Adapting Agile Practices During the Evolution of a Healthcare Software Product

Agile Software Development (ASD) can be considered the mainstream development method of choice worldwide. ASD are used due to features such as easy management and embrace of changes, where change in requirements should be taken as a positive feature. However, some domain verticals, such as medical-healthcare, are classified as critical-safety system, which usually requires traditional methods. This chapter presents a practical use case describing the evolution of a software product that was conceived as a wellness software for end-users in mobile platforms to a medical-healthcare product restricted to regulatory standard recommendations. It presents the challenges and how the ASD is compatible to standards such as ISO/IEC 82304-1.

NOISE LEVELS EMITTED BY AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS WITH AND WITHOUT IMPLEMENTS ACTIVATION

Níveis de ruído emitidos por tratores agrícolas com e sem acionamento de implementos Os níveis de ruído emitidos pelas máquinas agrícolas podem ser prejudiciais à saúde do trabalhador e, por vezes, negligenciados no meio rural. Este trabalho teve como objetivo mensurar os níveis de ruído emitidos por três tratores agrícolas de diferentes potências acionando dois tipos de implementos para avaliar se havia riscos à saúde dos operadores e trabalhadores de apoio ao redor da operação. Os dados de ruído foram coletados por decibelímetro em dez pontos de cada lado da máquina (frente, trás, esquerda e direita) para um total de 40 pontos ao redor de cada trator. Três tratores diferentes foram avaliados em diferentes cenários: sem implemento, acoplando e acionando uma esparramadora de corretivo e acoplando e acionando uma enxada giratória. O trator foi estacionado no centro da mistura com uma rotação do motor que garantiu 540 rotações por minuto (RPM). para a tomada de potência (TDP) durante toda a coleta de dados. Os dados foram analisados ​​por meio de gráficos, regressão linear e análise de agrupamento hierárquico. Os resultados indicaram que os níveis de pressão sonora em todas as situações estudadas ultrapassam os limites da norma regulamentadora (NR) 15, tornando os protetores auditivos indispensáveis ​​durante a jornada de trabalho. Palavras-chave: ergonomia; conforto acústico; mecanização agrícola; nível de pressão sonora. ABSTRACT: The noise levels emitted by agricultural machines can be harmful to the worker's health, and it is sometimes neglected in rural areas. This work aimed to measure the noise level emitted by three agricultural tractors of different power activating two types of implements to assess whether there were risks to operators' health and the supporter workers around the tractor. The noise level data were collected using a decibel meter in ten points on each machine side (forward, rear, left, and right) for a total of 40 points around each tractor. Three different tractors were evaluated in different scenarios: without any implement, coupling and activating a spreader, and coupling and activating a rotary hoe. The tractor was parked at the centre of the mash with an engine speed that ensured 540 rotation per minute (RPM). to the power take-off (PTO) during the entire data collection. The data were analyzed by charts, linear regression, and hierarchical clustering analysis. The results indicated that the sound pressure levels in all of the studied situation exceed the standard's limits regulatory standard 15, making hearing protectors essential during the working day. Keywords: ergonomics; acoustic comfort; agricultural mechanization; sound pressure level.

Work safety applied in the rural environment: a review

This paper aims to present the difficulties encountered in complying with Regulatory Standard No 31 - Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Forestry and Aquaculture, in rural areas. The research was carried out through consultations in several scientific articles and was justified by the need to make field workers aware of the risks to which they are exposed, in the exercise of their activity. Through several studies that supported this work, it was possible to verify that the use of NR 31 is flawed, even with the scope and detail provided in its text. In the study it was found that, the rural work environment is worrying, due to the numerous risks that are present in the exercise of their activities and the disregard for non-compliance with NR-31. It is essential that government authorities, in addition to inspecting the faithful compliance with the standard, must carry out a work of awareness of workers and employers, aiming to provide an improvement in working conditions in the rural environment. The prioritization that should be given to awareness, education, training, and adequacy of working conditions becomes relevant, as a measure to prevent accidents and diseases in the agricultural sector.

Evaluation of Some Toxic Heavy Metals in Rice and Beans Samples Cultivated in Yobe State, Nigeria

Grains have become an integral part of the human diet due to their nutritional values, thus any form of contamination especially by heavy metals is of great concern. This research evaluated the level of Cadmium, Chromium, Lead and Mercury in the commonly consumed foods (Rice and Beans) across Yobe State, North-eastern Nigeria. A composite sample from each of the three Senatorial Zones was collected from farm harvests and designed as ZAR, ZAB, ZBR, ZBB, ZCR and ZCB for Zone A Rice, Zone A Beans, Zone B Rice, Zone B Beans, Zone C Rice and Zone C Beans respectively. The metal Concentration was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results in mg/Kg across the local governments indicates respective ranges for Hg, Pb, Cd, and Cr of 0.30 - 4.04, 0.16 - 0.92, 0.03 - 0.05 and 0.02- 0.52 in Rice, 0.14-3.73, 0.05-0.33, 0.05-0.07 and 0.00-0.14 in beans. Comparison of the results showed that with the exception of mercury, all metals are within the tolerable ranges set by International Standard Tolerable Limits and European Regulatory Standard. Potential hazards may be speculated because the detected levels are on the higher side of the tolerable ranges. A higher level of mercury in samples collected from Zone C might be associated with the reported cases of chronic kidney diseases from those areas.

