bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with frequent buprenorphine / naloxone initiation in a national survey of Canadian emergency physicians
Authors: MacKinnon Nathalie , Lane Daniel , Scheuermeyer Frank , Kaczorowski Janusz , Dong Kathryn , Orkin Aaron M. , Daoust Raoul , Moe Jessica , Andolfatto Gary , Klaiman Michelle , Yan Justin , Koh Justin J. , Crowder Kathryn , Atkinson Paul , Savage David , Stempien James , Besserer Floyd , Wale Jason , Kestler Andrew
Published: February 2024

Objective

To identify individual and site-related factors associated with frequent emergency department (ED) buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP) initiation. BUP initiation, an effective opioid use disorder (OUD) intervention, varies widely across Canadian EDs.

Methods

We surveyed emergency physicians in 6 Canadian provinces from 2018 to 2019 using bilingual paper and web-based questionnaires. Survey domains included BUP-related practice, demographics, attitudes toward BUP, and site characteristics. We defined frequent BUP initiation (the primary outcome) as at least once per month, high OUD prevalence as at least one OUD patient per shift, and high OUD resources as at least 3 out of the following 5 resources: BUP initiation pathways, BUP in ED, peer navigators, accessible addiction specialists, and accessible follow-up clinics. We excluded responses from sites with <50% participation (to minimize non-responder bias) and those missing the primary outcome. We used univariate analysis to identify associations between frequent BUP initiation and factors of interest, stratifying by OUD prevalence.

Results

We excluded 3 responses for missing BUP initiation frequency and 9 for low response rate at one ED. Of the remaining 649 respondents from 34 EDs, 374 (58%) practiced in metropolitan areas, 384 (59%) reported high OUD prevalence, 312 (48%) had high OUD resources, and 161 (25%) initiated BUP frequently. Age, gender, board certification and years in practice were not associated with frequent BUP initiation. Site-specific factors were associated with frequent BUP initiation (high OUD resources [OR 6.91], high OUD prevalence [OR 4.45], and metropolitan location [OR 2.39],) as were individual attitudinal factors (willingness, confidence, and responsibility to initiate BUP.) Similar associations persisted in the high OUD prevalence subgroup.

Conclusions

Individual attitudinal and site-specific factors were associated with frequent BUP initiation. Training to increase physician confidence and increasing OUD resources could increase BUP initiation and benefit ED patients with OUD.
Integrating rehabilitation into health systems: A comparative study of nine middle-income countries using WHO’s Systematic Assessment of Rehabilitation Situation (STARS)
Authors: Kleinitz Pauline , Sabariego Carla , Llewellyn Gwynnyth , Taloafiri Elsie , Mangar Ariane , Baskota Rabindra , Marahatta Kedar , Maduwage Shiromi , Khin Myo Hla , Wonanji Vivian , Sampa George , Al-Rjoub Ali , Al-Daod Jaber , Cieza Alarcos
Published: February 2024

Background and objective

The need for rehabilitation is growing due to health and demographic trends, especially the rise of non-communicable diseases and the rapid ageing of the global population. However, the extent to which rehabilitation is integrated into health systems is mostly unclear. Our objective is to describe and compare the nature and extent of integration of rehabilitation within health systems across nine middle-income countries using available Systematic Assessment of Rehabilitation Situation (STARS) reports.

Methods

Cross-country comparative study with variable-oriented design using available rehabilitation health system assessment reports from nine middle income countries.

Findings

The integration of rehabilitation into health systems is limited across countries. Governance and financing for rehabilitation are mostly established within health ministries but weakly so, while health information systems are characterized by no available data or data that is insufficient or not routinely generated. The overall numbers of rehabilitation workforce per capita are low, with frequent reports of workforce challenges. In most countries the availability of longer-stay, high-intensity rehabilitation is extremely low, the availability of rehabilitation in tertiary hospitals is modest and in government supported primary care its almost non-existent. Multiple concerns about rehabilitation quality arose but the lack of empirical data hinders formal appraisal.

Conclusion

The study sheds light on the limited integration of rehabilitation in health systems and common areas of difficulty and challenge across nine middle income countries. All countries were found to have a basis on which to strengthen rehabilitation and there were often multiple areas within each health system building block that required action in order to improve the situation. Findings can inform governments, regional and global agencies to support future efforts to strengthen rehabilitation. Additionally, our study demonstrates the value of STARS reports for health policy and systems research and can serve as a model for further comparative studies.
The effect of servitising level on firm performance of listed Chinese sporting goods manufacturing companies—With moderated mediation effect
Authors: Lu Laibing , Pan Wei , Wang Haixia , Yang Shaoxiong , Liu Zhiyong , Li Qiuying
Published: February 2024

