Scientific Considerations Research Articles

The 3D annotated scans method: a new approach to ship timber recording

Every year, maritime archaeologists around the globe are faced with the daunting task of recording hundreds, if not thousands, of individual ship timbers. The in-depth recording of ship timbers is a process which is both challenging and laborious, but it is an indispensable step in order to fully understand the construction of the ship the timbers formed a part of, and as archaeologists it is our duty to document all the information these complex artefacts hold to the best of our abilities. In this article, the authors first provide an overview of the methods currently in use for ship timber recording, namely 2D scaled drawing, 2D tracing, 3D contact digitising and 3D scanning. The respective advantages and limitations of these methods are then discussed in light of the various scientific and practical considerations that go into choosing a recording method for a project. Next, a new approach to ship timber recording, termed the “3D annotated scans method”, is introduced and discussed using a recent case study in northern Germany. At its core the method consists of two phases; a 3D scanning phase in which the timber is scanned in 3D, followed by a 3D annotation phase in which the recorder interprets the timber by tracing diagnostic features such as fasteners and toolmarks directly onto the timber’s digital model. The authors conclude that this new approach represents an improvement over current methods—both in terms of the quality of the scientific outputs and in terms of recording efficiency—and that, besides being implemented for the recording of ship timbers, the same method can also be used for a wide range of other heritage applications.

Scientific considerations for global drug development.

Requiring regional or in-country confirmatory clinical trials before approval of drugs already approved elsewhere delays access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries and raises drug costs. Here, we discuss the scientific and technological advances that may reduce the need for in-country or in-region clinical trials for drugs approved in other countries and limitations of these advances that could necessitate in-region clinical studies.

Beyond static spatial management: Scientific and legal considerations for dynamic management in the high seas

Natural and human stressors in the high seas act across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. These include direct interaction such as fisheries bycatch or indirect interaction like warming oceans and plastic ingestion. Area-based management tools (ABMTs), such as marine protected areas and time-area closures, are a widely accepted and a broadly successful form of management used to mitigate localized human impacts on marine species and ecosystems. Protection provides an opportunity for population recovery, which can then propagate outside of the closure. As the United Nations negotiates a new treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, efforts to design and implement high seas ABMTs at appropriate scales are critical to ensure that these spatial protection measures are most effective and climate-ready in the face of changing oceans. Here we identify the four most important temporal scales – contemporary, intra-annual, multi-annual and multidecadal – for aligning high seas ABMTs to relevant ecological, oceanographic and atmospheric processes. From this, we explore how managers and decision-makers can integrate this knowledge when implementing a new treaty.

The Moral Imperative to Include Pregnant Women in Clinical Trials of Interventions for COVID-19

Although the number of clinical trials for patients with COVID-19 is increasing, many exclude pregnant women as participants or do not address pregnancy. This commentary discuss why pregnancy women should be included in clinical trials of interventions for COVID-19.

Application of Multi Criteria Decision Making in Adopting Suitable Solid Waste Management Model for an Urban Local Body. Case Study of Bhubaneswar City of Odisha, India

