Transverse Aspect Research Articles

Scaling up joint efforts to tackle cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in Europe

Abstract JACARDI, a Joint Action on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes (DM), aims to support EU countries in reducing the burden of CVD and DM and related risk factors, both at individual and societal levels, while ensuring health systems sustainability and equity. In particular, JACARDI aims to implement best practices and pilot testing of innovative practices throughout the entire patient journey. Commencing by improving health literacy and raising awareness among general and target populations, moving through primary prevention and screening of CVD and DM among high-risk populations, and then address people living with CVD and DM and their health service providers, through the improvement of service paths and (self) management, including through digital tools, and completing the path by supporting and encouraging the labour participation of people living with these diseases. With 21 European countries and 76 partners engaged, JACARDI undertakes 142 pilot projects, promising to advance CVD and DM care for millions across Europe. In particular, through an innovative Work Package on methodology, JACARDI will develop and implement a methodological framework to guide all the pilot projects in the design, preparation, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and assessment processes. This framework will encompass transversal and intersectional aspects, ensuring a harmonized and efficient approach for all JA activities. Through rigorous and multidimensional evaluation, JACARDI aims to uncover new approaches to enhance healthcare systems, grounded in evidence-based practices and current needs, while adopting the lens of equity and sustainability throughout the entire methodological and implementation process.

A simple graphical method for sizing flat‐plate solar air heaters based on transversal and longitudinal aspect ratios

AbstractSolar air heaters (SAHs) are widely used for drying vegetables and fruits or for domestic heating. Certain sizing parameters are necessary to obtain the right dimensions for the required air temperature, flow rate, and thus useful thermal energy. The well‐known Hottel–Whillier–Bliss equation was used and made dimensionless by applying the collector longitudinal and transversal aspect ratios (rl and rt) of a double‐glazed flat plate solar air heater (DG‐FPSAH). The steady‐state equations are solved to determine the average temperatures. Thereafter, one could calculate the overall loss heat coefficient and efficiency factor, obtained analytically. A Matlab code was developed to estimate primarily unknown temperatures, useful energy, and the Nusselt number. An iterative numerical method is used until convergence occurs. The inlet cross‐sectional area and air flow velocity are defined as input data. The proposed sizing method depends on the output temperature required by the customer. This temperature can be determined from the plotted curves of the dimensionless ratios. Hence, the SAH‐needed dimensions are determined graphically depending on the functional requirements for construction planning, such as technology choice, work breakdown, and budgeting. In the present case study, based on the input parameters, an airflow rate of 1.2 kg/s entering a DG‐FPSAH with an output temperature of 41.5°C yields the dimensions of Lin = 3.824 m, Win = 2.735 m, and Hin = 0.1825, specifying the collector length, width, and air duct height. The gathered energy and thermohydraulic efficiency are: Qu = 7.91 kW, ηcol = 0.752, respectively.

[Translated article] Hospital pharmacy towards 2030

Hospital Pharmacy is today a profession marked by therapeutic advances, with a proactive attitude, focussed on people and their health. The evolution of processes is constant, with the full presence of digitalisation, robotisation, and even artificial intelligence, in an environment that also requires the efficient and sustainable use of these tools. In this context, it is necessary to have a roadmap that guides the advancement of the profession and Hospital Pharmacy Services.Continuing with the philosophy of the 2020 initiative which, with the slogan “Towards the future, safely”, defined the strategic lines to advance in the improvement of Hospital Pharmacy practice, the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy wanted to raise the challenges the profession is currently facing and with a view to 2030.With this strategic planning objective, 20 challenges have been identified and developed, which cover the different areas of action and involvement of Hospital Pharmacy and which cover clinical activities, transversal aspects, training, and research, as well as areas related to people and to the organisations or health systems. For each of them, the objectives, standards, tools, and resources have been defined. It is also planned to provide tools that facilitate monitoring of implementation and the impact on the profession, patients, and the environment.

