Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 792 in total

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  1. Environmental hazards posed by mine dust, and monitoring method of mine dust pollution using remote sensing technologies: An overview
    Yu H, Zahidi I
    Sci Total Environ, 2023 Mar 15;864:161135.
    PMID: 36566867 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161135
    The over-exploitation of mineral resources has led to increasingly serious dust pollution in mines, resulting in a series of negative impacts on the environment, mine workers (occupational health) and nearby residents (public health). For the environment, mine dust pollution is considered a major threat on surface vegetation, landscapes, weather conditions and air quality, leading to serious environmental damage such as vegetation reduction and air pollution; for occupational health, mine dust from the mining process is also regarded as a major threat to mine workers' health, leading to occupational diseases such as pneumoconiosis and silicosis; for public health, the pollutants contained in mine dust may pollute surrounding rivers, farmlands and crops, which poses a serious risk to the domestic water and food security of nearby residents who are also susceptible to respiratory diseases from exposure to mine dust. Therefore, the second section of this paper combines literature research, statistical studies, and meta analysis to introduce the public mainly to the severity of mine dust pollution and its hazards to the environment, mine workers (occupational health), and residents (public health), as well as to present an outlook on the management of mine dust pollution. At the same time, in order to propose a method for monitoring mine dust pollution on a regional scale, based on the Dense Dark Vegetation (DDV) algorithm, the third section of this paper analysed the aerosol optical depth (AOD) change in Dexing City of China using the data of 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2021 from the NASA MCD19A2 Dataset to explore the mine dust pollution situation and the progress of pollution treatment in Dexing City from 2010 to 2021. As a discussion article, this paper aims to review the environmental and health risks caused by mine dust pollution, to remind the public to take mine dust pollution seriously, and to propose the use of remote sensing technologies to monitor mine dust pollution, providing suggestions for local governments as well as mines on mine dust monitoring measures.
    Matched MeSH terms: Remote Sensing Technology
  2. Fulltext How Least Developed to Lower-Middle Income Countries Use Health Technology Assessment: A Scoping Review
    Falkowski A, Ciminata G, Manca F, Bouttell J, Jaiswal N, Farhana Binti Kamaruzaman H, et al.
    Pathog Glob Health, 2023 Mar;117(2):104-119.
    PMID: 35950264 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2022.2106108
    Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary tool to inform healthcare decision-making. HTA has been implemented in high-income countries (HIC) for several decades but has only recently seen a growing investment in low- and middle-income countries. A scoping review was undertaken to define and compare the role of HTA in least developed and lower middle-income countries (LLMIC). MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from January 2015 to August 2021. A matrix comprising categories on HTA objectives, methods, geographies, and partnerships was used for data extraction and synthesis to present our findings. The review identified 50 relevant articles. The matrix was populated and sub-divided into further categories as appropriate. We highlight topical aspects of HTA, including initiatives to overcome well-documented challenges around data and capacity development, and identify gaps in the research for consideration. Those areas we found to be under-studied or under-utilized included disinvestment, early HTA/implementation, system-level interventions, and cross-sectoral partnerships. We consider broad practical implications for decision-makers and researchers aiming to achieve greater interconnectedness between HTA and health systems and generate recommendations that LLMIC can use for HTA implementation. Whilst HIC may have led the way, LLMIC are increasingly beginning to develop HTA processes to assist in their healthcare decision-making. This review provides a forward-looking model that LLMIC can point to as a reference for their own implementation. We hope this can be seen as timely and useful contributions to optimize the impact of HTA in an era of investment and expansion and to encourage debate and implementation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biomedical Technology
  3. Microwave processing of oil palm wastes for bioenergy production and circular economy: Recent advancements, challenges, and future prospects
    Foong SY, Chan YH, Lock SSM, Chin BLF, Yiin CL, Cheah KW, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2023 Feb;369:128478.
