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Patent linkage, data exclusivity and public health: approaches for reform
No full textThe COVID-19 Pandemic exposed the fragility of the global public health regime (N Jensen et al, ‘The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need for an equity-focused global health agenda’ (2021) 8 Humanit Soc Sci Commun 15.). Never before in history, we had a vaccine for an ongoing pandemic which the majority had no access to. Even prior to the pandemic, the global public health regime was showing signs of vulnerability manifested by the rising costs of medicines and public health expenditure levels, increased levels of legal monopolies exasperated by originator drug manufacturers activities and the widening gap between those who can afford medicines and therapeutic treatments, and those who can’t, even for those residing in developed countries (M El Said, ‘The Global IP Response to COVID-19 Pandemic: A Tale of Several Ironies?’ (2022) 19 MJIEL 79–91.). In fact, global spending on pharmaceuticals is forecast to exceed pre-pandemic outlook to $1.2 trillion by 2028 (IQVIA, The Global Use of Medicines 2024: Outlook to 2028 (2024). Available at https://www.iqvia.com/-/media/iqvia/pdfs/china/viewpoints/iqvia-institute-general-use-of-medicines-2024-for-print.pdf (accessed 22 July 2024).). At a time when the world started to recover from the negative impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, fears about the potential arrival of a new pandemic arising from the outbreak of Mpox in Africa started to emerge thus putting more strain on public health providers everywhere.
Many reasons may be attributed to the failure of addressing the public health needs of the majority at the global level; however, one of the main factors related to this is the role patent protection and regulatory approvals play in imposing market barriers and monopoly exclusivities on drugs and medicines. In more recent years, the role of data exclusivity restrictions and patent linkage mechanisms became apparent and a vital component of this debate.
The significance of this paper is demonstrated by the policy reform options it is advancing. This paper provides a review of the challenges posed by data exclusivity restrictions and patent linkage mechanisms and will propose policy recommendations and approaches in order to mitigate the negative impact on public health and access to medicines arising from patent linkage and data exclusivity protection. The paper will rely on specifically selected country case studies to demonstrate the feasibility of achieving such objectives
I’ve Got the Power! A Social Pedagogical Exploration of Power Dynamics in Relational Leadership and Practice Within Public Services
No full textAn Exhaustive Review and Experimental Exploration of Clinical Mid-Range FTIR Urine Analysis
No full textUrine provides a noninvasive window into the renal and lymphatic systems, providing molecules (potential markers) from around the body that are detectable using mid-range Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (MR-FTIR). The benefit of MR-FTIR for urine analysis is the simultaneous sampling of many of the 3000+ urine constituents. The highly condensed spectral information in a single drop of urine potentially provides simpler, faster, and cheaper tests for multiple pathologies in a single test, providing hope for simultaneous testing of different pathologies. The shortage of pathologists in the UK and medical experts worldwide motivates research to improve medical diagnostic technologies, increasing interest in techniques like MR-FTIR urine analysis. Clinical MR-FTIR urine analysis is ideally positioned for review, niche enough for an exhaustive progress report, whilst developed enough to highlight challenges and suitable comparison to current approaches. Before clinical spectroscopy can help patients, clinical validation must be demonstrated. The review highlights milestones toward this goal, like replicated or blinded studies. A section is then dedicated to the experimental considerations already investigated, providing a resource for future FTIR urine analysis study design. The paper concludes by testing a critical variable for transmission MR-FTIR spectroscopy, identified by assessment of reviewed references, discussed in only one, urea hydrogen bonding with H2O, emphasizing the importance of robust dehydration protocols for urine MR-FTIR analysis. Academic and industrial collaborators separately duplicated the experiments, increasing confidence in the analysis repeatability and corresponding clinical value of the findings
The impact of regular moderate-to-intermediate intensity exercise on controlled Hashimoto's diseased and/or hypothyroid female patients on thyroid hormones, resting metabolic rate, and heart rate variability: A pilot study
No full textObjectives
Assessment of the impact of regular moderate-to-intermediate intensity exercise on the thyroid hormones, resting metabolic rate, and heart rate variability of female patients with controlled hypothyroidism and/or Hashimoto's disease.
Equipment and methods
Sixteen participants, aged 29.5 ± 7.28 years were non-randomly assigned to the control and intervention groups. The participants in the intervention group were required to follow a moderate-to-intermediate intensity exercise program under supervision three times a week for eight weeks (supplementary file). All participants underwent the required tests before and after 8 weeks. Thyroid hormonal assessment was performed under an immunoassay analyzer (Cobas-e-801), while the resting metabolic rate was observed using a breath-by-breath metabolic analyzer (Cosmed Quark CPET). Heart rate variability was obtained through the HRV4Training application.
