Coverage Factor Research Articles

Shattered lives, unbroken stories: journalists’ perspectives from the frontlines of the Israel–Gaza war

Abstract Purpose This study sheds light on the unprecedented complexities of the Israel–Gaza war, offering insights into the challenges that journalists face in this conflict zone. It employs the Hierarchy of Influences Model to analyze the factors influencing conflict reporting within the dynamic landscape of contemporary war journalism. Design/methodology/approach Rooted in the Hierarchy of Influences Model, the research is informed by interviews with 18 Palestinian journalists in Gaza. It examines the multifaceted influences on war coverage, encompassing individual, media routines, organizational, and societal factors, offering detailed insights from journalists’ firsthand experiences. Findings The research unveils semi-hierarchical influences within the model, illustrating the intertwined nature of micro and macro-level factors impacting war reporting. It sheds light on the complexities of journalistic practices amidst conflicts, underscoring the importance of safety, ethics, and the intricate relationship between personal experiences and professional duties as well as the evolving role of technology, acting both as a facilitator and a limitation in journalistic endeavors. Practical implications The study holds substantial implications for war journalism practices, providing valuable perspectives for educators, policymakers, stakeholders, and media practitioners engaged in conflict reporting. It highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the challenges faced by journalists in conflict regions to enhance the quality and accuracy of war reporting. Social implications By uncovering the challenges and influences affecting war reporting, this research contributes to the broader discourse on media ethics, safety protocols, and the societal impact of conflict coverage. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive support systems and ethical guidelines to safeguard journalists operating in volatile regions. Originality/value Bridging academic and practical perspectives on conflict reporting, this study offers unique insights into reporting complexities in the Israel–Gaza War. It emphasizes the critical role of journalistic practices in navigating hazards and limitations, amid evolving challenges for the media in portraying conflicts accurately.

Aerosol fluidized bed coating: Exploring the impact of process conditions on process yield, coating coverage and thickness

Aerosol droplets are used to coat fluidized particles in this work. Coating experiments utilizing aerosol droplets (with a mean diameter of around 1μm) were performed under different process conditions to explore their impact on process yield, as well as on coating coverage. Core materials were glass and porous γ-Al2O3, which had mean diameters of 653μm and 610μm, respectively. Sodium benzoate (NaB) solution and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanosuspension were used as the coating liquid. After sampling, particle pictures were taken by a scanning electron microscope and analyzed using image processing to determine the coating coverage. To simulate the coating process and determine, for each experiment, a factor for preferential deposition on already occupied positions, Monte Carlo simulations were used. Also, some particles were cut in the middle to measure coating layer thickness. Intraparticle coating thickness distribution from Monte Carlo simulations coarsely matches the measured thickness from cut particles. Results show that the process yield, coating coverage, and preference factor are affected by experimental conditions such as expanded bed height, fluidization air temperature, atomizing pressure, the number of aerosol inlets, as well as the surface potential of core particles. This study is first to examine the impact of surface charge of different core materials on droplet deposition. In an experiment with SiO2 nanosuspension, γ-Al2O3 cores could be coated quite uniformly with SiO2 nanoparticles with a layer thickness of ca. 1.1μm. This shows the potential of aerosol droplet deposition as a novel semi-wet method for coating large particles with nanoparticles without using any binders.

Prediction of geothermal temperature field by multi-attribute neural network

Hot dry rock (HDR) resources are gaining increasing attention as a significant renewable resource due to their low carbon footprint and stable nature. When assessing the potential of a conventional geothermal resource, a temperature field distribution is a crucial factor. However, the available geostatistical and numerical simulations methods are often influenced by data coverage and human factors. In this study, the Convolution Block Attention Module (CBAM) and Bottleneck Architecture were integrated into UNet (CBAM-B-UNet) for simulating the geothermal temperature field. The proposed CBAM-B-UNet takes in a geological model containing parameters such as density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat capacity as input, and it simulates the temperature field by dynamically blending these multiple parameters through the neural network. The bottleneck architectures and CBAM can reduce the computational cost while ensuring accuracy in the simulation. The CBAM-B-UNet was trained using thousands of geological models with various real structures and their corresponding temperature fields. The method’s applicability was verified by employing a complex geological model of hot dry rock. In the final analysis, the simulated temperature field results are compared with the theoretical steady-state crustal ground temperature model of Gonghe Basin. The results indicated a small error between them, further validating the method's superiority. During the temperature field simulation, the thermal evolution law of a symmetrical cooling front formed by low thermal conductivity and high specific heat capacity in the center of the fault zone and on both sides of granite was revealed. The temperature gradually decreases from the center towards the edges.

