Shaoma Zhijing granule for children with tic disorders: A rapid health technology assessment

Objective:To rapidly assess the effectiveness,safety,economy,and applicability of Shaoma Zhijing granule(SZG)for the treatment of children with tic disorders(TD),and provide currently available best evidence for decision-makers of health policies.Methods:We conducted a rapid health technology assessment(RHTA)to explore the value of SZG.A systematic literature search in eight literature databases and on three clinical trial registration platforms was performed.The literature was screened according to eligibility criteria.The screening process and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers,and the quality of the literature was also assessed.The results were summarized,analyzed,and presented in tables or figures.Results:A total of five randomized controlled trials(RCTs)were included in this study,of which one was published in English(in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry)and four in Chinese journals.The overall risk of bias for the five RCTs was evaluated as“some concerns.”SZG monotherapy or in combi-nation with tiapride was better than tiapride alone in improving traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes and tic symptoms,with a daily cost of¥67.50e107.22.Adverse events were mainly related to the digestive,respiratory,and neurological systems,but all were mild.Conclusion:Overall,the current RHTA of published,peer-reviewed literature has located a small body of evidence evaluating the use of SZG for the treatment of TD in children.SZG has effects on improving TCM syndromes and tic symptoms;the daily cost is¥67.50e107.22;and all adverse events are mild.High-quality studies with long-term follow-up should be conducted,so as to provide local evidence and consistently guide and improve scientific decision-making.

Can health technology assessments assist the global campaign against poverty?

Although a key tenant of the Sustainable Development Goals is to achieve universal health coverage,the global drug gap persists-cver a third of the global population lack access to essential medicines.Without access to affordable drugs,people have worse health outcomes,higher medical expenses,and productivity loss,pushing them into poverty.Health technology assessments(HTAs)offer an opportunity to decrease the global drug gap and increase access to essential medicines by overcoming barriers to medicine access.These barriers include drug procurement,drug affordability for payers and patients,a patienfs ability to obtain essential medicines,and health system capacity.Using HTAs can therefore close the global drug gap by increasing access to affordable essential medicines.In turn,people have better health outcomes,spend less money on medical care,and can have better productivity.Ultimately,use of HTAs can lift the population out of poverty and force fewer people into poverty by creating better health outcomes at affordable prices.

Tri-Intersectional Model of Leadership by Values:A Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making Open Technology Assessment System

Purpose-Nowadays successful organizations need to be masters at leadership by values to play in a constantly changing and transforming environment.But how can leaders and organizations effectively convene strategic and culture development based on values?This paper presents the Tri-Intersectional Model of Leadership by Values(TMLV)in which leaders and organizations can integrate a sustainable strategy,as well as a culture and value-based management system that simultaneously leverages human,financial,and social resources.With its three essential axes of values(economic-pragmatic,emotional-development,and ethical-social)at their intersection points,it allows leaders to focus on the strategy linkages:innovation-intersection between the economic-pragmatic values axis and the emotional-development values axis-allows them to develop sustainable innovations;survival-intersection between the economic-pragmatic values axis and the ethical-social values axis-enhances their organization’s survival;finally,sensibility-intersection between the economic-pragmatic values axis and the ethical-social values axis-makes them more humane and more socially-responsible.The application of the TMLV,using the Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making Open Technology Assessment System,can be a great inspiration for stimulating and working with values in organizations,as well as allowing leaders to develop a values-based,high-involvement,and performance-oriented culture.Methodology/Approach-This research considers empirical data analysis of the 37 case studies of the EU-InnovatE project(http//www.euinnovate.com)-a pioneering initiative to align innovation values to integrate the end user into the process of innovation and entrepreneurship related to a sustainable lifestyle and the green economy in Europe-using a fuzzy multiple-criteria decision making method and open technologies system,such as server-side PHP language,MariaDB Database,fork of MYSQL Database Management System,and JavaScript libraries to perform operation directly on the user’s browser.Findings-The application of the TMLV model,considering empirical analysis of the extracted values from the case studies,using the Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making Open Technology Assessment System,can be a great inspiration for stimulating and working with values in João organizations,as well as allowing leaders to develop suitable strategies and interventions for shaping a sustainable high-performance culture.Research implications-This research can be a starting point for further research to assess the effectiveness of the leadership model based on a decision-making open technology system in any given organization,as well as to invite researchers who have positive passion about working with values to participate in the improvement of this tool.Originality/value-The Tri-Intersectional Model of Leadership by Values using the Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making Open Technology Assessment System is presented as an evolution in leadership models that may be used to fuel innovation,survival,and a sensibility strategic focus that is necessary to optimize human and organizational performance and deliver effective solutions to the massive array of human,financial,and social problems we face today.