The global manufacturing landscape is undergoing a profound shift, and the paradigm of service-led industrial evolution has taken on paramount importance. Service-oriented manufacturing has emerged as a pivotal conduit for the transformation and elevation of China’s sporting goods manufacturing sector. However, we acknowledge that the current state of service-oriented transformation in this sector is still in an embryonic phase. The nuanced interplay between the level of servitization and its consequent impact on corporate performance, along with the intricate forms of interference exerted by various factors in the process of servitization, are shrouded in ambiguity. This article, which is predicated upon the financial disclosures of China’s sporting goods manufacturing enterprises listed on the A-share and New Third Board markets, presents a rigorous investigation. Through the construction of an imbalanced panel dataset covering the period of 2007 to 2022, we embark on an empirical journey examining the intricacies of a moderated mediation model to ascertain the mechanisms underlying the influence of servitization on the performance of sporting goods manufacturing entities. Through this research, we unearth a compelling revelation: (1) Within the cohort of sampled enterprises, an elevation of servitization evokes a modest suppressive effect on corporate performance, thus resulting in the enigmatic "servitization paradox." (2) A total of 29.1% of the servitization impact on enterprise performance is achieved through marketing intensity; that is, there is a partial mediating effect of marketing intensity on the relationship between servitization and enterprise performance. (3) Market power play a negative regulatory role in this relationship, which drives the servitization paradox in sporting goods manufacturing but can also promote the positive impact of servitization on marketing intensity. In addition, with the expansion of market power, corporate servitization does not need to impact corporate performance through marketing activities. (4) R&D intensity negatively affects the relationship between marketing intensity and corporate performance, promotes the inhibitory effect of marketing intensity on corporate performance, and aggravates the inhibitory effect of servitization on corporate performance through marketing intensity.
Epstein-Barr virus lytic gene BNRF1 promotes B-cell lymphomagenesis via IFI27 upregulation
Authors: Sagou Ken , Sato Yoshitaka , Okuno Yusuke , Watanabe Takahiro , Inagaki Tomoki , Motooka Yashiro , Toyokuni Shinya , Murata Takayuki , Kiyoi Hitoshi , Kimura Hiroshi
Published: February 2024

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human lymphotropic herpesvirus that is causally associated with several malignancies. In addition to latent factors, lytic replication contributes to cancer development. In this study, we examined whether the lytic gene BNRF1, which is conserved among gamma-herpesviruses, has an important role in lymphomagenesis. We found that lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) established by BNRF1-knockout EBV exhibited remarkably lower pathogenicity in a mice xenograft model than LCLs produced by wild-type EBV (LCLs-WT). RNA-seq analyses revealed that BNRF1 elicited the expression of interferon-inducible protein 27 (IFI27), which promotes cell proliferation. IFI27 knockdown in LCLs-WT resulted in excessive production of reactive oxygen species, leading to cell death and significantly decreased their pathogenicity in vivo. We also confirmed that IFI27 was upregulated during primary infection in B-cells. Our findings revealed that BNRF1 promoted robust proliferation of the B-cells that were transformed by EBV latent infection via IFI27 upregulation both in vitro and in vivo.
The invisibility of health effects associated with water pollution within disease burden estimates: Analysis from a Colombian Andean watershed
Authors: Mendez Fabian , Piedrahita-Gómez Laura E. , Toro Andrés Fernando , Salazar-Benitez Juliana , Zapata Helmer , Peña Miguel
Published: February 2024

Modernization is marked by an increase in pollution-related health risks due to the rapid economic and technological growth. In the Global South, there is concern regarding the disease burden attributable to chemical contaminants released into the environment, especially in river basins, where populations are exposed through multiple pathways. While significant research exists linking chemical exposure to disease, mostly in occupational settings, less data is available for the open environment. Emerging pollutants have shown ecotoxicological and genotoxic effects at low concentrations in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, with humans at the apex. Despite such evidence, water quality standards focus primarily on communicable diseases risks, and the burden of disease method mainly includes gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. Therefore, the use of DALYs as a prioritization strategy needs to be evaluated to suggest alternatives for integrated analysis. Our aim was to enhance the comprehension of watersheds as socioecological entities that necessitate inclusive indicators to display the intricate and diverse links between water, health, and the resultant inequities. Based on previous research and information collected in a tropical Andean watershed at southwestern Colombia, we characterized drivers of pollution and health hazards. Using standardized methods for calculating DALYs, we estimated the water-related environmental burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Estimates of disease burden were analyzed to find out disparities driven by ethnic, gender and socioeconomic status. Results indicate that significant inequalities persist affecting the most vulnerable populations for preventable communicable diseases. Furthermore, the impact of noncommunicable diseases, which are linked to chemical pollution from individual substances and their cocktail effect, remains largely invisible due to insufficient data and research. The econometric approach of the DALY addition effect needs to be expanded with historical and critical perspectives to expose the profound social and health inequities present in the socioecological systems of the Global South.
Arquitectura del agua, construir una investigación
Authors: Gallego Picard Elisa
Published: February 2024

El presente artículo revisa el soporte conceptual de un taller docente que, con el título Arquitectura del agua, Territorio, Imagen y Pensamiento en el contexto del año Jacobeo 2021 con financiación pública y a través de la Universidade de A Coruña, se presentó en Galicia en una exposición y en un conjunto de publicaciones. Los aportes investigativos dieron expresión a una forma de entender un territorio a partir de una arquitectura marginal y abundante, y propuso una representación estructurada en análisis de datos y narrativas, de textos e imágenes fijas y en movimiento, que pusieron en evidencia aspectos culturales que superaron la descripción meramente instrumental al apelar a la memoria. El taller se fundamenta en un trabajo de investigación doctoral que entiende que, para tener un conocimiento de la complejidad territorial gallega, expresión de un modo de vida, se deben ineludiblemente entrecruzar lecturas descriptivas, histórica y significativas. Sostiene que las arquitecturas se constituyen como signos de un territorio que las ha construido y que, a su vez, modifican a la comunidad que las habita. Sus vínculos son sus razones de ser y son rastreables en el entorno físico, facilitando un mayor conocimiento del lugar y permitiendo reconstruir su identidad. El objetivo del taller fue, a través del registro sensible y del análisis de los datos existentes en cinco localizaciones radiales a Compostela, demostrar que se puede recuperar la memoria de un territorio e identificar a una arquitectura como su receptáculo. La investigación constató que la persistencia de una arquitectura modesta es una prueba de veracidad que subsiste en un contexto que tiende a borrarlas, modificarlas, ignorarlas o explotarlas. Al representar su orden visible y su dimensión oculta se cuestionó la profundidad de su sentido en el momento presente de cambio.
Comparison of Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes Between Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy and Microdiscectomy: A Follow-up Exceeding 5 Years
Authors: Yang Xinyu , Zhang Shijun , Su Junxiao , Guo Sai , Ibrahim Yakubu , Zhang Kai , Tian Yonghao , Wang Lianlei , Yuan Suomao , Liu Xinyu
Published: February 2024

