Set Of Standard Procedures Research Articles

Inclusion of different levels of solid-state fermented mahua oil cake on growth, digestibility and immunological parameters of rohu (Labeo rohita)

Mahua oil cake (Bassia latifolia) is one of the non-conventional ingredients which are generally used as manure for horticultural crops. However, mahua oil cake can also be used as cheap source of nutrient for fish replacing conventional plant ingredient by solid state fermentation. Solid state fermentation of mahua oil cake was done by mixed strain of microbes (Sachharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus subtilis) through a standard set of procedures which improved the quality of mahua oil cake by increase in crude protein, decrease in crude fibre and decrease in anti-nutritional factors like total tannin and saponin. To evaluate the fermented mahua oil cake in rohu, six iso‑nitrogenous feeds for rohu (Labeo rohita) were formulated and prepared incorporating fermented mahua oil cake at different levels i.e. 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% replacing soyabean meal and other feed ingredients and fed to rohu fingerlings in different treatment groups for 120 days period. Fish fed diets with 20% of mahua oil cake significantly improved (p < 0.05) growth performance, feed conversion ratio, digestibility of nutrients and immunological parameters like lysozyme, myeloperoxidase and haemagglutination compared to diets without fermented mahua oil cake. However, fish fed diets with 40% fermented mahua oil cake resulted non-significant difference (p > 0.05) in growth performance, nutrient digestibility and immunological parameters compared to diets without fermented mahua oil cake. The present study might suggest incorporation of solid state fermented mahua oil cake up to 40% level without interfering growth, digestibility and immunological parameters in L. rohita fingerlings.

Изменение лесных массивов северо-восточного региона Азербайджана по космическим снимкам

Among the most valuable natural resources of any country are its forest reserves. They need to be preserved. The need for forest protection also exists in Azerbaijan, where there is less forest per inhabitant than in neighboring countries. The use of modern data acquisition and processing methods as well as geographical information system technologies has reduced research in this area to a set of standard procedures. The article describes the stages of processing satellite images available in the public domain, using the case study of the north-eastern region of Azerbaijan, in order to compile forest cover maps over a number of different years. The Landsat images obtained during the summer seasons in different years from 1987 to 2018 are studied. The images covered the territory of 5 neighboring districts in the north-east of Azerbaijan. Preliminary processing of the images included radiometric calibration and atmospheric correction and was carried out using the ENVI software and the FLAASH module. The article also shows the final processing of images using the ArcGIS program in order to determine the areas covered by forests in different years. The analysis was based on the calculation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The index was calculated for all considered satellite images. Then sections of images with high NDVI values were highlighted, vectorized, and the areas of the resulting polygons were found. Thus, a separate thematic layer is created for each year, showing the area of forest cover that year, i.e. 3 layers in total. The data obtained were summarized in a table, from which a diagram showing the dynamics of the forest area in the region was created. The data also became the basis for a thematic electronic map of forest loss. The continuation of this process has been described. For citation: Mamedaliyeva V.M. Changes in Forested Areas of the North-Eastern Region of Azerbaijan Revealed by Satellite Images. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2022, no. 1, pp. 88–97. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2022-1-88-97

Treatment navigation to reduce emergency room (ER) visits in cancer patients.

