68 research outputs found
Blockchain verification and validation: Techniques, challenges, and research directions
No full textAs blockchain technology is gaining popularity in industry and society, solutions for Verification and Validation (V&V) of blockchain-based software applications (BC-Apps) have started gaining equal attention. To ensure that BC-Apps are properly developed before deployment, it is paramount to apply systematic V&V to verify their functional and non-functional requirements. While existing research aims at addressing the challenges of engineering BC-Apps by providing testing techniques and tools, blockchain-based software development is still an emerging research discipline, and therefore, best practices and tools for the V&V of BC-Apps are not yet sufficiently developed. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey on V&V solutions for BC-Apps. Specifically, using a layered approach, we synthesize V&V tools and techniques addressing different components at various layers of the BC-App stack, as well as across the whole stack. Next, we provide a discussion on the challenges associated with BC-App V&V, and summarize a set of future research directions based on the challenges and gaps identified in existing research work. Our study aims to highlight the importance of BC-App V&V and pave the way for a disciplined, testable, and verifiable BC development. Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Cyber Securit
Utilization of Parenteral Morphine by Application of ATC/DDD Methodology: Retrospective Study in the Referral Teaching Hospital
No full textUtilization of Parenteral Morphine by Application of ATC/DDD Methodology: Retrospective Study in the Referral Teaching Hospital
No full textBackgroundFew studies analyzed the pattern of opioid analgesic utilization in hospital settings. The aim of this study was to determine the consumption pattern of parenteral morphine in patients hospitalized in the Serbian referral teaching hospital and to correlate it with utilization at the national and international level.MethodsIn retrospective study, the required data were extracted from medical records of surgical patients who received parenteral morphine in the 5-year period, from 2011 to 2015. We used the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification/Defined Daily Doses (DDD) international system for consumption evaluation.ResultsWhile the number of performed surgical procedures in our hospital steadily increased from 2011 to 2015, the number of inpatient bed-days decreased from 2012. However, the consumption of parenteral morphine varied and was not more than 0.867 DDD/100 bed-days in the observed period.ConclusionBased on the available data, parenteral morphine consumption in our hospital was lower compared with international data. The low level of morphine use in the hospital was in accordance with national data, and compared with other countries, morphine consumption applied for medical indications in Serbia was low. Adequate legal provision to ensure the availability of opioids, better education and training of medical personnel, as well as multidisciplinary approach should enable more rational and individual pain management in the future, not only within the hospitals
Early treatment and intensive care of children with burn injury
No full textMajor burn injury remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in
pediatric patients. The treatment of burned children differs substantially
from that of adults not only because of the different body proportions but
also because of the metabolic processes involved, hormonal responses, the
immunological profile, the degree of psychological maturation and healing
potential. After assessing the overall physiological status of the child,
accurate assessment of the burn injury and appropriate fluid resuscitation
are of great importance. The severity of burn injury is characterized by the
depth of the burn, total body surface area (TBSA) that is involved, the
location of burn injury and the presence or absence of inhalation injury.
