bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The practical clinical role of machine learning models with different algorithms in predicting prostate cancer local recurrence after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Hu Chenhan , Qiao Xiaomeng , Hu Chunhong , Cao Changhao , Wang Ximing , Bao Jie
Published: February 2024

Background

The detection of local recurrence for prostate cancer (PCa) patients following radical prostatectomy (RP) is challenging and can influence the treatment plan. Our aim was to construct and verify machine learning models with three different algorithms based on post-operative mpMRI for predicting local recurrence of PCa after RP and explore their potential clinical value compared with the Prostate Imaging for Recurrence Reporting (PI-RR) score of expert-level radiologists.

Methods

A total of 176 patients were retrospectively enrolled and randomly divided into training (n = 123) and testing (n = 53) sets. The PI-RR assessments were performed by two expert-level radiologists with access to the operative histopathological and pre-surgical clinical results. The radiomics models to predict local recurrence were built by utilizing three different algorithms (i.e., support vector machine [SVM], linear discriminant analysis [LDA], and logistic regression-least absolute shrinkage and selection operator [LR-LASSO]). The combined model integrating radiomics features and PI-RR score was developed using the most effective classifier. The classification performances of the proposed models were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

There were no significant differences between the training and testing sets concerning age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, T-stage, seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), perineural invasion (PNI), and positive surgical margins (PSM). The radiomics model based on LR-LASSO exhibited superior performance than other radiomics models, with an AUC of 0.858 in the testing set; the PI-RR yielded an AUC of 0.833, and there was no significant difference between the best radiomics model and the PI-RR score. The combined model achieved the best predictive performance with an AUC of 0.924, and a significant difference was observed between the combined model and PI-RR score.

Conclusions

Our radiomics model is an effective tool to predict PCa local recurrence after RP. By integrating radiomics features with the PI-RR score, our combined model exhibited significantly better predictive performance of local recurrence than expert-level radiologists’ PI-RR assessment.
How do breast cancer clinical trials approach cardiovascular safety: targeted or generalized?
Authors: Hamid Arsalan , Fonarow Gregg C. , Butler Javed , Hall Michael E.
Published: February 2024

Background

Different breast cancer pharmacotherapy agents cause different forms of cardiovascular toxicity. We aim to assess if breast cancer pharmacotherapy trials approach cardiovascular safety in a targeted or generalized manner when administering different agents.

Methods

We searched Embase and Medline for phase 2 and 3 breast cancer pharmacotherapy trials. We examined exclusion criterion for cardiovascular conditions and cardiovascular safety assessment through cardiovascular imaging, electrocardiogram, troponin, or natriuretic peptides. Fisher’s exact test was utilized to compare reporting.

Results

Fifty breast cancer clinical trials were included in this study. Trials administering microtubule inhibitors were most likely to exclude patients with any CV condition compared with trials administering other agents (93.5% vs. 68.4%; p < 0.05), particularly coronary artery disease (77.4% vs. 36.8%; p < 0.01) but reported performing an electrocardiogram in 13 (41.9%) trials. Trials administering anti-HER 2 agents excluded all patients with at least one CV condition, particularly patients with heart failure (100.0% vs. 62.9%) and were more likely to perform echocardiograms (80.0% vs. 22.9%, p < 0.001) compared with other agents. Other agents excluded participants in a generalized manner and do not frequently perform targeted safety assessments.

Conclusions

Only trials administering microtubule inhibitors or anti-HER 2 therapy exclude patients with cardiovascular disease in a targeted approach. However, anti-HER 2 therapy trials are the only breast cancer clinical trials that perform targeted safety assessments. Breast cancer clinical trials need to develop a targeted approach to cardiovascular safety assessments to permit inclusion of high-risk participants and generate clinical trial data generalizable to patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing cancer therapy.
Forest thinning and prescribed burning treatments reduce wildfire severity and buffer the impacts of severe fire weather
Authors: Brodie Emily G. , Knapp Eric E. , Brooks Wesley R. , Drury Stacy A. , Ritchie Martin W.
Published: February 2024

Background

The capacity of forest fuel treatments to moderate the behavior and severity of subsequent wildfires depends on weather and fuel conditions at the time of burning. However, in-depth evaluations of how treatments perform are limited because encounters between wildfires and areas with extensive pre-fire data are rare. Here, we took advantage of a 1200-ha randomized and replicated experiment that burned almost entirely in a subsequent wildfire under a wide range of weather conditions. We compared the impacts of four fuel treatments on fire severity, including two thin-only, a thin-burn, a burn-only, and an untreated control. We evaluated four fire severity metrics—tree mortality, average bole char height, percent crown volume consumed (PCVC), and percent crown volume affected (PCVA)—and leveraged data from pre-fire surface and canopy fuels to better understand the mechanisms driving differences in wildfire severity among treatments and how they changed with fire weather.

Results

We found strong mitigating effects of treatments on fire behavior and tree mortality, despite 20 years having elapsed since mechanical thinning and 10 years since the second entry of prescribed fire. The thin-burn treatment resulted in the lowest fire severity across all four metrics and the untreated control the highest. All four fire severity metrics were positively associated with pre-fire canopy and surface fuel loads, with the exception that PCVC (a fire severity metric related to crown fire behavior) was not associated with surface fuel load. The fire weather conditions under which fuel treatment was most effective varied among fire severity metrics. Fuel treatment benefit was maximized at intermediate burning index values for tree mortality, intermediate to high burning index values for PCVA, and high burning index for bole char height and PCVC.

