Considerations on Integrating Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Into Clinical Prostate Cancer Trials by National Clinical Trials Network Cooperative Groups

PURPOSE As prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) becomes increasingly available in the United States, the greater sensitivity of the technology in comparison to conventional imaging poses challenges for clinical trials. The NCI Clinical Imaging Steering Committee (CISC) PSMA PET Working Group was convened to coordinate the identification of these challenges in various clinical scenarios and to develop consensus recommendations on how best to integrate PSMA PET into ongoing and upcoming National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) trials. METHODS NCI CISC and NCI Genitourinary Steering Committee members and leadership nominated clinicians, biostatisticians, patient advocates, and other imaging experts for inclusion in the PSMA PET Working Group. From April to July 2021, the working group met independently and in conjunction with the CISC to frame challenges, including stage migration, response assessment, trial logistics, and statistical challenges, and to discuss proposed solutions. An anonymous, open-ended survey was distributed to members to collect feedback on challenges faced. Representatives from each NCTN group were invited to present an overview of affected trials. From these discussions, the consensus document was developed and circulated for the inclusion of multiple rounds of feedback from both the Working Group and CISC. RESULTS The current consensus document outlines the key challenges for clinical prostate cancer trials resulting from the increasing availability of PSMA PET. We discuss implications for patient selection and definition of end points and provide guidance and potential solutions for different clinical scenarios, particularly with regard to best practices in defining eligibility criteria and outcome measures. RECOMMENDATIONS This article provides guidance regarding clinical trial design and conduct, and the interpretation of trial results.

Anti-Corruption Campaign and Firm Financial Performance: Evidence From Vietnam Firms

Background Corruption affects businesses in various ways. Anti-corruption, on the other hand, can improve the institutions of the country as well as business operations. Vietnam, as a socialist-oriented country with an ongoing high-profile anti-corruption campaign, provides us a unique setting to evaluate the impacts of anti-corruption on corporate performance. Objectives We address two questions: (1) what is the effect of anti-corruption on the performance of private-owned firms in Vietnam? and (2) how does anti-corruption influence the performance of firms with state ownership (FSOs) in Vietnam? Research design To investigate the impact of anti-corruption on performance of firms with different ownership settings, we use the establishment of the Central Anti-Corruption Steering Committee of Vietnam as a quasi-natural experiment for difference-in-differences analysis. We generate treatment effects of private holding and the state block ownership. To validate the findings, we construct a novel news-based anti-corruption index from Vietnamese online newspapers and use it in a robustness test to evaluate anti-corruption’s impacts on firm performance. Results and Conclusions We find a positive impact of the anti-corruption campaign on private firms’ performance, supporting the social norm perspective of how corruption affects businesses. The empirical results indicate a negative impact of the campaign on FSOs’ performance. The findings suggest that anti-corruption benefits private firms via improving the institutional quality of the country while improving the financial transparency of FSOs. Our study provides a method for measuring anti-corruption which is virtually unobservable and absent in the literature. The findings have implications for policymaking in contemporary Vietnam.

The AgeCap Conceptual Framework for Research on Capability in Ageing

The overall goal of AgeCap is to contribute to increased wellbeing and participation in life for the older population. While there are several ways to meet this challenge, AgeCap has chosen the capability approach, which focuses on a subjective perceived health- and ability-related perspective, rather than on disease or disabilities. The understanding of capability used within the centre is based on the work of the philosopher and economist Amartya Sen, described as the individual’s ability to perform actions in order to reach goals he or she has reason to value (Sen A. The idea of justice. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2009). The capability approach focuses on what people are able to do and to be – their capabilities – and on their freedom of choice to perform those actions. AgeCap’s multidisciplinary setting was an opportunity to adopt the capability approach within its research. Nevertheless, it also created challenges in establishing a common view of what capability is, and how to apply the concept in collaborations across several different research fields. Thus, at an early stage during the setting up of the Centre, it was decided that a conceptual framework aiming to capture a shared view of capability in ageing should be developed. In addition, in order to facilitate the application of the capability approach within the research setting and make it more accessible to different target groups within society, it was later proposed that a graphic illustration of the AgeCap framework of capability should be created. This chapter describes the conceptual framework and graphic illustration that were developed by the Communication Group in collaboration with the Steering Committee, Principal Investigators, other researchers within AgeCap and the company Explain Artist. Central concepts include available resources, conversion factors, capability set, freedom of choice, goals of value and justice. The purpose of the conceptual framework is mainly to serve as a platform for researchers to use in any way they find relevant from their own perspective. Furthermore, the graphic illustration was developed in order to facilitate the application of the capability approach within AgeCap and make our research more accessible to society in order to dismantle the wall between researchers, older people and the general public.

