bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of smear layer and Ca/P ratio in intra-radicular dentine irrigated with different irrigants adjunct with diode laser
Authors: Salam Tarek Abdallah Abdel , Sadony Doaa M. , Abdallah El-sayed El-tayeb , Salem Haidy N.
Published: July 2024

Background

This study aims to determine the smear layer removal from the root canals using different irrigant solutions with diode laser.

Methods

A set of sixty human upper incisor teeth were chosen. Access cavity preparation was done followed by canal instrumentation. Samples were divided into six groups (Group A: sodium hypochlorite NaOCl, Group B: NaOCl + diode laser, group C: NaOCl + EDTA ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid solution, Group D: NaOCl + EDTA + diode laser, Group E: NaOCl + garlic extract, Group F: NaOCl + garlic extract + diode laser. Examining the smear layer removal at the coronal, middle and apical thirds of the root canals was done by using electron microscope analysis. Using an energy-dispersive X-ray, the calcium/phosphorus Ca/P ratio was measured.

Results

Among the examined groups, there were not any significant differences regarding the smear layer removal. The elimination of smear layers at the middle and coronal thirds was greater in all examined groups than in the apical third. EDX analysis revealed no statistically significant variation between the tested groups.

Conclusions

Using diode laser with sodium hypochlorite and ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid irrigant solution was more effective for the elimination of smear layers. Garlic extract could be used as an alternative irrigant solution in debris removal.
Global longitudinal active strain energy density (GLASED): age and sex differences between young and veteran athletes
Authors: MacIver David H. , Zhang Henggui , Johnson Christopher , Papatheodorou Efstathios , Parry-Williams Gemma , Sharma Sanjay , Oxborough David
Published: July 2024

Background

Global longitudinal active strain energy density (GLASED) is an innovative method for assessing myocardial function and quantifies the work performed per unit volume of the left ventricular myocardium. The GLASED, measured using MRI, is the best prognostic marker currently available. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of measuring the GLASED using echocardiography and to investigate potential differences in the GLASED among athletes based on age and sex.

Methods

An echocardiographic study was conducted with male controls, male and female young athletes, and male and female veteran athletes. GLASED was calculated from the myocardial stress and strain.

Results

The mean age (in years) of the young athletes was 21.6 for males and 21.4 for females, while the mean age of the veteran athletes was 53.5 for males and 54.2 for females. GLASED was found to be highest in young male athletes (2.40 kJ/m3) and lowest in female veterans (1.96 kJ/m3). Veteran males exhibited lower values (1.96 kJ/m3) than young male athletes did (P < 0.001). Young females demonstrated greater GLASED (2.28 kJ/m3) than did veteran females (P < 0.01). However, no significant difference in the GLASED was observed between male and female veterans.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated the feasibility of measuring GLASED using echocardiography. GLASED values were greater in young male athletes than in female athletes and decreased with age, suggesting possible physiological differences in their myocardium. The sex-related differences observed in GLASED values among young athletes were no longer present in veteran athletes. We postulate that measuring the GLASED may serve as a useful additional screening tool for cardiac diseases in athletes, particularly for those with borderline phenotypes of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies.
Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome-Driven Symptom Management by Oncology Pharmacists in a Majority-Minority Population: An Implementation Study
Authors: Chan Alexandre , Ng Ding Quan , Arcos Daniela , Heshmatipour Matthew , Lee Benjamin J. , Chen Alison , Duong Lan , Van Linda , Nguyen Thomas , Green Vuong , Hoang Daniel
Published: July 2024

PURPOSE

There is a lack of systematic solutions to manage supportive care issues in racial/ethnic minorities (REM) receiving treatment for cancer. We developed and implemented an electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO)–driven symptom management tool led by oncology pharmacists in a majority-minority cancer center located in Southern California. This study was designed to evaluate the implementation outcomes of our multilevel intervention.

METHODS

This was a prospective, pragmatic, implementation study conducted between July 2021 and June 2023. Newly diagnosed adult patients with cancer receiving intravenous anticancer therapies completed symptom screening using ePRO that consists of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures at each infusion visit during the study. ePRO results were presented to an oncologist pharmacist for personalized symptom management and treatment counseling. The RE-AIM framework was used to guide implementation outcomes. Differences in symptom trajectories and clinical outcomes between groups were tested using generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

We screened 388 patients of whom 250 were enrolled (acceptance rate: 64.4%), with 564 assessments being completed. The sample consisted of non-Hispanic White (NHW, 42.4%), Hispanic/Latinx (H/L, 30.8%), and non-Hispanic Asian (20.4%), with one (21.6%) of five participants preferring speaking Spanish. Compared with NHW, H/L participants had greater odds of reporting mild to severe pain interference (odds ratio [OR], 1.91 [95% CI, 1.18 to 3.08];
P
= .008) and nausea and vomiting (OR, 2.08 [95% CI, 1.21 to 3.58];
P
= .008), and higher rates of urgent care utilization (OR, 1.92 [95% CI, 1.04 to 3.61];
P
= .04) within 30 days. Nausea and vomiting (n = 131, 23.2%), pain (n = 91, 16.1%), and fatigue (n = 72, 12.8%) were most likely to be intervened, with 90% of the participants expressing satisfaction across all visits.