199 Background: The practice of conventional oncology has undoubtedly changed in the last 15 years, becoming more efficient, but also more complex and expensive. This complex care needs significant coordination. In the last 2 years in half of the continuing development of our care coordination working in the "Navigation Treatment" domain, the impact on reducing ER visits was, in media, 75%. Methods: In 2015 IOV developed a patient-centered Navigation System based on Kanban (board and visual signals-KNS) for managing the treatment plan of our patients that was successful. In 2016 with support of an educational grant from QTP-ASCO, we extended this system to manage pain to others cancers and treatment-related symptoms, education, resource referral or Coordination of multi-disciplinary care. This study addresses only decreased ER visits between Dec 15 and May 20 by all patients monitored by Nurses navigators. We measured the proportional reduction of ER visits related to pain to the total ER visits in three successive periods: development of the NKS (dec15-jul16), pilot phase (aug16-oct17), and as an adopted best practice (oct17-until today). The KNS comprises a set of standardized procedures and successive checks for patients in treatment based on three procedures: (a) standardized treatments prescriptions to pain and symptoms controls; (b) standardized follow up in 24 and 48 hours, 1, 2 and 4 weeks; and (c) manage side effects of opioids or other emerging problem (constipation, confusion, mucositis, diarrhea, fever, etc.). Any patient initiating opioid use is included in the KNS until opioid is discontinued. Once pain is adequately controlled, the frequency of checks become wider up to once a month if no toxicity is identified. Any new condition (will restart the 24-48 hours loop. The KNS is managed by oncology nurses using phone or video calls, messaging, and appointments; Mon-Sun from 6 AM to 8 PM. Results: The KNS managed a median of 204 (table*) patients per month during the last 32 months (Oct 17 to May 20). Patients with pain, symptoms, or side effects that were effectively managed by the team avoided an unwanted visit to the ER, in media by 75%. Pain represents 20% of ER visits generally; in pilot phase 15% of ER visits, and actually 4% of ER visits, an 80% reduction in pain-related ER visits. ER visits represent patients with uncontrolled pain and not effectively managed by the KNS. Conclusions: The development of a system to deliver more effective care patients resulted in a 75% reduction of ER visits and adequate pain control in our practice.

Navigating care to reduce emergency room (ER) visits in cancer patients using opioids.

e18265 Background: Pain is the most frequent and one of the most important cancer related symptom with significant impact in quality of life. It is also the most frequent reason (27% of visits) for a patient to go to an ER and 53% can be prevented with adequate care (Panattoni, JCO 35, 2017 suppl; abstr 6505). Methods: In 2015 IOV developed a patient centered Navigation System based on Kanban (board and visual signals - KNS) for managing treatment plan of our patients that was very successful. In 2016 with support of an educational grant from QTP-ASCO we extended this system to manage pain and other cancer or treatment related symptoms. This study addresses only pain management and ER visits between dec16 and dec18 for a total of 187 patients using opioids. We measured the proportional reduction of ER visits related to pain to the total ER visits in three successive periods: development of the NKS (dec15-jul16), pilot phase (aug16-oct17) and as an adopted best practice (oct17-dec18). The pain KNS comprises a set of standardized procedures and successive checks for patients using opioids based on three procedures: (a) standardized prescription and use of analgesics using WHO’s Pain Ladder; (b) standardized follow up in 24 and 48 hours, 1, 2 and 4 weeks; and (c) manage side effects of opioids or other emerging problem (constipation, confusion, etc). Any patient initiating opioid use is included in the KNS until opioid is discontinued. Once pain is adequately controlled, the frequency of checks become wider up to once a month if no toxicity is identified. Any new condition will restart the 24-48 hours loop. The KNS is managed by oncology nurses using phone or video calls, messaging, and appointments; Mon-Sat from 6AM to 10PM. Results: The KNS managed a median of 132 patients per month during 29 months (aug16 to dec18). Pain represented 20% of ER visits (33.65 UCL and 6.7 LCL); in pilot phase 15% of ER visits (27.34 UCL and 3.70 LCL); and now 4% of ER visits ( 8.46 UCL and 0 LCL), an 80% reduction in pain related ER visits. ER visits represents patients with uncontrolled pain and not effectively managed by the KNS. Conclusions: The development of a simple visual system to manage cancer patients with pain resulted in 80% reduction of ER visits and adequate pain control in our practice.

Cafeína y comportamiento animal. Análisis sobre condiciones experimentales

Objetivo: Realizar una revisión teórica relacionada con el efecto de la cafeína en el comportamiento animal en estudios que incluyen tareas de aprendizaje, memoria y/o actividad motora, con el fin de analizar algunas condiciones experimentales. Materiales y métodos: Búsqueda de artículos publicados entre los años 1995 a 2018 en las bases de datos Pubmed y Scopus por medio de la relación de palabras clave: cafeína, café, ratas, ratones, atención, memoria y aprendizaje. Se revisaron las tareas de aprendizaje y/o actividad motora, el tipo y género de cepas, así como el tratamiento con cafeína. También se incluyeron artículos de revisión de años anteriores al rango de tiempo, con el fin de ampliar el estado del arte de la cafeína y sus efectos. Resultados: Mientras algunos estudios indican que la cafeína ejerce un efecto positivo sobre actividades motoras y cognitivas, otros estudios concluyen lo contrario. La variación en las condiciones experimentales de los estudios analizados puede incidir en los resultados obtenidos. Conclusión: El amplio rango de condiciones experimentales en una misma tarea de memoria no permite que se delimite el espectro de variables en los protocolos de investigación con cafeína, por ello no se logra identificar variables biológicamente importantes que, al ser identificadas, pueden convergen hacia un conjunto de procedimientos estandarizados en paradigmas específicos de aprendizaje.

