Health and Safety Performance of UK Universities and How to Improve It

Kuzmina Olga,Searle Douglas 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 2024 Safety and health at work Vol.15 No.2

Background This research suggested a method for evaluating health and safety performance as a combination of reactive and active monitoring. Methods A number of Freedom of Information requests (FoI) were sent to the Health and safety Executive (HSE) and 100 UK universities. Data on the number of reportable incidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences were compiled for UK universities and combined with the Impact Ranking for good health and well-being. A semi-structured survey was used to identify best H&S practices. Subsequently, the effect of workers' involvement in H&S management on RIDDOR and near-miss reports, was investigated using statistical analysis. Results A ranking of UK universities that perform highly in Health and Safety (H&S) was assembled and selected universities were contacted to identify best practices. Best practices were divided into three categories: team management, roles and responsibilities, and H&S performance monitoring. One of the findings demonstrated a reverse dependence between provision of a refresher training in risk assessments and a number of reported RIDDOR incidents. Conclusion Health and Safety professionals in the universities may find it useful to reflect on these findings and the identified best practices in order to improve the H&S performance in their own organisations. Background This research suggested a method for evaluating health and safety performance as a combination of reactive and active monitoring. Methods A number of Freedom of Information requests (FoI) were sent to the Health and safety Executive (HSE) and 100 UK universities. Data on the number of reportable incidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences were compiled for UK universities and combined with the Impact Ranking for good health and well-being. A semi-structured survey was used to identify best H&S practices. Subsequently, the effect of workers' involvement in H&S management on RIDDOR and near-miss reports, was investigated using statistical analysis. Results A ranking of UK universities that perform highly in Health and Safety (H&S) was assembled and selected universities were contacted to identify best practices. Best practices were divided into three categories: team management, roles and responsibilities, and H&S performance monitoring. One of the findings demonstrated a reverse dependence between provision of a refresher training in risk assessments and a number of reported RIDDOR incidents. Conclusion Health and Safety professionals in the universities may find it useful to reflect on these findings and the identified best practices in order to improve the H&S performance in their own organisations.

Post-engraftment Bloodstream Infections After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Risk Factors and Association with Mortality

Akhmedov Mobil,Klyasova Galina,Kuzmina Larisa,Fedorova Anastasia,Drokov Mikhail,Parovichnikova Elena 대한감염학회 2023 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.55 No.2

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). This study aimed to analyze the incidence, etiology, risk factors and outcomes of post-engraftment BSI in allo-HCT recipients. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study included 261 patients with documented engraftment after first allo-HCT performed from January 2018 till September 2021. Results: Of 261 patients 29 (11.1%) developed at least one post-engraftment BSIs episode with a median time to post-engraftment BSI of 49 days (range, 1 - 158 days from the engraftment). A total of 45 pathogens were isolated from blood – 64.4% (n = 29) were represented by Gram-negative bacteria, and 35.6% (n = 16) – by Gram-positive bacteria. Secondary graft failure (hazard ratio [HR]: 39.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.64-208.74; P <0.001), secondary poor graft function (HR: 18.07; 95% CI: 3.53 - 92.44; P <0.001), and acute gut graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) grade II-IV (HR: 29.86; 95% CI: 10.53 - 84.68; P <0.001) were associated with the higher risk of Gram-negative post-engraftment BSIs. Overall 30-day survival after post-engraftment BSIs was 71.4%. By multivariate analysis post-engraftment BSIs (HR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.29 – 7.38; P = 0.011), and acute gut GvHD grade II-IV (HR: 6.60; 95% CI: 2.78 - 15.68; P <0.001) were associated with the higher 180-day non-relapse mortality risk. Conclusion: Gram-negative bacteria prevailed in the etiology of post-engraftment BSIs with secondary graft failure. secondary poor graft function. and acute gut GvHD being the main predisposing factors for their development. Post-engraftment BSIs were associated with the higher risk of non-relapse mortality after allo-HCT.

A nuclear battery based on silicon p-i-n structures with electroplating 63 Ni layer

Andrey Krasnov,Sergey Legotin,Ksenia Kuzmina,Nadezhda Ershova,Boris Rogozev 한국원자력학회 2019 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.51 No.8

The paper presents the electrical performance measurements of a prototype nuclear battery and two types of betavoltaic cells. The electrical performance was assessed by measuring current-voltage prop-erties (IeV) and determining the short-circuit current and the open-circuit voltage. With 63Ni as an irradiation source, the open-circuit voltage and the short-circuit current were determined as 1 V and 64 nA, respectively. The prototype consisted of 10 betavoltaic cells that were prepared using radioactive 63Ni. Electroplating of the radioactive 63Ni on an ohmic contact (TieNi) was carried out at a current density of 20 mA/cm2. Two types of betavoltaic cells were studied: with an external 63Ni source and a 63Ni-covered source. Under irradiation of the 63Ni source with an activity of 10 mCi, the open-circuit voltage Voc of the fabricated cells reached 151 mV and 109 mV; the short-circuit current density Jsc was measured to be 72.9 nA/cm2 and 64.6 nA/cm2, respectively. The betavoltaic cells had the fill factor of 55% and 50%, respectively.

