Hidden Risk Research Articles

A Study on Medical Biotechnology System from Legal Perspective

With the progress and development of science and technology, medical biotechnology has made great progress, which created an objective market and lucrative returns for the medical and health industry as well as provided assistance for patients. However, the hidden risk of biotechnology may burst at any time and is not conducive to the health and safety of consumers and social stability. Therefore, regulation and control of the government over medical biotechnology research enterprises is particularly important, which requires the establishment of relevant legal systems. This paper attempts to find out the inadequacies of the existing laws and regulations related to medical biotechnology in China by evaluation so as to put forward some constructive suggestions to help establish a more perfect medical and biotechnology legal system.

Hidden High Voltage Safety Risks for Parallel High Voltage Transmission Lines

High voltage (HV) infrastructures market is growing due to the corresponding growth in industries and population. To ensure continuous and reliable electrical power supply, existing substation and transmission lines are being upgraded to accommodate the additional load requirements. These upgrades involve up-rating the existing transmission lines or the installation of new lines. To save on easement cost and reduce the environmental impacts, transmission lines are occupied the same easement or path. This parallel option introduces the risk of induced voltage which could reach an unsafe condition and jeopardize the safety of works and people. This paper analysis and highlight the hidden risk associated with two parallel transmission lines that connected the same high voltage substation. The theoretical study which is supported by the case study shows the high risk potential tempering with the OHEW on the isolated circuit while the other one is still energized

Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Deficiency: the Hidden Risk in Paediatric Anaesthesia.

Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder that results in increased homocysteine levels in the body. Hyperhomocysteinemia causes a predisposition to venous and arterial thrombosis and ischaemic insults. The incidence of the deficiency is around 40% in some countries. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of anaesthetic agents in children with MTHFR deficiency. Twelve paediatric patients with an MTHFR enzyme deficiency who underwent surgery in a ten-month period in a single centre were retrospectively evaluated. Demographic data, homocysteine levels before and after surgery, anaesthesia management and postoperative complications were recorded. In four patients, propofol was used both for anaesthesia induction and total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA). Eight patients received sevoflurane for both induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Nitrous oxide (N2O) was not used in any patients. There was not a significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative homocysteine levels (p>0.05). Twenty-four hours after the surgery, the homocysteine levels were within normal limits. No complications were observed. Sevoflurane and propofol have no deleterious effects on homocysteine levels in patients with MTHFR deficiency. Avoidance of N2O is the key point for anaesthetic consideration regarding these patients.

Enhanced Optical Coated Witness Plates for the in Situ Monitoring of Spacecraft Health

In the field of aerospace, contamination control is an engineering field that develops a strategy to mitigate molecular and particulate contamination effects on spacecraft performance. Molecular contamination is known as the hidden risk that interferes with the performance of optical, thermal, electronic, and mechanical systems. Traditional methods for monitoring spacecraft health involves the use of rinsate from a witness surface to collect molecular films known as non-volatile residues (NVR). In order to identify a chemical fingerprint of potential harmful contaminants, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) are tools for characterizing the NVR. Unfortunately, these passive characterization tools limit the ability to find problematic NVR during the early phases of the assembly of space flight hardware. A common method is the optical witness plate program that uses FTIR to monitor the collection of NVR within a 28 day period. The witness plate program has a limit of detection within several microns of NVR. Often nanometer thick molecular films can interfere with sensitive surfaces. In this work, we evaluate the use of enhanced optical coatings deposited onto witness surfaces as a practical sensing application to monitor the health of spacecraft. This method has the potential to enable in situ monitoring of spacecraft by utilizing the enhanced optical coated surfaces coupled with a portable Raman Spectrometer during the assembly, integration, and test phases to qualitatively identify egregious contaminants that may adversely impact spacecraft system cost and schedule.

Hidden Risk: Detecting Fraud in Chinese Bankss Non-Performing Loan Data

Using self-reported data from banks in mainland China, I apply a technique used in forensic accounting based on Benford’s Law to detect fraudulent manipulation of non-performing loan (NPL) figures. I find large data anomalies consistent with false reporting in mainland banks that do not appear in an identically structured survey of Hong Kong banks. A comparison of different types of data from mainland banks shows no statistically significant anomalies in data for total deposits from customers, operating expenses, net interest income, or non-interest income.

