bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Artifacts Caused by Intraoral Dental Materials in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Josephraj Divya , Vineetha Ravindranath , Sankaran Priya Pattath , Koteshwara Prakashini , Kumar Mathangi , Pentapati Kalyana Chakravarthy
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of artifacts produced by various intraoral dental materials in magnetic resonance imaging sequences and assess their impact on the diagnostic quality of the resultant images. Material and Methods: A clinical examination was conducted on forty-six patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging for various brain pathologies. Parameters were recorded, including the location, span, and type of intraoral dental material. The impact of these artifacts on the diagnostic quality of the resultant image sequences was assessed. The reliability of the intraand interobserver was calculated, and Fischer's exact test was applied. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The most common signal intensity artifact observed was hypointense with hyperintense rim artifacts in FLAIR (95.5%). The most common shape of the artifacts observed was circular/void shape (84.4%). There was a statistically significant difference between the various classes of intraoral dental materials and diagnostic acceptability (p=0.017). In the present study, 28% of the study population images were graded diagnostically unacceptable in the sequences evaluated (FLAIR 37.8%, T2 3.3%, SWI 24.4%, DWI 25%). Conclusion: Dental material artifacts interfered with the interpretation of magnetic resonance imaging at varying levels of diagnostic acceptability depending on the indication for which the imaging was performed.
Da “diplomacia do ping-pong” aos Jogos Beijing-2022: 50 anos de esporte na política externa da China
Authors: Canali Enrico Streliaev , Filippi Eduardo Ernesto
Published: February 2025

RESUMO O trabalho estuda o papel do esporte na política externa da República Popular da China nos 50 anos desde a retomada das relações com o Ocidente, na “Diplomacia do ping-pong”, em 1972, até o anúncio da parceria estratégica com a Rússia, durante a abertura dos Jogos Olímpicos de Inverno de 2022. Mais do que mostras da reorientação geopolítica do país, tais eventos integram uma política constante no período, incluindo as candidaturas chinesas para sediar os Jogos Olímpicos de Verão em 2000 e 2008 e a atuação junto ao COI com o objetivo de deslegitimar as aspirações de Taiwan por reconhecimento e autonomia no sistema internacional. Os valores relacionados ao esporte também sustentaram o discurso do Partido Comunista Chinês associado às reformas econômicas pós-revolução Cultural.
SME PERFORMANCE AND JOB CREATION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF DIGITAL INNOVATION
Authors: Solaja Oluwasegun Abraham , Oyedele Olusegun Ola , Olajugba Oluwapemi John , Abiodun Abolaji Joachim , Edewor Ogheneofejiro Jesujoba , Solaja Omobolanle Omotayo , Kehinde Oluwatimilehin Victoria , Akerele Faith Oluwatobiloba
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationship between Digital innovation, SME performance, and Job creation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It examined how SME performance mediates the relationship between digital innovation and job creation. Using data obtained from 655 SMEs in SSA, we discovered that digital innovation has the potential to help SMEs create jobs and enhance performance. Our analysis confirmed the mediating role of SME performance in the relationship between digital innovation and job creation; we found that digital innovation is significantly associated with improved performance, enhancing their capacity for job creation. This study contributes to the literature by presenting empirical evidence on the role of digital innovation in job creation and SME performance and the mediating role of SME performance in the relationship between digital innovation and job creation.
Resiliência e inovação organizacional nas instituições públicas de Educação Superior
Authors: Barbosa Daiane dos Santos , Machado Daiane Pias , Frare Anderson Betti
Published: February 2025

Resumo Este artigo analisa se a capacidade de resiliência das instituições públicas de Educação Superior (IES) influencia na inovação organizacional. O estudo é de natureza quantitativa, com dados coletados de 165 IES brasileiras. A análise de dados ocorreu com aplicação de Modelagem de Equações Estruturais-PLS-SEM, que permitiu confirmar a hipótese de que a Capacidade de Resiliência Organizacional influencia positivamente a Inovação Organizacional das IES públicas analisadas. Os achados revelam a importância de aprimorar a resiliência organizacional nas IES públicas, não apenas por influenciar a inovação, mas por ser um poderoso meio de sobrevivência, especialmente no contexto de grandes desafios vivenciado pelas IES públicas brasileiras.
Helminths and protozoan parasites in common opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) in a suburban area in Medellín, Colombia
Authors: López Luisa Arango , Gómez-Ruiz Daisy Alejandra , Sánchez-Zapata Gloria Yaneth , Gutiérrez-Giraldo Laura Marcela , Granda-Orozco Natalia María , Úsuga-Monroy Cristina , Llano Horwald Alexander Bedoya
Published: February 2025

