On-site Use Research Articles

Students’s performance and utilization of Universitas Indonesia Library during the pandemic

Academic libraries are the university's heart. However, studies on the relationship between library use and student performance are sparse. This study contributes to research on the relationship between library use and student performance. This study aimed to examine the relationship between library use of the Universitas Indonesia Library online (accessing through https://lib.ui.ac.id) and on-site (visiting the library) and library science undergraduate students' performance (Grade Point Average) on library science at Universitas Indonesia during pre-pandemic compared to during the pandemic. This study used a quantitative approach through survey research methods. Research respondents is 54 student that participating before and during the pandemic through data analysis chi-square and correlation analysis. The results showed a weak correlation between online and on-site library use and student performance. There was a significant relationship between online and on-site library use and demographic characteristics (gender, age, and year of enrolment).High-level students used the library more pre-pandemic than lower-level students. During the pandemic, students used electronic collections facilities outside the library website. The use of the library supports the improvement of student performance. This study contributed to introducing a data collection approach for assessing and making decisions about the library users needs, resources, and services. The study concludes that academic libraries are continuously improving their performance in contributing to achieving institutional goals and student success before and during the pandemic.

Optimisation of energy usage and carbon emissions monitoring using MILP for an advanced anaerobic digester plant

This paper proposes a realistic model for energy and carbon management of an advanced municipal wastewater treatment works. Through minimisation of total cost of operations, it provides operators with a visual daily operational schedule based on varying tariffs. This site is the first in the UK with a mixed operational strategy for biomethane produced on site: to burn in CHP (Combined Heat and Power) engines to create electricity, burn in Steam Boilers for onsite steam use or inject the biomethane into the gas distribution network - Natural Gas can be imported to make up shortfalls in biomethane if required. Implemented using a novel mixed integer linear programming (MILP) approach, results indicate that biomethane injection should be maximised for the highest financial gain - the driving force for optimising the remaining operations being the site electricity imports and whether the electricity imported ‘generates’ carbon emissions. Based on the source of electricity and the new carbon emissions performance criteria, under the current operational strategy importing electricity from carbon-based sources has no tangible impact on site revenues (but does impact CO2 emissions), however carbon free (renewable) electricity sources could see shift in operations leading a revenue increase of 12%

Paraformaldehyde-coated electrochemical sensor for improved on-site detection of amphetamine in street samples

The increasing illicit production, distribution and abuse of amphetamine (AMP) poses a challenge for law enforcement worldwide. To effectively combat this issue, fast and portable tools for the on-site screening of suspicious samples are required. Electrochemical profile (EP)-based sensing of illicit drugs has proven to be a viable option for this purpose as it allows rapid voltammetric measurements via the use of disposable and low-cost graphite screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). In this work, a highly practical paraformaldehyde (PFA)-coated sensor, which unlocks the detectability of primary amines through derivatization, is developed for the on-site detection of AMP in seized drug samples. A potential interval was defined at the sole AMP peak (which is used for identification of the target analyte) to account for potential shifts due to fluctuations in concentration and temperature, which are relevant factors for on-site use. Importantly, it was found that AMP detection was not hindered by the presence of common diluents and adulterants such as caffeine, even when present in high amounts. When inter-drug differentiation is desired, a simultaneous second test with the same solution on an unmodified electrode is introduced to provide the required additional electrochemical information. Finally, the concept was validated by analyzing 30 seized AMP samples (reaching a sensitivity of 96.7 %) and comparing its performance to that of commercially available Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) devices.

Ultrasonic pretreatment of brewers’ spent grains for anaerobic digestion: Biogas production for a sustainable industrial development

