bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a radiomics-based model to predict local progression-free survival after chemo-radiotherapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer
Authors: Luo He-San , Chen Ying-Ying , Huang Wei-Zhen , Wu Sheng-Xi , Huang Shao-Fu , Xu Hong-Yao , Xue Ren-Liang , Du Ze-Sen , Li Xu-Yuan , Lin Lian-Xin , Huang He-Cheng
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To develop a nomogram model for predicting local progress-free survival (LPFS) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT).

Methods

We collected the clinical data of ESCC patients treated with CCRT in our hospital. Eligible patients were randomly divided into training cohort and validation cohort. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) with COX regression was performed to select optimal radiomic features to calculate Rad-score for predicting LPFS in the training cohort. The univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the predictive clinical factors for developing a nomogram model. The C-index was used to assess the performance of the predictive model and calibration curve was used to evaluate the accuracy.

Results

A total of 221 ESCC patients were included in our study, with 155 patients in training cohort and 66 patients in validation cohort. Seventeen radiomic features were selected by LASSO COX regression analysis to calculate Rad-score for predicting LPFS. The patients with a Rad-score ≥ 0.1411 had high risk of local recurrence, and those with a Rad-score < 0.1411 had low risk of local recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed that N stage, CR status and Rad-score were independent predictive factors for LPFS. A nomogram model was built based on the result of multivariate analysis. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.745 (95% CI 0.7700–0.790) in training cohort and 0.723(95% CI 0.654–0.791) in validation cohort. The 3-year LPFS rate predicted by the nomogram model was highly consistent with the actual 3-year LPFS rate both in the training cohort and the validation cohort.

Conclusion

We developed and validated a prediction model based on radiomic features and clinical factors, which can be used to predict LPFS of patients after CCRT. This model is conducive to identifying the patients with ESCC benefited more from CCRT.
Oral vaccination of foxes and raccoon dogs against rabies with the 3rd generation oral rabies virus vaccine, SPBN GASGAS, in Finland
Authors: Vos Ad , Nokireki Tiina , Isomursu Marja , Gadd Tuija , Kovacs Ferenc
Published: October 2021

Background

To prevent re-emergence of wildlife-mediated rabies in Finland, oral rabies vaccine baits are distributed every year during autumn in southern Finland in a vaccination zone bordering Russia. Recently, Finland introduced a 3rd generation oral rabies virus vaccine bait. By analysing bait uptake and seroconversion in red foxes and raccoon dogs, the field efficacy of this new vaccine strain, SPBN GASGAS, was compared with the originally used highly efficacious 1st generation vaccine SAD B19.

Results

Overall, 74.6% and 53.9% of the animals submitted from the vaccination area after the campaigns (2017–2019) tested positive for the presence of the bait marker and anti-rabiesvirus antibodies, respectively. No significant difference was observed between years, species and vaccine.

Conclusions

The field performance of the highly attenuated 3rd generation oral rabies vaccine, SPBN GASGAS, in terms of bait uptake and seroconversion was similar to the 1st generation vaccine, SAD B19, and therefore offers a suitable alternative.
Novel cattail fiber composites: converting waste biomass into reinforcement for composites
Authors: Shadhin Md. , Rahman Mashiur , Jayaraman Raghavan , Mann Danny
Published: October 2021

Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), used in manufacturing medium to large-sized composites for transportation industries, requires non-woven mats. While non-woven glass mats used in these applications are optimized for resin impregnation and properties, such optimized mats for natural fibers are not available. In the current research, cattail fibers were extracted from plants (18–30% yield) using alkali retting and non-woven cattail fiber mat was manufactured. The extracted fibers exhibited a normal distribution in diameter (davg. = 32.1 µm); the modulus and strength varied inversely with diameter, and their average values were 19.1 GPa and 172.3 MPa, respectively. The cattail fiber composites were manufactured using non-woven mats, Stypol polyester resin, VARTM pressure (101 kPa) and compression molding pressures (260 and 560 kPa) and tested. Out-of-plane permeability changed with the fiber volume fraction (Vf) of the mats, which was influenced by areal density, thickness, and fiber packing in the mat. The cattail fibers reinforced the Stypol resin significantly. The modulus and the strength increased with consolidation pressures due to the increase in Vf, with maximum values of 7.4 GPa and 48 MPa, respectively, demonstrating the utility of cattail fibers from waste biomass as reinforcements.
Barriers and facilitators of nutrition assessment, counseling, and support for tuberculosis patients: a qualitative study
Authors: Degefa Meaza Girma , Bezabih Afework Mulugeta , Kahsay Znabu Hadush , Belachew Abate Bekele
Published: October 2021

Background

Nutrition has a substantial role in the prevention, treatment, and cure of tuberculosis. Thus, nutrition assessment, counseling, and support (NACS) have been implemented as part of tuberculosis treatment. However, evidence on the barriers and facilitators (enablers) of its implementation is lacking.

Objective

To explore barriers and facilitators of implementation of NACS for tuberculosis patients.

Methods

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted in public health facilities and health offices of Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia. We conducted 17 interviews using purposively selected key informants comprising health professionals (n = 12) and tuberculosis patients (n = 5). Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded and analyzed using a thematic approach in ATLAS.ti 7 software.