Repeatability and intra-rater reproducibility of a digitalized test of body image perception

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2017v19n2p214 A body schema is a cortical representation of the spatial relations of body parts. It can be evaluated using the Image Marking Procedure (IMP). However, that instrument lacks information regarding its reliability and a standardized set of procedures. The aim of this study was to test the repeatability and intra-rater reproducibility of an adapted IMP. Methods: It consisted of two steps: (1) adaptation of the instrument; (2) verification of its reliability. Sixty-five young adult women were evaluated on two different days by a single rater, with a one-week interval between evaluations. Three consecutive measurements were performed on each day. Regarding repeatability, for all the variables (coordinates, distances and area), the ICC scores were classified as excellent, with low SEM (&lt;4.5cm) and MDC (&lt;8.5cm) values. Regarding intra-rater reproducibility, only the variables area and distance between the trochanters presented ICC&gt; 0.6. The adapted IMP needs to be conducted only once. Regarding reproducibility, the variables apt for use are the area within the points and the distance between the trochanters. In contrast to the original IMP test, in this adapted version we do not recommend the use of the distances between the shoulders, the hip/waist or the top of the head in relation to the ground.

DISCOURSE OF POWER AND DISCOURSE OF MASSES IN MODERN PHILOSOPHICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: CULTURAL, BIOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS DIMENSIONS

The aim of the paper is the identification of anthropological content of the power and mass discourses in contemporary social transformations. The theme of philosophical and anthropological meaning of discourse communication between mass and power in post-modern society acquires the significant relevance because of technologization of the governance processes and transformation of previously sacred power as a set of standard procedures. Methodology of the paper consists on the disclosure of cultural peculiarities and substantial forms of power discourse and mass discourse properties in major directions of philosophical anthropology of middle XX and at the beginning of the XXI century. Scientific novelty. The directions of the institutional sense expression in the discourse of power supply are disclosed and the process of mixing power and management and representative anthropology is fixed. The biological, cultural and religious levels of displaying the anthropological significance discourse of power are identified. The definition is given to the anthropic content of discursive power of speech activities and methods and philosophical reflection of the discursive self-expression of powerful masses. The specificity of the interaction of power and mass discourses of national and universal semantic spaces are defined. In conclusions it is indicated that the anthropic space of the contemporary mass human is narrowing significantly, because the individuals’ participation in technology of society management is finally excluded. On this basis even the key aspect of mass discourse breaks – the mass narrations about the power, because the power performs the direct intervention in the mass discourse structure of sense-creation by the way of suggestion.

Development and validation of a patient reported outcome instrument for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

To develop and validate a specific patient reported outcome (PRO) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (COPD-PRO) at a set of standardized procedures. Literature analysis, interview and group discussion were performed to draft an initial model of COPD-PRO. Thereafter, 65 clinicians and experts throughout China reviewed the draft scale. Then cognitive debriefing interviews with 40 patients were conducted to assess respondent comprehension of the scale. After that, the revised scale was validated through pre-testing and field-testing. Finally, the psychometric properties of the COPD-PRO were evaluated by indicators such as validity, reliability and responsiveness based on the data from 230 patients. The COPD-PRO contained 17 items in 3 domains: amelioration of clinical symptoms, satisfaction of health condition and satisfaction of treatment effect. The Cronbach's α, Split-half coefficient and test-retest coefficient were 0.806, 0.744, 0.703, respectively; the correlation coefficients between domains and overall scale were 0.835-0.963; 5 factors were extracted according to the conceptual model. The differences of the scale scores before and after treatment were statistically significant (P=0.000). The COPDPRO has good validity, reliability and responsiveness. The COPD-PRO could provide patients' response to the treatments and then evaluate the effect of treatment in a standardized way.

