Introduction Of Alternative Methods Research Articles

Legal challenges and innovations in executive proceedings in Ukraine and the world: A comparative aspect

The relevance of the study is due to some changes at both the global and national levels that significantly affect the process of exercising the rights and freedoms of individuals, rendering a fair judgement and its enforcement. Such changes include the introduction of martial law in Ukraine and the digitalization of several legal processes. In view of this, the purpose of the research work is to analyse the main problems in the field of enforcement of decisions that impede the enforcement of court decisions and ensure the principle of justice and the rule of law in Ukraine and in the world. The following methods were used in the study: historical, statistical, comparative, formal and logical. The results of the study showed that enforcement proceedings in Ukraine are regulated by a mixed system that includes both public and private enforcement officers. The study highlights the fact that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had a significant impact on the enforcement of court decisions. This has led to the need for legislative changes and practical challenges for the enforcement system. The experience of other countries, including the United States and China, demonstrates that the introduction of digital technologies to automate judicial, and enforcement procedures can be effective in further reforming this system in Ukraine. Despite some progress in implementing the reform in Ukraine, there are still problems with the efficiency and accessibility of enforcement proceedings, especially under martial law. To overcome them, it is necessary to use the best practices of the EU countries, in particular, in terms of digitalization of the process, introduction of alternative methods and ensuring equality between private and public executors, as well as to create a transparent control system. The results of the study contribute to the doctrine of the institute of enforcement proceedings and create an effective theoretical basis for the practical implementation of methods to improve the enforcement of decisions

A point on the use of test animals in educational process

The article considers the issues of experiments on animals during the training process of medical students. The objective of the work is to assess the possibility, necessity and expediency of experiments on animals during the training of medical students with identification of possible alternatives. An anonymous impersonal survey of 83 interns was conducted. The purpose of the experiments, animal species, methods of anesthesia, respondent’s role in the experiment, and the level of acquired knowledge were investigated. As an option, the respondents offered an alternative to experiments on animals during the educational process. It was found that 47% of respondents perceive experiments on animals during training as an indispensable, traditional and common practice. A significant part of respondents (33.7%) stated complete absence of new information obtained, 47% admitted that the level of knowledge obtained was moderate, and 19.3% reported considerable level of knowledge obtained. Most respondents were not familiar with the same issue in other countries and with the relevant national laws and regulations. In general, 86.7% of respondents expressed their negative attitude to causing harm to animals. The practice of experiments on animals must be brought into accordance with legal requirements. It is unacceptable to use animals for educational purposes, if this goal can be achieved in other ways. Animal testing is justified only when there is a reason to expect that the results will significantly contribute to the solution of current scientific problems. The introduction of alternative methods and means in the educational process will improve the learning process and reduce the number of experiments on animals.

General Principles Concerning the Harmonization of Romanian Legislation with the European Union in the Field of Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Scope

The introduction of alternative methods in the research, in the diagnosis of diseases and in the production of bio-preparations, led over time to a drastic reduction in the number of animals used for scientific scope in Romania. However, our country has always aligned legislation in this area with the European Union. In this regard, last year was transposed into national law Directive 63/2010 which refers to animal protection used for scientific scope, transposition materialized by Law no. 43/2014. Although the law is very complex, including a large number of issues, including general and special requirements on the units, care and housing of animals, animal species that can be used in procedures, there are a number of issues for which the law requires the development of a secondary legislation in areas such as: authorize breeders and users of laboratory animals, create a bank of organs and tissues of animal origin, able to reduce the number of animals used in experiments, authorization of projects, setting and punishing contraventions and others. This law, new for Romanian legislative landscape, will determine an increase in the level of consciousness in the use of this category of animals and conducting scientific research of the best quality.

Proposal for a Brazilian centre on alternative test methods

Several initiatives have recently taken place in Brazil in order to foster the creation of centers dedicated to alternatives to animal testing. In 2008, Vanessa Sá-Rocha organized a meeting with Brazilian regulatory authorities and the major stakeholders in the field of testing to foster discussions on the process of funding, development, and validation of alternative methods in Brazil. Octavio Presgrave published a scientific article on "The Need for the Establishment of a Brazilian Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods." Also in 2008, Jadir Nunes, together with Dermeval de Carvalho, prepared and presented a proposal to the Brazilian National Agency of Health Surveillance (ANVISA) for the creation of a Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods. ECVAM and other European stakeholders have been involved in the initiatives. Furthermore, also in 2008, a new legislation has been adopted in Brazil regarding the use of animals for scientific purposes ("lei Arouca"). The legislation establishes, among other provisions, the task of monitoring and evaluating the introduction of alternative methods. However, the legislation does not provide for promotion of or information about, existing alternative methods to the larger Brazilian scientific community. In order to streamline the different activities, Chantra Eskes acted as a facilitator by establishing a new joint proposal with the current Brazilian stakeholders, aimed at setting up a Brazilian Center on Alternative Test Methods.