Abstract Didelphis marsupialis is a marsupial species that effectively adapts to synanthropic processes developing in cities. This marsupial lives closely with domestic animals and humans, which has favored the active exchange of parasites, thus increasing polyparasitism. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of helminths and protozoans infecting D. marsupialis in the Corregimiento of Santa Elena, Medellín. Twenty-three individuals were captured and classified as male, female, adult, or juvenile. The fecal samples were analyzed using various coprodiagnostic techniques. The eggs and oocysts were identified by microscopic evaluation of their morphology and morphometry. Twelve parasite species were identified: nine nematodes, one acanthocephalan, and two protozoans. In addition, an Adeleid coccidia considered pseudoparasite was found. The most prevalent parasite species (>50%) were Eimeria sp, Cruzia sp., Aspidodera sp., and Gnathostoma turgidum, and nematode larvae. No significant differences were observed between parasite prevalence and host sex or age. Parasites of public health interest, such as Trichuris spp., Capillariidae nematodes, Strongyloides spp., and Giardia spp., were also identified. This study confirmed that the urban habitat of the opossum has a high frequency and diversity of endoparasites, some of which have been reported for the first time in Colombia.
New records of Tachinidae from Hungary (Diptera)
Authors: Varga Nimród
Published: February 2025

Phebellia triseta (Pandellé, 1896) and Graphogaster vestita Rondani, 1868 are
reported from Hungary for the first time, and the occurrence of Redtenbacheria insignis Egger,
1861 (all Diptera: Tachinidae) in Hungary is confirmed.
Virus-associated progesterone-resistant chronic endometritis — the oncorisk situation?
Authors: Shvarev E.G. , Dikareva L.V. , Zoeva A.R.
Published: February 2025

The urgency of the problem of combining chronic endometritis of viral etiology and hyperplastic processes in the endometrium that form against this background is due not only to the increasing frequency of this pathology, but also to the possibility of recurrence and malignancy. The aim of the study was to analyze the literature data on the association of virus-associated chronic endometritis with the risk of hyperplastic processes of this localization, factors affecting the risk of malignancy, as well as the possibility of using markers of menstrual discharge for early diagnosis and evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment. To achieve this goal, a search was conducted for domestic and foreign publications in the international Pubmed citation system published over the past 15 years. Modern data on the main mechanisms of formation of hyperplastic processes in the endometrium, as well as on the risk factors of malignancy, are presented. Along with the use of traditional methods of diagnosing the pathology in question, the possibilities of identifying a disease marker in the menstrual secretions of the examined patients (glycodelin) are discussed both for early diagnosis and for evaluating effectiveness at treatment stages.
Études métalexicographiques par analyse d’échantillons : toute représentativité est-elle illusoire ?
Authors: Sajous Franck
Published: February 2025

Le dictionnaire général étant trop volumineux pour être étudié dans son intégralité, son analyse passe généralement par l'examen d’un échantillon et par la généralisation à l'ensemble du dictionnaire des résultats observés sur cet échantillon. Si beaucoup d'énergie est consacrée à l'analyse des échantillons, les métalexicographes semblent, en revanche, accorder peu d’importance aux mécanismes de sélection des échantillons eux-mêmes. Après avoir rappelé les principes de l'échantillonnage et les différentes techniques de sélection des échantillons, cet article montre, à travers différentes expériences, que l’examen de zones contiguës, qui a quasi-systématiquement la préférence des métalexicographes, est à proscrire, d'autres méthodes d'échantillonnage pratiquées sur l’ensemble du dictionnaire étant toujours préférables. L'article montre également que même la méthode de sélection la moins problématique ne peut garantir totalement la représentativité d’un échantillon. Les résultats obtenus par analyse d'échantillons doivent donc être considérés avec circonspection.
Présentation
Authors: Sorba Nicolas , Vincent Nadine
Published: February 2025

La lexicographie numérique s’impose aujourd’hui comme la manière usuelle de consulter les
ouvrages de référence. C’est maintenant en ligne que se renouvellent les pratiques de production,
d’archivage, de diffusion et de consultation. La présente publication s’intéresse à l’effet du numérique
sur la conception et la réception des dictionnaires de langue dans l’espace francophone et réunie des
spécialistes qui réfléchissent aux retombées de ces transformations sur la pratique lexicographique
en particulier, mais aussi sur la description de la langue au sens large.
Hausärztliche Versorgung und Arbeitsmedizin als Teamplay – Chancen und Herausforderungen der sektorenverbindenden Versorgung in der Lebenswelt
Authors:   Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Kaifie-Pechmann Andrea
Published: February 2025

Primary care and occupational medicine as team play – opportunities and challenges of sector-connecting care in the living environment
Cross-sectoral healthcare plays a central role in providing people with holistic and continuous care. In particular, the cooperation between general practitioners and occupational physicians plays a crucial role here.
Die Arbeitsmedizin und der öffentliche Gesundheitsdienst (ÖGD) – sektorenverbindende Zusammenarbeit am Beispiel des LGL in Bayern
Authors:   Brückenprofessur „Arbeitsbezogener Gesundheitsschutz und Gesundheitsförderung“, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL) und LMU München, Heinze Stefanie , Spegel Hedwig ,   Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Nebl Josefine ,   Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Herr Caroline ,   Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit und Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin; LMU-Klinikum
Published: February 2025