Conclusions

We conclude that reducing canopy bulk density via mechanical thinning treatments can help to limit crown fire behavior for 20 years or more. However, reducing surface fuels is necessary to limit scorching and the total crown impacts associated with tree mortality. Further, while fuel treatment effectiveness may decline under the most severe fire weather conditions for fire severity metrics associated with tree mortality, it is maximized under severe fire weather conditions for fire severity metrics associated with crown fire behavior (bole charring and torching). Our results provide strong evidence for the use of fuel treatments to mitigate fire behavior and resulting fire severity even under extreme fire weather conditions.
Adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: time for a rethink?
Authors: Matheiken Shevonne , Erden Meriç , Krishnadas Rajeev , Pinto da Costa Mariana
Published: February 2024

Recent years have seen a rise in media coverage as well as demand for specialist attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments in adults and children. This article explores the challenges in the diagnostic process for adult ADHD, amidst much misinformation and controversy. In doing so, we look at the social model of ADHD; a glossary of terms to better understand lived experience; underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis; and the fallacy of the ‘high functioning’ label. We propose the use of co-production to bridge the gap between the medical and social models. We conclude with suggestions for future research. The article includes anonymous contributions from doctors with ADHD.
Equity Investment in Physician Practices: What's All This Brouhaha?
Authors: Pauly Mark V. , Burns Lawton Robert
Published: February 2024

There have been two waves of equity-based investment in physician practices. Both used a combination of public and private sources but in different mixes. The first investment wave, in the 1990s, was led by public equity and physician practice management companies, with less involvement by private equity (PE). The second investment wave followed the Affordable Care Act and was led by PE firms. It has generated concerns of wasteful spending, less cost-effective care, and initiatives harmful to patient welfare. This article compares the two waves and asks if they are parallel in important ways. It describes the similarities in the players, driving forces, acquisition dynamics, spurs to consolidation, types of equity involved, models to organize physicians, and levels of market penetration achieved. The article then tackles three unresolved issues: Does PE investment differ from other investment vehicles in concerning ways? Does PE possess capabilities that other investment vehicles lack and confer competitive advantage? Does physician practice investment offer opportunities for supernormal profits? It then discusses ongoing trends that may disrupt PE and curtail its practice investment. It concludes that past may be prologue, that is, what happened during the 1990s may well repeat, suggesting the PE threat is overblown.
The molecular language of RNA 5′ ends: guardians of RNA identity and immunity
Authors: Avila-Bonilla Rodolfo Gamaliel , Macias Sara
Published: February 2024

RNA caps are deposited at the 5′ end of RNA polymerase II transcripts. This modification regulates several steps of gene expression, in addition to marking transcripts as self to enable the innate immune system to distinguish them from uncapped foreign RNAs, including those derived from viruses. Specialized immune sensors, such as RIG-I and IFITs, trigger antiviral responses upon recognition of uncapped cytoplasmic transcripts. Interestingly, uncapped transcripts can also be produced by mammalian hosts. For instance, 5′-triphosphate RNAs are generated by RNA polymerase III transcription, including tRNAs, Alu RNAs, or vault RNAs. These RNAs have emerged as key players of innate immunity, as they can be recognized by the antiviral sensors. Mechanisms that regulate the presence of 5′-triphosphates, such as 5′-end dephosphorylation or RNA editing, prevent immune recognition of endogenous RNAs and excessive inflammation. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the complexity of RNA cap structures and 5′-triphosphate RNAs, highlighting their roles in transcript identity, immune surveillance, and disease.
Artificial Sweeteners and Pancreatic Cancer: Is Aspartame a Culprit or a Coincidence?
Authors: Han Sanghoon , Yang Jieun , Park Ji Eun , Kim Jung Ho
Published: February 2024

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.4.8490

How to cite this: Han S, Yang J, Park JE, Kim JH. Artificial Sweeteners and Pancreatic Cancer: Is Aspartame a Culprit or a Coincidence? Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(4):790.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.4.8490
Corticosteroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome: A meta-analysis comparing ultrasound guided approach with landmark approach
Authors: Jiang Anqing , Qian Yushun , Yan Jun , Zhang Shouchun , Zhu Siqiang
Published: February 2024

Objective: To assess and compare the clinical and functional outcomes of corticosteroid injections in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, focusing on two different approaches: ultrasound-guided and landmark-guided.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Embase databases for relevant studies published prior to 30th April 2023. Studies that were either randomized controlled trials or had a cohort design were included. The review assessed symptom severity, functional status, electrodiagnostic parameters, complications, need for surgical intervention, visual analogue score, and grip strength. Pooled effect sizes were reported as relative risk (RR) or weighted mean difference (WMD).