Fumonisins B1 and B2 in Agricultural Products Consumed in South Korea: An Exposure Assessment

SEO, EUNKYOUNG,YOON, YOHAN,KIM, KYEONGYEOL,SHIM, WON-BO,KUZMINA, NINA,OH, KEUM-SOON,LEE, JONG-OK,KIM, DONG-SUL,SUH, JUNGHYUCK,LEE, SOO-HYUNG,CHUNG, KEE-HEY,CHUNG, DUCK-HWA International Association for Food Protection 2009 Journal of food protection Vol.72 No.2

<P>To survey fumonisins B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) in agricultural products consumed in South Korea and provide an exposure assessment, ground samples were extracted (80% MeOH), filtered (0.2 μm), and cleaned up. After evaporation, dry residues were reconstituted in 50% MeOH, and a 50-μl aliquot of this sample was mixed with 200 μl of o-phthaldialdehyde for derivatization. The derivatives were analyzed with a high-performance liquid chromatography system equipped with a fluorescence detector. For validation of the detection procedure, linearity, accuracy, precision, detection limit, and quantification limit were determined. The validated detection method was then used to survey fumonisins in white rice, brown rice, barley, barley tea, beer, wheat flour, millet, dried corn, corn flour, corn tea, canned corn, popcorn, and breakfast cereal. Retention times for FB1 and FB2 standards were 7 and 18 min, respectively. Linearity (R2 = 0.99995 to 0.99998), accuracy (81.47 to 108.83%), precision (2.35 to 5.77), detection limit (25 ng/g or ng/ml), and quantification limit (37 ng/g or ng/ml) indicated that this procedure is capable of quantifying fumonisins in agricultural products. Only FB1-positive samples (5.12%, three dried corn samples and five corn flour samples) were found at 90.89 to 439.67 ng/g. According the survey results, an estimated daily intake of FB1 and FB2 in Korea was 0.087 ng/kg of body weight per day. These results indicate that continuous monitoring of these mycotoxins is necessary to establish appropriate risk assessment, and the maximum tolerable daily intake of fumonisins in Korea is lower than the 2 μg/kg set by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization-World Health Organization Expert Committee.</P>

Determination of Aflatoxin B1 in Rice, Barley, and Feed by Noninstrumental Immunochromatographic Strip-test and High Sensitive ELISA

Won-Bo Shim,Jung-Sook Kim,Ji-Young Kim,Jin-Gil Choi,Jung-Hyun Je,Nina Sergeevna Kuzmina,Sergei Alexandrovich Eremin,Duck-Hwa Chung 한국식품과학회 2008 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.17 No.3

A non-instrumental immunochromatographic (ICG) strip-test and direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DC-ELISA) for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) determination were developed and optimized. The detection limits of ICG striptest and DC-ELISA were 0.5 and 0.004 ng/mL, respectively, and these methods possessed a cross-reaction to aflatoxins. The results of spiked samples by both methods were coincided with the amount spiked AFB1 and the comparative analyses of 172 real samples by 2 immunoassays and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed a good agreement. Especially, the ICG strip-test is easier to perform and quicker, but less sensitivity than DC-ELISA. Both methods could analyze a high sample throughput with short time, but the sample throughput of ICG strip-test was better. Therefore, the ICG strip-test can be used as a simple, easy, non-instrumental, and fast screening technique for AFB1 determination.

Effect of preparation based on Paenibacillus ehimensis on the content of alkaloid lappakonitine in harvested rhizomes of Aconitum septentrionale

N.I. Fedorov,Z.A. Ibatullina,O.I. Mikhaylenko,S.N. Zhigunova,G.V. Shendel,L.Y. Kuzmina,G.S. Abdrakhimova,A.I. Melentiev,G.R. Kudoyarova 한국식물생명공학회 2018 JOURNAL OF PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY Vol.45 No.3

We performed an analysis of the effect of postharvest treatment of rhizomes of Aconitum septentrionale Koelle with the biological preparation of Bacispecin based on a cytokinin producing strain of Paenibacillus ehimensis IB-739 on the content of alkaloid lappaconitine in rhizomes. The total alkaloid content was assayed based on exhaustive extraction method. The lappaconitine content was measured by HPLC. The efficiency of the preparation was dependant on either the concentration or intensity of the growth processes in rhizomes. Both parameters varied depending on the stage of development of plants and the amount of precipitation. In the years with normal precipitation, concentrations of Bacispecin ranging from 5 to 10 g/l were found to be most effective for increasing lappaconitine content in rhizomes of A. septentrionale. Whereas, under local drought conditions, the concentration of preparation should be less than 2 g/l.

Effect of preparation based on Paenibacillus ehimensis on the content of alkaloid lappakonitine in harvested rhizomes of Aconitum septentrionale

Fedorov, N.I.,Ibatullina, Z.A.,Mikhaylenko, O.I.,Zhigunova, S.N.,Shendel, G.V.,Kuzmina, L.Y.,Abdrakhimova, G.S.,Melentiev, A.I.,Kudoyarova, G.R. The Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology 2018 식물생명공학회지 Vol.45 No.3

We performed an analysis of the effect of postharvest treatment of rhizomes of Aconitum septentrionale Koelle with the biological preparation of Bacispecin based on a cytokinin producing strain of Paenibacillus ehimensis IB-739 on the content of alkaloid lappaconitine in rhizomes. The total alkaloid content was assayed based on exhaustive extraction method. The lappaconitine content was measured by HPLC. The efficiency of the preparation was dependant on either the concentration or intensity of the growth processes in rhizomes. Both parameters varied depending on the stage of development of plants and the amount of precipitation. In the years with normal precipitation, concentrations of Bacispecin ranging from 5 to 10 g/l were found to be most effective for increasing lappaconitine content in rhizomes of A. septentrionale. Whereas, under local drought conditions, the concentration of preparation should be less than 2 g/l.