Setting Quality Standards Research Articles

Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis Research Network (UK-CLIF): Building consensus for hepatology trials in the UK

Liver disease is a major, and increasing, cause of death in the UK. The UK Chronic Liver Failure network (UK-CLIF) was developed as a multi-stakeholder network with the aim to advance cirrhosis research, with emphasis on geographical areas of high disease prevalence or limited research activity. The process involved network development through dissemination and snowball sampling techniques, with monitoring of network development and connections between participants, developed over two online meetings. Network membership included representatives from patients, carers, clinicians, researchers, R&D professionals, industry representatives, and the third sector. Subsequently, two facilitated in-person workshops were conducted with network participants. World Café methodology and participant dot voting was used to develop areas of priority and consensus in: (i) research infrastructure for cirrhosis clinical trials, (ii) clinical factors affecting research delivery, and (iii) research priorities for future trials. Thematic analysis demonstrated that the need for patient-centric trial materials, a lack of resource for clinicians to participate in research, and variability in the standard of inpatient care for cirrhosis, were barriers for cirrhosis clinical trials. Future activities for UK-CLIF include participation in a process of quality standard setting for inpatient care for cirrhosis, and coordination of a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership to develop research questions for liver cirrhosis.

Characterization of Prototype Gummy Formulations Provides Insight into Setting Quality Standards.

Gummy formulations are considered suitable alternatives to traditional oral dosage forms like tablets and capsules due to their merits that include chewability, softness/flexibility, improved drug release, administration without water, appealing organoleptic properties, better patient compliance, easy preparation and usefulness forpersonsof different ages (e.g. children). Though there is increasing interest in gummy formulations containing drugs, measurable parameters, and specification limits for evaluating their quality are scarce. Quality check forms an essential part of the pharmaceutical development process because drug products must be distributed as consistently stable, safe, and therapeutically effective entities. Consequently, some quality parameters that could contribute to the overall performance of typical gummy formulations were investigated employing sixbrands of non-medicinal gummies as specimens. Accordingly, key physicochemical and micromechanical characteristics namely adhesiveness (0.009 - 0.028mJ), adhesive force (0.009 - 0.055 N), chewiness (2.780 - 6.753 N), cohesiveness (0.910 - 0.990), hardness (2.984 - 7.453 N), springiness (0.960 - 1.000), and resilience (0.388 - 0.572), matrix firmness - compression load (2.653 - 6.753 N) and work done (3.288 - 6.829mJ), rupture (5.315 - 29.016 N), moisture content (< 5%), weight uniformity (< 2.5g; < 7.5% deviation), and intraoral dissolution pH (≥ 3.5 ≤ 6.8) were quantified to identify measures that may potentially function as specification limits and serve as prospective reference points for evaluating the quality of gummy formulations. Findings from this workcontribute to ongoing efforts to standardize the quality control strategies for gummy formulations, particularly those intended for oral drug delivery.

A Liveability Framework for Medium to High Density Social and Affordable Housing: An Australian Housing Case Study

ABSTRACT The private rental market costs are placing a burden on household budgets, thus significant pressure is on governments and private housing organisations to supply more social and affordable housing solutions. This research evaluates the key elements of medium- and high-density liveable and accessible social and affordable urban housing precincts. Focusing on investigations into an Australian housing case study, the authors establish a liveability framework to improve understanding of whole-of-life needs. Through a comprehensive literature review, a case study and a series of in-depth interviews with key stakeholders from the housing sector five key elements were identified. These key elements include: (1) Liveability, (2) Accessibility, (3) Value equation, (4) Regulatory and policy environment, and (5) Adoption and overcoming barriers. The liveability framework will form the basis of a set of quality standards that can be used to guide precinct planning, design development and management.

Karakteristik Fisikokimia dan Sifat Fungsional Pati Alami Ubi Kayu Hasil Ekstraksi Secara Sederhana

Starch production is one of the post-harvest handling methods for cassava, and the resulting native starch can serve as a basic ingredient in various food industries. Understanding the physicochemical and functional properties of native starch and starch modifications such as profiles, gelatinization, retrogradation of starch paste, and rheological features is necessary to determine the appropriate application of starch in different products. This study aimed to determine cassava starch's characteristics, focusing on its physicochemical and functional properties to provide value. Native starch produced from cassava variety Adira-4 tends to exhibit relatively high viscosity (9084 cP), low solubility (0.4%), fairly low swelling power (35.39%), and low clarity (49.5%). Its brightness level was 84.81%, which was lower than the quality standard set by the Standard Nasional Indonesia (SNI). It also possessed type A crystallinity with more compact properties, limiting its application due to its functional properties.