Brewers’ spent grains (BSG) account for 85% of the dry raw material used in the brewing process. Pretreatment of BSG may make its organic content more amenable for anaerobic digestion (AD) but at the expense of added energy. This work evaluated ultrasonication (US) of BSG as a pretreatment prior to AD. US + AD produced biogas containing 56% methane, which is 27% greater than the control reactor that did not receive US pretreatment. The US pretreatment increased the methane yield (107.28 L CH4 kg−1 TVS) in 4-fold higher when compared with the AD reactor without pretreatment (26.72 L CH4 kg−1 TVS). AD and US + AD energy recovery routes were assessed for: (i) electric, and thermal energy recovery, and (ii) production of biomethane for vehicular use. The US + AD system could generate 0.23 MWh t−1 BSG of electrical energy and 1.2 × 103 MJ t−1 BSG of thermal energy. AD without pretreatment generates 0.15 MWh t−1 BSG of electrical energy and 0.79 × 103 MJ t−1 BSG of thermal energy. The energy required for US pretreatment was estimated as 0.29 MWh t−1, while the theoretical electric energy generation was 0.23 MWh t−1. Accordingly, US pretreatment generates sufficient electrical energy to offset most of the energy it consumes, with net co-production of thermal energy for on-site use with additional heat surplus. From an environmental perspective, the AD process potentially avoids greenhouse gases emissions of 0.056 tCO2eq t−1 BSG, and the US + AD process could avoid 0.083 tCO2eq t−1 BSG if the thermal energy from biogas is used to offset the use of natural gas for heating. Finally, AD produces green energy that contributes to brewery decarbonization, and US pretreatment combined with AD has promise for meeting all the thermal energy needs of a low-carbon brewery.

Pilot-scale hydrogen energy utilization system demonstration: A commercial building case study on on-site green hydrogen production and use

A demonstration of the Hydro Q-BiC®, i.e., a pilot-scale green hydrogen energy utilization system consisting of 64.75-kW photovoltaic (PV) panels, a 5-Nm3/h water electrolyzer, 40 Nm3 of metal hydride hydrogen storage, 14-kW fuel cells, and 20-kW/20-kWh Li-ion batteries, is discussed here. We set up our hydrogen system in front of a market administration building with demands that differ from those of a typical business building. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the practicability of the green hydrogen system. The demonstration tests include 24-h experiments with various weather conditions: clear, cloudy, and clear to rainy; the CO2 reduction capability evaluation is based on the results. In all cases, the CO2 reduction capability is shown to be better than that of the PV-only system. However, the utilization of grid power for hydrogen production is proven to be of concern in the event of drastic and unexpected changes in weather conditions. Simulating annual CO2 emissions indicates that the Hydro Q-BiC® can reduce emissions by more than 50%. We believe our findings can develop the practical application of hydrogen energy systems for buildings.

Immersive Applications in Museums: An Analysis of the Use of XR Technologies and the Provided Functionality Based on Systematic Literature Review

Immersive technologies (Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality) are widely used in cultural heritage for communication, enhancing the visiting experience, and improving learning and understanding. Immersive technologies have found their way into museums and other cultural spaces in various forms and shapes. This work aims to recognize the main forms of immersive technologies and applications in museums and other cultural spaces and provide information on the employed methods, technologies, equipment, and software solutions by conducting a systematic literature review aligned with the PRISMA guidelines. The analyzed literature was collected through a focused search in scientific databases (Scopus, ACM, and IEEE). The relevance to the subject was assessed based on the main technological focus (VR/AR/MR or XR) and the employed technologies. Methods and approaches for realizing their applications were studied and discussed. Thirteen articles were found to meet the selection criteria, of which two focus on VR, six are on AR, two are on Audio-AR, and three are on MR. The results showed that Augmented Reality solutions are preferred for on-site use; Mixed Reality applications started to emerge as Mixed Reality hardware technology became available and Virtual Reality despite being criticized for isolating visitors. The findings cover the existing gap in recent literature and can reveal a set of good practices and innovative ideas for future applications.

Design and Evaluation of a Polymer Support Fluid in a Soil-Rock Mixture.

Soil–rock mixtures are commonly encountered in the construction of bored piles. Conventional bentonite support fluids have disadvantages, such as more significant environmental impacts, more complex mixing, bigger site footprint, weaker foundation performance, and overall low economies. The present study conducted a comprehensive investigation of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) polymer fluids, an alternative to bentonite ones, to drill into a soil-limestone mixture. The fluid flow pattern, aging behavior, and the influence of finer silty clay on polymer fluid were explored. The test results showed that polymer fluids were reasonably well fitted to the power-law model and were a good alternative to the conventional bentonite ones. In terms of their aging behavior, the remaining active viscosity of the polymer was at least 70% after a prolonged aging time of up to 30 days, showing the effective on-site use of polymer fluids. The mixing of silty clay significantly reduced the apparent viscosity of polymer fluids, with 10% silty clay causing a viscosity reduction of 76%, indicating the importance of fluid control in drilling these materials. A polymer formula, water + 0.08%PHPA + 0.1~0.5%Na2CO3, was proposed and was verified by drilling into a soil–limestone mixture. The polymer fluids led to small radial displacements around the boreholes with a high drilling quality. This work would be helpful for consultants and contractors designing and constructing bored piles in soil and rock mixtures utilizing polymer fluids.

