bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Faricimab efficacy in type 1 macular neovascularization: AI-assisted quantification of pigment epithelium detachment (PED) volume reduction over 12 months in Naïve and switch eyes
Authors: Cattaneo Jennifer , Forte Paolo , Forte Giovanni , Eandi Chiara M.
Published: January 2025

Background

This study evaluates the efficacy of intravitreal Faricimab in reducing pigment epithelium detachment (PED) and fluid volumes in both treatment-naïve eyes and eyes unresponsive to anti-VEGF mono-therapies, all diagnosed with type 1 macular neovascularization (T1 MNV) over a period of 12-month.

Methods

A retrospective, single-center cohort study was conducted at the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. Clinical records of treatment-naïve and non-responder switch patients presenting T1 MNV secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) from September 2022 to March 2023 were reviewed. Patients received a loading dose of three monthly Faricimab injections followed by a treat-and-extend (T&E) regimen. Multimodal imaging, including structural OCT and AI-assisted analysis, was used to quantify PED volumes and related fluid biomarkers at baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. Statistical analyses included linear mixed models to evaluate differences and trends in intraretinal (IRF), subretinal fluid (SRF) and PED volumes.

Results

65 eyes of 65 patients were enrolled (female: 70.7%; mean age = 80.7yrs, SD = 6.9yrs). 80% had received anti-VEGF treatment (Switch group) and 20% were treatment-Naïve at baseline. At 12 months, intravitreal treatments were more frequent in the Switch group (mean number = 8.3 vs. 6.0; p = 0.009). BCVA improved at the 12-month follow-up in Naïve eyes (+ 6.9 ETDRS letters from baseline, p = 0.053) and was maintained in Switch eyes. No cases of intraocular inflammation were observed. Significant reduction in SRF and IRF volumes were noted in both groups. A significant reduction in PED volume was observed over the follow-up period in both groups (mean slope = -206 nL, 95%CL = -273/-138; p-value < 0.001).

Conclusions

Intravitreal Faricimab significantly reduced PED volumes in both treatment-Naïve and non-responder Switch patients over 12 months. The study highlights Faricimab’s potential as an effective treatment option for T1 MNV in nAMD, offering significant improvements in PED volume and related fluid biomarkers.
A high number of tumor deposits (≥ 4) is an isolated predictor of local recurrence and distant metastasis in non-metastatic colorectal cancer: a single center study
Authors: Bendari Ahmed , Ucar Ebubekir , Bendari Alaa , Hammoud Hamed , Kiran FNU , Al-Refai Reham , Sham Sunder , Kumar Sanjay Kirshan , Jean Ryan Des , Harshan Manju
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Local recurrence and distant metastasis after curative surgery and chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious complication and is considered a failure of the therapeutic strategy. The aim of this study is to identify the different prognostic factors associated with tumor recurrence and distant metastasis in CRC.

Design

An analytical cross-sectional design was employed, and our hospital clinical and pathology databases were queried for non-metastatic CRC (stage I-III). Patients were included if they underwent surgery and chemotherapy between 01/2016 to 12/2018 and demographic information, tumor characteristics and postoperative outcomes were extracted from each case. The data were entered into a database using SPSS version 21. Univariate analysis was initially performed, followed by a multivariate analysis to develop a prognostic model for tumor recurrence and distant metastasis in CRC.

Result

A total of 138 non-metastatic CRC patients were enrolled in this study. The demographic characteristics of all patients are summarized in Table 1. Our study included 65 male and 73 female patients with a Median (IQR) age of 69 (17.7) years. Among the cases, 91 (65.9%) patients had no recurrence, and 47 (34.1%) patients developed a recurrence during follow-up. Univariate analysis revealed that positive lymph nodes (p = 0.03) and tumor deposits ≥ 4 (p = 0.04) were significantly associated with colorectal tumor recurrence and/or metastasis. However, variables such as age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, family history of CRC, PNI, LVI, tumor size, and histological features like mucinous or signet ring cell morphology did not show any statistical significance (p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis adjusted for age, lymph node status, and tumor deposits, identified that tumor deposits ≥ 4 was the only predictor of tumor recurrence following colorectal surgery and chemotherapy. Conversely, positive lymph node status did not show statistical significance (p = 0.3). Further analysis revealed that patients who had tumor deposit number ≥ 4 tend to experience local recurrence/distant metastasis more than patients with tumor deposit number < 4.

