Technical Meeting Research Articles

Adult Immunization Board: A platform to provide guidelines for implementation of adult immunization

Abstract Background Several organizations, including governments, (inter)national public health organizations and vaccine manufactures are currently considering how adult immunization can be further improved to increase health impact and promote a lifelong approach to vaccination. Despite many organizations thinking about ways to improve adult immunization, there is currently no multidisciplinary discussion platform focusing on this topic at the European level. Therefore, a group of experts in the field of adult immunization established the Adult Immunization Board (AIB). Methods AIB is established with the aim of contributing to the reduction of the impact of vaccine-preventable infections and diseases in European adults. AIB works by organizing 2 meetings per year: 1) a technical meeting to discuss specific technical aspects on adult immunization with subject-matter experts, and 2) a country meeting to discuss country specific aspects of adult immunization together with local experts. Results In April 2023 and 2024 the AIB organized its first technical meetings on “Assessing the health burden of vaccine-preventable infections in European Adults (2023)” and “Strategies for introducing and implementing vaccines for adults into National Immunization Programs in Europe (2024)”. In December 2023, the AIB organized its first country meeting in Italy with local experts to learn out best practices in adult immunization and address aspects to improve. Conclusions AIB is a platform that brings together the different key European stakeholders in adult immunization to effectively contribute towards the implementation and optimization of adult immunization programs in Europe. Key messages • Continued efforts to promote research, implementation, awareness, accessibility, and vaccine uptake are crucial to mitigate the burden of (future) infectious diseases in the adult population. • The AIB represents a significant step towards bolstering adult immunization efforts in the EU.

Penyusunan rencana kontinjensi epidemi penyakit menular disebabkan oleh virus di Kota Banda Aceh [Development of contingency plan for infectious disease epidemics caused by viruses in Banda Aceh City

Contingency Plan for Outbreak/Epidemic Disaster in Banda Aceh City is a document that contains the process of identifying and preparing future plans based on potential disaster conditions. The purpose of making a Contingency Plan document that becomes a reference in the disaster outbreak/epidemic of Infectious Diseases Caused by Viruses in the City of Banda Aceh. Method The preparation process involved all disaster management institutions and actors, both government and non-government. The scope of activities carried out are: Technical Team Meeting, Public Seminar, and Plan Finalization. The results obtained by the issuance of the Banda Aceh Mayor's Regulation for the Contingency Plan for the epidemic of infectious diseases caused by viruses in the city of Banda Aceh which is regulated in a Banda Aceh Mayor's Regulation No. 68 of 2021 concerning the Contingency Plan for the Epidemic of Infectious Diseases Caused by Viruses in the City of Banda Aceh. In conclusion, Banda Aceh City has realized preparedness for the threat of epidemics of diseases caused by viruses by involving multi-sectors. To improve the function and sustainability of the document, data updates and projections of resource needs are needed to support the implementation/activation of the contingency plan that has been prepared.

An international film dosimetry intercomparison to establish a multi-center audit framework.

In 2021, a Technical Meeting was hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) where it was recommended that a standardized method for assessing the accuracy of film dose calculations should be established. To design an audit that evaluates the accuracy of film dosimetry processes. To propose a framework for identifying out-of-tolerance results and to perform an international pilot study to test the audit design. Six members of an international Dosimetry Audit Network (DAN) developed an audit for radiochromic film dosimetry. A single host center provided the materials to each participating DAN member to conduct the audits. Materials included: (1) a set of two irradiated audit films (10 Sq: 10cm × 10cm, 15 Sq: 15cm × 15cm), (2) a reference calibration film set, and (3) a blank sheet of film. The participants were blinded to the dose and tasked with producing dose maps using their standard film dosimetry process. Average Region-Of-Interest (ROI: 2cm × 2cm) dose was measured from the dose maps and compared to the known dose. In the audit, all participants used their local scanning and software protocols. Film calibration was performed in two distinct ways: (1) using a calibration film set which was provided by the host center and (2) using a calibration film set which was locally irradiated. Several variations of the audit were also performed to examine how scanning and software processing can affect film dosimetry results. In the first variation of the audit (VariantA), a set of film scans was processed using five different software solutions. In the second variation of the audit (VariantB), all films were scanned on the same scanner and processed using two in-house software solutions. Taking one film scan from each participant, the standard deviations (1σ) (SD) in the dose returned from the host calibration and returned from the local calibration were±7.2% and±6.5% respectively, with variations from -12.4% to 12.9% of the known dose. The larger dose variations in the data set were attributed to the corrections applied for variations in scanner brightness during processing and incorrectly assigned calibration doses. When the raw image data set was processed by an expert user of each software solution (VariantA) the SDs were±2.7% and±3.7% for in-house and vendor-based software, respectively. When the films were scanned on a single scanner and processed with the two in-house software solutions (VariantB) the results had a SD of±2.3%. An audit has been designed and tested for radiotherapy film dosimetry at an international level. A framework for diagnosing issues within a film dosimetry process has been proposed that could be used to audit centers that use film as a dosimeter. Incorporating quality assurance throughout the film process is important in obtaining accurate and consistent film dosimetry. A better understanding of vendor-based software systems is necessary for users to process accurate and consistent film dosimetry.