Discharge of potentially toxic elements from acid sulfate soils in western Finland: Conflict between water protection and land use?

Acid sulfate soils (ASS) are commonly found in many coastal areas worldwide and typically develop from artificial draining of sulfidic sediments, which release acidity and metals, causing unfavuorable effects on recipient watercourses. This study estimates the actual amounts of metals and elements carried to the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea by stream water yearly. The combined load from the many small streams and ditches was found to be proportionally high related to the size of their catchment, emphasizing the importance of including numerous small streams in the understanding of pollution in fresh water and marine environments. This study shows that Cd concentrations in the majority of the studied rivers exceed the Environmental Quality Standard set by the European Union (EU). This causes lowered ecological and chemical status according to the European classification system. Many potentially toxic elements discharge yearly to the Baltic Sea in large quantities from the study area: Thousands of tons of Al and Mn, tens of tons of Co, Cu and Ni, and hundreds of kg of Cd. A challenge for the estimation was irregular, or even missing, data for many rivers, which highlights careful planning of monitoring programs. While the current land use on ASS requires efficient drainage, the national and European strategies and legislation aim towards improved status in water bodies and forbid pollution of the environment. Therefore, the land use and water protection policy conflict.

Analisis Tingkat Kebisingan Aktivitas Jalan Trans Kalimantan Terhadap Rumah Sakit Umum Kota Palangka Raya

High economic growth also indirectly has an impact on increasing vehicle traffic activity on the highway. Noise due to traffic will continue to increase along with the increase in human activity using vehicles.Sound Level Meter (LSM) is a tool used to measure noise at a point. Specifically in this research, namely the noise level of the Trans Kalimantan Road towards the General Hospital of Palangka Raya City. From the data obtained in the research results, it shows that the noise level at the General Hospital of Palangka Raya City due to transportation activities has exceeded the quality standard limits that have been set. From the results of research and data analysis, it was found that the traffic noise level that occurred at the General Hospital of Palangka Raya City at point 1 next to the entrance to the General Hospital of Palangka Raya City was 73.70 dBA and at point 2 in front of the Emergency Room General Hospital of Palangka Raya City was 77. 29 dBA which exceeds the quality standard noise level set for hospital areas, namely 55 dBA. Based on the results of these calculations, it is recommended that the General Hospital of Palangka Raya City make a natural noise barrier, namely in the form of a fence or a thicket of plants with fairly even leaf density or an artificial noise barrier in the form of a soundproof wall, etc. so that the comfort of the hospital can be maintained.

THE ROLE OF THE STATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RURAL POPULATION

The article examines the role of the state in the development of rural social infrastructure to improve the quality of life of the population. The means of state influence on the development of rural social infrastructure in Ukraine are determined: financial support; creation of programs and strategies; ensuring access to quality education; providing financial support for hospitals and medical institutions; development and improvement of transport and communication infrastructure; setting quality standards for rural social infrastructure.

Hybrid multi-chamber system for enhanced removal of boron during water treatment/desalination without chemical usage

The efficiency of boron removal during water treatment and desalination is insufficient to meet the water quality standard set by the World Health Organization. Boron can exist in its two natural forms in water, depending on the water pH. At low and high pH, boron tends to exist as boric acid and borate ion, which are neutral and negatively charged, respectively. In this study, we developed a multi-chamber boron control system. For the control group (nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO)), the pH was controlled to enhance the boron removal efficiency. As expected, the boron removal efficiency at pH 11 (RO: 95–98%, NF: 91%) was higher than that at pH 8 (RO: 85–87%, NF: 80%). Additionally, activated carbon was introduced in the developed system (forward osmosis-NF/RO hybrid processes within the draw-solution chamber). Powdered activated carbon was more effective than granulated activated carbon in adsorbing boron molecules, with the maximum adsorption capacities (qm) of the former and latter being 2.33 and 1.33 mg g−1, respectively. A simple economic analysis was performed to determine the applicability of the multi-chamber boron control system for the economical production of high-quality water with minimal boron concentration. The unit cost of the multi-chamber boron control system (0.26 USD ton−1) was significantly lower than that associated with single NF and RO processes (0.64–1.62 USD ton−1). The multi-chamber boron control system thus represents an economical alternative that can achieve a higher product water quality compared with existing processes.