Immunization status in childhood cancer survivors: A hidden risk which could be prevented

A limited number of studies have examined the vaccine-specific antibody status of children with cancer. There are disagreements over the guidelines for postcancer immunization strategy. Our study was an observational, cross-sectional retrospective review of data collected on children who were seen in the outpatient clinic at King Abdullah Medical City, Oncology Center, Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our aim was to evaluate the seropositive status to vaccine-preventable diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB) in childhood cancer survivors at our center in order to plan future vaccination for these children and establish a simple revaccination schedule. Forty-seven patients (21 boys and 26 girls) were included in the study. Age at the time of cancer diagnosis (mean±standard deviation) was 5.68±3.79 years and age at test sampling was 10.68±3.79 years. Acute leukemia was the most common cancer (49% of patients), followed by lymphoma (28%), brain tumors (13%), and solid tumors (10%). Treatment intensities (according to the Treatment Intensity Rating Scale, version 3.0; ITR-3) were 2, 3, and 4 for 26 patients (55%), 20 patients (43%), and one patient (2.1%), respectively. We found that 93% of our patients were considered seronegative (unprotected) for at least one vaccine-preventable disease. The seronegative rates for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and HIB were 46.8%, 36.2%, 36.2%, 46.8%, 61.7%, 17.1%, and 42.6%, respectively. Criteria including age at diagnosis, age at sampling, type of malignancy, and treatment intensity were not significantly different between seropositive and seronegative patients. Seronegative rates for vaccine-preventable diseases were very high in childhood cancer survivors, which represented a subpopulation of high-risk patients who could benefit from revaccination. We suggest a universal revaccination approach for all childhood cancer survivors, which is easily applicable and of low cost.

Cancer Registration in Basrah-Southern Iraq: Validation by Household Survey

On an international scale, the burden of cancer in absolute numbers continues to increase, mainly due to aging of population in many countries, the overall growth of the world population, changing lifestyle with increasing cancer-causing behavior, like cigarette smoking, changing dietary habits and sedentary life. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death and disability in the world, after only heart disease. Recently, increasing incidence and mortality of cancer have also become evident in the developing world. In Iraq and particularly in Basrah in the southern part of the country, the burden has definitely increased and deserves extensive research. The present paper is part of an extensive household survey carried out in Basrah in 2013. Among the objectives was to validate official cancer registration in the governorate. The cross-sectional survey had a retrospective component to inquire about the incidence of cancer and cancer-related deaths during the three years preceding the date of inquiry (2010-2012). A convenient sample of 6,999 households with 40,688 inhabitants using multistage cluster sampling was surveyed involving all urban and rural areas of Basrah. The official cancer registration activities in Basrah seemed to have attained a high level of registration coverage (70-80%) but the gap, represented by missed cases, is still high enough to criticize the system. Most of the missing cases were either not notified by treating facilities or they were diagnosed and treated outside Basrah. Using a set of parameters, the pattern of cancer was consistent based on data of the household survey and data of the cancer registry but a gap still existed in the coverage of incident cancer and mortality by cancer registration. Integrated serious steps are required to contain the risk of cancer and its burden on the patient through improving the registration process, improving early detection, diagnostic and management capabilities and encouraging scientific research to explore the hidden risk factors and possible causes of low registration coverage. Periodic household surveys seemed feasible and essential to support routine registration.

The hidden risk in user-generated content: An investigation of ski tourers' revealed risk-taking behavior on an online outdoor sports platform

This paper investigates risk-taking behavior in the context of an online outdoor sports platform. Analyzing a unique behavioral dataset of 6242 ski tours completed over a time period of eight winter seasons, this paper shows that the accuracy of user-generated content on ski tours is limited and that more than one third of ski tours accessible on the respective online platform was relatively dangerous on the particular days according to a common avalanche risk assessment method. The quantitative analysis furthermore reveals that at avalanche danger level “considerable” more than sixty percent of ski tours were relatively dangerous. Overall, this paper provides novel insights into risks that come with user-generated content in the adventure tourism and adventure recreation domain and derives important implications for online platform users, online platform providers, public institutions, and tourism destinations.

Drug interactions in cancer patients: A hidden risk?

Drug interactions in cancer patients: A hidden risk?

Case Study on Distribution of Responsibilities for the Civil Case of False Card Fraudulent Trading

In recent years, bank card has come more and more necessary in people’s daily life, however it also has the hidden risk. Who should be responsible for the loss when the bank cards in our hand are used by criminals as a tool of accumulating money? In this paper, we will carry out case studies to find a solution plan on the distribution of responsibilities in the civil case of false card fraudulent trading by analyzing the current situation of distribution of the responsibilities.