Conclusion

In non-metastatic CRC patients, TD ≥ 4 is a strong predictor of local tumor recurrence and distant metastasis. Based on these findings, patients who have TDs in primary CRC resection should be subjected to enhanced surveillance.
Racial, socioeconomic, and payer status disparities in utilization of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in the USA
Authors: Dhanjani Suraj A. , Schmerler Jessica , Hussain Nauman , Badin Daniel , Srikumaran Uma , Hegde Vishal , Oni Julius K.
Published: January 2025

Background

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis associated with lower morbidity compared with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with isolated unicompartmental knee arthritis. As disparities have been noted broadly in arthroplasty care, it follows that such disparities might be present in the utilization of UKA relative to TKA. This study therefore examined racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and payer status differences in utilization of UKA.

Methods

Patients who underwent UKA or TKA between 2016 and 2020 in the National Inpatient Sample were identified. Multivariable Poisson regression models adjusted for hospital geographic region and patient characteristics [age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI)] were used to examine the effect of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and payer status on incidence rate ratio of UKA relative to TKA.

Results

Of the 8472 UKA patients and 639,937 TKA patients identified between 2016 and 2020, 8027 (94.7%) UKA patients and 606,028 (94.7%) TKA patients met inclusion criteria. Patients who underwent UKA were significantly younger (63.5 ± 10.7 years) than patients who underwent TKA (66.8 ± 9.5 years; p < 0.001) and had significantly lower ECI scores (1.8 ± 1.5) than patients who underwent TKA (2.2 ± 1.6; p < 0.001). Black patients were less likely to undergo UKA relative to TKA compared with white patients [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.64, confidence interval (CI) 0.58–0.71, p < 0.001]. Compared with patients in income quartile 4, patients in income quartiles 1 and 2 underwent UKA at a lower relative rate (IRR 0.85, CI 0.79–0.90, p < 0.001 and IRR 0.87, CI 0.82–0.93, p < 0.001, respectively). Compared with patients with private insurance, patients with Medicare underwent UKA at a lower relative rate (IRR 0.83, CI 0.79–0.88, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Black patients, lower-income patients, and Medicare-insured patients undergo UKA at a lower relative rate than white, higher-income, and privately insured patients, respectively. Further research may help elucidate reasons for these differences and identify targets for intervention.
Adherence to the 24-hour movement behavior guidelines and depression risk among older adults from the United States
Authors: Zamora Astrid N. , Walia Arjan S. , King Abby C.
Published: January 2025

Background

While recent studies, primarily among Asian cohorts, have linked adherence to 24-hour movement behavior (24-HMB) guidelines with improved mental health—some of which show sex differences—few studies have explored these relationships among older adults from the United States.

Methods

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011-2018 were examined in 2,812 older adults (≥ 65years). Those considered adherent to 24-HMB guidelines had a sleep duration of 7–8 h./night, moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) ≥ 150 min/wk., and sedentary behavior (SB) < 8 h./day. Sleep duration, SB, and MVPA were self-reported, with SB and MVPA obtained from the validated Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with a score of ≥ 10 indicating depression. Logistic regression was used to evaluate overall and sex-stratified associations between non-adherence to all three behaviors, combinations of two behaviors, or individual behavior guidelines, with odds of depression, adjusted for putative confounders.