Occupational medicine and the public health service (ÖGD) – cross-sectoral cooperation using the example of the LGL
The public health service (ÖGD) has interfaces with many different sectors. Occupational medicine, in particular, can make an important contribution to a future-oriented and holistic health care system. Using the example of the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), the possible sector-linking cooperation between occupational medicine and public health is demonstrated.
Community outcomes of occupational therapy service learning engagements: perceptions of community representatives
Authors: Janse van Rensburg Elize , Van der Merwe Tania Rauch , Erasmus Mabel Aletta
Published: February 2025

Background: Service learning is used as an educational approach in many undergraduate occupational therapy programmes in South Africa and the rest of the world. Evidence for the impact of occupational therapy service learning engagements in communities, from the perspectives of community partners, is limited.Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of community representatives regarding the outcomes of occupational therapy service learning engagements.Methods: A descriptive qualitative enquiry design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight purposively sampled community representatives and analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.Results: This paper reports on the theme related to community outcomes of occupational therapy that emerged from the data, consisting of seven categories, namely: (1) increased knowledge and skills, (2) attitudinal change leading to practice reform, (3) increased access to resources and infrastructure, (4) enhanced community connections, (5) enhanced confidence and dignity, (6) enhanced occupational participation, and (7) non-realisation of partnership goals.Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated that although there were some instances in which partnership goals were not realised, occupational therapy service learning engagements contributed to occupational enablement, occupational justice, health and well-being for community members.
Key words: Service learning; occupational enablement; community engagement; community-based practice; community-based education.
Experiences and perceptions of Return to work by Clients with Major Depressive Disorder in an extend sick leave period
Authors: Saohatse Lebohang , De Witt Patricia Ann , Van Niekerk Matty
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) may cause difficulties that can influence employment. Â Although clients with MDD are typically expected to return to work (RTW) early, most are given the maximum duration of sick leave subsidised by their medical aid scheme, to recover. Â This study explored the lived perceptions and experiences of clients with MDD whilst on extended sick leave.
Methods: The study used a descriptive phenomenological qualitative study design. Data were collected throughÂ  informant interviews. Â An inductive content analysis was used to analyse the data.
Findings: Eight participants were included in the study, of which 75% (n=6) were females and 25% (n=2) were males. Â One theme emerged namely 'waiting to RTW' with three categories (1) 'ruminating about RTW', (2) 'fears about RTW' and (3) 'social pressures to RTW'.
Conclusion: The period of waiting to RTW after hospitalization was found to be stressful due to perceived work issues and rumination about work politics that were perceived to contribute to the illness. However, social pressures also play a vital role as a facilitator to RTW.Â  This has some implications for vocational preparation by occupational therapists during this extended sick leave period.
Key words: Major Depressive Disorder, Perceptions, Experiences, Return to Work.
Roles, Rituals and Emotional Regulation of rugby players on different competitive levels
Authors: Hough PA , Nel M , De Klerk T , Human J , Stobwasser J , Voigt T
Published: February 2025

Globally, people engage in the game of rugby as spectators, players and organisations on many different competitive levels for the purpose of leisure, work and play. It is performed on both amateur and professional levels and engaged in by male and female players ranging from pre-school to adults. The purpose of the study was to describe and compare the roles, rituals and emotional regulation, on and off the field, of male rugby players on three different competitive levels in the Free State, South Africa. A cross-sectional study design was used amongst rugby players (n=45); 1 team per competitive level (3 levels). The results of the study showed significant differences with regards to roles that rugby players on the different competitive levels assume and the importance which they ascribe to each role. Variations exist in the rituals that the rugby players on the different competitive levels perform before and during the game of rugby. The degree to which situations are experienced as stressful differs across the three competitive levels. Across these levels, the use of positive verbal and non- erbal expression is used more than negative expression. Across all three levels rugby players use emotionalsuppression more than situational reappraisal as an emotional regulation strategy. Additional factors and the comparison thereof on different competitive levels should be investigated in future studies.
Key words: Roles, rituals, emotional regulation, occupation, rugby.
Early Childhood Development and the Crosstrainer Programme in Rural Mahikeng
Authors: De Villiers Danette , Van der Westhuizen Adeleigh , Van Rooyen Cornel
Published: February 2025

