Potential approaches to the spectroscopic characterization of high performance polymers exposed to energetic protons and heavy ions

A potential limitation to human activity on the lunar surface or in deep space is the exposure of the crew to unacceptably high levels of penetrating space radiations. The radiations of most concerns for such missions are high-energy protons emitted during solar flares, and galactic cosmic rays which are high-energy ions ranging from protons to iron. The development of materials for effective shielding from energetic space radiations will clearly require a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms of radiation-induced damage in bulk materials. This can be accomplished in part by the detailed spectroscopic characterization of bulk materials that were exposed to simulated space radiations. An experimental data base thus created can then be used in conjunction with existing radiation transport codes in the design and fabrication of effective radiation shielding materials. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy was proven very useful in elucidating radiation effects in polymers (high performance polymers are often an important components of structural composites)

Finite strain elastoplastic bulging of circular diaphragms

The inflation of planar thin films represents a phenomenon widely employed by engineering and biological systems, with applications ranging from pressure sensors and material characterization to growing skins in the human body. In this paper, the bulging of plane circular membranes composed of isotropic elastoplastic materials is analytically, computationally and experimentally studied. An analytical finite strain formulation is developed and implemented to model the deformation response of inflated thin films. The solution accurately predicts the elastic and plastic phases of bilinear and nonlinear elastoplastic materials, for both small and large plastic strains. It shows that a sudden change in the full-field strain distribution during diaphragm inflation is associated with the plastic strain localization that first develops at the membrane apex. The results are compared with finite element simulations for a wide range of material parameters, showing an excellent agreement. The mathematical formulation is also validated by bulge tests performed on ETFE membranes, representative of a bilinear elastoplastic response, and aluminium foils that show a nonlinear plastic behaviour. The comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental measures proves the validity of the proposed model at small and large plastic strains, which promises to find applications in the modelling of the finite strain inflation of thin films, especially for the determination of elastoplastic material parameters through bulge testing

Evaluating the impact of single exit pricing (SEP) on medicine product withdrawal from the private healthcare market in South Africa

Background. The introduction of medicine pricing policies in South Africa (SA) in the form of single exit pricing (SEP) provided a mechanism to improve medicine price transparency and reduce the medicine price and inflation. However, regulation of medicine prices may have further unforeseen effects on the availability of medicine. This research presents the impact of SEP on discontinuation of medicine products on the private healthcare market in SA.Objectives. To evaluate the impact of SEP legislation on the availability of medicines in the SA private health sector in terms of withdrawal of medicines from the market.Methods. A descriptive, quantitative analysis of all registered medicines on the SA market by stock-keeping units (SKUs) was done to establish medicine products that were withdrawn from the market by SKUs during a 14-year period (2001 - 2014).Results. A total of 152 manufacturers discontinued 3 691 SKUs between 2001 and 2014. The mean number of discontinuations per generic manufacturer was 22.34 (standard deviation (SD) 58.11), while innovator manufacturers discontinued a mean of 27.61 (41.89). The largest number of SKUs were commercially withdrawn in 2002 (n=603), followed by discontinuations in 2003 (n=463) and 2004 (n=407). There was a negative correlation between number of discontinued SKUs per year and SEP increase (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r ‒0.414; p=0.14). The results showed that SEP and a transparent pricing policy may have had an impact on SKU withdrawal from the market prior to SEP implementation.Conclusions. The result of reduced product availability on the market and its impact on the cost and quality of healthcare to the patient need to be regularly monitored and evaluated to ascertain if direct price regulations achieve the intended outcomes. Other intended or unintended effects on pharmaceutical market dynamics should also be evaluated

Application of electron paramagnetic resonance imaging to the characterization of the Ultem(R) exposed to 1 MeV electrons. Correlation of radical density data to tiger code calculations

A major long-term goal of the Materials Division at the NASA Langley Research Center is the characterization of new high-performance materials that have potential applications in the aircraft industry, and in space. The materials used for space applications are often subjected to a harsh and potentially damaging radiation environment. The present study constitutes the application of a novel technique to obtain reliable data for ascertaining the molecular basis for the resilience and durability of materials that have been exposed to simulated space radiations. The radiations of greatest concern are energetic electrons and protons, as well as galactic cosmic rays. Presently, the effects of such radiation on matter are not understood in their entirety. It is clear however, that electron radiation causes ionization and homolytic bond rupture, resulting in the formation of paramagnetic spin centers in the polymer matrices of the structural materials. Since the detection and structure elucidation of paramagnetic species are most readily accomplished using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy, the NASA LaRC EPR system was brought back on-line during the 1991 ASEE term. The subsequent 1992 ASEE term was devoted to the adaptation of the EPR core system to meet the requirements for EPR Imaging (EPRI), which provides detailed information on the spatial distribution of paramagnetic species in bulk media. The present (1994) ASEE term was devoted to the calibration of this EPR Imaging system, as well as to the application of this technology to study the effects of electron irradiation on Ultem(exp R), a high performance polymer which is a candidate for applications in aerospace. The Ultem was exposed to a dose of 2.4 x 10(exp 9) Rads (1-MeV energy/electron) at the LaRC electron accelerator facility. Subsequently, the exposed specimens were stored in liquid nitrogen, until immediately prior to analyses by EPRI. The intensity and dimensions of the EPR Images that were generated for the irradiated specimens showed that the electrons penetrated the material to a depth of approximately 0.125 inch. These data show a very high degree of correlation to the energy deposition profile as predicted by the Tiger Code, a Monte Carlo code that provides guidelines for the transport of electrons in matter. Subsequent efforts will focus on delineating the transport properties of energetic protons in Ultem(R)

