bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Innovative Framework for Integrative Rehabilitation in Dementia
Authors: Bragin Valentin , Bragin Ilya
Published: January 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with multiple pathophysiological mechanisms affecting every organ and system in the body. Cerebral hypoperfusion, hypoxia, mitochondrial failure, abnormal protein deposition, multiple neurotransmitters and synaptic failures, white matter lesions, and inflammation, along with sensory-motor system dysfunctions, hypodynamia, sarcopenia, muscle spasticity, muscle hypoxia, digestive problems, weight loss, and immune system alterations. Rehabilitation of AD patients is an emerging concept aimed at achieving optimum levels of physical and psychological functioning in the presence of aging, neurodegenerative processes, and progression of chronic medical illnesses. We hypothesize that the simultaneous implementation of multiple rehabilitation modalities can delay the progression of mild into moderate dementia. This chapter highlights recent research related to a novel treatment model aimed at modifying the natural course of AD and delaying cognitive decline for medically ill community-dwelling patients with dementia. For practical implementation of rehabilitation in AD, the standardized treatment protocols are warranted.
Conservation Genetics for Managing Biodiversity
Authors: Izza Ab Ghani Nurul , Arifin Wardah , Ismail Ahmad
Published: January 2022

Conservation genetics is a field derived from a combination of evolution, ecology, behaviour, and genetics. It is an applied discipline of crisis-oriented science of biodiversity resource management that is highlighted when the world realizes the increasing anthropogenic impact and natural populations are declining towards species extinction. It helps to understand and explain the importance of evolutionary factors — mutations, non-random mating, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection — for the survival of populations/species that justify the need for prudent biodiversity management. The four justifications for maintaining prudent biodiversity are the economic value of bioresources, ecosystem services, esthetics, and rights of living organisms to exist ensure functioning community and ecosystem services. Hence, conservation genetics must be an essential part of policies and programs in wildlife and biodiversity management.
Some New Progress in the Experimental Measurements on Electrical Property of Main Minerals in the Upper Mantle at High Temperatures and High Pressures
Authors: Dai Lidong , Hu Haiying , He Yu , Sun Wenqing
Published: January 2022

In this chapter, we present the recent progress in the experimental studies of the electrical conductivity of dominant nominally anhydrous minerals in the upper mantle of the deep Earth interior, namely, olivine, pyroxene, and garnet. The influences from pressure, oxygen partial pressure, and anisotropic orientation on hydrous and anhydrous electrical conductivities of minerals and rocks have been already explored detailedly. There are two main electric conduction mechanisms in Fe-bearing mantle minerals, for example, small proton and proton hopping conditions, which are well distinguished by the magnitude of activation enthalpy at high temperature and high pressure. Likewise, the conduction mechanisms are efficiently characterized by these obtained positive and negative effects from the oxygen fugacity on electrical conductivities of corresponding dry and wet Fe-bearing silicate minerals at the regions of the upper mantle under conditions of different oxygen partial pressures. On the base of high-pressure laboratory-based conductivity measurements for these nominally anhydrous minerals (e.g., olivine, pyroxene, and garnet), the water content will be estimated within the depth range of the upper mantle. In comprehensive considerations of filed geophysical magnetotelluric results, the electrical conductivity measurements of dominant upper-mantle minerals can thoroughly disclose the distribution, storage state, and migration conduction in the deep Earth interior.
Energy Storage Properties of Topochemically Synthesized Blue TiO2 Nanostructures in Aqueous and Organic Electrolyte
Authors: Pazhamalai Parthiban , Krishnamoorthy Karthikeyan , Kim Sang-Jae
Published: January 2022

This book chapter discusses the topochemical synthesis of blue titanium oxide (b-TiO2) and their application as electrode material for supercapacitor devices in aqueous and organic electrolytes. The formation mechanism of b-TiO2 via topochemical synthesis and their characterization using X-ray diffraction, UV–visible, photoluminescence, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, laser Raman spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and morphological studies (FESEM and HR-TEM) are discussed in detail. The supercapacitive properties of b-TiO2 electrode were studied using both aqueous (Na2SO4) and organic (TEABF4) electrolytes. The b-TiO2 based symmetric-type supercapacitor (SC) device using TEABF4 works over a wide voltage window (3 V) and delivered a high specific capacitance (3.58 mF cm−2), possess high energy density (3.22 μWh cm−2) and power density (8.06 mW cm−2) with excellent cyclic stability over 10,000 cycles. Collectively, this chapter highlighted the use of b-TiO2 sheets as an advanced electrode for 3.0 V supercapacitors.
The nautiloids from the Early Carboniferous Dalle à Merocanites of Timimoun, western Algeria
Authors: Korn Dieter , Miao Luyi , Bockwinkel Jürgen
Published: January 2022