Simplified screening approach of anabolic steroid esters using a compact atmospheric solid analysis probe mass spectrometric system

Due to the absence of chromatographic separation, ambient ionization mass spectrometry had the potential to improve the throughput of control laboratories in the last decades and will soon be an excellent approach for on-site use as well. In this study, an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) with a single quadrupole mass analyzer has been evaluated to identify anabolic steroid esters rapidly. Sample introduction, applied scan time, and probe temperature were optimized for sensitivity. The in-source fragmentations of seventeen selected steroid esters, commonly found in illicit samples, were determined by applying different cone voltages (12, 20, 30, and 40 V). A spectral library was created for these steroid esters based on the four stages of in-source fragmentation spectra. The applicability of this method was demonstrated for the rapid identification of steroid esters in oily injection solutions, providing test results in less than 2 min.Graphical abstract

Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of small water resource recovery facilities: Comparison of mechanical and lagoon systems

Small water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) serving communities with populations of less than 10,000 people account for 70% of centralized wastewater treatment systems in the United States. With growing interest globally in improving the sustainability of these systems, this study evaluated the environmental life cycle impact and land use tradeoffs of different lagoon and mechanical WRRFs across the diverse climate of Nebraska. Life cycle inventory including construction and operations was collected for 35 existing systems representing a range of commonly used mechanical WRRFs: oxidation ditch, extended aeration, and sequencing batch reactors, and lagoon treatment systems: complete retention, irrigation, and controlled discharge lagoons.Lagoons exhibit a significantly smaller environmental impact relative to mechanical WRRFs in all impact categories with exception of the smog category based on a 20-year design lifespan provided land is available for use; in contrast, on-site land use of lagoons was significantly higher than mechanical WRRFs, 73.7 ± 35.9 m2/capita and 2.4 ± 1.9 m2/capita, respectively. Lagoons on average exhibited significantly more impact associated with the construction phase in most impact categories (up to 80% in case of smog impacts) relative to mechanical WRRFs (<25%). The differences in contribution of the construction leads to the environmental impacts and comparisons between the technologies being sensitive to system lifespan and type of electric grid mix. Irrigation lagoon per capita excavation and cast-iron resource use was observed to decrease with increasing differences between evaporation and precipitation rates. Uncertainty of the environmental impacts within sites is primarily driven by variations in energy intensity within mechanical WRRFs and volumes of treated water within lagoons. Variability between facilities of similar technology groups is largely driven by a combination of site-specific factors including climate, design, and operations.

Meds to Beds: A Quality Improvement Approach to Optimizing the Discharge Medication Process for Pediatric Patients.

Using an on-site pharmacy or medication to bedside (MTB) program allows patients to obtain prescriptions and education before discharge, potentially improving adherence and preventing harm. The aim of this project was to improve discharge processes for pediatric acute care patients by increasing the proportion of oral antibiotics (1) prescribed to the on-site pharmacy from 15% to 70% and (2) delivered to bedside from 0% to 50%. The Model for Improvement was used to iteratively implement interventions: increased on-site pharmacy capabilities, MTB program creation and streamlined enrollment, and secure electronic health record (EHR) messaging between clinicians and pharmacy staff regarding prescriptions. Process measures were proportion of antibiotics prescribed to the on-site pharmacy and delivered to bedside. Outcomes included surveys of family satisfaction with discharge medication education and discharge medication-related safety reports. Discharge before noon (DBN) was the balancing measure. Aims were analyzed using statistical process control charts and chi-square tests. A total of 1,908 antibiotics were prescribed over 28-months. On-site pharmacy prescriptions increased from 15% to 46% after pharmacy capabilities increased, then to 86% after MTB program launch, optimized workflow, and initiation of EHR messaging. Bedside medication delivery increased from 0% to 58% with these interventions. Family satisfaction with discharge medication education and frequency of discharge medication-related safety reports was not significantly different pre- and postintervention. DBN varied throughout the study. Through clinician and pharmacy staff partnership, this initiative increased on-site pharmacy use and discharge antibiotics delivered to bedside. Key interventions included increased pharmacy capabilities, MTB program with streamlined workflow, and EHR-based communication.