    PMID: 36513306 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128478
    The valorization and conversion of biomass into various value-added products and bioenergy play an important role in the realization of sustainable circular bioeconomy and net zero carbon emission goals. To that end, microwave technology has been perceived as a promising solution to process and manage oil palm waste due to its unique and efficient heating mechanism. This review presents an in-depth analysis focusing on microwave-assisted torrefaction, gasification, pyrolysis and advanced pyrolysis of various oil palm wastes. In particular, the products from these thermochemical conversion processes are energy-dense biochar (that could be used as solid fuel, adsorbents for contaminants removal and bio-fertilizer), phenolic-rich bio-oil, and H2-rich syngas. However, several challenges, including (1) the lack of detailed study on life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis, (2) limited insights on the specific foreknowledge of microwave interaction with the oil palm wastes for continuous operation, and (3) effects of tunable parameters and catalyst's behavior/influence on the products' selectivity and overall process's efficiency, remain to be addressed in the context of large-scale biomass valorization via microwave technology.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  4. Microalgae identification: Future of image processing and digital algorithm
    Chong JWR, Khoo KS, Chew KW, Vo DN, Balakrishnan D, Banat F, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2023 Feb;369:128418.
    PMID: 36470491 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128418
    The identification of microalgae species is an important tool in scientific research and commercial application to prevent harmful algae blooms (HABs) and recognizing potential microalgae strains for the bioaccumulation of valuable bioactive ingredients. The aim of this study is to incorporate rapid, high-accuracy, reliable, low-cost, simple, and state-of-the-art identification methods. Thus, increasing the possibility for the development of potential recognition applications, that could identify toxic-producing and valuable microalgae strains. Recently, deep learning (DL) has brought the study of microalgae species identification to a much higher depth of efficiency and accuracy. In doing so, this review paper emphasizes the significance of microalgae identification, and various forms of machine learning algorithms for image classification, followed by image pre-processing techniques, feature extraction, and selection for further classification accuracy. Future prospects over the challenges and improvements of potential DL classification model development, application in microalgae recognition, and image capturing technologies are discussed accordingly.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  5. Design of biorefineries towards carbon neutrality: A critical review
    Culaba AB, Mayol AP, San Juan JLG, Ubando AT, Bandala AA, Concepcion Ii RS, et al.
    Bioresour Technol, 2023 Feb;369:128256.
    PMID: 36343780 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128256
    The increase in worldwide demand for energy is driven by the rapid increase in population and exponential economic development. This resulted in the fast depletion of fossil fuel supplies and unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. To valorize biomass into different bioproducts, one of the popular and carbon-neutral alternatives is biorefineries. This system is an appropriate technology in the circular economy model. Various research highlighted the role of biorefineries as a centerpiece in the carbon-neutral ecosystem of technologies of the circular economy model. To fully realize this, various improvements and challenges need to be addressed. This paper presents a critical and timely review of the challenges and future direction of biorefineries as an alternative carbon-neutral energy source.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  6. Integration of renewable energy and technological innovation in realizing environmental sustainability: the role of human capital in EKC framework
    Saqib N, Sharif A, Razzaq A, Usman M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2023 Feb;30(6):16372-16385.
    PMID: 36181595 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23345-6
    For the purpose of this study, the role of technological innovation is examined. Few studies have examined empirically and theoretically the relationship between technological innovation and ecological footprint in conjunction with other factors, such as the human capital index and renewable energy sources, such as biofuels and nuclear power. This study examines the impact of technological innovation on G-7 countries' ecological footprints from 1990 to 2020. A cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) model is used in the study. The results of the study show that technological innovation minimizes the ecological footprint. A lower ecological footprint is also associated with increased usage of human capital and renewable energy. Depletion of the natural environment is a short-term and long-term consequence of increased GDP growth. Our results confirm that ecologically sustainable technology enhances the quality of the environment. Consistent panel causality results were achieved. In the context of the G-7 countries, our study's results could support the idea that there are new policy ideas that could help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 13).
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  7. Microplastics biodegradation by biofloc-producing bacteria: An inventive biofloc technology approach
    Hossain S, Manan H, Shukri ZNA, Othman R, Kamaruzzan AS, Rahim AIA, et al.
    Microbiol Res, 2023 Jan;266:127239.