Results

Barriers were identified at three levels -organization, care provider, and patient levels. Suboptimal nutritional supply, lack of supportive supervision, lack of adequate workforce, staff turn-over, the sudden withdrawal of partners, and weak link with social service were the barriers at the organization level. Lack of commitment was reported as the only barrier at the care provider level, and socioeconomic status of patients, sharing and selling of supplies, perceived improved status, and perceived stigma were identified as the major barriers for the implementation of nutrition assessment, counseling, and support service. While training, availability of measurement and educational tools, the inclusion of nutrition indicators in the tuberculosis register, and the presence of collaborating partners were identified as facilitators at the organizational level. Patients’ motivation to know their health status was reported to be a facilitator at the patient level.

Conclusions

Organization, care provider, and patient-level barriers and facilitators were found to influence the implementation of NACS. Hence, multilevel factors should be considered to successfully implement the program and to gain its potential impact.
Antioxidant and immunomodulatory effect of AKSS16-LIV01 – a multi herbal formulation against ethanol induced liver dysfunction in mice
Authors: Darbar Soumendra , Saha Srimoyee , Pramanik Kausikisankar , Chattopadhyay Atiskumar
Published: October 2021

Background

Liver complication arises commonly due to high alcohol consumption rate. Majority of the people residing in both developed and under developed countries consuming alcohol face various liver complications such as liver fibrosis, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Invention of safe and symptomatic medication to overcome this situation is a new challenge worldwide. The main objective of the study is to deliver a safe and symptomatic medication to reduce the ethanol induced liver dysfunction.

Methods

In this study we have developed a multi herbal formulation (AKSS-16-LIV01) which minimised liver damage against various toxicants. Swiss albino mice were divided into seven groups where ethanol induced damage was observed for weeks followed by sanative response observation by our herbal formulation. The groups are normal control group, ethanol treated group (50% v/v), AKSS16-LIV01 low dose (75 mg/kg/day) pre-treated group, AKSS16-LIV01 middle dose (150 mg/kg/day) pre-treated group, AKSS16-LIV01 high dose (300 mg/kg/day) pre-treated group, Sylimarin pre-treated group (100 mg/kg/day) and only AKSS16-LIV01 (300 mg/kg/day) treated group.

Results

The results potrayed significant elevation of various biochemical parameters, lipid profile parameters, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide (NO) concentration, nitric oxide synthase level and pro inflammatory cytokines level i.e. tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) in the ethanol induced mice. On the other hand serum total protein, total albumin, albumin globulin ratio and level of tissue antioxidant enzymes activity (SOD, CAT, GSH and GPx) were significantly reduced by ethanol. Dose depended therapeutic application of the formulation (AKSS16-LIV01) significantly suppressed all the relevant above parameters and protected the liver from ethanol induced fibrogenesis. Apart from this gross morphology of the liver, H&E liver histology and massontrichrome&serius red examination of the liver section strongly supported the hepatoprotive effect of the formulation as compared with standard drug Sylimarin. Result of the study implies that developed multi herbal formulation (AKSS16-LIV01) at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day gave the best optimum response to reduce the ethanol intoxication.

Conclusion

Result clearly depict that AKSS16-LIV01 may be a safe and nontoxic medication which protect the liver against ethanol induced oxidative injury and maintained pro inflammatory cytokines level in the future.

Graphical Abstract
Intraocular osseous metaplasia presenting as a solid mass in chronic retinal detachment: a case report
Authors: Chiou Yi-Ran , Wang Lei-Chi , Chou Yu-Bai
Published: October 2021

Background

Intraocular osseous metaplasia is a rare histological finding associated with benign cellular transformation. Its development requires inflammatory cytokines and the process takes many years. Previous case reports of intraocular ossification manifested as linear calcification or white plaques. In contrast, our case presented with a tumor-like solid mass, in which a long-standing chronic inflammatory stimulation may contribute to the stunning appearance.

Case presentation

This is a 48-year-old woman with past history of advanced Coat’s-like retinopathy and chronic retinal detachment in the left eye for 12 years. She underwent vitreoretinal surgery to prevent phthisis bulbi. During the operation, a 9 mm solid mass was found embedded within the proliferative tissue above the retina and was removed. Pathological findings revealed bone formation in the center of the mass surrounded by fibrous metaplasia and focal gliotic changes. Layers of cohesive cells were found lining on the external side of the mass, and further immuno-histochemical study suggested them retinal pigment epithelial cells. Postoperatively, the retina was attached with stable visual acuity and normal intraocular pressure.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, the appearance of a tumor-like mass representing intraocular osseous metaplasia in eyes with chronic inflammation or retinal detachment has not been reported in previous case reports. This case emphasizes the importance of considering osseous metaplasia as one of the differential diagnoses of an unknown intraocular mass, especially in eyes with great severity of chronic inflammation. Also, our immuno-histochemical study provided more evidence on the pathological role of retinal pigment epithelial cells in developing ossification.
Comparison of aflibercept and bevacizumab in the treatment of type 1 retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Riazi-esfahani Hamid , Mahmoudi Alireza , Sanatkar Mehdi , Farahani Afsar Dastjani , Bazvand Fatemeh
Published: October 2021

Background

To evaluate the outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and aflibercept (IVA) injection for patients with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods

In this single-center retrospective cohort, the recorded medical data of the infants who had been undergone intravitreal injection with either bevacizumab or aflibercept for type 1 ROP were reviewed. The infants were allocated into two groups. IVB group included patients who were treated with bevacizumab as initial treatment and the IVA group included patients who were treated with aflibercept as initial treatment. The rate and time of complete regression, as well as the recurrence rates, were compared between the groups.