Geological Association of Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Section Abstracts: 2024 Technical Meeting, March 20 and 21, 2024

Geological Association of Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Section Abstracts: 2024 Technical Meeting, March 20 and 21, 2024

A study on out-of-field leakage of an accelerator-based neutron beam for boron neutron capture therapy.

More and more accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (AB-BNCT) facilities are under the construction or commissioning stage, and the neutron beam characteristic measurements at each facility will start soon. In addition to the in-field neutron beam properties, the leakage of neutron beam is also important, which is related to the side effects of the patient. In the Virtual Technical Meeting on Advances in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy held by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in July 2020, the issue of the out-of-field leakage in BNCT was addressed. Heron Neutron Medical Corporation has been working on the beam design for China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital AB-BNCT research center. To evaluate the out-of-field leakage, both beam profile analysis and whole-body dose calculation are performed. An Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) mathematical phantom is used to calculate the whole-body dose. For the estimated irradiation time which is set to be the time required for 80% of tumor dose to reach 20 Gy-w, the relative biological effectiveness weighted dose of abdomen region is less than 40 mGy-w and the whole-body dose is 104 mSv. The beam profile calculational result shows that the neutron ambient dose equivalent at 15 cm from the field edge is 11 mSv/Gy-w and drops to 5 mSv/Gy-w at 26 cm from the field edge. The gamma ray ambient dose equivalent is less than 1 mSv/Gy-w starting from 10 cm from the field edge. Although the neutron out-of-field leakage of the beam design is higher than that of the initially proposed guideline by IAEA in 2020, the whole-body dose, however, is reasonably low. Both the whole-body dose evaluation and the beam profile analysis are useful in the beam design consideration. The whole-body dose calculation together with the beam profile analysis can also be helpful in reaching an acceptable recommendation for the out-of-field leakage for BNCT neutron beam, a job wished to be accomplished in the near future as proposed in the 2023 IAEA's report on Advances in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.

Position paper to facilitate patient access to radiopharmaceuticals: considerations for a suitable pharmaceutical regulatory framework.

Nuclear medicine has made enormous progress in the past decades. However, there are still significant inequalities in patient access among different countries, which could be mitigated by improving access to and availability of radiopharmaceuticals. This paper summarises major considerations for a suitable pharmaceutical regulatory framework to facilitate patient access to radiopharmaceuticals. These include the distinct characteristics of radiopharmaceuticals which require dedicated regulations,considering the impact of the variable complexity of radiopharmaceutical preparation, personnel requirements, manufacturing practices and quality assurance, regulatory authority interfaces, communication and training, as well as marketing authorisation procedures to ensure availability of radiopharmaceuticals. Finally, domestic and regional supply to ensure patient access via alternative regulatory pathways, including in-house production of radiopharmaceuticals, is described, and an outlook on regulatory challenges faced by new developments, such as the use of alpha emitters, is provided. All these considerations are an outcome of a dedicated Technical Meeting organised by the IAEA in 2023 and represent the views and opinions of experts in the field, not those of any regulatory authorities.