Pesquisas brasileiras psicossociais e operacionais face às metas da UNGASS

Items from the UNGASS Draft Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (2001) are analyzed. The Brazilian experience of new methods for testing and counseling among vulnerable populations, preventive methods controlled by women, prevention, psychosocial support for people living with HIV/AIDS, and mother-child transmission, is discussed. These items were put into operation in the form of keywords, in systematic searches within the standard biomedicine databases, also including the subdivisions of the Web of Science relating to natural and social sciences. The Brazilian experience relating to testing and counseling strategies has been consolidated through the utilization of algorithms aimed at estimating incidence rates and identifying recently infected individuals, testing and counseling for pregnant women, and application of quick tests. The introduction of alternative methods and new technologies for collecting data from vulnerable populations has been allowing speedy monitoring of the epidemic. Psychosocial support assessments for people living with HIV/AIDS have gained impetus in Brazil, probably as a result of increased survival and quality of life among these individuals. Substantial advances in controlling mother-child transmission have been observed. This is one of the most important victories within the field of HIV/AIDS in Brazil, but deficiencies in prenatal care still constitute a challenge. With regard to prevention methods for women, Brazil has only shown a halting response. Widespread implementation of new technologies for data gathering and management depends on investments in infrastructure and professional skills acquisition.

Local irritation/corrosion testing strategies: development of a decision support system for the introduction of alternative methods.

The notification procedure for new chemicals of the European Union (EU) requires protocols on physicochemical and toxicological tests for the evaluation of physicochemical properties and probable toxic effects of each notified substance. In order to reduce the amount of animal testing, alternative methods should be introduced into toxicity testing. Therefore, we have developed a rule-based decision support system (DSS) for the prediction of the local corrosive/irritant properties of new chemicals. To this end, data on more than 1000 substances were examined, which resulted in approximately 180 "exception-rules" of the kind IF (physicochemical property) A THEN not (toxic) Effect B. In addition, the structural formulae of the chemicals were analysed, which resulted in approximately 160 "structure-rules" of the kind IF Substructure A THEN Effect B. The DSS can predict (based on theoretical structure-activity relationships) whether a chemical produces: a) corrosive effects (i.e. no testing is necessary; b) might have corrosive effects (i.e. no animal testing, in vitro tests are suitable) ; and c) will produce no effects or only marginal effects (i.e. animal tests are necessary based on current EU legislation for hazard assessment purposes). In addition, the DSS provides reliable data for legal classification and labelling based on a specific result.

Development of a decision support system for the introduction of alternative methods into local irritancy/corrosivity testing strategies. Development of a relational database.

For new chemical substances that are notified within the European Union, data sets have to be submitted to the National Competent Authorities. The data submitted have to demonstrate the physicochemical and toxic properties of the new chemical, such as solubility, partition coefficients and spectra, as well as acute toxic properties and the potential to cause local irritant or corrosive effects. In order to minimise testing for notification purposes (for example, animal testing), it is necessary to develop stepwise assessment procedures, including structure-activity considerations, alternative methods (for example, in vitro tests), and computerised structure-activity relationship (SAR) models. An electronic database was developed which contains physicochemical and toxicological data on approximately 1300 chemical substances. It is used for regulatory structure-property relationship (SPR) and SAR considerations, and for the development of rules for a decision support system (DSS) for the introduction of alternative methods into local irritancy/corrosivity testing strategies. The information stored in the database is derived from proprietary data, so it is not possible to publish the data directly. Therefore, the database is evaluated by regulators, and the information derived from the data is used for the development of scientific information about SARs. This information can be published, for example, by means of tables correlating measured physicochemical values and specific toxic effects caused by the measured chemical. This information is introduced to the public by means of a DSS that predicts local irritant/corrosive potential of a chemical by listing so called exception rules of the kind IF (physicochemical property) A THEN not (toxic) Effect B and so-called structural rules of the kind IF Substructure A THEN Effect B. These DSS rules "translate" proprietary data into scientific knowledge that can be published.

A new meter for the kilovolt-ampere-demand charge

The paper states that the introduction of an electricity tariff based in part upon a maximum apparent-power demand (VA m.d.), creates the need for a meter to measure apparent energy in a manner fair and just to all concerned. It gives two definitions for 3-phase apparent power and selects one as the more suitable basis for assessment of a maximum-demand charge.A brief description is given of a Merz demand mechanism, which registers maximum demand (m.d.) from integrations made over definite time intervals. Reference is made to the difficulties of integrating 3-phase apparent energy (VAh) and these difficulties are held to be primarily responsible for the introduction of alternative methods of m.d. charging. Some of the alternative methods are briefly compared with that of the maximum-apparent-power-demand charge, colloquially known as the kVA charge, in order to explain why so many attempts have been made to produce a true 3-phase apparent-energy meter. The paper recognizes that some very ingenious meters have already been designed but suggests that none is entirely satisfactory for industrial applications. It shows how recent developments have made possible the introduction of a new type of apparent-energy meter based on an entirely new principle.A description is given of a new type of volt-ampere indicating instrument, and this provides an introduction to a treatise on the new apparent-energy meter, whose main components are a dry plate rectifier, a transductor and an induction-type integrating meter.A bibliography is included to indicate the background of knowledge and opinions which influenced the development of the meter.Appendices deal with the interpretations of 3-phase volt-amperes, the voltage representation of a 3-phase system, and—with the aid of oscillographs—describe the operation of the meter components.