Results

A total of 889 eyes of 453 infants were enrolled in the study. There were 865 eyes of 441 infants in the IVB group and 24 eyes of 12 infants in the IVA group. Follow-up time was 289 ± 257 days in the IVB group and 143 ± 25 days in the IVA group (p < 0.001). The difference in the ROP zone was not statistically significant between the 2 treatment groups (p = 0.328). All eyes in the IVA group showed initial regression of ROP after the intravitreal injections. These regressions were achieved in 830 (96.0%) eyes that were injected with IVB (p = 0.023). The median observed regression time was 10 days and 16 days in eyes treated with bevacizumab and aflibercept respectively. Recurrence was noted in 3.9% of eyes (34/865) in the IVB group and 58.3% of eyes (14/24) in the IVA group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

While the regression rate in the IVA group was significantly higher than in the IVB group, the recurrence rate was significantly more in the IVA group, which may be attributed to differences in the pharmacokinetics of these drugs in the vitreous body.
Anomalous Josephson effect modulated by magnetic misorientation in a topological unconventional superconductor hybrid structure
Authors: Liu Tingmin , Zhou Linyi , Tao Y. C.
Published: October 2021

We study the anomalous Josephson effect induced by magnetic misorientation of asymmetric s-wave superconductor (SC)/ferromagnet insulator (FI)/normal layer/FI/d-wave SC junctions on a surface of topological insulator (TI). For the out-of-plane case, the magnetic misorientation not only leads to anomalous Josephson effects, but also realizes

state transitions. However, for the in-plane case, the

state transitions do not turn up any more. In particular, the plateaus phenomenon for d

xy
-wave SC junction emerges all the time. In addition, in the context of the in-plane case, the supercurrent rectification can be modulated by the magnetic misorientation. These unique phenomena can be employed to identify different d-wave superconductivities of three-dimensional TI and manufacture the supercurrent devices with such functions as phase storing, rectification, and quantum computation.
Atmospheric Citizenship
Authors: Eisenlohr Patrick
Published: October 2021

In Mumbai the sonic dimensions of place-making and religious life are deeply connected to the right to the city. For Twelver Shi‘i Muslims, who are marginal to both the city and the nation, public religious rituals and processions have long played very important roles in staging claims to the city. Investigating the sonic aspects of urban place-making, including its religious dimensions, this essay draws on an analytic of atmospheres in order to capture the powerful emotive dimensions of place-making through sonic performances. Through its coupling with the felt-body, the sonic plays a privileged role in giving urban locales a specific feel as belonging to particular groups, investing this feel with an air of facticity that is largely immune to discursive critique. This article focuses on ritual performances and processions among Twelver Shi‘i Muslims during the Islamic month of Muharram in order to analyze nondiscursive and atmospheric forms of citizenship.
Fetuin-A secretion from β-cells leads to accumulation of macrophages in islets, aggravates inflammation and impairs insulin secretion
Authors: Mukhuty Alpana , Fouzder Chandrani , Kundu Rakesh
Published: October 2021

Elevated fetuin-A levels, chemokines and islet-resident macrophages are crucial factors associated with obesity-mediated type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of MIN6 (a mouse insulinoma cell line)-derived fetuin-A (also known as AHSG) in macrophage polarization and decipher the effect of M1 type pro-inflammatory macrophages in commanding over insulin secretion. MIN6 and islet-derived fetuin-A induced expression of the M1 type macrophage markers Emr1 (also known as Adgre1), Cd68 and CD11c (Itgax) (∼1.8 fold) along with increased cytokine secretion. Interestingly, suppression of fetuin-A in MIN6 successfully reduced M1 markers by ∼1.5 fold. MIN6-derived fetuin-A also induced chemotaxis of macrophages in a Boyden chamber chemotaxis assay. Furthermore, high-fat feeding in mice showed elevated cytokine and fetuin-A content in serum and islets, and also migration and polarization of macrophages to the islets, while β-cells failed to meet the increased insulin demand. Moreover, in MIN6 culture, M1 macrophages sharply decreased insulin secretion by ∼2.8 fold. Altogether our results support an association of fetuin-A with islet inflammation and β-cell dysfunction, owing to its role as a key chemoattractant and macrophage polarizing factor.
Rapidly Degrading Tetracycline by Highly Selective Catalysis with Hydroxyapatite Nanowire
Authors: Li Bozhen , Wang Zejun , Li Yiming , Zhang Yaping , He Yufeng , Song Pengfei , Wang Rongmin
Published: October 2021

Hydroxyapatite nanowire (HAnW), a novel synthesized biocompatible material without any transition metals, was applied to catalytic degradation of antibiotics. Importantly, tetracycline (TC), a common drug, could be rapidly adsorbed and catalytically degraded by HAnW, and the removal reached 85% within 5 min at room temperature.
The role of audiovisual resources in active learning methodologies
Authors: Anagnostopoulou Vasiliki , Izquierdo Becerro Verónica
Published: October 2021