Introduction:
In South Africa, early childhood development (ECD) in rural areas is challenged by the lack of a centre-based programme and because the ECD practitioners are inadequately trained.Â  The Crosstrainer Programme (CTP) may be a centre-based early childhood development programme that could address this challenge. Consequently, the aim of this study is not to prove, but to determine the level of efficacy of the CTP on the development of three to four year old children in the rural Mahikeng areas.
Method:
An experimental trial was conducted. The ECDC (Early Childhood Development Criteria) were used to test the children (49 from 17 ECD centres). 
Results:
Both Section A: Cognitive SRRA (School Readiness Risk Areas) and Section B: Fine Motor Coordination were improved by the CTP. However, Section C: Gross Motor Coordination showed no improvement by the CTP.
Conclusions:
The CTP proved valuable in the improvement of the Cognitive SRRA and even more so on the fine motor development of the population group. It is recommended that activities directed at gross motor development should be increased and amplified in the programme. Further studies on the CTP regarding the development of the children and the occupational enablement of the ECD practitioners are recommended.
Key Words: Early childhood development; ECDCross Trainer Programme; CTP; occupational therapy; early learning programme; rural ECD centres; ECD practitioners.
Medical Incapacity Management in the South African private industrial sector: The role of the occupational therapist
Authors: Govender Ravashni , Govender Pragashnie , Mpanza December Mandlenkosi
Published: February 2025

Background: Occupational therapists working in the field of occupational health in South African private industrial sectors may findthemselves involved in management of medical incapacity due to their expertise in vocational rehabilitation.Aim: In this study, the authors explored how South African Acts guide the role and scope of occupational therapists in medicalincapacity management, in addition to determining the scope, role and value of occupational therapy in medical incapacity managementfrom the perspectives of occupational therapists currently working in the field.Method: An exploratory qualitative design with use of two concurrent methods of data collection (document analysis and semistructured interviews) was undertaken. Data were analysed thematically, via deductive reasoning, and pooled to provide a picture ofhow occupational therapists can function within medical incapacity management.Results and Discussion: Six themes emerged from the data. Occupational therapists' role and scope within legislature appearsto lack detail with a disjuncture between legislation that guides medical incapacity management and current practice of occupationaltherapists. Notwithstanding this, the findings of this study show that occupational therapists play a critical role within managementof medical incapacity.Key words: Vocational rehabilitation, medical incapacity management, occupational therapy
Non-attendance of occupational therapy and physiotherapy appointments at a Western Cape rehabilitation centre: A description of associated factors
Authors: De Klerk Susan , Eloff Lize , Naudé Zani , Boon Andrea , Carelse Megan , Michaela Stewart , Zaidi Minal
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Occupational therapists and physiotherapists use outpatient follow-up appointments to continue and monitor the effectiveness and outcome of therapy interventions. Attendance of follow-up appointments is essential, as non-attendance has negative implications for both the patient and the healthcare facility.Methodology: This retrospective, cross-sectional study made use of a period sample of all outpatients with scheduled appointments between January and December 2017 (n = 837) at the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre (WCRC). Children under the age of 18 years were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the identified variables of the sample. Logistic regression was used to determine the adjusted odds ratio for the association between non-attendances and identified covariates.Results: The sample population of 837 patients, included 516 attenders and 321 non-attenders. Factors that had an associationwith non-attendance included hospital classification, diagnostic category and impairment according to ICD 10 coding (p < 0.05).Conclusion: This article describe factors associated with non-attendance of outpatients to scheduled occupational therapy andphysiotherapy appointments at the WCRC. Further research is needed to determine the reasons for non-attendance at institutions such as WCRC which will assist in the implementation of strategies to reduce high non-attendance rates.
Key words: non-attendance, occupational and physiotherapy appointments, outpatient appointments
Universidad divergente: El caso de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana como un nuevo modelo de organización y gestión
Authors:   Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Ecuador, Cárdenas Tapia Juan Alcides
Published: February 2025

Universidad Divergente es un análisis riguroso del modelo organizativo y de gestión de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana del Ecuador, una institución que desafía las estructuras tradicionales en busca de una mayor integración académica y coherencia institucional. Este estudio examina las implicaciones de esta transformación en la gobernanza universitaria, la docencia, la investigación y la vinculación con la sociedad. Más que un caso particular, el texto ofrece una reflexión sobre los desafíos de la educación superior en un contexto de cambio acelerado, donde las universidades deben equilibrar autonomía, eficiencia y pertinencia social. Una lectura imprescindible para académicos, gestores y todos aquellos interesados en comprender los nuevos paradigmas de la educación universitaria en América Latina.
ОЦЕНКА НАСЕЛЕНИЕМ СЕВЕРО-КАВКАЗСКОГО ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОГО ОКРУГА ВЛИЯНИЯ ИНСТИТУЦИОНАЛЬНЫХ ПРАКТИК БЛАГОТВОРИТЕЛЬНОСТИ НА СМЯГЧЕНИЕ ПРОБЛЕМ СОЦИАЛЬНОГО НЕРАВЕНСТВА
Authors: Барсукова Татьяна Ивановна , Кусов Амурхан Сталбекович
Published: February 2025

