Use Of Technical Equipment Research Articles

Criminalistic Aspects of Classifying Investigatory Actions as One of the Key Means of Proof

The paper contains an analysis of the concept of means of proof. Based on the etymology of the term “means” as a technique and mode of action in order to achieve something or as a tool in some activity, it is concluded that means of proof should include, fist, evidence and any information that the court, the prosecutor, the investigator or the inquirer use to establish the circumstances that need to be proven in criminal proceedings, as well as other circumstances relevant to the criminal case, second, samples for comparative research that do not have any independent significance, but are used for comparison with physical evidence and other objects, third, investigatory and other procedural actions that are the key method of collecting evidence for the investigator (the inquirer), fourth, tactics that are usually determined as most rational, effective modes of action or most expedient behavior of the person performing investigatory actions, fifth, operative search activities whose results may pose grounds for initiating a criminal case, be presented to the investigative body, to the investigator or the court responsible for the criminal case or materials of verifying a report on crime, sixth, tactical (operative-tactical) combinations (operations). Further the authors examine the concept and classification of investigative actions according to the subject authorizing investigative actions, to the methods they are based on, to the subjects performing such actions, depending on the necessity of involving witnesses, of involving experts, depending on the use of technical equipment, based on the criteria of the speed of fixing the traces of crime, and according to the stages of an investigation. It is concluded that classifications are a methodological basis for solving both theoretical and practical problems, and even wrong classifications play a positive role in the progress of this science because they allow us to reject the flawed option and quicker determine the way to the right solution of the problems that the science faces.

The influence of remote learning environment and use of technology on university students’ behavioural engagement in contingency online learning

The shift of instruction imposed on higher education institutions by the pandemic-related restrictions bolstered the interest in students’ online class participation. This study investigates university students’ engagement in remote foreign language classes during the COVID-19 lockdown. While engagement is a multi-faceted construct, we only aim to explore its behavioural dimension. The authors felt compelled to acknowledge and comprehend their students’ behaviour in contingency online learning (COL). Through a qualitatively oriented exploratory case study, we sought to answer two research questions related to the extent the use of technical equipment and remote physical environment influenced students’ engagement. The study was conducted with students enrolled in regular, in-person Bachelor’s or Master’s degree courses to qualify as teachers of English at primary or lower-secondary schools. The results indicate that the use of technology did not prove to be a significant obstacle to online learning engagement. Concerning the remote physical environment, the learning process was compromised most significantly by the intimate character of the home-working space. We believe that our findings will help educators to rationalise their expectations and formulate best practice recommendations.
 Received: 7 January 2022Accepted: 16 January 2023

Comparative analysis of the impact of selected anesthesia methods on the cognitive function of patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery

Background: Anesthesiologists should not only save patient’s life as a process, but also enable the patient to recover his/her social life after surgery, given increased longevity, high social activity throughout life, and increased use of technical equipment in everyday life. Purpose: To assess central nervous system (CNS) changes in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty in order to optimize the choice of anesthesia technique, while taking into account the impact of general anesthesia on postoperative cognitive functions. Material and Methods: We employed neuropsychological tests such as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and Luria’s test to examine the cognitive function of patients before surgery and 6 hours, 24 hours, 7 days and 21 days after surgery. Results: On the basis of comparative analysis of the impact of selected anesthesia methods on cognitive function of patients undergoing surgery (penetrating keratoplasty), we concluded that a combination of regional anesthesia (pterygopalatine fossa blockade), dexmedetomidine infusion (0.3 µg/kg) and general analgesia (maintenance in an oxygen/sevoflurane mixture) with exclusion of Sibazon 0.5% had the shortest and the least profound impact on the cognitive function. Conclusion: On the basis of comparative analysis of the impact of selected anesthesia methods on cognitive function of patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty, we concluded that a combination of regional anesthesia (pterygopalatine fossa blockade), dexmedetomidine infusion (0.3 µg/kg) and general analgesia (maintenance in an oxygen/sevoflurane mixture) with removal of Sibazon 0.5% from premedication and presence of a reduced amount of fentanyl used during anesthesia had the shortest (with a mean duration of a day) and the least profound impact on cognitive state in patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery.

Video recording emergency care and video-reflection to improve patient care; a narrative review and case-study of a neonatal intensive care unit.

