Adequacy Of Protection Research Articles

Dynamics of invasive pneumococcal disease in infants < 2 years old following PCV7/13 implementation using two infant and a booster dose schedule: evidence for indirect protection of young infants, Israel, 2004 to 2019.

BackgroundPneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV)7 and PCV13 programmes started in Israel from July 2009 and November 2010 respectively, with a 2+1 schedule (one dose at 2 months old, one at 4 months old, and a booster dose at 12 months old). Thereafter, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) rates substantially declined in children. Uptake of all three doses in < 2-year-olds since 2012 is > 90%. For still incompletely vaccinated infants (≤ 12 months old), how well the PCV 2+1 programme shields from IPD is not fully resolved.AimTo assess the adequacy of protection conferred by the 2+1 schedule PCV vaccination programme, particularly among incompletely-vaccinated infants.MethodsThis was a population-based, prospective, nationwide active IPD surveillance study in Israel, 2004-2019, in children < 24 months old. We estimated annual incidence rates (IR) of overall IPD, IPD caused by PCV13 serotypes (VT13), and non-PCV13 serotypes (NVT13). Annual IPD IRs were stratified by age: < 4 months (receiving ≤ 1 dose), 4-6 months (immediately post dose 2), 7-12 months (a few months post dose 2), and 13-23 months (post dose 3). Late-PCV (2004-2008) to pre-PCV13 (2016-2019) mean annual IR ratios (IRRs) were calculated.Results2,569 IPD episodes were recorded. VT13 decreased > 90% in all age groups, while NVT13 seemed to increase. All-IPD rates declined in all age groups by 56-70%. The 2+1 schedule impact on 7-12-month-old infants (pre-booster) was similar to that on 13-23-month-old children (post booster), with PCV13 IPD reductions of 97% and 98%, respectively.ConclusionsIndirect (herd) protection of infants, including < 4 month-olds with ≤ 1 PCV dose, was achieved by the 2+1 PCV schedule programme which thus seems adequate.

Evaluating Earplug Performance over a 2-Hour Work Period with a Fit-Test System.

Workers rely on hearing protection devices to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss. This study aimed to evaluate changes in attenuation over time for properly fit devices when worn by workers exposed to hazardous noise. Earplug fit testing was accomplished on 30 workers at a brewery facility with three types of foam and three types of premolded earplugs. The personal attenuation ratings (PARs) were measured before and after a 2-hour work period while exposed to hazardous noise levels. The minimum acceptable initial PAR was 15 dB. Average decreases in PAR ranged from -0.7 to -2.6 dB across all six earplug types. Significant changes in PAR were observed for the Foam-1 ( p = 0.009) and Premold-3 ( p = 0.004) earplugs. A linear mixed regression model using HPD type and study year as fixed effects and subject as random effect was not significant for either fixed effect ( α = 0.05). Ninety-five percent of the final PAR measurements maintained the target attenuation of 15 dB. Properly fitting earplugs can be effective at reducing worker's noise exposures over time. The potential for a decrease in attenuation during the work shift should be considered when training workers and establishing the adequacy of protection from hazardous noise exposures.

IEC61850 기반 디지털 변전소의 보호 적정성 평가를 위한 디지털 트윈 개발

Digitalization of substations is universally expanding through digital transformation in existing and new substations. Accordingly, to improve the reliability of operation in digital substations, the requirement is not only expanded for the protection adequacy evaluation on each protection IED but also the constant evaluation of the protection adequacy of the entire digital substation. In general, there is a problem that the state change of the power system is not reflected in protection systems of substations because the protection systems operate without evaluating the protection adequacy of the entire substation after determining the correct value of the protection IEDs. The proposed method in this paper enables the constant evaluation of protection adequacy without additional facilities by applying digital twin technology. In addition, the interoperability of the digital twin model is secured by developing the information exchange between the devices of the digital twin model based on IEC61850.