The rate of use of Veterans Affairs chiropractic care: a 5-year analysis

BackgroundThe US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has initiated various approaches to provide chiropractic care to Veterans. Prior work has shown substantial increase in use of VA chiropractic care between fiscal years (FY) 2005–2016. However, the extent of the availability of these services to the Veteran population remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze the rate of Veteran use of VA chiropractic services, both from on-site care at VA facilities and VA purchased care from community care providers. This study analyzed facility characteristics associated with chiropractic use by both care delivery mechanisms (on-site and in the community).MethodsCross-sectional analyses of administrative data were conducted for FY 2014–2019. Data were obtained from VA’s Corporate Data Warehouse. The variables extracted included number of unique Veterans receiving VA chiropractic care on-site and in the community, total Veteran population of the VA facilities, size of the VA chiropractic workforce (measured as Full-Time Equivalent, FTE), and facility characteristics (geographic region and the facility complexity). Descriptive statistics, mixed model, and multivariant models were used to analyze data.ResultsUse of VA chiropractic care increased over the six-year period for both on-site and community care. National average for on-site use of the population was 1.27% in FY14 and 1.48% in FY19. Community care use was 0.29% and 1.76% for the same years. Use at individual facilities varied widely in each FY. Factors such as chiropractor FTE, geographic locations, and the complexity of the VA facility are associated with use of chiropractic services.ConclusionThe VA has expanded the non-pharmacologic treatments available to Veterans by providing chiropractic services, yet chiropractic use remains low compared to other US populations. As Veterans have a high prevalence of pain and musculoskeletal conditions, continued work to assess and achieve the optimal levels of chiropractic use in this population is warranted.

Improving Consumer Experiences in Permanent Supportive Housing Co-Located With Health Centers: A Case Study From the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Background:Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), which provides subsidies for independent housing and supportive services, is an evidence-based practice that improves health and housing for homeless experienced persons. Though most PSH is scattered-site, that is, housing dispersed throughout the mainstream rental market, project-based PSH offers housing and supportive services in dedicated facilities with on-site services. In 2013, the Veterans Health Administration (VA) at Greater Los Angeles opened a novel project-based PSH program located on a VA campus. To inform plans to expand project-based PSH at this VA, we examined participants’ experiences in this program. We aimed to identify participant characteristics that suggested they were well suited for the planned PSH expansion; to characterize services that participants found valuable in this setting; and to highlight gaps between participants’ needs and PSH services provided.Methods:We performed semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample (n = 24) of participants who had engaged in this project-based PSH program. Interviews asked why participants selected housing on a VA campus and explored valued program characteristics, designs, and services. Using rapid analysis methods, we generated templated summaries of each participant’s responses across the domains of our interview guide, then used matrix analyses to identify salient themes across the interviews.Key Findings:Participants appreciated the ease of access to medical and mental health services; however, as services were assumed to be optimized by virtue of co-location with VA healthcare, their PSH providers often did not link them with non-VA social services as assertively as desired. Many participants raised concerns about building safety and on-site substance use. A lack of participant engagement in program oversight, often leading to conflicts with staff and building management, was also highlighted in our interviews.Discussion:Given the value placed on ease of access to healthcare, these data suggest the value of this PSH model for persons with healthcare vulnerabilities. Specific recommendations for the planned PSH expansion include: (1) continuation of proximate, open-access healthcare; (2) clear tenant policies; (3) tenant councils for each development; (4) staff knowledgeable of non-VA resources and social services; (5) Veteran-preferred hiring practices by Property/Service management; (6) gender-specific accommodations; and (7) robust 24/7 security on-site.