Η εκπαίδευση αλλάζει και οι ενεργητικές μεθοδολογίες μάθησης είναι ολοένα και πιο ουσιαστικές στη σύγχρονη διδακτική διαδικασία. Ως εκ τούτου, υπάρχει μια μεγάλη ποικιλία ενεργών μεθοδολογιών, όπως η Ανεστραμμένη Τάξη (Flipped Classroom), η μάθηση βασισμένη σε πρότζεκτ (Project-Learning) και η μάθηση βασισμένη στην επίλυση προβλημάτων (Problem-Based Learning), που μπορούν να εφαρμοστούν στην τάξη, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του βίντεο ως εμπλουτιστικού υλικού για τη συμβολή στη βελτίωση της διδασκαλίας και της μαθησιακής διαδικασίας αφήνοντας στην άκρη την παραδοσιακή μεθοδολογία. Η εφαρμογή ενεργών μεθοδολογιών μαζί με τη χρήση του διδακτικού βίντεο στο σχολείο προσφέρει πολλά οφέλη, όπως η προώθηση της συνεργασίας, η ανάληψη πρωτοβουλιών, οι δεξιότητες διαπραγμάτευσης, η επίλυση προβλημάτων, η δημιουργικότητα, η φαντασία και η κριτική σκέψη. Ωστόσο, είναι απαραίτητο να επισημανθεί ότι τα σχολεία θα πρέπει να διευκολύνουν τη χρήση οπτικοακουστικών πόρων, παρέχοντας κατάλληλες εγκαταστάσεις και προγράμματα για τη χρήση και τη δημιουργία τέτοιου υλικού. Από την άλλη πλευρά, οι ψηφιακές τεχνολογίες παρουσιάζουν έναν διευκολυντικό ρόλο με συμπληρωματικό τρόπο στις ενεργές μεθοδολογίες και όχι έναν υποχρεωτικό χαρακτήρα για την ανάπτυξή τους. Τέλος, θα ήταν ενδιαφέρον να διερευνηθεί ο αντίκτυπος της συμπερίληψης οπτικοακουστικών πόρων στις μικρότερες βαθμίδες εκπαίδευσης προκειμένου να γίνουν γνωστές οι αντιλήψεις και των μαθητών σχετικά με τη δημιουργία περιεχομένου με εκπαιδευτικά βίντεο και όχι μόνο οι αντιλήψεις των εκπαιδευτικών.
Μύθοι και αλήθειες για την χαρισματικότητα
Authors: Καραγιάννη Ελένη
Published: October 2021

Για πολλά χρόνια η χαρισματικότητα θεωρήθηκε μία έμφυτη, σταθερή ιδιότητα του ατόμου, βασισμένη στον υψηλό δείκτη νοημοσύνης. Νεότερα δεδομένα όμως, αναδεικνύοντας την δυναμική πολυπαραγοντική φύση της, επέτρεψαν την καλύτερη κατανόηση της διακύμανσης στο επίτευγμα. Σκοπός της έρευνας είναι να εξετάσει δημοφιλείς μύθους σχετικά με τα χαρακτηριστικά, τα κριτήρια αναγνώρισης και τις εκπαιδευτικές ανάγκες των προικισμένων μαθητών. Τα ευρήματα συνέβαλαν στην απομυθοποίηση αναχρονιστικών αντιλήψεων και έδωσαν σαφείς απαντήσεις σε ερωτήματα σχετικά με τη φύση και τις ιδιαίτερες ανάγκες των ταλαντούχων παιδιών. Συμπερασματικά, προκύπτει ότι οι χαρισματικοί μαθητές αποτελούν έναν ετερογενή πληθυσμό με υψηλές ικανότητες, που συνδιαμορφώνονται από την αλληλεπίδραση πολλαπλών παραγόντων και με ιδιαίτερες συναισθηματικές, κοινωνικές και εκπαιδευτικές ανάγκες, η ικανοποίηση των οποίων θα επιτρέψει την ωρίμανση των ταλέντων τους  και την μετατροπή τους σε εξαιρετικά επιτεύγματα.
Ο ρόλος της οικογένειας στην ανάπτυξη της χαρισματικότητας
Authors: Κουτρομάνου Μαρκέλλα , Ξηντάρα Ιωάννα-Μαρία
Published: October 2021

Η συγκεκριμένη βιβλιογραφική εργασία αποπειράται να σκιαγραφήσει τον καθοριστικό ρόλο του οικογενειακού περιβάλλοντος στην ανάδειξη της χαρισματικότητας. Έπειτα από μελέτη σε θεωρίες και έρευνες, παλαιότερες αλλά και πιο σύγχρονες,  αναδεικνύεται η σπουδαιότητα της σύναψης θετικών οικογενειακών δεσμών ανάμεσα στα μέλη της οικογένειας, οι οποίες υποστηρίζουν το χαρισματικό παιδί και το ωθούν στην ανάδειξη του χαρίσματός του και συνεπακόλουθα στην σχολική επιτυχία. Ένα συνεκτικό οικογενειακό κλίμα, συνοδευόμενο από έναν πολιτιστικά και πνευματικά ποιοτικό τρόπο ζωής, θα επιφέρει  στο χαρισματικό παιδί τα βέλτιστα αποτελέσματα των δυνατοτήτων του. Προσεγγίζεται ακόμη και η μορφή της μονογονεϊκής οικογένειας που όπως διαπιστώθηκε, πέρα από την αρνητική επίδραση που έχει η απουσία ενός γονέα στην πορεία του χαρισματικού παιδιού, υπάρχουν περιπτώσεις που η απώλεια μακροπρόθεσμα δρα προς όφελος του, όσον αφορά τη δημιουργικότητα, την έκφραση και την ανάπτυξη ταλέντου. Επιβεβαιώνεται ότι το οικογενειακό περιβάλλον, τόσο στις πυρηνικές όσο και στις μονογονεϊκές οικογένειες, είναι κυρίαρχης σημασίας για τις επιδόσεις και γενικότερα την ολόπλευρη ανάπτυξη του χαρισματικού παιδιού.
Κριτική Σκέψη και Κριτική Σκέψη και Χαρισματικότητα
Authors: Χαντζούλη Ελένη
Published: October 2021