    PMID: 36327659 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127239
    Microplastics pollution has become a threat to aquaculture practices, as nearly all farming systems are saturated with microplastics (MPs) particles. Current research on MPs is limited considering their effects on aquatic organisms and human health. However, limited research has been conducted on potential cures and treatments. In today's world, bioremediation of needful parameters in different culture systems is being successfully practiced by introducing floc-forming bacteria. Researchers had found that some bacteria are efficacious in degrading microplastics particles including polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP). In addition, some bacteria that can form floc, are being used in fish and shellfish culture systems to treat toxic pollutants as the heterotrophic bacteria use organic compounds to grow and are effective in degrading microplastics and minimizing toxic nitrogen loads in aquaculture systems. In this review, the ability of biofloc bacteria to degrade microplastics has been summarized by collating the results of previous studies. The concept of this review may represent the efficacy of biofloc technology as an implicit tool in the fish culture system restricting the MPs contamination in water resources to safeguard ecological as well as human health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  8. Fulltext Coconut shell and husk biochar: A review of production and activation technology, economic, financial aspect and application
    Ajien A, Idris J, Md Sofwan N, Husen R, Seli H
    Waste Manag Res, 2023 Jan;41(1):37-51.
    PMID: 36346183 DOI: 10.1177/0734242X221127167
    The coconut industry generates a relatively large amount of coconut shell and husk biomass, which can be utilized for industrial and environmental purposes. Immense potential for added value when coconut shell and husk biomass are turned into biochar and limited studies are available, making this review paper significant. This paper specifically presents the production and activation technology, economic and financial aspect and application of biochar from coconut shell and husk biomass. Pyrolysis, gasification and self-sustained carbonization are among the production technology discussed to convert this biomass into carbon-rich materials with distinctive characteristics. The surface characteristics of coconut-based biochar, that is, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area (SBET), pore volume (Vp), pore diameter (dp) and surface functional group can be enhanced by physical and chemical activation and metal impregnation. Due to their favourable characteristics, coconut shell and husk-activated biochar exhibit their potential as valuable adsorption materials for industrial and environmental application including biodiesel production, capacitive deionization, soil amendment, water treatment and carbon sequestration. With the knowledge of the potential, the coconut industry can contribute to both the local and global biocircular economy by producing coconut shell and husk biochar for economic development and environmental remediation. The capital and operating cost for production and activation processes must be taken into account to ensure bioeconomy sustainability, hence coconut shell and husk biomass have a great potential for income generation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  9. Multi-air pollution risk assessment in Southeast Asia region using integrated remote sensing and socio-economic data products
    Sakti AD, Anggraini TS, Ihsan KTN, Misra P, Trang NTQ, Pradhan B, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2023 Jan 01;854:158825.
    PMID: 36116660 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158825
    Air pollution has massive impacts on human life and poor air quality results in three million deaths annually. Air pollution can result from natural causes, including volcanic eruptions and extreme droughts, or human activities, including motor vehicle emissions, industry, and the burning of farmland and forests. Emission sources emit multiple pollutant types with diverse characteristics and impacts. However, there has been little research on the risk of multiple air pollutants; thus, it is difficult to identify multi-pollutant mitigation processes, particularly in Southeast Asia, where air pollution moves dynamically across national borders. In this study, the main objective was to develop a multi-air pollution risk index product for CO, NO2, and SO2 based on Sentinel-5P remote sensing data from 2019 to 2020. The risk index was developed by integrating hazard, vulnerability, and exposure analyses. Hazard analysis considers air pollution data from remote sensing, vulnerability analysis considers the air pollution sources, and exposure analysis considers the population density. The novelty of this study lies in its development of a multi-risk model that considers the weights obtained from the relationship between the hazard and vulnerability parameters. The highest air pollution risk index values were observed in urban areas, with a high exposure index that originates from pollution caused by human activity. Multi-risk analysis of the three air pollutants revealed that Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines had the largest percentages of high-risk areas, while Indonesia had the largest total high-risk area (4361 km2). Using the findings of this study, the patterns and characteristics of the risk distribution of multiple air pollutants in Southeast Asia can be identified, which can be used to mitigate multi-pollutant sources, particularly with respect to supporting the clean air targets in the Sustainable Development Goals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Remote Sensing Technology
  10. Fulltext Requirements, Deployments, and Challenges of LoRa Technology: A Survey
    Ayoub Kamal M, Alam MM, Sajak AAB, Mohd Su'ud M
    Comput Intell Neurosci, 2023;2023:5183062.