Slope excavation quality assessment and excavated volume calculation in hydraulic projects based on laser scanning technology

Slope excavation is one of the most crucial steps in the construction of a hydraulic project. Excavation project quality assessment and excavated volume calculation are critical in construction management. The positioning of excavation projects using traditional instruments is inefficient and may cause error. To improve the efficiency and precision of calculation and assessment, three-dimensional laser scanning technology was used for slope excavation quality assessment. An efficient data acquisition, processing, and management workflow was presented in this study. Based on the quality control indices, including the average gradient, slope toe elevation, and overbreak and underbreak,cross-sectional quality assessment and holistic quality assessment methods were proposed to assess the slope excavation quality with laserscanned data. An algorithm was also presented to calculate the excavated volume with laser-scanned data. A field application and a laboratory experiment were carried out to verify the feasibility of these methods for excavation quality assessment and excavated volume calculation. The results show that the quality assessment indices can be obtained rapidly and accurately with design parameters and scanned data, and the results of holistic quality assessment are consistent with those of cross-sectional quality assessment. In addition, the time consumption in excavation quality assessment with the laser scanning technology can be reduced by 70%e90%, as compared with the traditional method. The excavated volume calculated with the scanned data only slightly differs from measured data, demonstrating the applicability of the excavated volume calculation method presented in this study.

Research of Technology Readiness Assessment for Aerospace Projects

Two problems were found in recent applications of TRLs in aerospace projects.One is how to accurately evaluate the readiness level of a given technology in a project using the TRL scale.The other is how to deal with the diversity(different types) of technologies involved in an aerospace project.To solve these problems,a technology readiness assessment(TRA) method based on three maturity characteristics is established,and this method is adapted according to the features of different types of technologies.The proposed method has been successfully applied to aerospace projects and enables great effectiveness and accuracy in assessing new technologies.

三级医疗机构医院卫生技术评估实施现况

目的分析三级医疗机构医院卫生技术(hospital-based health technology assessment,HB-HTA)评估开展现状,为完善医疗机构HB-HTA的应用提供参考和依据。方法运用便利抽样方法,对国家卫生健康委员会医疗管理服务指导中心HB-HTA工作试点医院和已开展HB-HTA的其他医院进行问卷调查和关键知情人访谈。结果共调查19家三级医疗机构,开展HB-HTA有利于促进医疗机构科学管理决策、保障医疗质量和安全、节约医院预算、提高HB-HTA认知水平。但目前HB-HTA还存在缺乏长期持续开展的激励机制、缺乏HB-HTA相关专业人才和部门、HB-HTA流程过于繁杂、卫生技术评估时效性较差、决策支持效率较低、研究结果推广率低等问题。结论建议加强政策、资金支持,注重加强医院内部卫生技术评估人才的引进和能力培训,积极鼓励和引导医院内部建立具体HB-HTA小组或者部门,探索开发HB-HTA支持决策流程的智能化工具或软件,通过多种方式促进评估成果和评估报告的传播共享,不断完善HB-HTA的开展。

含抗菌剂缝线卫生技术评估

目的通过卫生技术评估过程系统评估含抗菌剂缝线的价值,为医疗机构科学采购提供决策依据,为医用耗材科学评估提供参考及建议。方法参考欧洲卫生技术评估网络核心模型及欧洲联盟医院卫生技术评估手册推荐框架,通过文献研究、meta分析、卫生经济学模型测算等方法全面评估含抗菌剂缝线的安全性、有效性、经济性及社会性。结果相比不含抗菌剂缝线,含抗菌剂缝线可在一定程度上降低发生手术部位感染的风险,节省因手术部位感染产生的费用。结合现有证据,含抗菌剂缝线不会产生耐药性,且不会对操作者学习曲线造成影响。结论含抗菌剂缝线能够降低发生手术部位感染的风险,对降低医疗机构整体成本支出有积极影响。手术部位感染控制属于集束化管理,医院感染管控仍需多措并举。医用耗材卫生技术评估存在较大挑战,需开展进一步探索。

生产率损失测量工具的比较研究

目的 比较可用于卫生技术评估中的生产率损失测量工具,厘清可用于卫生技术评估中的生产率损失测量工具的应用条件,以期为相关研究者在选择生产率损失的测量工具时提供参考。方法 检索PubMed、Web of Science、中国知网、万方、维普等中外数据库,检索时间从数据库建库至2021年11月,由2名研究者按照纳入与排除标准独立筛选文献、识别生产率损失测量工具、提取资料。结果 共识别出5种可用于卫生技术评估领域中的生产率损失测量工具,包括工作能力和活动受损量表(work productivity activity and impairment,WPAI)、工作能力局限调查问卷(work limitations questionnaire,WLQ)、健康与工作绩效问卷(Health and Work Performance Questionnaire,HPQ)、损失产能的估值(Valuation of Lost Productivity Questionnaire,VOLP)和医疗技术评估研究院(Institute for Medical Technology Assessment,IMTA)的生产力成本问卷(IMTA Productivity Questionnaire,IPCQ)。其中WPAI和WLQ是测量属性证据最为充足的工具;VOLP是成本涵盖最全的工具;WLQ是数据敏感性最强的工具;IPCQ是货币转化方法最多的工具;WPAI是获取使用最方便的工具。结论 对于卫生技术评估中的生产率损失测量的标准工具尚未存在统一共识,研究者可根据自身研究选取生产率损失测量工具。

Management of Medical Technology under the New Medical Policy Background in China

INTRODUCTIONThe National Health and Family Planning Commission of People＇s Republic of China released the ＂Regulations on canceling the admission approval of the third class medical technologies and relevant works＂ in July 2015. According to the new regulation, the obligations and responsibilities of health administration departments for the admission approval of the clinical applications on the third- and the second-class medical technologies will be transferred to medical institutions that perform the operations.

