Specific Procedures Research Articles

Surgical Technique and Implementation of Total Minimally Invasive (Laparo-Thoracoscopic) Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy for Cancer.

Esophagectomy represents a major oncological operation due to the surgical involvement of both the abdominal and thoracic cavities. The minimally invasive technique has been developed to minimize the operative impact on patients undergoing esophageal resections, often presenting with nutritional deterioration and poor functional reserves. The present article provides an illustrative description of the total minimally invasive (laparo-thoracoscopic) Ivor Lewis esophagectomy for cancer integrated with complementary components of perioperative clinical management. This standardized surgical technique of two-field esophagectomy (i.e., laparoscopy and thoracoscopy) was depicted based on the experience of a tertiary center for esophageal cancer care with more than 1500 cases operated on, and in accordance with the SUPER reporting guidelines. The accomplishment of the following descriptive and illustrative content allowed the development of remarks on the strengths and possible flaws of this specific procedure, providing a measurable opportunity to absorb technical details of the most widespread surgical resection for esophageal cancer worldwide.

Investigating the relationship between health and gender equality: What role do maternal, reproductive, and sexual health services play?

Examining the causal nexus between health services and gender equality is of paramount significance in policy formulation and academic inquiry. This paper concentrates on maternal, sexual, and reproductive health, offering a critical narrative review of empirical research exploring the causal relationship between enhanced women's health, stemming from either overall healthcare amelioration or specific interventions, and broader gender equality objectives. A conceptual framework is devised to elucidate the causal pathways between health and gender equality across various dimensions. The final review encompasses 30 empirical papers, revealing both direct and indirect effects of improved maternal, reproductive, and sexual health outcomes on labour participation and educational investment, with fertility decisions and autonomy serving as primary intermediary factors. Evidence predominantly indicates that interventions like contraception, family planning, and abortion policies yield enduring effects beyond health, influencing reproductive choices. Specific medical procedures, such as caesarean deliveries and sterilization, also impact fertility and labour market outcomes. Furthermore, public healthcare infrastructure contributes to combating gender-based violence by facilitating incident reporting and access to protection. Recognizing, documenting, and monitoring these co-benefits arising from improved women's health are pivotal for delineating future health sector priorities and advancing the global gender equality and sustainable development agenda.

Magnification calibration of X-ray 3D microscopy using micro-line structures.

X-ray microscopy using computed tomography (CT) is an excellent three-dimensional imaging instrument. Three-dimensional X-ray microscopy (3DXRM) is a nondestructive imaging technique used to inspect internal and external structures in units of submicrometers or less. The 3DXRM, although attractive, is mostly used as an observation instrument and is limited as a measurement system in quantitative evaluation and quality control. Calibration is required for use in measurement systems such as coordinate measurement systems, and specific standard samples and evaluation procedures are needed. The certified values of the standard samples must ideally be traceable to the International System of Units (SI). In the 3DXRM measurement system, line structures (LSs) are fabricated as prototype standard samples to conduct magnification calibration. In this study, we evaluated the LS intervals using calibrated cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A comparison of the evaluation results between SEM and 3DXRM for the LS intervals provided the magnification calibration factor for 3DXRM and validated the LSs, whereby the interval methods and feasibility of constructing an SI traceability system were evaluated using the calibrated SEM. Consequently, a magnification calibration factor of 1.01 was obtained for 3DXRM based on the intervals of the LSs evaluated by SEM. A possible route for realizing SI-traceable magnification calibration of 3DXRM has been presented.