Patterns of accumulation and baseline values for metals in agricultural soils from a copper mining region in southern Peru

As global copper demand surges, it's vital to conduct a thorough analysis of metal concentrations in the agricultural soils of mining districts. This is especially pertinent for the Andean region, where, in the face of clear soil degradation, there's a notable lack of in-depth research. This study is the first attempt to characterize variations in the concentration of 17 metals in the agricultural soils of Moquegua – a region with a long history of mining activity that contributes significantly to Peru's position as the world's second-largest producer of copper. The surface horizons of 336 agricultural soils under vegetable crops were sampled between 9 and 3,934 m above sea level (m.a.s.l.) to determine the total content of metal nutrients (MNs) (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn) and heavy metals (HMs) (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, As, Co, Ba, V, Al) by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The accumulation of metals was found to increase with altitude. The study identified hotspots with a high concentration of metals and spatial patterns in their geographic distribution. The observed median values for As (70.9 mg/kg), Cd (7.1 mg/kg), and Pb (89.7 mg/kg) represent the highest metal concentrations among the identified clusters. Notably, these values surpass the Environmental Quality Standards (ECA) set for agricultural soils in Peru. As there are no local standards for all the metals studied, our results can serve as reference values for guiding land management practices, particularly in the context of copper mining.

Extraction of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and evaluation of their antioxidant activity in saffron anthers (Crocus sativus L.)

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the most expensive spice in the world and rich in a variety of bioactive compounds including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and vitamins. Saffron is used in food, cosmetics, perfumery, and dye industries due to its color, taste, aroma, and medicinal properties. The extraction of bioactive compounds imposes a constant search for economically and environmentally viable extraction strategies for higher yields including the solvent type. The research was carried out to evaluate total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of C. sativus L. anthers using different extraction solvents including ethanol, methanol, and distilled water. The results showed that ethanol was the most effective extraction solvent type exhibiting the highest TPC (7.29 mg GAE g-1 DW), TFC (3.77 mg QE g-1 DW), and antioxidant activity of flavonoids (88%) and ascorbic acid (76.07%). Flavonoids proved to be stronger antioxidants than ascorbic acid, irrespective of solvent type, however the ethanolic extracts showed significantly higher antioxidant activity. A Reverse Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography method revealed that gallic acid (3.1 mg g-1), syringic acid (0.2 mg g-1), and vanillic acid (0.13 mg g-1) were the main phenolic compounds detected in the dried anther ethanolic extracts, while quercetin (2.13 mg g-1), pyrogallol (1.73 mg g-1), kaempferol (1.2 mg g-1), rutin (0.2 mg g-1), and tricin (0.1 mg g-1) the main flavonoid compounds. Thus, apart from the spice, constituted by the red stigmas, the production of other flower parts such as the anthers, so far considered agricultural waste can constitute a rich source of bioactive compounds of high antioxidant potential by setting quality standards for new products’ development and ensuring better valorization of saffron’s bioresidues in Mashhad region of Iran.

The use of urea hydrogen peroxide as an alternative N-fertilizer to reduce accumulation of arsenic in rice grains

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine the effects of urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) on reducing the accumulation of As in rice grains. The results show that UHP effectively triggered Fenton-like reaction by reacting with Fe2+ in the paddy soils. This significantly inhibited the activities of As(V)-reducing microbes, causing impediment of As(V)–As(III) conversion following inundation of dryland crop soils for paddy rice cultivation. As-methylating microbes were also inhibited, adversely affecting As methylation in the soils. These processes led to the reduction in phyto-availability of As in the soil solutions for uptake by rice plant roots, and consequently reduced the accumulation of As in the rice grains. In this study, an UHP application rate of 0.0625% on three occasions (tillering, heading and filling) during the rice growth period was sufficient to lower the rice grain-borne As concentration to below 0.2 mg/kg, meeting the quality standard set by the Chinese government. No additive effect on reducing grain-borne As was observed for the joint application of UHP and biochar or biochar composite. The use of UHP for soil fertilization had no adverse impact on rice yield in comparison with the application of urea at an equal amount of nitrogen.

The upcoming European Soil Monitoring Law: An effective instrument for the protection of terrestrial ecosystems?