As the complexity of emergency care increases, current research methods to improve care are often unable to capture all aspects of everyday clinical practice. Video recordings can visualize clinical care in an objective way. They can be used as a tool to assess care and to reflect on care with the caregivers themselves. Although the use of video recordings to reflect on medical interventions (video-reflection) has increased over the years, it is still not used on a regular basis. However, video-reflection proved to be of educational value and can improve teams’ management and performance. It has a positive effect on guideline adherence, documentation, clinical care and teamwork. Recordings can also be used for video-reflexivity. Here, caregivers review recordings together to reflect on their everyday practice from new perspectives with regard to context and conduct in general. Although video-reflection in emergency care has proven to be valuable, certain preconditions have to be met and obstacles need to be overcome. These include gaining trust of the caregivers, having a proper consent-procedure, maintaining confidentiality and adequate use of technical equipment. To implement the lessons learned from video-reflection in a sustainable way and to continuously improve care, it should be integrated in regular simulation training or education. This narrative review will describe the development of video recording in emergency care and how video-reflection can improve patient care and safety in new ways. On our own department, the NICU at the LUMC, video-reflection has already been implemented and we want to further expand this. We will describe the use of video-reflection in our own unit. Based on the results of this narrative review we will propose options for future research to increase the value of video-reflection.

Planning and Risk Analysis in Projects of Procurement of Agricultural Raw Materials for the Production of Environmentally Friendly Fuel

The purpose of the research is to substantiate the method of planning the need for technical equipment of corn waste collection projects for the production of environmentally friendly fuel, which is based on simulation of work taking into account the changing design environment. During the research, the methods of simulation modeling of corn waste collection projects for the production of environmentally friendly fuel were used. The methods of probability theory and mathematical statistics were used, which provided the substantiation of models of natural-climatic and production conditions of corn waste collection projects for the production of environmentally friendly fuel. As a result of the conducted research the method and statistical simulation model of planning the need for technical equipment of projects on collecting the waste of corn for production of environmentally friendly fuel has been developed. They provided an assessment of the timely implementation of work in selected fields, taking into account the changing design environment, which leads to the risk of the specific cost of corn waste disposal. A simulated model for the collection of maize waste available for disposal, provided that the balance of organic carbon in the fields is maintained, and tested for adequacy according to the Mann-Whitney test. Based on the use of the developed simulation model, the indicators of the use of technical equipment and the trend of changing the risk of the specific cost of disposal of corn waste are substantiated. Rational scenarios for the implementation of projects for which there are no risks for a given project environment are identified.

Disruption of IoT in Adapting Online Learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic

When it comes to education, the COVID-19 epidemic has had a major effect, particularly on distance learning techniques that must be completed online. It also applies to Architecture and Interior Design students in the planning and design studio lecture activities, which were formerly carried out offline in the studio but are now required to be carried out online from their individual residences, as part of the online learning methodology. Various difficulties encountered in architectural and interior planning, as well as design studio lectures, need students' adaptation via the use of virtual reality and digital technology. There are numerous restrictions in terms of visual and digital communication, ranging from the use of technical equipment to the facilities held by lecturers and students. The research used a qualitative descriptive approach, in which data was gathered via questionnaires, with the respondents being architecture and interior design students who answered the questions. According to the findings of the research, the adaptation of online lectures is not only a virtual and digital issue, but also a physical and non-physical one that requires consideration. When it comes to architectural and interior planning and design studio courses, virtual and digital changes have an impact on the learning process and the quality of learning results. Physical adaptation necessitates the provision of supporting resources in the form of tools and equipment to aid in the delivery of classroom lectures. Non-physical adaptation includes changes in time, patterns and methods of learning, behavior, psychology, and the internet network, as well as changes in the internet network itself. In future studies, it is necessary to do more in-depth study on behavioral and psychological adjustments and perspectives.

DAMAGE INSPECTION ON PIER OF SG. PERAK RESERVOIR BRIDGE USING ACCELEROMETER AND GNSS

Sg. Perak Reservoir Bridge where it is commonly known to be heavily utilized by heavy vehicles on daily basis. Therefore, the practices of inspection and maintenance of this bridge are essential tasks in prolonging its lifespan especially as it is utilized heavily with heavy vehicles. The act of inspecting damage that occurred at a pier is done through the use of technical equipment as an additional method invalidating visual inspection obtained through vibration reading, and validating in inspection reading analysis as additional information to confirm for any structural damages. The use of using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) can be employed for continuous monitoring and the use of accelerometers, which are components of the ambient vibration method, served to be an integral part of the information obtained on the changes in the dynamic structural features detected. The vibration measurement can display natural frequencies that depended on the weight, material, pressure, and tension as well as the geometry of the object. This data obtained can therefore be used to furnish additional information on the capacity and condition of the structure. The results indicated that maximum vibration on two piers inspection are recorded at 53.7 mm/s2 and 49.6 mm/s2 using an Accelerometer indeed heavy vehicles traffic flow is a factor in influencing bridge vibration by traffic transport diversity between west and east lanes of both sides of the bridge.