Transformation of Organic Cacao (Theobroma cacao) Husk into Commercial

Introduction: agroindustrial wastes can be transformed to mitigate the negative impacts associated with their disposal. In cocoa production, cocoa pod husk (CPH) constitutes between 67% and 76% of the total cocoa weight. This study focuses on the potential of CPH as a valuable resource for producing activated carbon, cellulose, and potassium hydroxide (KOH)..Objective: The objective of this research was to characterize and transform the CPH obtained from an organic crop in San Bernardo-Ibagué (Colombia) into activated carbon, cellulose, and KOH.Methods: activated carbon was produced through chemical activation using KOH, with a specific procedure for characterizing the obtained product through thermal analysis (TGA) and nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms. For cellulose extraction, an alkaline treatment with 2% w/w NaOH was followed by a bleaching process with 2.5% w/w sodium hypochlorite. KOH was obtained by first extracting potassium carbonate and then causticizing it.Results: activated carbon (AC) was produced with a yield of 25.6%, exhibiting a surface area of 468 m²/g, a mean pore diameter of 10.8 nm, and a total pore volume of 0.228 cm³/g, with 60% fixed carbon, 27% volatile material, 6% ash, and 6% moisture. Conclusions: the transformation of cocoa pod husk into activated carbon, cellulose, and KOH provides a sustainable approach to managing agroindustrial waste, generating valuable products with significant potential for various applications. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing CPH as a resource in agroindustrial processes.

Nationwide Survey - What is important for a sustainable radiology?

Radiology departments with the large diagnostic devices CT and MRI contribute significantly to the overall energy consumption of health facilities. However, there is a lack of systematic knowledge about the opinions of radiological staff on the most relevant aspects of sustainability. For this reason, we conducted a comprehensive survey for radiology employees on sentiment and experiences regarding sustainability in radiology.In collaboration with the Sustainability Network of the German Roentgen Society (DRG), we developed a questionnaire on various dimensions of sustainability in radiology. We conducted a nationwide online survey of radiology employees between July 1st, 2023 and November 30th, 2023. The absolute and percentage distributions were then determined.From 109 participants, mainly doctors (67/109; 62%) from university hospitals (48/109; 44.0%), 81 out of 109 rated sustainability in professional environment (74.3%) as important or very important. However, only 38 out of 109 (38%) of the respondents were able to name specific sustainable procedures in their institute. The most important topics for a sustainable radiology were waste management (26/109, 22.6%), energy reduction (19/109, 16.5%), conscious behaviour (15/109, 13%) and reduction of obsolete examinations (14/109, 12.2%). In addition, a lack of qualifications (16%), finances (21%) and compliance (21%) were named as challenges for the implementation of sustainable actions in radiology. The perceived importance of specific, sustainable measures in radiology is generally higher than the amount of already established actions.Radiology has significant, yet untapped, potential for sustainable optimization. There is a need for qualified and sensitized health care workers in radiology who are committed to sustainability in everyday clinical practice. Among other things, in this study the respondents demand a more critical indication for diagnostic workup, including avoiding redundant examinations, and a technological progress towards energy-efficient devices, which requires a dynamic exchange between radiology, industry and health care facilities. · Of 109 respondents from radiology departments, 74.3% consider sustainability to be important or very important in a professional context.. · Waste management (22.6%), energy reduction (16.5%), conscious behaviour (13%) and reduction of obsolete or redundant examinations (12.2%) are, according to those surveyed, most important for a more sustainable radiology.. · Sustainability initiatives have been institutionally established among 38% of participants. However, key challenges to the implementation of sustainable practices in radiology include insufficient compliance from staff and patients (21%), limited access to funding (21%), and a lack of necessary qualifications (16%).. · The perceived importance of specific measures for sustainability in radiology is generally higher than the previously established measures.. · Technology & energy efficiency (59.6%), energy contracting (46.8%) and waste management (34.9%) are the areas of interest with the highest priority.. · Palm V, Wucherpfennig L, Do TD et al. Nationwide Survey - What is important for a sustainable radiology?. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; DOI 10.1055/a-2378-6366.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Wait Times in Ambulatory Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan.