Diversity and Inclusion Special Session at the 2023 IEICE Antenna and Propagation Technical Meeting in Japan [Women in Microwaves

Diversity and Inclusion Special Session at the 2023 IEICE Antenna and Propagation Technical Meeting in Japan [Women in Microwaves

Context and Perspectives for Establishing a Novel Database for Protein Quality of Human Foods, as Proposed by a Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/International Atomic Energy Agency Expert Technical Meeting in October 2022

United Nations agencies have a long history of leading work on establishing global human nutrient requirements. Dietary protein contributes to metabolism and homeostasis and plays an essential role in human health for growth, maintenance, reproduction, and immune function (or immunity). Accurately defining the quantity and quality of protein provided by foods and diets required to meet human nutritional needs is essential to achieving global environmental and nutrition goals. There have been many scientific developments related to protein quality over the past decades, with the preferred method being the scoring approach that relates the capacity of protein sources to provide an adequate amount and proportion of nitrogen and indispensable amino acids (IAAs) in a bioavailable form (often referred to as digestibility). Questions surrounding the scoring approach and IAA metabolic availability have been discussed during past and recent expert consultations. Recently, an Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/International Atomic Energy Agency technical meeting, held in Vienna, 10–13 October, 2022, reviewed and updated evidence and related methods on protein requirements and protein quality assessment and designed a framework for the development of a Protein Digestibility Database to aid dialog on the evaluation of protein quality and protein sufficiency in different populations. The database should be a living document and align with national food compositional databases.

Circuits and Biomarkers of the Central Nervous System Relating to Astronaut Performance: Summary Report for a NASA-Sponsored Technical Interchange Meeting.

Biomarkers, ranging from molecules to behavior, can be used to identify thresholds beyond which performance of mission tasks may be compromised and could potentially trigger the activation of countermeasures. Identification of homologous brain regions and/or neural circuits related to operational performance may allow for translational studies between species. Three discussion groups were directed to use operationally relevant performance tasks as a driver when identifying biomarkers and brain regions or circuits for selected constructs. Here we summarize small-group discussions in tables of circuits and biomarkers categorized by (a) sensorimotor, (b) behavioral medicine and (c) integrated approaches (e.g., physiological responses). In total, hundreds of biomarkers have been identified and are summarized herein by the respective group leads. We hope the meeting proceedings become a rich resource for NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) and the community of researchers.

Geological Association of Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Section Abstracts: Spring Technical Meeting, April 24 and 25, 2023

Geological Association of Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Section Abstracts: Spring Technical Meeting, April 24 and 25, 2023

Summary report of the 4th IAEA Technical Meeting on Fusion Data Processing, Validation and Analysis (FDPVA)

The objective of the Fourth Technical Meeting on Fusion Data Processing, Validation and Analysis was to provide a platform during which a set of topics relevant to fusion data processing, validation and analysis are discussed with the view of extrapolating needs to next step fusion devices such as ITER. The validation and analysis of experimental data obtained from diagnostics used to characterize fusion plasmas are crucial for a knowledge-based understanding of the physical processes governing the dynamics of these plasmas. This paper presents the recent progress and achievements in the domain of plasma diagnostics and synthetic diagnostics data analysis (including image processing, regression analysis, inverse problems, deep learning, machine learning, big data and physics-based models for control) reported at the meeting. The progress in these areas highlight trends observed in current major fusion confinement devices. A special focus is dedicated on data analysis requirements for ITER and DEMO with a particular attention paid to artificial intelligence for automatization and improving reliability of control processes.

PENINGKATAN PENGETAHUAN, PERSEPSI DAN RESPON PENYULUH TERHADAP TEKNOLOGI PENINGKATAN PRODUKTIVITAS PADI

The increase in rice production in Central Java is mainly in increasing productivity rather than increasing the planted area. New superior varieties of rice (VUB) are one of the technological innovation breakthroughs that can increase rice productivity and farmers' income. Disease control strategies through an epidemiological control approach for bacterial leaf blight and brown plant hoppers also need to be disseminated to extension workers through technical meetings. Technical meeting is a meeting forum between researchers/instructors of IAARD and technology users (instructors in the field and agricultural officers) in order to communicate/socialize technology and innovations to be used as agricultural extension materials. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the technical meeting method in increasing the knowledge, perceptions and responses of extension officers about technology to increase rice productivity. The study was carried out using a true experiment approach by evaluating pre-test and post-test surveys. The technical meeting was held on May 25, 2021 at AIAT Central Java Jl. Soekarno Hatta KM 26 No 10 Semarang Regency with 40 participants. Sampling was using purposive sampling method as many as 40 respondents. Data of knowledge improvement were analysed by calculating the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test followed by the paired t-test. Meanwhile, perception and response data were analysed by descriptive method. The knowledge improvement after obtaining the technology material increased by 14.44% and had a perception and response in the high/positive category towards the introduced technological innovation. With the increase in knowledge, perceptions and positive responses, it is hoped that extension workers can play a positive role in making the material at the technical meeting as extension material in each work area.