A review of registrations for over-the-top dicamba products and liability for state governments for appropriating neighbors' right to exclude

Injuries inflicted by spray applications of dicamba herbicides on neighboring properties have raised questions about the validity of the dicamba registrations and the adequacy of protection accorded others. An evaluation of the documentation used by the Environmental Protection Agency in approving the 2020 dicamba registrations discloses a lack of evidence supporting issuance of the registrations. In the lawsuit challenging the 2020 registrations, the court may decide they need to be vacated. While over-the-top dicamba products for use on soybeans and cotton have been beneficial in controlling weeds, their volatility has caused major offsite injuries. Neighboring property owners have the right to exclude others from their properties, including the exclusion of spray drift and volatilization of pesticide particles. By approving dicamba registrations, states have enabled dicamba particles to invade offsite properties. The registrations obliterate neighbors' right to exclude others from their properties thereby constituting a taking of private property without just compensation for which state governments can incur liability.

A critical analysis of vulnerability in informal sector employment in India: Protective mechanisms and adequacy of protection

AbstractThe measure of a civilized society, is how well it is able to protect its weakest and most vulnerable members. Vulnerable workers typically comprise very young and elderly workers, and disabled, indigent, and sick workers, usually employed in unregulated informal sector jobs. This study seeks to study the prevalence of vulnerability among workers in India, both physical and economic, occasioned by informality of their employment. It looks into the kind and degree of vulnerability faced by workers in informal sector occupations, in part by comparing with similar workers in formal employment, and checks whether protective mechanisms and safety nets are required, mandated, and in place, in the form of food transfers, medical treatment, income support, or subsidies. Relying on primary data, this study seeks to assess the actual availability and adequacy of social protection in terms of access and enforceability, gaps and reasons thereof, including barriers to take‐up, and concludes that gaps in implementation and targeting are the primary reasons for the prevalence of vulnerability in informal employment.

Effects of communicating uncertainty descriptions in hazard identification, risk characterization, and risk protection.

Uncertainty is a crucial issue for any risk assessment. Consequently, it also poses crucial challenges for risk communications. Many guidebooks advise reporting uncertainties in risk assessments, expecting that the audience will appreciate this disclosure. However, the empirical evidence about the effects of uncertainty reporting is sparse and inconclusive. Therefore, based on examples of potential health risks of electromagnetic fields (EMF), three experiments were conducted analysing the effects of communicating uncertainties separately for hazard identification, risk characterisation and risk protection. The setups aimed to explore how reporting and how explaining of uncertainty affects dependent variables such as risk perception, perceived competence of the risk assessors, and trust in risk management. Each of the three experiments used a 2x2 design with a first factor presenting uncertainty descriptions (as used in public controversies on EMF related health effects) or describing a certainty conditions; and a second factor explaining the causes of uncertainties (by pointing at knowledge gaps) or not explaining them. The study results indicate that qualitative uncertainty descriptions regarding hazard identification reduce the confidence in the professional competencies of the assessors. In contrast, a quantitative uncertainty description in risk characterisation–regarding the magnitude of the risk–does not affect any of the dependent variables. Concerning risk protection, trust in exposure limit values is not affected by qualitative uncertainty information. However, the qualitative description of uncertainty regarding the adequacy of protection amplifies fears. Furthermore, explaining this uncertainty results in lower text understandability.

Informed consent rates for neonatal randomized controlled trials in low- and lower middle-income versus high-income countries: A systematic review.

Legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements of medical research uniformly call for informed consent. We aimed to characterize and compare consent rates for neonatal randomized controlled trials in low- and lower middle-income countries versus high-income countries, and to evaluate the influence of study characteristics on consent rates. In this systematic review, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane for randomized controlled trials of neonatal interventions in low- and lower middle-income countries or high-income countries published 01/01/2013 to 01/04/2018. Our primary outcome was consent rate, the proportion of eligible participants who consented amongst those approached, extracted from the article or email with the author. Using a generalised linear model for fractional dependent variables, we analysed the odds of consenting in low- and lower middle-income countries versus high-income countries across control types and interventions. We screened 3523 articles, yielding 300 eligible randomized controlled trials with consent rates available for 135 low- and lower middle-income country trials and 65 high-income country trials. Median consent rates were higher for low- and lower middle-income countries (95.6%; interquartile range (IQR) 88.2-98.9) than high-income countries (82.7%; IQR 68.6-93.0; p<0.001). In adjusted regression analysis comparing low- and lower middle-income countries to high-income countries, the odds of consent for no placebo-drug/nutrition trials was 3.67 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.87-7.19; p = 0.0002) and 6.40 (95%CI 3.32-12.34; p<0.0001) for placebo-drug/nutrition trials. Neonatal randomized controlled trials in low- and lower middle-income countries report consistently higher consent rates compared to high-income country trials. Our study is limited by the overrepresentation of India among randomized controlled trials in low- and lower middle-income countries. This study raises serious concerns about the adequacy of protections for highly vulnerable populations recruited to clinical trials in low- and lower middle-income countries.