Early Carboniferous coiled nautiloids from North Africa are virtually unknown. An assemblage of nine species, all from the family Trigonoceratidae, from the Dalle à Merocanites (Tournaisian-Viséan boundary interval) of Timimoun in western Algeria is described, being the most diverse Carboniferous nautiloid assemblage known from North Africa but much less diverse than the time-equivalent assemblages from Belgium and Ireland. The assemblage consists of the species Maccoyoceras pentagonum sp. nov., Lispoceras orbis sp. nov., Thrincoceras devolvere sp. nov., Rineceras multituberculatum sp. nov., Rineceras rectangulatum sp. nov., Vestinautilus padus sp. nov., Vestinautilus concinnus sp. nov., Planetoceras destrictum sp. nov. and Planetoceras transforme sp. nov. A morphometric analysis of Maccoyoceras pentagonum sp. nov. and Lispoceras orbis sp. nov. shows that the intraspecific variation in these species is within rather narrow limits.
An International Survey of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Laboratory Reporting Practices: Implications for Tafenoquine Eligibility Assessment
Authors: Genzen Jonathan R. , Nwosu Ann , Long Thomas , Murphy Hilda , Alter David N.
Published: January 2022

Context.—

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity is used in the evaluation of hemolysis risk in patients being assessed for G6PD deficiency. A long-acting 8-aminoquinoline drug (tafenoquine) used in malaria treatment is contraindicated in patients with G6PD deficiency (<70% normal G6PD activity). The current state of G6PD reporting practices to support clinical eligibility assessment is poorly understood.

Objective.—

To assess clinical laboratory reporting practices for G6PD testing.

Design.—

In October 2019 and October 2020, voluntary questionnaires were distributed to 327 and 324 laboratories participating in the College of American Pathologists G6PD proficiency testing (PT).

Results.—

Two hundred fifty-seven and 119 laboratories responded to the 2019 and 2020 questionnaires, respectively. Few laboratories have received clinical questions about average normal G6PD activity (US/Canada, 2.0% [3 of 149]; international, 8.4% [9 of 107]), whereas slightly more have determined the average normal G6PD activity for their own assay and patient populations (US/Canada, 6.7% [10 of 149]; international, 19.4% [21 of 108]). Few laboratories report G6PD activity in percent of normal format (US/Canada, 2.7% [4 of 149]; international, 8.3% [9 of 108]). The most common unit of measurement in use for quantitative G6PD reporting is unit per gram of hemoglobin. Reference intervals vary based on assay, reaction temperature, and participant laboratory and demonstrate moderate correlation (r = .46–.51) to G6PD activity measured from a “normal” PT challenge specimen. Nearly half of participants (47.8% [85 of 178]) categorized a quantitatively “intermediate” G6PD PT challenge as “normal” when using qualitative assays.

Conclusions.—

Percent of normal G6PD activity reporting would facilitate patient eligibility assessment for drugs, such as tafenoquine. Quantitative assays are better able to differentiate “intermediate” specimens than qualitative assays.
Pathology Trainees Gain Clinical Pathology Experience as Lab Consultants Through Auditing Myeloid Mutation Panel Send-Out Tests: Hitting Two Birds With One Stone?
Authors: Hardy Naomi L , Jacobs Jonathan , Mullins Kristin , Christenson Robert , Cox Thoko , Murphy Colin , Koka Rima
Published: January 2022

Context.—

Inappropriate laboratory testing and the threat it poses to patient care and rising health care costs has become an important focus in the medical literature. Pathology residents, as physicians with an intimate knowledge of laboratory testing, may be uniquely equipped with the tools to intervene in situations of inappropriate testing and also benefit from lab use experience as part of their clinical pathology training.

Objective.—

To employ a resident-driven initiative aimed at incorporating pathology residents as consultants for appropriate ordering of high-volume, send-out myeloid mutation panel testing.

Design.—

During a 6-month study period, all myeloid mutation panel send-out tests were screened by senior pathology residents on their clinical chemistry rotation prior to approval at an academic medical center. A retrospective review of myeloid mutation panels from the prior 6 months was conducted with the same criteria to determine effectiveness of the intervention.

Results.—

Of the 234 tests ordered during the study period, screening resulted in cancellation of 17% (n = 39), with proportional cost savings. The number of inappropriate orders successfully cancelled was significant compared with the preintervention period (control, 0%; intervention, 76.5%; P < .001, Fisher exact test). There was no significant difference in the proportion of inappropriate tests before and after intervention.