Целью исследования является изучение мнения населения Северо-Кавказского федерального округа о роли благотворительных практик в решении наиболее острых проблем социального неравенства в регионе.
Методологическая база исследования основывается на использовании позиций институционального подхода к благотворительности, что дало возможность рассмотреть институциональные практики благотворительной помощи населению в контексте их трансформаций. Эмпирическое исследование базируется на междисциплинарном подходе, включающем количественные и качественные методы социологического анализа. Данный подход позволил выявить основные тенденции оценки населением СКФО влияния институциональных практик благотворительности на смягчение наиболее острых проблем социального неравенства, а также мнение населения отдаленных районов данного субъекта РФ о роли государства как основного агента института благотворительности.
Результаты. В статье отражены результаты анализа данных, полученных в ходе массового опроса и глубинных интервью, проведенных в двух субъектах СКФО — Ставропольском крае и республике Северная Осетия-Алания — на основе авторского инструментария. Результаты показали неудовлетворенность большинства опрошенных объемом помощи со стороны государства нуждающимся в ней гражданам; доверие к благотворительным организациям и положительную оценку помощи по частичному решению проблем, связанных с тем или иным видом неравенства, выказала большая часть респондентов.
Перспективы исследования заключаются в возможности дальнейшего изучения роли институциональных трансформаций благотворительности в нивелировании ряда проблем, возникающих в условиях современного социального неравенства, на основе авторского методологического инструментария. Тенденции, выявленные в двух субъектах СКФО — Ставропольском крае и Республике Северная Осетия-Алания, могут быть подтверждены или опровергнуты на материалах исследований в других республиках данного региона.
How opposition parties politicize democracy during autocratization
Authors: Gessler Theresa
Published: February 2025

How do democratic actors rhetorically politicize their own disempowerment? Autocratization as a gradual process not only erodes democracy, but also progressively reduces the power of domestic actors to oppose this erosion. Often, incumbent governments disable the institutions meant to hold them accountable, such as parliaments. Drawing on the case of Hungary, we study how (opposition) parties rhetorically politicize democracy within the institution of parliament. As a case of rapid autocratization, Hungary saw far-reaching changes, including the transformation or abolition of many democratic institutions over the past years. New laws also restricted the rights of parliament itself, thereby narrowing the opportunities for public debate around democratic procedures. We address two questions related to this: To which extent do opposition parties politicize democracy and its procedures in a context of autocratization? And how does the way they talk about democracy differ from that of the government? The paper uses text-as-data methods – namely a dictionary of democratic principles and a word-embedding-based analysis of democracy rhetoric – to study parliamentary debates between 2010 and 2022. We find that democracy is highly salient for both the government
Exploring the potential and limitations of large language models as virtual respondents for social science research
Authors: Rakovics Zsófia , Rakovics Márton
Published: February 2025

Social and linguistic differences encoded in various textual content available on the internet represent certain features of modern societies. For any scientific research which is interested in social differences mediated by language, the advent of large language models (LLMs) has brought new opportunities. LLMs could be used to extract information about different groups of society and utilized as data providers by acting as virtual respondents generating answers as such.
Using LLMs (GPT-variants, Llama2, and Mixtral), we generated virtual answers for politics and democracy related attitude questions of the European Social Survey (10th wave) and statistically compared the results of the simulated responses to the real ones. We explored different prompting techniques and the effect of different types and richness of contextual information provided to the models. Our results suggest that the tested LLMs generate highly realistic answers and are good at invoking the needed patterns from limited contextual information given to them if a couple of relevant examples are provided, but struggle in a zero-shot setting.
A critical methodological analysis is inevitable when considering the potential use of data generated by LLMs for scientific research, the exploration of known biases and reflection on social reality not represented on the internet are essential.
Book Review
Authors: Varga Tamás
Published: February 2025

Social scientists, digital humanities scholars and industry professionals now regularly leverage large-scale document corpora. A large dataset of texts, while providing a wealth of information, is insufficient on its own to generate meaningful insights. It is essential to approach the dataset with well-defined research questions that guide the analytical process and ensure the relevance of the findings. Moreover, deriving meaningful answers requires the application of appropriate methodologies that are aligned with the research objectives. In addition to methodological rigor, scholars must critically assess the limitations of the dataset's validity. This involves evaluating the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the data, as well as recognizing any inherent biases. 
The book book aims to illustrate how to treat “text as data” for social science tasks and social science problems. It adopts a six-part structure, combined with several chapters and subchapters. Each part is structured around five fundamental concepts: representation, discovery, measurement, prediction, and causal inference. By doing this, it serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers, delineating the capabilities and limitations inherent in text data methodologies.
"Olympus Slideview VS200" slide scanning v1
Authors: Roch Alba Gerard
Published: February 2025

Brief guide on the main steps to follow in order to scann a sample with the "Olympus Slideview VS200 slide scanner. Although examples for certain parameters are presented, each user should choose them based on the characteristics of their samples.
Character, Gender, and Populism: How Female Populist Voters Judge the Character of Political Leaders
Authors: De Clercy Cristine , Seijts Gerard , Ruiz Pardo Ana
Published: February 2025

