Ionizing Radiation Leakage in Radio-Diagnostic Centers at Gaza Strip Hospitals, Palestine

The fact of using radiation in medicine has led to major improvements in the diagnostic and treatment of human diseases. However, it carries some risks of health problems. In Gaza governorates hospitals, there is tremendous development has taken place in the radio-diagnostic field and there is no clear radiation protection program, lack of clear information about radiation protection measures and guidelines. The objective of this study was an assessment whether yearly equivalent radiation dose received by the radio-diagnostic workers and public in governmental Gaza governorates hospitals are within the dose limits recommended by ICRP or not. The study was carried out in nine governmental hospitals. The hospitals were selected because of their large and diverse of their radio-diagnostic services. The radiation survey meter (OD-01) was used to measure radiation leakage. Data sheet was also used to elicit information about the radio-diagnostic rooms and machines specifications. The results indicate that the fluoroscopy and CT scan rooms were not efficiently lead lined and the radiation protection is not well organized. The measured values of radiation dose rate at different locations in basic X-ray and mammography rooms are found within a permissible limits for occupational stuff and public. However, the recommended distance between the X-ray machine and control panel have not been achieved in some rooms. Therefore, there is a desperate need for rules, regulations and radiation protection act in the field of radiation in medical field

Analisis sistem perawatan aset operasional medis RS. Panti Rapih Yogyakarta

The objective of this study is to analyze maintenance system of medical operational assets in R.S. Panti Rapih Yogyakarta. This research made use of two tools namely, Importance Performance analysis (IPA) and SWOT analysis. While, the accuracy of the questionnaire was measured employing a Likert scale, as well as validity and reliability tests. Importance Performance analysis on the result test of per vaiabel showed that SOP already exists, but it does not run well because of several hampering factors, including (1) the lack of capable human resources in both quality and quantity concerning the advancement of medical technology and (2) the lack of specialized institutions that develop skills for the nurses in medical equipment engineering. SWOT analysis indicated that maintenance system of medical operational assets in R.S. Panti Rapih Yogyakarta was in Quadrant 1, which is a very profitable situation. The organization has the chance and strength so as to take advantage over the existing opportunities. The strategy which should be applied in this condition is the one that supports the aggressive growth policies (SO strategy or strength opportunity strategy) and the one that has some power of great opportunity to compete among rival hospitals in Yogyakarta; hence, the maintenance system of medical operational assets can be said to run better

Understanding on the Background of the Era of Independent Innovations in China

"Independence" in the independent innovation emphasizes that innovation (or realization of the principal) is belong to our country; from the perspective of overemphasizing the "technology-dependent" to understand the point of "independence"; from the perspective of safeguarding national security to understand the "independence" ; from the perspective of adjustment of the economic structure, and the transformation of the mode of growth to understand the point of "independence"; from the perspective of economic efficiency to improve understanding of the manufacturing industry's "independence"; from the perspective of building a resource-saving society to understand "independence" . Key words: Independent innovation, Innovation, Reliance on technology, National security, resource-saving society Résumé: L’ « indépendance » dans l’innovation indépendante souligne que l’innovation appartient à notre pays, on doit comprendre le point d’ « indépendance » dans la perspective de la sur-accentuation la « technologie-dépendance », de la sauvegarde de la sécurité nationale, de l’ajustement de la structure économique, de la transformation du mode de croissance, de la construction d’une société économe de ressources et de l’efficience économique. Mots-Clés: innovation indépendante, innovation, dépendre de la technologie, sécurité nationale, société économe de ressource

Spreading the Word: Geography, Policy and University Knowledge Diffusion

Using new data on citations to university patents and scientific publications, and measures of distance based on Google maps, we study how geography affects university knowledge diffusion. We show that knowledge flows from patents are localized in two respects: they decline sharply with distance up to about 100 miles, and they are strongly constrained by state borders, controlling for distance. While distance also constrains knowledge spillovers from publications, the state border does not. We investigate how the strength of the state border effect varies with university and state characteristics. It is larger for patents from public, as compared to private, universities and this is partly explained by the local development policies of universities. The border effect is larger in states with stronger non-compete laws that affect intra-state labor mobility, and those with greater reliance on in-state educated scientists and engineers. We confirm the impact of non-compete statutes by studying a policy reform in Michigan that introduced such restrictions.knowledge spillovers, diffusion, geography, university technology transfer, patents, scientific publications

Environmental Infection Control in Intensive Care Units at Gaza Governorates: Interventional Study

