Safety Criteria Research Articles

Assessment of physician compliance to the CAEP 2021 Atrial Fibrillation Best Practices Checklist for rate and rhythm control in the emergency department.

Acute atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF/AFL) are common arrhythmias treated in the emergency department (ED). The 2021 CAEP Best Practices Checklist provides clear recommendations for management of patients with acute AF/AFL. This study aimed to evaluate physician compliance to Checklist recommendations for risk assessment and ED management of AF/AFL. This health records review assessed the management of adult patients presenting to two tertiary care EDs for management of acute AF/AFL from January to August, 2022. All ECGs demonstrating AF/AFL with a heart rate greater than 100 were compiled to capture primary and secondary causes. All visits were assessed for rate and rhythm control management, adverse events, return to ED, and safety criteria. Study physicians classified safety criteria from the Checklist into high and moderate concerns. The primary outcome was the proportion of cases with safety concerns and adverse events occurring during management in the ED. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. We included 429 patients with a mean age of 67.7years and 57.1% male. ED management included rate control (20.4%), electrical (40.1%), and pharmacological (20.1%) cardioversion. Adverse events occurred in 9.5% of cases: 12.5% in rate control, 13.4% in electrical cardioversion, and 6.9% in pharmacologic cardioversion. Overall, 7.9% of cases had management safety concerns. Moderate safety concerns occurred in 4.9% of cases including failure to attain recommended heart rate at time of discharge (3.9%). Severe concerns were identified in 3.0% of cases including failure to cardiovert unstable patients (1.2%). The 30-day return-to-ED rate was 16.5% secondary to AF/AFL. ED management of AF/AFL was consistent with the CAEP Checklist and was safe overall. Opportunities for optimizing care include attaining recommended targets during rate control, avoidance of calcium channel and beta blockers in patients with systolic dysfunction, and earlier cardioversion for clinically unstable patients.

Профилактика роговичных осложнений послеоперационного адъювантного применения антиметаболитов после непроникающей глубокой склерэктомии

Original article Prevention of corneal complications after post-operative application of antimetabolites following nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy S.N. Svetozarskii, A.N. Andreev, A.V. Shvaikin, S.V. Scherbakova, I.G. Smetankin Volga District Medical Center under the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation Privolzhsky Research Medical University under the Ministr y of Health of Russia, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation Purpose. To evaluate the clinical and functional effectiveness of the developed method for prevention of corneal complications of nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS) with postoperative adjuvant use of 5-fluorouracil in comparison with the control group. Material and methods. Retrospective comparative study in 2 groups included patients with open angle glaucoma who were initially underwent NPDS and received at least 1 subconjunctival injection of 5-fluorouracil in the postoperative period. 1st group included 101 patients (101 eyes) who underwent subconjunctival injection of 5-fluorouracil after surgery using standard technique, 2nd group included 176 patients (176 eyes) who underwent subconjunctival injection of 5-fluorouracil with prophylaxis of corneal complications. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), frequency of corneal complications and number of visits to the doctor during the first 4 weeks after surgery were analyzed as criteria of efficacy and safety. Results. Comparison groups did not differ in demographic characteristics and preoperative BCVA and IOP parameters. Fluorescein stained corneal epithelium defects were statistically significantly more frequently observed in 1st group (38.6%) in comparison with 2nd group (7.4%) (p<0.001). Four weeks after NPDS, IOP decrease was 25.5% in 1st group and 31.5% in 2nd group (p=0.042). Mean BCVA loss was 1.9 lines in 1st group and 1.3 lines in 2nd group (p<0.001). The number of follow-up visits during the first month after surgery was 0.6 less in 2nd group than in 1st group (p=0.002). Conclusion. Prevention of corneal complications simply and effectively reduces the risk of corneal epithelial defects after subconjunctival injection of 5-fluorouracil as well as markedly improves the clinical and functional results of NPDS and reduces the need for outpatient visits. Key words: antimetabolites, open-angle glaucoma, corneal erosion, toxicity, prevention of complications

Stability analysis of civil air defense tunnel under blasting vibration

Based on a large section drilling and blasting excavation project, the dynamic response characteristics of civil air defense tunnels are analyzed by combining field monitoring and numerical simulation. The dynamic response features include particle vibration velocity, main frequency, displacement, and stress, and the stability criterion of the tunnel is analyzed. A safety criterion model based on the ultimate tensile strength of materials is established. The results show that the frequency of the X, Y, and Z directions is mainly distributed in 90-140 Hz. The effective stress increases first and then decreases along the axis of the roadway. The stress near the explosion source is large and the relative reduction is also large. By fitting the relationship between blasting vibration velocity and maximum principal stress, the safe vibration velocity criterion based on tensile strength is obtained, and the safe threshold of vibration velocity is 19.62 cm/s. It can be assumed that blasting does not affect the structure.