Evaluating Machine Learning-Based MRI Reconstruction Using Digital Image Quality Phantoms.

Quantitative and objective evaluation tools are essential for assessing the performance of machine learning (ML)-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reconstruction methods. However, the commonly used fidelity metrics, such as mean squared error (MSE), structural similarity (SSIM), and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), often fail to capture fundamental and clinically relevant MR image quality aspects. To address this, we propose evaluation of ML-based MRI reconstruction using digital image quality phantoms and automated evaluation methods. Our phantoms are based upon the American College of Radiology (ACR) large physical phantom but created in k-space to simulate their MR images, and they can vary in object size, signal-to-noise ratio, resolution, and image contrast. Our evaluation pipeline incorporates evaluation metrics of geometric accuracy, intensity uniformity, percentage ghosting, sharpness, signal-to-noise ratio, resolution, and low-contrast detectability. We demonstrate the utility of our proposed pipeline by assessing an example ML-based reconstruction model across various training and testing scenarios. The performance results indicate that training data acquired with a lower undersampling factor and coils of larger anatomical coverage yield a better performing model. The comprehensive and standardized pipeline introduced in this study can help to facilitate a better understanding of the performance and guide future development and advancement of ML-based reconstruction algorithms.

Effects of Micro-Topography and Vegetation on Soil Moisture on Fixed Sand Dunes in Tengger Desert, China.

Soil moisture is a key factor in arid ecosystems, with local variations influenced by topography and vegetation. Understanding this relationship is crucial for combating desertification. Employing ANOVA, Mean Decrease Accuracy (MDA) analysis from random forest modeling and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study investigates the distribution of soil moisture and its associations with topographic and vegetative factors across four micro-geomorphic units in the Tengger Desert, China. Significant heterogeneity in soil moisture across various layers and locations, including windward and leeward slopes and the tops and bottoms of dunes, was observed. Soil moisture generally increases from the surface down to 300 cm, with diminishing fluctuations at greater depths. Soil moisture peaks in the surface and middle layers on windward slopes and in deep layers at the bottom of dunes, exhibiting an initial rise and then a decline on windward slopes. Topographic (including slope direction and elevation difference) and vegetation (including shrub and herb coverage) factors significantly influence soil moisture across three depth layers. Topographic factors negatively affect soil moisture directly, whereas vegetation positively influences it indirectly, with shrub and herb abundance enhancing moisture levels. These insights inform ecological management and the formulation of soil moisture-conservation strategies in arid deserts. The study underscores customizing sand-binding vegetation to various micro-geomorphic dune units.

Measurement of respiratory rate with cardiac belt: Metrological characterization

The rapid growth of available wearable technologies, particularly in the healthcare sector, has ushered in a new era of digital health. This progress has introduced new possibilities for the monitoring of vital signs, including breathing rate (BR). BR is a crucial health parameter used to assess an individual's overall well-being; specifically, it can be considered a precise indicator of pathological conditions and stressors. The aim of this study is to conduct a metrological characterization of one of the most widely used BR sensors for the measurement of BR (i.e., Zephyr BioHarness 3.0), comparing it to a BR gold standard monitor (i.e., a spirometer), in determined test conditions, including both natural and defined BR patterns. Additionally, the Monte Carlo method (MCM) was applied to evaluate the propagation of the measurement uncertainty in the identification of the peaks of respiratory signal, used to calculate BR. Results reveal that the Zephyr BioHarness 3.0 sensor provides highly accurate BR measurements, with a precision of ±1 bpm. Bland-Altman analysis indicates a 95 % confidence interval of [-2; 3] bpm, demonstrating a close agreement with the reference instrument. The Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.95 further validates the linear correlation between the reference/test measurements. The simulation based on MCM provides an expanded uncertainty of ±2 bpm (coverage factor k = 2) in BR estimation due to the uncertainty in the peaks identification (compatible with the accuracy provided by the manufacturer). These results highlight the Zephyr BioHarness 3.0 sensor reliability for BR monitoring while emphasizing the significance of accounting for different disturbing factors, e.g., uncertainty in peak detection during data analysis, also to provide a rigorous level of confidence in the measurement results, hence being able to properly interpret them in biomedical applications.

