Effective vaccine management through social behavior change communication: Exploring solutions using a participatory action research approach in the Solomon Islands

Addressing vaccine management bottlenecks, including high vaccine wastage rates, has traditionally been addressed through health worker training and other didactic methods of technical assistance or support as required. It has been shown, though, that the high level of technical skills, expertise, and responsibility required in vaccine handling and management cannot be achieved by mere didactic learning. While gains have been made in vaccine management and handling with these approaches, there remain challenges of high vaccine wastage rates and poor vaccine management practices across the board. Interestingly, approaching vaccine management through social behavior change has not been documented. Through Participatory Action Research (PAR), which is increasingly being used in health sciences, we explore an attempt at strengthening vaccine management and thus reducing high vaccine wastage rates by working together with health workers to identify plausible, realistic solutions to vaccine management through social behavior change. Select health workers directly involved with the immunization program in the four major provinces of the Solomon Islands were identified purposively to use action media and come up with concepts and materials for social behavior change communication that will have an impact on effective vaccine management and reducing wastages. This is the first documented use of such methodology in addressing vaccine management issues.     

ZrP99铸钛包埋材料的铸模温度对铸造精度的影响

目的：研究ZrP99铸钛包埋材料的铸模温度对铸造精度的影响。方法：利用代型模具，制作30个超硬石膏全冠预备体代型．并制作相应的全冠蜡型，随机分为5组，每组6个样本，其中4组为实验组，采用ZrP99铸钛包埋材料进行包埋，分别在铸模温度为600℃、450℃、300℃、150℃条件下进行铸造；另外一组为对照组，采用Titavest—CB包埋材料进行包埋．在铸模温度为600℃条件下进行铸造。利用显微图像分析技术．在实体显微镜下分别测量蜡型及相应的铸件边缘与代型肩台之间在标志点处的间隙，两者差值即代表铸造精度。采用t检验及单因素方差分析进行统计学处理。结果：Titavest—CB包埋材料组的铸造精度显著优于在不同铸模温度下ZrP99包埋材料组：当ZrP99包埋材料的铸模温度低于450℃时，随着温度升高，铸造精度显著提高。结论：ZrP99铸钛包埋材料的铸模温度必须高于300℃．才有可能满足临床精度要求。     

The effect of mold temperature on castability of CP Ti and Ti–6Al–4V castings into phosphate bonded investment materials

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the castability of CP titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy castings into Rematitan Plus investment at three different mold temperatures. METHODS: A nylon mesh pattern (20 mm with 64 squares and wire of 0.7 mm in diameter) was used for the castability testing. Initially, an image of the wax pattern was obtained by means of a digital camera and the total extension of filaments (mm) was then measured, using the Leica Qwin image analysis system. The mesh sprued was placed in the Rematitan Plus investment material and the castings were made in a Discovery Plasma machine at three different mold temperatures: 430 degrees C (control group), 480 degrees C or 530 degrees C. Ten castings were made for each temperature. The images of the castings were analyzed (Leica Qwin) and the castability index determined by the number of the completely cast segments as a percentage of the wax pattern. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison test (a = 0.05) using materials and temperatures as discriminating variables. RESULTS: The Ti-6Al-4V alloy (60.86%) presented a better castability index than CP Ti (48.44%) (p < 0.000001). For CP Ti, the temperature of 530 degrees C (23.96%) presented better castability than at other temperatures, 480 degrees C (14.66%) and 430 degrees C (12.54%), with no difference between them (p < 0.001). For Ti-6Al-4V alloy, there was a statistically significant difference among the three temperatures: 530 degrees C (28.36%) > 480 degrees C (19.66%) > 430 degrees C (15.97%) (p < 0.002). SIGNIFICANCE: Within the limitations of this study, the increase in the mold temperature of the Rematitan Plus investment resulted in a better castability index for both materials, and Ti-6Al-4V presented a better castability index than CP Ti.     