Conclusions.—

Although test ordering patterns did not substantially change during the intervention period, pathology residents effectively reduced inappropriate myeloid mutation panel testing through prospective send-out auditing, leading to significant cost savings. Moreover, assessment of test use and appropriateness provided critical clinical pathology training within the areas of hematology, molecular genetics, and laboratory management.
O ensino de literatura brasileira nas escolas: uma ferramenta para a mudança social
Authors: Zambrano Gustavo
Published: January 2022

Esse trabalho tem como objetivo realizar um detalhamento aprofundado das tensões externas que comprometem a educação no Brasil. Essas tensões dizem respeito ao golpe militar que inibiu melhorias no setor educacional, ao estudo exclusivo nas escolas de obras consideradas canônicas e ao estudo conteudista de literatura exigido pelos exames vestibulares. Esse é um debate importante, pois o ensino atual de literatura nas escolas impede a formação de estudantes capazes de analisar e interpretar um texto literário e de compreender o contexto histórico e sociológico de um país. Iremos, portanto, detalhar esses problemas e apresentaremos como o ensino de literatura brasileira pode ser importante para a percepção por parte dos alunos dos problemas sociais e consequentemente criar estudantes críticos. Palavras-Chave: mudança social, cânone, vestibular, ensino de literatura brasileira
Literatura e Autoritarismo - A conservação da violência
Authors: Ourique João Luis Pereira , Umbach Rosani Ketzer
Published: January 2022

O título da publicação procura destacar o propósito dos textos que convergem a esta edição e deixar latente os mecanismos que operam para que um estado de violência esteja sempre presente e atuante nas nossas práticas sociais.
O corpo e a sexualidade em A doce canção de Caetana e Eva Luna: representações da dominação e/ou da libertação
Authors: Back Roseméri Aparecida
Published: January 2022

Neste trabalho, procura-se evidenciar as representações do corpo e da sexualidade feminina nas obras A Doce Canção de Caetana (1987), de Nélida Píñon, e Eva Luna (1997), de Isabel Allende. O corpo é considerado uma marca de identificação de homens e mulheres e também como exercício de poder. O foco principal é examinar aspectos do corpo subalterno, do corpo liberado, do corpo envelhecido e alguns pontos acerca da sexualidade. Primeiramente, realizou-se uma investigação sobre questões históricas e sociais que interferiram na condição feminina. Em seguida, discutiu-se algumas representações do corpo e da sexualidade, para então, analisar esses enfoques nas obras. Como referências foram usados os conceitos de Elódia Xavier, Michelle Perrot e Pierre Bourdieu.
Invisibilidade e silêncio em Vidas provisórias, de Edney Silvestre
Authors: Taddei Brandini Laura
Published: January 2022

Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar o romance Vidas provisórias (2013), de Edney Silvestre, tendo por foco a invisibilidade dos dois protagonistas, os brasileiros Paulo e Barbara, estrangeiros na Suécia e nos Estados Unidos, respectivamente. Tanto Paulo, exilado político nos anos de 1970, quanto Barbara, jovem imigrante em busca de melhores condições de vida na década de 1990, são invisibilizados pela perda de suas identidades e pelo silenciamento a que são submetidos em razão das dificuldades que apresentam para se comunicar nos idiomas estrangeiros. Busca-se, à luz de reflexões principalmente de Santiago (2004) e de Kristeva (1994), descrever e interpretar os modos de invisibilidade e silenciamento dos estrangeiros no referido romance.
A autora improvável: escrita, fome e política na perspectiva de Carolina de Jesus
Authors: Lopes Bruna Alves , Dubiel Elaine Cristina Quadros
Published: January 2022

O presente trabalho tem como proposta analisar a obra Quarto de despejo, de autoria de Carolina de Jesus, enfatizando a crítica na articulação existente entre escrita, fome e política tal qual estabelecida pela escritora. Neste artigo, entendemos o livro em questão como um artefato que nos permite lançar novos olhares ao período histórico denominado como “Anos dourados”, pluralizando as vozes do passado e, consequentemente, ampliando nossa percepção acerca desse período da história do Brasil. Concluímos que a escrita possibilitou a construção de uma outra imagem de si, além de ter se tornado um instrumento de prazer e resistência num cotidiano marcado pela extrema pobreza, além de oferecer recursos para que a mesma pudesse elaborar uma explicação para o que vivenciava.
Pilatos, de Carlos Heitor Cony: uma escrita de resistência
Authors: Pasqual Camila Marcelina
Published: January 2022

Este artigo se propõe examinar estratégias de escrita de resistência, adotadas na ficção de Carlos Heitor Cony. Autor engajado na luta revolucionária, confrontou o regime civil-militar em suas crônicas e em alguns romances, com isso conquistou o seu espaço junto ao meio intelectual da época. Selecionei como objeto de estudo, o romance Pilatos publicado em 1974, por se tratar e uma narrativa de temática e de estilo de escrita beirando ao insólito, ao grotesco e ao escatológico. Cony, por meio desse exercício de escrita, critica o autoritarismo e a falta de liberdade de expressão do período mais agudo da ditadura militar brasileira: os chamados “Anos de Chumbo”. O autor transfere para o campo literário a noção de liberdade de expressão na voz narrativa do seu mutilado protagonista. O narrador é um indivíduo frustrado, solitário e melancólico, mas que está em busca de um forte anseio por liberdade.
Criminal legal challenges in Republic of Serbia during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Đokić Ivan , Čvorović Dragana
Published: January 2022