Thermal Conductivity of Liquid Cyclohexane, n-Decane, n-Hexadecane, and Squalane at Atmospheric Pressure up to 353 K Determined with a Steady-State Parallel-Plate Instrument

The present work reports experimental data on the thermal conductivity of the four hydrocarbons cyclohexane, n-decane, n-hexadecane, and squalane in the liquid state at ambient pressure up to temperatures of 353.15 K. Absolute measurements were performed with a steady-state guarded parallel-plate instrument (GPPI) with an average expanded (coverage factor k = 2) measurement uncertainty of 2 %. For the linear alkanes n-decane and n-hexadecane as well as the cyclic compound cyclohexane, the measured thermal conductivities agree with reference correlations in the literature, indicating the reliability of the technique used for the study of fluids with relatively low thermal conductivities and weak absorption of radiation. For the first time, experimental data are determined for the long-branched alkane squalane between (278 and 353) K, which cannot be accurately represented with estimation methods commonly used in the literature. In summary, the present measurement results confirm the existing database for representative linear and cyclic hydrocarbons and provide first experimental thermal conductivities for squalane.

Shear force effect of the dry process on cathode contact coverage in all-solid-state batteries

The state-of-the-art all-solid-state batteries have emerged as an alternative to the traditional flammable lithium-ion batteries, offering higher energy density and safety. Nevertheless, insufficient intimate contact at electrode-electrolyte surface limits their stability and electrochemical performance, hindering the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries. Herein, we conduct a systematic investigation into the effects of shear force in the dry electrode process by comparing binder-free hand-mixed pellets, wet-processed electrodes, and dry-processed electrodes. Through digitally processed images, we quantify a critical factor, ‘coverage’, the percentage of electrolyte-covered surface area of the active materials. The coverage of dry electrodes was significantly higher (67.2%) than those of pellets (30.6%) and wet electrodes (33.3%), enabling superior rate capability and cyclability. A physics-based electrochemical model highlights the effects of solid diffusion by elucidating the impact of coverage on active material utilization under various current densities. These results underscore the pivotal role of the electrode fabrication process, with the focus on the critical factor of coverage.

Relugolix prescribing practices and clinical experiences at an urban academic center.

e17008 Background: Relugolix is a novel oral GnRH antagonist that is now an alternative option for patients with prostate cancer (PC) who require androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The potential benefits of relugolix include rapid testosterone decline and recovery, oral administration, and a possible cardiovascular (CV) benefit compared to traditional GnRH agonists. This study examines real-world data on relugolix prescribing practices and clinical experiences at a large, urban academic center. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center cohort study of patients with PC prescribed relugolix from March 2021 through December 2023 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. We collected patient-related and clinical factors including demographics, comorbidities, CV risk factors, treatment history, reasons for relugolix prescription over GnRH agonists, medication compliance, adverse effects, and treatment outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the cohort. Results: Among 267 patients who received a relugolix prescription, median age was 70 years old, 186 patients (69.6%) were Non-Hispanic White, 37 (13.9%) Non-Hispanic Black, 13 (4.9%) Asian, and 6 (2.2%) Hispanic of any race. Across all patients, 228 (85.3%) initiated relugolix with a median therapy duration of 181 days (range: 10 - 807). At the time of prescription, 88 patients (32.9%) were prescribed concurrent androgen receptor signal inhibitors (ARSI) and 186 (69.6%) had localized disease. Median CV risk factors per patient was 2 (range 0 - 7), and 4 patients (1.5%) developed major adverse CV events (MACE), including acute heart failure decompensation, sick sinus syndrome, ventricular tachycardia, and death during treatment. Among physician prescribers, the most common reasons for prescribing relugolix included concern for CV risk (90 prescriptions, 33.3%) and patient preference for oral administration (55 prescriptions, 20.4%). Forty-nine patients (18.3%) were switched from a GnRH agonist, mainly due to physician concern for CV risk (13, 4.9%) or patient preference (17, 6.4%). Conclusions: We describe real-world use of relugolix for PC in a large, diverse single center cohort. The most frequent reasons for choosing relugolix over a GnRH agonist were physician concern for CV risk and patient preference for a tablet over injection. Investigations of treatment initiation and adherence in relation to insurance coverage, adverse effects, and socioeconomic factors require further investigation.