Objective: To compare the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD) versus microdiscectomy (MD).Methods: The data of 154 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who underwent TELD (n = 89) or MD (n = 65) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients’ clinical outcomes were evaluated using visual analogue scales for leg and low back pain, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The evolution of radiographic manifestations was observed during follow-up. Potential risk factors for a poor clinical outcome were investigated.Results: During a mean follow-up of 5.5 years (range, 5–7 years), the recurrence rate was 4.49% in the TELD group and 1.54% in the MD group. All scores significantly improved from preoperatively to postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.01). The improvement in the ODI and JOA scores was significantly greater in the TELD than MD group (p < 0.05). Forty-seven patients (52.8%) in the TELD group and 32 (49.2%) in the MD group had Modic changes before surgery, most of which showed no changes at the last follow-up. The degeneration grades of 292 discs (71.0%) were unchanged at the last follow-up, while 86 (20.9%) showed improvement, mostly at the upper adjacent segment. No significant difference was observed in the intervertebral height index or paraspinal muscle-disc ratio.Conclusion: Both TELD and MD provide generally satisfactory long-term clinical outcomes for patients with LDH. TELD can be used as a reliable alternative to MD with less surgical trauma. Modic type II changes, decreased preoperative intervertebral height, and a high body mass index are predictors of a poor prognosis.
Whole Spine Segmentation Using Object Detection and Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Da Mutten Raffaele , Zanier Olivier , Theiler Sven , Ryu Seung-Jun , Regli Luca , Serra Carlo , Staartjes Victor E.
Published: February 2024

Objective: Virtual and augmented reality have enjoyed increased attention in spine surgery. Preoperative planning, pedicle screw placement, and surgical training are among the most studied use cases. Identifying osseous structures is a key aspect of navigating a 3-dimensional virtual reconstruction. To automate the otherwise time-consuming process of labeling vertebrae on each slice individually, we propose a fully automated pipeline that automates segmentation on computed tomography (CT) and which can form the basis for further virtual or augmented reality application and radiomic analysis.Methods: Based on a large public dataset of annotated vertebral CT scans, we first trained a YOLOv8m (You-Only-Look-Once algorithm, Version 8 and size medium) to detect each vertebra individually. On the then cropped images, a 2D-U-Net was developed and externally validated on 2 different public datasets.Results: Two hundred fourteen CT scans (cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine) were used for model training, and 40 scans were used for external validation. Vertebra recognition achieved a mAP50 (mean average precision with Jaccard threshold of 0.5) of over 0.84, and the segmentation algorithm attained a mean Dice score of 0.75 ± 0.14 at internal, 0.77 ± 0.12 and 0.82 ± 0.14 at external validation, respectively.Conclusion: We propose a 2-stage approach consisting of single vertebra labeling by an object detection algorithm followed by semantic segmentation. In our externally validated pilot study, we demonstrate robust performance for our object detection network in identifying individual vertebrae, as well as for our segmentation model in precisely delineating the bony structures.
representação da crise hídrica pelos curitibanos
Authors: Stramantino Jaqueline , Fischer Marta Luciane
Published: February 2024

The representation of the water crisis in Curitiba: subsidies for Environmental Education
O protagonismo do cidadão diante do uso e gestão da água é fundamental para o enfrentamento e superação de momentos de crise, possíveis de ocorrerem mesmo em cidades reconhecidas pelo seu investimento em sustentabilidade, como Curitiba. Assim, objetivou-se caracterizar a representação da crise hídrica pelos curitibanos a partir de 288 questionários e 9 entrevistas. Foi identificado um público-alvo que compreende os condicionantes multifatoriais da crise hídrica, mas que ainda atribui a superação dos momentos emergenciais às atitudes individuais dos usuários finais. Diante desse cenário, as intervenções de educação ambiental precisam transpor o papel informativo e de sensibilização, investindo em conscientização comunitária, política e ética.
Entrepreneurial psychosocial profile of university women in the State of Mexico, Mexico
Authors: Nava Elizabeth Evangelista , Vilchis Carlos Alberto Baltazar , Araiza Jesús Cabral , Chimal Eduardo Martínez
Published: February 2024

