Reference Point Research Articles

COVID-19 vaccine safety: Background incidence rates of anaphylaxis, myocarditis, pericarditis, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and mortality in South Korea using a nationwide population-based cohort study.

To properly assess an association between vaccines and specific adverse events requires a comparison between the observed and background rates; however, studies in South Korea are currently limited. Therefore, in this study, we estimated the background incidence of anaphylaxis, myocarditis, pericarditis, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and mortality in South Korea. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the National Sample Cohort (NSC) data. Using NSC, the background incidence rate was estimated by dividing the number of episodes during 2009-2019 by the total population by year and then multiplying by 100,000. Using Statistics Korea data, the background mortality rate was estimated by dividing the number of deaths, during 2009-2019 by the standard population for that year and then multiplying by 100,000. Using background mortality rates, we predicted mortality rates for 2021 using autoregressive integrated moving average models. Further, the expected mortality rates were compared with observed mortality rates. The age-adjusted incidence rate (AIR) of anaphylaxis increased from 4.28 to 22.90 cases per 100,000 population (p = 0.003); myocarditis showed no significant increase, changing from 0.56 to 1.26 cases per 100,000 population (p = 0.276); pericarditis increased from 0.94 to 1.88 cases per 100,000 population (p = 0.005); and GBS increased from 0.78 to 1.21 cases per 100,000 population (p = 0.013). The age-adjusted mortality rate decreased from 645.24 to 475.70 deaths per 100,000 population (p <0.001). The 2021 observed/expected mortality rates for overall (ratio: 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.08), men (ratio: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.07-1.08), and women (ratio: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.07-1.09), were all significantly higher. When stratified by age group, those aged ≥80 (ratio: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.15-1.17), 60-69 (ratio: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.10-1.13), and 20-29 years old (ratio: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02-1.13) were also significantly higher. Through the estimation of background rates related to anaphylaxis, myocarditis, pericarditis, GBS, and mortality, we established a reference point for evaluating the potential excess occurrence of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. This reference point serves as substantive evidence supporting the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines.

Mathematical Symbols in Academic Writing: The Case of Incorporating Mathematical Ideals in Academic Writing for Education Researchers

Mathematical symbols, such as those embodying quantum concepts, are indispensable for conveying complex ideas and relationships in academic writing. However, some education researchers and students keep a distance from anything mathematical: algebraic equations, geometrical reasoning, or statistical symbols. How to lower the access threshold for this type of mathematical narrative and reveal the meanings of a range of quantum conceptions to modern educators thus becomes a real problem. Using the pendulum motion equation as a reference point, I argue in this article for the advantages of academic English or French writing genres that fuse a range of mathematical symbols of quantum concepts and conceptual change. Such writings help demonstrate how incorporating the idea of probability (a) refines the debate among conceptual, verbal, and mathematical academic writing; (b) allows new conceptions that draw on the insights from quantum cognition-supported theories; (c) helps explain students’ understanding of mathematical symbols; and (d) offers a new taxonomy for categorizing academic writings. 