The impact of international benchmarking on the price of immunosuppressive medicines for transplant recipients in South Africa

Background. External reference pricing (ERP) is an internationally applied pricing policy to regulate the price of medicines. In 2005, the South African (SA) Minister of Health published a Government Gazette of regulations relating to a transparent pricing system for medicines and scheduled substances, stating that the Minister must publish a methodology for conforming to international benchmarks. In May 2014, the most recent proposed benchmark methodology was published, detailing that international benchmarking of medicines (IBM) requires that the lowest price in a selected basket of countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Spain and SA) be used as the ultimate price for the purposes of benchmarking of originator products.Objectives. To provide a broad observational basis for the use of IBM and the proposed countries as a pricing tool; the feasibility of using BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA) as comparator countries; and a small sample comparison of local state tender pricing in relation to the IBM proposed basket of comparator country pricing. Immunosuppressant medicines for organ transplant patients were used for this comparison, as they are relatively expensive and there is reluctance to implement pricing and reimbursement policy options to contain their costs.Methods. Ex-manufacturer medicine pricing information for 2016, 2017 and 2018 was sourced for immunosuppressive medicines for SA (public and private sectors), Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Brazil and Russia. Unit prices were compared for products with the same international non-proprietary name (INN), strength, formulation and manufacturer. In most cases the products were matched on product name, bearing translation nuances in mind.Results. Across all 3 years, in the majority of products, ERP using the proposed basket of comparator countries Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Spain lowered the local private sector ex-manufacturer price of medicine. Similarly, for the majority of products comparing local pricing with that of available BRICS country pricing data, the comparison lowered the price. For 92% of products where a comparison could be made, the SA state tender price was the lowest available price.Conclusions. Conducting an ERP analysis consumes time and resources. However, it may prove to reduce a current or proposed medicine price and may be considered as one of a range of medicine pricing policies employed by a country. It should not be used in isolation from other medicine pricing and reimbursement policies.

PELATIHAN TANGGAP DARURAT BENCANA BAGI KADER KESEHATAN BERBASIS IPE DI KAWASAN TELUK TOMINI DESA LOPO KABUPATEN GORONTALO

Salah satu upaya yang dilakukan untuk mengantisipasi dampak negatif dari adanya bencana alam yaitu melalui mitigasi bencana. Karena keadaan darurat dapat terjadi kapanpun dan dimanapun tanpa terkecuali. Pelatihan kader kesehatan terkait tanggap bencana merupakan salah satu solusi dalam mewujudkan peningkatan kesehatan masyarakat dan wilayah yang  rentan akan terjadinya bencana.Tujuan pelaksanaan KKN Profesi Kesehatan yakni pelatihan tanggap darurat kepada kader kesehatan dengan penerapan IPE (interpersonal education) untuk memaksimalkan potensi dari berbagai tim baik kesehatan ataupun stakeholder yang ada.  Program KKN Profesi Kesehatan dilaksanakan selama 45 hari, bersama Dosen Pembimbing Lapangan dan 70 orang mahasiswa, diharapkan dapat menjadi solusi alternatif yang ditawarkan untuk meningkatkan kualitas pelayanan terhadap masyarakat, khususnya dalam bidang kesehatan dan menciptakan sumber daya manusia yang terampil dan siap dalam menghadapi bencana.Kegiatan PkM KKN PK 2023 dengan metode Interprofessional Education (IPE) telah berhasil dilaksanakan dengan melibatkan tim pengabdi yang berasal dari empat profesi yang ada di Fakultas Kedokteran dan Fakultas Olahraga dan Kesehatan. Kegiatan dilaksanakan dengan melibatkan mahasiswa. Kelompok sasaran pada kegiatan ini adalah tokoh masyarakat dan kader kesehatan sejumlah 40 orang. Kegiatan dilakukan secara interprofesi dengan metode wawancara, penyuluhan, pelatihan dan praktik langsung kepada masyarakat. Dukungan masyarakat terlihat dari jumlah pasien yang hadir pada waktu pemeriksaan hingga mencapai 92%.Salah satu upaya yang dilakukan untuk mengantisipasi dampak negatif dari adanya bencana alam yaitu melalui mitigasi bencana. Karena keadaan darurat dapat terjadi kapanpun dan dimanapun tanpa terkecuali. Pelatihan kader kesehatan terkait tanggap bencana merupakan salah satu solusi dalam mewujudkan peningkatan kesehatan masyarakat dan wilayah yang  rentan akan terjadinya bencana.Tujuan pelaksanaan KKN Profesi Kesehatan yakni pelatihan tanggap darurat kepada kader kesehatan dengan penerapan IPE (interpersonal education) untuk memaksimalkan potensi dari berbagai tim baik kesehatan ataupun stakeholder yang ada.  Program KKN Profesi Kesehatan dilaksanakan selama 45 hari, bersama Dosen Pembimbing Lapangan dan 70 orang mahasiswa, diharapkan dapat menjadi solusi alternatif yang ditawarkan untuk meningkatkan kualitas pelayanan terhadap masyarakat, khususnya dalam bidang kesehatan dan menciptakan sumber daya manusia yang terampil dan siap dalam menghadapi bencana.Kegiatan PkM KKN PK 2023 dengan metode Interprofessional Education (IPE) telah berhasil dilaksanakan dengan melibatkan tim pengabdi yang berasal dari empat profesi yang ada di Fakultas Kedokteran dan Fakultas Olahraga dan Kesehatan. Kegiatan dilaksanakan dengan melibatkan mahasiswa. Kelompok sasaran pada kegiatan ini adalah tokoh masyarakat dan kader kesehatan sejumlah 40 orang. Kegiatan dilakukan secara interprofesi dengan metode wawancara, penyuluhan, pelatihan dan praktik langsung kepada masyarakat. Dukungan masyarakat terlihat dari jumlah pasien yang hadir pada waktu pemeriksaan hingga mencapai 92%.   