CONCLUSION

Our multilevel ePRO-driven intervention led by oncology pharmacists helps facilitate symptom assessments and management and potentially reduce health disparities among REM.
Use of Cinacalcet for the Management of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in Pregnancy
Authors: Foster Elissa , Maalouf Naim M
Published: July 2024

Primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy is uncommon. Consequently, there are no randomized controlled studies that address treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy, and the efficacy and safety of medical management with cinacalcet in this setting is unknown. We report a case of a 28-year-old woman with primary hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia that worsened during her third trimester of pregnancy. Cinacalcet led to achievement of normocalcemia, allowing the delay of parathyroidectomy until after delivery of the baby. We also review the published literature on cinacalcet use in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy. Cinacalcet is typically reserved for pregnant patients with severe and symptomatic hypercalcemia, primarily serving as a last resort to delay parathyroidectomy until either the second trimester or the postpartum period.
Refractory Hypercalcemia Secondary to Metastatic Parathyroid Carcinoma Treated With Immunotherapy
Authors: Ta Brenda , Bennett Michael James
Published: July 2024

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare endocrine malignancy and an uncommon cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Metastatic disease confers a guarded prognosis with limited systemic treatment options available. We describe a case of a 64-year-old woman with primary hyperparathyroidism secondary to PC. Despite initial surgical resection, the patient relapsed within 6 months with widespread cerebral and skeletal metastatic disease. She developed worsening parathyroid hormone-mediated hypercalcemia that was refractory to escalating doses of cinacalcet and antiresorptive therapy. Molecular genomics identified high tumor mutation burden within the malignant tissue and single-agent nivolumab immunotherapy was administered. After one dose, there was resolution of her refractory hypercalcemia and primary hyperparathyroidism. The patient has tolerated ongoing treatment with 3 weekly cycles of nivolumab. She remains in biochemical remission as of June 2024, which is now 12 months after commencement of nivolumab.
Poor Concordance Between Intensive Care Unit Patients’ and Family Members’ Patient Dignity Inventory Scores Despite Communication of Dignity-Related Distress
Authors: Zhuang Caywin , Dexter Franklin , Hadler Rachel A.
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

Promptly assessing and treating the distress of intensive care unit (ICU) patients may improve long-term psychological outcomes. One holistic approach to reduce patient distress is through dignity-centered care, traditionally used in palliative care. The 25-item Patient Dignity Inventory has construct validity and reliability for measuring dignity-related distress among ICU patients. Because family members often serve as ICU patients’ surrogates and play an integral role in patients’ dignity, we examined whether family members reliably recognized ICU patients’ sources of distress.

METHODS:

Two single-center observational studies of adult ICU patients were performed from May to June 2022. Inclusion criteria were ICU length-of-stay >48 hours, awake and alert, intact cognition, and no delirium. Study #1 evaluated concordance between patient and family for dignity-related distress. Both completed the Patient Dignity Inventory independently. The next Study #2 measured how many distressing items that the patient reported discussing with family members.

RESULTS:

Study #1 of concordance had 33 patient-family dyads complete the Patient Dignity Inventory. The concordance correlation coefficient was small, 0.20 (99% confidence interval −0.21 to 0.55) and less than the inventory’s test-retest reliability (r = .85). Study #2 examined sharing of Patient Dignity Inventory-related items between patients and family members. There were 12 of 19 patients who had severe distress based on an average Patient Dignity Inventory item score ≥1.92. The median patient shared multiple items of distress with their family (median 12, 99% 2-sided exact Hodges-Lehmann interval 4.0–17.5).

CONCLUSIONS:

Although ICU patients often report sharing sources of distress with their loved ones, family members cannot accurately or reliably assess the extent to which patients experience psychosocial, existential, and symptom-related distress during critical illness. Treatments of distress should not be delayed by the absence of family members.
Substantia Innominata Glutamatergic Neurons Modulate Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Male Mice
Authors: Yang Li , Fang Fang , Wang Wen-Xu , Xie Yunli , Cang Jing , Li Shi-Bin
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

Accumulated evidence suggests that brain regions that promote wakefulness also facilitate emergence from general anesthesia (GA). Glutamatergic neurons in the substantia innominata (SI) regulate motivation-related aversive, depressive, and aggressive behaviors relying on heightened arousal. Here, we hypothesize that glutamatergic neurons in the SI are also involved in the regulation of the effects of sevoflurane anesthesia.

METHODS:

With a combination of fiber photometry, chemogenetic and optogenetic tools, behavioral tests, and cortical electroencephalogram recordings, we investigated whether and how SI glutamatergic neurons and their projections to the lateral hypothalamus (LH) regulate sevoflurane anesthesia in adult male mice.

RESULTS:

Population activity of glutamatergic neurons in the SI gradually decreased upon sevoflurane-induced loss of consciousness (LOC) and slowly returned as soon as inhalation of sevoflurane discontinued before recovery of consciousness (ROC). Chemogenetic activation of SI glutamatergic neurons dampened the animals’ sensitivity to sevoflurane exposure, prolonged induction time (mean ± standard deviation [SD]; 389 ± 67 seconds vs 458 ± 53 seconds; P = .047), and shortened emergence time (305 seconds, 95% confidence interval [CI], 242–369 seconds vs 207 seconds, 95% CI, 135–279 seconds; P = .004), whereas chemogenetic inhibition of these neurons facilitated sevoflurane anesthesia. Furthermore, optogenetic activation of SI glutamatergic neurons and their terminals in LH induced cortical activation and behavioral emergence from different depths of sevoflurane anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study shows that SI glutamatergic neuronal activity facilitates emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia and provides evidence for the involvement of the SI-LH glutamatergic pathway in the regulation of consciousness during GA.
Evaluation of Intraoperative Right Ventricular Myocardial Work Indices in Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: A Case Report
Authors: Labus Jakob , Mauermann Eckhard , Foit André , Mehler Oliver , Rahmanian Parwis , Wahlers Thorsten , Böttiger Bernd W. , Wetsch Wolfgang A. , Mathes Alexander
Published: July 2024