Objective Wait times are an important determinant of patient satisfaction measured objectively and associated significantly with it. It is a measure of time taken from the arrival of patients to the registration desk of a facility to the time they access service. This study focuses on current patient pathways at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient (OBGYN) Ambulatory Clinic at Shalamar Hospital and assesses wait times by stratifying it at each step of the pathway. Methodology Data on consultation times was obtained from 105 patient processes over three months. We had in-depth discussions with the doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff to better comprehend the medical conditions, the terminologies, the structural hierarchy, and the functions of the department. Based on this the patient journey through the clinic was further dissected into operational steps including the check-in process, patient vitals screening, patient history, physical examination, medical hierarchy, referral for further testing or procedures, and lastly prescription generation. Results The average wait time for obstetrics and gynecology patients is 45.18±39.37 minutes. The average time the patients waited for the check-in process was 1.73±1.80 minutes, for the vitals screening was 3.08±10.07 minutes, for patient history and examination was 19.90±22.71 minutes, and for consultation within the medical hierarchy (SR and Consultants) patients waited 1.31±5.71 minutes. For those patients who had no other tests or procedures recommended, the prescription generation required a further 4.10±3.14 minutes. While those who had tests or procedures recommended waited 5.75±28.27 minutes for voucher generation for the specific test or procedure and 9.31±11.35 minutes for the test or procedure itself. Conclusion The obstetrics and gynecology clinic at Shalamar Hospital has average wait times comparable to others in the region of approximately 45 minutes. The longest wait during the visit is before patient history and examination approximately 20 minutes. To improve wait times, the clinic should implement staggered appointments, use a token system, manage queues better, follow clinic hours, and improve coordination between doctors. This will allow for improved patient experiences, faster patient turnovers, and increased patient inflow.

Waste not want not: the story of surgical trash.

Our escalating reliance on disposable products in the operating room has generated a large amount of waste, cost, and environmental pollution. Heath damages from the pollution caused by the US healthcare industry cause as much harm, as measured by disability-adjusted life years, as total medical errors. Our response to our own environmental impact should be proportional to that harm. Understanding the waste streams we create and the factors that contribute to our large waste generation in the operating room can help us target solutions to our most harmful practices. Recent studies within the field of medical waste in ObGyn have included a systematic review analyzing most effective practices for waste reduction and environmental life cycle analyses of specific medical procedures. Operating room waste includes regulated medical waste, pathologic waste/chemotherapy, sharps, general municipal waste, recycling, linens, and anesthetic gases. The most effective way to reduce the environmental impact from medical waste is to reduce our use of disposable supplies in favor of durable reusable materials. Other important interventions include eliminating 'overage' of unused supplies, optimizing use of anesthetic gas, custom pack scale backs, and proper waste segregation. This review of operative waste is intended to aid healthcare facilities in understanding and addressing their own environmental impact.

Exercise is medicine: how should medicine embrace exercise as a key therapeutic tool?

Background: As chronic diseases and the aging population increase, exercise is becoming more and more essential along with medical treatment for recovering and maintaining individuals’ physical health. Furthermore, the demand for exercise-based interventions in this context is growing. Although most healthcare professionals recognize the effectiveness and necessity of exercise, the “Exercise is Medicine” initiative has not been established in clinical settings. We aim to discuss the effectiveness and importance of exercise in the treatment and management of diseases and how exercise should be considered a key therapeutic tool in medicine.Current Concepts: Exercise-related mechanisms and their influence on body structure and function should be considered in disease management. It is necessary to understand these interactions and monitor their effects on the entire body. During recovery after an injury, exercise rehabilitation is provided as program customized according to the phase and function levels, the clinical pathway of which is feasible and effective. Exercise programs for maintaining the functioning and physical and mental health of people with disabilities should be developed by considering individuals’ functional levels, disability types, and conditions. Correct posture, microbreaks, and regular exercise are key to managing musculoskeletal pain.Discussion and Conclusion: To ensure the effectiveness of the “Exercise is Medicine” initiative, exercise should be included in the National Health Insurance System after clarifying the indications and clinical effectiveness of exercise therapy and defining specific procedures. Furthermore, increased awareness and changes in the attitude of healthcare professionals and patients toward exercise are necessary. It is now time for the medical community to ponder over and pool its wisdom on how to adopt exercise as a key therapeutic tool.