Monitoring of bivalve mollusk harvesting areas: the relevance of Salmonella spp.

The microbiological monitoring of bivalve mollusk harvesting areas in the Marche region is based on the parameters of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. However, Regulation EU/2019/627 stated criteria based on E. coli only to determine the health status of these areas. Therefore, the reason for Salmonella spp. monitoring, as provided in the Marche region, could be aimed at reducing the risk of placing on the market contaminated bivalve mollusks. This study, using the results of microbiological monitoring carried out in the Marche region from 2015 to 2022 and the methods based on Bayes' theorem and Poisson's distribution, evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of Salmonella spp. monitoring in reducing the risk to the consumer. The results show that i) the use of a single sample unit significantly reduced the possibility of detecting non-compliance with the microbiological safety criterion; ii) the time taken to report positive results (average of approximately 10 days) did not allow the timely implementation of control measures; iii) the prevalence of positive outcomes was quite sporadic: a random trend of positivity is recognizable on a geographical and monthly basis for mussels and a geographical basis for striped clams; iv) considering the predictive value of E. coli against Salmonella spp., the specificity is very high and the negative predictive value versus Salmonella spp. would be >80%. In conclusion, the study shows that the monitoring of Salmonella spp. has a limited effect on reducing the risk to the consumer; however, in the cost/benefit assessment, other aspects not covered by this study should be considered.

Terahertz Radiation Modulates Neuronal Morphology and Dynamics Properties.

Terahertz radiation falls within the spectrum of hydrogen bonding, molecular rotation, and vibration, as well as van der Waals forces, indicating that many biological macromolecules exhibit a strong absorption and resonance in this frequency band. Research has shown that the terahertz radiation of specific frequencies and energies can mediate changes in cellular morphology and function by exciting nonlinear resonance effects in proteins. However, current studies have mainly focused on the cellular level and lack systematic studies on multiple levels. Moreover, the mechanism and law of interaction between terahertz radiation and neurons are still unclear. Therefore, this paper analyzes the mechanisms by which terahertz radiation modulates the nervous system, and it analyzes and discusses the methods by which terahertz radiation modulates neurons. In addition, this paper reviews the laws of terahertz radiation's influence on neuronal morphology and kinetic properties and discusses them in detail in terms of terahertz radiation frequency, energy, and time. In the future, the safety of the terahertz radiation system should be considered first to construct the safety criterion of terahertz modulation, and the spatial resolution of the terahertz radiation system should be improved. In addition, the systematic improvement of the laws and mechanisms of terahertz modulation of the nervous system on multiple levels is the key to applying terahertz waves to neuroscience. This paper can provide a platform for researchers to understand the mechanism of the terahertz-nervous system interaction, its current status, and future research directions.

The Importance of Government Collaboration Strategies for Developing Tourism Villages in Indonesia