Patient reported colonoscopy barriers: A cross sectional survey.

e23149 Background: As a leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is an acceptable cost-effective strategy to reducing mortality indices in the country. 10-yearly colonoscopy screening is the most effective with a mortality reduction of 73%. Despite this, CRC screening rates remain low. The purpose of this study was to describe barriers associated with colonoscopy screening in primary care settings. Methods: Postage pre-paid return envelopes and surveys were sent to all established patients aged > 50 from primary care practices (n = 4) in an employed physician group; the group also serves as a residency continuity clinic for a community teaching hospital. Variables included demographics and literature-reported barriers to colonoscopy screening. Whether or not a patient had a colonoscopy (including if > 10 years since a colonoscopy) was compared to patient reported barriers and demographics. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05; strength of association was measured by Cramer’s V. Results: Average age of patients was 62 + 6 years; 61.4% were female; 35.3% were privately insured; and 10.3% were non-white. Older patients were slightly more likely to get screened, 63 + 6 years vs. 60 + 7 years (p = 0.006). Neither race, sex, insurance guarantor, education, marital status or income were associated with screening. Rate of colonoscopy screening in this series was 76.7% (n = 276/360), which was greater than rates reported by CDC for Ohio. In those screened, the rate of colonic or rectal polyps was remarkably noted to be up to 47.5% (131/276). The most important barriers to colonoscopy screening were knowledge of insurance coverage (p < 0.001; Cramer’s V = 0.216, p < 0.001); transportation to procedure (p = 0.001; Cramer’s V = 0.172, p = 0.001); someone to accompany patient (p = 0.002; Cramer’s V = 0.164, p = 0.002); and unaware of screening or lack of perceived health threat (p = 0.019; Cramer’s V = 0.150, p = 0.019). The remaining barriers were not associated with increased likelihood of colonoscopy: fear of finding cancer, belief in screening effectiveness, embarrassment or anxiety, or fear of invasive test. While bowel prep is often cited as a barrier to colonoscopy, this factor was not statistically significant. Likewise, physician-initiated discussion and time off from employment were not associated with screening. The most important colonoscopy barrier was patient knowledge regarding insurance for the procedure; overall, 29% of patients reported that they were unsure if colonoscopy was covered. Among those not screened, the rate rose to 47%. Conclusions: The most important colonoscopy barrier identified was patient knowledge regarding insurance for the procedure. While physician counseling for colonoscopy needs to include bowel prep and procedure risks, greater awareness of insurance coverage and social factors may facilitate physician understanding of colonoscopy screening hesitancy.

Determination of immunisation status of children between 2-5 years of age who attending to teaching institute with concern to both national immunization schedule and optional vaccines

Background: In order to know the causes for non-immunisation, search for societal reasons for primary immunisation along with evaluating coverage. Aim of this current study is to determine the immunisation status of children between 2-5 years of age who are attending teaching health care centre with concern to both National Immunisation Schedule and Optional vaccines. Methods: Study analysed the children's immunisation status, factors affecting their immunisation coverage, and reasons for partial or incomplete immunisation. The information was obtained from the parents using a questionnaire. Information such as socio-demographic variables, immunisation status, causes of their partial immunisation and lack of immunisation. The "vaccination card and the recall" approach was used to determine the recipient's immunisation status. Results: Study found that 70.4% of children had received all recommended vaccinations. Lack of information and ignorance are significant contributors to under-immunization. Other statistically significant contributing factors for the low immunisation coverage include female gender, rural background, low socioeconomic status, born at home, lower mother age, and being from a joint household. BCG vaccination coverage was higher than pentavalent vaccine coverage, probably because of multiple doses needed. Only 77% of kids received vitamin A solution. Conclusions: Paediatrician should mention the next vaccination date and dose at each appointment in order to lower the vaccination dropouts. Parents should be informed regarding the date of vaccination of their child through SMS message, calls, and social media groups.