Perspectives on Microsampling: Dbs

The concept of microsampling and particularly the dried blood spot methodology has been widely known to the scientific community for considerable time. Yet, there is no formal standard approach available to date for the pharmaceutical community to benefit from, in its regulatory interactions. This article discusses the various aspects of these issues and provides a framework within which a standard set of procedures can be adopted.

Improving Automated Database Studies

Improving Automated Database Studies

Unofficial international conflict resolution: Is there a Track 1½? Are there best practices?

AbstractAnalysis of twenty‐four cases of unofficial international conflict resolution initiatives, done according to similarities across seven variables, shows that the practice of “Track 1½” diplomacy is distinct from Track 2 diplomacy. Furthermore, these initiatives are distinguished by their focus on process or diverse goals. Multidimensional scaling organized the cases into four groupings of similar initiatives: Track 1½ process‐focused, Track 1½ diversified, Track 2 process‐focused, and Track 2 diversified. The variety of approaches used in these twenty‐four cases of high‐quality international conflict resolution initiatives suggests best practices. These practices should be considered sensitive to context rather than a standard set of procedures used regardless of conflict environment.

Intrinsically conductive polymer for PWB direct metallization: process reliability by process management

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe in detail the direct metallization of printed wiring boards using ENVISION® HDI for the selective formation of intrinsic conductive polymer.Design/methodology/approachThe process technology offers several advantages over the most commonly used electroless copper process: including higher through‐put; no deposition on metallic surfaces eliminating needs for post‐treatment in a micro‐etch, few process steps; significant reductions in water consumption and waste water, which does not contain hazardeous components such as metal, chelators and formaldehyde.FindingsENVISION HDI consists of only three process modules (conditioner, initiator and catalyst), each controlled by standard analytical technologies. In addition the quality out‐put of each module is monitored using a second set of standardized procedures, ensuring total process management, hence documenting complete process reliability.Originality/valueThis paper describes in detail quality control approaches for each process segment to provide a high level of performance and quality assurance for the process as a whole.

Implementation of Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis of Facilitators and Barriers

Implementation of Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis of Facilitators and Barriers

Creating the virtual map drawer

PurposeThe paper aims to report on a project that was a unique collaboration between a map librarian and a geography faculty member which resulted in the successful creation of set of standard procedures developed for the collection of metadata from paper maps in a library collection for inclusion in the national spatial data infrastructure (NSDI).Design/methodology/approachMetadata were collected using a set of tools from the USGS and provided to the public for free, and collection was performed by graduate students in geography. The rest of the paper is a qualitative description about the project and applications for future use.FindingsThe end result was the creation of a manner in which map collections can become more visible to users and ultimately to the world at large. More than 1,000 maps have been cataloged using these procedures. The procedures created from this project can also be used by any library with a map collection interested in increasing access to map collections by means of geospatial data clearinghouses and the NSDI.Practical implicationsIn general, map libraries and map librarians should start to look at how they are providing access to not only their digital collections, but also their paper collections and to begin experimenting with non‐traditional means of cataloging their collections and providing access. This paper is an example of such means.Originality/valuePrior efforts in this realm only examined the inclusion of digital geospatial data for inclusion in an NSDI.

Evaluation of Systematic Surface Evidence for Pottery Production in Veracruz, Mexico

AbstractSurvey-based analyses have used varied criteria to detect locations of pottery production in the Gulf lowlands of south-central and southern Veracruz, Mexico. A common practice uses double criteria: high frequencies or high densities of particular kinds of pottery in conjunction with highly reliable indicators, such as kiln fragments. Reliable indicators are relatively scarce, however, and subject to sampling error. Two previous analytical approaches each present problems with respect to threshold values for applying the density and frequency criteria, and a more standard set of procedures is suggested. An alternative criterion using spatial clustering helps reduce susceptibility to sampling error from infrequent finds such as deformed wasters or kiln fragments. In a case study, two newly detected locations of possible pottery production result from application of the alternative double criteria. With incorporation of these new data, changes in Gulf lowland pottery production over time are compatible with a growing role for specialization and marketing, especially from the Late Classic to the Late Postclassic periods. The examination and application of criteria for identifying possible locations of pottery production are important for harnessing the potential of systematic survey and surface collection for studies of economic change.