Results: A total of 8 articles were included. Compared to those that received steroid injection using landmark approach, those with ultrasound guided approach had lower symptom severity scale (SSS) score on Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) [WMD -0.50, 95% CI: -0.94, -0.07; I2=78.0%, N=7], lower risk of “any complications” [RR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.93; I2= 22.9%, N=3] and lower risk of need for surgical intervention [RR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.89; I2= 3.0%, N=2]. All other parameters were similar in the two groups i.e., functional status scale (FSS) score, visual analogue score (VAS) and grip strength. The electrophysiological findings were similar in the two groups.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that ultrasound guided approach may be better than landmark guided approach especially in terms of alleviation of symptoms, reducing the risk of complications and need for surgical intervention. However, larger trials with long term follow up may provide conclusive evidence.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.4.8749

How to cite this: Jiang A, Qian Y, Yan J, Zhang S, Zhu S. Corticosteroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome: A meta-analysis comparing ultrasound guided approach with landmark approach. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(4):773-778. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.4.8749

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Μοριακή διερεύνηση της έκφρασης των miRnas που ρυθμίζουν το ανοσιακό μονοπάτι PD-1/PD L-1 σε προκαρκινικές αλλοιώσεις και καρκινώματα τραχήλου μήτρας
Authors: Λεβεντάκου Δανάη
Published: February 2024

Ο καρκίνος του τραχήλου της μήτρας κατέχει την τρίτη θέση μεταξύ όλων των κακοήθων νεοπλασμάτων στις γυναίκες παγκοσμίως. Τα σημεία ελέγχου του ανοσοποιητικού συστήματος είναι δίκτυα μονοπατιών που υποστηρίζουν την ανοσολογική απόκριση και διατηρούν την αυτοανοχή. Οι μηχανισμοί σημείων ελέγχου του ανοσοποιητικού συστήματος ενεργοποιούνται συχνά στον καρκίνο για να εμποδίσουν την ανάπτυξη ανοσολογικών αποκρίσεων. Η πρωτεΐνη προγραμματισμένου κυτταρικού θανάτου 1 (PD-1) είναι μια διαμεμβρανική πρωτεΐνη και ο συνδέτης της (PDL-1) εκφράζεται συνήθως από μακροφάγα, μερικά ενεργοποιημένα Τ κύτταρα, Β κύτταρα, δενδριτικά κύτταρα και επιθηλιακά κύτταρα υπό φλεγμονώδεις συνθήκες και επίσης εκφράζεται από καρκινικά κύτταρα. Το PD-1/PDL1 εκτοξεύει την αυτοανοχή μειώνοντας την απόκριση του ανοσοποιητικού συστήματος και καταστέλλοντας τη φλεγμονώδη δραστηριότητα των Τ-κυττάρων. Σε αυτή τη μελέτη, επιλέχθηκαν miRNA με βάση on line υπολογιστικά εργαλεία, τα οποία βασίζονται σε αλγόριθμους που ελέγχουν την πρόσδεση αυτών με την 3' UTR του PDL-1 mRNA και διερευνήθηκε το προφίλ έκφρασής τους σε κλινικά δείγματα εγκλεισμένα σε παραφίνη διαφορετικών ιστολογικών κατηγοριών. Η αρχική υπόθεση ήταν ότι εάν τα miRNA που μελετήθηκαν είναι ικανά να στοχεύουν το mRNA του PDL-1 και στη συνέχεια να αναστέλλουν την παραγωγή του, η αρνητική ρύθμιση των μελετηθέντων miRNAs σε βλάβες υψηλού βαθμού θα μπορούσε να είναι ένας από τους λόγους που το PDL-1 υπερεκφράζεται, καθιστώντας τους έτσι πιθανούς ισχυρούς υποψηφίους για θεραπευτική παρέμβαση. Από τα μελετηθέντα miRNA, το hsa-Mir-125-5p βρέθηκε να υποεκφράζεται σε υψηλού βαθμού ενδοεπιθηλιακές αλλοιώσεις του πλακώδους επιθηλίου και επιλέχθηκε ώστε να ελεγχθεί περαιτέρω η πιθανότητα να εμπλέκεται στο μηχανιστικό μονοπάτι που περιλαμβάνει το Ε6 ογκογονίδιο του HPV16 και την πρωτεΐνη PDL-1. Εφαρμόζοντας κατάλληλο σύστημα CRISPR/Cas9 σε κυτταρικές σειρές-μοντέλα, δείχθηκε ότι μείωση της έκφρασης του Ε6 οδηγεί σε αύξηση της έκφρασης του hsa-Mir-125-5p και μείωση των επιπέδων της πρωτεΐνης PDL-1 προτείνοντας έτσι, ένα μοριακό μονοπάτι όπου η παρουσία του ιού HPV16 μπορεί να λειτουργήσει έτσι ώστε το hsa-Mir-125-5p να μπορεί να επηρεάσει στο στόχο του και συγκεκριμένα στην προκειμένη περίπτωση την πρωτεΐνη PD-L1.
‘Coat Thieves’ and Bandits? Belarusian Counter-Memory of the ‘Cursed Soldiers’
Authors: Dobrosielski Paweł , Jaskułowski Krzysztof , Majewski Piotr
Published: February 2024

In the article, we analyse attitudes of representatives of the Belarusian minority in Poland towards the armed anti-communist underground operating in the Podlasie region after 1944 (the so-called ‘cursed soldiers’). Drawing on semi-structured interviews with various Belarusian actors, as well as on observations made during field research in the Podlasie region in June 2021, we are able to illustrate a clash between official commemorative practices and the local and communicative memory of the Belarusians. We analyse the role played by the collective memory of the underground among the Belarusian minority in Podlasie against the backdrop of the hegemonic politics of memory that glorifies the ‘cursed soldiers’ as national heroes. The analysis of counter-hegemonic memory accounts and their relation to dominant narratives uncovers the emotions generated by the hegemonic politics of memory among representatives of the Belarusian minority, who generally regard it as depreciating their experience and evoking a sense of endangerment. We show that Belarusian memory is perceived as incompatible with the ideological assumptions of the hegemonic Polish memory; therefore, we want to give voice to the marginalised representatives of the Belarusian minority. However, the Belarusian minority should not be perceived as a homogenous group – our analysis points to the fact that various actors various actors negotiate the hegemonic politics of memory in various ways when faced with the pressure of assimilation.
Women in the Contemporary Polish Streetscape. Memory Wars
Authors: Walkowiak Justyna B. , Rutkiewicz-Hanczewska Małgorzata
Published: February 2024