Many voters choose to follow political leaders based on an assessment of character. However, political scientists employ relatively few tools to precisely measure character, and there is even less study of the key factors that influence such voter assessments. We employ an analytical framework drawn from the management sciences to examine how a sample of voting-age, anglophone Canadians judged the character of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the 2020–2021 Covid-19 pandemic time frame. We propose and find support for the assertion that gender and right-wing populism are important explanatory variables. Importantly, and controlling for a host of demographic variables, the interaction of gender and populism suggests that subscription to right-wing populist attitudes may more significantly corrode character assessments among female voters than among male voters.
Phenotype of cystic kidney disease in children with orphan diseases and hereditary syndromes due to genetic or chromosomal pathology (description of 9 clinical cases)
Authors: Andreeva Elvira F. , Savenkova Nadezhda D.
Published: February 2025

The use of DNA diagnostics makes it possible to clarify the clinical diagnosis of hereditary kidney disease, determine a personalized treatment strategy, and predict the patient’s health status. Kidney cysts with orphan syndromes and chromosomal mutations are characterized by a high risk of progression of chronic kidney disease to end–stage renal failure in childhood. In 9 patients aged 4 months — 17 years (6 girls and 3 boys) with cystic kidney disease in orphan diseases and hereditary syndromes, assessed the features of the phenotype, the progression of chronic kidney disease. Children over the age of 2 years were stratified with chronic kidney disease stages by NKF–K/DOQI (2002) according to the criterion of glomerular filtration rate calculated by creatinine clearance in the Shwartz formula and the level of microalbuminuria / proteinuria. The description of the phenotype features of kidney cysts in 9 children with orphan diseases and hereditary syndromes is presented: Senior-Løken 6 (1), Meckel–Gruber4 (1), CHARGE (1), papillorenal (1), with deletion of the long arm of chromosome 2 (2), microdeletion syndrome 17q12 (2), with deletion of the short arm of chromosome 12 (1). 6 children were diagnosed with cystosis of both kidneys, 2 with unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney, 1 with non-functioning multicystic and cystic contralateral kidneys. In 2 children aged less than 2 years with a multicystic dysplastic kidney in microdeletion syndrome 17q12 and CHARGE syndromes, renal function is reduced. Of the 6 patients over the age of 2 years, chronic kidney disease was established: stage with preserved renal function in 1, with reduced function in stage 3 in 2, stage 4 in 1 and stage 5 in 2. Two 17-year-old adolescents with an outcome of terminal chronic kidney disease at the age of 12 underwent kidney transplantation. A fatal outcome was found in a proband with nephronophthysis in Meckel–Gruber4 syndrome due mutations of the CEP290 gene. The features of the clinical phenotype and genotype of cystic kidney diseases associated with orphan syndromes Meckel–Gruber4, Senior-Løken 6, CHARGE, papillorenal due to gene mutations and deletion of the long arm of chromosome 2, microdeletion syndrome 17q12 and deletion of the short arm of chromosome 12 in children are described.
Comparative evaluation of choroidal thickness in children using different myopia correction methods
Authors: Tarutta Elena P. , Milash Sergey V. , Proskurina Olga V. , Kondratova Svetlana E. , Tarasova Natalia A. , Markosyan Gajane A. , Papyan Violetta N. , Harutyunyan Sona G. , Larina Tatiana Yu. , Kushnarevich Nina Yu.
Published: February 2025

AIM: To measure choroidal thickness in the cross-sectional images of myopic patients using different correction methods.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Examination included 162 patients (324 eyes) aged 9 to 19 years (mean: 11.6 ± 2.7 years), with myopia between 0.5 D to 11.75 D (mean: 4.0 ± 2.3 D) using different myopia correction methods, e.g., monofocal spectacles (MF): 96 eyes, Group 1), perifocal spectacles (40 eyes, Group 2), orthokeratology lenses (OKL) (36 eyes, group 3), bifocal soft contact lenses (BSCL) (86 eyes, Group 4), and Stellest® spectacles (66 eyes, Group 5). The anterior-posterior axis and subfoveal choroidal thickness (non-cycloplegic), and cycloplegic autorefraction were measured in all patients.
RESULTS: In general, choroidal thickness (CT) and CT to the anterior-posterior axis (CT/APA) ratios were 328.6 ± 15.6 μm and 12.9 ± 0.6 in OKL wearers, 298.8 ± 9.4 μm and 12.2 ± 0.4 in Stellest® wearers, 267.4 ± 8.3 μm and 10.8 ± 0.3 in BSCL wearers, and 264.6 ± 12.4 μm and 10.4 ± 0.5 in perifocal spectacles wearers, respectively. The lowest CT and CT/APA ratios were in the monofocal group (241.9 ± 5.3 μm and 9.5 ± 0.2, respectively). The difference in these parameters between the monofocal and other groups was statistically significant (р 0.01).
CONCLUSION: This study of the cross-sectional images convincingly demonstrates significantly greater choroidal thickness in myopic patients using optical correction methods imposing myopic defocus on the retinal periphery, compared to monofocal spectacles.
Evaluation of visual performance depending on tolerability of optical correction
Authors: Zhukova Olga V. , Zolotarev Andrey V. , Abida Mahdi
Published: February 2025