The pandemic caused by the spread of the infectious disease COVID-19, which affected the entire planet, caused not only the global health crisis, changing the usual way of life of the majority of the world's population, but also affected almost all areas of the state and social system. The health systems were most affected; however, in addition to them, the effects of measures adopted by national legislators or other competent authorities to eliminate or reduce the risk of spreading the disease have affected, inter alia, economic stability, but also challenged the judicial authorities given that in the new circumstances it was not easy to ensure their normal functioning. This primarily refers to the criminal justice, given the importance of cases and the need for urgent action, since it is necessary to ensure the conduct of trials and the work of all procedural entities in conditions that, at least in one period, implied drastic restrictions on some basic civil and human rights and freedoms. In that context, it is especially important to review the justification and legality of the measures introduced in the Republic of Serbia during the state of emergency with the aim of more or less normal operation of the judicial system in conditions when social life was almost completely paralyzed. In addition, there is the question of what challenges and controversial issues are generally posed before criminal law in a pandemic, as well as the analysis of data on the crime rate and the overall crime situation in the Republic of Serbia in the period since the introduction of the state of emergency and during the pandemic.
Positive consequences of COVID-19 pandemic: Reflections based on university students community in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Mizanur , Rahaman Saidur , Salamzadeh Aidin , Jantan Amer
Published: January 2022

The fundamental aim of this study is to demonstrate the positive consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic while everyone else is talking about COVID-19's adverse effects. Researchers collected data through FGD (Focus Group Discussion) via an internet platform from April 2021 to June 2021. FGD was conducted with final-year undergraduate students from Bangladesh's Sylhet division. We purposively selected 20 students who have good knowledge about the consequences of COVID-19 and who were voluntarily involved at the university's different social clubs. According to this study, COVID-19 has positive impacts on people's life. People spent crucial time with their families, explored their interests, developed a range of new skills, and appreciated the need for sanitation, hygiene, and social separation. Nature recovers energy, and greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced to protect the ecosystem. Among other notable positive effects, people build religious learning's in conjunction with crime reduction notions. Researchers study a particular division (Sylhet) of a country, which may differ from that of other cultures and countries. As a result, generalizing the research findings is complex; more research in different divisions of Bangladesh, countries, and cultures is required. The study outcomes are intended to assist the community in building positive psychology to confront the covid-19 and establish a new normal and a guideline for dealing with any impending pandemic. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the most comprehensive studies on the positive effects of covid-19, as well as a guideline for dealing with any pandemic that may occur in the near future.
Analysis of forming of the professional competence and the rational use of human capital in the digital economy
Authors: Endovitsky Dmitry , Tinyakova Viktoriya , Morozova Natalia , Karyagina Tatyana , Fedotova Marina
Published: January 2022

The authors of the article consider the problems of professional and personal competence development adequate to the digital economy challenges. They emphasized that it is necessary to shift the emphasis from obtaining only the knowledge component to a personality-oriented, developing cognitive activity in the traditional education system. The task of the modern education system should be to teach the listener to learn. As you know, the digital economy is based on the idea of transaction cost reduction because people are removed from value chains. Routine operations will be automated, and a number of professional activities will disappear. This will affect the labor market and its structure; in order to maintain his competitiveness, a person will have to look for a new application and complete his profile of professional competence quickly. In the age of innovation and rapid development of IT technologies, human capital will become the main economic resource of companies. It is the rational use of each person potential, the creation of conditions for his harmonious development that will determine a company competitive position in the market. The business community and the education system should become business partners that mutually influence each other in the context of digital transformation.
Employer brand and affective commitment of employees
Authors: Tsareva Natalia
Published: January 2022