    PMID: 36654727 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5183062
    LoRa is an ISM-band based LPWAN communication protocol. Despite their wide network penetration of approximately 20 kilometers or higher using lower than 14 decibels transmitting power, it has been extensively documented and used in academia and industry. Although LoRa connectivity defines a public platform and enables users to create independent low-power wireless connections while relying on external architecture, it has gained considerable interest from scholars and the market. The two fundamental components of this platform are LoRaWAN and LoRa PHY. The consumer LoRaWAN component of the technology describes the network model, connectivity procedures, ability to operate the frequency range, and the types of interlinked gadgets. In contrast, the LoRa PHY component is patentable and provides information on the modulation strategy which is being utilized and its attributes. There are now several LoRa platforms available. To create usable LoRa systems, there are presently several technical difficulties to be overcome, such as connection management, allocation of resources, consistent communications, and security. This study presents a thorough overview of LoRa networking, covering the technological difficulties in setting up LoRa infrastructures and current solutions. Several outstanding challenges of LoRa communication are presented depending on our thorough research of the available solutions. The research report aims to stimulate additional research toward enhancing the LoRa Network capacity and allowing more realistic installations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  11. Fulltext Detecting tropical peatland degradation: Combining remote sensing and organic geochemistry
    Brown C, Boyd DS, Sjögersten S, Vane CH
    PLoS One, 2023;18(3):e0280187.
    PMID: 36989287 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280187
    Tropical peatlands are important carbon stores that are vulnerable to drainage and conversion to agriculture. Protection and restoration of peatlands are increasingly recognised as key nature based solutions that can be implemented as part of climate change mitigation. Identification of peatland areas that are important for protection and restauration with regards to the state of their carbon stocks, are therefore vital for policy makers. In this paper we combined organic geochemical analysis by Rock-Eval (6) pyrolysis of peat collected from sites with different land management history and optical remote sensing products to assess if remotely sensed data could be used to predict peat conditions and carbon storage. The study used the North Selangor Peat Swamp forest, Malaysia, as the model system. Across the sampling sites the carbon stocks in the below ground peat was ca 12 times higher than the forest (median carbon stock held in ground vegetation 114.70 Mg ha-1 and peat soil 1401.51 Mg ha-1). Peat core sub-samples and litter collected from Fire Affected, Disturbed Forest, and Managed Recovery locations (i.e. disturbed sites) had different decomposition profiles than Central Forest sites. The Rock-Eval pyrolysis of the upper peat profiles showed that surface peat layers at Fire Affected, Disturbed Forest, and Managed Recovery locations had lower immature organic matter index (I-index) values (average I-index range in upper section 0.15 to -0.06) and higher refractory organic matter index (R -index) (average R-index range in upper section 0.51 to 0.65) compared to Central Forest sites indicating enhanced decomposition of the surface peat. In the top 50 cm section of the peat profile, carbon stocks were negatively related to the normalised burns ratio (NBR) (a satellite derived parameter) (Spearman's rho = -0.664, S = 366, p-value = <0.05) while there was a positive relationship between the hydrogen index and the normalised burns ratio profile (Spearman's rho = 0.7, S = 66, p-value = <0.05) suggesting that this remotely sensed product is able to detect degradation of peat in the upper peat profile. We conclude that the NBR can be used to identify degraded peatland areas and to support identification of areas for conversation and restoration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Remote Sensing Technology*
  12. Genome shuffling for phenotypic improvement of industrial strains through recursive protoplast fusion technology
    Hospet R, Thangadurai D, Cruz-Martins N, Sangeetha J, Anu Appaiah KA, Chowdhury ZZ, et al.
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2023;63(17):2960-2969.
    PMID: 34592865 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1983763
    Strains' improvement technology plays an essential role in enhancing the quality of industrial strains. Several traditional methods and modern techniques have been used to further improve strain engineering programs. The advances stated in strain engineering and the increasing demand for microbial metabolites leads to the invention of the genome shuffling technique, which ensures a specific phenotype improvement through inducing mutation and recursive protoplast fusion. In such technique, the selection of multi-parental strains with distinct phenotypic traits is crucial. In addition, as this evolutionary strain improvement technique involves combinative approaches, it does not require any gene sequence data for genome alteration and, therefore, strains developed by this elite technique will not be considered as genetically modified organisms. In this review, the different stages involved in the genome shuffling technique and its wide applications in various phenotype improvements will be addressed. Taken together, data discussed here highlight that the use of genome shuffling for strain improvement will be a plus for solving complex phenotypic traits and in promoting the rapid development of other industrially important strains.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  13. Fulltext Single-fed broadband CPW-fed circularly polarized implantable antenna for sensing medical applications
    Butt AD, Khan J, Ahmad S, Ghaffar A, Abdullah Al-Gburi AJ, Hussein M
    PLoS One, 2023;18(4):e0280042.