SIGNIFICANCE OF APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL MODELS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RATING SYSTEM OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

The most important system for managing risks and measuring financial performance is the rating system. The rating system is considered an integral part of banks' current operations and their risk management culture. All banks try to highlight its affiliation with current affairs, in order to show the supervisors the necessity of its use for the purpose of determining the minimum regulatory capital requirements.The Committee in Basel for certain classes of exposure to risks recommends the use of a basic methodology where banking institutions use their own assessment of the risk of non-payment of debtors as an input, while assessments of additional risk factors are applied through the supervisor's standardized rules.This basic methodology is available for banking institutions that have the ability to satisfy their supervisors that they are capable of meeting certain minimum requirements of the banking system, the risk management process and the ability to assess its essential components.In addition to the basic methodology, advanced methodologies have also been defined that provide the possibility of internal assessment of risk components. Wide application of the aforementioned assessments is an important part of the dynamic and risk-sensitive IRB approach (Internal Rating Based). Thus, those banking institutions that have the ability to carry out a certain valid and quantified risk assessment can be identified and distinguished.Some specific models, procedures and processes of assessing the probability of non-payment in certain situations, through the obtained results, enable the management of banking institutions to analyze in detail the real picture of possible debtors, which ultimately provides a possible better analysis of their default.

Innovating Airport Luggage Disinfection Systems with Advanced Technologies and Automation

In this article, we point out that luggage disinfection is a key step in stopping the spread of infectious diseases that can be contracted at airports due to viruses and bacteria, which can spread through passenger luggage at airports. To prevent the spread of respiratory infections at airports, in this research study, we compare two types of baggage disinfection system. The first method uses UV light to disinfect luggage while selectively checking it for the presence of bacteria and viruses. The second system uses non-selective disinfection, taking into account the possibility of the spread of disease from the aircraft’s home country. An analysis and simulation of a specific airport security procedure was carried out on the model under study, which is an automated system for disinfecting baggage at airports in two variants. The aim is to reduce the transmission of harmful diseases and, at the same time, to ensure the accuracy of passenger security screening by efficiently exhausting each of the proposed models. This research shows that the suggested measures to stop the spread of infectious diseases that travelers’ luggage can bring in will enhance screening procedures and, in particular, boost overall security while lowering the risk of infection transmission at airports.

Non-inferiority, randomised, open-label clinical trial on the effectiveness of transurethral microwave thermotherapy compared to prostatic artery embolisation in reducing severe lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: study protocol for the TUMT-PAE-1 trial

BackgroundOne-fourth of men older than 70 years have lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that impair their quality of life. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered the gold standard for surgical treatment of LUTS caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that cannot be managed conservatively or pharmacologically. However, TURP is only an option for patients fit for surgery and can result in complications. Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) and prostatic artery embolisation (PAE) are alternative minimally invasive surgical therapies (MISTs) performed in an outpatient setting. Both treatments have shown to reduce LUTS with a similar post-procedure outcome in mean International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). It is however still unknown if TUMT and PAE perform equally well as they have never been directly compared in a randomised clinical trial. The objective of this clinical trial is to assess if PAE is non-inferior to TUMT in reducing LUTS secondary to BPH.MethodsThis study is designed as a multicentre, non-inferiority, open-label randomised clinical trial. Patients will be randomised with a 1:1 allocation ratio between treatments. The primary outcome is the IPSS of the two arms after 6 months. The primary outcome will be evaluated using a 95% confidence interval against the predefined non-inferiority margin of + 3 points in IPSS. Secondary objectives include the comparison of patient-reported and functional outcomes at short- and long-term follow-up. We will follow the patients for 5 years to track long-term effect. Assuming a difference in mean IPSS after treatment of 1 point with an SD of 5 and a non-inferiority margin set at the threshold for a clinically non-meaningful difference of + 3 points, the calculated sample size was 100 patients per arm. To compensate for 10% dropout, the study will include 223 patients.DiscussionIn this first randomised clinical trial to compare two MISTs, we expect non-inferiority of PAE to TUMT. The most prominent problems with MIST BPH treatments are the unknown long-term effect and the lack of proper selection of candidates for a specific procedure. With analysis of the secondary outcomes, we aspire to contribute to a better understanding of durability and provide knowledge to guide treatment decisions.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05686525. Registered on January 17, 2023, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05686525.