Right ventricular myocardial work is an echocardiographic technique yielding significant insights into cardiac mechanics, energetics, and efficiency. Combining right ventricular myocardial strain with loading conditions correlates with invasively measured myocardial work and myocardial oxygen consumption. This method has not yet been described intraoperatively by transesophageal echocardiography. We describe this technique during a left ventricular assist device implantation. This case demonstrates that right ventricular myocardial work indices can be monitored intraoperatively and might assist decisions during left ventricular assist device implantation.
Genomic Alterations in Molecularly Defined Oligodendrogliomas
Authors: Weber-Levine Carly , Rakovec Maureen , Jiang Kelly , Kalluri Anita , Raj Divyaansh , Parker Megan , Materi Joshua , Sepehri Sadra , Ferrés Abel , Schreck Karisa C. , Aldecoa Iban , Lucas Calixto-Hope G. , Redmond Kristin J. , Holdhoff Matthias , Sair Haris I. , Weingart Jon D. , Brem Henry , González Sánchez Josep , Ye Xiaobu , Bettegowda Chetan , Rincon-Torroella Jordina
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Oligodendrogliomas are defined by IDH1/2 mutation and codeletion of chromosome arms 1p/19q. Although previous studies identified CIC, FUBP1, and TERTp as frequently altered in oligodendrogliomas, the clinical relevance of these molecular signatures is unclear. Moreover, previous studies predominantly used research panels that are not readily available to providers and patients. Accordingly, we explore genomic alterations in molecularly defined oligodendrogliomas using clinically standardized next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels.

METHODS:

A retrospective single-center study evaluated adults with pathologically confirmed IDH-mutant, 1p/19q-codeleted oligodendrogliomas diagnosed between 2005 and 2021. Genetic data from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens were analyzed with the NGS Solid Tumor Panel at the Johns Hopkins Medical Laboratories, which tests more than 400 cancer-related genes. Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank tests compared progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival by variant status. χ2 tests, t-tests, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare clinical characteristics between genomic variant status in the 10 most frequently altered genes.

RESULTS:

Two hundred and seventy-seven patients with molecularly defined oligodendrogliomas were identified, of which 95 patients had available NGS reports. Ten genes had 9 or more patients with a genomic alteration, with CIC, FUBP1, and TERTp being the most frequently altered genes (n = 60, 23, and 22, respectively). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that most genes were not associated with differences in PFS or overall survival. At earlier time points (PFS <100 months), CIC alterations conferred a reduction in PFS in patients (P = .038).

CONCLUSION:

Our study confirms the elevated frequency of CIC, FUBP1, and TERTp alterations in molecularly defined oligodendrogliomas and suggests a potential relationship of CIC alteration to PFS at earlier time points. Understanding these genomic variants may inform prognosis or therapeutic recommendations as NGS becomes routine.
The Drosophila histone methyltransferase SET1 coordinates multiple signaling pathways in regulating male germline stem cell maintenance and differentiation
Authors: Vidaurre Velinda , Song Annabelle , Li Taibo , Ku Wai Lim , Zhao Keji , Qian Jiang , Chen Xin
Published: July 2024

Many tissue-specific adult stem cell lineages maintain a balance between proliferation and differentiation. Here, we study how the H3K4me3 methyltransferase Set1 regulates early-stage male germ cells in Drosophila. Early-stage germline-specific knockdown of Set1 results in temporally progressive defects, arising as germ cell loss and developing into overpopulated early-stage germ cells. These germline defects also impact the niche architecture and cyst stem cell lineage non-cell-autonomously. Additionally, wild-type Set1, but not the catalytically inactive Set1, rescues the Set1 knockdown phenotypes, highlighting the functional importance of the methyltransferase activity of Set1. Further, RNA-sequencing experiments reveal key signaling pathway components, such as the JAK-STAT pathway gene Stat92E and the BMP pathway gene Mad, which are upregulated upon Set1 knockdown. Genetic interaction assays support the functional relationships between Set1 and JAK-STAT or BMP pathways, as both Stat92E and Mad mutations suppress the Set1 knockdown phenotypes. These findings enhance our understanding of the balance between proliferation and differentiation in an adult stem cell lineage. The phenotype of germ cell loss followed by over-proliferation when inhibiting a histone methyltransferase also raises concerns about using their inhibitors in cancer therapy.
Το Ολλανδικό κίνημα “De Stijl” και η συμβολή του στη γραφιστική και την οπτική επικοινωνία
Authors: Δεβετζή Ιωάννα
Published: July 2024