    PMID: 37053176 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280042
    Biomedical telemetry relies heavily on implantable antennas. Due to this, we have designed and tested a compact, a circularly polarized, a low-profile biomedical implantable antenna that operate in the 2.45 GHz ISM band. In order to keep the antenna compact, modified co-planar waveguide (CPW) technology is used. Slotted rectangular patch with one 45-degree angle slot and truncated little patch on the left end of the ground plane generate a frequency-range antenna with circular polarization. Using a 0.25-millimeter-thick Roger Duroid-RT5880 substrate with a thickness of εr = 2.2, tanδ = 0.0009 provides flexibility. The volume of the antenna is 21 mm x 13.5 mm x 0.254 mm (0.25λg × 0.16λg × 0.003λg). The antenna covers 2.35-2.55 GHz (200 MHz) in free space and 1.63-1.17 GHz (1.17 GHz) in epidermal tissue. With skin tissue that has more bandwidth, the (x and y)-axis bends of the antenna are also simulated via the simulation. Bended antenna simulations and measurements show excellent agreement. At 2.45 GHz, the skin-like gel had -10dB impedance and 3dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidths of 47.7 and 53.8%, respectively. The ultimate result is that the SAR values are 0.78 W/kg in skin over 1 g of bulk tissue, as determined by simulations. The suggested SAR values are lower than the FCC's maximum allowable limit (FCC). This antenna is small enough to be implanted in the body, making it perfect for biomedical applications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Wireless Technology*
  14. Fulltext L-CPPA: Lattice-based conditional privacy-preserving authentication scheme for fog computing with 5G-enabled vehicular system
    Almazroi AA, Alqarni MA, Al-Shareeda MA, Manickam S
    PLoS One, 2023;18(10):e0292690.
    PMID: 37889892 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292690
    The role that vehicular fog computing based on the Fifth Generation (5G) can play in improving traffic management and motorist safety is growing quickly. The use of wireless technology within a vehicle raises issues of confidentiality and safety. Such concerns are optimal targets for conditional privacy-preserving authentication (CPPA) methods. However, current CPPA-based systems face a challenge when subjected to attacks from quantum computers. Because of the need for security and anti-piracy features in fog computing when using a 5G-enabled vehicle system, the L-CPPA scheme is proposed in this article. Using a fog server, secret keys are generated and transmitted to each registered car via a 5G-Base Station (5G-BS) in the proposed L-CPPA system. In the proposed L-CPPA method, the trusted authority, rather than the vehicle's Onboard Unit (OBU), stores the vehicle's master secret data to each fog server. Finally, the computation cost of the suggested L-CPPA system regards message signing, single verification and batch verification is 694.161 ms, 60.118 ms, and 1348.218 ms, respectively. Meanwhile, the communication cost is 7757 bytes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Wireless Technology
  15. Fulltext Roboethics of tourism and hospitality industry: A systematic review
    Zhu JJ, Liu Z, Huang T, Guo XS
    PLoS One, 2023;18(6):e0287439.
    PMID: 37390063 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287439
    This study aims to give a comprehensive analysis of customers' acceptance and use of AI gadgets and its relevant ethical issues in the tourism and hospitality business in the era of the Internet of Things. Adopting a PRISMA methodology for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, the present research reviews how tourism and hospitality scholars have conducted research on AI technology in the field of tourism and the hospitality industry. Most of the journal articles related to AI issues published in Web of Science, ScienceDirect.com and the journal websites were considered in this review. The results of this research offer a better understanding of AI implementation with roboethics to investigate AI-related issues in the tourism and hospitality industry. In addition, it provides decision-makers in the hotel industry with practical references on service innovation, participation in the design of AI devices and AI device applications, meeting customer needs, and optimising customer experience. The theoretical implications and practical interpretations are further identified.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  16. Fulltext Factors influencing in-service teachers' technology integration model: Innovative strategies for educational technology
    Peng R, Abdul Razak R, Hajar Halili S
    PLoS One, 2023;18(8):e0286112.