Microbiological evaluation of ultraviolet C light-emitting diodes for disinfection of medical instruments

BackgroundDespite the many guidelines for reprocessing of medical instruments, challenges persist such as microbial resistance to biocides, corrosive effects on materials, and time-consuming reprocessing procedures. Ultraviolet (UV) C light-emitting diode (LED) chambers might provide a solution but the integration in healthcare is still in its infancy. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of a novel ZAPARAY™ UVC LED chamber as a time and energy-efficient alternative for reprocessing of medical instruments for which current disinfection protocols exhibit limitations. MethodsWe verified the disinfection efficacy of the UVC LED chamber on a Petri dish and contaminated several medical devices with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The bacterial reduction was assessed after 5 min of UVC LED exposure. Additionally, we investigated the impact of rinsing before UVC exposure. ResultsWe demonstrated a bacterial reduction of 9 log10 on a Petri dish. Non-rinsed dental tools exhibited varied reduction levels ranging from a 3.23 log10 to a 6.25 log10 reduction. Rinsing alone yielded an average reduction of 2.7 log10 and additional UVC exposure further reduced the bacterial load by an average of 3.65 log10. We showed an average 4.90 log10 reduction on thermistors, 2 log10 or less on orthodontic pliers, and no reduction on handpieces. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that UVC LED chambers may be used as a standardized substitute for specific (manual) disinfection procedures of certain medical devices, offering a time-efficient and more sustainable alternative. However, its use should be preceded by efficacy testing for each specific type of instrument.

Cross Sectional Survey of Ob/Gyn Residents’ Graduated Experience with Robotic Surgery

Study ObjectiveOb/Gyn resident experience with robotic gynecologic surgery has been evaluated at time of graduation, but no specific surgical procedures were identified to differentiate the experiences of residents at each level. This study proposes to determine which factors are correlated with more hands-on robotic surgery experience and resident satisfaction. DesignAn IRB-approved, 15-question survey was distributed electronically. 98 responses were received for a rate of 44%. Linear regression and ANOVA statistical analysis were performed. SettingCurrent residents at eight Ob/gyn residency programs in the US were surveyed. PatientsN/A InterventionsSurvey administration Measurement and Main ResultsThe majority of respondents were satisfied (48%) or had neutral feelings (20%) with regard to their robotic surgery experience. All respondents reported experience with uterine manipulation or bedside assisting by PGY2. Earliest experience performing hysterectomy was most common in PGY2 or PGY3.Seventy-six percent of PGY3 or PGY4 residents report operating on the console for some or all major robotic surgeries, with 69% having participated in greater than 20 robotic surgery cases during residency. Only exposure to MIGS faculty is significantly associated with high robotic surgery experience (p=.022).Overall satisfaction with robotic surgery experience increased significantly with higher level of participation (p<.0001), particularly operating at the console during some or most of the surgery; longitudinal experiences with hysterectomy, myomectomy, and salpingectomy/oophorectomy (p<.05); but not with solely bedside assisting or vaginal cuff closure. Factors limiting robotic console experience included case time constraints, lack of first assists, case complexity, and attending comfort. ConclusionsOb/Gyn resident satisfaction with training is significantly related to level and duration of robotic surgery participation. MIGS faculty contribute to more resident experience, and limiting factors include time constraints, case complexity and lack of first assists. These results can provide a framework for structuring resident training in robotic surgery.