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to find out the existence of tourist villages that have not experienced development like other tourist village destinations that have experienced a lot of progress. Theoretical reference: Development of integrated tourist village destinations needs to be carried out through collaboration, with strong regional policies through cooperative strategies with various parties. Then the importance of collaboration is applied because according to Thomson from Wood and Gray (1991, 218): Collaboration means autonomous parties interacting through negotiations both formally and informally. Method: The type of research used in this research is a research method with a qualitative approach involving philosophical assumptions, applying a qualitative approach by collecting and analyzing various types of data, also involving collective functions so that the power of studying collectively is greater. and deeper (Creswell, 2013 :5) Results and Conclusions: The government needs to provide facilities and infrastructure that can support the achievement of safe, comfortable and healthy tourist village destinations. The development of eight tourism elements in tourist villages is quite varied and has not been packaged well. Kahayya Village has not developed like other tourist villages, because so far only the government has contributed to its development, access to land transportation is also limited, namely winding roads up hills that are not suitable for two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles. Collaboration with various parties is needed so that the potential of this tourist village can be recognized, developed and attracted by visitors. The requirements to become a tourist village worth visiting are like three villages that have eight tourism elements that could be a model. To develop a tourist village into a leading destination requires a fairly large budget. Research implications: The government needs to continue to provide professional guidance and management to increase the number of visits to tourist villages, by improving eight elements starting from: attractions, accessibility, amenities, accommodation, additional services (supporting facilities), supporting policies, and the government facilitating implementation regional regulations in strategic planning priorities and multi-party collaboration. Originality/Value: The tourist village destinations, namely Kahayya, Darubiah, Bontobahari, and Tanatoa all have potential with various types of interesting tourism ranging from the natural beauty of mountains, beaches, waterfall bathing, Pinishi Boat making rituals, and preserving traditional Ammatoa culture. Villages that have not yet experienced development require strong collaboration between various parties ranging from government officials, business actors, academics, society, media, to tourists so that they can work together to support the implementation of tourist villages that are worth visiting and meet the safety and comfort criteria of tourists.

Novel Probiotic Candidates in Artisanal Feta-Type Kefalonian Cheese: Unveiling a Still-Undisclosed Biodiversity.

Autochthonous dairy lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates encompass a natural source of starter, adjunct, or probiotic candidates. In this context, traditionally manufactured, using exclusively animal rennet, Feta-type cheeses were collected from five farms located in different regions of Kefalonia island (Greece). The primary objective of this study was to isolate and characterize novel LAB, thereby exploring the unmapped microbial communities of Kefalonian Feta-type cheese and identifying new potential probiotics. The initial screening, included a preliminary gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance assessment (acidic conditions and bile salts), followed by their safety evaluation (hemolytic activity and antibiotic susceptibility). Based on the preliminary screening, selected strains underwent molecular identification and were further investigated for their probiotic attributes (lysozyme and phenol resistance, antimicrobial traits, antidiabetic aspects, cholesterol reduction and adhesion, adhesion to Caco-2 cells, and milk acidification potential). The results showed that 49, out of the 93 retrieved isolates, exhibited resistance to GI conditions, whereas 18 met the safety criteria. The molecular identification revealed strains belonging to the species Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. The selected rod-shaped 14 isolates displayed a potential probiotic character. The best-performing isolates concerning cholesterol assimilation and adhesion, α-glucosidase inhibition, and epithelial adherence were Lpb. plantarum F89, F162, and F254 and Lcb. paracasei F214 and F216, whereas Lcb. paracasei F70 showed potential as a defined strain starter. The present study explores for the first time the biodiversity of traditionally fermented microbial communities in Kefalonian Feta-type cheese, revealing novel potential probiotic strains that can contribute to the development of innovative functional food products.

Viability of probiotic lactic acid bacteria in Malay apple (Syzygium malaccense) during fermentation and storage

For lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to be considered probiotic it must colonize and survive the gut environment, also for maximum health benefits it must be ingested in a sufficient amount. Hence, this study was aimed at investigating the probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria and their viability in Malay apple juice. Five LAB of yoghurt origin were obtained and screened for probiotic potential using acidic pH (1.5) tolerance, bile salt (0.3 %) resistance and non-hemolytic activity as the selection and safety criteria. The compositional and physicochemical characteristics of the apple juice during fermentation were assayed using standard methods. The viable cell counts were determined using standard plate count method. Of the 5 LAB isolates 2 identified as members of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus genera showed good probiotic characteristics with acidic pH and bile salt survival rate of above 80 %, also the 2 LAB isolates were non-hemolytic. After the 72 h fermentation increase in protein content ranged from 0.53 to 1.21 %, titratable acidity increase ranged from 0.35 to 0.53 % and a reduction in pH ranged from 4.54 to 3.58 were obtained, also the viable cell counts were at 4.12±0.38, 2.35±0.15 and 3.18±0.10 CFU/ml in the Lactobacillus, Lactococcus and mixed culture fermented juice respectively. At the end of the 30 days cold (4oC) storage the viable cell counts were >106 CFU/ml. The Lactobacillus fermented juice had more overall acceptability (7.7) by the panelists. In conclusion the studied LAB isolates were viable probiotics and Malay apple juice a suitable carrier for probiotics.