A practical approach to deal with the municipal solid waste at hand needs the adoption of a suitable model and an understanding of the required processes to manage it effectively. A case study of Bhubaneswar City/ Municipal Corporation of Odisha in India, focused on the development of a suitable model based on approaches like Process of elimination, Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis, Mathematical analysis, Analytical Hierarchy Process and the Test of sustainability. The study focused on the processes in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) value chain like waste generation, primary source storage, collection, secondary storage, transportation, processing and disposal. A two by two matrix model was adopted to arrive at a suitable disposal model mapped with the source segregation. The Urban Local Body (ULB) analysed Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as one of the criteria to select suitable Collection, Transportation and Disposal Model based on Technical, Economic, Social and Environmental considerations .The mathematical analysis involved Pair-wise Comparison Matrix for the quantitative variables while qualitative variables were examined by Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The economic factor dominated the decision making; ‘street dumping and street sweeping’ got an upper ranking in the final matrix analysis of the collection and Transportation plan and ‘incineration’ dominated the decision making for the disposal plan. The limitation of the study showed that the application of mathematical model to find out optimum Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Model does not accommodate qualitative variables. Therefore, SWOT analysis and sustainability studies were examined to arrive at the best possible model. SWOT criteria drew upon the work environment with respect to financial position of the Urban Local Body, Not in my backyard (NIMBY) factor, Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode aspirants, availability of mature technology and threat in factors like adverse regulatory order, disruptive technologies and the lack of political will. The test of sustainability based on the proposed model passed through the test of capability and constraint study, social acceptance, regulatory compliance, and ground level feasibility. Based on multiple criteria in decision making, the study found that ideally Bhubaneswar should adopt a model where source segregation with door to door collection of waste facility is given top priority. Decentralization of waste disposal and cluster approach of cities and towns nearby to curb the waste menace and facilitate the waste to go the fuel way looked sustainable and achievable. At the same time, addressing the Not in my backyard (NIMBY) factor by earmarking land bank for waste disposal and collection of cesses from the city inhabitants could generate enough financial resources for its sustainability.
 This research unbolts discussions with respect to the challenges presented by the Not in my backyard (NIMBY) factor, finding suitable landfill sites for solid waste disposal, interference of disruptive technologies and the change in leadership not owning up to responsibilities or revoking the previously established management practices.
 Sustainability studies should help all stakeholders to participate harmoniously with a common goal of clean city and striving for a better planet.
 Similarly, the comparative matrix based on the scientific, financial, social and ecological considerations were applied to the disposal plan to develop a fitting model for the Urban Local Body (ULB).
 The study ascertained that Bhubaneswar should have source segregation with door to door collection facility and may need decentralized composting facility centres to handle the biodegradable wastes. The plastic wastes may be used for Waste to Fuel or for road making. The non-degradable may go to land fill or Waste to Energy plant with cluster approach combining nearby Cuttack and Khurdha districts to meet the waste requirement of 550 tonnes per day to sustain the plant. At the same time, it should collect cess from the city habitants to generate enough financial resources for sustainability. It should earmark the land-bank for waste processing facilities as it faces serious Law and Order problems due to Not in my backyard (NIMBY) factor.

Comparison of Alcohol Use Disorders in DSM and ICD

Abstract. Introduction: With advances in medicine, our understanding of diseases has deepened and diagnostic criteria have evolved. Currently, the most frequently used diagnostic systems are the ICD (International Classification of Diseases) and the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to diagnose alcohol-related disorders. Results: In this narrative review, we follow the historical developments in ICD and DSM with their corresponding milestones reflecting the scientific research and medical considerations of their time. The current diagnostic concepts of DSM-5 and ICD-11 and their development are presented. Lastly, we compare these two diagnostic systems and evaluate their practicability in clinical use.

Importance of various marine coastal habitats during the life cycle ofSpratelloides delicatulusin Con Dao, the oldest MPA in Vietnam

AbstractMarine protected areas (MPAs) are set up to conserve biodiversity, but their design is not always based on strictly scientific considerations. Ideally, an MPA should protect all key habitats necessary for a marine species to complete its life cycle. The identification of these key habitats is complex, especially during the early life of marine fishes.A widely distributed tropical and important low trophic‐level fish species,Spratelloides delicatulus(Clupeidae), was used to evaluate the significance of various coastal habitats for its larvae and juveniles in the Con Dao Archipelago MPA in Vietnam. Early stages (larvae and juveniles) were sampled monthly over one year (June 2016 to May 2017) using light traps in three main habitats (seagrass beds, coral reefs and harbour). The species was identified using morphometry and DNA barcoding. Age and growth variables were estimated using otolith daily growth increments.A total of 3,581 fish were caught. The species was not found in captures between January and February, directly linked to the decrease in seawater temperature and was most abundant from April to June. For a subsample of 248 fish (7–38 mm standard length), ages ranged from 7 to 108 days.Captures and back‐calculated birthdates using otolith daily increments showed thatS. delicatulusspawns during the period of high seawater temperature, from March to October. The species colonizes all three habitats during the early stages (0–26 days old), with growth rate lowest on the seagrass beds. Nevertheless, the species occupies seagrass beds exclusively during the older stages.The conservation of seagrass beds in the Con Dao archipelago is essential for protection of juvenile stages of this species but this habitat is presently not included in the MPA patches. Establishment of a continuum of protected areas linking habitats, rather than the existing patches is needed to conserve the complete life cycle of this species in the Con Dao MPA.

From Art as a Science to the Death of Poetry

This article reflects on the contacts and dialogues between literature and scientific thought in the works of Austrian writer Hermann Broch in the first half of the 20th century. His first novel, The Sleepwalkers [Die Schlafwandler] (1931-1932), points to certain interpretations, allusions and similarities in connection with thinkers such as Max Weber, Walter Benjamin and Hannah Arendt, which suggest the incorporation of literature to scientific and philosophical knowledge. Conversely, in his last fiction work, The Death of Virgil [Der Tod des Vergil] (1945), Broch seems to question and even to doubt the importance of literature as a way of reflecting on contemporary life. While prioritizing Broch’s early works, this article follows his trajectory as he incorporates philosophical, scientific, and religious considerations to fiction, while reflecting on the times in which he lived.