As diversity, equity and inclusion policies gain momentum in the Global North, the strikingly low visibility of women in Polish public space is being addressed not only via bottom-to-top activism but also through initiatives by local governments. This, in turn, results in controversies over the very need for gender equality in urban naming, as well as over the commemoration-worthiness of particular personages. The present paper aims to assess the changes that have taken place in Poland since the beginning of 2018, when an analysis of the 12 biggest cities revealed a persistent under-representation of women as namesakes in street naming. We offer a quantitative analysis and then focus on four selected case studies, each exemplifying one type of situation: open conflict, covert tactics, and two combinations of surface vs core values relationship.
Organization of Mega Events based on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar
Authors: Myler Kacper
Published: February 2024

This article is the result of research conducted as part of the diploma thesis entitled "Organization of Mega Events based on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar", defended at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń in 2023. The article focuses on the issue of organizing mega events, using as a case study FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The analysis covers various aspects of managing such large sports events and identifies the benefits and threats arising from the role of the organizer of a championship tournament. Additionally, as a result original research using a survey questionnaire, participants' opinions were collected regarding the assessment of the organization of the entire event from the viewer's perspective. The main aim of the article is to present various strategies for managing championship events and to identify key aspects influencing the effective management of mega events. The first chapter is an introduction to the basic issues related to the organization of events, including the types, features and goals of these events, as well as the characteristics of mega-events. The following chapters focus on the analysis of organizational aspects and controversies related to the FIFA World Cup and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the role of the organizer of a championship tournament, including the management of communication and technical infrastructure and fan groups. In the last chapter, research was conducted using a survey questionnaire to understand fans' impressions of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The research results were described and summarized, shedding light on the overall impressions and opinions of event participants.
Periodismo y tecnología: un binomio que revoluciona la forma de contar historias
Authors: Aramburú-Moncada Luisa Graciela , López-Redondo Isaac , Serrano-Martín Carlos
Published: February 2024

Las innovaciones tecnológicas ofrecen a los profesionales de la información un abanico de novedosas posibilidades para transmitir piezas periodísticas. En este trabajo se presenta un statu quo de tecnologías disruptivas en el ámbito de la comunicación como el periodismo móvil, el periodismo inmersivo, el periodismo dron o la inteligencia artificial. Aportamos algunas claves para comprender cómo estas herramientas, junto con la creatividad del periodista, buscan cautivar a los nuevos públicos.
Los perfiles de Leila Guerriero: el arte narrativo de un texto integrado.
Authors: Fernández Barrero M. Ángeles
Published: February 2024

El periodismo narrativo representa una renovación de las fórmulas expresivas periodísticas. Con un lenguaje literario e intimista, ordena realidades caóticas a partir de la inmersión y la observación minuciosa. En este texto analizamos los perfiles de Leila Guerriero, un género narrativo de largo formato que le permite integrar entrevistas, descripciones y material documental en un solo relato, un retrato subjetivo de un personaje real.
Huawei Cloud Adopts Operations Research for Live Streaming Services to Save Network Bandwidth Cost: The GSCO System
Authors: Yuan Xiaoming , Zhao Pengxiang , Hu Hanyu , You Jintao , Yang Changpeng , Peng Wen , Kang Yonghong , Teo Kwong Meng
Published: February 2024

The rapid evolution of cloud computing technologies has instigated a paradigm shift across various traditional industries, with the live streaming sector standing as a compelling exemplification of this transformation. Huawei Cloud, which has become an influential player in the business-to-business live streaming arena, with its services spanning over 60 countries since 2020, is at the forefront of this shift. Amid the flourishing live streaming market, Huawei Cloud faces the dual challenge of satisfying the escalating demand, while managing the mounting operational costs, predominantly associated with the network bandwidth. To offer premium services while minimizing the bandwidth cost, we developed a dynamic traffic allocation system called GSCO. This system was engineered using an array of operations research methodologies such as continuous optimization, integer programming, graph theory, scheduling, and network-flow problem solving, along with state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms. The GSCO system has been proven highly effective in cost optimization, reducing network bandwidth expenses by about 30% and leading to savings exceeding $49.6 million from Q1 2020 to Q3 2022. In addition, it has significantly bolstered Huawei Cloud’s market share, amplifying peak bandwidth from an initial 1.5 terabits per second (Tbps) to a substantial 16 Tbps.
Introduction: 2023 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Advanced Analytics, Operations Research, and Management Science
Authors: Tyagi Rajesh , Pekgün Pelin
Published: February 2024

