The Global Publication Trend and Research Development of Nerve Block: A Visualisation Analysis Between 1997 and 2021

Background: Nerve block is used as a clinical technique for relieving pain during the surgical period as well as in postoperative analgesia and chronic pain. Although great progress has been recently made regarding nerve block techniques, there is still room for further medical and technical improvement. Here, we analysed the trends in nerve block research and compared contributions from different countries, institutions, journals, and authors. Methods: We extracted all studies concerning nerve block published between 1997 and 2021 from the Web of Science database. Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer were employed to collect publication data, analyse publication trends, and visualize relevant results. Results: A total of 6,437 publications with 111,612 citations were identified between 1997 and 2021. The United States contributed the greatest number of publications (2010), whereas China ranked second (518). The Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine journal had published the most papers concerning nerve block. Harvard University and Mariano ER were the most productive institution and author, respectively, in the field. Keywords were categorized into five clusters: the association between nerve block and anaesthesia or analgesia, local anaesthetic drugs for nerve block, nerve block techniques, nerve block for postoperative analgesia, and nerve block for oral local anaesthesia. Management-related research was a heavily researched topic in the field. Conclusions: We concluded that the United States contributed the most studies, and developing countries, led by China, are also encouraging study in this area. The exploration of new drugs in the fields of nerve block, multi-modal analgesia after surgery, treatment of chronic pain, analgesia for thoracic and abdominal surgeries, and analgesic interventions in oral therapy is considered as a potential focus for future research.

3D Visualization of the Results of Using Modern Ofa Technology on the Example of Real Boiler

The leading place in the world for environmental protection is currently occupied by the protection of the air basin. And the main sources of atmospheric pollution are industrial enterprises, motor transport and thermal power plants. Thus, there is an obvious need to increase attention to the problems of the innovation sector, mainly in the areas of technical improvement of heat and power industry enterprises. Therefore, the study of the problems of reducing the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, control and regulation of its quality, as well as the study of new various methods of innovative development of thermal power is an urgent task at present, requiring a serious scientific approach. In the proposed work, computer experiments were carried out in the field of innovative energy production technologies (the use of modern "sharp blast" OFA technology) at a specific thermal power facility of the enterprise of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the experiment, various ways of supplying additional air through OFA nozzles were investigated: OFA=0% (basic version without additional air supply), OFA=10% and OFA=18%. For these three modes, a comparative analysis of the aerodynamics of the furnace part of the boiler was performed according to the obtained distributions of the temperature and concentration fields of nitrogen oxide NO over the entire volume of the combustion chamber. The results obtained were compared with experimental data obtained during experiments conducted directly at the CHP.

3D visualization of the results of using modern OFA technology on the example of real boiler

The leading place in the world for environmental protection is currently occupied by the protectionof the air basin. And the main sources of atmospheric pollution are industrial enterprises, motor transport andthermal power plants. Thus, there is an obvious need to increase attention to the problems of the innovationsector, mainly in the areas of technical improvement of heat and power industry enterprises. Therefore, thestudy of the problems of reducing the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere, control and regulationof its quality, as well as the study of new various methods of innovative development of thermal power is anurgent task at present, requiring a serious scientific approach. In the proposed work, computer experimentswere carried out in the field of innovative energy production technologies (the use of modern "sharp blast"OFA technology) at a specific thermal power facility of the enterprise of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Duringthe experiment, various ways of supplying additional air through OFA nozzles were investigated: OFA=0%(basic version without additional air supply), OFA=10% and OFA=18%. For these three modes, a comparativeanalysis of the aerodynamics of the furnace part of the boiler was performed according to the obtaineddistributions of the temperature and concentration fields of nitrogen oxide NO over the entire volume of thecombustion chamber. The results obtained were compared with experimental data obtained during experimentsconducted directly at the CHP.

Mechanized Blueberry Harvesting: Preliminary Results in the Italian Context

This study reports some preliminary results on mechanical blueberry harvesting for the fresh market of cv. Cargo® in the Piedmont region (northwest Italy). The investigated area is one of the most productive areas of Italy, which specializes in fresh blueberry production. The automatization of harvesting operations could represent a competitive advantage for the area’s blueberry supply chain but could limit the quality of fresh-picked berries. A prototype machine and a commercial harvester (Easy Harvester®) were compared with manual picking, considering the harvesting efficiency, labor productivity, harvesting cost and farm rentability. In this context, the labor cost for manual harvesting exceeds EUR 2.00 per kg of saleable product. The prototype allowed a 39% cost reduction, and the Easy Harvester® reduced it by about half. Nevertheless, these positive performances do not consider the reduction in the net sale price of EUR 0.40 due to the selection costs in the warehouse. In this study, we highlight that the transition to mechanical harvesting requires the transformation of several farming and packhouse operations, such as new crop varieties, field configurations and cultivation techniques. However, a possible technical improvement of the Easy Harvester® could represent an opportunity for Italian farms in the planning of berry production and marketing, involving all of the supply chain actors. Further research on the use of mechanization in the sector must continue and be supported.