The existing situation on labor market has been characterized by a shortage of highly qualified efficient personnel for many years. Company staff is a unique competitive resource and source of profit in any organization. A strong employer brand is a basic foundation for the strategic success of an organization, as it forms the positive attitude of employees and ensures their affective engagement. More and more Russian and international organizations have to resort to new tools to attract, retain, manage staff loyalty and involvement, and establish their image in the job market. Traditional management methods are no longer effective enough in solving such problems. The study reveals the essence of the employer's internal brand and its constituent part - the affective commitment of employees. It specifies the tools to ensure the development of affective commitment of staff.
Leisure activities of the population of Montenegro
Authors: Đukanović Borislav , Macanović Nebojša , Radović-Marković Mirjana
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we examined the choice of types of favorite and unpopular activities and ways of practicing among different groups, age, education, and strata of Montenegrin society in leisure time. A random selection of 805 respondents was made. A special questionnaire was constructed for the purposes of this research. The starting theoretical position was Bourdieu's theory. The three favorite activities of our respondents in their free time were watching television, hanging out with friends, and walking. It is interesting that sleep is in the fourth place in terms of frequency in the first two choices of the most favorite activities, and in the third choice even in the second place. We can conclude that great poverty was observed in the choice of three activities that the respondents most often perform in the order of their importance. However, almost 2/5 (39%) practice them actively. It seems that these restrictions in terms of frequency are more conditioned by external, objective factors than the poverty of the respondents' needs for various forms of leisure recreation. The results of our research largely confirm Bourdieu's theoretical heritage, and partly do not confirm it. The most unexpected result is a very slight layer difference in the choice of the most favorite activity and the absence of differences in stating the reasons for the least popular. In our opinion, the main reason should not be sought in the epistemological weaknesses of Bourdieu's theory, but in the fact that Bourdieu's theory can be empirically tested on developed societies so that differences can be clearly expressed, in "pure" form. At least now, Montenegrin society does not belong to such societies.
Association between viral load and positivization time of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test in routine nasopharyngeal specimens
Authors: Salvagno Gian , Henry Brandon , de Nitto , Pighi Laura , Lippi Giuseppe
Published: January 2022

Background: Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests are potentially useful tools for screening carriers with high viral load. This study was aimed to assess the potential association between viral load and positivization time of a manual SARS-CoV-2 commercial antigen test in routine nasopharyngeal specimens. Methods: In a sample of subjects undergoing routine diagnostic testing, SARS-CoV-2 positivity of nasopharyngeal samples was assayed with both molecular (Altona Diagnostics RealStar SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Kit) and antigenic (Roche SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test) tests. Positivization time of rapid antigen test was correlated and compared with viral load expressed as mean of SARS-CoV2 E/S genes cycle threshold (Ct) values. Results: The study sample consisted of 106 patients (median age 48 years, 55 women) with positive results of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing. A highly significant Spearman's correlation was found between mean SARSCoV-2 E/S genes Ct values and positivization time of manual antigen test (r= 0.70; p<0.001). The positivization time of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test displayed an area under the curve of 0.82 (95%CI, 0.74-0.89) for predicting nasopharyngeal samples with high viral load (i.e., mean Ct <20). A positivization time cut-off of 32 SEC had 94.9% sensitivity and 58.2% specificity for detecting specimens with high viral load. The overall agreement between mean Ct value <20 and positivization time <32 SEC was 70.8%. Conclusions: Positivization time of rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests may provide easy and rapid information on viral load, thus making this type of manual assay potentially suitable for quick and reliable detection and isolation of supercarriers.
Foreign trade of Serbia and Africa
Authors: Ćurčić Mihailo , Kostić Radan , Matejić Ivica
Published: January 2022

When it comes to defining the foreign trade relations between Africa and the Republic of Serbia, it should be pointed out that our country achieves the least international trade cooperation with the countries of this continent. According to the data of the Parliamentary Budget Office (2018), Serbian foreign trade is mostly focused on Europe, given that as much as 93% of total exports were directed to European countries, and 80% of imports of goods from Europe. The exchange with African countries is almost negligible: on both the import and import side, Africa took part in less than 1% of the total Serbian foreign trade. Infrastructure development accelerates the pace of economic progress, by strengthening more productive activities, and leads to lower costs for conducting internal and external trade.
Practice of extended competence of the Ombudsman for the financial services of the United Kingdom in the field of insurance
Authors: Uzelac Ozren , Dukić-Mijatović Marijana
Published: January 2022

In this paper, the authors discuss the decision-making method of the UK Financial Services Ombudsman enabling more favourable outcomes for an insured person in relation to the strict application of law. The authors delineate the manner in which the Ombudsman and the courts act and present specific examples in which the Ombudsman has recognized some rights to the insured whose exercising they themselves did not demand from the insurer. In the practice of the Ombudsman, there are numerous examples in which disputes arose due to a poor understanding of the breadth of the insurance coverage by the insured, the quality and scope of the damage repair service, a restrictive interpretation of the subject of insurance by the insurer. The circumstances on which the Ombudsman made decisions in disputes were based on the standard of a "vulnerable insured person" and a free belief of this body regarding the existence of unfulfilled expectations, which could contribute to the further improvement of the legal framework for the protection of the insured persons.
Protection measures for the children without a parental care
Authors: Stefanović Nenad , Stanković Marko
Published: January 2022