Οι Tamilson και Kalbfleisch, 1998, αναφέρουν ότι: «αν ένας μαθητής εμπλακεί σε ένα αναλυτικό πρόγραμμα που είναι πέρα από το επίπεδο της ετοιμότητάς του, τα αποτελέσματα του άγχους και η υπερπαραγωγή νευροδιαβιβαστών θα εμποδίσουν τη μάθηση» (Koob, Cole, Swerdlow, le Model, 1990). Αντίθετα «αν ένα αναλυτικό πρόγραμμα είναι κάτω από το επίπεδο ετοιμότητας του μαθητή, ο εγκέφαλος δεν αναγκάζεται να ανταποκριθεί, με συνέπεια να μην απελευθερώνει τα επίπεδα ντοπαμίνης, νοραδρεναλίνης, σεροτονίνης και άλλα νευροχημικά που απαιτούνται για την ιδανική μάθηση. Το αποτέλεσμα είναι η απάθεια» (Shultz, Dayan & Montague, 1997)Οι χαρισματικοί μαθητές διαθέτουν δυναμικό διαφορετικό των τυπικών μαθητών σε διάφορους τομείς σκέψης. Έχουν αναπτυγμένη, σε  σχέση με τους τυπικούς συνομηλικούς, την ικανότητα επίλυσης προβλήματος, τη δημιουργική ικανότητα και την κριτική σκέψη. Για να μπορούν να καλλιεργήσουν τις ικανότητες και να εξελίξουν το δυναμικό τους θα πρέπει να τους παρασχεθεί αυτό το είδος εκπαίδευσης που ανταποκρίνεται στις ανάγκες τους ώστε να οδηγηθούν στην ατομική ευτυχία και να συνδράμουν στην κοινωνική ευημερία.Στην παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζονται ενδεικτικά παραδείγματα διδακτικών ενοτήτων καλλιέργειας της Κριτικής Σκέψης των χαρισματικών μαθητών. Η μεθοδολογία στην οποία βασίζονται είναι αυτή τη σωκρατικής συζήτησης που σκοπό έχει να αναδείξει και να εξελίξει την κριτική ικανότητα των εμπλεκόμενων μαθητών.
Διαχείριση σχολικής τάξης : Ένα καθημερινό πρόβλημα
Authors: Κουμέντος Ιωάννης
Published: October 2021

Η διδασκαλία δεν μπορεί να αποδώσει, χωρίς τη διαχείριση της σχολικής τάξης. Η διαχείριση της σχολικής τάξης είναι ένα δύσκολο πρόβλημα που αντιμετωπίζουν οι εκπαιδευτικοί και ιδιαίτερα οι νέοι. Η ορθή διαχείριση της σχολικής τάξης διαμορφώνει καλό κλίμα, μεγιστοποιεί το διδακτικό χρόνο, εξασφαλίζει τη συμμετοχή των μαθητών στη διδασκαλία, δημιουργεί θετικό μαθησιακό περιβάλλον, προλαμβάνει τις ανεπιθύμητες συμπεριφορές και αντιμετωπίζει συγκρουσιακές καταστάσεις. Ιδιαίτερη βαρύτητα προσλαμβάνει η διαχείριση της σχολικής τάξης, όταν υπάρχουν μαθητές με ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά ,οι οποίοι και πρέπει να ενταχθούν ομαλά στην τάξη και το σχολείο και να εφαρμοσθούν διαφοροποιημένες διδακτικές παρεμβάσεις. Για την επιτυχημένη διαχείριση της τάξης χρειάζονται συνέργειες της σχολικής κοινότητας και εντός της τάξης δημιουργία πλαισίου πρόληψης και σωστής διδακτικής παρέμβασης.
Diana Mishkova, Beyond Balkanism: The Scholarly Politics of Region Making
Authors: Stamatopoulos Dimitris
Published: October 2021

Review of Diana Mishkova. Beyond Balkanism: The Scholarly Politics of Region Making. London: Routledge, 2018. 282 pp.
Who is the Historian? The Formation of Modern Greek History and the Historical Community in the Short Twentieth Century
Authors: Karamanolakis Vangelis
Published: October 2021

The position of historian emerged as a distinct academic and professional field in Greece in the last quarter of the 20th century. In an attempt to explore this “delay” in comparison to Western European countries, this article offers an overview of the making of the field of modern Greek history during the twentieth century. Starting from the gradual acknowledgment of the autonomy of modern Greek history in relation to classical and Byzantine studies, the article traces its evolution and its close ties to political and social developments. The prevalence of historical positivism and philological principles, along with the dominance of the ideology of national continuity – the latter enriched through the postwar ideologies of national-mindedness and anticommunism – led to the persistence of the “historian-philologist” until 1974. The fall of the military dictatorship in 1974, which marked the end of the post-Greek Civil War era, was a catalyst for the flowering of modern Greek studies and the formation of a small but distinct community of historians, who regularly intervened in the public sphere.
A Kratt as an Administrative Body: Algorithmic Decisions and Principles of Administrative Law
Authors: Pilving Ivo , Mikiver Monika
Published: October 2021

