Preservação sistêmica para repositórios arquivísticos / Systemic preservation for archival repositories / Preservación sistémica para repositorios de archivo

Este estudo realiza uma reflexão sobre a preservação de documentos arquivísticos digitais em uma perspectiva sistêmica, pautada em padrões reconhecidos pela literatura científica. De tal forma, utiliza-se da visão holística para ressaltar a pertinência da preservação ser pensada em todo o ciclo de vida dos documentos. A metodologia parte do levantamento bibliográfico composto por artigos, livros e publicações técnicas, para assim, obter uma revisão narrativa. Ressalta-se que a preservação digital tem evoluído para novos patamares e requer o uso de padrões para implementar sistemas informatizados confiáveis. Com isso, pode-se envolver todo o ciclo vital em uma cadeia de custódia ininterrupta capaz de assegurar a autenticidade dos documentos digitais. Por fim, defende-se uma abordagem sistêmico-holística, em que os documentos são planejados e produzidos tendo em vista a preservação e o acesso em longo prazo.

This study reflects on the preservation of digital archival records from a systemic perspective, based on standards recognized by scientific literature. In such a way, it uses a holistic view to emphasize the relevance of preservation to be considered throughout the life cycle of records. The methodology is based on a bibliographic survey composed of articles, books, and technical publications, to obtain a narrative review. It is noteworthy that digital preservation has evolved to new heights, and requires the use of standards to implement reliable computer systems. With this, the entire life cycle can be involved in an uninterrupted chain of custody capable of ensuring the authenticity of digital records. Finally, a systemic-holistic approach is advocated, in which records are planned and produced with a view of the preservation and access in the long-term.

Este estudio reflexiona sobre la preservación de los documentos de archivo digital en una perspectiva sistémica, basada en normas y estándares reconocidos por la literatura científica. De esta manera, utiliza la visión holística para enfatizar la relevancia de la preservación a ser considerada a lo largo del ciclo de vida de los documentos. La metodología se basa en una encuesta bibliográfica compuesta de artículos, libros y publicaciones técnicas, para obtener una revisión narrativa. Es de destacar que la preservación digital ha evolucionado a nuevas alturas y requiere el uso de estándares para implementar sistemas informáticos confiables. Con esto, todo el ciclo de vida puede involucrarse en una cadena de custodia ininterrumpida capaz de garantizar la autenticidad de los documentos digitales. Finalmente, se aboga por un enfoque holístico-sistémico, en que los documentos se planifican y producen con miras la preservación y acceso a largo plazo.

Humanitarian aid in the archives: introduction.

How might historical perspectives assist the goal of improving humanitarian responses? This introduction to a special issue of Disasters on the history of humanitarian action explores this question and outlines how the other submissions to the edition, each with its own approach and focus area from the nineteenth-century to the present today, make different contributions to understanding of humanitarian action. The paper argues that the value of history lies not so much in the information it might offer, but in the challenges it can pose to habitual ways of thinking and in the skills of investigation and interpretation it fosters. These attributes make historical perspectives a potentially valuable addition to the critical questioning of humanitarian practitioners and policymakers. The paper advocates integrating history into a more reflective attitude to change and a more adventurous and holistic approach to innovation, as opposed to simply using it to 'learn lessons'.

Half-century archives of occupational medical data on French nuclear workers: a dusty warehouse or gold mine for epidemiological research?

This article discusses the availability and completeness of medical data on workers from the AREVA NC Pierrelatte nuclear plant and their possible use in epidemiological research on cardiovascular and metabolic disorders related to internal exposure to uranium. We created a computer database from files on 394 eligible workers included in an ongoing nested case-control study from a larger cohort of 2897 French nuclear workers. For each worker, we collected records of previous employment, job positions, job descriptions, medical visits, and blood test results from medical history. The dataset counts 9,471 medical examinations and 12,735 blood test results. For almost all of the parameters relevant for research on cardiovascular risk, data completeness and availability is over 90%, but it varies with time and improves in the latest time period. In the absence of biobanks, collecting and computerising available good-quality occupational medicine archive data constitutes a valuable alternative for epidemiological and aetiological research in occupational health. Biobanks rarely contain biological samples over an entire worker's carrier and medical data from nuclear industry archives might make up for unavailable biomarkers that could provide information on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Proposal for a biological environmental monitoring approach to be used in libraries and archives.

In cultural-heritage-related indoor environments, biological particles represent a hazard not only for cultural property, but also for operators and visitors. Reliable environmental monitoring methods are essential for examining each situation and assessing the effectiveness of preventive measures. We propose an integrated approach to the study of biological pollution in indoor environments such as libraries and archives. This approach includes microbial air and surface sampling, as well as an investigation of allergens and pollens. Part of this monitoring plan has been applied at the Palatina Library in Parma, Italy. However, wider collections of data are needed to fully understand the phenomena related with biological contamination, define reliable contamination threshold values, and implement appropriate preventive measures.