Children Webbed in the Cyber Network: an Exploratory Study on Children’s Cyber Behavior and Cyber Laws

With the IT Revolution, Cyber world has become a part of kid’s natural environment. Though the computer and the internet provide fantastic opportunities for socially beneficial endeavors-such as education, research, commerce and entertainment, at the same time they serve as tools to facilitate illegal activity. Often children see their own ability to defeat technological limitations and controls as a way to show up their parents and teachers, or as a badge of honor and subject to brag about among their friends both offline and online. Legal issues pertaining to the need to protect children and youth online are now being considered to a larger extend since the hidden risk raise a potential threat to the well being of young generation. There is also the risk that a child could engage in some negative legal or financial consequences or committing a cybercrime. The present study is focused on explaining cyber behavior of children and also exploring various cyber laws to protect the rights of children online. The data was collected using interview and self-report method. The qualitative research design was employed to analyze the data. The study reflected a greater need for children’s online protection, stressed on the problems children encounter in the cyber world as well as provided insight into the prevailing cyber laws.

Comparison of the impact of rivaroxaban and low molecular weight heparin on hidden blood loss after unilateral first half artificial hip replacement surgery

Objective To investigate the impact of rivaroxaban and low molecular weight heparin on hidden blood loss after unilateral first half artificial hip replacement surgery. Methods According to the digital table, a total of 80 cases because of femoral neck fractures in elderly patients with unilateral arthroplasty artificial hip and a half after surgery were randomly divided into the rivaroxaban group and low molecular weight heparin(LMWH)group,40 cases in each group. In both groups,respectively, after 12 h begin daily oral rivaroxaban 10 mg and subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin 5 000 u,compared the two groups around the actual amount of perioperative blood loss, blood loss was dominant, recessive blood loss and hidden blood loss accounts, the actual percentage of total blood loss, and recorded 35d bleeding events. Results The total amount of blood loss, dominant blood loss, hidden blood loss and the hidden blood loss accounted for the actual percentage of the total amount of blood loss of the rivaroxaban group were(671.00±55.61)mL,(313.88±14.53) mL,(350.00±29.41)mL,(52.00±5.22)%,respectively,which of the the LMWH group were(662.00±30.19)mL,(288.87±15.33)mL,(372.00±35.10)mL,(56.00±6.71)%,there were no significant differences between the two groups(t= 0.93,0.93,0.83,1.03,all P>0.05). Conclusion For patients first underwent unilateral hip replacement surgery artificial half, perioperative using rivaroxaban or LMWH has no significantly differences in hidden risk of bleeding and bleeding event rate. Key words: Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; Postoperative Hemorrhage; Rivaroxaban; Low Molecular Weight Heparin

Control Model of Software Engineering Risk Based on Hidden Markov Model

Software engineering risk is an important issue in software engineering research and the formation and measuring of software risk is also a difficulty. Since the risk transmission effect is not considered in traditional software projects, based on risk element transmission theory and hidden Markov model, a new model called Hidden Risk Markov Model was proposed. The model takes into account the effect of software engineering risk transmission in different prototype stages on final software engineering risk and uses the observable risk element transmission to calculate the degree of engineering risk. Finally, an example of software engineering risk control was presented.

Managing the health impacts of drought in Brazil.

Drought is often a hidden risk with the potential to become a silent public health disaster. It is difficult to define precisely when it starts or when it is over, and although it is a climatological event, its impacts depend on other human activities, and are intensified by social vulnerability. In Brazil, half of all natural disaster events are drought related, and they cause half of the impacts in number of affected persons. One large affected area is the semiarid region of Brazil’s Northeast, which has historically been affected by drought. Many health and well-being indicators in this region are worse than the rest of the country, based on an analysis of 5565 municipalities using available census data for 1991, 2000 and 2010, which allowed separating the 1133 municipalities affected by drought in order to compare them with the rest of the country. Although great progress has been made in reducing social and economic vulnerability, climate change and the expected changes in the semiarid region in the next few decades call for a review of current programs, particularly in public health, and the planning of new interventions with local communities. This study reviews the literature, analyzes available data and identifies possible actions and actors. The aim is to ensure there will be sufficient and sustainable local adaptive capacity and resilience, for a population already living within the limits of environmental vulnerability.

A note on the hidden risk of inflation

The continued expansionary policy of the Federal Reserve gives rise to speculation whether the Fed will be able to maintain price stability in the coming decades. Most of the scientific work relating money to prices relies on broad monetary aggregates (i.e. M2 for the United States). In our paper, we argue that this view falls short. The historically unique monetary expansion has not yet fully reached M2. Using a cointegration approach, we aim to show the hidden risks for the future development of M2 and correspondingly prices. In a simulation analysis we show that even if the multiplier remains substantially below its pre-crisis level, M2 will exceed its current growth path with a probability of 95%.