Study of a new matrix certified reference material for simultaneous measurement of two plant growth regulators residues in tomato

A new matrix certified reference material (CRM) was developed for analysis of chlormequat chloride (CCC) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) residues in tomato pulp. A tomato pulp CRM candidate with the same matrix composition and similar residues concentration level to the real sample was prepared by means of adding drugs. Liquid chromatography tandem isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) was established to accurately determinate CCC and 2,4-D residues in tomato pulp CRM candidates. The characterization of mass fractions of CCC and 2,4-D in tomato pulp were conducted by 8 laboratories. The certified values for CCC and 2,4-D were assigned to be 4.1 mg/kg and 1.9 mg/kg, with expanded uncertainties of 0.4 mg/kg and 0.3 mg/kg at a confidence level of 95 % (coverage factor k = 2), respectively. The results of homogeneity testing show that the CRM was homogeneous for CCC and 2,4-D between and within bottles. The stability monitoring results indicated that the CRM could be stable for 14 months at −20 °C storage temperature and for 9 days under 30 °C transportation condition. The developed CRM has been authorized and numbered as GBW(E)100933. It would be conductive to method validation in the residues monitoring of CCC and 2,4-D in fruits and vegetable products.

Determinants of Full Vaccination Coverage among Children Aged 12-23 Months in Bangladesh: A Comparison between High- and Low-Performing Divisions.

A better understanding of the significant factors behind childhood vaccination is important for designing strategies to increase vaccination coverage and reduce child mortality and morbidity. The study is aimed at identifying the determinants of full vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months in Bangladesh and at comparing the determinants between high- and low-performing areas. This study used the latest available Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18 data. A weighted sample of 1678 children was included in this study. The association between full vaccination coverage and explanatory variables was identified using chi-square test. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify associated factors of full vaccination coverage. Findings showed that about 88% of the children had full vaccination coverage. The odds of full vaccination coverage was significantly higher among children of mothers with secondary education compared to children of mothers with no formal education (AOR = 2.07, 95%CI = 1.16 to 3.70). Mother's working status was another significant factor behind full vaccination coverage (AOR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.002 to 2.34). In addition, we identified that higher age of mother (AOR = 2.76, 95%CI = 1.28 to 5.96 for 20-34 years group and AOR = 12.14, 95%CI = 1.21 to 122.41 for 35 and above age group) and being in middle-income household (AOR = 4.66, 95%CI = 1.33 to 16.34) were significantly associated with full vaccination coverage in high-performing areas. On the other hand, children of mothers with secondary education level (AOR = 2.31, 95%CI = 1.86 to 4.49) and exposure to media (AOR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.001 to 2.50) had higher odds of having full vaccination coverage in low-performing areas. This study identified the associated factors of full vaccination coverage among children. The findings indicate the importance of maternal education and mothers' employment for children's vaccination uptake. In low-performing areas, investment in education and awareness raising initiatives may play instrumental role in achieving full vaccination coverage.

Peripheral intravenous catheter failure, nurse staffing levels and care complexity individual factors: A retrospective multicentre cohort study

Introduction Short peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) failure is a common complication that is generally underdiagnosed. Some studies have evaluated the factors associated with these complications, but the impact of care complexity individual factors and nurse staffing levels on PIVC failure is still to be assessed. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of PIVC failure in the public hospital system of the Southern Barcelona Metropolitan Area. Methods A retrospective multicentre observational cohort study of hospitalised adult patients was conducted in two public hospitals in Barcelona from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2017. All adult patients admitted to the hospitalisation ward were included until the day of discharge. Patients were classified according to presence or absence of PIVC failure. The main outcomes were nurse staffing coverage (ATIC patient classification system) and 27-care complexity individual factors. Data were obtained from electronic health records in 2022. Results Of the 44,661 patients with a PIVC, catheter failure was recorded in 2,624 (5.9%) patients (2,577 [5.8%] phlebitis and 55 [0.1%] extravasation). PIVC failure was more frequent in female patients (42%), admitted to medical wards, unscheduled admissions, longer catheter dwell time (median 7.3 vs 2.2 days) and those with lower levels of nurse staffing coverage (mean 60.2 vs 71.5). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the female gender, medical ward admission, catheter dwell time, haemodynamic instability, uncontrolled pain, communication disorders, a high risk of haemorrhage, mental impairments, and a lack of caregiver support were independent factors associated with PIVC failure. Moreover, higher nurse staffing were a protective factor against PIVC failure (AUC, 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72–0.74). Conclusion About 6% of patients presented PIVC failure during hospitalisation. Several complexity factors were associated with PIVC failure and lower nurse staffing levels were identified in patients with PIVC failure. Institutions should consider that prior identification of care complexity individual factors and nurse staffing coverage could be associated with a reduced risk of PIVC failure.