NAVIGATE 24-Month Results: Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy for Pulmonary Lesions at 37 Centers in Europe and the United States

IntroductionElectromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) is a minimally invasive, image-guided approach to access lung lesions for biopsy or localization for treatment. However, no studies have reported prospective 24-month follow-up from a large, multinational, generalizable cohort. This study evaluated ENB safety, diagnostic yield, and usage patterns in an unrestricted, real-world observational design. MethodsThe NAVIGATE single-arm, pragmatic cohort study (NCT02410837) enrolled subjects at 37 academic and community sites in seven countries with prospective 24-month follow-up. Subjects underwent ENB using the superDimension navigation system versions 6.3 to 7.1. The prespecified primary end point was procedure-related pneumothorax requiring intervention or hospitalization. ResultsA total of 1388 subjects were enrolled for lung lesion biopsy (1329; 95.7%), fiducial marker placement (272; 19.6%), dye marking (23; 1.7%), or lymph node biopsy (36; 2.6%). Concurrent endobronchial ultrasound-guided staging occurred in 456 subjects. General anesthesia (78.2% overall, 56.6% Europe, 81.4% United States), radial endobronchial ultrasound (50.6%, 4.0%, 57.4%), fluoroscopy (85.0%, 41.7%, 91.0%), and rapid on-site evaluation use (61.7%, 17.3%, 68.5%) differed between regions. Pneumothorax and bronchopulmonary hemorrhage occurred in 4.7% and 2.7% of subjects, respectively (3.2% [primary end point] and 1.7% requiring intervention or hospitalization). Respiratory failure occurred in 0.6%. The diagnostic yield was 67.8% (range: 61.9%–70.7%; 55.2% Europe, 69.8% United States). Sensitivity for malignancy was 62.6%. Lung cancer clinical stage was I to II in 64.7% (55.3% Europe, 65.8% United States). ConclusionsDespite a heterogeneous cohort and regional differences in procedural techniques, ENB demonstrates low complications and a 67.8% diagnostic yield while allowing biopsy, staging, fiducial placement, and dye marking in a single procedure.

On-site personal protective equipment signage and use by road construction workers in Ghana: a comparative study of foreign- and locally-owned companies

BackgroundRoad construction work has specific risks and safety issues which have not been adequately addressed in most low- and middle-income countries, especially Africa. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of personal protective equipment (PPE) use during road construction activities by workers in foreign- owned against locally-owned road construction companies in Ghana.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken during January – March, 2020 to study 389 road construction workers who were actively working on site. They were unobtrusively observed to capture whether or not they wore the appropriate PPE at the time of the survey. The PPE of interest were: hard hat, goggles, shoes, nose masks, hearing protection, gloves and reflective vests/apparel. On-site posted PPE signage was also checked.ResultsMajority of workers were males (96.9%) and labourers (53.5%). Similar numbers of workers in locally-owned (195) and foreign-owned (194) companies were studied. Use of PPE varied considerably by type: shoes (78.7%), reflective vest (44.5%), gloves (30.6%), hard hat (27.0%), nose mask (17.2%), goggles (11.3%) and hearing protection (10.8%). For all types of PPE, use was higher for workers in foreign-owned companies compared with locally-owned companies: goggles (Odds ratio [OR] 55.2), hearing protection (OR 52.0), gloves (OR 23.7), hard hat (OR 20.2), nose mask (OR 17.8), reflective vest (OR 5.3) and shoes (OR 4.1), (p<0.001 for all ORs). No site had any signage to promote PPE use.ConclusionsMajority of workers used shoes. Less than half of workers used other types of PPE and use of some types (goggles and hearing protection) was minimal. Workers in foreign-owned companies were significantly more likely to use all the seven types of PPE than locally-owned companies. Although there is still room for improvement in foreign-owned companies, locally-owned companies should be able to attain similar PPE use to that in foreign-owned companies. Necessary PPE should be provided and site supervisors should encourage workers to wear PPE when on site.