The banning of bromacil in Costa Rica

AbstractBromacil was introduced at the beginning of the 1960s for PRE and early POST control of grasses and broadleaf weeds, particularly in citrus (Rutaceae spp.) orchards and pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] plantations as well as in noncultivated areas. Both the acidic form of bromacil and its lithium salt are highly soluble in water; the herbicide is moderately to highly persistent in the soil with a half-life from 60 d to 8 mo and is prone to percolate in the soil and reach groundwater. In Costa Rica, bromacil was registered for both citrus and pineapple, but in recent years its major use has been in pineapple. An average of 60,000 kg of active bromacil per year were imported before its banning in 2017. Pineapple is grown in more than 40,000 ha; the recommended rate of bromacil was 1.6 to 3.2 kg ha−1. In a survey conducted by the National University between 2001 and 2004, bromacil was the most frequently found pesticide, at levels between 0.5 and 20 µg L−1, in water springs and wells in the pineapple-growing area of the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Further studies conducted more recently also documented the presence of bromacil in the ground and surface water in areas where pineapple is planted. The local standard for the quality of drinking water of 2015 established maximum acceptable values of 0.1 µg L−1 and 0.5 µg L−1 for a single pesticide and for the sum of all pesticides present, respectively, but it was amended for bromacil to comply with requirements determined by the Constitutional Court to “non-detectable by method.” This paper provides an account of the scientific and administrative considerations for the banning of bromacil that occurred on May 24, 2017.

Optimal Use of the Non-Inferiority Trial Design.

Superiority trials are conducted to test the hypothesis that a treatment or strategy A is superior to (i.e., better than) treatment strategy B in reducing the impact of disease. However, A may be considerably safer, more convenient, or cheaper than B. These features may make A more attractive than B even if the burden of disease is reduced comparably by the two treatments, or even a bit worse by A over B. In this context, non-inferiority trials have become increasingly popular to test the hypothesis that a new treatment is not 'unacceptably worse' than an active comparator by more than a predefined non-inferiority margin. Non-inferiority trials have unique design features and methodology and require a different analysis than traditional superiority trials. The main aim of this overview is to analyze the role of non-inferiority trials in the development of new treatments, involving some scientific, statistical, and practical considerations. We elucidate some aspects of non-inferiority trials that contribute to the validity of the results. The unique design features and methodology of non-inferiority trials are summarized and key findings to consider when evaluating a non-inferiority trial are illustrated.

MICHAEL PHILIP WEST AS A FOUNDER OF TEACHING READING METHODOLOGY

The article deals with the problems of reading texts in foreign languages (English texts) and the role of Michael Philip West`s investigations on reading issues. Scientific and practical considerations set forth in the teaching methodology of M.West have played a leading role in solving this problem throughout the world. The ideas of M. West were enriched with new methodological information about training in different countries. KEY WORDS: method, methodology, direct method, grammar translation method, receptive and (re)productive speech, text adaptation, active/passive vocabulary, types of reading, reading comprehension.

Emerging tick-borne diseases and blood safety: summary of a public workshop.

Tick-borne agents of disease continue to emerge and subsequently expand their geographic distribution. The threat to blood safety by tick-borne agents is ever increasing and requires constant surveillance concomitant with implementation of appropriate intervention methods. In April 2017, the Food and Drug Administration organized a public workshop on emerging tick-borne pathogens (excluding Babesia microti and Lyme disease) designed to provide updates on the current understanding of emerging tick-borne diseases, thereby allowing for extended discussions to determine if decisions regarding mitigation strategies need to be made proactively. Subject matter experts and other stakeholders participated in this workshop to discuss issues of biology, epidemiology, and clinical burden of tick-borne agents, risk of transfusion-transmission, surveillance, and considerations for decision making in implementing safety interventions. Herein, we summarize the scientific presentations, panel discussions, and considerations going forward.

Scientific and Logistical Considerations When Screening for Radiation Risks by Using Biodosimetry Based on Biological Effects of Radiation Rather than Dose: The Need for Prior Measurements of Homogeneity and Distribution of Dose.