The present empirical research is a descriptive and correlational study from the psychosocial perspective, the objective is to analyze the relationship between the intention to undertake and variables such as family with businesses, work intention, initial motivations, personality traits, individualistic, collectivist and mixed values, support for self-employment in the educational center, difficulty to create a company and pereception of the entrepreneur, to integrate an entrepreneurial psychosocial profile of university women from Higher Education Schools in the State of Mexico, Mexico. The sample under study was obtained with the participation of 297 women. Among the main findings is the existence of weak positive relationships in most of the variables studied about entrepreneurship. The risk-taking personality trait is less commonly observed. The most important human values observed are individualistic self-direction, collectivist benevolence, and universalism as mixed value, in this sense, entrepreneurship in commercial businesses and social entrepreneurship are alternatives for the intention of entrepreneurship in university women. Regarding the support from the Educational Center, the correlation was little or non-existent, however, recovering the importance of promoting visits to companies to receive advice or seminars, university women also state that self-employment is stimulated, but the knowledge offered has a low average trend. Another finding is perceived difficulties, which are external such as funding, grants, bureaucracy and advice. Finally, the perception of the entrepreneur is positive.
Forecasting the Incidence and Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Canadian Nationwide Analysis
Authors: Coward Stephanie , Benchimol Eric I. , Bernstein Charles N. , Avina-Zubieta Antonio , Bitton Alain , Carroll Matthew W. , Cui Yungsong , Hoentjen Frank , Hracs Lindsay , Jacobson Kevan , Jones Jennifer L. , King James , Kuenzig M. Ellen , Lu Na , El-Matary Wael , Murthy Sanjay K. , Nugent Zoann , Otley Anthony R. , Panaccione Remo , Peña-Sánchez Juan Nicolás , Singh Harminder , Targownik Laura E. , White Dominic , Windsor Joseph W. , Kaplan Gilaad G. ,   on behalf of the Canadian Gastro-Intestinal Epidemiology Consortium (CanGIEC)
Published: February 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Canada has a high burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Historical trends of IBD incidence and prevalence were analyzed to forecast the Canadian burden over the next decade.

METHODS:

Population-based surveillance cohorts in 8 provinces derived from health administrative data assessed the national incidence (2007–2014) and prevalence (2002–2014) of IBD. Autoregressive integrated moving average models were used to forecast incidence and prevalence, stratified by age, with 95% prediction intervals (PI), to 2035. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated for the forecasted incidence and prevalence.

RESULTS:

The national incidence of IBD is estimated to be 29.9 per 100,000 (95% PI 28.3–31.5) in 2023. With a stable AAPC of 0.36% (95% CI −0.05 to 0.72), the incidence of IBD is forecasted to be 31.2 per 100,000 (95% PI 28.1–34.3) in 2035. The incidence in pediatric patients (younger than 18 years) is increasing (AAPC 1.27%; 95% CI 0.82–1.67), but it is stable in adults (AAPC 0.26%; 95% CI −0.42 to 0.82). The prevalence of IBD in Canada was 843 per 100,000 (95% PI 716–735) in 2023 and is expected to steadily climb (AAPC 2.43%; 95% CI 2.32–2.54) to 1,098 per 100,000 (95% PI 1,068–1,127) by 2035. The highest prevalence is in seniors with IBD (1,174 per 100,000 in 2023; AAPC 2.78%; 95% CI 2.75–2.81).

DISCUSSION:

Over the next decade, the Canadian health care systems will contend with the juxtaposition of rising incidence of pediatric IBD and a rising prevalence of overall IBD driven by the aging population.
Diagnostic Ability of Simple Noninvasive Blood Tests to Predict Increased Liver Stiffness in People Living With HIV and Steatotic Liver Disease
Authors: Sterling Richard K. , Vilar-Gomez Eduardo , Wilson Laura A. , Loomba Rohit , Gawrieh Samer , Price Jennifer , Naggie Susanna , Lake Jordan E. , Heath Sonya , Tonascia James , Sulkowski Mark , Chalasani Naga ,   for the HIV-NASH CRN
Published: February 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Steatotic liver disease is common in people with HIV (PWH). Identifying those with advanced fibrosis (AF, bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis), F3-4, is important. We aimed to examine the performance of FIB-4 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score (NFS) in PWH to identify those with AF assessed by liver stiffness measurement (LSM).

METHODS:

We prospectively collected data on adults participating in 2 National Institute of Health–sponsored HIV NAFLD networks. All had HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) ≥6 months with HIV RNA <200 copies/mL. Those with viral hepatitis, other liver disease, excessive alcohol use, or hepatic decompensation were excluded. Vibration-controlled transient elastrography for LSM was performed, and AF defined as ≥11 kPa was compared with FIB-4 and NFS at predefined thresholds (<1.3 and >2.67 for FIB-4 and <−1.455 and >0.675 for NFS).

RESULTS:

A total of 1,065 participants were analyzed: mean age 51.6 years, 74% male, 28% White, 46% Black, 22% Hispanic, with 34% overweight (body mass index 25–29 kg/m2) and 43% obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2). Features of the metabolic syndrome were common: hyperlipidemia 35%, type 2 diabetes 17%, and hypertension 48%. The median CD4+ T-cell count was 666 cells/mm3, 74% had undetectable HIV RNA, and duration of HIV-1 was 17 years with most taking a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (92%) and an integrase inhibitor (83%). The mean LSM was 6.3 kPa, and 6.3% had AF. The area under the receiver characteristic curve for FIB-4 and NFS to identify AF were 0.70 and 0.75, respectively. While both had high negative predictive values (97%–98%), the sensitivity at low thresholds and specificity at high thresholds were 64% and 97% for FIB-4 and 80% and 96% for NFS, respectively. Neither FIB-4 nor NFS at either threshold had good positive predictive value to detect AF.