Evaluation and management of wilderness injuries and acute illness in Iceland during the years 2017-2018

In Iceland, wilderness search and rescue services are provided by volunteer members of the Icelandic association for search and rescue (ICE-SAR). The rescue teams respond to about 1200 calls every year, with a significant proportion of them involving injured and sick individuals. No previous studies have been done on the service provided by ICE-SAR teams. The aim of this study was to obtain information about the health services provided by ICE-SAR in Iceland. Data was obtained from the ICE-SAR's and the National emergency call service's (112) databases. Cases that occurred during the years 2017 and 2018 that required transfer and treatment at a health clinic or hospital were included in the study. All cases with no involvement of sick or injured and minor injuries managed on scene without tranport were excluded. Treatment on scene and during transport and preliminary diagnosis made by ICE-SAR teams was reviewed. The medical report at each treating medical facility in Iceland was reviewed for treatment provided and final diagnosis. A total of 189 operations with 239 individuals were included in the study. A majority of the operations were recorded in the South region of Iceland. The average age of individuals was 44,4 years, just over half of cases involving men. Accidents accounted for 86% of all cases where the most common incident was a fall resulting in lower extremity injury. Cardiac disease was the most common cause for acute medical illness. On-scene treatment and use of equipment was not recorded in over 70% of cases. The ICE-SAR teams provide health care on regular basis, most commonly after accidents involving the lower extremities. Illness treated by the ICE-SAR volunteers most commonly involves cardiac symptoms. Documentation of on-site treatment and equipment use is incomplete.

Carbon footprint of a multi-storied residential building during the construction process

Construction Industry indicates development of the country and it helps in the economic growth which adds productivity and quality of life of citizens. During the manufacturing and the construction processes, there is use and combustion of fossil fuels which results total 39% of total carbon footprint. So, studying carbon footprint for construction companies becomes very important. Many different studies are carried out with giving number of alternatives to reduce the amount of carbon footprint. However, this research is focused mainly on multi-storeyed residential building in renowned city in India, shows the carbon emissions produced by a construction activity right from the material production to the actual execution process. Different Greenhouse gases contributing carbon footprint were also studied & incorporated. Various activities accounting to emissions were listed and their carbon footprint value (in the form of Carbon Dioxide equivalent) was calculated by bottom-up method. The manufacturing of various construction materials and usage of electricity during execution phases of a building causes very bad impact on the environment. The greatest contributors of the carbon footprint are onsite electricity use and building materials manufacturing. Therefore, use of green concrete, renewable energy, prefabricated construction materials and low emission construction equipment & vehicles can help in reducing the values of Carbon Footprint by the construction industry.

There is Always a Way: Organizing VR User Tests with Remote and Hybrid Setups during a Pandemic—Learnings from Five Case Studies

(1) COVID-19 pandemic restrictions caused a dramatic shift in research activities, forcing the adoption of remote practices and methods. Despite the known benefits of remote testing, there is limited knowledge on how to prepare and conduct such studies in the industrial context where the target users are experts and company employees. (2) In this article, we detail how we organized VR user tests in five industrial cases during the pandemic, focusing on practicalities and procedures. We cover both on-site testing, including disinfecting and other safety protocols, as well as remote and hybrid setups where both remote and on-site participants were involved. Subject matter experts from eight countries were involved in a total of 22 tests. (3) We share insights for VR user test arrangements relevant to the pandemic, remote and hybrid setups, and an industrial context, among others. (4) Our work confirms that with careful planning it is possible to organize user tests remotely. There are also some limitations in remote user testing, such as reduced visibility and interaction with participants. Most importantly, we list practical recommendations for organizing hybrid user tests with safety and disinfecting procedures for on-site VR use.

ADEQUACY OF ENDOBRONCHIAL ULTRASOUND TRANSBRONCHIAL NEEDLE ASPIRATION FOR NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING IN PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER: A META-ANALYSIS AND META-REGRESSION