Οι κοινωνικές και πολιτικές αλλαγές στις αρχές του 20ου αιώνα επηρέασαν καθοριστικά τον χώρο της τέχνης. Η κατάρρευση των αξιών του 19ου αιώνα προκάλεσε μια βαθιά επαναστατική τάση στην καλλιτεχνική δημιουργία και δραστηριότητα στις καλές και εφαρμοσμένες τέχνες. Συνέβαλε με αυτό τον τρόπο στην εξέλιξη της αφαιρετικής τέχνης και στην εμφάνιση των αφαιρετικών κινημάτων. Το κίνημα “De Stijl” αποτελεί ένα από τα πλέον ανατρεπτικά και συγχρόνως ιδεαλιστικά κινήματα αφηρημένης τέχνης αυτής της περιόδου. Στην παρούσα διατριβή καταδεικνύεται ο τρόπος με τον οποίο την περίοδο της έκρηξης της οπτικής επικοινωνίας (20ος αιων.), το “De Stijl”, λιτό και απέριττο στην έκφραση, πνευματώδες και εγκεφαλικό στην σύλληψη της ιδέας, επηρέασε καθοριστικά ορισμένους από τους βασικούς κανόνες της γραφιστικής, δηλαδή της τέχνης της “οπτικοποίησης του μηνύματος”. Στο πρώτο μέρος της μελέτης γίνεται αναφορά στις αρχές και την φιλοσοφία του κινήματος, σύμφωνα με τις οποίες, ο καλλιτέχνης καλείται να συμβάλλει στη διαμόρφωση μιας βαθιάς καλλιτεχνικής κουλτούρας, αφομοιώνοντας την γενική γνώση των σύγχρονων πλαστικών τεχνών. Ο πυρήνας της ομάδας “De Stijl” ήταν συγκροτημένος από καλλιτέχνες δημιουργούς, οι οποίοι είχαν κοινές απόψεις σε ότι αφορά την αφηρημένη τέχνη και την εξέλιξή της. Στόχος τους ήταν η ανάπτυξη μιας νέας αισθητικής, η οποία να εφαρμόζεται όχι μόνο στις καλές και εφαρμοσμένες τέχνες, αλλά να έχει απήχηση και σε μια σειρά από άλλες μορφές τέχνης όπως της αρχιτεκτονικής, της πολεοδομίας, του βιομηχανικού σχεδιασμού, της τυπογραφίας, της μουσικής και της ποίησης. Στο δεύτερο μέρος, στα έργα συγκεκριμένων γραφιστών, τυπογράφων και δημιουργών γραμματοσειρών, αναδεικνύονται τα σημεία εκείνα, στα οποία αναγνωρίζονται ορισμένοι από τους βασικούς κανόνες της γραφιστικής όπως, η χρήση του πλέγματος, των ορθογώνιων γεωμετρικών σχημάτων, των βασικών χρωμάτων, της σημασίας του άξονα χ/ψ, των sans serif γραμματοσειρών, της αξιοποίησης του αρνητικού χώρου, καθώς επίσης και της σπουδαιότητας της ύπαρξης της χρυσής τομής στη γραφιστική σύνθεση. Οι γραφίστες δημιουργοί των οποίων τα έργα μελετώνται είναι οι: Jan Tschichold (1902-1974), Josef Müller-Brockmann (1914-1996), Paul Rand (1914-1996), El Lissitzky (1890-1941), Wim Crowouel (1928-2019), Hans G. Conrad (1926 – 2003), Max Bill (1908-1994), Hendrik Nicolaas Werkman (1882-1945), Théo Ballmer (1902-1965), Paul Schuitema (1897-1973), Raul Renner (1878-1956), Emil Ruder (1914 –1970) και Saul Bass (1920 – 1996) και αποτελούν ένα δείγμα των καλλιτεχνών, οι οποίοι δέχτηκαν επιρροές από τις αρχές του “De Stijl”. Κριτήριο για την επιλογή τους υπήρξε η βαθιά εκτίμηση του έργου τους και η σημαντική συνεισφορά τους στην γραφιστική και την οπτική επικοινωνία του 20ου - 21ου αιώνα. Συμπερασματικά αποδεικνύεται πως οι γραφίστες δημιουργοί, το έργο των οποίων αναλύσαμε, καθιέρωσαν το Διεθνές τυπογραφικό στυλ, συνέβαλαν καθοριστικά στην γραφιστική του 20ου – 21ου αιώνα, στην εξέλιξη του graphic design, στις σύγχρονες δια-δικτυακές γραφιστικές εφαρμογές και το έργο τους παραμένει διαχρονικό.
Γενετικό υπόβαθρο ασθενών με κεντρική ορώδη χοριοαμφιβληστροειδοπάθεια
Authors: Γιαννόπουλος Κωνσταντίνος
Published: July 2024

Η Κεντρική Ορώδης Χοριοαμφιβληστροειδοπάθεια (ΚΟΧ) είναι μια μη γνωστής αιτιολογίας πάθηση που προκαλεί διαταραχές της κεντρικής όρασης λόγω ορώδους αποκόλλησης του νευροαμφιβληστροειδούς στην περιοχή της ωχράς. Διάφοροι γενετικοί πολυμορφισμοί έχουν βρεθεί σε μελέτες να συσχετίζονται με την εκδήλωση της ΚΟΧ. Ανάμεσα στους πολυμορφισμούς που έχουν ελεγχθεί αν συσχετίζονται με την ΚΟΧ είναι ο πολυμορφισμός rs10490924 του γονιδίου ARMS2 και οι πολυμορφισμοί rs2070951 και rs5522 του γονιδίου NR3C2. Ο σκοπός της μελέτης μας ήταν να ελεγχθεί, για πρώτη φορά σε ελληνικό πληθυσμό, η συσχέτιση των παραπάνω πολυμορφισμών (ARMS2rs10490924, NR3C2rs2070951 και NR3C2rs5522) με την ΚΟΧ. Στη μελέτη μας (μελέτη ασθενών-μαρτύρων), που πραγματοποιήθηκε στην Α΄ Πανεπιστημιακή οφθαλμολογική κλινική του Εθνικού και Καποδιστριακού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών συμμετείχαν 48 ασθενείς με ΚΟΧ και 137 μάρτυρες. Από την ανάλυση των γενετικών πολυμορφισμών που έγινε βρέθηκε ότι τόσο ο πολυμορφισμός rs10490924 του γονιδίου ARMS2 όσο και ο πολυμορφισμός rs2070951 του γονιδίου NR3C2 συσχετίζονταν στατιστικά σημαντικά με την ΚΟΧ ως παράγοντες κινδύνου για την εκδήλωση της νόσου. Ο πολυμορφισμός rs5522 του γονιδίου NR3C2 δεν βρέθηκε να συσχετίζεται στατιστικά σημαντικά με την ΚΟΧ. Τα αποτελέσματά μας έδειξαν, για πρώτη φορά σε ελληνικό πληθυσμό, ότι πολυμορφισμοί των γονιδίων ARMS2 και NR3C2 συσχετίζονται στατιστικά σημαντικά ως παράγοντες κινδύνου με την ΚΟΧ και ενίσχυσαν την υπόθεση της συμμετοχής της εξωκυττάριας θεμέλιας ουσίας (ARMS2 γονίδιο) και του υποδοχέα των αλατοκορτικοειδών (NR3C2 γονίδιο) στην παθογένεια της ΚΟΧ.
Ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα και κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη
Authors: Καπαρινού Δέσποινα
Published: July 2024

H παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή επιδιώκει να διερευνήσει εάν και με ποιους τρόπους η εκπαίδευση των παιδιών προσφύγων στην Ελλάδα μπορεί να καταστεί αποτελεσματικότερη, εστιάζοντας στην οπτική των εκπαιδευτικών. Συγκεκριμένα, προσπαθεί να παρουσιάσει τις δυσκολίες με τις οποίες έρχονται αντιμέτωποι/ες οι εκπαιδευτικοί, καθώς και αυτές που αντιμετωπίζουν τα παιδιά πρόσφυγες στο σχολείο, τις εκπαιδευτικές πρακτικές που αξιοποιούν οι εκπαιδευτικοί και την αποτίμηση της εκπαιδευτικής πολιτικής για τα παιδιά πρόσφυγες από τους/τις ίδιους/ες. Η έρευνα αποτελεί μια μελέτη της περίπτωσης, αφού εστιάζει στην περίπτωση της εκπαίδευσης των παιδιών που μένουν σε Κέντρα Φιλοξενίας Προσφύγων στην Ελλάδα. Η κύρια ερευνητική τεχνική της διατριβής μας είναι η ημιδομημένη συνέντευξη. Συμμετέχοντες/ουσες της έρευνάς μας είναι είκοσι Συντονιστές/ριες Εκπαίδευσης Προσφύγων, είκοσι εκπαιδευτικοί που εργάζονται σε Τάξεις Υποδοχής, είκοσι σε ΔΥΕΠ και είκοσι στη Mη-Tυπική Eκπαίδευση. Για την ανάλυση των δεδομένων της έρευνας, επιλέγουμε τη Θεματική Ανάλυση. Τα βασικά συμπεράσματα που προκύπτουν από την έρευνα: α) παρουσιάζουν τα μειονεκτήματα της υπάρχουσας εκπαιδευτικής πολιτικής ως πρόταση ενσωμάτωσης των παιδιών προσφύγων β) προτείνουν την καθιέρωση της Τάξης Υποδοχής για όλα τα παιδιά γ) αναδεικνύουν την αξία του ρόλου των ΣΕΠ δ) παρουσιάζουν την ανάγκη υποστήριξης των εκπαιδευτικών με επιμορφώσεις, διδακτικό υλικό, νέο αναλυτικό πρόγραμμα, τεχνολογικό εξοπλισμό και ε) τονίζουν την αναγκαιότητα της στενότερης συνεργασίας της τυπικής με τη μη-τυπική εκπαίδευση.
Dynamic project management techniques for business intelligence solutions in public policies
Authors: Σκλιάς Γεώργιος
Published: July 2024

Αυτή η διατριβή προτείνει ένα καινοτόμο πλαίσιο για δυναμική διαχείριση έργων προσαρμοσμένο για λύσεις επιχειρηματικής ευφυΐας (BI) σε έργα δημόσιας πολιτικής. Ο πρωταρχικός στόχος είναι η ενίσχυση των βασικών δεικτών απόδοσης (KPIs) έργων υποδομής ζωτικής σημασίας, ελαχιστοποιώντας τη χρήση πόρων και βελτιστοποιώντας τη διάρκεια του έργου χρησιμοποιώντας προηγμένες τεχνικές τεχνητής νοημοσύνης. Οι βασικές δυνατότητες του πλαισίου περιλαμβάνουν έναν αγνωστικό σχεδιασμό έργου, μια εξαιρετικά αρθρωτή δομή και την ενσωμάτωση προβλέψεων βάσει μηχανικής μάθησης και συνεργιστικής ενσωμάτωσης παγκόσμιων και τοπικών στρατηγικών βελτιστοποίησης. Η έρευνα επικεντρώνεται στην ανάπτυξη ενός ολοκληρωμένου συστήματος υποστήριξης αποφάσεων που μπορεί να βελτιστοποιήσει σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο τις δραστηριότητες του διαγράμματος Gantt με βάση συγκεκριμένες χρονικές παραμέτρους, επιτρέποντας στους δημόσιους φορείς να προσαρμόσουν τα χρονοδιαγράμματα του έργου σύμφωνα με τις μοναδικές ανάγκες και τις παραδοχές τους. Η καινοτομία αυτής της εργασίας έγκειται στη χρήση αλγορίθμων διπλής ανόπτησης και μιας προσαρμόσιμης συνάρτησης κόστους για την επίτευξη βέλτιστου προγραμματισμού. Η ευελιξία του συστήματος επιτρέπει τη δυναμική προσαρμογή σε γεγονότα και αλλαγές πολιτικής σε πραγματικό χρόνο, ενισχύοντας τη λογοδοσία και τη διαφάνεια στη διαχείριση του δημόσιου έργου. Επιπλέον, η μελέτη διερευνά ένα πλαίσιο βασισμένο σε blockchain, το EUGBS-Chain, για την παρακολούθηση των Πράσινων Ομολόγων της ΕΕ για να διασφαλιστεί η γνήσια χρήση τους για έργα πράσινης ανάπτυξης, μειώνοντας έτσι το greenwashing και αυξάνοντας τη διαφάνεια της αγοράς. Τα ευρήματα υποδεικνύουν ότι η ενσωμάτωση προηγμένων μεθοδολογιών διαχείρισης έργων με δυνατότητες BI αιχμής μπορεί να βελτιώσει σημαντικά τα αποτελέσματα του έργου από άποψη χρόνου και προϋπολογισμού, συμβάλλοντας έτσι στους στόχους βιώσιμης ανάπτυξης και στην καλύτερη δημόσια διακυβέρνηση.
Unveiling and challenging the identity, formation, and evolution of Transformation Theory
Authors: Koulaouzidis George Archimedes , Eschenbacher Saskia , Romano Alessandra , Soeiro Dina
Published: July 2024