DISCUSSION:

FIB-4 and NFS have excellent specificity and negative predictive value for detecting AF, and thus can be used as screening tools in PWH to exclude those with AF who do not need further testing (LSM) or referral to hepatologist.
Long-Term Risk of Myocarditis in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Sweden
Authors: Sun Jiangwei , Yao Jialu , Olén Ola , Halfvarson Jonas , Bergman David , Ebrahimi Fahim , Roelstraete Bjorn , Rosengren Annika , Sundström Johan , Ludvigsson Jonas F.
Published: February 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Despite a suggested link between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and myocarditis, the association has not been well established. This study aimed to investigate the long-term risk of myocarditis in patients with IBD.

METHODS:

This nationwide cohort involved all patients with biopsy-confirmed IBD in Sweden (1969–2017) (n = 83,264, Crohn's disease [CD, n = 24,738], ulcerative colitis [UC, n = 46,409], and IBD-unclassified [IBD-U, n = 12,117]), general population reference individuals (n = 391,344), and IBD-free full siblings (n = 96,149) and followed until 2019. Primary outcome was incident myocarditis, and secondary outcome was severe myocarditis (complicated with heart failure, death, or readmission). Flexible parametric survival models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and cumulative incidence of outcomes, along with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS:

During a median follow-up of 12 years, there were 256 myocarditis cases in patients with IBD (incidence rate [IR] = 22.6/100,000 person-years) and 710 in reference individuals (IR = 12.9), with an aHR of 1.55 (95% confidence interval 1.33–1.81). The increased risk persisted through 20 years after IBD diagnosis, corresponding to 1 extra myocarditis case in 735 patients with IBD until then. This increased risk was observed in CD (aHR = 1.48 [1.11–1.97]) and UC (aHR = 1.58 [1.30–1.93]). IBD was also associated with severe myocarditis (IR: 10.1 vs 3.5; aHR = 2.44 [1.89–3.15]), irrespective of IBD subtypes (CD: aHR = 2.39 [1.43–4.01], UC: aHR = 2.82 [1.99–4.00], and IBD-U: aHR = 3.14 [1.55–6.33]). Sibling comparison analyses yielded similar results.

DISCUSSION:

Patients with IBD had an increased risk of myocarditis, especially severe myocarditis, for ≥20 years after diagnosis, but absolute risks were low.
Subclinical cognitive impairment in chronic pancreatitis is associated with reduced mobility and quality of life
Authors: Damm Marko , George Katharina , Rosendahl Jonas , Greinert Robin
Published: February 2024

Objectives:

This study explores how chronic pancreatitis (CP) relates to subclinical cognitive impairment (SCI), its prevalence, characteristics, risk factors, impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL) and physical performance.

Methods:

Patients with fulfilled CP criteria in imaging were prospectively enrolled. Overt encephalopathy, neurodegenerative disorders, decompensated cirrhosis or sepsis were exclusion criteria. All patients underwent psychometric testing, assessment of health-related QoL, such as mobility and strength. SCI was diagnosed when at least one test of the psychometric test battery was pathological.

Results:

Seventy-one patients were enrolled. The etiology was toxic (alcohol/ smoking) in most (49%) of the cases. SCI was prevalent in 41% of the patients, while 25% had only one and 16% had two or more pathological tests. Patients with SCI exhibited diminished overall QoL scores (p=0.048), primarily affecting physical functionality (p<0.001). This was reaffirmed in mobility tests, where patients with SCI were slower in the timed up-and-go test (p=0.008) and showed increased prevalence of abnormal chair rising tests (p=0.004). Among all variables analyzed, only alcohol abuse was an independent risk factor of SCI (OR 3.46; p=0.02) in a multivariable regression model together with the variables age, gender, education and compensated cirrhosis. Despite SCI affecting global QoL, sleep disturbance appeared to be the strongest variable independently associated with impaired QoL (OR 9.9; p=0.001).

Conclusion:

The largest study to the subject to date shows that SCI is common in CP patients and linked to significant morbidity. These findings suggest the need for addressing modifiable risk factors in CP patients to improve outcomes.
Design of a porous metal structure for use in intraosseous parts of dental and orthopedic implants
Authors:   , Řehounek Luboš
Published: February 2024

This thesis outlines the basic biological and mechanical requirements for intraosseous parts of implants equipped with porous parts and emphasizes dental restorations, where small dimensions of implants seem to provide geometrically challenging but nonetheless beneficial integration of porous layers. Porous structures offer a unique way of matching the global modulus of the implant with bone by reducing the stiffness of the implant. This reduction of stiffness is advantageous as it reduces the stress shielding effect. The design, 3D modeling of the porous structure, investigation of its properties and development of a gyroid-equipped dental implant and its numerical quantitative computed tomographybased finite element analysis (QCT/FEA) model were given the most attention. The gyroid is a porous structure that has recently been rapidly emerging in scientific literature and has taken a significant foothold in restorative medicine, reportedly reducing the stress shielding effect and improving clinical performance. The optimal pore size and wall width were determined from the literature research and previous experiments. The most suitable materials and means of production of porous structures are discussed, as are complications that arise when 3D printing fine trabeculae and walls. Multiple variants of the gyroid and trabecular structures were 3D-printed for mechanical tests, and their evaluation was confronted with a QCT/FEA model of the human mandible of an anonymous patient with a custom-designed gyroid-equipped dental implant. The simulations show that implant bodies with lower moduli provide favorable stress distributions in bone and lower peaks of stress. The work also concludes that the optimal global modulus of the structure should be ca. three to ten GPa.
An analysis of discourse and policy trends in basic academic achievement via Structural Topic Modeling
Authors:   Center For Educational Research, Choi Ji-Eun , Yoo Jin Eun
Published: February 2024