OSIGURANJE KAO NAČIN UPRAVLJANJA SAJBER RIZICIMA

U radu su prikazane osnovne karak­teristike novih rizika, među kojima se ističu rizici vezani za upotrebu digitalnih tehnologija, objedinjeni nazivom sajber rizici. Pitanja izloženosti i otpornosti, te pitanje uprav­ljanja sajber rizicima su sagledana iz različizih perspek­tiva: od institucija od nacionalnog značaja, preko IT eksperata do osiguranja. Poseban akcenat je stavljen na akumulaciju sajber rizika i analizu adekvatnosti zaštite pomoću postojećih osiguravajućih pokrića.

Cold-related symptoms and performance degradation among Thai poultry industry workers with reference to vulnerable groups: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundFew studies have examined cold-related symptoms among cold workplace workers in Thailand. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cold-related cardiorespiratory, circulatory, and general symptoms and performance degradation among Thai chicken industry workers and identify vulnerable groups.MethodsOverall, 422 workers aged from 18 to 57 years at four chicken meat factories in Thailand were interviewed for cold-related symptoms and complaints. The results were expressed in terms of model-based adjusted prevalence and prevalence differences (PDs) in percentage points (pp) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsIn total, 76.1% of the respondents reported cold-related respiratory symptoms, 24.6% reported cardiac symptoms, 68.6% reported circulatory symptoms, and 72.1% reported general symptoms. In addition, 82.7% of the respondents reported performance degradation. Cold-related respiratory symptoms increased by PD 29.0 pp. (95% CI 23.4–34.6) from the lowest to the highest educational group, with a similar pattern observed in performance degradation. Forklift drivers and storage and manufacturing workers complained of cold-related respiratory symptoms more than office staff (PD 22.1 pp., 95% CI 12.8–31.3; 12.0 pp., 95% CI 2.4–21.6; and 17.5 pp., 95% CI 11.5–23.6, respectively); they also reported more performance degradation (PD 24.1 pp., 95% CI 17.0–31.2; 19.8 pp., 95% CI 14.1–25.6; and 14.8 pp., 95% CI 8.0–22.6, respectively). Weekly alcohol consumers reported more performance problems owing to cold (PD 18.2 pp., 95% CI 13.9–22.6) than non-consumers of alcohol. Cardiac and circulation symptoms were more common in women than men (PD 10.0 pp., 95% CI 1.1–18.9; and 8.4 pp., 95% CI 0.5–16.4, respectively). The age trend in performance issues was curved, with the highest prevalence among those aged 35–44 years, while the oldest workers (45–57 years) perceived less cold-related symptoms, particularly thirst.ConclusionsCold-related symptoms and performance degradation were found to be common in this industry, with vulnerable groups comprising of highly educated workers, forklift drivers, storage and manufacturing workers, weekly alcohol consumers, aging workers, and women. The results demonstrate a need for further research on the adequacy of protection provided against the cold, particularly given that global warming will increase the contrast between cold workplaces and outdoor heat.

Genetic testing and employer-sponsored wellness programs: An overview of current vendors, products, and practices.