Using telematics data to support effective solutions for tracking and monitoring the power system condition of unmanned vessels

The paper studies the prospects of using telematics data to support effective solutions for tracking and monitoring the condition of the power supply system (PSS) components of unmanned vessels (UV) through the determination of positioning and, accordingly, operating time of PSS components. The paper attempts to describe one of the modules of the proposed integrated telematics system for UV monitoring, diagnostics and control. For practical implementation of telematics for unmanned merchant vessels, an algorithm has been developed to diagnose the technical condition of PSS components based on the operating time and condition of the units and components of the UV PSS. The results obtained by the algorithm show the technical condition of the observed technical equipment, time of its operation, and justify the need for repair or its complete replacement. The block diagram presents the algorithm that employs a minimal set of data to determine the use of technical equipment for further planning of its preventive maintenance. The paper provides the graphical interpretation of data on the time of PSS components operation and an example of displaying the interface of the remote operator of the UV. It is proposed to use telematics for tracking and monitoring the UV PSS operation in order to improve the quality of equipment maintenance, provide rational use of resources, extend its service life, and plan the repair time. In the future, it is proposed to create an integrated intelligent system based on telematics data, which allows the UV control and monitoring of the technical condition of its equipment.

Working characteristics for practising dental hygienists in two countries in different hemispheres.

The study aimed to collect and compare practising characteristics for dental hygienists (DHs) in New Zealand (NZ) and Sweden. Dental hygienists from NZ and Sweden were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey focussing on their working practices. An email, with a link to the online survey and a participant information sheet, was sent to DHs registered with their professional association in their respective country. Frequency analyses and cross-tabulations were conducted using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests to investigate possible statistical associations to allow for comparisons between the countries. DH is a female-dominated workforce with equal distribution of gender in both countries. The majority of DHs in NZ worked in private practice while Swedish DHs mostly worked in the public sector. NZ participants were younger and with a more recent qualification than their Swedish counterparts. The highest degree of education was a PhD for DHs working in Sweden, compared with a master's degree for NZ participants. The majority of participants from both countries treated patients 65years of age or older, with the most common medical conditions being cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. The most common dental condition observed/treated was periodontal disease. Over 60% agreed to have an understanding of information technology (IT). The most used technical equipment was digital radiology, followed by other diagnostic tools. Findings confirm previous international data on demographical uptake for the DH workforce in NZ and Sweden. A coherence was seen in patient characteristics, DHs' attitudes towards information technology and use of technical equipment.

Improving the technical potential of agrarian enterprises

The technological potential of agricultural enterprise is complex system consisting of various elements with different functional capabilities and features, which are characterized by the characteristics of complex systems. The complexity of technological potential lies in the presence in structure of its several elements - technological preparation of production, equipment and technology. There is no doubt that the basis of technological potential is an active part of main production assets, namely the equipment park. Working machines and equipment, instrumentation, transmission devices and tooling - this is exactly what primarily determines the level of labour productivity. The aim of the study is to develop recommendations for efficient use of machinery of agrarian enterprises as part of their technological potential, to solve important task of developing them and improving quality and competitiveness of their products. In methodological basis of this research various methods were used: an analytical method, abstract and logical method, system approach, statistical and economic analysis, method of analogies, and method of comparative and expert estimates. The study showed that in order to increase the efficiency of use of technical equipment and more fully satisfy agricultural producers in technical services, it is necessary to create the technical centre for maintenance and repair of agricultural machines. As result, implementation of preventive strategy of technical maintenance and repair of equipment will reduce the number of machine failures by 2 - 2.5 times, increase the use of resource of their components and mechanisms by 30%, and significantly reduce the loss of agricultural products due to long downtime of mechanization equipment and crop shortages while increasing agro-technical timelines for field work.