European countries in the race to attract successful biopharma investment: Winners and laggers

The post-coronavirus era will open myriad opportunities for the biopharma industry. However, the extent to which each country will take advantage of this promising new scenario will largely depend on its position in a few key areas. Here, we offer an overview of the European countries that are winning and those that are lagging behind in the race to attract the greatest investment in this industry and to attain the highest rate of successful new ventures. Our results highlight the vital importance of a sound, active funding base, especially in terms of venture capital. Our findings also suggests that general scientific foundations are not enough to secure an advantage in new venture formation.     

如何减少医院建设项目的超投资

医院建设项目超投资的原因是预算考虑不周,方案制定不细,从而在源头埋下隐患。如何把预算做得周密严谨,如何把握好建筑布局与运行管理和成本的关系,是检验医院管理者的一项艰巨细致的重要工作。可从学习经验、反复论证、把控风险等方面来着手。     

A Medical Education as an Investment: Financial Food for Thought

Every year that the training period can be shortened increases the value of a medical education. Tuition covers only a fraction of the cost of medical education, making the societal investment in older students less financially robust. Shortening training periods would immediately solve the shortage of residency training positions. With a few exceptions, a medical education is a good investment for women. We are skeptical of the proposals to address the skyrocketing student debt because they do not confront the primary problem. The best way to minimize debt is thrift, and the best way to make a career in medicine more desirable is to shorten the training time.     

广东省刨花板投资项目的经济评价

本文研究了广东省新建的九家刨花板厂(车间)的投资与投产情况。选用投资利税率、投资利润率、固定资产产值率、产值利税率、全员劳动生产率、投资回收期等六项评价指标来评价广东省刨花板投资项目的经济效益。本文还对广东省九家刨花板厂的投入与产出之间的数量关系进行回归分析。通过评价和回归分析可知:刨花板投资的经济效益是较差的;刨花板制造业属于资金密集型产业;刨花板厂的规模不宜过大;资金投入与产值之间有正的相关关系,而劳动力投入与产值之间存在负相关等。     

论健康资本的合理化配置

本文从人力资本的角度阐述了健康资本的理论内涵和意义,分析了中外国家在健康资本合理化配置上走过的误区及变化,最后就如何合理化配置健康资本进行了论述。     

使用FUS-invest锆系牙科纯钛包埋料提高铸件的物理机械性能及精度

目的:评价自制FUS-invest锆系牙科纯钛包埋料铸造的纯钛铸件的物理机械性能及标准化单冠的精度.方法:制备7个厚度为0.8 mm的纯钛比例铸件.经伺服液压动态实验系统、断口扫描电镜观察及能谱分析,评价其物理机械性能.制备38个标准化单冠,实验组(FUS-invest锆系包埋料)、对照组(磷酸盐系包埋料)各19个,测量显微镜测标准化单冠边缘差异值d和铸件内壁与工作模的距离,进行铸件精度评价.采用SPSS17.0软件包对数据进行统计学分析.结果:①纯钛铸件的弹性模量为(123.5±14.2)GPa,屈服强度为(569.3±16.5) MPa,抗拉强度为(668.4±16.1) MPa,延伸率为(4.5±0.2)％;断口EDS分析除钛元素外,不同深度处可发现少量不同含量的Si元素和Fe元素,但未检测出Zr元素.②精度实验中,单因素方差分析及两独立样本t检验显示,组内标准化单冠边缘4个标记点处的测量值无显著差异(P＞0.05);实验组和对照组相比亦无显著差异(P＞0.05).2组内部测量值无显著差异(P＞0.05),而组内内部不同标记点间差异显著(P＜0.01).结论:虽然FUS-invest锆系包埋料铸造获得铸件的延伸率略低,但各项物理机械性能均达到临床要求.无论边缘适合性还是内部适合性,2组均无显著差异且均在临床可接受范围,2组边缘差异均值约为46 μm,内部近咬合面的差异均值约为56 μm,内部轴壁处的差异均值约为0.