S14-1: EUPAP Feasibility Study. Practice transfer of a HEPA prescription model to other nine EU countries. From theory to practice

Abstract Purpose The Swedish Physical Activity on Prescription (PAP-S) method was to be transferred to other European regions through the EUPAP Project, innovative for implementing a reliable method to other nine countries. Implementation practices are strongly context-dependent; therefore, the practice transfer requires a flexible approach. PAP-S results over 20 years have reported success to a variety of populations. It addresses physically inactive individuals and/or with chronic conditions to improve their health by increasing their physical activity (PA) levels. The PAP-S five core components are: individualised patient-centred counselling, evidence-based PA recommendation, written prescription, community support, and follow-up. The goal was to know the context regarding PA prescription and ease the transfer from the Swedish context, specifically to: a) setting relevant PAP-S indicators for planning and monitoring, b) creating guidelines for data collection, c) providing an overview of the situation in each region, and d) assessing for readiness to implement the model. Project description Modified Hybrid e-Delphi process by representative from 10 countries. First, commitment from organisations to assume costs for the implementation. Second, description of variables and procedures for data collection. Data comprised two dimensions (ie, macro level (early diagnosis) and micro level (preparedness for implementation)). Third, data collection. Fourth, data analysis and discussion. Thirty-five experts participated in the EUPAP Feasibility Study. Guidelines for data collection includes indicators on macro level: a) EUPAP-relevant policy documents, b) profiles of prescribers and allied professionals, c) programmes, materials and training on HEPA, d) regulations, e) budget; and micro level: a) stakeholders, b) settings, c) agents, d) end-users. Country-specific results were collected, compared and discussed in relation to the core components of PAP-S (findings are accessible on www.eupap.org). Project partners disseminated the results among region-specific stakeholders. Conclusions Data showed regions with solid background to launch the EUPAP implementation (Flanders, Catalonia, Portugal) and others with less existing materials or weak network (Malta, Romania, Germany). Policy-makers, local health services and communities may better set short- mid- and long-term goals for the PAP-S transfer. Further design on practices and policies may use the Feasibility Study Guidelines for setting specific procedures. Funding Co-funded by the European Union’s Health Programme (2014-2020).

Trends in payments for facility and surgeon professional fees for shoulder surgeries performed at ambulatory surgery centers

It has previously been demonstrated that utilization of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) results in cost savings and improved outcomes. Despite these benefits, Medicare reimbursement for professional fees at ASCs are decreasing over time. In this study, we sought to analyze the discrepancy between facility fee and professional fee reimbursements for ASCs by Medicare for common shoulder procedures over time. We hypothesized that professional fees for shoulder procedures would decrease over the study period while facility fees kept pace with inflation. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were used to identify shoulder specific procedures approved for ASCs by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Procedures were grouped into arthroscopic and open categories. Publicly available data from CMS was accessed via the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Lookup Tool and used to determine professional fee payments from 2018-2024. Additionally, Medicare ASC Payment Rates files were accessed to determine facility fee reimbursements to ASCs from 2018-2024. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate means and percent change over time. Compound annual growth rates (CAGR) were calculated and discrepancies in inflation were corrected for using the Consumer Price Index. The Benjamini and Hochberg method was used to correct P values in the setting of multiple comparisons. A total of 33 common shoulder procedures were included for analysis (10 arthroscopic codes and 23 open codes). Reimbursements for facility fees have remained significantly higher than corresponding professional fees for both open and arthroscopic procedures (p<0.01). On average, facility fee reimbursements for common shoulder surgeries have risen on an annual basis in a manner consistent with inflation (p=0.838). However, professional fees for these procedures have experienced a nearly uniform decline over the study period both nominally and in inflation-adjusted dollars (p=0.064 and p=0.005, respectively). Facility fee payments for outpatient approved shoulder surgeries have matched or outpaced inflation. Over the same time period, professional fee reimbursements for surgeons are consistently decreasing, both in absolute and inflation-adjusted dollars. Reform to the physician fee schedule is necessary to ensure that Medicare patients retain access to high-quality physician care.