Strengthening resilience potential assessments for coral reef management

Abstract The persistence of diverse yet threatened ecosystems like coral reefs will require urgent action underpinned by effective assessments of resilience. Resilience potential assessments are commonly used to identify coral reefs likely to be more resilient to disturbances, based on indicators of state and function. Assessments are intended to support decision‐making, therefore, using principles from decision‐science and indicator design theory, we evaluated the selection, design and analysis of indicators from 68 resilience potential assessments conducted between 2008 and 2022. These principles include justifying and testing indicators and aggregation approaches, representing key parts of the ecosystem, considering uncertainty and meaningful normalisation of indicators. Although a broad range of indicators were typically evaluated, assessments rarely present structured processes to guide and justify indicator selection, such as selection criteria and conceptual models of ecosystem function. We also found that certain key ecosystem components that confer resilience were represented by indicators in almost all assessments, such as corals, herbivory, competition and reef structure. Other factors were rarely considered, such as abundance and diversity of key fish trophic groups other than herbivores, for example groupers and corallivores, other aspects of biodiversity and competitive interactions with corals. Reference points used to translate variables into resilience indicators were typically derived from the data, such as the highest indicator value of assessed sites. Ecologically meaningful thresholds, such as collapse or historic levels, were used less often as references. In most cases, indicators were not tested or validated against independent data, uncertainties were not presented, and there was a tendency to simplify results into composite indices to rank sites, without justifying aggregation methods. Despite resource constraints, most resilience potential assessments collect quantitative data that are useful for coral reef management. However, the shortcomings identified can make indicator interpretation difficult, limiting the capacity to predict the resilience of the system and support decisions. Implementation of robust approaches drawn from indicator design and selection theory can help strengthen resilience potential assessments of coral reefs and other ecosystems, ultimately improving the prospects of conservation.

The marital and fertility sentiment orientation of Chinese women and its influencing factors - An analysis based on natural language processing.

With the evolution of China's social structure and values, there has been a shift in attitudes towards marriage and fertility, with an increasing number of women holding diverse perspectives on these matters. In order to better comprehend the fundamental reasons behind these attitude changes and to provide a basis for targeted policymaking, this study employs natural language processing techniques to analyze the discourse of Chinese women. The study focused on analyzing 3,200 comments from Weibo, concentrating on six prominent topics linked to women's marriage and fertility. These topics were treated as research cases. The research employed natural language processing techniques, such as sentiment orientation analysis, Word2Vec, and TextRank. Firstly, the overall sentiment orientation of Chinese women toward marriage and fertility was largely pessimistic. Secondly, the factors contributing to this negative sentiment were categorized into four dimensions: social policies and rights protection, concerns related to parenting, values and beliefs associated with marriage and fertility, and family and societal culture. Based on these outcomes, the study proposed a range of mechanisms and pathways to enhance women's sentiment orientation towards marriage and fertility. These mechanisms encompass safeguarding women and children's rights, promoting parenting education, providing positive guidance on social media, and cultivating a diverse and inclusive social and cultural environment. The objective is to offer precise and comprehensive reference points for the formulation of policies that align more effectively with practical needs.

Sustainable multiple travelling salesman problem solved by reference point aspiration level based multi objective quasi oppositional Jaya algorithm under uncertain environment

Sustainable multiple travelling salesman problem solved by reference point aspiration level based multi objective quasi oppositional Jaya algorithm under uncertain environment

Management strategy evaluation of static and dynamic harvest control rules under long-term changes in stock productivity: A case study from the SESSF

The harvest control rules (HCRs) for many fished marine populations rely on biological reference points. These reference points are often related to unfished biomass conditions (B0) and are calculated assuming that biological parameters and their associated functional forms (e.g., unfished recruitment (R0), natural mortality (M), growth) are stationary (‘static B0’). However, there is increasing evidence that the assumption of stationarity is untenable in the face of environmental change. In principle, non-stationarity can be addressed by defining stock status (i.e., spawning biomass relative to unfished spawning biomass) using ‘dynamic B0’ (the spawning biomass that would be expected in the absence of fishing). Previous work has examined the implications of adopting HCRs under the assumption that spawning biomass and hence target fishing mortalities are known exactly. However, this is an unrealistic assumption so management strategy evaluation (MSE) is used here to contrast the performance of a static B0 HCR and three variants of a dynamic B0 HCR for four stocks in Australia’s Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery. The MSE explores scenarios in which non-stationary is due to time-trends in M and R0, with performance measures based on static and dynamic B0, as well as total catches and catch variability. In declining productivity scenarios the use of a dynamic B0 HCR will on average maintain slightly higher catches than a static B0 HCR, but the stock biomass (in magnitude) will be less than if a static B0 HCR was adopted. Stock status then depends on the frame of reference – relative to static B0 the status will be lower than relative to an estimate of annual unfished biomass. In addition, the annual variability in catches is reduced with the dynamic B0 HCR compared to the static B0 HCR and there is a lower probability of zero Recommended Biological Catches. The preference for dynamic B0 or static B0 HCRs therefore relates to the aims of the harvest strategy to be implemented. Some harvest strategies may be focused on preserving the relative stock status through time and the management objectives do not pertain to the absolute numbers of individuals in the population, in which case a dynamic B0 HCR may meet the requirements of the harvest strategy. Other strategies may require that a population does not drop below a pre-specified absolute size, in which case an HCR that uses static B0 as the limit reference point would be preferable.