Assessment of postcombustion carbon capture technologies for power generation

A significant proportion of power generation stems from coal-combustion processes and accordingly represents one of the largest point sources of CO_(2)emissions worldwide.Coal power plants are major assets with large infrastructure and engineering units and an operating life span of up to 50 years.Hence,any process design modification to reduce greenhouse gas emissions may require significant investment.One of the best options to utilize existing infrastructure is to retrofit the power station fleet by adding a separation process to the flue gas,a practice known as postcombustion capture(PCC).This review examines the recent PCC development and provides a summary and assessment of the state of play in this area and its potential applicability to the power generation industry.The major players including the various institutes,government,and industry consortia are identified along with flue gas PCC demonstration scale plants.Of the PCC technologies reviewed,amine-based absorption is preeminent,being both the most mature and able to be adapted immediately,to the appropriate scale,for power station flue gas with minimal technical risk.Indeed,current commercial applications serve niches in the merchant CO_(2)market,while a substantial number of smaller scale test facilities are reported in the literature with actual CO_(2)capture motivated demonstrations now commencing.Hybrid membrane/absorption systems,also known as membrane contactors,offer the potential for the lowest energy requirements,possibly 10%of current direct scrubbers but are at an early stage of development.Other methods being actively pursued as R&D projects include solid absorbents,solid adsorbents,gas membrane separators,and cryogenic separation.The variety and different maturities of these competing technologies make technical comparison largely subjective,but useful insights could be gained through the development and application of econometric techniques such as‘real options’within this context.Despite these limitations,it is clear from this review that amine scrubbing is likely to be adapted first into the existing power station fleet,while less mature technologies will grow and become integrated with the development of future power stations.

Techno-economic assessment of energy generation through municipal solid waste:a case study for small/medium size districts in Pakistan

There is an increase in annual waste generation due to urbanization,industrialization,and population growth.The waste management crisis in developing countries and its complexity from region to region has inspired extensive research work in this area.Poor management not only results in environmental hazards,but it also causes significant socio-economic losses.Due to the absence of comprehensive studies on waste to energy(WTE)assessment,this study assesses and reports the merits of alternative technologies for converting WTE in small and medium-size districts.Quantitative analysis for waste collection data in this study uses a pilot study approach to provide useful insights and waste classification.A cantonment district of Pakistan(Wah Cantt)has been used as a case study for performing a technological and economic assessment of energy generation through the use of thermal and biological treatment processes.A mathematical modeling approach has been adopted for generating an economic value of each technology through which this waste can be processed.Further,the levelized cost of energy(LCOE)based assessment has been performed to provide a methodological framework for selecting the most feasible WTE technology in a small or medium-size district.Based on the model results,anaerobic digestion appears to be the most sustainable technology due to the organic nature of waste in Wah Cantt,land legislation,and availability of area to install a waste plant.Considering all the waste collected,the district can generate approximately 14.4 MW of energy through thermal treatment,19,110 m^(3) of daily biogas through anaerobic digestion,and 5 million tons of fertilizer through composting.Hence,if a proper supply chain is established for converting a portion of Pakistan’s annual waste generation,a significant amount of waste energy potential can be restored.

A systemic review of hydrogen supply chain in energy transition

Targeting the net-zero emission(NZE)by 2050,the hydrogen industry is drastically developing in recent years.However,the technologies of hydrogen upstream production,midstream transportation and storage,and downstream utilization are facing obstacles.In this paper,the development of hydrogen industry from the production,transportation and storage,and sustainable economic development perspectives were reviewed.The current challenges and future outlooks were summarized consequently.In the upstream,blue hydrogen is dominating the current hydrogen supply,and an implementation of carbon capture and sequestration(CCS)can raise its cost by 30%.To achieve an economic feasibility,green hydrogen needs to reduce its cost by 75%to approximately 2$/kg at the large scale.The research progress in the midterm sector is still in a preliminary stage,where experimental and theoretical investigations need to be conducted in addressing the impact of embrittlement,contamination,and flammability so that they could provide a solid support for material selection and largescale feasibility studies.In the downstream utilization,blue hydrogen will be used in producing value-added chemicals in the short-term.Over the long-term,green hydrogen will dominate the market owing to its high energy intensity and zero carbon intensity which provides a promising option for energy storage.Technologies in the hydrogen industry require a comprehensive understanding of their economic and environmental benefits over the whole life cycle in supporting operators and policymakers.