Results
The exercise program followed, significantly increased SDNN levels [F(1,28) = 0.030, P < 0.05] improving the heart rate variability of the intervention group. The thyroid hormone replacement therapy dosage of the intervention group remained accordingly stable with an overall decrease of 6.88 mg/week, while the dosage of the control group was increased by 65.62 mg/week. Statistically significant changes were not observed at any resting metabolic rate parameter. Overall, exercise possesses a beneficial effect on people with thyroid dysfunction
Simulation of Mobile Robot Delivery System with Dynamic Bayesian Networks
No full textDelivery systems with mobile robots have become increasingly popular due to their efficiency in various industries. However, the complexity of such systems demands advanced simulation techniques for performance evaluation and optimization. Current research on this topic mainly focuses on static models, overlooking the dynamic nature of real-world environments. This paper addresses this gap by proposing a novel approach using Dynamic Bayesian Networks to simulate mobile robot delivery systems. The innovative aspect of this work lies in modeling the dynamic interactions between robots, obstacles, and tasks, leading to more accurate and adaptable system performance predictions. The study contributes to the advancement of delivery system simulation technologies, offering new insights into the design and operation of mobile robot delivery systems
Impact of treated palm oil fuel ash inclusion on hardened properties of self-compacting concrete
No full textThis study investigates the effects of incorporating treated palm oil fuel ash (POFA) as a partial cement replacement in self-compacting concrete (SCC) at replacement levels of 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%. The hardened properties evaluated include compressive strength, initial surface absorption (ISAT), porosity, water absorption, gas permeability, water permeability, chloride ion permeability and chloride ion migration (RCPT and RCMT). After 180 days, the POFA-SCC40 mixture (40% substitution level) had the highest compressive strength of 85.11 MPa, which was stronger than the control mixture (OPC-SCC), which had a strength of 62.6 MPa. POFA-SCC60 mixture exhibited superior impermeability properties, with the lowest ISAT value recorded of 0.017 ml/m2/s, porosity of 4.09%, and water absorption of 0.95%. While the control mixture recorded an ISAT value of 0.031 ml/m2/s, porosity of 5.15%, and water absorption of 1.6%. The POFA-SCC60 mixture significantly reduced the gas and water permeability coefficients, indicating increased durability. In the POFA-SCC60 mixture, chloride ions had a hard time getting through. It had the lowest total charge passed (45 Coulombs) and no chloride penetration depth at 180 days, compared to the reference blend’s (2545 Coulombs). These results show that adding up to 60% POFA to SCC makes it stronger and more durable. This approach is practical and sustainable for the construction industry, resulting in high-performance green SCC
Effects of Resistance Training on Sarcopenia Risk Among Healthy Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Physiological Mechanisms
Get PDFSarcopenia, characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, significantly increases health risks in healthy older adults. Resistance training (RT) is believed to counteract sarcopenia through a variety of physiological mechanisms, many of which remain underexplored by public health and physiotherapy professionals. This scoping review aims to consolidate studies that have explored RT programs in mitigating sarcopenia among healthy older adults. A systematic search in four knowledge databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Complete) was conducted on 30 April 2024 to consolidate the evidence of RT programs to mitigate sarcopenia risk among healthy older adults. Two reviewers independently screened, consolidated, and synthesized the results based on the Arksey and O’Malley framework. We included 36 studies supporting the RT program for reducing sarcopenia risk among healthy older people. Current evidence, predominantly derived from studies with high selection bias and non-randomized designs, indicates that RT programs may enhance muscle strength in healthy older adults. However, their impact on muscle morphology and mobility appears less pronounced. The dosage and intensity of RT are critical factors influencing these health outcomes. To substantiate the health benefits of RT in healthy older adults and facilitate the translation of research findings into policy-level recommendations, further high-quality, randomized controlled trials are warranted
Other People's Dreams (Los sueños de otras personas.)
Get PDFArchitects work at the service of other people. We are engaged to make real the dreams of others, but those people and their dreams have become more and more privileged, and the architect’s role more focused on meeting the needs of privileged elites. Architecture therefore finds its purpose as either lifestyle or spectacle but only to those that can afford it or profit from it, rather than being the tool through which we manifest something positive for all people all the time. Most architectural practice in the UK is complicit in perpetuating this culture of architectural production, a culture that fails to incentivise creating sustainable, lasting, healthy, equitable and accessible places. Preparing students for practice in this culture only perpetuates this unsustainable and inaccessible industry. Instead, this paper proposes alternative modes of practice and associated pedagogies that prepare students to be a different kind of architectural practitioner. It will present the ongoing work and impact of Other People’s Dreams, a live-action research office and final year Master of Architecture studio at the University of Lancashire. OPD engages in a critical and durational way with community organisations in the northwest region of the UK that work with marginalised groups, situations and ideas, to rethink the potential of people and place. This work and its context are then used as a pedagogical framework for the students, who are themselves often from the same communities and from the same ‘real world’ that we wish them to address through architectural education and practice