Pelatihan Kader dalam Rangka Pembentukan Forum Tangguh Cegah Stunting di Desa Dutohe Barat, Kecamatan Kabila, Kabupaten Bone Bolango

Hasil Studi Status Gizi Balita Indonesia (SSGBI) tahun 2019 menunjukan telah terjadi penurunan prevalensi Stunting dari 30,8% tahun 2018 menjadi 27,67% tahun 2019. Meski menurun, angka ini masih dinilai tinggi, karena angka toleransi WHO untuk Stunting sebesar 20 %. Kondisi ini diperberat dengan adanya pandemi COVID-19, yang menyebabkan banyak pemutusan hubungan kerja (PHK) sehingga pengangguran meningkat dan akibatnya daya beli masyarakat khususnya pangan menurun. Secara tidak langsung berdampak pada peningkatan kejadian Stunting.  Provinsi Gorontalo termasuk provinsi dengan jumlah penduduk muda yang signifikan. Sebanyak 395.000 orang atau 35 persen dari total penduduk di provinsi ini adalah anak-anak. Dua dari tiga anak tinggal di wilayah perdesaan. Gorontalo merupakan salah satu provinsi yang memiliki masalah Stunting di Indonesia. Pada tahun 2018 provinsi Gorontalo masih tinggi angka Stunting yaitu di Kabupaten Bone Bolango, angka prevalensi Stunting di Bone Bolango cukup tinggi, yaitu 25,1%. Angka itu masih di atas angka standar yang ditoleransi World Health Organization (WHO), yaitu di bawah 20%. Tujuan pelaksanaan KKN Profesi Kesehatan ini yakni terbentuknya kader kesehatan peduli stunting. Program KKN Profesi Kesehatan dilaksanakan selama 45 hari, bersama Dosen Pembimbing Lapangan dan 13 orang mahasiswa, diharapkan dapat menjadi solusi alternatif yang ditawarkan untuk meningkatkan kualitas pelayanan terhadap masyarakat, khususnya dalam bidang kesehatan dalam Percepatan Penurunan Stunting Di Kabupaten Bone Bolango. Hasil yang ditargetkan dalam program ini yakni meningkatnya produktifitas pengabdian dosen kepada masyarakat serta mendorong terwujudnya peningkatan derajat kesehatan masyarakat melalui kader Kesehatan sehingga memiliki kesiapsiagaan yang baik dalam menangani dan mencegah stunting.

SISTEM PENDUKUNG KEPUTUSAN (SPK) PENERIMA BANTUAN PROGRAM KELUARGA HARAPAN (PKH) PADA DESA DULUKAPA KECAMATAN SUMALATA TIMUR KABUPATEN GORONTALO UTARA MENGGUNAKAN METODE ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP)

Penelitian ini mengangkat tentang salah satu program yang dimiliki oleh Perangkat Desa Dulukapa, yaitu pemberian bantuan Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) kepada masyarakat yang layak menerimanya. Namun sesuai observasi, ternyata pembagian penerimaan bantuan Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) tersebut tidak sesuai dengan aturan yang telah di tetapkan oleh pemerintah, karena masih ada beberapa masyarakat yang sudah mendapatkan bantuanProgram Keluarga Harapan (PKH ) tersebut meskipun sudah termasuk dalam kategori tidak layak menerima, dan terkadang hanya berdasarkan kekeluargaan. Hasil Penelitian ini Menunjukan bahwa penerapan metode test case dengan pendekatan whitebox testing dapat menghasilkan sistem baik dan proses perulangan pada flowchart di sistem menjadi lebih efisien. Hal ini Dapat membantu dalam proses seleksi penerima bantuan Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) sehingga proses hasil keputusan sesuai dengan kriteria yang dimiliki oleh pemohon sehingga proses penilaian bisa dilakukan dengan baik