SUITABLE LANDING SITE SELECTION FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES USING AIRBORNE LASER SCANNING POINT CLOUD

Abstract. In the context of autonomous landing for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), selecting a suitable landing site is crucial. This research presents a new method for automatically identifying safe landing sites based on point cloud data acquired through an airborne laser scanning (ALS) system. The proposed approach begins by detecting flat regions using principal component analysis (PCA) and region-growing algorithms. Subsequently, a terrain complexity assessment is conducted through plane fitting using an enhanced progressive sample consensus (PROSAC) algorithm. This assessment assists in identifying the most suitable landing site within a specified landing zone. The method's effectiveness is demonstrated through experiments conducted on two distinct natural terrains from the DALE dataset. The results show that the proposed approach can accurately classify landing zones and identify preferred sites that meet safety criteria. This study's findings underscore the proposed method's effectiveness and feasibility in improving the safety and reliability of autonomous UAV landings.

A novel approach for designing efficient and sustainable cooling cycles with low global warming potential refrigerants

With the current legislation on the phase-out of 3rd generation refrigerants, new cooling cycles are expected to operate with 4th generation refrigerants, hence, the need for optimal system performance with these new working fluids. In this study, an innovative optimization approach was applied for the design of cooling cycles with 4th generation refrigerants based on integrating statistical analysis design of experiments (DoE) with molecular modeling using the polar soft-SAFT model. First, a detailed multi-criteria assessment was applied for the selection of 4th generation refrigerants in medium–low temperature applications. Results demonstrated the potentiality of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (R1234ze(E)) or cis-1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoroprop-1-ene (R1225ye(Z)) in terms of environmental, safety, and technical criteria in basic cooling cycles under specific operating conditions. Multi-objective optimization guided using statistical analysis tools were implemented to study potential enhancement in cooling cycle performance using these promising refrigerants in terms of energy and exergy efficiency. This included evaporator and condenser temperature, fluid choice, compression yield, superheating/subcooling degrees, and cycle type. The evaporation and condenser temperature, and the compressor efficiency are shown to monopolize more than three-quarters of the cumulative contribution on system efficiency for those operated with R1234ze(E) in advanced liquid-to-suction line heat exchangers (LL/SL-IHX). Further optimization through examining the effect of heat transfer phenomena assisted in determining optimal operating conditions for new systems operating with low GWP refrigerants, instilling annual cost savings of $1.59 K and reduction in CO2 emissions by 1.02 tCO2-eq compared to the baseline system.

A Quantitative Risk Analysis during Truck-to-Ship Ammonia Bunkering

A primary objective for the sustainable development of the maritime sector is to transition toward carbon-neutral fuels, with the aim to reduce emissions from maritime transportation. Ammonia emerges as a promising contender for hydrogen storage, offering the potential for CO2-free energy systems in the future. Notably, ammonia presents advantageous attributes for hydrogen storage, such as its high volumetric hydrogen density, low storage pressure requirements, and long-term stability. However, it is important to acknowledge that ammonia also poses challenges due to its toxicity, flammability, and corrosive nature, presenting more serious safety concerns that need to be addressed compared with other alternative fuels. This study sought to explore the dispersion characteristics of leaked gas during truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering, providing insights into the establishment of appropriate safety zones to minimize the potential hazards associated with this process. The research encompassed parametric studies conducted under various operational and environmental conditions, including different bunkering conditions, gas leak rates, wind speeds, and ammonia toxic doses. EFFECTS, which is commercial software for consequence analysis, was utilized to analyze specific scenarios. The focus was on a hypothetical ammonia bunkering truck of 37,000 L refueling an 8973 deadweight tonnage (DWT) service vessel with a tank capacity of 7500 m3 in the area of Mokpo Port, South Korea. The study’s findings underscore that the ammonia leak rate, ambient temperature, and wind characteristics significantly impacted the determination of safety zones. Additionally, the bunkering conditions, leak hole size, and surrounding traffic also played influential roles. This study revealed that bunkering in winter resulted in a larger safety zone compared with bunkering in summer. The lethality dose of ammonia was affected by the leak hole size, time for dispersion, and the amount of ammonia released. These observed variations imply that ammonia truck-to-ship bunkering should be undertaken with carefully chosen suitable safety criteria, thereby significantly altering the scope of safety zones. Consequently, the risk assessment method outlined in this paper is expected to assist in determining the appropriate extent of safety zones and provide practical insights for port authorities and flag states contributing to the future sustainable development of the maritime industry.