La farmacia hospitalaria rumbo al 2030

Hospital pharmacy is today a profession marked by therapeutic advances, with a proactive attitude, focused on people and their health. The evolution of processes is constant, with the full presence of digitalization, robotization and even artificial intelligence, in an environment that also requires the efficient and sustainable use of these tools. In this context, it is necessary to have a roadmap that guides the advancement of the profession and hospital pharmacy services.Continuing with the philosophy of the 2020 initiative which, with the slogan “Towards the future, safely”, defined the strategic lines to advance in the improvement of hospital pharmacy practice, the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy wanted to raise the challenges the profession is currently facing and with a view to 2030.With this strategic planning objective, twenty challenges have been identified and developed, which cover the different areas of action and involvement of hospital pharmacy and which cover clinical activities, transversal aspects, training and research, as well as areas related to people and to the organizations or health systems. For each of them, the objectives, standards, tools and resources have been defined. It is also planned to provide tools that facilitate monitoring of implementation and the impact on the profession, patients and the environment.

Bioethanol sacrifice zones and environmental/ epistemic injustice. A case study in Argentina.

This paper presents a case of environmental conflict caused by a corn-based bioethanol plant in Argentina- one of the world's most important agro-industrial economies. The aim is to illustrate how epistemic inequality is a transversal aspect of environmental injustice. Many of the environmental impacts of this production have been denounced by the affected peoples living next to the plant, which functions in a densely populated area. Their knowledges about health, air pollution and the risk of explosions have been systematically excluded from legal proceedings and policy-making in the case. Additionally, they have demanded the intervention of public universities and research centers in the case, but instead the scientific sector has offered its capacities to advance the agro-industrial complex rather than research the damages and risks made to environmental and human health. Thus, these peoples seem to be confined to a "sacrifice zone" where the protection of the rights to health and a clean environment are systematically violated, along with the denial of their status of legitimate knowers. This paper describes situations in which the knowledge of those affected is disregarded and/or excluded in the process of evidence-making. It also makes visible the co-responsibility of the scientific community in this case regarding the inequality between "production" and "impact" science related to the environmental sustainability of bioethanol. The empirical data of the case is presented within an Environmental/Epistemic Justice and STS framework. In order to overcome the devastating effects of agro-industrial sacrifice zones, this work contributes to the reflection on the interconnectedness of environmental sciences, affected people’s knowledge, and politics.

An Extensive Study Regarding the Microscopic Anatomy of the Early Fetal Human Optic Nerve.

The development of the optic nerve and its surrounding tissues during the early fetal period is a convoluted period because it spans both the organogenesis period and the fetal period. This study details the microscopic anatomy and histoembryology of the optic nerve in embryos during the early fetal period, including the second half of the first trimester of pregnancy. Serial sections through the orbit of variously aged embryos allowed us to analyze the nerve in both longitudinal and transverse aspects. A histological assessment and description of the structures surrounding and inside the nerve were performed, highlighting the cellular subtypes involved. By employing immunohistochemical techniques, we could characterize the presence and distribution of astrocytes within the optic nerve. Our findings suggest that by the 8th gestational week (WG) the structures are homologs to all the adult ones but with an early appearance so that maturation processes take place afterward. By this age, the axons forming the nerve are definitive adult axons. The glial cells do not yet exhibit adult phenotype, but their aspect becomes adult toward the 13th week. During its development the optic nerve increases in size then, at 14 weeks, it shrinks considerably, possibly through its neural maturation process. The morphological primordium of the blood-nerve barrier can be first noted at 10 WG and at 13 WG the morphological blood-nerve barrier is definitive. The meningeal primordium can be first noted as a layer of agglomerated fibroblasts, later toward 13 WG splitting in pachymeninx and leptomeninges and leaving space for intrinsic blood vessels.