Health care-associated hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne pathogen that has a worldwide distribution and infects millions of people. Care-associated HCV infections represented a huge part of hepatitis C burden in the past via contaminated blood and unsafe injections and continue to be a serious problem of public health. The present review proposes a panorama of health care-associated HCV infections via the three mode of contamination that have been identified: (1) infected patient to non-infected patient; (2) infected patient to non-infected health care worker (HCW); and (3) infected HCW to non infected patient. For each condition, the circumstances of contamination are described together with the means to prevent them. As a whole, the more important risk is represented by unsafe practices regarding injections, notably with the improper use of multidose vials used for multiple patients. The questions of occupational exposures and infected HCWs are also discussed. In terms of prevention and surveillance, the main arm for combating care-associated HCV infections is the implementation of standard precautions in all the fields of cares, with training programs and audits to verify their good application. HCWs must be sensitized to the risk of blood-borne pathogens, notably by the use of safety devices for injections and good hygiene practices in the operating theatre and in all the invasive procedures. The providers performing exposed-prone procedures must monitor their HCV serology regularly in order to detect early any primary infection and to treat it without delay. With the need to stay vigilant because HCV infection is often a hidden risk, it can be hoped that the number of people infected by HCV via health care will decrease very significantly in the next years.

The Share Price Neglect: Inverse Exponential Relation between Initial Share Price and Risk Tolerance

In an experiment, we systematically tested the risk tolerance for trading stock shares that vary in the initial price of the shares. Persons inexperienced with the stock market had to set the selling points for 60 stocks in the case of (a) decreasing or (b) rising prices. First, a stronger risk aversion for falling compared to rising prices was obtained. Second, the experiment revealed a dramatic increase in risk tolerance the lower the buying prices of the stocks were; nearly perfectly following a power function (Pearson-R’s>.93). Furthermore, it seemed very difficult for persons to grasp the consequences of share price neglect, namely that the initial share price has a significant impact on the readiness to take higher risks, whether in a positive or negative direction. Therefore, we are also referring to it as a “hidden risk tolerance”. This paper offers insights into irrational decision making in trading stocks. It allows the formation of estimates regarding trading volume and share price potential on the basis of the initial share price. Furthermore, it provides clues for the consequent reduction of risk-seeking behavior.

Renal agenesis - past and future

Congenital urinary tract anomalies (CUTAs) are common among children and represent approximately 30% of all the prenatally diagnosed malformations. They are the primary reason for a chronic renal failure. Most anomalies are manifested by urinary tract infections, changes of urine colour, abdominal pain while some malformations are asymptomatic. A particular anomaly such as renal agenesis is of interest for pediatric nephrologists. In the past, it has not troubled the patients. Nowadays it is accepted that this anomaly relates with a hidden risk for the development of kidney failure and thus requires a special attention. In the present survey, some issues of the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of CUTA are considered. Scripta Scientifica Medica 2013; 45(4): 17-19.

Stretch It But Don't Break It: The Hidden Risk of Contract Framing.

Recent research suggests that loss framed contracts are an effective instrument for principals to maximize the effort of their agents. Framing effects arise from defining thresholds that vary the salience of losses and gains while preserving payoff equivalence of the underlying contract. While under Prospect Theory a loss frame should lead to more effort we show that contract thresholds also exert a suggestive effect on performance that can trump the impact of loss aversion. Loss framing therefore carries a risk. As agents focus their effort choice on the expressed thresholds, poorly selected thresholds reduce effort and the principal might prefer offering a contract that does not impose a threshold at all. On the other hand, imposing demanding thresholds may push effort beyond levels predicted by Prospect Theory.

Corporate Bond Risk Premia

This paper investigates the holding period risk premia of U.S. corporate and Treasury bonds. Using excess return regressions, two priced risk factors are derived from yield and macroeconomic data: a priced term risk factor and a priced credit risk factor explain half of the variation in one-year corporate and Treasury excess returns. The information of the term risk factor is not represented by major yield characteristics but is a hidden risk factor whereas the credit risk factor is not hidden. The term risk premium is earned primarily for exposure to inflation and the yield level and the credit risk premium is earned for an exposure to real growth and the credit spread level. The regression results are usefull for the specification of the market prices of risk in affine credit term structure models: The two-factor representation of the risk premium suggests a rank restriction on the market prices of risk and an additional pricing factor to capture the hidden property of term risk.