A Study on Safety Criteria for Toppling of Pile Drivers and Cranes Based on Structural Stability

The toppling mechanisms of heavy machinery with high center of gravity such as pile drivers, cranes, jacks, etc., can be broadly classified into two categories: overturning moment toppling and structural instability toppling. The structural instability toppling is further divided into buckling toppling and equilibrium transition toppling. These three toppling mechanisms are significantly different, and it is necessary to address their safety separately when discussing safety criteria. Therefore, it is considered that safety criteria should be established coping with characteristics of each toppling mechanism. In particular, toppling in the case of structural instability has not had clear safety criteria so far, and the development of rational safety criteria based on structural stability theory is considered important to prevent future toppling accidents. This paper provides a sample of the safety criteria that align with the classification of the three toppling mechanisms. For the buckling toppling, the criterion is set to restrict the vertical load considering the critical load (buckling). For the overturning moment toppling, the criterion is set to restrict the inclination angle in order not to exceed the stability limit angle. Additionally, for the equilibrium transition toppling, the criterion is set on both the vertical load and the inclination angle so that the maximum displacement angle due to dynamic inertial force does not exceed the stability limit angle. A sample of the safety criteria provided in this paper includes the three toppling mechanisms which should be covered to avoid the toppling accidents of heavy machinery which has high center of gravity.

An Index Model for the Evaluation of the Performance of Lock Navigation Scheduling Rules Considering the Perspective of Stakeholders

The lock navigation scheduling problem involves multiple stakeholder groups. The game relationship between stakeholders directly affects the sustainable development of regional society and economy. Considering the objectivity and accuracy of social network analysis (SNA) for relationship identification, indicator screening, and system construction, it completes the stakeholder extraction and evaluation index system construction. Considering that the conditional probability of nodes in Bayesian networks (BN) can flexibly and intuitively characterize the direction and strength of the factors’ roles in a complex scenario, this study proposes an index model for the evaluation of the performance of lock navigation scheduling rules. Firstly, build the BN topology under the efficiency, safety, and fairness criteria. Subsequently, an improved composite index method is combined with the BN to determine the evaluation index from the stakeholder perspective. This study takes the Three Gorges locks maintenance scenario as an example. The index evaluation model can accurately identify the direction, trend, and magnitude of the performance of the scheduling rules on the efficiency, safety, and fairness criteria under navigational constraints, realizing the dynamic and quantitative evaluation of the performance of lock navigation scheduling rules during the observation period.

Estimation of slope stability using ensemble-based hybrid machine learning approaches

Mining is one of the most daunting occupations gain the sector since it entails risk at any point in the operation. In its operation, the main focus is on slope stability. To avoid slope failures, work should be performed in line with both the regulations and the safety criteria. Slope stability is essential in mining activities owing to slope failure putting productivity and safety at risk. Prediction of slope failure is difficult because of the complexity of traditional engineering techniques. Through study, recent technologies have helped mining companies predict slope problems quickly and effectively. In this current research, an ensemble of machine learning intelligence algorithms was used to estimate and assess the Factor of Safety (FOS). In Ostapal Chromicte Mine, India, 79 experimental and failure slope occurrences were tracked to gather in-the-moment field data. The available data were split into training and testing sets at random to build algorithms. The five influenced factors such as the unit weight, the friction angle, the cohesiveness, the mining depth, as well as the slope angle used as input variables to estimate the FOS. Selected machine learning techniques such as Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Decision Tree, Random Forest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and ensemble hybrid model combining eXtreme Gradient Boosting and Random Forest (XGBoost-RF) were developed to evaluate the FOS. The validity and efficiency of created models can be evaluated using standard evaluation parameters such as coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean square error (MSE), normalized root mean square error (NRMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean absolute deviation (MAD). The most precise model to assess the FOS across all models was discovered to be the XGBOOST-RF ensemble model, which had a high R2 of 0.931, MSE of 0.009, NRMSE of 0.069, MAD of 0.037, MAPE of 3.581 and an RMSE of 0.098.