An effective medical response to a large-scale radiation event requires prompt and effective initial triage so that appropriate care can be provided to individuals with significant risk for severe acute radiation injury. Arguably, it would be advantageous to use injury rather than radiation dose for the initial assessment; i.e., use bioassays of biological damage. Such assays would be based on changes in intrinsic biological response elements; e.g., up- or down-regulation of genes, proteins, metabolites, blood cell counts, chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei, micro-RNA, cytokines, or transcriptomes. Using a framework to evaluate the feasibility of biodosimetry for triaging up to a million people in less than a week following a major radiation event, Part 1 analyzes the logistical feasibility and clinical needs for ensuring that biomarkers of organ-specific injury could be effectively used in this context. We conclude that the decision to use biomarkers of organ-specific injury would greatly benefit by first having independent knowledge of whether the person's exposure was heterogeneous and, if so, what was the dose distribution (to determine which organs were exposed to high doses). In Part 2, we describe how these two essential needs for prior information (heterogeneity and dose distribution) could be obtained by using in vivo nail dosimetry. This novel physical biodosimetry method can also meet the needs for initial triage, providing non-invasive, point-of-care measurements made by non-experts with immediate dose estimates for four separate anatomical sites. Additionally, it uniquely provides immediate information as to whether the exposure was homogeneous and, if not, it can estimate the dose distribution. We conclude that combining the capability of methods such as in vivo EPR nail dosimetry with bioassays to predict organ-specific damage would allow effective use of medical resources to save lives.

Scientific and Regulatory Considerations for Efficacy Studies of Cytomegalovirus Vaccines.

The considerable public health burden due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) supports current interest in vaccine development. Clinical studies intended to support regulatory action should be designed to demonstrate substantial evidence of effectiveness. However, design and conduct of clinical endpoint studies may be hampered by low incidence of disease, especially for congenital CMV. Discussion and experience from other vaccines directed against congenital disease (including rubella and Zika) may be instructive. This article summarizes current scientific and US regulatory considerations related to design of studies of vaccines intended to prevent congenital CMV and complications of CMV in transplantation, as discussed at the 2018 workshop entitled "Cytomegalovirus Infection: Advancing Strategies for Prevention and Treatment."

Climate Change Should Be on Every Nursing Research Agenda.

Human-caused climate change is a global emergency, and its harms are predicted to increase exponentially in the coming years, particularly if unsustainable practices continue unmitigated. Adverse effects of climate change on communities affected by or at risk for cancer, such as frail older adults, are already measurable and deadly. If nurse scientists continue to ignore these realities, more people are likely to suffer and die as a result. The purpose of this critical reflection is to discuss the vital necessity of including climate change in the research agenda of the Oncology Nursing Society and all nursing science. Using an approach grounded in critical theory and design justice, the authors provide specific suggestions for the incorporation of scientific considerations and nursing measures related to climate change into oncology nursing science.

Micro-Environmental Changes in Wounds are Significantly Influenced by Intermittent Pneumatic Impulse Compression (IIC)

Wound pH remains in the focus of scientific considerations for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic wounds as emphasized in recent studies [1-7]. Supported by abundant evidence, it may be taken for granted that a rapid acute wound healing occurs with low, acidic pH values at starting points below a pH value of 3. This difference in the wound environmental pH value in acute and chronic wounds has been shown to be relative to differences in the character of exudate which affects pH value [2,3,5,6].

Micro-Environmental Changes in Wounds are Significantly Influenced by Intermittent Pneumatic Impulse Compression (IIC)

Wound pH remains in the focus of scientific considerations for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic wounds as emphasized in recent studies [1-7]. Supported by abundant evidence, it may be taken for granted that a rapid acute wound healing occurs with low, acidic pH values at starting points below a pH value of 3. This difference in the wound environmental pH value in acute and chronic wounds has been shown to be relative to differences in the character of exudate which affects pH value [2,3,5,6].

Scientific, clinical, social, and policy status and considerations for implementing newborn screening of metachromatic leukodystrophy

Scientific, clinical, social, and policy status and considerations for implementing newborn screening of metachromatic leukodystrophy

Scientific and Regulatory Considerations for an Ontogeny Knowledge Base for Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology.

Understanding all aspects of developmental biology, or pediatric ontogeny, that affect drug therapy from the fetus to the adolescent child is the holy grail of pediatric scientists and clinical pharmacologists. The scientific community is now close to being able to tie together the vast amount of information collected on pediatric ontogeny over the past 60 years. An organized knowledge base and new tools would allow us to utilize this information effectively in pediatric drug development.

DIAGNOSIS OF THE CIVIL AVIATION PROTECTION SYSTEM AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES

The article presents the results of research that focus on the problem of developing by the United States effective legal, organizational and technical so-lutions to increase the security of civil aviation, including passengers on board aircraft and at airports. An important part of scientific considerations was to characterize the organization of security systems at airports operating in the United States. The presented results are not limited to the theoretical aspects of counteracting terrorism, but also characterize practical organizational and technical projects implemented in the aviation security system in the USA