Foster care is the most important measure of the protection of the rights and interests of the children who have either been left without a parental care or have had certain developmental and behavioural disorders, and cannot live with their biological parents. In addition to a foster care as a measure of the protection of the children without a parental care, in a legal system of Republic of Serbia, there are some other institutes of a legal guardianship and adoption too. Foster care is most often associated with altruism and humanity of the people who have decided to be foster parents, and who had had these qualities even before that decision. Foster care in Republic of Serbia has had its ups and downs. The social crisis has also affected this institute, but the humanity that foster care carries in its nucleus and the fact of helping the helpless has always managed to ensure a foster care not to disappear from the legal regulations. By using the comparative, historical, analytical and descriptive method, the aim of this paper is to analyse a foster care as one of the measures of protecting the children without a parental care, as well as to indicate the current state of foster families in Republic of Serbia and the position of children in them.
The supplementary protection certificate: The recent decisions of the Court of justice of the European Union
Authors: Lučić Sonja
Published: January 2022

In recent years, public health systems in high-income countries have been heavily exposed to pressures due to high drug prices. High drug prices are affected by market monopolies that pharmaceutical companies have thanks to patents, i.e. the exclusive rights granted to them for drugs. An additional factor affecting high drug prices is the extended forms of intellectual property protection, including the extension of the exclusivity period after the expiration of a patent for medical devices. The supplementary protection certificate as a form of a supplementary protection for pharmaceutical products in the European Union is regulated by the Regulation 469/2009. This form of protection is also known in the national patent regulations. Since the entry into force of the Regulation 469/2009, there has been debated the question of whether the supplementary protection certificate should be available for new therapeutic uses of previously approved active ingredients. In addition, the subject of interpretation was also the Article 3(a) of the Regulation 469/2009 requiring that the "product" (i.e. the active ingredient or combination of active ingredients) being the subject matter of the SPC application, should be "protected by the basic patent". The author analyzes several important decisions of the EU Court of Justice, with an emphasis put on the recent verdicts in both the "Santen" and "Royality Pharma" cases. In the grounds of these cases, there have widely been discussed the issue concerning the encouragements given to pharmaceutical companies being involved into medical researches in order to stimulate their investment into innovation treatments.
Evaluation of the human development index (HDI) using the methods of sample theory
Authors: Antonijević Marija , Ivanović Đina
Published: January 2022

This paper aims to determine which of the two sample plans, i.e., a simple random sample without replacement, or a stratified sample, gives a more accurate estimate of the feature's mean. The feature that was the subject of this research is the human development index in 2018. The analysis included 189 countries globally, classified into specific categories according to the United Nations development classification. The research results showed that a more accurate estimate of the mean of the human development index was obtained by applying a stratified sampling since the mean of the human development index is close to the population mean. Also, the variance of the sample mean is lower than the value obtained by applying a simple random sampling without replacement. Therefore, it was justified to approach stratification, which indicates that in the case of conducting research, the use of a stratified sampling should be considered since it provides a more precise estimate of the mean.
The concept of the intellectual capital: Theoretical contribution to the managerial theory of the firm
Authors: Komnenić Biserka , Pulić Ante
Published: January 2022

Given that the concept of Intellectual capital (IC) came from business practice, it can be said that it is a practice in search of a theory. Studying the theoretical contribution of this concept is challenging as it demands the systematization of all relevant theories in which it finds its foundation and all aspects of its research. The crucial issues addressed in the concept of IC are: Has the economy based on knowledge influenced the emergence of a new matrix of value creation, and, if so, how is it possible to identify the essential resources which have the most influence on the process of value creation? To answer these questions, the concept of IC develops both the theoretical basis and practical guidelines and tools that contribute to a more precise definition of the strategic assets of the firm and their role in the process of value creation. For the concept of intellectual capital, the articulation of the value creation process is the essential precondition for firms' success because that is something intrinsic to the firm and cannot be imitated by competitors. This study aims to determine the contribution of the IC concept to the managerial theories of the firm.
Diversification of rural economy in the function of balanced regional development of the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Ćurčić Nevena , Mirković-Svitlica Andrijana
Published: January 2022

Pronounced regional disparities represent one of the main features of regional development in Serbia. The regions are economically very uneven, and there are often differences within the regions themselves. The most prominent intra-regional disparity is between urban and rural areas. Rural areas are particularly vulnerable because they have experienced depopulation and economic decline for decades. This problem has been recognized and addressed in the Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Serbia from 2014-2024. One of the priority areas of implementation of the operational objectives relates to the diversification of the rural economy and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. Due to its positive effects on GDP, employment, the balance of payments, investment and population standard, tourism is increasingly becoming an essential instrument for stimulating development, especially in those regions where employment creation through other forms of investment is challenging. Accordingly, this paper aims to present the potential of rural tourism as an endogenous factor of regional and local development through the presentation and analysis of socioeconomic indicators and realized tourist traffic in the statistical regions in Serbia. Results of correlation analysis indicate a positive correlation between the number of tourists and number of employees, number of employees per 1000 inhabitants and average net earnings in NUTS 3 regions in Serbia.
Semantic structures of the verbs play and igrati from the prototype theory perspective and their presentation in dictionaries
Authors: Halas-Popović Ana
Published: January 2022