The discoveries of uranium 237 and symmetric fission - from the archival papers of Nishina and Kimura.

Shortly before the Second World War time, Nishina reported on a series of prominent nuclear physical and radiochemical studies in collaboration with Kimura. They artificially produced (231)Th, a member of the natural actinium series of nuclides, by bombarding thorium with fast neutrons. This resulted in the discovery of (237)U, a new isotope of uranium, by bombarding uranium with fast neutrons, and confirmed that (237)U disintegrates into element 93 with a mass number of 237. They also identified the isotopes of several middle-weighted elements produced by the symmetric fission of uranium. In this review article, the highlights of their work are briefly summarized along with some explanatory commentaries.

Biosurfactant production by Rhodococcus erythropolis and its application to oil removal

The influence of different nutrients on biosurfactant production by Rhodococcus erythropolis was investigated. Increasing the concentration of phosphate buffer from 30 up through 150 mmol/L stimulated an increase in biosurfactant production, which reached a maximum concentration of 285 mg/L in shaken flasks. Statistical analysis showed that glycerol, NaNO3,MgSO4 and yeast extract had significant effects on production. The results were confirmed in a batchwise bioreactor, and semi-growth-associated production was detected. Reduction in the surface tension, which indicates the presence of biosurfactant, reached a value of 38 mN/m at the end of 35 hours. Use of the produced biosurfactant for washing crude oil-contaminated soil showed that 2 and 4 times the critical micellar concentration (CMC) were able to remove 97 and 99 percent of the oil, respectively, after 1 month of impregnation.

The Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive (VISTA): results and impact on future stroke trials and management of stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: The Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive was established to improve stroke care and trial design through the collation, categorization and potential access to data sets from clinical trials for the treatment of stroke. METHODS: Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive currently provides access to a combined data set of 29 anonymised acute stroke trials and one acute stroke registry with data on >27,500 patients aged between 18 and 103 (mean 71) years. RESULTS: Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive has facilitated research across a broad canvas. The prognosis was poor in patients with very high blood pressure at the time of admission or with a wide variability of systolic blood pressure during the acute phase. The late occurrence of hyperthermia following an ischaemic stroke worsens the prognosis. Stroke lateralisation is not an important predictor of cardiac adverse events or 90-day mortality. Haemorrhagic transformation is seen frequently in patients with cardio-embolic strokes and is associated with a poor prognosis when occurring after the acute phase. Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive has allowed various prognostic models for patients with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke to be established and validated. More direct outcomes such as lesion volume can be useful in phase II clinical trials for determining whether a phase III trial should be undertaken. New outcome measures such as 'home time' may also strengthen future trials. On a worldwide level, the prognosis of stroke patients differs considerably between various countries. CONCLUSION: Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive provides an excellent opportunity for analysis of natural history data and prognosis. It has the potential to influence clinical trial design and implementation through exploratory data analyses.

Studying dream content using the archive and search engine on DreamBank.net.

This paper shows how the dream archive and search engine on DreamBank.net, a Web site containing over 22,000 dream reports, can be used to generate new findings on dream content, some of which raise interesting questions about the relationship between dreaming and various forms of waking thought. It begins with studies that draw dream reports from DreamBank.net for studies of social networks in dreams, and then demonstrates the usefulness of the search engine by employing word strings relating to religious and sexual elements. Examples from two lengthy individual dream series are used to show how the dreams of one person can be studied for characters, activities, and emotions. A final example shows that accurate inferences about a person's religious beliefs can be made on the basis of reading through dreams retrieved with a few keywords. The overall findings are similar to those in studies using traditional forms of content analysis.

Pioneers in ethnopharmacology: the Dutch East India Company (VOC) at the Cape from 1650 to 1800.

The earliest inhabitants of South Africa are believed to be the Khoi-Khoi and San peoples, whose knowledge of economic botany is extensive. Their ethnomedical practice, based on the plant species indigenous to the region, is an oral tradition and particularly susceptible to disruption. The culture of both peoples has during the past 350 years come under increasing threat of extinction, resulting in the likely loss to science of important ethnomedical knowledge. While written records of Khoi-San traditional medical practice are preserved in English, they mainly cover the period from 1800 onward. Earlier written records do exist, but do not appear to have been adequately screened. The present study was undertaken in order to complete the historical written record by critically examining all potential sources of Khoi and San ethnomedical information, for the years 1650-1800. These sources comprised journals of exploratory expeditions, herbarium specimens, published academic works and archival records associated with the activities of the former Dutch East India Company (VOC) at the Cape. The results of the search show that the VOC had a great interest in Khoi and San traditional medicines and attempted to record this knowledge. The VOC archives in particular represent a largely untapped source of ethnomedical information with potential application in health care, new drug development and intellectual property protection.