Tackling the challenge of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes across Europe: a joint action by more than 300 public health professionals. Commentary.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes pose significant health challenges in Europe, affecting millions and burdening healthcare systems. The recent EU4Health Programme places reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD) at the forefront, through a Joint Action focused on CVD and diabetes (JACARDI, Joint Action on CARdiovascular diseases and DIabetes). This initiative unites 21 European countries, including Ukraine, and over 300 experts. Employing an innovative approach and standardised methodology, JACARDI implements 142 pilot projects covering the entire "patient" journey. Particular focus will be given to improvement of data availability and quality. Additionally, JACARDI will emphasise transversal and intersectional aspects, such as health equity, determinants of health, and social, cultural, and ethnic diversity, while pioneering gender-transformative leadership. Committed to evidence-based interventions, JACARDI aims to harmonise strategies and disseminate knowledge for enhanced CVD and diabetes prevention and management. The goal is to identify effective strategies for wider implementation, fostering cross-national collaboration and fortifying Europe's health resilience.

Transdisciplinary education for sustainability. Creativity and awareness in teacher training

Teacher training is a strategic aspect to achieve quality education and, therefore, bring closer Horizon 2030 and sustainability. The aim of this work is to present the outcome of an innovative transdisciplinary educational proposal with 176 primary teachers in training with the goal of raising their sustainability awareness. It was implemented at the same time in a Social sciences subject and in an Social sciences one demonstrating both its transdisciplinary nature and the fact that sustainability is a transversal aspect in the curriculum. A mixed methods research design was used. Work products were analyzed, such as the creation of a digital story for children about sustainability and some related activities. In addition, the perceived impact of the educational experience in the teaching-learning process and sustainability attitudes were assessed using two validated questionnaires. The results show a high level of perception of the impact of the experience in the motivation of preservice teachers, the learning of concepts related to the subject, and, especially, the usefulness of this proposal for their professional future. Furthermore, their sustainability attitudes at the end of the semester were very high, with scores above 4 (out of 5) for all measured dimensions. The relevance of advocating for a transdisciplinary education for sustainability, which begins in teacher training faculties, is concluded.

Stress solution of transversely isotropic surrounding rock for shallow buried elliptic tunnels

This paper develops a method to obtain the stress solution of the transversely isotropic surrounding rock for shallow elliptical tunnels. Based on the stress solution of the transversely isotropic surrounding rock for deeply buried elliptical tunnels, the Schwarz alternating method is used to solve the stress of surrounding orthotropic rock with a shallow elliptical tunnel. A MATLAB program is developed to implement the derived theory, and the numerical simulation results are compared with those of existing solution and the finite element software ABAQUS, demonstrating the rationality and correctness of the present theory in this paper. Finally, the influences of factors such as rock and soil transverse isotropy, tunnel depth, and tunnel aspect ratio on the stress distribution around the tunnel are discussed.

Global trends in disruptive technological change: social and policy implications for education

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify global trends in disruptive technological change and map the social and policy implications, particularly as they relate to the educational ecosystem and main stakeholders across all levels of education.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a two-stage meta-analysis of 1,155 scholarly, peer-reviewed articles. The investigation involves a systematized literature review for data identification and collation adhering to defined selection criteria, and a network analysis to scrutinize data, consolidate information and unveil correlations and patterns from the literature review to produce a set of recommendations.FindingsThe study unveiled educational trends related to disruptive technologies and delineated four principal clusters representing how these technologies are transforming the education ecosystem. Additionally, a series of transversal aspects that reveal a societal vulnerability toward future prospects in the realms of ethics, sustainability, resilience, security, and policy were identified.Practical implicationsThe findings spotlight an enlarging chasm between industry (and society at large) and conventional education, where many transformations triggered by disruptive technologies remain absent from teaching and learning systems. The study further offers recommendations and envisions potential scenarios, urging stakeholders to respond based on their positions concerning disruptive technologies.Originality/valueExpanding from the meta-analysis of pertinent literature, this paper offers four collections of curated resources, four mini case studies and four scenarios for policymakers and local communities to consider, enabling them to plot courses for their optimal futures.