In this paper, an analysis of the semantic structures of the English verb play and the Serbian verb igrati has been carried out according to the principles of the prototype theory as well as an analysis of the lexicographic representation of these structures in Oxford Dictionary of English (in its online version) and Rečnik srpskoga jezika Matice srpske (2011) as leading representatives of the lexicographic practice of the two languages. Since it has been observed that relations among senses of each of the two verbs are not all quite obvious and clear, the aim of the analysis has been to examine mutual semantic-derivational relatedness of these senses and, simultaneously, to answer the question whether semantic structures of these verbs are polysemous and, consequently, whether displaying all senses of each of these verbs within the same dictionary entry is justified. Also, the analysis has aimed at discovering how faithfully and precisely the structure and organization of entries in the two dictionaries reflect the internal organization of the given semantic structures and mutual relatedness of their senses taking into account the results of the analysis. An inventory of senses of the two verbs has been collected on the basis of their entries in the analysed dictionaries. For each sense, its derivational path has been identified including the sense which it has been derived from as well as the mechanism employed in this semantic derivation. This analysis has revealed that there are four motivated semantic networks within the semantic structure of the verb play and three such networks in the semantic structure of the verb igrati. Each of these networks includes senses which are derived from the common basic or prototypical sense directly or indirectly and, therefore, related on the basis of the family resemblance principle. The basic senses of all the networks identified within the structure of each of the verbs are also mutually related due to the fact that they share the same prototype. Hence, the identified networks, in the case of both verbs, form a unified semantic structure, which can be regarded as polysemous. This observation leads to the conclusion that the representation of these structures in the analysed dictionaries within one entry is justified. It has also been observed that the structure and organization of the entry for the verb play in the analysed dictionary of English quite precisely reflect the internal organization of the given polysemous structure since it adequately groups senses according to their semantic-derivational relatedness within the identified motivated networks and clearly emphasizes the basic sense of each network. The faithfulness of this reflection is achieved to a great extent, though not completely. However, the structure and organization of the entry for the verb igrati in the analysed dictionary of Serbian does not match the internal organization of the given polysemous structure.
Modular Design of Shafting Arrangement with Hydraulic Couplings and CARB Rolling Bearings
Authors: Norberg Stefan
Published: January 2022

Since the introduction of the keyless hydraulic coupling in the early 40's. many new applications have been developed and benefits realized.

One of the latest applications is using the couplings together with GARB rolling bearings on straight shafts in a modular design for shafting arrangements. This has been made possible by combining their unique benefits: both are mounted easily on cylindrical shafts by oil-injection and the GARB bearing has, through its design, a self-aligning adjustment and a wide axial float.

These features provide for a shafting arrangement that can be made in ready-to-install, modules that require no extra machining at installation. As the system is modular, and parts in many cases identical, the need for spares will be highly reduced An additional benefit, that in some applications may be a major one, is the reduced friction compared with normal journal bearings. A reduction that In the long run gives both fuel savings and can reduce the required engine size:

The oil-injection method (OIM) and keyless hydraulic couplings can also be found in a number of other shafting applications as their use has expanded over the years. Some of the applications are gear & flex couplings mounted with a sleeve and OIM design, propeller sleeves, double sleeves, etc. All of them having one thing in common: A quick and easy installation and removal process.
Multiple Imputation of Missing Race and Ethnicity in CDC COVID-19 Case-Level Surveillance Data
Authors: Zhang Guangyu , Rose Charles E. , Zhang Yujia , Li Rui , Lee Florence C. , Massetti Greta , Adams Laura E.
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a disproportionate burden on racial and ethnic minority groups, but incompleteness in surveillance data limits understanding of disparities. CDC’s case-based surveillance system contains most COVID-19 cases in the United States. Data analyzed in this paper contain COVID-19 cases with case-level information through September 25, 2020, which represent 70.9% of all COVID-19 cases reported to CDC during the period. Case-level surveillance data are used to investigate COVID-19 disparities by race/ethnicity, sex, and age. However, demographic information on race and ethnicity is missing for a substantial percentage of COVID-19 cases (e.g., 35.8% and 47.2% of cases analyzed were missing race and ethnicity information, respectively). Our goal in this study was to impute missing race and ethnicity to derive more accurate incidence and incidence rate ratio (IRR) estimates for different racial and ethnic groups, and evaluate the results from imputation compared to complete case analysis, which involves removing cases with missing race/ethnicity information from the analysis. Two multiple imputation (MI) models were developed. Model 1 imputes race using six binary race variables, and Model 2 imputes race as a composite multinomial variable. Our evaluation found that compared with complete case analysis, MI reduced biases and improved coverage on incidence and IRR estimates for all race/ethnicity groups, except for the Non-Hispanic Multiple/other group. Our research highlights the importance of supplementing complete case analysis with additional methods of analysis to better describe racial and ethnic disparities. When race and ethnicity data are missing, multiple imputation may provide more accurate incidence and IRR estimates to monitor these disparities in tandem with efforts to improve the collection of race and ethnicity information for pandemic surveillance.
Representation and Outcomes of Older Adults in Practice-Changing Oncology Trials in the Era of Novel Therapies: A Guideline Appraisal
Authors: Chow Ronald , Lage Daniel E. , Williams Grant R. , Sedrak Mina S. , Greer Joseph A. , Temel Jennifer S. , Nipp Ryan D.
Published: January 2022