Techniques for rational use of technical equipment in sunflower oilseeds production

The paper summarizes the 5-year experimental data of the authors on the study of various technologies for sunflower cultivation in the soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Tatarstan. Particular attention is paid to improving the methods of rational use of modern technological means with regards to the biological characteristics of the studied culture. It has been established that the classical technology of sunflower cultivation with deepening of the arable layer, diagonal closing of moisture, presowing cultivation to the depth of 6-8 cm, placement of rows in the South-North direction pre- and post- sowing harrowing and inter-row cultivation provides 93 % of the planned yield. The profitability of oilseed production is 69.2 %, and net profit is 13.7 thousand rubles per hectare. 7.4 thousand rubles of proceedings in cash comes to an enterprise from the sale of 1 ton of grown products. In large holding agricultural entities of Tatarstan with sunflower areas of more than 250-300 hectares, weed control using the Clearfield system excludes harrowing of crops and inter-row cultivation. The use of selective herbicide intended only for a single hybrid allows the 70 to 100 % weeds destruction without damaging the main crop. The economic indicators of the mixture of the developed agricultural technology with chemical crops weeding are quite high. Specifically, the profitability is 59.6 % and the cost of production of 1 ton of oilseeds is lower than its sales price by 6.7 thousand rubles.

Application of technical devices at the initial stage of training in technical techniques in volleyball

. The purpose of the work is to develop and substantiate the methodology of initial training for technical techniques in volleyball with the use of technical equipment for young volleyball players 11-12 years old. Material and methods. In total, 42 young volleyball players of 11-12 years old participated in this study, of which 22 were athletes of the control group and 20 athletes of the experimental group. In order to identify the main difficulties in mastering technical techniques in volleyball and the main techniques used in studying techniques was conducted questioning of coaches and athletes. In total, 15 trainers and 42 young athletes aged 11-12 were polled. To determine the effectiveness of the use of simulators in the initial stage of volleyball training, the evaluation of the effectiveness of the ball in the number of balls accepted and lost and expert evaluation. The pedagogical experiment was conducted with the aim of identifying the effectiveness of joint use of the gym equipment "Hanging balls", "Hoops block", "Hoop on the pole", "Lock holder", "Closed net" for the initial training of ball technique. Results It is revealed that coaches and athletes in different ways note the greatest difficulties associated with the study of technical techniques of volleyball. Trainers noted that the greatest obstacle is the lack of technical preparedness, athletes along with the lack of technology noted fear of painful sensations when taking the ball. After the experiment, most of the athletes (96.8%) of the experimental group, who noted the fear of pain in the reception of the ball, marked the almost complete disappearance of such fears, which was not characteristic for athletes of the control group. It is shown that the use of simulators positively affects the quality of performance of technical methods of volleyball. Conclusions It has been shown that the use of simulators and interactive technologies is effective, expedient, reliable, affordable and easy to manufacture as a means for initial training in technical techniques in volleyball.

TECHNINIŲ PRIEMONIŲ NAUDOJIMO KRIMINALINĖJE ŽVALGYBOJE TEISĖTUMO PROBLEMOS

The article presents the analysis of the juridical preconditions of the use of technical equipment during criminal intelligence. The problems of the distinguishing the use of technical equipment by general procedure and the use of technical equipment according to special procedure provided by the Law of the criminal intelligence of the Republic of Lithuania are being analysed as well.

Self-efficacy theory applied to undergraduate biomechanics instruction

Undergraduates are usually required to complete one or more biomechanics courses in a movement science curriculum. Students often avoid taking this course, perhaps because they have a reduced perception of success due to low self-efficacy with the perceived content, particularly related to mathematics. Student learning may be increased through the self-efficacy theory constructs of performance accomplishments, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and emotional arousal. Within these, instructors may enhance student learning by: increasing students’ perception of the content's application, reducing the use of technical equipment, utilizing modern presentation technologies, and emphasizing qualitative understanding. This paper will detail each of these.

Technical eguipment in the construction: problems and ways to improve

Construction equipment is one of the most significant factors contributing to the decrease in the cost of the work, increase of the profitability of the industry as a whole. In the process of reforming of the Russian economy in general and the construction complex in particular, technical equipment of building production has fallen sharply both in quantitative and qualitative sense. Vehicles with expired service life have a sharp drop in performance. Burden on many kinds of construction machinery have increased. There is a growing need for repair and renovation of the construction equipment fleet. There is a relatively high proportion of the massive equipment where the need for it is low. This is accompanied by higher costs for small-scale works. Serious problems were also detected in the sphere of construction equipment repair. This market is divided into two categories: very expensive services with spare parts, and relatively inexpensive, but not enough qualified services with a corresponding guarantee of reliability. In the context of the difficult financial situation of building units it is becoming a significant problem. Major concerns arise on how to optimize the technical and economic indicators of operation of the machines due to the increase in the cost of purchased equipment and operating costs for its maintenance. The analysis of the use of construction machinery shows that a solution to the problems existing in this specific part of the construction activities is required. The time has come when it is necessary to develop and implement the strategy development and effective use of technical equipment in the construction. The paper outlines the key issues and suggests the approaches to improve the technical equipment in the construction.