OSER—A Planning Tool for Power Systems Operation Simulation and for Impacts Evaluation of the Distributed Energy Resources on the Transmission System

The rapid expansion of distributed energy resources and variable renewable energy is occurring in most utilities around the world, pertaining to the clean energy transition. These technologies have brought new challenges and opportunities to transmission grid planners. In this context, the planning process cannot continue to focus solely on the instant of the peak demand to make decisions regarding the evolution of the grid. The OSER simulator (Outil de simulation de l’exploitation du réseau) presented in this paper allows the planning engineers to consider operational and transversal aspects (transmission and distribution view) of the system. OSER is composed of several modules, each of which is related to different parts of the utility. The load, interconnection, and production modules prepare profiles for each substation, interconnection, and generating unit, respectively. The virtual operator module models the actions and mitigation means of the grid operators. These include the generation load balance, voltage, reactive power control, and interconnection management. Thereby, OSER can simulate the reaction of the transmission system for all relevant scenarios by using the guidance of the transmission system operator. The results obtained by simulation validate the performance of the OSER simulator by comparing them with historical data. This tool enables transmission grid planners to include non-wire alternatives in their planning process. Further work will be conducted to extend the simulation modes towards year-long and stochastic simulations for better planning robustness.

Overview of IFMIF-DONES diagnostics: Requirements and techniques

The IFMIF-DONES Facility is a unique first-class scientific infrastructure whose construction is foreseen in Granada, Spain, in the coming years. Strong integration efforts are being made at the current project phase aiming at harmonizing the ongoing design of the different and complex Systems of the facility. The consolidation of the Diagnostics and Instrumentation, transversal across many of them, is a key element of this purpose. A top-down strategy is proposed for a systematic Diagnostics Review and Requirement definition, putting emphasis in the one-of-a-kind instruments necessary by the operational particularities of some of the Systems, as well as to the harsh environment that they shall survive. In addition, other transversal aspects such as the ones related to Safety and Machine Protection and their respective requirements shall be also considered. The goal is therefore to advance further and solidly in the respective designs, identify problems in advance, and steer the Diagnostics development and validation campaigns that will be required. The present work provides an overview of this integration strategy as well as a description of some of the most challenging Diagnostics and Instruments within the facility, including several proposed techniques currently under study.

On the effect of the transversal aspect ratio on the double‐glazed solar air heater performance

AbstractThe transversal aspect ratio of solar air heaters (SAHs) is a critical geometric parameter that influences the heat transfer from the absorber plate to the working fluid and, accordingly, the overall heat loss level. The present work addresses the effect of the aspect ratio on the performance of a solar air heating system and the behavior of heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) within it and along the flow channel. A mathematical model of energy‐balance equations was formulated to examine and analyze the double‐glazed solar air heater thermal behavior. The Eismann correlation, which is more accurate than Holland's correlation, was employed to determine the HTC between the two glass covers. The useful energy, Nusselt number (Nu), efficiency, overall loss, and HTCs as a function of the aspect ratio were evaluated across the collector length. On the basis of the findings, the higher the ratio, the better the efficiency of the SAH. Indeed, increasing the collector's cross‐sectional aspect ratio (r) up to 19 increases useful energy efficiency by more than 87%, Nu by 84%, thermohydraulic efficiency from 0.4 to 0.76, and overall heat loss by 1.15 W/(m2 K). Furthermore, reducing r from 19 to 2 will improve the collector power from 1.855 to 3.473 kW.

Империя цитирования. Наше время: интер- и Экстратекстуальность

The scientometric pressure and defining features of the contemporary culture of reference exchange are viewed under the sign of the objectification and alienation of the scientists creative abilities and the consequences produced by their application. The opposition of inter- and extra-textuality in modern academic citation is outlined on the basis of the identification of subject-oriented and resource-oriented types of citation, the principle of unity of historical and logical, as well as taking into account a number of poststructuralist developments. The paradigm of intertextuality with its broadest possible view of the quotation as a primary element of verbalism characterizes the general cultural atmosphere in which the production of contemporary academic publications is immersed. Extratextuality is an irreducible and transversal aspect of academic writing which regardless of the loyalty or, on the contrary, incompatibility with it of certain postmodernist constructions stems from the very nature of science as an intellectual enterprise in search of knowledge about the world, given in the forms of human subjectivity and culture but not reducible to them.