Estonia, as the number-one-ranked country in Europe for the digital public services dimension of the Digital Economy and Society Index, aims at widespread adoption of artificial-intelligence systems to assist or even replace officials in public administration. It is expected that there will be 50 artificial-intelligence applications operating in Estonian public administration by the end of 2020. The machine learning capacity that is often intrinsic in artificial intelligence systems means, in practice, that even the data analyst or programmer who wrote the respective code is later no longer able to explain the parameters behind the decisions. If the state allows a so-called black box to make administrative decisions, further constitutional issues will arise in addition to that of judicial control of such a decision. An administrative decision presumes the implementation of legislation. Owing to the vagueness of the law, a judicial appraisal does not merely involve formal-logic operations, as laws and regulations require interpretation and the consideration of the facts. This is particularly important in making discretionary decisions. Interpretation and consideration must not be limited to the predictions made on the basis of earlier, similar cases by means of statistical methods. It is not rare that a decision on applying a standard needs to be made also in a situation that the legislator has been unable to foresee and for which there is no requisite pattern emerging in the training data fed to an algorithm. The article examines the related principles arising from the Constitution, and one of the conclusions drawn from these is that for factually or legally complex decisions, the weight of the decision must be borne by humans, at least until much more powerful artificial intelligence is developed. However, with the help of learning algorithms individual components and elements of such decisions can be taken. Full automation remains an option in cases of routine administrative decisions that are advantageous for the person(s) concerned and that lack negative side effects for them, as well in cases where all relevant factual circumstances are comprehensible to an algorithm as such and transparent.
The Child’s Autonomy in Decision-making on Medical Treatment: Theoretical Considerations
Authors: Paron Kristi
Published: October 2021

The article examines the theoretical and normative context of a child’s autonomous decision making in health care. Neither the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child nor the general comments of the Committee on the Rights of the Child state criteria for regarding a child to be competent for such decision-making. The key issue in the debate over children’s informed consent to medical interventions is that of competence. The author analyses competence through the lens of Archard’s division of rational autonomy into rationality, maturity, and independence. These three elements could guide health-care practitioners who need to assess the capacity of a child to consent.
Fertility of Roma Minorities in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Szabó Laura , Kiss Igor , Šprocha Branislav , Spéder Zsolt
Published: October 2021

We analyse Roma fertility in four neighbouring countries in Central and Eastern Europe with a large Roma minority: in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Serbia. The sources of data are the respective national population censuses from 2011. Fertility is measured at the birth cohort level as the average number of children ever born. We make an international comparison of the fertility of Roma and non-Roma majority population women on the basis of completed education. In the case of Hungary, we also explore how the correlation between fertility and ethnic identity is modified when completed education and ethnic residential segregation are controlled.

The fertility of Roma women is far above the majority population average in all birth cohorts and in each country. Educational attainment modifies this relationship. The fertility of highly educated Roma and majority population women is converging. The exposure to majority behaviour also has an effect. The lower the level of ethnic residential segregation, the smaller the difference between the fertility of Roma and majority population women. Completed education and residential segregation may exert different forces at the two ends of the educational hierarchy when their joint effect is explored. At the upper end of the social hierarchy, neither segregation nor ethnicity matters; at the lower end, however, both exposure to ethnic majority behaviour and ethnicity matter.
Los diarios de aula: una herramienta critico-reflexiva para aprender cuestiones de género.
Authors: Santamaría-Cárdaba Noelia , Carrasco-Campos Angel
Published: October 2021

Este artículo analiza una experiencia didáctica en la que se emplean como herramienta didáctico-reflexiva los diarios de aula sobre una cuestión tan relevante en la actualidad como es el quinto Objetivo del Desarrollo Sostenible incluido en la Agenda 2030 promovida por la ONU: el género. Específicamente, este estudio trabaja la desigualdad de género para despertar conciencias crítico-reflexivas en el alumnado. La formación de una ciudadanía global concienciada con las desigualdades y que actúe a favor de la justicia social es imprescindible en la sociedad actual; al igual, que formar, desde los centros educativos, estudiantes que posean una adecuada alfabetización mediática que les haga valorar de forma crítica las noticias provenientes de los medios de comunicación. La investigación empleó un enfoque cualitativo mediante el análisis de los discursos del alumnado y de la maestra generados en los diarios de aula. Los resultados desvelan no solo que la experiencia didáctica resulta exitosa, sino que el empleo del diario en el aula resulta eficaz para formar una ciudadanía global que piense críticamente y comprenda la importancia de actuar contra las desigualdades. En conclusión, emplear como recurso didáctico el diario y las noticias publicadas en medios de comunicación son unas herramientas útiles y eficaces que los docentes pueden aplicar en el aula de forma exitosa, pues de este modo se promueve tanto la formación de ciudadanos globales críticos como la alfabetización mediática
Construct validity analysis of the questionnaire "Knowledge Management for educational innovation in universities".
Authors: Vázquez González Guillermo César , Jiménez Macías Iván Ulianov , Juárez Hernández Luis Gibran
Published: October 2021