Accommodative asthenopia is common in myopic patients when permanent full correction is prescribed, since their accommodative system does not tolerate increased stress due to close work.
AIM: To evaluate visual performance in myopic school children depending on tolerability of optical correction.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 154 children (11 to 16 years) with different levels of myopia, wearing corrective spectacles. Of them, 56 and 98 school children had good and poor tolerability of optical correction according to computed accommodation test, respectively. Accommodation was measured using autorefractor Righton Speedy-K ver. MF-1. Visual performance was evaluated using Bourdon test. Performance accuracy (At), accuracy factor (Ta), productivity (Pt), endurance factor (Kp), and speed of information processing (S) were determined.
RESULTS: In the group where spectacle correction caused asthenopia during visual tasking, performance accuracy, productivity, and accuracy factor exceeded the mean values in children without signs of accommodative asthenopia. But endurance factor and speed of information processing are significantly lower compared to the children with good tolerability of optical correction.
CONCLUSION: Tolerability of optical correction affects visual performance of school children. Poor tolerability of optical correction significantly decreases visual performance parameters, such as performance accuracy, productivity, and endurance.
Myopia pandemic by 2050: myth or reality? Global strategies to control myopia based on the 19th International Myopia Conference
Authors: Shefer Kristina K. , Boiko Ernest V. , Saidasheva Elvira I.
Published: February 2025

Myopia is the most common cause of impaired distance vision. It can lead to pathological myopia and associated serious complications if progresses to a higher grade. Given the high prevalence of myopia among children and adolescents, it is becoming a medical and social problem. The paper provides a review of lectures and discussions of the 19th International Myopia Conference held in September 2024 in China. Conference papers show that scientists and clinicians are focused on comprehensive investigation of the mechanism of myopia development, identification of its predictors and genetic aspects. A lot of focus is on the elaboration of effective treatment and preventive measures for children of preschool age and older, particularly new pharmacological approaches and improved optical correction methods to control myopia.
Ophthalmic features of mucolipidosis type I (sialidosis): a clinical case. Ophthalmology aspects for neurologists and pediatricians
Authors: Gatsu Marina V. , Shefer Kristina К. , Panyutina Ekaterina A. , Malinovskaya Natalia A. , Shilov Alexander I.
Published: February 2025

A very rare clinical case of a juvenile form of a storage disease mucolipidosis type I (sialidosis) is presented. Ophthalmic features include a bilateral macular cherry-red spot. Bilateral macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed hyper-reflectivity of the ganglion cell layer.
CONCLUSION: A cherry-red spot is specific not only for central retinal artery occlusion but also for storage diseases, such as gangliosidoses (Tay-Sachs disease, Sandhoff disease, etc.), mucolipidoses, etc. Ophthalmological examination may be the only key to identify serious systemic diseases, and timely genetic testing might be crucial for a child to determine the adequate therapy. This case was characterized by a typical ophthalmic presentation of sialidosis type I with unclear neurological symptoms suggestive of Tay-Sachs disease. Ophthalmological examination revealed a cherry-red spot with a slow progressing decrease in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) which is typical for sialidosis type I but not for Tay-Sachs disease. A neurologist observed the symptoms more characteristic of Tay-Sachs disease than sialidosis type I; they included unsteady gait, ataxia, and dysarthria. There was no myoclonic activity characteristic of sialidosis type I. Thus, genetic testing to identify NEU1 mutations was the only method to objectively examine the patient and determine possible supportive therapy.
Refractive status and histological changes after posterior scleral reinforcement in guinea pig
Authors:   National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang Province, China, Huang Yu-Yan , Chen Guo-Fu ,   National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang Province, China; Hefei Aier Eye Hospital, Hefei 230000, Anhui Province, China, Peng Duo ,   National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang Province, China; The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou 215000, Jiangsu Province, China, Pan Miao-Zhen ,   National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang Province, China, Zhou Ji-Bo ,   National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China, Qu Jia ,   National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang Province, China
Published: February 2025

AIM: To investigate the refractive and the histological changes in guinea pig eyes after posterior scleral reinforcement with scleral allografts.
METHODS: Four-week-old guinea pigs were implanted with scleral allografts, and the changes of refraction, corneal curvature and axis length were monitored for 51d. The effects of methylprednisolone (MPS) on refraction parameters were also evaluated. And the microstructure and ultra-microstructure of eyes were observed on the 9d and 51d after operation. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and one-way analysis of variance were used.
RESULTS: The refraction outcome of the implanted eye decreased after operation, and the refraction change of the 3 mm scleral allografts group was significantly different with control group (P=0.005) and the sham surgical group (P=0.004). After the application of MPS solution, the reduction of refraction outcome was statistically suppressed (P=0.008). The inflammatory encapsulation appeared 9d after surgery. On 51d after operation, the loose implanted materials were absorbed, while the adherent implanted materials with MPS group were still tightly attached to the recipient’s eyeball.
CONCLUSION: After implantation of scleral allografts, the refraction of guinea pig eyes fluctuated from a decrease to an increase. The outcome of the scleral allografts is affected by implantation methods and the inflammatory response. Stability of the material can be improved by MPS.
Serologic parameters in young patients with retinal vein occlusion treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, Xinjiang 474 Hospital, Urumchi 830000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, Niu Tong-Tong , Lyu Wen-Juan ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Xinjiang 474 Hospital, Urumchi 830000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, Zhou Hao ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Xinjiang 474 Hospital, Urumchi 830000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
Published: February 2025