Background: Older adults account for 70% of cancer-related deaths, but previous studies have shown that they are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials. We sought to analyze the representation and outcomes of older adults in trials conducted in the era of novel targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Methods: We searched the 2020 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology and retrieved trials from the past 10 years leading to category 1 recommendations in the first-line metastatic setting for the 5 most common causes of cancer death. We categorized trials by cancer type, single-agent versus multiagent approach, and therapeutic class. We described the percentage of older adults (according to each trial’s definition) and used a Mantel-Haenszel random-effects meta-analysis model to compare overall and progression-free survival by age. Results: We identified 30 trials consisting of 24,416 patients. Across all trials, 44% of enrolled patients were older adults. Representation of older adults by cancer type within trials was 49% prostate cancer, 38% pancreatic cancer, 37% breast cancer, and 34% non–small cell lung cancer. Representation of older adults also varied by therapeutic class: 20% received immunotherapy, 44% received cytotoxic chemotherapy, 54% received targeted/hormonal therapy, and 34% received combination therapy (P<.001 for all comparisons). For each year since 2010, the percentage of older adults enrolled in trials increased by 1.9%, although this difference was not significant. We observed no difference in overall or progression-free survival between older and younger adults. In our analysis of practice-changing clinical trials, we found that 44% of clinical trial participants were older adults. Trials that included immunotherapy or a combination of therapeutic classes had a lower representation of older adults (<40%). Conclusions: We found that >40% of patients in practice-changing trials are older adults. Although they remain underrepresented in clinical trials compared with the general population, older adults in practice-changing trials seem to be better represented than in previously reported analyses of cooperative group trials.
PILs that give you a headache? The lay-friendliness of non-pharmacy restricted, over-the-counter information leaflets
Authors: Zethsen Karen Korning
Published: January 2022

Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) medication, and in particular non-pharmacy restricted OTC medicines, sold in supermarkets or online, is subject to the same EU legislation as prescription medication. However, it seems that due care is often not taken to ensure maximum patient comprehension even though the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is potentially more important due to lack of access to the advice of pharmacy staff. Aim: The aim of this article is to explore the legislative background and practice of the PILs of non-pharmacy restricted OTC medicines in a European context. Methods: It provides a qualitative textual analysis of Danish PILs for the potentially most dangerous products with a view to finding out to which extent the PILs comply with current legislation and guidelines. Findings: The textual analysis shows that the PILs are far too complex to stand alone as a source of information. Discussion: The article discusses the nature of non-pharmacy restricted OTC medicines, the potential consequences of a lack of understandable patient information, and whether it is in the interest of consumers that these products are available outside the pharmacy. Conclusion: It is recommended that the potentially most harmful non-pharmacy restricted OTC medicines, such as analgesics, are restricted to pharmacies.
Enhancing COVID-19 public health communication for culturally and linguistically diverse communities: An Australian interview study with community representatives
Authors: Karidakis Maria , Woodward-Kron Robyn , Amorati Riccardo , Hu Bei , Pym Anthony , Hajek John
Published: January 2022

Background: Public health crises present challenges for providing accessible, timely, and accurate health information to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Aim: The aim of this qualitative project was to explore strategies used by CALD community organizations to improve communication about COVID-19 for their communities; we also aimed to identify gaps and challenges. Methods: We interviewed 16 representatives from Greek, Italian, and Chinese CALD organizations in Melbourne, Australia. The interviews were analyzed thematically. Results: Community leaders played a significant role in engaging their community members with accurate key health information. There were differences between language communities about preferred channels for receiving information. As the pandemic intensified, there was a shift from written communication to more interactive exchanges between authorities and community leaders. Discussion: The findings suggest effective public health communication is enhanced by the mediation and outreach strategies adopted by CALD community organizations; further, stakeholders need to be cognizant of heterogeneity of needs and preferences. This may optimize information dissemination to meet specific needs. Conclusions:The CALD organizations have developed communication strategies involving different kinds of mediation to reach specific sub-groups, especially the most vulnerable. These strategies can inform future public health engagement.