TOPIC: Lung Cancer TYPE: Original Investigations PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the adequacy of EBUS-TBNA samples for NGS in lung cancer. METHODS: A search was conducted from inception till 28th August 2020. Pooled proportion of adequate EBUS-TBNA samples for NGS was obtained based on binomial distribution with Freeman-Tukey double-arcsine transformation. Meta-analysis of means was conducted to determine mean weight of DNA extracted from EBUS-TBNA samples. Meta-regression was performed to explore sources of heterogeneity. The random-effects model was used for all analyses to account for variation between studies. RESULTS: 21 studies comprising 1,175 patients were included. The pooled proportion of adequate EBUS-TBNA samples for NGS (yield) was 86.5% (95%-CI: 80.9% to 91.4%). Pooled mean weight of DNA extracted from EBUS-TBNA samples was 868.7ng (95%-CI: 446.3ng to 1291.1ng). However, considerable heterogeneity (I2=84.0%, 97.1%) and the possibility of publication bias was found. Meta-regression within an exponential model showed an increased proportion of adequate EBUS-TBNA samples for NGS as mean number of passes increases (β=0.495, 95%-CI 0.313 to 0.676, p<0.001). Modelled yield rates were 77.3%, 86.2%, 91.6% and 94.9% at mean passes of 3, 4, 5 & 6 respectively. Rapid onsite evaluation (P=0.223) and use of needles sized equal or beyond 22G (P=0.225) did not demonstrate an association with yield. CONCLUSIONS: The overall evidence suggests that EBUS-TBNA has a high yield (~80.9 to 91.4%) for NGS, despite considerable heterogeneity and the possibility of publication bias found. The success of EBUS-TBNA sampling for NGS appears to be proportionate to the number of passes. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings reaffirm the suitability of utilizing EBUS-TBNA to retrieve specimens for NGS in lung cancer. DISCLOSURES: no disclosure on file for Hiang Ping Chan; No relevant relationships by Adrian Kee, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Yu Yang Soon, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Joseph Zhao, source=Web Response

Characterization and chromatic evaluation of gypsum-based pastes for construction and heritage restoration

This research evaluates the chromatic behavior of gypsum-based pastes containing added pigments which enable their use in both new construction projects as well as in restoration interventions for built heritage. Furthermore, the impact of adding pigments to the aforementioned material after twenty-eight and ninety days has also been studied. This was confirmed by carrying out compositional, mineralogical and physical studies of the raw materials and the pastes. The results indicate that all of the pastes studied have suitable mechanical strength values for the type of pastes studied, thereby confirming their suitability for on-site use based on their characteristics and behavior. Colorimetric analysis showed color variations that were clearly perceptible to the human eye, related to increases in luminosity which significantly exceeded 100%, and also to saturation losses featuring percentage variations of more than 100% on assessment after ninety days. This colorimetric analysis by means of quantitative spectrophotometry is of vital importance when determining the loss of color intensity of the pastes used, since subjective observation results in serious errors of interpretation. This type of study reflects the use of instrumental color measurements for this type of materials and mixtures.

Cradle-to-Grave Life-Cycle Assessment of Cellulosic Fiberboard

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the construction and operation of buildings accounted for nearly 38% of total global energy-related CO₂ emissions in 2019. The construction sector has been striving to use more low-carbon footprint building products to mitigate climate change and enhance environmentally preferable purchasing. Over the last several decades, there has been substantial growth in engineered wood products for the construction industry. To assess these products used in construction for their environmental profile, lifecycle assessments (LCAs) are performed. This study performed an LCA to estimate environmental impacts (cradle-to-gate and gate-to-grave) of cellulosic fiberboard (CFB) per m³ functional unit basis. The lifecycle inventory data developed were representative of CFB production in North America. Overall, the cradle-to-grave LCA results per m3 of CFB were estimated at 305 kg CO₂ e global warming (GW), 19.3 kg O₃ e photochemical smog formation, 1.03 kg SO₂ e acidification, 0.33 kg N e eutrophication, and 415 MJ fossil-fuel depletion. Except for smog formation, most environmental impacts of CFB were from cradle-to-gate. For example, 71% and 29% of total GW impacts were from cradle-to-gate and gate-to-grave lifecycle stages, respectively. The sensitivity analysis showed that reducing transport distance, on-site electricity use, natural gas for drying, and starch additives in the manufacturing phase had the most influence. Around 353 kg CO₂ e/m³ of CFB is stored as long-term carbon during CFB’s life which is higher than the total cradle-to-grave greenhouse gases (CO₂ e) emissions. Thus, the net negative GW impact of CFB (-47 kg CO₂ e/m³ of CFB) asserted its environmental advantages as an engineered wood panel construction material. Overall, the findings of the presented study would prove useful for improving the decision-making in the construction sector.