ABSTRACT 796

Background and aims: Latent safety threats may contribute to medical errors and have a significant impact on patient safety. We describe identified latent patient safety threats during in-situ-simulations in German pediatric hospitals. Aims: Development of a patient safety checklist for pediatric emergencies in children´s hospitals to avoid common deficits in patient care. Methods: The feedback evaluations of 19 in-situ courses (each 2.5 days) at non-affiliated children´s hospitals in Germany were analyzed after informed consent relating to the incidence of latent safety threats by observing equipment (e.g. special equipment for airway- or circulation management, emergency backpack or case, storage,..), logistics (e.g. emergency call, emergency room), medication and both technical and non-technical skills. Results: 431 latent patient safety threats were detected. All 431 safety threats were summarized in 66 different categories. Most mentioned logistic items were things like equipment storage in different places and oversupply of emergency equipment. In the medication category, mistakes in the attenuation of epinephrine and storage of similar sounding medications side by side were most prevalent. Regarding the technical skills, impart knowledge of the current guidelines and lacks in the use of technical equipment (i.o.-access, defibrillator) were observed. Conclusions: The identified latent safety threats in pediatric emergency care show a high rate of previously unidentified items. According to these results a patient safety checklist must be established to avoid these common deficits in the patient care. We developed a safety checklist regarding our results combined with already published data and guidelines. This checklist will be tested for practicability by using in in-situ-trainings and by evaluation with a Delphi procedure.

Predictive use error analysis – Development of AEA, SHERPA and PHEA to better predict, identify and present use errors

In health care, the use of technical equipment plays an integral part. To achieve a high level of patient safety, it is important to avoid use errors when handling equipment. Use errors can be mitigated by performing analyses of potential use errors during the design process. One proactive analytical method for use error analysis is Predictive Use Error Analysis (PUEA), which is a further development of the methods Action Error Analysis (AEA), Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach (SHERPA) and Predictive Human Error Analysis (PHEA). PUEA employs a detailed process for breaking down the user's tasks into steps and then identifying and investigating potential errors of use for each step. Compared with other methods, it is significant in its use of two question levels, greater inclusion of human cognition theory and that the results of the analysis are presented in matrixes. Relevance to industryThe PUEA method is useful to the industry for evaluating existing products or serving as an evaluation tool during the design process. For instance, the PUEA method has been used to evaluate user interface designs of home-care ventilators and dialysis machines. In addition, PUEA can be applied as a final risk assessment method assessment method in the product development process.

Skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistemos koncepcinis modelis: Lietuvos patirtis