International multispecialty consensus on how to image, define, and grade ultrasound imaging features of first metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis: A Delphi consensus study

The objective of this research was to adopt a Delphi study design to reach consensus concerning which ultrasound imaging features should be assessed and graded, and what ultrasound imaging procedure should be performed when examining osteoarthritic change in the first metatarsophalangeal joint. An online Delphi study was conducted over four iterative rounds with 16 expert health professionals. Items were scored from 0-100 (0 = not at all important; 100 = extremely important). Consensus was defined based upon items receiving ≥70% of acceptance [1]. Items receiving ≤50% were rejected. Items considered ambiguous (median 51% - 69% of acceptance) were assessed in an additional round [2]. A final round determined the content validity of items through calculation of the content validity ratio and content validity index [3]. Sixteen items were deemed essential and seven items non-essential. Items deemed essential to assess included osteophytes graded dichotomously, cartilage damage graded continuously, synovitis and joint space narrowing graded on a semiquantitative scale. The panel deemed essential that the first metatarsophalangeal joint start in its neutral position then move through range of motion during scanning for both dorsal and plantar scan, orientating the probe in longitudinal and in transverse aspects, whilst using first metatarsal head and proximal phalanx as anatomical landmarks. A supine body position was only deemed essential for a dorsal scan and a neutral foot/ankle position was only rated essential for a plantar scan. The content validity index of the essential items was 0.19. The consensus exercise has identified essential components the ultrasound imaging acquisition procedure should encompass when examining first metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis. The outcomes of the Delphi study will inform future studies into the methodological development of an ultrasound imaging atlas to grade the degree of osteoarthritic change in the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

Psychometric Validation of a Teamwork Skills Scale in a Vocational Training Context

The ability to work in a team is currently one of the most demanded competencies of professionals and, therefore, constitutes one of the key transversal aspects to be targeted by educational systems. This is especially important at stages prior to job insertion. The aim of the present study was to validate a scale measuring perceptions of teamwork skills within a sample of students undertaking vocational training in the south of Spain. For this, both exploratory ( n = 879) and confirmatory ( n = 1,843) factor analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS® 26 and IBM Amos Graphics® 23.0 software packages. This permitted a scale to be developed which was formed of ten indicators of teamwork skills. These indicators were grouped into three dimensions, namely, teamwork behaviors, ratings the importance of teamwork and self-perceptions of teamwork capabilities. Adequate fit indices were obtained (KMO = 0.845; CFI = 0.984; NFI = 0.978; IFI = 0.984; RMSEA = 0.037; and SRMR = 0.044). Thus, a robust and reliable scale is presented that rates student perspectives of essential aspects of Vocational Training, such as teamwork skills.

A framework for the implementation of certification procedures in nurse level: a mixed approach study