Liquid Crystals: A Phenomenological Approach to Complexity of University Students' Identity Formation Through Translanguaging Perspective

Abstract In a world with existential issues, inequalities/injustice are (re)emerging in varying degrees around the globe, and yet, each of us strives to sustain our life with our own disappointments/griefs and desires/hopes. Then, identity formation research should elucidate how a human being makes sense of multifaceted voices/dimensions (‘selves’ and ‘(social) identities’) and what propels each to sustain/envision one’s desires/hopes in the future. Thus, based upon the legacy of identity-related research in applied linguistics, we present longitudinal research by a phenomenological approach focusing on ‘international students’ in Japan. In developing the approach, we utilized translanguaging as a holistic conceptualization of human communication and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis as methodology (interview analysis contextualized with observation and on/off line correspondence data). As a result, the first author interpreted that each student’s life theme/moral aspiration served as a pivot around which various categories/features revolved (solidified/loosened). In such dynamic relationalities, perceptions/ideologies towards named language(s)/identity categories transformed. We argue it is important to interpret why and how each uses/creates categories/labels/binaries as reference points in expressing oneself—not as objective/scientific but as (inter)subjective evidence.

Optimization Method of Fog Computing High Offloading Service Based on Frame of Reference

The cost of offloading tasks is a crucial parameter that influences the task selection of fog nodes. Low-cost tasks can be completed quickly, while high-cost tasks are rarely chosen. Therefore, it is essential to design an effective incentive mechanism to encourage fog nodes to actively participate in high-cost offloading tasks. Current incentive mechanisms generally increase remuneration to enhance the probability of participants selecting high-cost tasks, which inevitably leads to increased platform costs. To improve the likelihood of choosing high-cost tasks, we introduce a frame of reference into fog computing offloading and design a Reference Incentive Mechanism (RIM) by incorporating reference objects. Leveraging the characteristics of the frame of reference, we set an appropriate reference task as the reference point that influences the attraction of offloading tasks to fog nodes and motivates them towards choosing high-cost tasks. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that our proposed mechanism outperforms existing algorithms in enhancing the selection probability of high-cost tasks and improving platform utility.

Processing‐in‐memory based multilateration localization in wireless sensor networks using memristor crossbar arrays

SummaryMost of the multilateration algorithms for object localization rely heavily on matrix multiplication for calculating the precise location of the target from all the reference points in a 3D domain. A significant disadvantage is that performing matrix multiplication can be computationally expensive, particularly for larger matrices, leading to slower performance and longer processing times. In this article, we propose a Processing‐in‐Memory (PIM) based localization approach for multilateration using a memristor crossbar array for performing faster matrix multiplication. The experiments were conducted on real‐time data collected through ultra‐wideband (UWB) chip. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed model is around 50% faster than the fastest known localization algorithm considered for evaluation and exhibits an average of 55% improvement in localization accuracy.

Preparation and Mechanism Analysis of Stainless Steel AOD Slag Mixture Base Materials.