AIM: To assess the relationship between serological parameters and the prognosis of young patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) after intravitreal conbercept injection (IVC).
METHODS: This study enrolled 100 young patients (≤50 years old) diagnosed with RVO-related macular edema (RVO-ME) who had been undergoing IVC at the 474 Hospital in Xinjiang between January 2022 and October 2023. Patients were categorized into two groups: 70 eyes in the effective group and 30 eyes in the ineffective group. The effective group comprised patients exhibiting a visual acuity improvement of ≥2 lines at the last follow-up, with resolved ME and central macular thickness (CMT) <300 μm. Conversely, the ineffective group included patients with visual acuity improvement of <1 line, persistent ME, and CMT ≥300 μm at the last follow-up. Serological parameters, including white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count, and mean platelet volume were assessed before treatment. The correlation between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and systemic immune response index (SIRI) was analyzed. Additionally, the association between these serological parameters and the efficacy of IVC was explored.
RESULTS: Three months after treatment, the effective group demonstrated a significant improvement in BCVA from 0.82±0.20 to 0.36±0.10, with a concurrent decrease in CMT from 661.28±163.90 to 200.61±82.45 μm (P<0.001). Conversely, the ineffective group exhibited minimal changes in BCVA (0.86±0.25 to 0.82±0.14) and CMT (669.84±164.95 to 492.13±138.67 μm, P<0.001). The differences in BCVA and CMT between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.001). According to subgroup analysis, in patients with central RVO (CRVO), BCVA improved from 0.82±0.23 to 0.49±0.12 in the effective group and from 0.80±0.18 to 0.76±0.22 in the ineffective group (P<0.001). The CMT changes followed a similar pattern. In patients with branch RVO (BRVO), comparable trends in BCVA and CMT changes were observed between the effective and ineffective groups (P<0.001). Additionally, the effective group exhibited higher PLR and SII values than the ineffective group (P<0.05). Further CRVO and BRVO subgroups analysis exhibited consistent PLR and SII value trends.
CONCLUSION: Compared to other inflammatory factors, elevated PLR and SII levels before treatment are better predictors of outcomes in young RVO-ME patients undergoing IVC treatment.
Renal dysfunction associated with clinical response to intravitreal conbercept therapy for diabetic macular edema
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, GuangZhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China, Wu Wei , Xiao Xue ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China, Wang Ya-Xin ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China, Feng Song-Fu ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China, Liu Jia-Qi ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China, Yuan Yong-Gang ,   Department of Ophthalmology, GuangZhou Red Cross Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China, Lu Xiao-He ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, Guangdong Province, China
Published: February 2025

AIM: To investigate the impact of renal dysfunction on clinical response to intravitreal conbercept injection (IVC) for diabetic macular edema (DME).
METHODS: This retrospective study included a total of 100 eyes from 100 patients with DME treated with IVC with 3+PRN regimen. Based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the patients were divided into normal renal function group (n=37), impaired renal function group (n=27), and renal insufficiency group (n=36). The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfield macular thickness (CST). Clinical parameters included blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and hemoglobin.
RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 3.9mo. The mean number of IVCs was 2.07±1.22 in the three groups. Mean BCVA improved significantly from 0.81±0.49 logMAR at baseline to 0.72±0.52 logMAR in the three groups at the final visit (P<0.001). Mean CST decreased significantly from 427.85±148.99 µm at baseline to 275.31±108.31 µm at final visit (P<0.001). Patients in the normal renal function group had higher baseline hemoglobin levels and thinner baseline CST than those in the impaired renal function and insufficiency renal function group (all P<0.001). Patients in the normal renal function group had higher baseline hemoglobin levels and thinner baseline CST than those in the impaired renal function and insufficiency renal function group (all P<0.001). The three groups had no differences in baseline HbA1c levels (P>0.05). Good baseline BCVA (logMAR, P=0.001) and thicker baseline CST (P=0.041) were associated with visual acuity improvement. Higher eGFR (P<0.001), hemoglobin (P=0.032) and thicker baseline CST (P=0.017) were associated with macular edema retrogression in the conbercept-treated diabetic patients, which showed better anatomical response to IVC.
CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the renal dysfunction is the risk factor associated with the efficacy of IVC for DME.