epistem of the evaluation, demonstrating that this represents an essential moment in the teaching process, being an important factor in the proper functioning of the educational process. Evaluation is necessary at the beginning of the teaching activity, during it, but also at the end, as it allows to identify the difficulties encountered by the students in learning and to determine the level of preparation of the pupils in the discipline taught, compared to the expectations of the teacher and the requirements of the curriculum.

Development and validation of a simplified automotive steering dynamic model

This paper describes an innovative analytic/numerical method for modeling steering systems for automotive applications. Starting from a detailed literature analysis and pushed by vehicle manufacturers’ needs, a simplified steering dynamic model, characterized by few parameters, has been identified. It guarantees both the replication of the dynamic behavior of real systems, generally represented through more complex multibody models, and the reduction of the simulation time of the entire vehicle system, making it suitable for dedicated numerical computing environments, such as the, so-called, explicit multibody codes. Moreover, particular emphasis has been place on the correct evaluation of the influence of friction on steering system dynamics.

The community of researchers and “academic performance” evaluation

An evaluation of “academic performance” is considered in the context of performance management in the sphere of science. An emphasis is made on the dependence of the evaluation on interests and, accordingly, on an inherently unrealistic development of an “objectively correct” evaluation which would be unanimously approved by those whose interests are not identical. A variety of researchers’ interest is stated together with a lack of institutionalized norms for working out a consolidated position. At the same time, the paper points out the deep-rooted nonidentical nature of the interests of scientists and those who design and implement the policy in the sphere of science. The demand of policy subjects for the formalization of evaluations, even at the cost of roughening the realities is also underscorred. Considering these realities, the conclusion is made about the hopelessness of the search for ideal solutions. At the same time, another conclusion is made that “academic performance” evaluation implemented in the sphere of science management could gradually become more acceptable for researchers. However, it depends not so much on the study and discussions of various evaluation systems as on the development of the research community and the formation of conditions for an effective dialogue between the latter and the subjects of the science policy.

Pulmonary tuberculosis in young infant diagnosed by contact evaluation - Case report

The purpose of this report is to emphasize the importance of tuberculosis (TB) contacts evaluation in order to detect cases of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and active TB. This case reports a two-month-old infant diagnosed with pulmonary TB with a bacilliferous mother whose diagnosis of TB occurred in the second week of puerperium. The correct evaluation of the child allowed the early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary TB, avoiding its evolution to severe forms of the disease (miliary TB and meningoencephalitis) and its sequelae or deadly outcome.