Application of Q-learning algorithm based on heterogeneous sensor networks in higher education teaching management

With the rapid advancement of information technology and online technologies, it has become imperative for all colleges and universities to address the challenge of leveraging modern management methods to enhance management efficiency, level, and practices. In the realm of educational institution management, the learning management system stands as the cornerstone of contemporary campus management and the entire campus computer network. In this article, the Q-learning algorithm, specifically applied to a heterogeneous cellular network, is employed to investigate the issues pertaining to teaching management in colleges and universities.The design and implementation of the university teaching management system mainly uses heterogeneous cellular networks to establish a physical model of the Q-learning algorithm, and then in the Rayleigh channel, the coverage factor and the system rate expression are derived in a closed form, and in a closed form Derive the energy efficiency expression, and then optimize the density of the basic micro-station algorithm to maximize performance. In the process of system design, this paper uses an algorithm to analyze the current research status of university teaching management, then proposes the research purpose and subject content, and analyzes the university's teaching management function and potential future functional requirements. When designing the university learning management system, it describes in detail the overall design concept, key technologies, system structure, and operating system structure and system topology. This research mainly focuses on the research of campus information management and Q learning algorithm. Based on the cellular network, a large number of campus management cases were analyzed and data fitting at the same time, and a set of Q-learning algorithm teaching management system based on heterogeneous cellular network was designed.

Measurement uncertainty in clinical chemistry: ISO 20914 versus nordtest or intermediate precision versus bias

Aim Measuring uncertainty (MU) is crucial to ensure the accuracy and precision of laboratory results. This study compares the ISO 20914 and Nordtest guidelines to analyze the MU values for 20 clinical chemistry analytes over six months. Methods The researchers calculated MU components, including within-laboratory reproducibility (Rw), laboratory analytical performance bias (u(bias)), and combined standard uncertainty (u c), based on internal quality control and external quality assessment data. The final expanded uncertainty (U) values were determined by multiplying the combined uncertainty with a coverage factor (k = 2 for 95% Confidence Interval), following each guideline’s respective procedures. Clinical chemistry analytes were analyzed on Roche Cobas 6000 c501 auto analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) and manufacturer’s kits were used analysis. Results The results show that 11 out of 20 clinical chemistry analytes met the targeted maximum allowable measurement uncertainty (MAU) values when calculated according to ISO 20914 guideline. Also, 11 out of 20 clinical chemistry analytes’ MU values met the MAU values with the Nordtest guideline’s recommended calculations. However, some tests met the MAU in the ISO 20914 approach but not in the Nordtest guideline, and vice versa. Conclusions The study found that intermediate precision (u Rw) in the ISO 20914 approach and performance bias (u(bias)) in the Nordtest approach significantly impacted MU values. The research highlights the importance of standardization in MU calculation approaches across clinical laboratories. These findings have implications for patient care and clinical decision-making, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate laboratory guidelines for routine use.

Second dose of measles-containing vaccine coverage and associated factors among children aged 24-36 months in Gondar city, Central Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.

Measles caused 207,000 deaths worldwide in 2019. Ethiopia ranks among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest number of measles cases. However, the coverage of the second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) remains low. To increase coverage, the government of Ethiopia launched a nationwide measles vaccination campaign. Despite this intervention, the coverage is still below target, and there is scarce information in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess MCV2 coverage and associated factors among children aged 24-36 months in Gondar city, Central Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 621 children aged 24-36 months using a systematic random sampling technique from 25 April to 25 May. A pre-tested, interviewer-administered, and structured questionnaire was used and collected using Kobo Toolbox and then transferred to Stata version 17 for further analysis. The binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors, and the presence of an association was declared using a p-value of <0.05. Similarly, an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to interpret the direction and strength of an association. A total of 621 children, with a response rate of 98.1%, participated in the study. The coverage of the second dose of MCV was 75.68% (95% CI: 72.1-78.9). The following factors were significantly associated with measles-containing vaccine second dose (MCV2) coverage: father as the household head (AOR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.43-6.44), first birth order (AOR: 4.45, 95% CI: 1.21-16.3), four and above antenatal care (ANC) follow-ups (AOR: 5.18, 95% CI:1.62-16.5), postnatal care (PNC) service utilization (AOR: 2.57, 95% CI:1.27-5.15), at least two doses of vitamin A uptake (AOR: 6.39, 95% CI: 2.67-15.2), mothers having high awareness (AOR: 1.97, 95% CI:1.15-3.4), and good perception (AOR: 3.6, 95% CI: 2-6.47) about measles vaccination. The coverage of MCV2 in the study area is lower than the national and global target of above 95%. Head of household, birth order, ANC follow-up, PNC service utilization, vitamin A uptake, awareness, and perception of mothers about measles vaccination were significant factors for MCV2 coverage. Creating awareness, increasing the perception of mothers about measles vaccination, and strengthening the ANC and PNC services will increase the coverage.