In this contribution, we  explore  established and emerging facets that contribute to shaping the theoretical landscape of transformation theory.  Throughout our discussion, we contemplate the multifaceted nature of transformative learning, acknowledging its positive evolution with diverse perspectives that have enriched the field. Despite this progress, we argue that challenges persist, prompting the recognition of transformative learning theory as an ongoing, dynamic paradigm capable of organically responding to the contemporary challenges of adult learning and education. Our discourse advocates for a deeper exploration of the theory's potential for profound change, emphasizing the imperative to move beyond its dominant cognitive dimension.
Trophic positioning among native and non-indigenous species in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
Authors: TÜZÜN SUNA , GÜCÜ ALI CEMAL
Published: July 2024

The substantial influx of non-indigenous species (NIS) into the eastern Mediterranean Sea from the Suez Canal has prompted questions about the mechanisms enabling their establishment and the resulting impacts on native species. We focus on the trophic level dynamics of the dominant native red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and the four NIS Pomadasys stridens, Upeneus moluccensis, U. pori, and Parupeneus forsskali. Using various methods, including trophic level estimations, intestine length analysis, and monthly trophic level variations, we assessed their trophic positions and flexibility. The results indicate that compared to M. barbatus, P. stridens occupies a lower trophic level due to its omnivorous nature, potentially facilitating its biomass increase. This lower trophic position is further supported by its lengthy intestine relative to size. Conversely, U. moluccensis, U. pori, and P. forsskali position themselves consistently at higher trophic levels than M. barbatus. Monthly trophic level variations suggest temporal dietary changes, which point to seasonal impacts on NIS success. M. barbatus’s resilience, including its preference for polychaetes, may explain its sustained dominance amid competition. This study sheds light on NIS-native species coexistence, further suggesting that NIS success could stem from exploitation of vacant niches and adaptation to new food sources.
Clinical Pharmaceutical Reasoning in Hospital Pharmacy Practice using the DRIP framework: a New Approach for a Perfectionist Profession
Authors: van der Sijs Heleen , Mulder Midas B.
Published: July 2024

Clinical pharmacists are responsible for safe medication use in hospitals. Most clinical pharmacists are perfectionists. However, in their decision-making process, they have to embrace uncertainty, while interpreting available data, and integrating knowledge and clinical experience. In clinical practice, how to teach and master clinical pharmaceutical reasoning is unclear. We developed the DRIP framework including different aspects on drug, indication and patient and a stepwise approach to support clinical pharmaceutical reasoning by students, residents in hospital pharmacy and clinical pharmacists. The DRIP framework was first introduced during the daily report with residents and faculty of the clinical pharmacy. The framework was implemented in daily clinical practice to handle drug safety alerts, and to optimise drug therapy during ward rounds, multidisciplinary consultations, and in entrustmentbased discussions with residents. Pharmacists using the DRIP framework felt more confident that relevant aspects of a complex pharmaceutical problem had been considered, they learned to anticipate on the issues behind an apparently simple pharmaceutical question, and to explain their reasoning. Several CANMEDS roles can be simultaneously trained by using our approach. We are developing a course for residents in clinical pharmacy and pharmacology to teach the competency of clinical pharmaceutical reasoning using the DRIP framework.
Empreendedorismo resiliente
Authors: Mendes Castro Carvalho Liliane , Brito Anderson Dias
Published: July 2024

O objetivo do presente artigo é analisar os desafios e as motivações do empreendedorismo feminino de baixa renda. Realizou-se um estudo qualitativo, a partir de cinco entrevistas com roteiro semiestruturado. As empresárias enfrentam desafios como baixo capital e dificuldades no acesso a programas de financiamento. A conciliação de múltiplas atividades devido à herança cultural dificulta a permanência no mercado. As motivações incluem a necessidade de melhorar a condição financeira, conciliar trabalho e família, além da afinidade com o produto ou serviço. Os resultados destacam a urgência em rever políticas, reduzir disparidades de gênero, promover inclusão e apoiá-las de maneira mais concreta.
Impact on impact strength
Authors: Serikov Sergey
Published: July 2024

The main purpose of the monograph is to identify the main patterns in assessing the operational reliability of metals on the basis of a mathematical model of unsteady deformation of an isotropic viscoplastic medium, with specified boundary, initial conditions and energy criterion of destruction. A physically based computational and experimental method for metal identification is formulated. Practical examples of the efficiency of the method for a wide class of materials are given: structural steels, titanium, aluminum and copper alloys.
The assessment of the operational reliability of metals is based on a comparison of matrices containing seven parameters: tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, coefficient of dynamic viscosity, specific energy of fracture, rate of deformation, temperature. The book also pays a lot of attention to experimental data on the classical value of impact strength. It is shown that it actually reflects the properties of the material in the range of elastic-brittle state, but not in the scheme of a viscoplastic medium.
It is intended for scientific and engineering workers, students involved in metal science and fracture mechanics.
The association between hypothyroidism, mental disorders and physical activity: a comprehensive review
Authors: Basiura Karolina , Starzomska Dominika , Rymaszewska Katarzyna , Puchała Justyna , Gajdzińska Natalia , Rostkowska Weronika , Salwa Adam , Rutkowski Wojciech , Rzepka Maciej , Sztuba Karolina
Published: July 2024