Soils are a precious resource consistently placed under several threats and urgently in need of protection within a regulatory framework at the European level. Soils are central to the provision of environmental services as well as human existence on earth. The need to protect soil has been identified by several recent European strategies and fortunately, a specific European regulation for soil protection is on the way-the European Soil Monitoring Law (formerly: Soil Health Law). However, efforts need to ensure that the upcoming Soil Monitoring Law closes gaps between existing regulations for chemicals and acknowledges current European strategies for environmental protection and sustainability. This brief communication started from a fruitful discussion among SETAC Global Soils Interest Group members on a recent public consultation on the newly proposed Soil Monitoring Law of the European Commission and highlights critical points focusing on the chemical pollution of soils. We emphasize urgent needs such as the essential definition of a "healthy state" of soils; the implementation of a suitable set of indicators and quality standards for the description of physical, chemical, and biological states of soils; the enforcement of the "polluter-pays" principle; and the establishment of a Europe-wide monitoring program. Results from monitoring need to be fed back into regulatory frameworks, including the regulation of chemicals. Guidance documents for the risk assessment of chemicals are outdated and need to be updated. Finally, actions need to be taken to foster healthy soils, stop biodiversity decline, and ensure the functioning of ecosystem services for future generations. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:316-321. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Measuring instruments and quality of student achievements

The paper discusses the quality and methods of measurement of student achievements in the first grade in secondary education. It addresses questions such as what needs to be conducted in order to perform a correct measurement, why it is important to measure the achievements, who the obtained results are for etc. These are only some questions the paper aims to answer. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the teachers’ role in the core process of the quality measurement of student achievements as well as their role in the process of preparing students with the aim of achieving the designated and set quality. Our focus in the paper is on how the standards are defined, who participates in the process of creating the standards, who approves them, and finally how the validity of the set quality standards is measured since the teaching process quality standards have been in the center of interest lately. Finally, we analyze the impact of input results and whether it is important to plan methods of teaching and learning in accordance with the input results in order to achieve better output results.

Konsentrasi pencemar timbal (Pb) pada sayur lalapan di pasar tradisional dan supermarket di Kota Yogyakarta

Lalapan is a popular food consumed. The increase in population, industrial activities, transportation, use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to lead (Pb) pollution in the environment, contaminating vegetables that are to be consumed and posing health risks. Therefore, research was conducted regarding the analysis of Pb pollutant concentrations in lettuce, basil and cucumber sold in traditional markets and supermarkets in the city of Yogyakarta. Samples were extracted using 65% HNO3 and 37% HCl, and then the concentration of Pb in the samples was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The research results showed that all types of vegetables sold in traditional markets and supermarkets have been contaminated with Pb with concentrations ranging from 0.418 to 1.575 mg/kg, with the highest Pb concentration was found in basil with an average of 1.5156 mg/kg. The average concentrations of Pb in lalapan sold in traditional markets and supermarkets, when compared to the quality standard set by SNI regulation (2009) for cucumber sold in supermarkets N, are still below the safe limit of 0.5 mg/kg for , while the rest have exceeded the quality standard limit. There are significant differences in the concentration of Pb pollutants in vegetables sold in markets and supermarkets, as well as based on sales location, type of vegetable, and vegetable source. The consumption pattern of vegetables ranges from 62-97 g/day and poses health risks as the RQ value is greater than 1. Additionally, it has the potential to cause cancer because ECR &gt; E-4.

Quality Standard for Rehabilitation of Young Deaf Children Receiving Cochlear Implants.

Background and objectives: More and more children with severe-to-profound hearing loss are receiving cochlear implants (CIs) at an early age to improve their hearing and listening abilities, speech recognition, speech intelligibility, and other aspects of spoken language development. Despite this, the rehabilitation outcomes can be very heterogeneous in this population, not only because of issues related to surgery and fitting or the specific characteristics of the child with his/her additional disabilities but also because of huge differences in the quality of the support and rehabilitation offered by the therapist and the family. These quality standards for the rehabilitation of young deaf children receiving CIs are developed within the European KA202 Erasmus+ project "VOICE"-vocational education and training for speech and language therapists and parents for the rehabilitation of children with CIs, Ref. No.: 2020-1-RO01-KA202-080059. Material and methods: To develop these quality standards, we used the input from the face-to-face interviews of 11 local rehabilitation experts in CIs from the four partner countries of the project and the outcomes of the bibliographic analysis of 848 publications retrieved from six databases: Pub Med, Psych Info, CINAHL, Scopus, Eric, and Cochrane. Based on all this information, we created a first set of 32 quality standards over four domains: general, fitting, rehabilitation, and for professionals. Further on, the Delphi method was used by 18 international rehabilitation experts to discuss and agree on these standards. Results: The results from the literature analysis and the interviews show us that more than 90% of the consulted international experts agreed on 29 quality standards. They focus on different aspects of rehabilitation: the multidisciplinary team, their expertise and knowledge, important rehabilitation topics to focus on, and programming issues related to rehabilitation. Conclusions: These quality standards aim to optimize the activity of speech rehabilitation specialists so that they reach the optimal level of expertise. Also presented is the necessary equipment for the IC team to carry out the rehabilitation sessions in good conditions. This set of quality standards can be useful to ensure the appropriate postoperative care of these children. As a result, the rehabilitation process will be more relaxed, and therapists will have the opportunity to focus more on the specific needs of each child, with the provision of quality services, which will result in better results. This theme is particularly complex and dependent on multifactorial aspects of medicine, education, speech therapy, social work, and psychology that are very intricate and interdependent.