The impact of EU law on national legal systems and the world order

The article analyzes the impact of EU law on national legal systems and the world order. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the EU began active work on strengthening its authority and influence. In the 1990s, the EU (whose members also belonged to the Council of Europe) made the ratification of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (with Protocols) (European Convention on Human Rights) a necessary condition for EU membership, which involved a lot of preparatory work in the field of human rights for candidate countries. The founding treaties of the EU, in contrast to ordinary international treaties, established a new legal order with its own institutions, in favor of which states limited their sovereign rights in increasingly wide areas, the subjects of which are not only member states, but also their citizens. The active development of integration processes taking place within the framework of the EU leads to further convergence and closer interaction of the national legal systems of the member states with the EU, as a result of which the circle of legal relations, which are legally regulated by the norms of EU law, is expanding. A key role in the proper functioning and implementation of these norms (EU law) is played by the specific procedure of their implementation into the national law of the member states, which is understood as the process of transposition of the norms of EU law, including the creation of the order and procedures for their introduction into the national legal systems of the member states. With the deepening of European integration, the constitutionalization of EU law began: the founding treaties evolved from a set of agreements binding only on member states to founding treaties that provide the basis of a single legal regime. This regime grants rights and imposes obligations on all public and natural persons on the territory of the EU, since the norms of the founding treaties have direct effect and absolute supremacy, forming a kind of integration legal system. Currently, there is a close connection between EU law and the national legislation of the EU member states. The impact of EU law on the national legal systems of candidate countries for EU membership is indisputable. These trends suggest that while the emergence of Community (now Union) law has given rise to a new legal order, distinct from national law, these historically distinct legal orders now form a common legal system.

행정에서 인공지능의 활용에 있어서 행정법적 문제과 개혁과제

In order to achieve a fair, efficient, rapid and predictable exercise of state power, it is necessary to prepare for the emergence of a “government for the people, using artificial intelligence, for the people,” which has jumped from a “government for the people, by the people, for the people” by accepting advanced science and technology and reflecting the changed social image, so it is necessary to review the active use of artificial intelligence within the framework of the rule of law administration, check administrative law, and improve legislation. Analysis of the use of artificial intelligence in administrative law does not stop at deriving the current law's interpretation or legislative tasks for the use of artificial intelligence under the Administrative Procedure Act or limited to administrative disposition, but also checks the public law interpretation and response to the use of artificial intelligence in all “administrations” subject to administrative law. Criticism or problem consciousness of current artificial intelligence mainly deals with information opacity, process inexplicability, non-decipherability, information contamination, and intentional distortion of information in the deep learning stage and the use of generative artificial intelligence. The general legislative attitude of the EU and others has attempted to establish a legislative safety net to prevent the emergence of market economy monsters using artificial intelligence, but it should be taken into account that policy judgment and normative consideration are needed to prepare for the emergence of information monsters at the same level as public and private areas, and discussions on risks are focused on deep learning-based artificial intelligence. The EU-type behavioral regulation model regulates general behavior in the use of artificial intelligence regardless of the public and private areas, but private economic entities have no democratic legitimacy in the organizational composition and pursue the maximum of private interests by nature. It is overlooked that the administrative entity, which is the public authority, has democratic legitimacy in the composition, and that the possibility of stakeholder participation in administrative processes and specific administrative procedures is guaranteed, as well as checks by the principle of separation of powers. If the act regulation law in the use of artificial intelligence by private economic entities is brought into the public domain, it leads to overregulation in the public domain, but underregulation for private economic entities occurs. Data is the resource of the future and the oil of the future in the age of artificial intelligence. The data must be managed publicly and the public's free and stable use must be guaranteed if the public property of the data is recognized and pseudonymized information is released from the personal personal rights and ownership of the data. A department in charge of creating, collecting, and managing big data at the national level will be essential. Hangeul data, with the originality of Hangeul, needs to approach the protection of Hangeul resources and the development of Hangul-specific artificial intelligence in order to protect national interests. It is necessary to actively utilize artificial intelligence to increase the objectivity and rationality of evaluation in evaluating business feasibility or predicting future demand in various private capital attraction projects and public development projects, and it is necessary to improve the legal system that detects the misappropriation and overcharges of public funds, imposes punitive fines, and the use of artificial intelligence in the process of selecting subjects and verifying them through post-mortem review in the public benefit area.