Datapoints: trends in research fellowship opportunities in psychiatry.

387 T is widespread recognition that the physician-scientist is an endangered species (1,2). Concern about the pipeline of psychiatrist-investigators has been especially acute (3). To assess trends in the number of psychiatrists in research training programs, we examined data collected by the American Psychiatric Association and published in the Directory of Research Fellowship Opportunities in 1992, 1995, and 2001 (4,5). In each of the preceding years, a standard set of procedures was used to survey directors of research training programs and residency training programs and chairs of psychiatry departments for detailed information about their research fellowship programs, including the number of M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. fellows participating in the program. Figure 1 depicts the number of each type of fellow during the years studied. There were 143, 141, and 104 departmental programs listed in the directory in 1992, 1995, and 2001, respectively. While the number of M.D./Ph.D. fellows dropped somewhat (48, 50, and 40), the number of M.D. research fellows declined dramatically, falling 42.2 perTrends in Research Fellowship Opportunities in Psychiatry

A critique and standardization of meta‐analytic validity coefficients in personnel selection

In personnel selection, variations in the interpretation and application of the Hunter and Schmidt meta‐analytic procedures often preclude a meaningful comparison between validity coefficients estimated by different meta‐analyses. In order to increase the comparability and accuracy of these coefficients, a standardized set of procedures and cumulated artifact distributions were used to correct 20 widely reported meta‐analytic validity coefficients estimated for six personnel selection methods (using job performance as the criterion). Structured interviews and cognitive ability tests demonstrated the highest operational validity. Seventeen of the 20 coefficients were found to be affected by moderators according to the Hunter and Schmidt 75% rule. On average, around 50% of variance in the meta‐analytic coefficients was explained by the correctable experimental artifacts of sampling error, direct range restriction in the predictor variable, and criterion unreliability. Limitations of this exercise and its implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Managing the complexity of SPI in small companies

Most known models for SPI (e.g. SEI CMM, ISO standards and other methods derived from those mentioned) are primarily suited for large or medium organizations, but with some tailoring they provide substantial support also for the SPI in small organizations considering their specific characteristics. In the article a case of such tailoring – the PROCESSUS model – is presented. The baseline of the methodology is the integration of the CMM and the ISO 9001 together with the ISO 9000-3. According to the integrated model and the study of different lifecycles, a set of standard procedures (SP) and standard documents (SD) was defined. Each standard procedure provides guidelines on how to perform related activities, who is involved, which documents are supposed to be used/derived within the procedure etc. The set of SP and SD is the essential help for SPI conduction – for the purpose of small companies the optimal use of suggested documents and the disposition of roles was defined. The SP-SD set is also described in the article. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Fostering Ethnic Reinvention

The provision of international humanitarian aid, far from being a neutral intervention in the forced migrants communal identity, is an especially directive intervention characterised by a set of standard procedures. Some micromechanisms within such procedures act as to foster ethnic reinvention together with empowerment of certain groups and individuals among the refugees. In the following article the case of the Somali Bantu refugees is analysed and ways inter-gender relations are strongly affected by the process of receiving aid during forced migrations are described. The very organisational procedure through which humanitarian aid is provided act as empowering and disempowering groups and individuals among the migrants; such procedure often pushes inter-gender power imbalances.

The Telemedicine benchmark—a general tool to measure and compare the performance of video conferencing equipment in the telemedicine area

In this paper, we describe the ‘Telemedicine Benchmark’ (TMB), which is a set of standard procedures, protocols and measurements to test reliability and levels of performance of data exchange in a telemedicine session. We have put special emphasis on medical imaging, i.e. digital image transfer, joint viewing and editing and 3D manipulation. With the TMB, we can compare the aptitude of different video conferencing software systems for telemedicine issues and the effect of different network technologies (ISDN, xDSL, ATM, Ethernet). The evaluation criteria used are length of delays and functionality. For the application of the TMB, a data set containing radiological images and medical reports was set up. Considering the Benchmark protocol, this data set has to be exchanged between the partners of the session. The Benchmark covers file transfer, whiteboard usage, application sharing and volume data analysis and compression. The TMB has proven to be a useful tool in several evaluation issues.