    PMID: 37616315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286112
    Technology invention and implementation have resulted in long-term educational progress. This study aimed to identify the innovative strategies in determining the factors influencing in-service teachers' technology integration in China, focusing on the information and communication technology (ICT) integration. The sample consists of 685 in-service teachers. Four factors are found to influence in-service teachers' ICT integration: attitudes, self-efficacy, digital competence, and digital tools use. The results of the study utilizing the PLS-SEM approach demonstrated that all four factors have a substantial impact on in-service teachers' ICT integration and interact with each other. Meanwhile, attitudes, digital competence, and digital tools use have a mediating effect in this research. In addition, the study discussed the effects of gender, age, and teaching experience on influencing factors and ICT integration. This research provided beneficial insights for a successful design of instruction with ICT and contributed to innovative strategies for educational technology.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology; Educational Technology*
  17. Fulltext A scoping review on current technology-based approaches to support breastfeeding and informal human milk exchange practices
    Abdul Razak SF, Rosli NL, Kamis NH, Rahim NCA, Abdullah MFA
    PLoS One, 2023;18(9):e0290311.
    PMID: 37708192 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290311
    Informal human milk exchange is the practice of donating and receiving expressed human milk based on mutual consent between the donor and receiver in the need of human milk for infants below 2 years old. Main concerns related to informal human milk exchange is related to milk siblings and safety handling of the expressed breastmilk. Even though there are countries which have policies and procedures related to human milk bank, informal milk exchange has not been given much attention. Compared to human milk bank, informal human milk exchange is not regulated. This study aims to identify the system focused on personalized breastfeeding tracking and monitoring, online discussion forum, web-based consultation, and breastfeeding station locator. Review of current applications in supporting breastfeeding practices was conducted based on the PRISMA-ScR framework. A literature search was conducted in Scopus and Google Scholar databases to identify articles published in English or Malay and containing systems/applications related to breastfeeding, milk sharing, milk exchange, milk siblings/kinship within the societal context. According to the scoping review, current scientific publications mostly focused on breast milk, breastfeeding, and milk banking concerns, with recurring themes including social reasons, lactation insufficiency, and unsolved nursing problems. These themes highlight the complexities and complexities of informal human milk exchange practices. Two reviewers screened the articles, and the data were extracted and narratively synthesized. During the primary database search, 360 articles were found based on the related titles, abstracts, and keywords. Seventy eight met the inclusion criteria and were finalized in this review. We found that most scholarly works focused on breast milk, breastfeeding and milk banking challenges and issues with recurrent themes i.e., societies, lactation inadequacy and unresolved nursing problems. Based on our literature search and to the best of our knowledge, there is no recent scoping reviews which focuses on technology-based approaches on informal human milk exchange. Findings from this scoping review is important for advancing research and practice in this field, as well as improving outcomes for individuals and families affected by informal human milk exchange.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  18. Fulltext What, Where, and How to Collect Real-World Data and Generate Real-World Evidence to Support Drug Reimbursement Decision-Making in Asia: A reflection Into the Past and A Way Forward
    Kc S, Lin LW, Bayani DBS, Zemlyanska Y, Adler A, Ahn J, et al.
    Int J Health Policy Manag, 2023;12:6858.
    PMID: 37579427 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2023.6858
    BACKGROUND: Globally, there is increasing interest in the use of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) to inform health technology assessment (HTA) and reimbursement decision-making. Using current practices and case studies shared by eleven health systems in Asia, a non-binding guidance that seeks to align practices for generating and using RWD/RWE for decision-making in Asia was developed by the REAL World Data In ASia for HEalth Technology Assessment in Reimbursement (REALISE) Working Group, addressing a current gap and needs among HTA users and generators.

    METHODS: The guidance document was developed over two face-to-face workshops, in addition to an online survey, a face-to-face interview and pragmatic search of literature. The specific focus was on what, where and how to collect RWD/ RWE.

