A framework for inserting visually-supported inferences into geographical analysis workflow: application to road safety research

Road safety research is a data-rich field with large social impacts. Like in medical research, the ambition is to build knowledge around risk factors that can save lives. Unlike medical research, road safety research generates empirical findings from messy observational datasets. Records of road crashes contain numerous intersecting categorical variables, dominating patterns that are complicated by confounding and, when conditioning on data to make inferences net of this, observed effects that are subject to uncertainty due to diminishing sample sizes. We demonstrate how visual data analysis approaches can inject rigour into exploratory analysis of such datasets. A framework is presented whereby graphics are used to expose, model and evaluate spatial patterns in observational data, as well as protect against false discovery. The framework is supported through an applied data analysis of national crash patterns recorded in STATS19, the main source of road crash information in Great Britain. Our framework moves beyond typical depictions of exploratory data analysis and helps navigate complex data analysis decision spaces typical in modern geographical analysis settings, generating data-driven outputs that support effective policy interventions and public debate.

The risk of fatal bleeding complications in jugular catheterization in patients with coagulopathy: A retrospective analysis of death cases in closed claims and the Medical Accident Investigating System in Japan

Background To prevent recurrence of medical accidents, the Medical Accident Investigating System was implemented in October 2015 by the Japan Medical Safety Research Organization (Medsafe Japan) to target deaths from medical care that were unforeseen by the administrator. Medsafe Japan analyzed the 10 cases of central venous catheterization-related deaths reported in the system and published recommendations in March 2017. However, the particular emphasis for the prevention of central venous catheterization-related deaths is unclear. Methods This study aimed to identify the recommendation points that should be emphasized to prevent recurrence of central venous catheterization-related deaths. We assessed central venous catheterization in 8530 closed-claim cases between January 2002 and December 2016 covered by the medical insurer Sompo-Japan. Moreover, we compared central venous catheterization-related death in closed-claim cases with death in reported cases. Results The background, error type, anatomic insertion site, and fatal complication data were evaluated for 37 closed-claim cases, of which 12 (32.4%) were death cases. Of the 12 closed-claim cases and 10 reported cases, 9 (75.0%) closed-claim cases and 9 (90.0%) reported cases were related to vascular access. Among these, 5 closed-claim cases (41.7%) and 7 reported cases (77.8%) were related to internal jugular vein catheterization (p = 0.28). Coagulopathy was observed in 3 (60.0%) of 5 closed-claim cases and 6 (85.7%) of 7 reported cases. Conclusions The risk of internal jugular catheterization in patients with coagulopathy must be carefully considered.

Use of Focus Groups to Identify Food Safety Risks for Older Adults in the U.S.

Older adults are vulnerable to foodborne illness; however, many do not follow safe food handling guidelines that would reduce their risk of infection. Virtual focus groups were used to explore older adults’ food handling and consumption practices and to understand how to apply the health belief model for food safety research with respect to older adults. Thirty-nine adults between the ages of 56 and 80 participated in the study. Most participants reported eating poultry and eggs, whereas few reported eating precut fruit or raw sprouts. The majority were not using a cooking thermometer for all types of poultry and did report washing raw poultry. Participants were generally resistant to the idea of heating deli meats. Most focus group participants did not perceive themselves as being personally susceptible to foodborne illness. They did, however, express food safety concerns related to specific foods, such as melons and bagged salads, and they reported taking precautions to limit health risks from these foods. Regarding the Health Belief Model, our results indicate that the construct of perceived susceptibility could be expanded to include perceived risk, which refers to an individual’s belief about the likelihood that a food might be contaminated with a foodborne pathogen. These results should be confirmed among a nationally representative sample of older adults.

Generating Real-World Evidence on the Quality Use, Benefits and Safety of Medicines in Australia: History, Challenges and a Roadmap for the Future

Australia spends more than $20 billion annually on medicines, delivering significant health benefits for the population. However, inappropriate prescribing and medicine use also result in harm to individuals and populations, and waste of precious health resources. Medication data linked with other routine collections enable evidence generation in pharmacoepidemiology; the science of quantifying the use, effectiveness and safety of medicines in real-world clinical practice. This review details the history of medicines policy and data access in Australia, the strengths of existing data sources, and the infrastructure and governance enabling and impeding evidence generation in the field. Currently, substantial gaps persist with respect to cohesive, contemporary linked data sources supporting quality use of medicines, effectiveness and safety research; exemplified by Australia’s limited capacity to contribute to the global effort in real-world studies of vaccine and disease-modifying treatments for COVID-19. We propose a roadmap to bolster the discipline, and population health more broadly, underpinned by a distinct capability governing and streamlining access to linked data assets for accredited researchers. Robust real-world evidence generation requires current data roadblocks to be remedied as a matter of urgency to deliver efficient and equitable health care and improve the health and well-being of all Australians.

The Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT)

Constructed in the late 1950s, the Transient Reactor Test facility (TREAT) provided numerous transient irradiations until operation was suspended in 1994. It was later refurbished, and resumed operations in 2017 to meet the data needs of a new era of nuclear fuel safety research. TREAT uses uranium oxide dispersed in graphite blocks to yield a core that affords strong negative temperature feedback. Automatically controlled, fast-acting transient control rods enable TREAT to safely perform extreme power maneuvers—ranging from prompt bursts to longer power ramps—to broadly support research on postulated accidents for many reactor types. TREAT’s experiment devices work in concert with the reactor to contain specimens, support in situ diagnostics, and provide desired test environments, thus yielding a uniquely versatile facility. This chapter summarizes TREAT’s design, history, current efforts, and future endeavors in the field of nuclear-heated fuel safety research.

Predicting the Toxicity of Druggable Proteins to Human Tissues

Assessing in vivo tissue toxicity of therapeutic targets remains a major challenge in drug development and drug safety research. We developed TissueTox, an algorithm that learns from multi-omic features of a target protein and predicts toxicity in human body systems and tissues. Predicted TissueTox scores accurately differentiate drugs that failed clinical trials from those that succeeded, and, importantly, can be used to identify the tissues where toxic events occurred.

Safety Management for Unmanned Aviation

In Air Traffic Management (ATM), Safety Management Systems (SMS) provide the principal vehicle for implementing safety policies, practices and procedures in accordance with internationally agreed Standards. In a constantly changing operating environment, it is essential to maintain SMS effectiveness to maintain and enhance levels of ATM safety. Research at the University Politehnica of Bucharest (UPB) has analysed the major, fast-rising threats to ATM safety emerging in the field of unmanned aviation. After considering the operating environment in terms of control arrangements and unmanned vehicle types, the relationship between ATM and Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) is examined. It is concluded that the SMS supporting ATM requires enhancement to address the risks arising from the emergence of unmanned aviation and relevant enhancement measures are therefore proposed. Further, research shows that detailed safety management arrangements to support UTM are not yet defined. Indicative SMS requirements for UTM are therefore derived and presented.