The time is now: Achieving FH paediatric screening across Europe - The Prague Declaration.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is the most common inherited metabolic disorder characterized by high cholesterol and if left untreated leads to premature cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks. Treatment that begins early in life, particularly in childhood, is highly efficacious in preventing cardiovascular disease and cost-effective, thus early detection of FH is crucial. However, in Europe, less than 10% of people living with FH are diagnosed and even less receive life-saving treatment. The Prague Declaration is a call to action for national and European Union policymakers and decision-makers and a result of the Czech EU Presidency meeting on FH Paediatric Screening (early detection of inherited high cholesterol) at the Czech Senate in Prague on 6th September 2022. It builds on a considerable body of evidence which was discussed at the Technical Meeting under the auspices of the Slovenian EU Presidency in October 2021. The Prague meeting addressed the outstanding barriers to the systematic implementation of FH paediatric screening across Europe. In this article, we present the key points from the Prague meeting and concrete actions needed to move forward.

Event Management Analysis of Student Sports

The purpose of this research is to find out the planning of the Student Sports Event (PORMA) event from the beginning of planning to the end of the event and to find out the function of the role of public relations at the PORMA event. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive research. The results of this study are: 1) Research, where the PORMA committee made observations through digital media related to things that were going viral; 2) Design, basically with a design that attracts mass attention, the PORMA committee uses the brainstorming and mindmapping stages to be able to attract the attention of participants; 3) Planning, the PORMA committee also prepares the event design according to their template that has been made before starting the tournament by holding a Technical Meeting, and this e-sports tournament is planning B of the PORMA event; 4) Coordination of the committee, participants, sponsors, and media partners by using social media in the form of Whatsapp and Zoom Meeting. 5) Evaluation of, the PORMA event to get a positive response from participants. Then the committee evaluated themselves at the PORMA event so that the mistakes and shortcomings that occurred yesterday would not be repeated at the next PORMA.

Public engagement experiences in research using data administrative linkage to build a Social Disparities Index for Covid-19 in Brazil.

ObjectivesPublic engagement is an important pilar to add new perspectives as take into consideration participants' interests in research. We aim to share the potential of Cidacs experience with data administrative linkage for creating the Social Disparities Index for Covid-19 (SDI-Covid-19).
 ApproachDialogue is the core of our work. We invited policy makers, community groups and researchers based on their interest with the key themes of the project. Webinars, technical meetings, discussion groups, and individual conversations were the main methods explored to allow participants to know each other and to change experiences about social inequalities in Covid-19 pandemic. We used digital technologies to enable these interactions because of social distance measures. Website, posts on social media, guides, and minibiographies of participants were produced to share information periodically. Our engagement framework includes the following steps: inform, collect, consult, share, revise, disseminate, and evaluate.
 ResultsWe added new perspectives to SDI-Covid-19 suggested by the research participants during our events and individual conversations. Policy makers indicated a new level of information to make SDI-Covid-19 more useful for them in their daily work. We also discussed and interpreted some results with representatives of community groups from black movement, and slums. Besides that, they suggested some strategies to produce more accessible messages to support the scientific dissemination of research findings to civil society. Participants validated some information from SDI-Covid-19 and shared their impressions about how it can be used to design social policies. We connected 279 researchers, policy makers and representatives of community groups on two webinars; 29 policy makers on a technical meeting; 8 representatives of community groups on a discussion group.
 ConclusionsA more equitable and ethical research was possible with our engagement experience with SDI-Covid-19. The ideas added improved the quality of research, validated results, and supported dissemination. The use of linked administrative data has been recognized as useful resource for managers, community groups and researchers.