This special issue of the INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics (formerly Interfaces) is devoted to the finalists of the 53rd annual competition for the Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Advanced Analytics, Operations Research, and Management Science, the profession’s most prestigious award for deployed work. As in previous years, the finalists this year cover a wide range of industries and functions.
A FUNÇÃO DO AMICUS CURIAE COMO MECANISMO DE ACESSO À JUSTIÇA NAS DEMANDAS JUDICIAIS ENVOLVENDO NOVAS TECNOLOGIAS
Authors: Bianchi de Oliveira Diego , Mollica Rogério
Published: February 2024

As Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TICs) têm desencadeado uma rápida transformação na sociedade, impactando profundamente todas as esferas da vida humana, inclusive o campo do Direito. Este último, sendo uma ciência social em constante evolução, busca se adaptar às mudanças sociais para assegurar a justiça e a equidade. Contudo, a velocidade e a complexidade das mudanças trazidas pelas novas TICs representam um desafio significativo para o Direito, já que a legislação muitas vezes não acompanha tão prontamente essas transformações. A dinâmica acelerada das novas tecnologias gera uma série de conflitos legais que chegam diariamente aos tribunais. No entanto, nem sempre os juízes possuem o conhecimento técnico necessário para compreender os intricados detalhes dos novos temas apresentados, o que se torna um entrave ao acesso à justiça. Diante dessa realidade, a pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar a viabilidade da intervenção do amicus curiae em demandas judiciais que envolvem novas tecnologias. A análise foi desenvolvida em um nível exploratório e explicativo, adotando o método dedutivo. Para embasar o estudo, foram examinadas a literatura especializada e a legislação pertinente ao tema, utilizando técnicas de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental. A pesquisa demonstrou que o amicus curiae pode ser um instrumento eficaz para garantir o acesso à justiça frente às demandas judiciais envolvendo novas tecnologias. O amicus curiae permite que a sociedade civil contribua para o processo judicial, fornecendo informações e esclarecimentos que são relevantes sobre os fatos e as questões jurídicas envolvidas no caso, facilitando a apreensão do Direito frente às novas TICs e, principalmente, auxiliando o magistrado na compreensão dos temas complexos e específicos que surgem nesse contexto. A presença do amicus curiae em ações judiciais complexas e carregadas de particularidades – como é caso das demandas quem envolvem novas tecnologias – favorecem à correta apreciação do litígio e melhor aplicação da norma e o aprimoramento da tutela jurisdicional.
DURAÇÃO RAZOÁVEL DO PROCESSO E PADRONIZAÇÃO DAS DECISÕES JUDICIAIS: UMA ANÁLISE CRÍTICA
Authors: Rodrigues Marco Antonio , Faria Schenk Leonardo , Quintieri Jeverson Luiz
Published: February 2024

Este artigo tem como tema uma análise crítica da padronização das decisões judiciais, via precedentes obrigatórios, introduzida em nosso sistema jurídico. Objetiva analisar se foram trazidos para o nosso ordenamento jurídico os precedentes em si ou apenas uma técnica de padronização de decisões, assim como identificar as principais falhas existentes neste novo paradigma de julgamento. Empregou-se uma abordagem qualitativa, haja vista que os resultados foram identificados por intermédio de um critério valorativo e, portanto, não numérico. A pesquisa foi descritiva e fez uso do raciocínio dedutivo, haja vista que, partindo da concepção do que seja efetivamente um julgamento baseado em precedentes, procurou aferir especificamente se o precedente introduzido em nosso ordenamento jurídico corresponde ao que vem sendo empregado, tradicionalmente, no sistema "common law" e quais são as principais falhas verificadas no paradigma implantado. Quanto aos procedimentos, a investigação foi bibliográfica para responder ao seguinte problema de pesquisa: foram trazidos para o nosso ordenamento jurídico os precedentes em si ou apenas uma técnica de padronização de decisões e quais são as principais falhas existentes neste novo paradigma de julgamento? Constatou-se que a crise do Poder Judiciário provocou reformas legislativas que culminaram com a edição da EC 45/04. Constatou-se que, gradativamente, foi sendo inserida em nosso sistema jurídico a uniformização das decisões judiciais, culminando com a introdução do precedente obrigatório (CPC, art. 927). Restou, ainda, demonstrado que o nosso paradigma de precedente não se coaduna ao instituto dos precedentes existente no sistema da common Law, sendo apenas uma ideia de precedente. Verificou-se que o instituto dos precedentes não vem sendo, na prática, aplicado corretamente por diversos motivos, tais como: a utilização dos precedentes têm sido de regra automática e, não raro, baseada apenas na mera invocação de julgados anteriores, sem análise fática pormenorizada do caso concreto que deu ensejo à decisão paradigma e sem uma comparação com os fatos do caso julgado com base no precedente; há, segundo parte da doutrina, inconstitucionalidade das normas que criaram eficácia vinculante de precedente e de súmulas não vinculantes sem previsão constitucional; a análise das razões de decidir ("ratio decidendi"), muitas vezes, fica prejudicada, em virtude do grau de abstração existente nas súmulas vinculantes, e, ainda, devido à dificuldade de se distinguir, no caso concreto, a "ratio decidendi" da fundamentação "obter dicta" etc.
A TEORIA DA DERROTABILIDADE DAS NORMAS JURÍDICAS E OS SEUS INFLUXOS NO SISTEMA BRASILEIRO DE PRECEDENTES JUDICIAIS
Authors: De Aragão Ribeiro Rodrigues Roberto , Paiva Siqueira Augusto
Published: February 2024