To promote resourceful utilization of argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) slag, this research developed a new three-ash stabilized recycled aggregate with AOD slag, cement, fly ash (FA), and recycled aggregate (RA) as raw materials. The AOD slag was adopted as an equal mass replacement for fly ash. The application of this aggregate in a road base layer was investigated in terms of its mechanical properties and mechanistic analysis. First, based on a cement: FA ratio of 1:4, 20 sets of mixed proportion schemes were designed for four kinds of cement dosage and AOD slag replacement rates (R/%). Through compaction tests and the 7-day unconfined compressive strength test, it was found that a 3% cement dosage met the engineering requirements. Then, the unconfined compressive strength test, indirect tensile strength test, compressive rebound modulus test, and expansion rate test were carried out at different age thresholds. The results showed that the mixture's strength, modulus, and expansion rate increased initially and then stabilized with age, while the strength and modulus initially increased and then decreased with increasing R. Secondly, based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) used to analyze the mechanism, it was found that the strength, modulus, and expansion rate of the new material can be promoted by blending AOD slag, due to its ability to fully stimulate the hydration reaction and pozzolanic reaction of the binder. Finally, based on the strength and modulus results, R = 3% was identified as the optimal ratio, which provides a reference point for the effective application of AOD slag and RA in road base materials.

Advancements in Bio-inspired Self-Powered Wireless Sensors: Materials, Mechanisms, and Biomedical Applications.

The rapid maturation of smart city ecosystems is intimately linked to advances in the Internet of Things (IoT) and self-powered sensing technologies. Central to this evolution are battery-less sensors that are critical for applications such as continuous health monitoring through blood metabolites and vital signs, the recognition of human activity for behavioral analysis, and the operational enhancement of humanoid robots. The focus on biosensors that exploit the human body for energy-spanning wearable, attachable, and implantable variants has intensified, driven by their broad applicability in areas from underwater exploration to biomedical assays and earthquake monitoring. The heart of these sensors lies in their diverse energy harvesting mechanisms, including biofuel cells, and piezoelectric, triboelectric, and pyroelectric nanogenerators. Notwithstanding the wealth of research, the literature still lacks a holistic review that integrates the design challenges and implementation intricacies of such sensors. Our review seeks to fill this gap by thoroughly evaluating energy harvesting strategies from both material and structural perspectives and assessing their roles in powering an array of sensors for myriad uses. This exploration offers a comprehensive outlook on the state of self-powered sensing devices, tackling the nuances of their deployment and highlighting their potential to revolutionize data gathering in autonomous systems. The intent of this review is to chart the current landscape and future prospects, providing a pivotal reference point for ongoing research and innovation in self-powered wireless sensing technologies.

SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING AS A TOOL FOR ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS FOR THE GREEN RECONSTRUCTION OF UKRAINE’S AGRIBUSINESS

Introduction. Global trends in the decarbonization of production and the development of the green economy prove that the principles of sustainable development have become a key reference point for making management decisions. Ukrainian agribusiness suffered huge losses due to military actions, so significant funds are needed for its reconstruction. To attract foreign investments, agricultural enterprises must prove their commitment to sustainable development goals by disclosing relevant information in the reporting. Purpose. The article aims to substantiate the practicality of preparing and publishing the Report on Sustainable Development as a tool for attracting investments for the green reconstruction of Ukraine's agricultural sector and to reveal its information content. Methods. The paper uses an abstract-logical method to substantiate the benefits of reporting on sustainable development by agricultural enterprises. Based on the application of methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, and logical generalization, the content (indicators) of the Report on Sustainable Development and Investments was revealed. Using the analogy method made it possible to strengthen the justification of the importance of sustainability reporting in Ukraine based on the EU countries' experience and the agribusiness need for foreign investments. Results. The paper systematizes the indicators of the Report on Sustainable Development and Investments in the agricultural sector and reveals some aspects of the normative regulation of sustainability reporting. An analysis of the factors of agricultural production was carried out, the disclosure of which in the Report on Sustainable Development will increase the agricultural enterprise's investment attractiveness and testify to its desire to be more open (accountable) to society. Conclusion. Sustainability reporting can be a tool for an agribusiness to better understand its impact on the environment and risks and manage them more effectively, successfully use new opportunities and solve specific challenges to become a leader in sustainable development. The Report on Sustainable Development and Investments in the agricultural sector ensures greater transparency of the enterprise's activities. It demonstrates to interested parties and the public its commitment to the principles of sustainable development, which increases the chances of successfully attracting external financing – foreign investments.