Rational Relationships

Chapter Six continues Chapter Five’s examination of the regulatory coherence standard in WTO dispute settlement, this time focusing on ‘rational relationship’ testing under the non-discrimination provisions in the chapeau to the GATT and GATS general exceptions, as well as under the TBT and SPS Agreements. WTO non-discrimination jurisprudence looks for a rational relationship between a regulatory measure’s otherwise discriminatory aspects and the measure’s policy objectives. Rational relationship tests, like necessity tests, embody the emerging global regulatory standard of regulatory coherence, calling for a certain relationship between trade measures and their objectives. Like necessity testing, rational relationship testing lends itself to application in a way that accommodates decision-making at the domestic level on matters requiring important value judgements.

The suitability of well water for domestic purpose, in Gwagwalada area council Abuja Nigeria

Water wells are usually dug by artisans who lack professional skills. Such wells are used at various homes in Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja for domestic purpose, on the assumption that underground water is safe. Thus, the suitability of such well water was assessed. The objectives were to assess their properties and compare with regulatory standard for domestic purpose. Thirty (30) water samples were purposely collected from six wards (Dobi, Ibwa, Paikon-Kore, Tungan Maje, Zuba and Ikwa). Five water samples were randomly collected from each ward for laboratory analysis. Laboratory results were statistically analyzed using range, mean, correlation and multiple determination coefficients. Suitability of water properties for domestic purposes was determined by comparing range and mean values with NSDWQ and WHO standard for domestic uses. Result showed that the concentrations of water properties ranges as follows: temperature (26.59-30.73oC), pH (7.17-8.23), electrical conductivity EC (222-354 μs/cm3), TDS (12.14-21.54mg/l), Turbidity (0.29-0.93NTU) hardness (13.58-39.72mg/l), chloride Cl-(4.29-8.93mg/l), Fe (0.54-0.71mg/l) and Cu (0.02-0.06mg/l).Water samples generally had low electrical conductivity (222-354 μs/cm3), and mineral nutrients but elevated concentration of some heavy metals. The twenty- three water quality parameters tested could explain 96% of the overall water quality leaving only 4% unexplained. All the samples fell short of regulatory standard in terms of EC, Fe and Cu while well water from Ikwa fell short of many heavy metals for domestic purpose. It was concluded that well water in Gwagwalada Area Council are not potable. Thus, treatment before direct consumption and precautionary use of well water were recommended for the residents. Keywords: Water quality, Heavy metals, Water pollution, Well

Necessity Testing

Part III comprises two chapters, Chapter Five and Chapter Six. These chapters together investigate the decisions of WTO panels and the Appellate Body in environmental and health cases. The chapters examine the major contribution made through WTO dispute settlement to the emerging global regulatory standard of regulatory coherence. Specifically, Chapter Five analyses the elaboration of the ‘necessity’ formula in the GATT and the GATS general exceptions’ subparagraphs, as well as under the TBT and SPS Agreements. The WTO adjudicatory process appears to have been protecting the traditional procedural justification of international law’s relative authority claim by enabling respect for domestic decision-making through democratic processes. Members’ entitlement to choose their level of protection against a risk is still at present fully recognised and there is vital scope for recognition of the importance to WTO Members of long-term non-economic interests requiring a multifaceted policy response.

GRAVIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF SULPHATE IN SOME SELECTED INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS

Gravimetric Analysis as one of the Analytical method for the Quantitative Determination of sulphate ions from aqueous media being the most simplest, rapid and low-cost method. This study evaluates some selected parameters and the results were compared with some regulatory standard; Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) in Nigeria and the World Health Organization. The Concentration of the selected industrial effluent was determined using the aforementioned method. The values of Density, TSS and TS were in the range of 0.950 g/ml – 0.976 g/ml, 67 ppm – 2051 ppm and 728 mg/L- 2700 mg/L respectively. While the percentage of sulphate obtained from each sample were 14.65%, 7.35%, 6.19, 17.93% and 29.01% for NASCO, DANA, KRPC, NILEST and KCV respectively. A new technological treatment process is recommended for these industries to provide good ways on waste management that are economically viable.

Dirty Work

The PSNI have promoted human rights as a central and enduring hallmark of con-temporary policing, proffering to junior officers what Ravasi and Schultz (2006: 435) describe as ‘legitimate and consistent narratives that allow them to construct a collective sense of self’. The focus of this chapter’s analysis is on how junior officers performing routine work internalized human rights, with sensemaking providing the process through which this took place. Sensemaking is a situated practice, taking place amidst individuals’ working lives and occupational settings and drawing on resources from each. In this chapter, the focus is on the Tactical Support Group. Drawing on Hughes’ (1958) concept of ‘dirty work’, this chapter introduces the occupational context within which TSG officers were making sense of human rights as a vernacular of police work. With this conceptual scaffolding in place, the chapter proceeds to identify and examine a series of counter-narratives officers attached to human rights as a normative vision for policing and a regulatory standard in their everyday work. This entailed officers re-interpreting and modifying the official rights narrative in various ways, such that the content of the narrative varied even if it served similar sensemaking goals to the official narrative: making the complex orderly, fostering self-esteem and maintaining self-legitimacy.