O presente artigo se propõe a analisar a possibilidade de a teoria da derrotabilidade das normas jurídicas ser utilizada pelo operador do direito para afastar a aplicação de um precedente judicial com força vinculante. Para implementar essa análise, apresentou-se o conceito de precedente judicial, suas nuances no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro em contraposição à tradição jurídica do common law, bem como a graduação da sua força vinculante. A partir dessas concepções introdutórias, prosseguiu-se avaliando a aproximação do precedente judicial com a essência das normas jurídicas, destacadamente pelos aspectos da generalidade e abstração. Adiante, verificado o caráter normativo, analisou-se os limites a serem observados na formação dos precedentes judiciais, sobretudo à luz da compreensão de que a atividade jurisdicional é criativa da norma jurídica, utilizando-se como norte para essa investigação acórdãos do Supremo Tribunal Federal que, em controle concentrado de constitucionalidade, invalidaram súmulas da jurisprudência do Tribunal Superior do Trabalho. Ainda, foi estabelecido um contraponto entre os precedentes com a legitimidade da reação legislativa, considerando a ambivalência entre a autocontenção e a função contramajoritária da Suprema Corte. Em seguida, avaliou-se o enquadramento dos precedentes às espécies normativas tradicionais – regras e princípios –, ocasião na qual foram identificados os conceitos apresentados pelas doutrinas nacional e estrangeira, em articulação com as particularidades da ratio decidendi e com o objetivo uniformizador da jurisprudência. Destarte, compreendidos os precedentes obrigatórios como regras elaboradas pelo Poder Judiciário, o estudo prosseguiu com o enfrentamento do tema a partir da teoria da derrotabilidade das normas jurídicas, apresentando-se uma breve contextualização história quanto a sua origem, o seu conceito, a compreensão da doutrina e o seu diálogo com o objeto da pesquisa. Também, na perspectiva do caráter normativo do precedente, inspecionou-se as sistemáticas aplicáveis ao distinguishing e ao overruling, definindo cada uma dessas técnicas no contexto da superação das regras. Ao final observou-se que as teses jurídicas consolidadas nos precedentes judiciais são incapazes de esgotar todas as possibilidades relacionadas à questão de direito de que tratam, a semelhança do que ocorre com as leis elaboradas pelo Poder Legislativo. Concluiu-se que a teoria da derrotabilidade pode ser excepcionalmente utilizada para justificar a não observância de tese firmada em precedente vinculante, em especial quando demonstrada a exceção implícita, sem que isso possa comprometer a estabilidade, integridade e coerência da jurisprudência.
Comparison of different concentrations of chlorhexidine-iodophor composite solution on human skin fibroblasts
Authors: YiXin Luo , ShaoNa Niu , LiFang Mai , XingZhou Liu , Chuan Yang
Published: February 2024

Objective:

Chlorhexidine-iodophor (CHX-IP) composite solution is a polymer of chlorhexidine and iodophor produced with new technology, for use in diabetic foot infection. However, the effect of CHX-IP on the growth activity of fibroblasts remains unknown, thus the effects of different concentrations of CHX-IP composite solution on the viability and micromorphology of human skin fibroblasts were studied in vitro cell culture in this study.

Method:

A cell viability assay was applied to calculate cell viability and an inverted fluorescence microscope was used to observe cell morphology over five days.

Results:

The results showed that the toxic effect of CHX-IP on fibroblasts was solution concentration-dependent and decreased over time. When the concentration of CHX-IP was 5.0mg/ml, 2.5mg/ml, 0.625mg/ml, 0.15625mg/ml, 0.078125mg/ml or 0mg/ml, the difference of optical density (OD) value on different days was statistically significant (p<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the OD value of fibroblasts among different concentrations of CHX-IP on: day 2 (F=4.809, p=0.004); day 3 (F=21.508, p<0.001); day 4 (F=63.952, p<0.001); and day 5 (F=160.407, p<0.001). In addition, a concentration of 5.0mg/ml CHX-IP resulted in a fibroblastic viability rate of 0% on day 4, when CHX-IP was diluted to 2.5mg/ml or 1.25 mg/ml, fibroblastic viability rate decreased to 0% day 5. However, when the CHX-IP was diluted to 0.15625mg/ml or 0.078125mg/ml, the fibroblastic cell viability rate increased slightly on day 5. The morphology of cells observed under microscope indirectly supported this result.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study showed that the toxic effect of CHX-IP on fibroblasts was solution concentration-dependent and decreased over time.
The Evolution of Research on School Attendance: A Bibliometric Review of Scholarly Output
Authors: Martínez-Torres Javier , Gonzálvez Carolina , Fernández-Sogorb Aitana , García-Fernández José Manuel
Published: February 2024

School attendance problems are of great research interest, which is reflected in the increase of scientific publications. This increase hinders the adequate follow-up and updating of the scientific community on the subject. The aim of the present bibliometric study lies in the review of the scientific literature published on school attendance problems during 2014-2021. A bibliographic search and analysis of scientific articles was performed, obtaining a definitive sample of 700 documents. Results were extracted and analyzed for the following indicators: temporal productivity, productivity by authors, co-authorship index, productivity by journals, use of topics, research areas addressed and types of samples used. The number of publications indicates a progressive increase of interest on the subject, which has not corresponded to the creation of a specific journal on the subject. There is also evidence of the need for consensus on the topics to be used; the preference for knowing the factors associated with school attendance problems over other areas of research; and the generalized use of community samples as opposed to more specific ones. In conclusion, the characteristics researched on school attendance problems are presented; knowledge that will facilitate the establishment of intervention processes applicable to different contexts and realities.
Following up: Questions and Talk Moves in Preservice Teachers’ Mathematics Classroom Conversations
Authors: Myklebust Hege , Guadie Maru Alamirew
Published: February 2024