Body Perception and Social Touch Preferences in Times of Grief

Grief is a core human experience. The time following the loss of a loved one is associated with an increased risk for negative health outcomes. Yet, only a few studies investigate bodily consequences of grief and consoling behaviors, specifically the potentially supportive role of interpersonal touch during grief. We conducted an online-study where participants filled in questionnaires and rated videos of short touch gestures and interactions. People who lost a loved one within the last 2 years were asked about their grief experiences and to rate the different types of touch from the perspective of a receiver. People who had not lost a close person in the last 2 years rated the touch from the perspective of providing touch to a grieving individual. The majority of the recent-loss sample reported to have perceived their own body and bodily states less after the loss. Two-thirds reported feeling the presence of the deceased at least once. Grief-sensations were experienced mostly in the chest and upper body, the same areas where the consoling effect of a hug was perceived. Overall, the recent-loss group reported amounts of wanting of the vicarious touch gestures similar to the endorsement by people taking the active touching perspective. However, discrepancies between groups were found for some types of touch, including slow affective stroking. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the body and bodily interactions like social touch in grief and consolation. Our findings can be seen as a first point of reference on how to interact with grieving individuals and could contribute to novel interventions for individuals with prolonged grief disorder.

Evaluation of the effect of sagging correction calibration errors in radiotherapy software on image matching.

To investigate the impact of sagging correction calibration errors in radiotherapy software on image matching. Three software applications were used, with and without a polymethyl methacrylate rod supporting the ball bearings (BB). The calibration error for sagging correction across nine flex maps (FMs) was determined by shifting the BB positions along the Left-Right (LR), Gun-Target (GT), and Up-Down (UD) directions from the reference point. Lucy and pelvic phantom cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images underwent auto-matching after modifying each FM. Image deformation was assessed in orthogonal CBCT planes, and the correlations among BB shift magnitude, deformation vector value, and differences in auto-matching were analyzed. The average difference in analysis results among the three softwares for the Winston-Lutz test was within 0.1mm. The determination coefficients (R2) between the BB shift amount and Lucy phantom matching error in each FM were 0.99, 0.99, and 1.00 in the LR-, GT-, and UD-directions, respectively. The pelvis phantom demonstrated no cross-correlation in the GT direction during auto-matching error evaluation using each FM. The correlation coefficient (r) between the BB shift and the deformation vector value was 0.95 on average for all image planes. Slight differences were observed among software in the evaluation of the Winston-Lutz test. The sagging correction calibration error in the radiotherapy imaging system was caused by an auto-matching error of the phantom and deformation of CBCT images.

Advance care planning with older Norwegian adults in their homes: a narrative ethnographic study

BackgroundThe aim of advance care planning (ACP) is to enable patients to define and discuss their values and preferences to ensure that the care they receive is consistent with their needs and wishes. Most studies of ACP with older adults focus on conversations conducted in institutions. This study aimed to explore how ACP with older patients is carried out and experienced by healthcare professionals when the conversations occur in their private homes.MethodsThe data were obtained from participant observations of ACP conversations in the homes of eight older patients with advanced cancer, which also involved relatives and healthcare professionals. Additionally, ethnographic interviews were conducted with the healthcare professionals. We undertook a narrative analysis of what was said, and how the individuals acted and interacted.ResultsThe home influenced both the substance and form of the ACP conversations. The patients and relatives welcomed the healthcare professionals as guests and were encouraged to share their perceptions of their current situation, joys and worries. Their values were often implicit in their stories about past experiences. The planning mainly focused on life-prolonging treatment and the preferred future place of care. Several patients were not ready to discuss one or more ACP issues. The palliative-care-team physician addressed the patients’ readiness for ACP by asking for permission to move on to a different topic, shifting between serious and lighter topics, and using elements from the home as ‘door openers’ to continue conversations. ACP conversations were an essential basis for future palliative care and cooperation, giving important additional information about the patient and their relatives.ConclusionConducting the ACP conversations in the patients’ homes ensured a homely atmosphere that facilitated a caring approach when sensitive issues were discussed, and in turn supported the identification of important personal values. The healthcare professionals expressed that the ACP conversations represented an essential common reference point and provided a shared awareness of the expected disease trajectory and the values, preferences and needs of the patient. These findings are particularly important given that many older patients struggle to verbalize or form an opinion on issues affecting their future.