Purpose: This study aims to investigate discourse and policy trends in basic academic achievement
by analyzing texts associated with the subject. Exploring main topics and their changes in response
to the dynamics of basic academic achievement guarantee policies will provide insights that can
contribute to the development and improvement of relating policies.
Methods: Structural Topic Modeling (STM) was employed to extract topics in analyzing academic
journal articles, Ministry of Education press releases, and media articles. The topic prevalence was
estimated and statistically tested in relation to the phases of the basic academic achievement guarantee
policy, namely growth period, transition period, and confusion period. These policy phases served
as metadata for the analysis.
Results: Seven topics were extracted from academic journal articles, including academic achievement
assessment, the characteristics of underachievers, and basic academic achievement policies. Another
seven topics emerged in the Ministry of Education press releases, including basic academic achievement
improvement programs, customized support for educational welfare, and online class and learning loss
support. In media articles, nine topics were identified, including basic academic achievement
improvement programs, support for linking specialized institutions, and controversies over how to
conduct diagnostic evaluation. The prevalence of these topics changed over the policy phases.
Conclusion: The study suggests that research on learner characteristics and vulnerable groups should
be continued and expanded. It also emphasizes the importance of establishing long-term policies,
fostering social consensus to strengthen the diagnosis of basic academic achievement, and providing
support to enhance teachers’ expertise on basic academic achievement.
Vielfalt achten
Authors: Hetzel Andreas
Published: February 2024

Das Leben hat sich auf unserem Planeten zu einer unermesslichen Fülle von Formen ausdifferenziert, die in komplexen Weisen interagieren. Durch die Zerstörung unserer natürlichen Umwelt bedrohen wir das Wunder der globalen Biodiversität in seinem Fortbestand. Dabei verdrängen wir, dass auch die Menschheit weiter von der Produktivität jener Ökosysteme abhängig bleibt, zu denen sich das Leben evolutionär organisiert hat. Doch wie lässt sich überzeugend für den Erhalt von Biodiversität argumentieren? Sind Arten und Ökosysteme nur als Voraussetzungen gelingenden menschlichen Lebens schützenswert? Oder haben sie darüber hinaus einen von uns unabhängigen Eigenwert? Andreas Hetzel gibt philosophisch fundierte Antworten auf diese Fragen und diskutiert konkrete Möglichkeiten des Biodiversitätsschutzes.
Behinderungen in Versionen exklusiver und inklusiver Solidarität
Authors: Puhr Kirsten
Published: February 2024

Dieser Beitrag erzählt - bezogen auf sozialstaatliche Leistungen zur Rehabilitation und Teilhabe von Menschen, die als behindert adressiert werden, und bezogen auf das Konzept Persönliche Zukunftsplanung - von Behinderungen in Versionen exklusiver und inklusiver Solidarität. Die Idee, Vorstellungen exklusiver und inklusiver Solidarität mit dem Fokus auf Behinderungen zu übersetzen, wurde vor allem duch Lektüren von Texten angeregt, die Solidarität im Kontext von Flucht konzeptionieren. Einführend werden Lektüren der Solidaritätskonzepte skizziert, mit denen sich die anschließenden Erzählungen von Behinderungen in Versionen exklusiver und inklusiver Solidarität situieren lassen.
The Hidden Costs of AI
Authors: Hajri Oumaima
Published: February 2024

In this article, Oumaima Hajri dedicates her focus to the ethical and societal dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI). She explores two primary themes: the concealed costs of AI and the significance of grounding AI development in critical theory. The reflection underscores the need to consider AI's broader impact, particularly who benefits and who faces marginalization. Furthermore, the reflection emphasizes the importance of comprehending the underlying theories before pursuing technological innovations to avoid reducing complex societal issues to simplistic technological solutions. AI is depicted as a multifaceted field, incorporating insights from various disciplines, necessitating careful consideration of its use as an instrument, infrastructure, and ideology. Each of these facets brings opportunities and challenges, particularly in addressing biases and ethical concerns associated with AI's role as an instrument for knowledge amplification, its environmental footprint as an infrastructure, and its underlying ideologies shaping its development and impact. The reflection underscores the importance of critical examination, ethical considerations, and a shift in cultural representations to ensure that AI benefits all of humanity equitably while addressing its environmental and societal consequences.
Discovering Culture with AI
Authors: Elliott Luba
Published: February 2024

The past few years have seen a rapid development in AI capabilities and applications, including in the fields of art and culture. Machine learning tools now find a varie- ty of uses in cultural institutions, such as improving accessibility, aiding research, and providing new forms of audience engagement by means of roaming robots, dee- pfake installations, chatbots, and interactive image processing applications. Muse- ums simultaneously serve as venues for AI art exhibitions and discussions of tech- nology ethics. This paper provides an overview of creative AI practices of cultural institutions, showcases artistic exploration with AI, and considers tools for public
Effiziente Zusammenarbeit in den Digital Humanities
Authors: Kremer Dominik , Pfeiffer Sabine , Walker Blake Byron
Published: February 2024