La gestión del conocimiento es una capacidad que impulsa la innovación educativa en universidades, por tanto, requiere de herramientas que permitan su evaluación. Al respecto se encuentra el cuestionario “gestión del conocimiento para la innovación educativa en universidades”, el cual, en una fase inicial fue sujeto de análisis de validez de contenido, por tanto, se requiere el análisis de validez de constructo, ya que esta propiedad es considerada la de mayor importancia. Por lo anterior, el objetivo fue realizar dicho análisis y evaluar la confiabilidad del cuestionario mediante la aplicación a una muestra de profesores de educación superior. El análisis de validez de constructo se realizó mediante el análisis factorial exploratorio, y la confiabilidad se determinó con el Alfa de Cronbach. Los resultados revelaron la representación del 77% de los ítems en dos factores denominados “gerencia” y “acción” que, en conjunto, explicaron más del 70% de la varianza. La confiabilidad mostró un valor óptimo total (Alfa de Cronbach: .985 IC al 95%: .98 + .99), así como por factor (uno: .978 IC al 95%: .969 + .984; dos: .972 IC al 95%: .961 + .98). Se puede concluir que los elementos que integran el cuestionario reproducen el constructo teórico propuesto.
Rethinking Salt Supply Chains: Cost and Emissions Analysis for Coproduction of Salt and Fresh Water from U.S. Seawater
Authors: Sošić Greys
Published: October 2021

Is it feasible to build desalination plants for the coproduction of salt and fresh water from U.S. seawater that could lead to a restructuring of supply chains for salt imports? As it is predicted that climate change will increase water stress worldwide, an increasing number of countries are using desalination plants to generate fresh water. In most such cases, residual concentrates must be disposed of, and the disposal cost is increasing as countries are becoming more environmentally conscious. Selective salt recovery can help to alleviate this issue as it reduces the need for concentrate disposal and generates additional revenue. To gain some insights into the costs and benefits of coproduction plants, we have collected data on current desalination practices and salt imports in the United States along with the manufacturing costs and energy requirements for coproduction plants. We have used this data to build an optimization model to determine an optimal number and location of coproduction plants in the United States and their potential markets for the sale of coproduced salt. In our analysis, we consider a different total number of coproduction facilities, and for each configuration, we evaluate the resulting net water cost and carbon emissions impact. Our results indicate that there exists the potential for building several coproduction plants in the United States that would be both financially competitive with existing desalination plants and lead to a reduction in carbon emissions. This information might be of use to both governments and businesses when they make decisions about the type of desalination facilities built and the implemented “polluter pays” policies.

This paper was This paper was accepted by Beril Toktay, Special Section of Management Science on Business and Climate Change.

Supplemental Material: Data are available at https://doi.org/10.1278/mnsc.2021.4109 .
Impact of topical oxygen therapy on diabetic foot ulcer healing rates: a systematic review
Authors: Connaghan Frances , Avsar Pinar , Patton Declan , O'Connor Tom , Moore Zena
Published: October 2021

Objective:

The aim of this systematic review was to determine the impact of topical oxygen therapy (TOT) on diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing.

Method:

Using systematic review methodology, we considered randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled trials, pilot studies and observational studies. The search was conducted in January 2019, using PubMed, CINAHL, Ovid, Cochrane, Web of Science and EMBASE databases. Data analysis was undertaken using RevMan and a narrative synthesis. The article titles were assessed by two authors independently, and the abstracts (when available) of the studies identified by the search strategy were screened for their eligibility, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The full-text version of potentially relevant studies was obtained and two authors independently screened this against the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted using a predesigned extraction tool and all included studies were quality appraised using the Evidence-Based Librarianship checklist.

Results:

The search returned 565 records of which eight met the inclusion criteria. Of the included studies, three were set in single centre outpatient wound clinics, two studies were set in an outpatient wound care research clinic and three studies were multisite. Meta-analysis of four studies was undertaken. DFUs are >2 times more likely to heal with TOT than with standard care alone. The odds ratio (OR)=2.49 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.59–3.90, p=0.00001). The remaining four studies also showed that using TOT increased healing rates. An included study reported that time to 50% DFU closure was significantly shorter in participants who received the TOT, mean 18.4 days versus 28.9 days in the sham therapy group (p=0.001). However, the validity of 65.5% of the eight studies was assessed as low.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that TOT enhances healing for patients with hard-to-heal DFUs when used with standard care. The results from the trials reviewed also indicate a benefit for patients over standard care alone. However, the sample sizes in the studies were generally small, thus, more RCTs are warranted to further validate these findings.

Declaration of interest:

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Wound bed preparation with hypochlorous acid oxidising solution and standard of care: a prospective case series
Authors: Ricci Elia , Pittarello Monica
Published: October 2021

Objective:

This prospective case series aims to evaluate the clinical impact of a hypochlorous acid oxidising solution (AOS) in association with usual standard of care (SoC) on wound bed preparation (WBP) in patients with hard-to-heal ulcers of various aetiologies. The AOS (Nexodyn, APR Applied Pharma Research S.A., Switzerland) comprises three main features: highly pure and stabilised hypochlorous acid, acidic pH and high reduction–oxidation potential.

Method:

Between February 2015 and February 2017, patients who met the inclusion criteria were treated with AOS and usual SoC. Data collection ran for 70 days: T0–T70. A baseline assessment was undertaken at T0; parameters assessed at fortnightly visits included: WBP score, area and depth of ulcer, duration, pain, Bates–Jensen score and infection status.

Results:

A total of 60 patients took part in the study. By T70, 68.3% of wounds had healed or improved and a significant wound size reduction of 21% was observed (p<0.001), despite a mean wound duration of 20.6 months. All wounds were free of local infection and cellulitis; 10% were colonised. WBP scores improved, while Bates–Jensen and pain scores fell significantly over time.

Conclusion:

This evaluation suggests that AOS might represent a valuable therapeutic addition for an optimal WBP in the routine management of hard-to-heal ulcers of different aetiologies.