Development of Reference Point of Doping Attitude and Dispositions for Anti-Doping Education Notification of Athletes: Application of Reference Group Model

Background: We developed a reference point by applying a doping attitude and propensity tool to prevent doping in sports athletes.&#x0D; Methods: Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS) was investigated on 768 registered athletes with the Korea Sports Association. Independent sample t-test and ANOVA were applied to confirm the doping attitude and propensity according to anti-doping education and event type. To establish the criteria for PEAS, the intersection was confirmed through the group comparison method, and EasyOZ by Excel was applied at this time. In addition, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated to confirm the validity of the reference point.&#x0D; Results: First, in the case of anti-doping education, it was confirmed that more than 90% of the anti-doping education was completed in all sports. Second, there was no statistically significant difference in PEAS according to the type of sport, and there was only a difference in the PEAS according to whether or not anti-doping education was provided and whether or not there was anti-doping education. Third, the point of contact established in the group comparison method was 29.5 points, and as a result of validating the validity based on this, 30 points were found to be the most suitable index.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study could be used as important information in that it suggests a different method for evaluating PEAS and establishes a reference point that can be used more effectively in the actual field.

An investigation on the hydrophobic binding stability of Azithromycin to the hydrocarbon chains of Tween: Based on micellization thermodynamics

Based on micellization thermodynamics, the difference in hydrophobic binding stability between Azithromycin and the hydrocarbon chain of Tween was investigated. Initially, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of AZM-loaded Tween micelles was determined by measuring surface tension, followed by subsequent analysis and discussion of the associated parameters of micellization thermodynamics. The findings indicated that AZM-loaded Tween 20 and AZM-loaded Tween 80 micelles both exhibited a lower CMC value, enhanced stability at the air/water interface, and a more pronounced tendency towards micellization. This suggested that Azithromycin exhibited a stronger affinity towards the hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains of Tween 20 and Tween 80, leading to a more robust hydrophobic binding between them, thereby promoting the formation of AZM-loaded micelles. Subsequently, the transmittance, particle size, and in vitro release of each micelle system were assessed. The findings demonstrated that both AZM-loaded Tween 20 and AZM-loaded Tween 80 micelles exhibited excellent physical stability. Furthermore, in terms of antibacterial activity, AZM-loaded Tween 20 and AZM-loaded Tween 80 micelles exhibited stronger antibacterial efficacy. In summary, the variation in the hydrocarbon chain of Tween exerts an influence on the stability of the hydrophobic binding between Tween and Azithromycin, consequently impacting the pertinent attributes of drug-loaded micelles. This finding offers a valuable point of reference for the investigation of hydrophobic drug micelles in academic research.