BackgroundEmployer‐sponsored corporate wellness programs have spread despite limited evidence of effectiveness in improving health or reducing costs. Some programs have offered genetic testing as a benefit to employees, but little is known about this practice.MethodsIn December 2019, we conducted a systematic Google search to identify vendors offering corporate wellness programs involving genetics. We performed qualitative content analysis of publicly available information about the vendors’ products and practices disclosed on their websites.ResultsFifteen vendors were identified. Details regarding genetic testing offered within wellness programs were difficult to decipher from vendors’ websites, including which specific products were included. No evidence was provided to support vendor claimed improvements in employer costs, employee health, and job performance. Only half offered health and genetic counseling services. Most vendors were ambiguous regarding data sharing. Disclaimer language was included in vendors’ stated risks and limitations, ostensibly to avoid oversight and liability.ConclusionWe found a lack of transparency among corporate wellness program vendors, underscoring challenges that stakeholders encounter when trying to assess (a) how such programs are using genetics, (b) the potential benefits of such applications, and (c) the adequacy of protections to ensure scientific evidence support any health claims and genetic nondiscrimination.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using isolated Bacillus subtilis: characterization, antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, and their performance as antimicrobial agent for textile materials

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have unique properties and a large range of applications. Biosynthesis of stable AgNPs using the extracellular filtrate of Bacillus subtilis was proved by the characteristic surface plasmon resonance at about 420–430 nm. They were polycrystalline with spherical, hexagonal, and irregular shapes and they were negatively charged (–40 mV) with an average diameter of 20 nm. FTIR spectrum confirmed the presence of protein molecules coating AgNPs. The optimum conditions for the synthesis of tested AgNPs were 1:6 filtrate dilution, 1 mM AgNO3, pH 7, 30 °C , 48 h contact time under static and illuminating conditions. The synthesized AgNPs showed antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella typhi, antifungal activity against Candida albicans and antiviral activity against rotavirus. Also, they showed potent cytotoxic effects on lung and hepatic carcinoma human cell lines. Meanwhile, the acute toxicity study against mice showed no significant changes in hematological, biochemical, and histological parameters of AgNPs treated mice. They also showed mild hepatoprotective effect in thioacetamide (TAA) - induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. AgNPs treated textiles fabrics showed high antimicrobial activities against different pathogenic microorganisms as well as UV protection adequacy.

Data protection and ethics requirements for multisite research with health data: a comparative examination of legislative governance frameworks and the role of data protection technologies.

Personalised medicine can improve both public and individual health by providing targeted preventative and therapeutic healthcare. However, patient health data must be shared between institutions and across jurisdictions for the benefits of personalised medicine to be realised. Whilst data protection, privacy, and research ethics laws protect patient confidentiality and safety they also may impede multisite research, particularly across jurisdictions. Accordingly, we compare the concept of data accessibility in data protection and research ethics laws across seven jurisdictions. These jurisdictions include Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom (which have implemented the General Data Protection Regulation), the United States, Canada, and Australia. Our paper identifies the requirements for consent, the standards for anonymisation or pseudonymisation, and adequacy of protection between jurisdictions as barriers for sharing. We also identify differences between the European Union and other jurisdictions as a significant barrier for data accessibility in cross jurisdictional multisite research. Our paper concludes by considering solutions to overcome these legislative differences. These solutions include data transfer agreements and organisational collaborations designed to `front load' the process of ethics approval, so that subsequent research protocols are standardised. We also allude to technical solutions, such as distributed computing, secure multiparty computation and homomorphic encryption.

Perspective: service-based business models to incentivize the efficient use of pesticides in crop protection.

Several problems limit the productivity and acceptance of crop protection, including pesticide overuse, pesticide resistance, poor adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), declining funding for research and extension, and inefficiencies of scale. We discuss the proposition that alternative business models for crop protection can address these problems by incentivizing and benefiting from efficiency of pesticide use. Currently, business models are not linked to the adoption of IPM and are sometimes at odds with IPM practices. We explore a business model based on the provision of pest management adequacy through services rather than the sale of pesticide products. Specifically, we advocate for establishment of crop protection adequacy standards that would allow a market system to maximize efficiency. Changing some of the relationships between agricultural companies and producers from one based on products to one based on services is an idea worthy of debate and evaluation for improving the efficiency of pest management. Contemporary information technology enhancing monitoring and coordination warrants attention in this debate. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy isolation rooms: Introduction of lead glass window on the wall for patient comfort and better ambience.