Serious game for cognitive assessment. Validation of a psychometric embedded test

The evaluation of performance in serious video games is crucial when it comes to providing empirical evidence of the effectiveness of this type of educational tools. In turn, the design of psychometric tests demands specific procedures aimed at estimating validity levels. This paper presents the validation process of a psychometric test embedded in a video game, for the assessment of executive functions, understood as a set of cognitive processes associated with the functioning of the frontal lobes, including planning, inhibition, flexibility and monitoring. The sample consisted of 171 participants aged between 5 and 12 years (Mean=8.27; SD=1.589), students at elementary school. The analyses performed included Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega internal consistency indexes and an Exploratory Factor Analysis. The results indicate good levels of reliability and excellent fit indices for a two-factor model

3D-ARM-Gaze: a public dataset of 3D Arm Reaching Movements with Gaze information in virtual reality

3D-ARM-Gaze is a public dataset designed to provide natural arm movements together with visual and gaze information when reaching objects in a wide reachable space from a precisely controlled, comfortably seated posture. Participants were involved in picking and placing objects in various positions and orientations in a virtual environment, whereby a specific procedure maximized the workspace explored while ensuring a consistent seated posture by guiding participants to a predetermined neutral posture via visual feedback from the trunk and shoulders. These experimental settings enabled to capture natural arm movements with high median success rates (>98% objects reached) and minimal compensatory movements. The dataset regroups more than 2.5 million samples recorded from 20 healthy participants performing 14 000 single pick-and-place movements (700 per participant). While initially designed to explore novel prosthesis control strategies based on natural eye-hand and arm coordination, this dataset will also be useful to researchers interested in core sensorimotor control, humanoid robotics, human-robot interactions, as well as for the development and testing of associated solutions in gaze-guided computer vision.

Autonomic Responses Associated with Olfactory Preferences of Fragrance Consumers: Skin Conductance, Respiration, and Heart Rate.

Assessing the olfactory preferences of consumers is an important aspect of fragrance product development and marketing. With the advancement of wearable device technologies, physiological signals hold great potential for evaluating olfactory preferences. However, there is currently a lack of relevant studies and specific explanatory procedures for preference assessment methods that are based on physiological signals. In response to this gap, a synchronous data acquisition system was established using the ErgoLAB multi-channel physiology instrument and olfactory experience tester. Thirty-three participants were recruited for the olfactory preference experiments, and three types of autonomic response data (skin conductance, respiration, and heart rate) were collected. The results of both individual and overall analyses indicated that olfactory preferences can lead to changes in skin conductance (SC), respiration (RESP), and heart rate (HR). The trends of change in both RESP and HR showed significant differences (with the HR being more easily distinguishable), while the SC did not exhibit significant differences across different olfactory perception preferences. Additionally, gender differences did not result in significant variations. Therefore, HR is more suitable for evaluating olfactory perception preferences, followed by RESP, while SC shows the least effect. Moreover, a logistic regression model with a high accuracy (84.1%) in predicting olfactory perception preferences was developed using the changes in the RESP and HR features. This study has significant implications for advancing the assessment of consumer olfactory preferences.