Declaration of interest:

ER worked as a consultant for APR Applied Pharma Research S.A. The authors have no other conflicts of interest.
Percepciones de los educadores sobre el papel de la neurociencia en educación: Resultados de un estudio en España
Authors: Martín-Aragoneses María Teresa , Expósito-Casas Eva , López-Martín Esther , Anaya Nieto Daniel
Published: October 2021

INTRODUCCIÓN. El trabajo en el ámbito educativo se caracteriza por la constante preocupación de sus profesionales acerca de las mejores formas de enseñar y de aprender. En los últimos años, esta inquietud se ha venido reflejando en un interés creciente del profesorado por fundamentar neurocientíficamente sus prácticas educativas. El presente estudio tuvo por finalidad conocer la visión de los educadores españoles en ejercicio sobre el papel de la neurociencia en la educación.

MÉTODO. Se diseñó un cuestionario basado en los trabajos previos de Pickering y Howard-Jones (2007) y Serpati y Loughan (2012) y se recabaron, durante ocho cursos académicos, las respuestas de una muestra incidental compuesta por 612 educadores (69.6% mujeres, edad: M = 41.33, DT = 9.75, experiencia: M = 15.17, DT = 10.20) con encuestas completas.

RESULTADOS. Los resultados revelan que: 1) el profesorado considera que es muy importante conocer cómo funciona el cerebro para el desempeño de sus tareas docentes, especialmente en relación con la atención a las necesidades educativas especiales o la detección temprana de problemas de aprendizaje; 2) esta visión es independiente de los años de experiencia, pero no de la etapa educativa, siendo el profesorado de educación secundaria el que tiende a conceder una menor importancia a este conocimiento; y 3) se observa una evolución positiva respecto a la importancia concedida a la comprensión del cerebro para la mayoría de los aspectos de la práctica educativa considerados.

DISCUSIÓN. Estos hallazgos apoyan la evidencia encontrada en investigación previa y la amplían al analizar las valoraciones otorgadas en función de la etapa educativa y la experiencia, así como al estudiar su evolución durante ocho cursos académicos. Estos resultados se discuten enfatizando el papel de los planes de formación inicial y permanente del profesorado en el uso eficaz de los conocimientos neurocientíficos disponibles en la práctica educativa.
Steady-state measures of visual suppression
Authors: Baker Daniel H. , Vilidaite Greta , Wade Alex R.
Published: October 2021

In the early visual system, suppression occurs between neurons representing different stimulus properties. This includes features such as orientation (cross-orientation suppression), eye-of-origin (interocular suppression) and spatial location (surround suppression), which are thought to involve distinct anatomical pathways. We asked if these separate routes to suppression can be differentiated by their pattern of gain control on the contrast response function measured in human participants using steady-state electroencephalography. Changes in contrast gain shift the contrast response function laterally, whereas changes in response gain scale the function vertically. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to summarise the evidence for each type of gain control. A computational meta-analysis of 16 previous studies found the most evidence for contrast gain effects with overlaid masks, but no clear evidence favouring either response gain or contrast gain for other mask types. We then conducted two new experiments, comparing suppression from four mask types (monocular and dichoptic overlay masks, and aligned and orthogonal surround masks) on responses to sine wave grating patches flickering at 5Hz. At the occipital pole, there was strong evidence for contrast gain effects in all four mask types at the first harmonic frequency (5Hz). Suppression generally became stronger at more lateral electrode sites, but there was little evidence of response gain effects. At the second harmonic frequency (10Hz) suppression was stronger overall, and involved both contrast and response gain effects. Although suppression from different mask types involves distinct anatomical pathways, gain control processes appear to serve a common purpose, which we suggest might be to suppress less reliable inputs.
The scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) of Iran with the description of Mahabadphora aesthesphora as a new genus and species
Authors: Namaki-Khameneh Roya , Khaghaninia Samad , L. Disney R. Henry , Maleki-Ravasan Naseh
Published: October 2021

Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are mega-diverse and often synanthropic insects that play superb roles in various ecosystems. Identification of this group of insects is challenging due to their small size, morphological identification difficulties, niche diversity, and lack of taxonomic keys. To pave the way, an in-depth investigation was directed toward the scuttle flies in Iran using morphological and molecular data. A dichotomous key was also developed to identify the genus and species of the phorids reported in the country. The faunistic findings revealed the presence of about 22,000 (13,903 male and 8,097 female) phorid materials organized into 11 genera.Megaseliaspecies (n = 13768), made up about 99% of the specimens studied. Moreover, 71 morphologically defined species belonging to nine genera were molecularly characterized usingCOI,28S rRNA, andArginine kinasedatasets. Excluding fourMegaseliaRondani, 1856 species, our results specified that morphologically delimited species were in agreement with the molecular analyses inferred from theCOI/28S rRNAandCOI/Arginine kinasesequences with genetic distances and phylogenetic trees. According to the results of the present study and previously published data, the Phoridae recorded for Iran are a total of 97 species that are ordered in 13 genera and three subfamilies, including Chonocephalinae, Metopininae and Phorinae. By comparing the known world phorid genera, a new monotypic genus of scuttle flies,Mahabadphora aesthesphoragen. nov., sp. nov., was identified based on its morphological and molecular characteristics and included in an updated key. Our results could comprehensively determine the taxonomic status of scuttle flies in Iran, scrutinize their phylogenetic structures and facilitate their identification.