Siekiant padidinti skaitmeninimo veiklų valdymo efektyvumą, Lietuvos kultūros paveldo skaitmeninimo, skaitmeninio turinio saugojimo ir prieigos strategijoje (2009–2013) buvo numatyta sukurti kultūros paveldo skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistemą ir nuolat vykdyti Lietuvos kultūros paveldo skaitmeninio stebėsenąbei vertinimą. Straipsnyje supažindinama su skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistemos koncepciniu modeliu, grindžiamu pagrindiniais sistemų teorijos principais bei sisteminiu požiūriu paremta vertinimo teorija. Koncepcinis modelis integruoja skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistemos apibrėžties ir jos paskirties aprašymą, modelio kūrimo principus ir metodologiją, stebėsenos rodiklių pasirinkimą bei jų aprobavimo rezultatus.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: koncepcinis modelis, metodologija, stebėsenos rodikliai, skaitmeninimas, skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistema.A conceptual model of the digitization monitoring system: the Lithuanian experienceRegina Varnienė-Janssen, Jonas Juškys, Neringa Račkauskaitė Summary The article presents a conceptual model for a digi­tization monitoring system, which will be used as the basis for implementing a digitization monitor­ing system in Lithuania. The conceptual model, which is based on the systems theory and evalu­ation theory principles, involves the description of the digitization monitoring system and its scope, principles for the creation of the model, and the choice of the monitoring indicators and their ap­probation results. The key factor influencing the creation of such a system is digitization performed by numerous independent institutions subordinate to different ministries. The creation of a system for monitoring the digitization of cultural heritage objects aims at preventing the duplication of digitization activities, ensuring an effective use of technical equipment and software for performing the digitization of cul­tural heritage objects, applying the best practice of coordinated digitization activities and appropriate standards and formats, as well as a convenient and prompt access to information and statistical data on the results of the activities being performed. The digitization monitoring system is created in line with recommendations of the Feasibility Study for the Creation of a Digitization Monitoring Sys­tem, prepared on demand of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, and requirements of the Specification for the Creation of Software for a Digitization Monitoring System in which, as one of its main requirements, was the creation of a manual of digitization monitoring. The article builds on the above-mentioned feasibility study. The rationale for the creation of a digitization monitoring system conforms with this system’s the­ory principles which require that the modelling of a system activities should involve an analysis of the input, process, and output, as well as feedback evalu­ation. The conceptual model of digitization monitor­ing is based on the following principles: • the system’s activity is shaped and organized by a holistic evaluation of the existing ap­proaches to the creation of such systems; real­ization that a system aggregates multiple ele­ments (interacting institutions and their units) which interact among themselves and with the environment; and abstraction of all elements and their interactions and merging them into a conceptual model. • indicators within a digitization monitoring system are determined through defining the existing state and problems of digitization ac­tivities, investigating the monitoring demands and requirements for such systems, and evalu­ating the conceptual model of this system, based on the results of a discussion. • The main criteria for selecting the indicators of digitization monitoring are clarity, rel­evance, efficiency, and possibility to monitor. A conceptual model based on the holistic appro­ach allows designing a system able to monitor digiti­zation activity results, standards and formats of me­tadata and access, identification and distribution of tasks, and tracking implementation of goals. It also enables institutions performing digitization activities to acquire information on digitization initiatives and current and (or) intended projects, on resources held by other institutions and the characteristics of these resources, on trainings, conferences or other events related to digitization that are on the agenda, also, it enables to successfully monitor and keep under re­view the realization of initiatives, programmes, and strategies, to facilitate a quality evaluation and per­formance improvement, to assess the risks, to im­prove supervision activities, efficiency, and manage­ment processes, to prepare accounts, to substantiate resources and expenses, to increase performance im­pact, and to monitor digitization initiatives as well as current and (or) intended projects.

Application of modern educational technologies in the training for the management of accidents with chemical hazards

The article presents the application of modern educational technology in the training for the management of accidents with chemical hazards. It describes the 'HeSPRO' software package created to integrate the functions of evaluation and prediction of the effects of hazardous substances both in chemical accidents and during the use of highly toxic substances. The assessment of the software package application was carried out based on hypothetical models. The chemical hazard assessment was carried out through the analysis of the obtained results. It was concluded that the software package provides optimal conditions for effective evaluation and prediction of the situation in chemical accidents with hazardous materials.

Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery in Treatment of Nephrolithiasis: Is a 100% Stone-Free Rate Achievable?

To achieve an almost 100% stone-free rate by means of further developing and standardizing the procedure. 100 consecutive patients with single or multiple renal calculi were prospectively enrolled in the study. Flexible ureterorenoscopy was performed as a completely standardized operation by the same two experienced surgeons. Primary outcome was an "endoscopic" (immediate) stone-free status as determined by endoscopic inspection at the end of surgery. In cases of residual fragments, a reevaluation by CT was performed after 3 months. The endoscopic stone-free rate was 97%. In three patients with a cumulative stone size >20 mm, a completely stone-free status could not be achieved in the primary procedure. In these patients, a CT scan after 3 months showed complete clearance from all residual fragments in two; this translates into a primary (after one procedure) stone-free rate after 3 months of 99%. Medium cumulative stone size was 9.8 mm (4-40 mm); in 44 patients, multiple calculi were extracted. Forty-nine patients received a ureteral stent at the end of the operation; two patients had to have stent placement for new onset hydronephrosis and/or colicky pain or fever. Overall complication rate was 7%. Results are limited, because no routine CT scan was used to evaluate stone clearance. By means of a standardized surgical approach and use of technical equipment of the newest generation, it is possible to achieve very high stone-free rates without compromising safety. This approach, however, necessitates use of considerable resources, both technical/surgical and financial.