BackgroundThe implementation of certification procedures across healthcare systems is an essential component of the management process. Several promising approaches were developed toward a successful implementation of such policies; however, a precise adaptation and implementation to each local context was essential. Local activities must be considered in order to generate more pragmatic recommendations for managers. In this study, we built a framework for the implementation of certification procedures at nurse activity level. This was developed using two objectives: the identification of key implementation process components, and the integration of these components into a framework which considered the local socio-material context of nurses’ work.MethodsWe used a two-step mixed approach. The first was inductive and consisted of a qualitative case study conducted between April and December 2019. Here, we analyzed the implementation of certification procedures in a French teaching hospital. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and observations. In the second approach, emerging data were deductively analyzed using the Quality Implementation Tool (QIT) and Translational Mobilization Theory (TMT). Analyses were combined to construct an implementation framework.ResultsSixteen interviews were conducted with participants from different organizational levels, managers, mid-managers, and nurses. Additionally, 83 observational hours were carried out in two different wards. Our results showed that, (1) All retrieved elements during the process were successfully captured by the QIT components, only one component was not applicable. (2) We identified elements related to the local activity context, with the different interrelationships between actors, actions, and contexts using the TMT. (3) Our analyses were integrated and translated into a framework that presents the implementation of certification procedures in healthcare facilities, with a specific interest to the nurse/mid-manager level. By initially using QIT, the framework components took on a transversal aspect which were then adapted by TMT to the local work context.ConclusionsWe successfully generated a framework that supports the implementation of certification procedures at the activity level. Our approach identified a broader vision of the interactions between proximity managers, teams, and contexts during change mobilization, which were not encompassed by transversal framework only, such as QIT. In the future, more empirical studies are needed to test this framework.

New Approach for Managing Sustainability in Projects

Despite the work done to date, project sustainability management (PSM) is still at an embryonic stage. The existing literature considers sustainability as a transversal aspect to be incorporated into the traditional management functions (scope, time, cost, quality, etc.). This article proposes sustainability as a key aspect of project management, with three essential components: principles, processes and competences. Regarding principles, the principle of sustainable development should be added to those generally suggested. As for processes, seven are proposed for (1) planning sustainability management; (2) establishing a sustainability breakdown structure; (3) defining the sustainability objective; (4) identifying project alternatives to achieve it; (5) planning and (6) implementing the sustainability strategy; and (7) monitoring and control. The main interrelationships between these processes and those of project initiation, planning, implementation, control, and closure are also analysed. In addition, the competences that the project manager should have in this field are identified, as well as the main criteria to take into account in order to adapt PSM processes to the characteristics of the project and the organisation. Finally, the results of a Delphi analysis carried out to validate these proposals are presented.

Microstructural Design of Graphene Nanocomposites for Improved Electrical Conductivity

Abstract The electrical conductivity and percolation onset of graphene-based nanocomposites are studied by varying both planar and transversal aspect ratios of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) fillers using a three-dimensional stochastic percolation-based model. The graphene nanoplatelets are modeled as elliptical fillers to enable planar aspect ratio variations. We find that decreasing the graphite’s thickness results in an exponential performance improvement of the nanocomposites, in contrast to a linear improvement obtained when the planar aspect ratio is increased, for the same filler volume. Furthermore, we show that hybrid nanocomposites fabricated with partial replacement of GNP by carbon nanotube (CNT) may improve the electrical performance of the GNP monofiller composites. Improvement or deterioration of the electrical properties is mainly based on the morphology and content of the fillers mixed in the hybrids. Nonetheless, using a minimal amount of CNT for substitution always leads to the highest improvement in conductivity in the hybrids, while additional CNTs only lead to smaller improvement at best or even deterioration. The results are validated against experimental works and offer useful insights for the fabrication of highly conductive nanocomposites.

Life cycle assessment applied to waste management in Italy: A mini-review of characteristics and methodological perspectives for local assessment.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) and related tools are commonly used to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of waste treatment scenarios. This manuscript presents a mini-review of studies published over the last 10 years in Italy and aims to investigate how life cycle thinking tools are applied to assess the environmental sustainability of local-level waste policies. Results reveal that different waste flows, technologies and policies have been investigated independently and in varying detail. Review suggests that boundary selection significantly affects LCA results; integration of different waste systems is therefore crucial to avoid spatial or temporal shifts of environmental impacts. Moreover, the description of methodological characteristics, limitations and transversal aspects of Italian waste management studies allows various stakeholders to assess the reliability of past and future research for waste policy planning and rebound effects prevention. This review also highlights the need to define minimum requirements of transparency and ease of reporting of the studies to private and public stakeholders. Finally, the paper investigates whether using both the organisational LCA and the life cycle sustainability approach for the overall waste management process may be useful to develop a standard method to address multi-functionalities and multiple sites.