For administration of radioactive iodine for the treatment of differentiated cancer thyroid patients, activities ranging between 1.85GBq and 7.0GBq are used. The construction of concrete rooms cleared by national regulatory authorities do not recommend the presence of windows on the walls or advise same lead equivalence of wall for the lead glass if they are put on the walls. To avoid phobia of patients to give consent for I-131 treatment and to stay in isolation rooms, a necessity was felt to introduce glass window on the opposite side wall of entrance door, which had a service corridor with restricted entry, opening toward garden area. Commercially available lead glass used for X-ray computed tomography scanner was fixed on the 0.35 m thick concrete wall in two rooms. The adequacy of protection offered by the lead glass was determined. A I-131 capsule 600 MBq was moved at a distance 50 cm away from the wall inside the room, and transmitted radiation was measured outside the room. An end window pancake type, beta-gamma survey meter was used. The measured values were normalized for 3.7 GBq at 2 m bed position in μSv/h. The obtained maximum exposure rate was 1.48 μSv/h transmitted from the glass window, against 0.44 μSv/h transmitted at full concrete wall level. As the patients provide shielding to the administrated activity, also the activity is progressively decreasing fast with an effective half-life, the stray radiation levels will be decreasing outside, reducing the mean radiation level to 0.74 μSv/h, and increasing the efficacy of protection. The patient's bed position is at lower level by 0.5 m from the lower edge of the lead glass, so that during patient is in bed the stray radiation levels reduce further. As there are no reports about such facility for isolation rooms, this report may be of value in health physics literature.

Risk Analysis About Lightning Protection for Buildings Focusing on Risk of Loss of Human Life

Abstract The humanity has been in constant struggle with natural forces since ancient times. In this struggle, the protection of artificially created objects has played a prominent role and nowadays, one of its main areas is the lightning protection of structures. Today, it is based on a state-of-the-art risk analysis method based on exact mathematical methods, based on which general guidelines, rules and regulations can be formulated. These common collecting documents are called standards. Lightning protection risk analysis calculates and contains the specific lightning protection adequacy of the concrete structure, taking into account the parameters of buildings and their installations (e.g. lightning protection installations, cables, flooring etc.). The scope of my research is to identify the relationships between output parameters determined by the input parameters based on the current standards and the identification of the risks by their analysis in the different types of buildings. Other scope is to identify effect of variable input parameters to output parameters of observed basic constructions.

Protection analysis tool for distribution networks with a high embedded generation penetration

The protection design philosophy of distribution networks is predicated on the inherent radiality that exists in such networks. However, the increased presence of inverter-interfaced embedded generation is compromising the radial nature of distribution networks. Hence, the increasing importance of accurately modelling the fault response of inverter-interfaced embedded generation is becoming apparent.Presently, the impacts of large penetrations of inverter-interfaced embedded generators on protection adequacy are determined through time-domain modelling. This paper proposes a tool for determining a snapshot of the expected protection response of distribution networks with inverter-interfaced embedded generation. The tool automatically simulates all fault types at the extremities of each protection zone and compiles the data to generate a report that showcases important information from a protection adequacy perspective. The tool can simulate fault responses in orders of magnitude faster than time-domain analysis using a load-flow like algorithm. This algorithm is designed to have a high convergence in fault scenarios and also approximate the fault behaviour of inverter-interfaced embedded generators. Finally, the tool investigates whether a new embedded generator installation may require an upgrade of network infrastructure or an amendment of protection settings. The tool is implemented using MATLAB and compared with time-domain simulations for verification purposes.

An Analysis of the Adequacy of Protection Afforded by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in Situations of Armed Conflict

This essay aims to describe the contrasting approaches to disability described by international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) with the aim of pointing out the approaches/models of disability underpinning two legal regimes. The limits of those approaches/models in the treatment and protection of persons with disabilities shall be investigated and established. Ultimately, the paper considers the possibility of recommending a unified approach/model that should underpin both IHL and IHRL in addressing aspects of disability.