Strategies for increasing effective coverage of hypertension services in health care facilities: a scoping review

Purpose: To identify supporting and inhibiting factors for effective coverage of hypertension services, as well as recommendations for improvement efforts that can be made. Methods: A scoping review consists of five steps: Identification of research questions, identification of relevant research articles, study selection, data collection, and data synthesis. Results: 19 articles met the research objectives. Supporting factors include information systems, electronic-based pharmaceutical services, self-management, health insurance, quality improvement cycles, support for professionals, patients’ interventions, and digital technology. Inhibiting factors include low health insurance coverage, inaccurate equipment, inappropriate diagnosis and treatment, lack of screening coverage, difficulty in access, and differences in policies and procedures between regions. Recommendations for improvement include changes to service systems, the use of defined hypertension thresholds, ensuring blood pressure measurement devices are functioning properly, and the implementation of consistent policies, systems, and processes throughout the healthcare system, including between regions. Conclusion: There are various opportunities for improvement, both in utilizing existing supportive factors and reducing inhibiting factors, as well as in implementing various improvement recommendations, especially those that proved effective in published research.

Spatiotemporal change characteristics of vegetation coverage in Shangwan Mine of China's Shendong Mining Area.

The coal mining might cause the disturbance to the vegetation and the disturbance impacts might exist the differences for different areas, and few literatures compared and analyzed different disturbed areas based on the location of the mining face, and paid attention to the post mining self-healing effects of vegetation. Here, this paper selected the GaoFen multispectral images during 2017-2021 to study different areas of Shangwan Mine which includes the old mining area more than 5 years after mining, the new working face underground mined in 2018 and 2019, the natural growth control area and the open-pit mining affected area. The spatiotemporal changes of the surface fraction vegetation coverage (FVC) were analyzed in each area and the correlation between vegetation coverage and climatic factors was studied. The results showed that: (1) The overall vegetation coverage showed a moderate decrease trend in fluctuation from 2017 to 2021. The Open-pit mining affected areas showed the largest decline, reaching 68.3%. The FVC in the underground mining areas had a downward trend, but self-healing effect after mining was also observed. (2) The overall FVC in the study area was positively correlated with the number of precipitation days. (3) There were differences in the sensitivity to mining disturbance for different landform in the underground mining areas. (4) Although the FVC in the Old mining areas had recovered to the level of Natural growth control area, but the annual fluctuation was larger, which might mean lower ecological stability.

Calibration system correction factor for measuring the reference air kerma rate (RAKR) applied to high dose rate 192Ir sources (HDR)

The aim of this study was to use computer simulation to analyze the impact of the aluminum fixing support on the Reference Air Kerma (RAK), a physical quantity obtained in a calibration system that was experimentally developed in the Laboratory of Radiological Sciences of the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (LCR-UERJ). Correction factors due to scattered radiation and the geometry of the 192Ir sources were also sought to be determined. The computational simulation was validated by comparing some parameters of the experimental results with the computational results. These parameters were: verification of the inverse square law of distance, determination of (RAKR), analysis of the source spectrum with and without encapsulation, and the sensitivity curve of the Sourcecheck 4PI ionization chamber response, as a function of the distance from the source along the axial axis, using the microSelectron-v2 (mSv2) and GammaMedplus (GMp) sources. Kerma was determined by activity in the Reference air, with calculated values of 1.725 × 10−3 U. Bq−1 and 1.710 × 10−3 U. Bq−1 for the ionization chamber NE 2571 and TN 30001, respectively. The expanded uncertainty for these values was 0.932% and 0.919%, respectively, for a coverage factor (k = 2). The correction factor due to the influence of the aluminum fixing support for measurements at 1 cm and 10 cm from the source was 0.978 and 0.969, respectively. The geometric correction factor of the sources was ksg = 1.005 with an expanded uncertainty of 0.7% for a coverage factor (k = 2). This value has a difference of approximately 0.2% compared to the experimental values.