Early excision and grafting, adequate nutrition, alleviation of the
hypermetabolic response, treatment of hyperglycaemia, and physical therapy
improve survival and outcomes in children with severe burns.</jats:p
Evaluation of factors for poor outcome in preterm newborns with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus associated with late-onset neonatal sepsis
No full textMarija Stevic,1 Dusica Simic,1 Nina Ristic,2 Ivana Budic,3 Vesna Marjanovic,3 Marija Jovanovski-Srceva,4 Nikola Repac,5 Milica Rankovic-Janevski,6 Goran Tasic5,7 1Department of Anesthesia, Medical Faculty University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; 2Department of Gastroenterology, University Children’s Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia; 3Department of Anesthesia, Medical Faculty University of Nis, Nis, Serbia; 4Department of Anesthesia, Medical Faculty University of Skopje, Skopje, Macedonia; 5Clinical Center of Serbia, Institute of Neurosurgery, Belgrade, Serbia; 6Department of the Specialized Care, Institute of Neonatology, Belgrade, Serbia; 7Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Purpose: Preterm newborns, due to many factors, are at increased risk for poor neural development, intraventricular hemorrhages, infections, and higher rate of mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with poor outcome in preterm neonates with late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) who had posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and underwent neurosurgical procedures for treatment of the hydrocephalus. Patients and methods: Preterm neonates who had undergone insertion of ventriculoperitoneal shunt or Ommaya reservoir, during the 10-year period at University Children’s Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. According to the presence or absence of LONS, patients were divided into LONS group and non-LONS group. In both groups, we analyzed demographic and clinical data as well as nondependent factors. Additionally, we evaluated the patients who had lethal outcome in respect to all the analyzed factors. Results: A total of 74 patients were included in the study, 35 in LONS group and 39 in control group. Patients in LONS group were born significantly earlier with lower birth weight, needed significantly higher O2 inspiratory concentration, and had longer duration of mechanical ventilation when compared to the nonseptic group. Five patients in LONS group had lethal outcome, and for these patients we identified a grade American Society of Anaesthesiologists score of 4 (P=0.000), ductus arteriosus persistens (P=0.000), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P=0.003), and pneumothorax (P=0.003) as independent preoperative risk factors for lethal outcome. Conclusion: Neurosurgical procedures are relatively safe in neonates with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus without LONS after birth. However, if LONS is present, various conditions such as preoperative high grade American Society of Anaesthesiologists score, ductus arteriosus persistens, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and pneumothorax markedly increase the risk for a lethal outcome after the operation. Keywords: late-onset neonatal sepsis, risk factors, preterm infants, posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus, mortalit
Pardon in the light of restorative justice
No full textThe main aim of this paper is to consider pardon in the restorative justice context. Beginning from the basic standpoint that restorative justice imposes request for interests-balancing of different subjects connected by criminal act, the author tries to examine the articulation of the aforementioned standpoint through the pardon concept, accepted in domestic positive law. There is no doubt that the institute is designed in favour of the crime perpetrator, which is confirmed by the analysis of different legal effects produced by its content, while the victim- and society interests remained, at least, insufficiently protected. Therefore, the author points to some positive examples from comparative law and poses certain suggestions, that can be of use for eventual reforming of the institute, in order to achieve values of restorative justice.
The effects of different anesthesia techniques on free radical production after tourniquet-induced ischemia-reperfusion injury at children's age
No full textBackground/Aim. Reperfusion of previously ischemic tissue leads to injuries mediated by reactive oxygen species. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of different anesthesia techniques on oxidative stress caused by tourniquetinduced ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury during extremity operations at children's age. Methods. The study included 45 patients American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification I or II, 8 to 17 years of age, undergoing orthopedic procedures that required bloodless limb surgery. The children were randomized into three groups of 15 patients each: general inhalational anesthesia with sevoflurane (group S), total intravenous anesthesia with propofol (group T) and regional anesthesia (group R). Venous blood samples were obtained at four time points: before peripheral nerve block and induction of general anesthesia (baseline), 1 min before tourniquet release (BTR), 5 and 20 min after tourniquet release (ATR). Postischemic reperfusion injury was estimated by measurement of concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma and erythrocytes as well as catalase (CAT) activity. Results. Plasma MDA concentration in the group S was significantly higher at 20 min ATR in comparison with the groups T and R (6.78 ? 0.33 ?molL-1-1 vs 4.07 ? 1.53 and 3.22 ? 0.9. ?molL-1-1, respectively). There was a significant difference in MDA concentration in erytrocythes between the groups S and T after 5 min of reperfusion (5.88 ? 0.88 vs 4.27 ? 1.04 nmol/mlEr, p < 0.05). Although not statistically significant, CAT activity was slightly increased as compared to baseline in both groups S and R. In the group T, CAT activity decreased at all time points when compared with baseline, but the observed decrease was only statistically significant at BTR (34.70 ? 9.27 vs 39.69 ? 12.91 UL-1, p < 0.05). Conclusion. Continuous propofol infusion and regional anesthesia techniques attenuate lipid peroxidation and IR injury connected with tourniquet application in pediatric extremity surgery.</jats:p
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