Scrum hat sich in der Softwareindustrie seit längerem als Methode der Projektzusammenarbeit bewährt. Durch die Ausrichtung auf schnelle Ergebnisse in einem in der Umsetzung weitgehend autonom arbeitenden Projektteam liegt der Transfer auf den Forschungskontext nahe. Dies gilt insbesondere für die Digital Humanities, in denen in Projekten unterschiedliche Fachtraditionen und Erwartungen an den Arbeitsprozess aufeinanderstoßen. Nach einer kurzen Vorstellung von Scrum in seinen wesentlichen Elementen und Prozessen prüfen wir die Eignung für die Arbeit in den Digital Humanities und machen einen Prozessvorschlag für eine leicht angepasste, reduzierte Variante von Scrum für den Einsatz in der Forschung. Wir berichten aus entsprechenden Projekterfahrungen.
Kritik des reaktionären Denkens
Authors: Ziegler Robert Hugo
Published: February 2024

Reaktionäres Denken ist wieder in Mode. Aber was ist das eigentlich? Wodurch unterscheidet es sich von anderen Formen des Denkens? Und welche philosophischen Instrumente können gegen dessen erneutes Erstarken wirken? Robert Hugo Ziegler analysiert beispielhaft Autoren wie Jünger, Heidegger, Schmitt und Rand und schlägt einen systematischen Begriff des reaktionären Denkens vor. Damit entmystifiziert er eine Diskursform, die letztlich nur in der eigenen Mystifizierung besteht, und bezieht auch politisch Stellung gegen das Wiederaufleben der Reaktion.
Complicating the ›Culture Wars‹
Authors: Gurr Jens Martin
Published: February 2024

Jens Martin Gurr discusses Roth's 2000 novel »The Human Stain« as a remarkably differentiated exploration of questions commonly debated under the labels of 'identity politics', 'political correctness' and 'cancel culture', 'safe spaces and education', as well as 'the canon wars'. In addition to staging the debate on these issues themselves, the novel also insightfully negotiates the polarization of American society and politics in the 'culture wars' over these and related issues.
Krise der Schrift?
Authors: Mein Georg
Published: February 2024

Der Beitrag verfolgt die Verschiebung des kulturellen Referenzrahmens von der Gutenberg-Galaxis hin zur medialen Realität sozialer Netzwerke. Die These lautet, dass Schriftkultur und Deep Reading sukzessive von primär bildbasierten Erzählformen abgelöst werden, was sich anhand der Unterscheidung Imagination/Imaginäres beobachten lässt.
Was war noch einmal der Westen?
Authors: Pabst Philipp , Sina Kai
Published: February 2024

Philipp Pabst und Kai Sina gehen in ihrem einleitenden Beitrag dem Begriffspaar ,Ost' und ,West' in seinen begriffsgeschichtlichen und politischen Grundzügen nach. Angeregt durch Überlegungen Salman Rushdies weisen sie auf die Konstruktivität und Funktionalität der Begriffe hin und verorten sie im Kontext einiger jüngerer wissenschaftlicher und publizistischer Debatten.
Menschenrechtsbildung in der Sozialen Arbeit
Authors: Rossmann Katrin
Published: February 2024

Sozialökologische Transformationen sind unumgänglich für die Sicherstellung existentieller Lebensgrundlagen und die Gestaltung einer zukunftsfähigen nachhaltigen Gesellschaft. Durch multiple Herausforderungen und Krisen ist die Soziale Arbeit immens gefordert, dieser grundlegenden Zielsetzung und ihrem normativen Anspruch gerecht zu werden. Der Bedarf an hoch qualifizierten Fachkräften mit professionsethischer Urteils- und Handlungskompetenz wächst drastisch. Katrin Rossmann argumentiert für eine fundierte Auseinandersetzung mit den Menschenrechten und analysiert den transformativen Ansatz der Menschenrechtsbildung angesichts von Global Citizenship Education in der Ausbildung von Sozialarbeiter*innen in Österreich. Sie zeigt, wie dringend notwendige Kompetenzen zur Bewältigung der zunehmend komplexen Berufspraxis entwickelt werden.
Bau und Bildung: Akademie, Collegium, Universität
Authors: Meißner Burkhard
Published: February 2024

Seit dem vierten Jahrhundert v.Chr. gibt es akademische Forschungs- und Bildungseinrichtungen in Europa, die sich in dialektischer Spannung zu den sie umgebenden und sie materiell und kulturell tragenden Städten entwickelten: Immer offen zu diesen, zugleich aber stets in Distanz zur Betriebsamkeit, zu den Konflikten und zu den Unsicherheiten des Lebens in der Stadt. Selbst unter größten Gefährdungen (Rechtsunsicherheit, Konflikte) waren es in der Regel die akademischen Einrichtungen selbst, die über Zugang und Zutritt zu ihrem Gelände bestimmten. Auch die Totalitarismen und Gewaltexzesse des 20. Jahrhunderts haben an der grundsätzlichen Offenheit und Autonomie der Universitäten in dieser Hinsicht nichts geändert. Im 21. Jahrhundert aber kommt diese Offenheit nun zu einem Ende: Hochschulen im Russland Putins werden militärischen Sicherheitsregeln unterworfen und gegenüber ihrer Umgebung abgeschlossen; in Deutschland wird die nach dem ehemaligen Bundeskanzler Helmut Schmidt benannte Universität der Bundeswehr in Hamburg zu einem "militärischen Sicherheitsbereich", d.h.: Das Betreten ihres Geländes wird künftig grundsätzlich verboten sein (§ 2 Abs. 2 UZwGBw), ohne Rücksicht auf den Willen der Hochschule selbst.
Flexible Normalität
Authors: Degen Katrin
Published: February 2024