Considerations of the Malaysian Standards Council in Setting Quality Standards Malaysian Standards (MS 1900:2005)

This study provides an overview of the Malaysian Standards Council's considerations in establishing the quality standard Malaysian Standard 1900 (MS 1900, p. 2005). MS 1900 is a structured system that helps organizations to provide products and services that suit customer requirements based on Sharia regulations and requirements. This system was launched in 2005 and aimed to complement the ISO 9001 standard concerning an Islamic perspective. To obtain this MS 1900, the organization must go through a process of quality audit and sharia audit. Various kinds of literature were reviewed, focusing on the Malaysian Quality Management Standard MS 1900:2005. This research found that the Sharia elements were synchronized into the existing ISO 9001 to establish the first Islamic quality management system, MS 1900:2005. MS 1900:2005 not only helps organizations improve their management systems but also enables organizations to implement management systems per Shariah and Islamic obligations. The proposed model should be followed by managers so that MS 1900:2005 can be implemented effectively.

Application of TQM Practices on Organizational Performance: A Study of Lafarge Africa Plc. Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

This study evaluated the application of TQM practices on organizational performance of Lafarge Africa Plc. The specific objectives were to examine the extent to which top management commitment, customer focus, process/product design and training and education on quality are applied or implemented in producing quality products in order to enhance performance. The study employed survey research design. The population of the study was 463 respondents. The study used a structure questionnaire using 5 points Likert Scale of SA=5, A=4, U=3, D=2, and SD=1. The sample size was 210 respondents using Krejcie and Morgan Table of 1970 for sample size determination. Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used to validate the reliability of the instrument with the coefficient index of 97%. Simple Linear Regression Model was employed to test the hypotheses using SPSS version 23.The study revealed that the application of top management commitment to quality has a positive and significant effects on organizational performance of Larfarge Africa Plc. Calabar, Cross River State. The study revealed that the application of customer focus has a positive and significant effect on organizational performance. The study also found that the application of process design on quality has a positive and significant effect on organizational performance. The study also revealed that the application of training and education of workers on quality has a positive and significant effect on organizational performance. The study recommended that the management of the organization should put in more efforts and commitment to quality issues and decisions in order to improve quality products and services continuously. The management should also ensure that quality of products are maintain based on customers specification and expectations in order to enhance organizational performance steadily. The management should design the product and production processes based on quality standards set or established by SON and NAFDAC in the system in order to improve performance steadily. The management of the organization should ensure that workers are regularly train and educated on quality issues in order to produce quality products on a continuous basis.

Quality assurance in Mammography: An overview

Since 1989, hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved worldwide by the widespread use of screening mammography alongside new developments in breast cancer treatment [1]. The ability of screening mammography to detect cancer early, when treatment is most effective, is optimized when it is performed in the highest quality manner and accessed by all eligible candidates. Currently, worldwide, there are over 14 guidance documents for mammographic quality [2]. Some countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK), monitor quality through a national screening program. In the United States (US), where 39 million mammograms are performed annually [3], there is not a national screening program, but the federal government mandates minimum quality standards for the performance of mammography. Among a consortium of European countries, the European Reference Organisation for Quality Assured Breast Screening and Diagnostic Services (EUREF) promotes voluntary adherence to European mammography quality standards. Setting quality standards at national or international levels ensures the uniformity of practice and identifies substandard practices in need of improvement, ultimately maximizing the benefit of screening mammography.