Measuring progress in marine protection: A new set of metrics to evaluate the strength of marine protected area networks

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have proven to be a valuable tool for both promoting the sustainable use of marine resources and long-term biodiversity conservation outcomes. Targets for marine protection under the Convention on Biological Diversity have seen rapid growth in MPAs globally, with progress judged using targets for total area protected rather than evaluating growth based on the capacity to protect biodiversity. The value of a MPA network to biodiversity conservation depends on a range of attributes of both individual MPAs and portfolios of MPAs, which are not captured by simple area-based targets. Therefore, a clear and efficient set of metrics are needed to effectively evaluate progress towards building MPA networks, considering the representation and adequacy of protection for biodiversity. We developed a universally applicable set of metrics that can evaluate network structure in relation to its capacity to conserve marine biodiversity. These metrics combine properties of effective individual MPAs with metrics for their capacity to function collectively as a network. To demonstrate the value of these metrics, we apply them to the Australian MPA network, the largest in the world. Collectively, the indicators suggest that while Australia has made significant progress in building a representative and well-structured MPA network, the level of protection offered to marine biodiversity is generally low, with insufficient coverage of no-take MPAs across many bioregions. The metrics reveal how the current value of the MPA network could be greatly increased by reducing the prevalence of multi-use zones that allow extractive activities known to negatively impact biodiversity.

The adequacy of Sudanese legislation to protect women from gender-based violence: مدى كفاية التشريعات السودانية لحماية المرأة من العنف المؤسس على النّوع

Women in many societies are facing unjustified violence. They do not enjoy their full legal rights because of the prevalence of certain harmful habits that establish this kind of violence or because of lack of legislation to regulate the issue. This paper deals with gender based violence, exploring The Sudanese legislations that framed the protection from violence in order to verify the adequacy of these legislations to protect women from this phenomenon. The research problem is focused on the adequacy of protection provided by Sudanese legislation for women to stop the violence against them which based on gender. The researcher used the descriptive approach to study the relevant texts of the Sudanese constitution and laws, to verify the standard of protection provided for women from violence based on gender. This paper concluded to find that, the Sudanese legislation widely framed protection of women from the violence against them. As these legislations covered many aspects of gender based violence; making it suitable to combat this phenomenon if applied in a proper way. But this is success of the Sudanese legislation in its quest to protect women from violence, does not necessarily means the practical application is safe. The discussion here is about the adequacy of the legislation in the single way. In spite of this good frame working to combat gender-based violence; the absence of a specific law to combat this phenomenon in Sudan led to the negligence of some forms of violence against women. In order to strengthen the protection of women from violence, and to complete the legislative shortages in some ways that Sudanese laws did not put a clear cut law about; the paper recommended to enact a special law to combat violence against women. Moreover, Sudanese government and its institutions should educate people of the dangers of harmful habits that contradict the law, religion that represent unjustified violence against women.

Protection of the Right to Freedom of Assembly under Ethiopian Law: Gaps and the Way Forward

The right to Freedom of assembly is among the political rights enshrined under the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE). Despite the frequent reporting of its rampant violation by human right monitoring bodies and the media, one cannot find a research that assesses the adequacy of protection offered to the right by the Ethiopian Constitution and other laws of the country. This article seeks to fill this gap by indicating some of the key problems with the existing legal regime governing the right and the prevailing practice. As such, it argues that the present Constitution of Ethiopia gives an incomplete protection to the right, by failing to go beyond listing grounds of limiting it without incorporating additional guarantees of preventing arbitrary restrictions such as necessity and proportionality in explicit manner. Moreover, it contends that this problem was exacerbated by the presence of too many loopholes in the Peaceful Demonstration and Public Political Meetings Proclamation that ranges from inadequate rules governing notification procedure to the absence of fair hearing and judicial or administrative review procedures in the law. Suggestions to improve the legal guarantees for freedom of assembly in Ethiopia are also made in the article in light of lessons from the experience of other national and international jurisdictions with better standards of protection. Furthermore, it asserts that reforming the legal regime applicable to freedom of assembly and ensuring its appropriate implementation requires a strong political will of the ruling party in promoting good governance, respecting rule of law and strengthening democratic institutions. Key terms Demonstration, Ethiopia, freedom of assembly, notification, proportionality, limitation