Synergizing edge computing and blockchain for cyber‐physical systems

SummaryAs a foundational technology for managing decentralized systems like smart grids and healthcare systems, blockchain is attracting a lot of interest. However, owing to excessive resource requirements and low scalability with frequent‐intensive transactions, its use in resource‐constrained mobile devices is restricted. To let mobile devices offload processing tasks to cloud resources, edge computing can be used. For scalability and secure transactions, the integration with edge computing guarantees consistent access, distributed computing, and non‐compromised storage. To accomplish effective integration, critical challenges such as reliability, adaptability, and resource planning must be resolved. Despite these efforts, further study is still needed to address issues with confidentiality, flexibility, and reliability to develop a workable, secure decentralized data storage system. This study utilizes edge computing to build an Internet of Things (IoT) architecture that satisfies the safety and scalability necessary criteria for integration along with the integration of peer‐to‐peer and blockchain technologies. Already‐existing blockchain and related technologies have also been investigated to suggest solutions that address issues like secrecy, reliability, and scalability in order to successfully incorporate blockchain in IoT systems. Our experimental findings indicate that achieving low rates of stale blocks and promoting decentralization requires a meticulous selection of block sizes and generation intervals. It is essential to maintain block creation intervals as short as practically possible, and utilizing blocks with a size below 1 MB is advisable.

Microbiological safety of dry-cured fish from the raw material to the end of processing

The commercialization of processed fish products is rising in restaurants and small to medium enterprises. However, there is a lack of data related to the microbiological safety of such products. In this study total aerobic colony count and Enterobacteriaceae, as proxy of process hygiene criteria, and detection of Listeria monocytogenes and concentration of histamine, as food safety criteria, were investigated in Salmo salar (salmon), Xiphias gladius (swordfish) and Thunnus albacares (yellowfin tuna), before, during, and at the end of a dry-curing process, performed in a dedicated cabinet, at controlled temperature, relative humidity and ventilation, up to 240 h. The microbiological parameters were investigated in the tested fish products by culture methods and shotgun metagenomic, while the presence of histamine, and other biogenic amines, was quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography.In the raw material, and up to the end of the dry curing process, the concentration of Enterobacteriaceae was always lower than 10 CFU/g, while total aerobic colony counts ranged between 3.9 and 5.4 Log CFU/g in salmon; 5.5 and 5.9 Log CFU/g in swordfish; 4.4 and 4.8 Log CFU/g in tuna. The pH values were significantly different between fish species, in the raw materials and during processing except for T4, occurring 70 h after the start of the process for salmon and after 114 h for swordfish and tuna. Water activity was different at specific sampling points and at the end of processing. Overall, 79 % of the sequences identified in the tested fish samples were assigned to y bacteria. The most abundant phyla were Pseudomonadota, Bacillota and Mycoplasmatota. The microbial populations identified by shotgun metagenomic in the tested fish species clustered well separated one from the other. Moreover, the microbial richness was significantly higher in salmon and tuna in comparison to swordfish.Listeria monocytogenes was not detected in the raw material by using the reference cultural method and very few reads (relative abundance <0.007) were detected in swordfish and tuna by shotgun metagenomic. Histamine producing bacteria, belonging to the genera Vibrio, Morganella, Photobacterium and Klebsiella, were identified primarily in swordfish. However, histamine and other biogenic amines were not detected in any sample.To the best of our knowledge this is the first paper reporting time point determinations of microbiological quality and safety parameters in salmon, swordfish and tuna, before, during and at the end of a dry-curing process. The data collected in this paper can help to predict the risk profile of ready to eat dry-cured fish products during storage before consumption.

Taking stock: Is gene drive research delivering on its principles?

Gene drive technology has been recognized for its potential to provide durable and cost-effective solutions for previously intractable problems in public health, conservation, and agriculture. In recognition of the rapid advances in this field, in 2016 the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine issued a report making several recommendations aimed at researchers, funders, and policymakers for the safe and responsible research and development of gene drive technology. Subsequently, in 2017 sixteen global organizations self-identifying as sponsors and supporters of gene drive research became public signatories committed to the 'Principles for Gene Drive Research' which were inspired by the report's recommendations. Herein we reflect on the progress of gene drive research in relation to the ethical principles laid out and committed to by the signatories to the Principles. Our analysis indicates high levels of alignment with the Principles in the field of gene drive research. The manuscript also discusses the Gene Drive Research Forum, which had its genesis in the publication of the Principles. Discussions between participants at the latest meeting of the Forum point to the work that lies ahead for gene drive research in line with the Principles. Going forward the gene drive research community can productively focus on: i) safety and efficacy criteria for open release, ii) risk assessment frameworks and methods, iii) more downstream technical, regulatory and policy considerations for field evaluations and implementation, iv) continued transparency and developing mechanisms of accountability, and v) strengthening capacity in locales of potential release and expected drive spread.