Libretti Housed at the Anderson Music Library of the University of Louisville

Libretti Housed at the Anderson Music Library of the University of Louisville John Karr (bio) The rare libretto collection at the Anderson Music Library of the University of Louisville contains over three hundred individual libretti (a number which does not include duplicate copies), two hundred of which are for Tuscan performances (Florence and Siena), forty-seven of which are for Italian performances outside of Tuscany (Naples, Milan, Bergamo, Lucca, etc.), thirty-two of which are for publication (mostly by Ricordi and Barion), and the remaining that represent a mixed lot from non-Italian presses and performances. The Tuscan libretti are focused mainly on the period from the 1780s until the mid-nineteenth century for productions primarily at the Pergola and Cocomero theaters in Florence and for the various academies of Siena. While not rare in the sense of being unica, they do present a marvelous picture of the Tuscan theater in the period encompassing the end of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the protectorship of Napoleon up until the Unification of Italy. Italian opera in the late eighteenth century tends to be overshadowed in the general histories of the period by the Viennese court and the operas of Gluck, Mozart, and Salieri. Even when Italian opera of this period is discussed, it is usually focused on Venice and Naples, with lesser mention of Milan, Bologna, and sometimes Rome. Dennis Libby celebrated Naples and Venice as the two most influential opera centers; Naples ascendant with the foundation of the Teatro San Carlo and the musical direction of Jomelli and Paisiello, and Venice gently declining into obscurity but nonetheless vital in its embrace of opera, and culture more generally, to replace its increasing political irrelevance.1 John Rice would focus his writing on Italian opera only in the first half of the eighteenth century (chapters three and four) with Naples and Venice before turning for the [End Page 524] bulk of his book to music outside of Italy.2 John Rosselli notes the theaters of Naples, Milan, Rome, and Bologna, but does not mention Florence at all. For him, late eighteenth-century Italian opera serves as an appetizer (with the exception of the opera buffa by Paisiello and Cimarosa, standing out from a period characterized by the increasing rigidity of the form of opera seria) to the real operatic explosion that is begun by Rossini in the post-Napoleonic period.3 The Tuscan libretti, which form the bulk of the collection in this catalog, are important for shedding light on the largely-ignored flowering of opera that took place in Florence in the period lasting from the reign of Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo (1765–90) to the establishment of the modern Italian state in 1859. According to Robert L. Weaver, during the last days of Pietro Leopoldo's reign, Tuscan theaters (again, primarily the Pergola and the Cocomero) surpassed Milan and rivaled Venice, Naples, and Rome in the production of new Italian operas.4 In addition to this reinvigoration of Tuscan opera, Pietro Leopoldo also established rules that would promote Tuscan composers and performers over imported ones and set standards for quality in the compositions and the performances.5 His generous support of opera was continued by his son Ferdinando III (reigned 1791–1800). Even when Napoleon's invasion and conquest placed Florence under French control, the theater maintained an active schedule, albeit with more imported composers and directors. Ferdinando III would be restored to the Grand Duchy upon the abdication of Napoleon in 1814 and would reign another ten years before his son Leopoldo II (reigned 1824–59) assumed the Grand Duchy up until the establishment of the modern Italian State (and expulsion of the Austrian Grand Dukes) in 1859. During the latter half of the nineteenth century, Milan and Naples would become the dominant centers for opera production in Italy, eclipsing Florence. The libretti cataloged herein are a wonderful resource, not only for Tuscan composers and productions of this period, but also for the inclusion of cast lists and lists of the musicians who participated in the performances. Of particular interest is the evidence of families of Tuscan (both Florentine and Sienese) singers who began to dominate the stages...

Analysis of Air Pollution Distribution in West Pasaman Regency Effects of Palm Oil Mills

The purpose of this research was to identify sources of pollution and analyze the level of pollution for the parameters of TSP (Dust), particulates, NO2, and SO2 and to map their distribution. The research was conducted at 9 (nine) palm oil mills spread throughout West Pasaman Regency. The data used are primary and secondary data. The primary data includes particulates, TSP, SO2, and NO2 gases. Secondary data consists of test results data at the Environmental Service in 2017, morphological data, and factory location maps. Data processing methods include statistical analysis of Shapiro Wilk. Then proceed with descriptive analysis to determine the characteristics of the range of minimum and maximum values of air pollution distribution. Spatial analysis of the overlay type was carried out using a GIS application. Particulate, TSP, NO2 and SO2 test results at each location have met the required air quality standards. mapping the distribution of air pollutants for the parameters TSP (Dust), NO2 and SO2 with the direction of their spread according to the wind direction. Comparison with the latest regulations, namely PP Number 22 of 2021 Appendix VII, shows that the test results are still below the set quality standards. With the test values obtained and the meteorological factors in each company, it shows that there is no significant effect of pollutant content from sources of pollution on the environment around the palm oil mills.