Our research aim is to describe how Preservice Teachers (PSTs) can rehearse and prepare for leading productive talks in mathematics and other subjects. Based on literature and previous research on what constitutes productive talks, we focus on questions and talk moves in this case study, where we follow three groups of PSTs during their practicum, practicing conducting productive talks in mathematics. Our research questions are: What kinds of questions do PSTs ask? What kinds of talk moves do they use? How do these questions and talk moves contribute to the PSTs breaking the IRE (Initiation–Response–Evaluation) pattern and moving towards more productive mathematics talks with complex exchanges of questions and responses? And furthermore: How can we use these findings to improve teacher education in this field? We find that leading productive talks in the mathematics classroom is a challenging task, but there is variation between our three groups in what they struggle with. In accordance with previous research, we also find that the third turn in the exchange, following up after a question and a response is a crucial point in the conversation. One recommendation for teacher education is that video filming and analysing classroom talks might help PSTs to become conscious of and improve on this point. Further research is needed both on long term effect of such practice and focus, and on other ways to improve classroom talks in mathematics and other subjects.
O CONTROVERSO CASO DE GALILEU GALILEI E A IGREJA CATÓLICA: TORTURA, PRISÃO E EMBATE ENTRE CIÊNCIA E RELIGIÃO?
Authors: Almeida Leandro
Published: February 2024

Dentre os muitos mitos propagados que, em certa medida, servem para alimentar o suposto antagonismo entre fé e ciência, está o de Galileu Galilei com a Igreja Católica. Esse episódio histórico é frequentemente utilizado como ilustração da oposição e incompatibilidade da religião cristã ao avanço científico e ao livre pensar. Assim sendo, o presente artigo tem por objetivo apresentar uma outra perspectiva acerca desse mito, notadamente sobre a relação entre o copernicanismo e a Igreja, e a suposta prisão e tortura de Galileu. O estudo torna-se relevante, pois tem o intuito de contribuir para a discussão sobre esses acontecimentos que costumam ser apresentados como um conflito entre fé e ciência. Para atingir tal propósito, metodologicamente, recorreu-se a pesquisa bibliográfica acerca dessa temática. Destaca-se que este artigo é parte dos resultados obtidos dum trabalho de conclusão de curso.
Quantum filter routing of single photons
Authors: Li Xingmin , Xin Jun , Li Guolong , Lu Xiao-Ming , Wei L. F.
Published: February 2024

A quantum router takes the central role in an optical quantum network. However, how to route the expected photons with different frequencies to the targeted output ports of the quantum network is still a basic challenge. Here, we propose an effective approach, by setting the proper cavity-atom and photon-cavity chiral interactions, to realize quantum filter routing of single photons with different frequencies in a multi-channel quantum network. With the frequency serving as the signpost, the photons can be effectively routed to the targeted output ports by modulating the detunings between the cavities and the auxiliary atoms. Hopefully, this technique can play an important role in the construction of a highly efficient optical quantum network.
Soliton and dispersive wave generation with third-order dispersion and temporal boundary
Authors: Cai Wangyang , Wu Haoyun , Liu Yichong , Zhang Lifu , Zhao Jiajia , Yue Lei , Wang Lei
Published: February 2024

We investigate the pulse evolution and energy conservation condition at the temporal boundary under third-order dispersion. When the fundamental soliton crosses the temporal boundary and forms two reflected pulses and one transmitted pulse, the power of the transmitted pulse first increases and then decreases as the incident spectrum shifts toward the blue side. If the transmitted spectrum lies in the anomalous group-velocity dispersion region, second-order soliton is formed and dispersive wave is radiated. We present a modified phase-matching condition to predict the resonance frequencies. The predicted results are in good agreement with the results obtained by numerically solving the nonlinear Schrödinger equation.
Hybrid air-bulk multi-pass cell compressor for high pulse energies with full spatio-temporal characterization
Authors: Omar Alan , Hoffmann Martin , Galle Geoffrey , Sylla François , Saraceno Clara J.
Published: February 2024

Multi-pass cell (MPC) compressors have proven to be the method of choice for compression of high average power long-pulse Yb lasers. Yet, generating sub-30 fs pulses at high pulse energy with compact and simple components remains a challenge. This work demonstrates an efficient and cost-effective approach for nonlinear pulse compression at high pulse energy using a hybrid air-bulk MPC. By carefully balancing the relative nonlinear contributions of ambient air and fused silica, we achieve strong spectral broadening without dispersion engineering or pressure-control inside the cell at 400-µJ pulse energy. In this way, we compress pulses from 220 fs to 27 fs at 40.3 W of average power (100 kHz repetition rate), enhancing the peak power from 1.6 GW to 10.2 GW while maintaining 78% of the energy within the main pulse. Our approach combines the strengths of gas-filled and bulk compression schemes and exhibits excellent overall optical transmission (91%) and spectral uniformity. Moreover, we utilize the INSIGHT technique to investigate spatio-temporal couplings and geometrical aberrations of the compressed pulse. Our results demonstrate remarkable temporal homogeneity, with an average Strehl ratio of 0.97 consistently observed throughout the entire spectral profile. Additionally, all spectrally-integrated Zernike coefficients for geometrical aberrations maintain values below 0.02λ.
Optomechanical squeezing with strong harmonic mechanical driving
Authors: Lin Xin-Yu , Ye Guang-Zheng , Liu Ye , Jiang Yun-Kun , Wu Huaizhi
Published: February 2024