3D analysis of spray effect on long-term depressurization of VVER-1000 containment during LB-LOCA

Containment as the last barrier of defence in depth strategy plays the most important role in protecting the environment and public from the release of radioactive material. As a result, analysing its performance in nuclear accidents and the reliability and effectiveness of its engineering safety features (ESFs) in the depressurization of containment is a key step in safety assessment. This study demonstrates the effect of the spray system as one of the ESFs in long-term depressurization of VVER-1000 containment during an LB-LOCA accident by using GOTHIC code. In the first step toward this goal, the as-built 3D structure of VVER-1000/V446 containment has been prepared in AutoCAD and used as GOTHIC geometry input by applying the input preparation process. Long-term 3D profiles of temperature and pressure were simulated in GOTHIC without spray actuation. The next step deals with considering the effects of spray and sensitivity analysis of spray temperature and droplet diameter on long-term depressurization. 3D profiles of thermal-hydraulic parameters during long-term depressurization of containment have been presented as research outcomes and validated against FSAR data and finally, the effects of spray on profiles were concluded. Results can obviously prove the effect of spray on the long-term depressurization of containment. The required time to achieve half of the peak pressure of the containment was calculated as 1380 s which is completely in agreement with NRC safety criteria. Research outcomes confirm the success of the spray system to support the integrity of containment which could be jeopardized without spray system intervention.

A Novel Semi-Spar Floating Wind Turbine Platform Applied for Intermediate Water Depth

For the exploitation of offshore wind resources in areas with intermediate water depths, a novel semi-spar floating foundation is introduced to combine the superiority of the conventional semisubmersible and spar-type floater. It consists of an upper floater and a hanging weight, which are connected through 12 suspension ropes. Such a floating foundation can be wet-towed as a semisubmersible floater, which features a large waterplane moment of inertia to increase stability and reduce transportation costs. After being anchored on site, it behaves as a spar floater with moderate draft and superior hydrodynamic characteristics. The stability of the proposed semi-spar platform during wet towage is analyzed. Afterward, a fully coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic simulation is conducted to evaluate its hydrodynamic responses in comparison with the responses of the well-acknowledged OC3-spar and OC4-semisubmersible platforms. Then, the ultimate strength of the mooring lines and suspension ropes under extreme conditions was numerically investigated, as well as the relationship between the ropes’ tension and wave direction. Eventually, a cost-effectiveness analysis is conducted in terms of power generation and steel mass. The results demonstrate that the proposed semi-spar design meets the safety criteria in transportation and exhibits a smaller response in surge and pitch motions. In addition, the ultimate strength of mooring lines and suspension ropes satisfies the safety requirements, and simulation reveals that the lateral suspension ropes parallel to the propagation direction are sensitive to the environmental conditions of winds and waves. This study confirms that the newly proposed floating wind turbine exhibits excellent hydrodynamic and power generation performance, which is of great significance for the sustainability of the energy and electricity industry.

Biparatopic Nanobody-Based Immunosorbent for the Highly Selective Elimination of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α.

Removing the overexpressed TNF-α by hemoperfusion positively affects clinical treatments for diseases such as autoimmune disease and sepsis. However, clearance ratios of adsorbents targeting TNF-α were limited by the extremely low concentration of TNF-α (mostly <1000 ng/L in sepsis) and hydrophobic interactions. In this work, biparatopic nanobodies (NbC21) with a high affinity of 19.9 pM, which bind to two distinct sites of TNF-α, were constructed as high-affinity ligands for the immunosorbent. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity estimated from the Langmuir isotherm was up to 18.22 mg/g gel. The prepared immunosorbent (NbC21-sorbent) had an outstanding TNF-α clearance ratio of approximately 96% during the dynamic adsorption test, with a sorbent-to-serum ratio of 1:1000. Additionally, it demonstrated favorable hemocompatibility and a prolonged storage capability. The results indicated that the biparatopic nanobody immunosorbent exhibited significant potential for clinical applications as it met the stringent criteria for both efficacy and safety.