Plants used traditionally to treat malaria in Brazil: the archives of Flora Medicinal.

The archives of Flora Medicinal, an ancient pharmaceutical laboratory that supported ethnomedical research in Brazil for more than 30 years, were searched for plants with antimalarial use. Forty plant species indicated to treat malaria were described by Dr. J. Monteiro da Silva (Flora Medicinal leader) and his co-workers. Eight species, Bathysa cuspidata, Cosmos sulphureus, Cecropia hololeuca, Erisma calcaratum, Gomphrena arborescens, Musa paradisiaca, Ocotea odorifera, and Pradosia lactescens, are related as antimalarial for the first time in ethnobotanical studies. Some species, including Mikania glomerata, Melampodium divaricatum, Galipea multiflora, Aspidosperma polyneuron, and Coutarea hexandra, were reported to have activity in malaria patients under clinical observation. In the information obtained, also, there were many details about the appropriate indication of each plant. For example, some plants are indicated to increase others' potency. There are also plants that are traditionally employed for specific symptoms or conditions that often accompany malaria, such as weakness, renal failure or cerebral malaria. Many plants that have been considered to lack activity against malaria due to absence of in vitro activity against Plasmodium can have other mechanisms of action. Thus researchers should observe ethnomedical information before deciding which kind of screening should be used in the search of antimalarial drugs.

Critical methods in Tibetan medical histories.

This paper addresses the development of scholastic medical traditions in Tibet through an extension of lists of physicians. I consider the debates that such lists and their accompanying narratives engender for Tibetan historians and reflect on the contributions they make to the identity of the medical tradition. By examining the structure and content of classificatory methods in medical histories, I argue that temporally organized lists document the place of medicine across time, geographically organized lists document the reach of medical knowledge across space, and thematically organized lists document the intertwining of medical knowledge and skill with other aspects of intellectual and civil life. In making these lists, medical historians paint a portrait of the Tibetan medical tradition that evokes connections to Buddhism and the strength and cosmopolitanism of the imperial period. Medical histories thus emphasize a picture of Tibet in the broader context of Asia- a Tibet whose empire lives on culturally or intellectually, if not militarily.

[Historical Archives of Italian Nephrology. The gout as a paradigmatic example of the ancient humoral theory of diseases]. / Archivi storici della Nefrologia Italiana. La gotta come paradigma e superamento dell'antica teoria umorale delle malattie.

Gout is one of the oldest known diseases. The term derives from the Latin "gutta", which means "a drop" This word expresses and describes, as no other term can, a method of interpreting the pathologies that have been with us for more than 2000 yrs. The theory of humoral disturbance goes back to the time of Hippocrates. This paper is a historical review of gout, with particular attention given to the interpretation of the origins of clinical, articular and renal involvement allowing us paradigmatically to sum up all the stages in the evolution of the etiopathogenetic and nosographic concepts of medicine through the ages.

Artifacts and Archives/Archives et artefacts de la pratique médicale. The origin of the Canadian Cancer Society.

In 1929, when the Saskatchewan Medical Association created a Cancer Committee, the major achievement of the Committee was the establishment of the first government supported comprehensive provincial cancer control program in Canada. The report also proposed the establishment of a voluntary medical-lay Canadian Society for the Control of Cancer. As the comprehensive cancer control concept spread across Canada within the provinicial medical associations and provinicials governments, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), represented by Dr. John S. McEachern, took up the cause of promoting such a voluntary cancer organization. Initially the idea developed slowly but, in 1935, gained momentum when the Governor General, the Earl of Bessborough, initiated The King George V Silver Jubilee Cancer Fund for Canada and financial support for such a project became a possibility. The focus of this paper is on McEachern's shepherding of the voluntary cancer society idea within the CMA and the convoluted path which led to the provision of financial support for the project by the Trustees of the King George V Cancer Fund. The Canadian Society of the Control of Cancer, later renamed the Canadian Cancer Society, was created by Letters Patent on 28 March 1938.

DICOM structured reporting: Part 1. Overview and characteristics.

Supplement 23 to Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) is an introduction to the structured reporting (SR) classes, which are used for transmission and storage of clinical documents. The SR classes fully support both conventional free-text reports and structured information, thus enhancing the precision, clarity, and value of clinical documentation. In addition, the SR standard provides the capability to link text and other data to particular images or waveforms and to store the coordinates of findings. In other words, SR documents not only describe the specific features contained in images or waveforms but can also refer to any number of images or waveforms. Accordingly, SR bridges the traditional gap between imaging systems and information systems. Furthermore, SR plays an essential role in Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise by providing healthcare practitioners with an effective tool that encompasses a variety of clinical contexts. Harmonization of DICOM SR and the Health Level Seven clinical document architecture standard is under way.