In this paper, we propose an optomechanical scheme for generating mechanical squeezing over the 3 dB limit, with the mechanical mirror being driven by a strong and linear harmonic force. In contrast to parametric mechanical driving, the linearly driven force shakes the mechanical mirror periodically oscillating at twice the mechanical eigenfrequency with large amplitude, where the mechanical mirror can be dissipatively stabilized by the engineered cavity reservoir to a dynamical squeezed steady state with a maximum degree of squeezing over 8 dB. The mechanical squeezing of more than 3 dB can be achieved even for a mechanical thermal temperature larger than 100 mK. The scheme can be implemented in a cascaded optomechanical setup, with potential applications in engineering continuous variable entanglement and quantum sensing.
Parental control and college students’ depressive symptoms: A latent class analysis
Authors: Hwang Woosang , Jung Eunjoo , Hadi Narges , Kim Seonghee
Published: February 2024

We examined how maternal and paternal parental control (helicopter parenting, behavioral control, and psychological control) among college students are related to their depressive symptoms. We collected data from college students who attended a private university in Upstate New York (n = 455) and analyzed it using three-step latent class analysis. Latent class analysis identified four parental control latent classes: weak parental control, strong psychological control, strong helicopter parenting, and strong parental control. College students in the weak parental control class reported lower depressive symptoms than those in strong psychological control and strong parental control classes. In addition, college students in the strong helicopter parenting class reported lower depressive symptoms than those in strong psychological control and strong parental control classes. College students’ depressive symptoms were not significantly different between weak parental control and strong helicopter parenting classes. Future researchers are encouraged to continue to acknowledge the characteristics of different forms of parental control and their influence on college students’ quality of life in the transition to adulthood, considering the unique approaches of both parents.
Analyzing the correlation between protein expression and sequence-related features of mRNA and protein in Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 model
Authors: Truong Nhat H.M. , T. Vo Nam , Nguyen Binh T. , Huynh Son T. , Nguyen Hoang D.
Published: February 2024

It was necessary to have a tool that could predict the amount of protein and optimize the gene sequences to produce recombinant proteins efficiently. The Transim model published by Tuller et al. in 2018 can calculate the translation rate in E. coli using features on the mRNA sequence, achieving a Spearman correlation with the amount of protein per mRNA of 0.36 when tested on the dataset of operons’ first genes in E. coli K-12 MG1655 genome. However, this Spearman correlation was not high, and the model did not fully consider the features of mRNA and protein sequences. Therefore, to enhance the prediction capability, our study firstly tried expanding the testing dataset, adding genes inside the operon, and using the microarray of the mRNA expression data set, thereby helping to improve the correlation of translation rate with the amount of protein with more than 0.42. Next, the applicability of 6 traditional machine learning models to calculate a "new translation rate" was examined using initiation rate and elongation rate as inputs. The result showed that the SVR algorithm had the most correlated new translation rates, with Spearman correlation improving to R = 0.6699 with protein level output and to R = 0.6536 with protein level per mRNA. Finally, the study investigated the degree of improvement when combining more features with the new translation rates. The results showed that the model’s predictive ability to produce a protein per mRNA reached R = 0.6660 when using six features, while the correlation of this model’s final translation rate to protein level was up to R = 0.6729. This demonstrated the model’s capability to predict protein expression of a gene, rather than being limited to predicting expression by an mRNA and showed the model’s potential for development into gene expression predicting tools.
The effect of obligatory Padua prediction scoring in hospitalized medically ill patients: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Drozdinsky Genady , Zusman Oren , Kushnir Shiri , Leibovici Leonard , Gafter-Gvili Anat
Published: February 2024

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is considered a preventable cause of mortality. The evidence for the benefit of VTE prophylaxis in acute medical patients is non-conclusive. Meta-analysis of RCTs failed to demonstrate reduction of all-cause mortality, while showing higher risk of bleeding. The Israeli Ministry of Health has instructed to assess all acute medical patients for the risk for VTE using the Padua Prediction Score, without mandating prophylaxis.

Aim

To evaluate the effect of filling the Padua score on clinical outcomes and VTE prophylaxis rates.

Methods

Retrospective Study was performed in Israel during the years 2014–2017. The participants were divided to Padua compliance vs non-compliance group. Primary outcome: 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes: 90-day incidence of VTE and suspected major bleeding. A propensity-weighted logistic multiple regression was performed.

Results

18,890 patients were included in the study. The fulfillment of the Padua score was associated with an increased use of VTE prophylaxis, OR 1.66 (95% CI 1.49–1.84). However, there was no reduction of mortality or VTE events, OR 1.13 (95% CI 0.97–1.31) and OR 1.22 (95% CI 0.79–1.8) respectively. Hospitalizations related to hemoglobin decrease were not statistically different between the two groups.

Conclusions

Padua score for the assessment of VTE risk in medical wards was associated with higher administration of pharmacological prophylaxis without reduction in VTE or mortality rate. Its usage should be reassessed as a performance measure.