Hypothyroidism refers to the common pathological condition of thyroid hormone deficiency. Multiple studies have concluded that undiagnosed and undertreated patients with hypothyroidism are at increased risk of developing mental disorders. Moreover, there are proven cases of symptom remission with or without antidepressants after a euthyroid state was established. Studies suggest that exercise can have positive effects on thyroid function as well as improving mental state. However, patients with untreated hypothyroidism often experience decreased exercise tolerance, weakness, fatigue, and feelings of low energy, which often prevent them from engaging in physical activities. This review strengthens the link between hypothyroidism, mental health issues and struggles that come with thyroid hormone deficiency and physical activity. It also demonstrates how treating the underlying hypothyroidism, as well as promoting regular physical activity, can be significant ways to improve health outcomes in these patients.
pertussis paradox: why are cases increasing despite vaccination efforts?
Authors: Błaszczyszyn Katarzyna , Bolek Monika , Muc Katarzyna , Hopej Natalia , Dobrzeniecki Krzysztof , Turek Kacper
Published: July 2024

Introduction
Pertussis, a highly transmissible respiratory infection mainly caused by Bordetella pertussis, remains one of the most widespread public health concerns despite the establishment of global vaccination initiatives. The disease manifests as paroxysmal coughing followed by a characteristic high-pitched “whooping” sound, and post-tussive vomiting. Severe complications can include pneumonia, encephalopathy, and even mortality, particularly in infants.
Aim of the study
This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of pertussis, encompassing its clinical presentation, complications, diagnostic methods, epidemiological aspects, and vaccination strategies, with a special focus on the development and potential impact of a novel nasal pertussis vaccine.
Brief description of the state of knowledge
Diagnosis of pertussis often relies on recognizing typical symptoms supported by laboratory confirmation through culture methods, polymerase chain reaction testing, or enzyme–linked immunosorbent assays. This disease leads to considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide, accompanied by profound medical, social and economic challenges.
Summary
To address the limitations of existing vaccines, a novel nasal pertussis vaccine has been proposed. This vaccine aims to elicit robust mucosal immune responses, thereby providing enhanced protection against infection and preventing the asymptomatic transmission of Bordetella pertussis. The study offers a detailed examination of pertussis and comprehensive statistics to support the analysis, providing valuable insights into the epidemiology, highlighting the need for improved vaccination strategies to mitigate the disease's impact.
Electronic cigarettes - harmful substances contained in e-cigarette liquids and smoke
Authors: Białogłowski Konrad , Giżewska Kamila , Bochyński Karol , Dacka Michał , Dąbrowska Paulina , Żuber Michał , Molenda Katarzyna , Borodziuk Barbara , Borodziuk Filip , Ciuba Katarzyna
Published: July 2024

Electronic cigarettes and electronic cigarette liquids are increasingly popular in society, especially among young people. However, despite the widespread belief that they are a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes, many scientific studies confirm that electronic cigarettes can be equally, if not more, harmful to health.
There are many chemicals in electronic cigarette liquids, such as nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, flavors and fragrances. Some of these substances are toxic and can cause a number of negative health effects, such as irritation of the respiratory tract, the onset of lung disease, neurological disorders and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
In addition, electronic cigarettes can be harmful to the environment due to the emission of toxic substances into the air and improper disposal of used batteries.
Therefore, an informed approach to the use of electronic cigarettes and an understanding of the potential health risks associated with them is necessary. Further scientific research and education of the public about the harms of electronic cigarettes are key to preventing the negative consequences associated with their use.
A Model-Free Approach for Solving Choice-Based Competitive Facility Location Problems Using Simulation and Submodularity
Authors: Legault Robin , Frejinger Emma
Published: July 2024

This paper considers facility location problems in which a firm entering a market seeks to open facilities on a subset of candidate locations so as to maximize its expected market share, assuming that customers choose the available alternative that maximizes a random utility function. We introduce a deterministic equivalent reformulation of this stochastic problem as a maximum covering location problem with an exponential number of demand points, each of which is covered by a different set of candidate locations. Estimating the prevalence of these preference profiles through simulation generalizes a sample average approximation method from the literature and results in a maximum covering location problem of manageable size. To solve it, we develop a partial Benders reformulation in which the contribution to the objective of the least influential preference profiles is aggregated and bounded by submodular cuts. This set of profiles is selected by a knee detection method that seeks to identify the best tradeoff between the fraction of the demand that is retained in the master problem and the size of the model. We develop a theoretical analysis of our approach and show that the solution quality it provides for the original stochastic problem, its computational performance, and the automatic profile-retention strategy it exploits are directly connected to the entropy of the preference profiles in the population. Computational experiments on existing and new benchmark sets indicate that our approach dominates the classical sample average approximation method on large instances of the competitive facility location problem, can outperform the best heuristic method from the literature under the multinomial logit model, and achieves state-of-the-art results under the mixed multinomial logit model. We characterize a broader class of problems, which includes assortment optimization, to which the solving methodology and the analyses developed in this paper can be extended.

History: Accepted by Andrea Lodi, Area Editor for Design & Analysis of Algorithms—Discrete.

Funding: This research was supported by Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologies and Institut de Valorisation des Données through scholarships to R. Legault. E. Frejinger was partially supported by the Canada Research Chair program [Grant 950-232244].

Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2023.0280 .
Effects of Time Interval and Interference Manipulations on Word-Level Repetition and Naming Performance in Persons with Aphasia
Authors: Choi Yoo Jin , Sung Jee Eun , Choi Sujin
Published: July 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact on the repetition and naming ability of Korean aphasia patients by controlling their working memory load through time intervals and interference effects using the Temple Assessment of Language and verbal Short-term memory in Aphasia (TALSA) protocol. In addition, we examined the phonological and lexical-meaning processing abilities of persons with aphasia through word repetition tasks, nonword repetition tasks, and picture naming tasks to examine phonological and lexical-meaning production abilities. Methods: Thirteen native Korean speakers with aphasia participated in the study, along with twelve control group participants. The word and nonword repetition tasks were conducted under three conditions to examine the time delay and interference effects. Each condition entailed listening to each ten words of two and three syllables. Similarly, the picture naming tasks were carried out under three conditions involving viewing ten pictures of two and three syllables each. Results: This study examined how the repetition and naming ability of persons with aphasia, i.e., the ability to producing phonemes and lexical-meaning of persons with aphasia, varies when adjusting the working memory load under time interval and interference effect conditions. This study found that the difference in performance between groups was significant for both tasks. In particular, the larger the time interval, the greater the interference effect; that is, the greater the load of working memory, the lower the performance of aphasia subjects compared to the control group. Conclusion: Since the aphasia subjects have poor working memory ability, the results of this study indicate that as the cognitive load increases, they are more affected by the ability to process phonological and semantic activations.
Effects of Errorless Learning-based Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment on Naming and Cognitive Abilities for Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Kim Ju Eun , Sung Jee Eun
Published: July 2024

Objectives: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) patients characteristically show a decline in various cognitive functions, including memory and language skills. Additionally, naming deficits are evident from the early stages of dementia in AD patients. This study aimed to consider these characteristics of AD patients and develop a semantic feature analysis based on errorless learning. The effect of this naming treatment on the language and cognitive abilities of AD patients was examined, with participants divided into treatment group and control groups. Methods: Ten patients with early to severe AD were divided into a treatment group and a control group. The noun list was individualized for each participant, and to prevent the production of errors, the researcher provided the names and semantic features of the nouns, which the AD patients then learned. Results: The treatment group showed statistically significant improvements in naming trained nouns, semantically related non-treatment nouns, and semantically unrelated non-treatment nouns. The control group did not show statistically significant improvements in overall noun naming. In the treatment group, the performance in the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), specifically in naming animals, significantly increased post-treatment compared to pretreatment. In contrast, the control group showed a significant decrease in digit span test performance post-treatment compared to pre-treatment. Conclusion: A semantic feature analysis based on errorless learning was effective in improving naming performance in AD patients. It also had a positive impact on the enhancement and maintenance of performance in language and cognitive tests.
The Relationship between Story Comprehension, Story Grammar Production, and Executive Function in Preschool-Age Korean-English Bilingual Children with and without Vocabulary Delay
Authors: Oh Yoorim , Yim Dongsun
Published: July 2024

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between story comprehension and story grammar abilities, as well as executive function in preschool Korean-English bilingual children with vocabulary delay (VD) compared to typically developing (TD) children and examined predictors of their narrative abilities. Methods: A total of 30 children (13 children with VD, 17 TD children) aged from 4-6 years participated in the study. Children performed non-word repetition (NWR) and word list recall for verbal working memory, matrix for non-verbal working memory, fruit stroop for inhibition, and Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) for shifting. They also performed story comprehension and story grammar production tasks in both languages to assess their narrative abilities. For data analyses, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression were conducted. Results: The VD group showed significantly lower performance in working memory, inhibition, shifting tasks. Moreover, VD group had significantly lower performance in story comprehension and story grammar production tasks in both languages. In the TD group, Korean story comprehension performance was correlated with English story comprehension, Korean story grammar production, English story grammar production performances. On the other hand, in the VD group, only Korean story comprehension showed a significant correlation with Korean story grammar production performance. Lastly, matrix significantly predicted English story comprehension abilities and word list recall significantly predicted Korean story grammar production abilities in the TD group. Conclusion: By examining the relationship between children’s ability to understand stories, produce story grammar and sub-factors of executive function, we can improve the narrative education and intervention for bilingual children’s literacy and academic achievement in the future.
A Study on the Using of Endings (“Eomi”) of 3- to 5-Year-Old Children in Spontaneous Language Samples
Authors: Lee YoonKyoung , Oh Sojung , Lim Suah
Published: July 2024

Objectives: Considering that language development is the development of language use ability, endings, which are essential for sentence construction, can be said to be a good indicator of language development as well as grammatical development. This study attempted to systematically and comprehensively examine the overall and subcategory use of endings in spontaneous speech for children aged 3 to 5 whose syntactic skills are rapidly developing. Methods: Language samples containing 50 utterances were collected from a total of 150 children aged 3 to 5 years (50 in each age group) through a semi-structured procedure. ‘Eomi’s are classified into four subcategories: prefinal Eomi (PE), Sentence-closing Eomi (SE), Connecting Eomi (CE), Transformative Eomi (TE). The number of total Eomi (NTE) use, the number of different Eomi (NDE) of overall Eomi & all subcategories of Eomi were analyzed. Results: The NTE & NDE of overall Eomi and all subcategories except SE significantly increased between the 3-year-old group and two older groups, but not between two older groups. Regression analysis demonstrated that the NDE of final Eomi and the NTE of CE significantly explained chronological age in the 3-year-old group. Conclusion: It was confirmed that NDE along with NTE of overall and all subcategories of Eomi consistently increased actively between the ages of 3 and 4. Also NDE along with NTE of Eomi should be considered in language assessment and intervention.