Peter Weiss: Experiment und Engagement heute

In the introductory essay, the volume’s editors trace the project that gave rise to this collection of contributions on Peter Weiss, his work, and his fortunes back to the events celebrating the centenary of his birth in 2016. The reflections start from Milo Rau, as an example of a contemporary author and director who finds in the mastery of Peter Weiss a point of reference for an art combining formal experimentalism with political engagement. The relevance of this present-day reference to Weiss as an example of the “aesthetics of resistance” is then addressed in detail, which leads on to the discussion of the main idea and thematic structure of the volume.The twelve papers are divided into two equal halves. In the first section, entitled “Essay und Prosa – Experimente mit Subjekt, Kunst und Politik”, six scholars investigate Peter Weiss’s essayistic and fictional writing, its cultural and artistic context, and its legacy for literature up to the 21st century. Lesser-known articles in Swedish and seminal interventions in the public debates of the 1960s, experimental prose and canonical novels, are thus reinterpreted using the tools of contemporary literary theory.In the second section, a further six scholars examine Weiss’s cinematographic and theatrical work and his reflections on media and performance. These contributions give new insights into Weiss’s documentary films, revolutionary dramas, and media aesthetics and politics, as well as their influence up to the present day. Under the title “Performative Engagements: Film, Theater, Medien”, contributions are brought together that range from earlier models, such as Hölderlin, Artaud, and Brecht, to contemporaries like Pier Paolo Pasolini, and finally to today’s theatre, again with Milo Rau.

Establishment of Diagnostic Reference Levels in Portuguese Interventional Radiology departments

PurposeTo establish Portuguese Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs), for six body fluoroscopy guided interventional procedures (FGIP). MethodA retrospective study was conducted in five interventional departments most representative of Interventional Radiology (IR) practice. Dose values, in terms of air kerma area product (PKA in Gy.cm2), air kerma at the patient entrance reference point (Ka,r in mGy), and exposure parameters (fluoroscopy time (FT) and number of cine runs) were collected. Examinations were selected per procedure (at least 20), according to the antero-posterior and lateral diameter mean value (±5 cm), measured on previous Computed Tomography (CT) examinations. ResultsData of 489 body FGIP show a large variation on dose values per procedure and per department. National DRLs in terms of PKA were 20.2 Gy.cm2 for Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD), 98.2 Gy.cm2 for Bronchial artery embolisation (BAE), 247.7 Gy.cm2 for Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), 331.6 Gy.cm2 for Inferior epigastric arteries embolisation (IEAE), 312.0 Gy.cm2 for Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and 19.3 Gy.cm2 for Endovascular treatment of femoral popliteal arteries (ETFPA). ConclusionsThis is the first study reporting Interventional Radiology DRLs in Portugal and we propose preliminary national estimates for the six more common body FGIP. The results of this study will be presented and discussed with all Portuguese IR departments, to promote procedures optimisation.

A Method for Estimating the State of Charge and Identifying the Type of a Lithium-Ion Cell Based on the Transfer Function of the Cell

This paper proposes a new method for assessing the state of charge (SoC) and identifying the types of different lithium-ion cells used in the battery systems of light electric vehicles. A particular challenge in the development of this method was the SoC estimation time, as the method is intended for implementation in the control system of a bicycle charging station, where the state of charge must be determined immediately after the bicycle is plugged in in order to start the charging process as quickly as possible according to the appropriate charging algorithm. The method is based on the identification of the transfer function, i.e., the dynamic response of the battery voltage to the current pulse. In the learning phase of this method, a database of reference transfer functions and corresponding SoCs for a specific type of battery cell is created. The transfer functions are described by coefficients determined through the optimization procedure. The algorithm for estimating the unknown battery cell SoCs is based on the comparison of the measured voltage response with the responses of the reference transfer functions from the database created during the learning process to the same current signal. The comparison is made by calculating the integral of the square error (ISE) between the response of the specific reference transfer function and the measured voltage response of the battery cell. Each transfer function corresponds to a specific SoC and cell type. The specific SoC of the unknown battery is determined by quadratic interpolation of the SoC near the reference point with the smallest ISE for each battery type. The cell type detection algorithm is based on the fact that the integral squared error criterion near the actual SoC for the actual cell type changes less than the squared error criterion for any other battery cell type with the same SoC. An algorithm for estimating the SoC and cell type is described and tested on several different cell types. The relative error between the estimated SoC and the actual SoC was used as a measure of the accuracy of the algorithm, where the actual SoC was calculated using the Coulomb counting method.