Perception and Initial Adoption of Mobile Health Services of Older Adults in London: Mixed Methods Investigation

Background Advances in mobile technology and public needs have resulted in the emergence of mobile health (mHealth) services. Despite the potential benefits of mHealth apps, older adults face challenges and barriers in adopting them. Objective The aims of this study are to understand older adults’ perception of mHealth services and to discover the barriers that older adults face in the initial adoption of mHealth apps. Methods This paper systematically analyzed main determinants related to mHealth services and investigated them through questionnaires, interviews, and a workshop. Two studies were carried out in London. In study 1, the questionnaires with follow-up interviews were conducted based on the literature review to uncover older adults’ perception (including perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived behavioral control) of mHealth services. Study 2 was a workshop helping older adults to trial selected mHealth apps. The workshop was conducted by the first author (JP) with assistance from 5 research students. The barriers that older adults faced in the initial adoption period were observed. The interviews and workshop were audiotaped and transcribed. Descriptive statistics and the thematic analysis technique were used for data analysis. Results In total, 30 older adults in London completed the questionnaires and interviews in study 1. The results of study 1 show that the lack of obvious advantage, low reliability, scary information, and the risk of privacy leakage would decrease older adults’ perceived usefulness of mHealth services; the design of app interface would directly affect the perceived ease of use; and aging factors, especially the generation gap, would create barriers for older users. In total, 12 participants took part in the workshop of study 2, including 8 who took part in study 1. The results of study 2 identified that access to technology, the way of interaction, the risk of money loss, heavy workload of using an mHealth app, and different lifestyle are influential factors to older adults’ adoption of mHealth services. Conclusions The perceptions of mHealth services of older adults were investigated; the barriers that older adults may face in the initial adoption stage were identified. On the basis of the synthesis of these results, design suggestions were proposed, including technical improvement, free trial, information clarification, and participatory design. They will help inform the design of mHealth services to benefit older adults.

Investigation of Trace Metal Bioaccumulation in Wastewater-Fed Fish: A Case Study

It was stated that the use of urban wastewater in food production in the 1970s and 1980s may lead to the development of alternative farming systems in the future. Fish fed with wastewater are grown in Asian countries. However, due to the mixing of domestic wastewater with industrial wastewater, many toxic micro-polluting wastewaters affect fish farming even more. The objectives of this study were to investigate the suitability of fish for human food consumption in terms of metals, to provide a basis for the development of a standard on the concentration of heavy metals in reclaimed water used for fish aquaculture, and to search the possibilities of technical improvement of the system in terms of more efficient wastewater treatment. This study will be useful in terms of precautions and disadvantages that can be taken against food shortages that may be experienced with the effect of climate change.

Relevant questions of creating hereditary fund in the Russian legislation: current state and prospects for its improvement

The subject of this research is the novelty of civil legislation – hereditary fund, which is characterized by dual legal nature; on the one hand, as a subject of inheritance law, while as property asset managed. The object of this research is the totality of legal relations that emerge due to creation of hereditary funds, determination of their legal status, and implementation of their activity associated with ensuring the safeguard of assets and effective management of mass of inheritance for the purpose of realization and protection of the property interests of beneficiaries (heirs, creditors). The author examines the current mechanism for creating a nonprofit fund in accordance with the provisions of legislation and civilized doctrine,  and notary practice, as well as outlines a range of problems that affect unlocking full potential of this institution (property, social, and economic). The scientific novelty is reflected in the author's recommendations for solution a number of legal issues is creation of the hereditary fund. The conclusion is made on the need for further legislative and technical improvement of the provisions of hereditary funds in the Russian Federation, reducing imperativeness and expansion of the allowable principles in their legal regulation, namely a testamentary prescription on the creation of hereditary fund may determine the purpose and lists of activity of the hereditary fund, the subject and property responsibility for the implementation of registration acts with regards to creation of hereditary fund, as well as possibility of granting the beneficiary of the fund the rights of the sole executive body. The mandatory nature of prescriptions to establish 6-month term for registration of hereditary fund; application of the Article 10 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation in the instance of abuse of the right to agree on candidates for the administration of hereditary fund; establishment of equality of rights to devised property of hereditary fund not only to beneficiaries, but also to forced heirs (creditors) in appropriate shares.

Draft of the clinical practice guidelines “Adrenal incidentaloma”

The wider application and technical improvement of abdominal imaging procedures in recent years has led to an increasingly frequent detection of adrenal gland masses — adrenal incidentaloma, which have become a common clinical problem and need to be investigated for evidence of hormonal hypersecretion and/or malignancy. Clinical guidelines are the main working tool of a practicing physician. Laconic, structured information about a specific nosology, methods of its diagnosis and treatment, based on the principles of evidence-based medicine, make it possible to give answers to questions in a short time, to achieve maximum efficiency and personalization of treatment. These clinical guidelines include data on the prevalence, etiology, radiological features and assessment of hormonal status of adrenal incidentalomas. In addition, this clinical practice guideline provides information on indications for surgery, postoperative rehabilitation and follow-up.