ANALISIS CITRA MENGENAI PEMBANGUNAN ZONA INTEGRITAS

ABSTRACT In the process of establishing the image of Immigration Office Class I Non TPI Karawang using the Development of Integrity Zone as an effort to support the formation of a very good image for the office. The development of this Integrity Zone is divided into two different predicate steps, including the Corruption-Free Zone (WBK) and the Clean and Serving Bureaucracy (WBBM). From these steps, an innovation service was formed to support the successful achievement of WBK/WBBM badges with the hope of being able to help various public complaints. The regulations underlying the establishment of this Integrity Zone are contained in Presidential Decree No. 14 of 2010 concerning the Establishment of the Steering Committee for National Bureaucratic Reform and the National Bureaucratic Reform Team as amended by presidential decree No. 23 of 2010. The method conducted in this study is Qualitative – descriptive which is a depiction using the collection of case study data analysis at the Immigration Office Class I Non TPI Karawang. The results of this study showed that the development of Integrity Zone managed to form an excellent office image in the eyes of the community. Keywords: Image, Communication Process, Integrity Zone Development ABSTRAK Pada proses pembentukan citra Kantor Imigrasi Kelas I Non TPI Karawang menggunakan Pembangunan Zona Integritas sebagai upaya pendukung terbentuknya citra sangat baik bagi kantor. Pembangunan Zona Integritas ini terbagi menjadi dua tahap predikat yang berbeda, diantaranya tahap Wilayah Bebas Korupsi (WBK) dan tahap Wilayah Birokrasi Bersih dan Melayani (WBBM). Dari tahap – tahap tersebut dibentuk sebuah layanan inovasi sebagai pendukung keberhasilan pencapaian lencana WBK/WBBM dengan harapan cakap dalam membantu berbagai keluhan masyarakat. Peraturan yang mendasari terbentuknya Zona Integritas ini ada dalam Keputusan Presiden Republik Indonesia Nomor 14 Tahun 2010 tentang Pembentukan Komite Pengarah Reformasi Birokrasi Nasional dan Tim Reformasi Birokrasi Nasional sebagaimana telah diubah dengan keputusan Presiden Republik Indonesia Nomor 23 Tahun 2010. Metode yang dilakukan dalam penelitian ini ialah Kualitatif – deskriptif yang merupakan penggambaran menggunakan pengumpulan informasi Analisis data Studi Kasus pada Kantor Imigrasi Kelas I Non TPI Karawang. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa pembangunan Zona Integritas berhasil membentuk Citra kantor yang sangat baik dimata masyarakat. Kata Kunci: Citra, Proses Komunikasi, Pembangunan Zona Integritas

Acquisition of a Dose Management System with Consideration of Medico-Legal and Economic Aspects

Background New radiation protection regulation encompassing additional obligations for monitoring, reporting and recording of radiation exposure, was enacted on December 31, 2018. As a consequence, dose management systems (DMS) are necessary to fulfill the requirements. The process of selection, acquisition and implementation of a suitable IT solution for this purpose is a challenge that all X-ray-applying facilities, including hospitals and private practices, are currently facing. Method A target/actual-analysis as well as a cost-utility analysis is presented for this specific case as a foundation for the acquisition decision-making process. Result An actual analysis is necessary in order to record the current status of dose documentation. An interdivisional approach is recommended to include all imaging modalities and devices. An interdisciplinary steering committee can be helpful in enabling consensus and rapid action. A target analysis includes additional criteria with respect to ease of operation, technical feasibility, process optimization and research opportunities to consider in addition to the statutory requirements. By means of a cost-benefit analysis, considerations between costs and the individually weighted advantages and disadvantages of eligible DMS result in a ranking of preference for the available solutions. Conclusion Requirements of a DMS can be summarized in a specification sheet. Deploying an actual condition analysis, target state analysis and cost-utility analysis can help to identify a suitable DMS to achieve rapid commissioning and highest possible user acceptance while optimizing costs at the same time. Key Points: Citation Format

Non-Metallic Technology Deployment for the Next Generation of ADNOC Production Facilities

Industry-wide, the degradation and corrosion of steel infrastructure and the associated maintenance to prevent or mitigate this, poses a heavy environmental and operational burden across many industry segments. To address these challenges, ADNOC Group Technology, led by our Non-Metallic Steering Committee and ADNOC Upstream, in partnership with several selected specialist product companies, is deploying a range of innovative solutions as pilot trials within a holistic R&D program – which is aiming to transform our production and processing facilities, with a close focus on integrity management – and specifically we are assessing the deployment of non-metallic pipelines, storage and process vessels as well as downhole tubing and casing. Focusing specifically on flowlines and pipelines - traditional steel pipes used in the oil patch are burdensome to store, transport and install, as well as susceptible to degradation, corrosion-driven wall loss in challenging operational environments, such as those found Onshore and Offshore Abu Dhabi. This vulnerability results in increased operating risks as facilities mature, adding cost and time for inspection, maintenance and eventually - replacements that will lead to production deferrals or interruptions. A range of non-metallic pipeline technologies are being assessed and piloted in this program, including stand-alone extruded polymeric pipe and liners, Reinforced Thermoplastic Pipe (RTP) used Onshore and Offshore, specialized non-metallic flexible pipelines for Offshore including Thermoplastic Composite Pipe (TCP) and downhole tubulars. The methodology involves placing segments of RTP into live pipeline systems for a finite duration of operation – usually one year – and then removing sections to assess any degradation in performance, or capability of the RTP during that time. These test results will be the subject of a further publication at the end of this trial period. In this paper, we will focus on RTP piloting Onshore and specifically mention a unique trial in an ultra-sour gas field, where the technology has already delivered the required performance: safely transporting gas with levels of H2S up to 10% by volume. This trial also proves that specifically engineered non-metallic products may be successfully operated at the high temperature and high pressure (HPHT) levels that are characteristic of our reservoirs.