    RESULTS: All 11 REALISE member jurisdictions participated in the online survey and the first in-person workshop, 10 participated in the second in-person workshop, and 8 participated in the in-depth face-to-face interviews. The guidance document was iteratively reviewed by all working group members and the International Advisory Panel. There was substantial variation in: (a) sources and types of RWD being used in HTA, and (b) the relative importance and prioritization of RWE being used for policy-making. A list of national-level databases and other sources of RWD available in each country was compiled. A list of useful guidance on data collection, quality assurance and study design were also compiled.

    CONCLUSION: The REALISE guidance document serves to align the collection of better quality RWD and generation of reliable RWE to ultimately inform HTA in Asia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Technology Assessment, Biomedical*
  19. Superheated steam processing: An emerging technology to improve food quality and safety
    Fang J, Liu C, Law CL, Mujumdar AS, Xiao HW, Zhang C
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2023;63(27):8720-8736.
    PMID: 35389273 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2059440
    Heat processing is one of the most efficient strategies used in food industry to improve quality and prolong shelf life. However, conventional processing methods such as microwave heating, burning charcoal treatment, boiling, and frying are energy-inefficient and often lead to inferior product quality. Superheated steam (SHS) is an innovative technology that offers many potential benefits to industry and is increasingly used in food industry. Compared to conventional processing methods, SHS holds higher heat transfer coefficients, which can reduce microorganisms on surface of foodstuffs efficiently. Additionally, SHS generates a low oxygen environment, which prevents lipid oxidation and harmful compounds generation. Furthermore, SHS can facilitate development of desired product quality, such as protein denaturation with functional characteristics, proper starch gelatinization, and can also reduce nutrient loss, and improve the physicochemical properties of foodstuffs. The current work provides a comprehensive review of the impact of SHS on the nutritional, physicochemical, and safety properties of various foodstuffs including meat, fruits, and vegetables, cereals, etc. Additionally, it also provides food manufacturers and researchers with basic knowledge and practical techniques for SHS processing of foodstuffs, which may improve the current scope of SHS and transfer current food systems to a healthy and sustainable one.
    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
  20. Fulltext NGS Technology in Monitoring the Genetic Diversity of Cytomegalovirus Strains
    Vankova OE, Brusnigina NF, Novikova NA
    Sovrem Tekhnologii Med, 2023;15(2):41-46.
    PMID: 37389021 DOI: 10.17691/stm2023.15.2.04
    Modern molecular genetic methods, massive parallel sequencing in particular, allow for genotyping of various pathogens with the aim of their epidemiological marking and improvement of molecular epidemiological surveillance of actual infections, including cytomegalovirus infection. The aim of the study is to evaluate the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology for genotyping clinical isolates of cytomegalovirus (CMV).

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: The object of the study were samples of biological substrates (leukocyte mass, saliva, urine) taken from patients who underwent liver and kidney transplantation. Detection of CMV DNA was carried out by a real-time PCR using commercial diagnostic AmpliSense CMV-FL test systems (Central Research Institute for Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia). DNA extraction was performed using DNA-sorb AM and DNA-sorb V kits (Central Research Institute for Epidemiology) in accordance with manufacturer's manual. The quality of the prepared DNA library for sequencing was assessed by means of the QIAxcel Advanced System capillary gel electrophoresis system (QIAGEN, Germany). Alignment and assembly of nucleotide sequences were carried out using CLC Genomics Workbench 5.5 software (CLC bio, USA). The sequencing results were analyzed using BLAST of NCBI server.

    RESULTS: CMV DNA samples were selected for genotyping. The two variable genes, UL55(gB) and UL73(gN), were used for CMV genotype determination, which was performed using NGS technology MiSeq sequencer (Illumina, USA). Based on the exploratory studies and analysis of literature sources, primers for genotyping on the UL55(gB) and UL73(gN) genes have been selected and the optimal conditions for the PCR reaction have been defined. The results of sequencing the UL55(gB) and UL73(gN) gene fragments of CMV clinical isolates from recipients of solid organs made it possible to determine the virus genotypes, among which gB2, gN4c, and gN4b were dominant. In some cases, association of two and three CMV genotypes has been revealed.

    CONCLUSION: The application of the NGS technology for genotyping cytomegalovirus strains can become one of the main methods of CMV infection molecular epidemiology, as it allows for obtaining reliable results with a significant reduction in research time.

    Matched MeSH terms: Technology
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