Background: Worldwide, many lives are lost because of the spread of infections in health facilities. Microbial organisms spreading in everything around us (air, water, food and inanimate surfaces). Most of these infections can be prevented by well-established processes for decontamination and cleaning of soiled instruments. High-risk areas such as intensive care units (ICUs) require special ventilation systems that designed to provide clean air with high efficiency, which need to be considered in the hospitals construction. It is also imperative for health care administrators to ensure implementation of the infection control program in health care facilities. This study aimed to evaluate the environmental infection control (EIC) measures in the general ICUs in Gaza. Methodology: A three-months descriptive cross sectional study was done to evaluate the two main general ICUs in Gaza "Shifa Complex and European Gaza Hospital (EGH)". A total of 196 microbiological samples for air, water, and inanimate surfaces were surveyed. Both ambient air and inspiratory air from mechanical ventilator machines (MV) were sampled and cultured for bacterial and fungal count. Also, 20 water specimens were tested for bacterial presence. In addition, 120 swabbed cultures from surfaces and equipments were growing in a pre-enrichment media before incubation. Moreover, a total of 516 reading for climate temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) were gathered as the most important factors assist in bacterial multiplication. Results: The study revealed that 62% of the infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in Shifa ICU were unfit, in comparison with EGH ICU (53%). Also, the total bacterial count within indoor air in both ICUs ranged from (1170 to 1470) cfu/m3 (standard is less than 50 cfu/m3 ). Moreover, results revealed the presence of bacterial count that ranged from 73 to 90 cfu/m3 in the inspired air from MVs. However, fungal count was 830 cfu/m3 at Shifa, while free at EGH MVs. The climate temperature average during day hours was significantly high than the standard in about 4oC, thus 79.73% of HCPs (P=0.000) saw that their provided care was affected negatively by unsatisfactory T. RH average was 59% in both units, at a high limit of the international standard. On the other hand, count of total and fecal coliform in all water sources were negative. The study revealed that 96% of pre-enriched swabbed cultures in Shifa were positive, closely the same as EGH (93%). Bacterial findings in both units were: Pseudomonas 38.5% (n=24), E-coli 32% (n=20), and Klebsilla 16% (n=10). However, Staph arues was 16.1% (n=5) in EGH ICU and free at Shifa. Conclusions: Periodic monitoring of ventilation system efficiency is desired to ensure optimal indoor air quality, Palestinian IPC should to be updated to include standards about air and ventilation system, particularly bacterial and fungal count in indoor air. Also standards for climate T and RH average in ICUs is necessary. Urgent interventions are required to improve methods of disinfecting the hospital environmental surfaces and equipments especially MVs. Although, the study supported using of pre-enrichment media rather than dry method and direct culture for inanimate surfaces outbreak examinations. Vital system and implementations for healthcare waste disposal and laundry system  essentially required  to be  more developed. Key words: Infection control, Indoor air, inspired air from mechanical ventilators, Water, Inanimate Surfaces, Temperature, Relative Humidity.

The Echo: October 7, 1988

Parents’ Weekend features ‘food, fellowship and fun’ – Coach Odle to be honored – Taylor University again rates as ‘one of the best’ – New Faculty Spotlight – Musical cast announced – Parents’ Weekend Schedule Highlights – Developing our World (Series) Views – TU students active in pro-life march – Alumnus donates software – Intramural Football Stats… -- Chicago Sculpture donates to Taylor – Home is… Where you hang your head – Lynette’s guide to… Where to Go and What to See – Taylor equestrians sponsor first show – SAC Your ticket to… -- Perspectives and Issues – Campus media plans new programming for year – Amnesty International chapter formed – Bakke shares Ecuador experience – Unity creates success for soccer – Campus Notices – Cross country team sets season goals – Taylor football outscores Andersonhttps://pillars.taylor.edu/echo-1988-1989/1004/thumbnail.jp

Factors Affecting Medical Equipment Management in the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis: A Mixed Qualitative and Quantitative Study

Background: Medical equipment plays an important role in community health in critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine and identify the factors affecting the management of medical equipment in crisis situations. Methods: The present study was conducted as a mixed qualitative and quantitative study in 2020. In the qualitative section using the targeted sampling method, ten medical equipment management experts and in the quantitative section using available sampling method, 200 managers and experts active in this field from hospitals and related companies were selected for this study. The qualitative part was conducted in two stages of reviewing texts and interviewing experts and in the quantitative part we evaluated the validity of the structure and the reliability of the questionnaire. Results: The validity of the structure was assessed using heuristic factor analysis. KMO index was 0.971 and Bartlett test was significant (P < 0.05). All six approved components in the content validity section, based on the mathematical model, explain and determine more than 77% of the variance related to the purpose of the study which is the management of medical equipment in COVID-19 pandemic situations. Conclusion: The results showed that the instructions, management, information technology, equipment, manpower, and physical space components had the highest and lowest priority in the management of medical equipment in critical situations, respectively. In this regard, appropriate instructions should be provided first and localized protocols should be communicated from the same source at the same time