Geological Association of Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Section Abstracts: Spring Technical Meeting, February 21 and 22, 2022

Geological Association of Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Section Abstracts: Spring Technical Meeting, February 21 and 22, 2022

Strengthening radiation protection education and training of health professionals: conclusions from an IAEA meeting

In March 2021 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organised an online Technical Meeting on Developing Effective Methods for Radiation Protection Education and Training of Health Professionals with attendance of 230 participants representing 66 Member States and 24 international organizations, professional bodies and safety alliances. By means of a pre-meeting survey, presentations by experts, topical panel discussions and post-meeting feedback to the meeting summary, the meeting identified strengths, common weaknesses and possible solutions and actions for improving radiation protection education and training of health professionals. Available guidelines and resources for radiation protection training were also reviewed. The meeting discussion resulted in a strong consensus for the need of: (a) international guidance on education and training in radiation protection and safety for health professionals, (b) an international description of minimum standards of initial and ongoing competence and qualification in radiation protection for relevant professional groups, considering the available recommendations at international and regional levels. The proposed actions include provisions for train-the-trainer credentialing and facility training accreditation, balance betwee the online and face-to-face training, improved on-the job training, as well as improved inclusion in training programmes of aspects related to application of new technologies, ethical aspects, development of communication skills, and use of software tools for improving justification and optimisation. The need for making the ongoing training practical, applicable, and useful to the trainee was highlighted. The international consultation initiated by the IAEA was appreciated as a good approach to understand and promote coordination and collaboration at all levels, for best results in education and training in radiation protection of health professionals. Implementing such a holistic approach to education and training in radiation protection would contribute towards qualification and competence of health professionals needed to ensure application of high standards for quality and safety in medical uses of ionizing radiation.

Brief Report on the Technical Advisory Group Meeting of the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies III (APSEDIII)

Brief Report on the Technical Advisory Group Meeting of the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies III (APSEDIII)

Volunteering online – today’s challenges

The article examines the issue of online volunteering in Ukraine and the world as a whole. The concepts of volunteering and e-volunteering are defined. Current data is presented on the state of volunteering in Ukraine amidst the pandemic according to the survey «Volunteering during quarantine», which took place in August 2020. 4148 respondents from all over Ukraine took part in the survey. The study was conducted by U-Report - an international youth project of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The focus is on available online resources for potential volunteers in response to the challenges of volunteering activities that have arisen on quarantine restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following online opportunities are described: Ukrainian Volunteer Service, Ukraїner, National Holodomor Museum with the initiative to digitize the history of eyewitnesses to the events of that time, the #FINDWAY project.
 One type of remote volunteering is considered to be hotlines; the My Telephone Friend project, the Children's National Hotline of the La Strada-Ukraine International Women's Human Rights Center, the free Legal Aid Hotline, and others.
 The «Fundamentals of Volunteering» course of the all-Ukrainian Public Center «Volunteer» is analyzed, which has online lectures in the format of picture-links: volunteering, who a volunteer is, the skills and abilities of a volunteer, volunteer opportunities.
 The English-language book The Last Virtual Volunteering Guidebook by D. Kravens and S. J. Ellis is examined, which addresses how to successfully lead online volunteers and develop virtual volunteer assignments, from microvolunteering to long-term projects.
 The content of the report «Are technologies capable of opening access to volunteering instead of creating new barriers?», which was considered during the Global Technical Meeting 2020 on Voluntary Activities, is analyzed.

Geological Association of Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Section Abstracts: Spring Technical Meeting, February 22 and 23, 2021

The Annual Technical Meeting was held virtually on February 22 and 23, 2021 from various home offices, dens, and bedrooms across St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.This year the meeting kicked off on Monday with a Special Session to pay tribute to R. Frank Blackwood who passed away in the summer of 2020. Frank was a strong supporter of bedrock mapping, mineral exploration, and the mining industry in Newfoundland and Labrador which is reflected in the following abstracts. Tuesday featured a General Session with presentations on a wide range of geoscience topics.As always, this meeting was brought to participants by volunteer efforts and would not have been possible without the time and energy of the executive and other members of the section such as Anne Westhues, Jared Butler, James Conliffe, Shawn Duquet, Sarah Hashmi, Zsuzsanna Magyarosi, Annie Parrell, and Karen Waterman. The organizers are also indebted to their sponsors, particularly the Geological Association of Canada, Department of Earth Sciences (Memorial University of Newfoundland), and the Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Energy, Industry, and Technology.Although the abstracts are modified and edited as necessary for clarity and to conform to Atlantic Geology format and standards, the journal editors do not take responsibility for their content or quality.