Wer definiert, was »normal« ist? Die (extreme) Rechte und ihr Verhältnis zur Normalität sind komplex: Auf den ersten Blick erscheint Normalität als inhärente Eigenschaft, die für ein »gutes Leben« oder eine »gesunde Nation« unverzichtbar ist. Was aber, wenn das »Abnormale« Teil des rechten Kollektivs ist? Katrin Degen rekonstruiert einen solchen diskursiven Aushandlungsprozess anhand nicht-heteronormativer Akteur*innen im rechten Kontext und zeigt, dass diese ihre politische Aktivität nicht als Widerspruch beschreiben. Stattdessen passt sich die (extreme) Rechte auf ihre eigene Weise aktuellen Begebenheiten an - was bei der Entwicklung von Interventionen berücksichtigt werden sollte.
Advanced fibrosis leads to overestimation of steatosis with quantitative ultrasound in individuals without hepatic steatosis
Authors: Kumada Takashi , Toyoda Hidenori , Ogawa Sadanobu , Gotoh Tatsuya , Suzuki Yasuaki , Imajo Kento , Sugimoto Katsutoshi , Kakegawa Tatsuya , Kuroda Hidekatsu , Yasui Yutaka , Tamaki Nobuharu , Kurosaki Masayuki , Izumi Namiki , Akita Tomoyuki , Tanaka Junko , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: February 2024

Purpose: The effect of hepatic fibrosis stage on quantitative ultrasound based on the attenuation coefficient (AC) for liver lipid quantification is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine how the degree of fibrosis assessed by magnetic resonance (MR) elastography affects AC based on the ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter according to the grade of hepatic steatosis, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–derived proton density fat fraction (MRIderived PDFF) as the reference standard.Methods: Between February 2020 and April 2021, 982 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent AC and MRI-derived PDFF measurement as well as MR elastography were enrolled. Multiple regression was used to investigate whether AC was affected by the degree of liver stiffness.Results: AC increased as liver stiffness progressed in 344 patients without hepatic steatosis (P=0.009). In multivariable analysis, AC was positively correlated with skin-capsule distance (P<0.001), MR elastography value (P=0.037), and MRI-derived PDFF (P<0.001) in patients without hepatic steatosis. In 52 of 982 patients (5%), the correlation between AC and MRIderived PDFF fell outside the 95% confidence interval for the regression line slope. Patients with MRI-derived PDFF lower than their AC (n=36) had higher fibrosis-4 scores, albumin-bilirubin scores, and MR elastography values than patients with MRI-derived PDFF greater than their AC (n=16; P=0.018, P=0.001, and P=0.011, respectively).Conclusion: AC is affected by liver fibrosis (MR elastography value ≥6.7 kPa) only in patients without hepatic steatosis (MRI-derived PDFF <5.2%). These values should be interpreted with caution in patients with advanced liver fibrosis.
Comparison of pure caucasian, carniolan and native anatolian ecotype honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in the eastern anatolia region with reciprocal F1 hybrids
Authors: Erkan Cengiz , Günbey Veysel Serkan , Günbey Belgin , Cengiz Fırat
Published: February 2024

The aim of this study was to compare specific physiological and behavioral characteristics of A. m. caucasica, A. m. carnica, and native honeybees, as well as reciprocal crosses, within the ecological conditions of East Anatolia (Van province), Turkey. The findings revealed that native honeybees exhibited the highest average sealed brood area and the highest average number of frames with bees. In contrast, the highest average honey yield was observed in the crossbreeding of Carniolan bees with native bees. Significant differences were identified among the groups concerning brood area, the number of bee frames, aggression tendency, and honey yield. The study concluded that Carniolan and Caucasian bees exhibited suboptimal performance outside their native habitats. Nevertheless, Carniolan bees were identified as a viable option for mitigating aggression tendencies and enhancing honey yield in native bee populations.
Pluralismo jurídico e suas contribuições para o reconhecimento e o tratamento dos povos originários: um olhar para o caso brasileiro
Authors: Araujo Luís Guilherme Nascimento de , Bitencourt Caroline Müller , Gorczevski Clovis
Published: February 2024

A pluralidade de normas e normatividades é uma condição inerente ao próprio direito como forma de regulação social. Nesse aspecto, o pluralismo, antes do que uma concepção teórica, é um traço material e concreto do fenômeno jurídico. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o pluralismo jurídico no Brasil, com foco na realidade dos povos originários, pela perspectiva da teoria crítica do direito que, por sua vez, concebe e projeta um pluralismo de caráter emancipatório. A partir disso, questiona-se: em que medida o pluralismo jurídico, desde uma perspectiva crítica do direito e do Estado, contribui para o reconhecimento de direitos dos povos originários no Brasil? Sustenta-se que o pluralismo jurídico emancipatório pode contribuir positivamente para a proteção dos povos originários no país, o que será demostrado através da análise de dois casos concretos que dialogarão com os conceitos expostos. Utilizou-se da técnica de investigação bibliográfica teórico-conceitual.