Results

Among the full sample, non-adherence to all three 24-HMB guidelines was associated with 1.7 [95% confidence interval (CI):1.1, 3.1; p = 0.02] higher odds of depression versus those that adhered to all three behaviors. After sex stratification, the association only persisted among males [OR = 2.5 (95% CI:1.1, 5.4); p = 0.02]. Within the overall sample, higher odds of depression were observed for those who did not adhere to the SB + sleep duration guidelines and the sleep duration + MVPA guidelines. Sex-stratified findings revealed that associations only remained significant in males. While in the overall sample of older adults, non-adherence to the sleep duration guideline was associated with 2.1 (95% CI:1.4, 3.3; p = 0.001) higher odds of depression compared to those that adhered to the guideline.

Conclusions

Results provide evidence of associations between non-adherence to 24-HMB and higher odds of depression, specifically in older males, suggesting a potential sex-specific effect that warrants further investigation. Future studies using longitudinal designs are needed to confirm these findings and explore the mechanisms underlying these associations.
Optimizing Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia for Cancer Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Adjusted Background Infusion Rates
Authors: Geum Min Jung , Lee Si Won , Lee Choong-kun , Jung Minkyu , Kim Do-Hyeong , Yoo Young Chul , Choi Hye Jin
Published: January 2025

PURPOSE

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has been considered for managing cancer pain; however, limited research has been conducted on optimizing continuous infusion rates with PCA. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a method that optimizes background infusion (BI) alongside PCA for titrating intravenous (IV) morphine in managing cancer-related pain.

METHODS

Forty-four patients with solid tumors who could not manage pain with oral or transdermal opioid analgesics were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive IV morphine through PCA or the conventional method. In the PCA group, the BI rate was automatically adjusted on the basis of the frequency and interval of bolus button presses; contrastingly, BI rate in the conventional group was adjusted at the discretion of the medical staff. The primary outcome was the daily number of patient complaints of breakthrough pain (numeric rating scale ≥4).

RESULTS

The PCA group reported a significant decrease in breakthrough pain complaints at 24 hours (median, 0
v
3 times/d;
P
= .012) and a lower proportion of nonresponders at 24 hours (21%
v
55%;
P
= .048) compared with the conventional group. The total daily IV dose of morphine increased in the PCA group and exhibited a significant difference between two groups within 48 hours (median, 76.80
v
44.42 mg/d;
P
= .036). No uncontrolled opioid-related adverse effects were observed in either group.

CONCLUSION

PCA, with an optimized BI rate, facilitated faster titration of IV morphine than the conventional method, achieving tolerable and rapid pain relief.
Early and Mid-Term Disposition of α-PVP and its unknown Metabolites in Urine and Oral Fluid Through a Multi-Analytical Hyphenated Approach Following a Single Non-Controlled Administration to Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Di Trana Annagiulia , La Maida Nunzia , de la Rosa Georgina , Di Giorgi Alessandro , Graziano Silvia , Aldhaehri Khaled , Papaseit Esther , Hladun Olga , Farré Magí , Pérez Clara , Pichini Simona
Published: January 2025

Nowadays, synthetic cathinones (SCs) is the second more representative subclass of New Psychoactive Substances, accounting for 104 analogues in the illegal market. Since its first report in 2011, α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) gained popularity among drug users, provoking an increased number of intoxications. Nonetheless, pharmacokinetics data is still limited in the literature. An observational non-controlled naturalistic study on 8 healthy volunteers was conducted to assess the α-PVP and β-OH-α-PVP concentrations in OF and urine, after snorting 10 mg or 20 mg of α-PVP. A multi-analytical approach based on GC-EI-MS/MS and LC-HESI-HRMS/MS was developed and fully validated for the analytes quantification, while four untargeted LC-HESI-HRMS/MS methods in full-MS and ddMS2 were set up for unknown metabolites characterization in urine samples assisted by a dedicated data mining software. In OF, α-PVP reached a mean Cmax of 762 ± 323 ng/mL at 1 h after 10 mg administration, while a Cmax of 2,900 ± 1,373 ng/mL at 47 min after 20 mg dose. In urine, a total α-PVP mean amount of 179.2 ± 94.9 µg was accumulated after 10 mg dose, (27.2 ± 9.8 µg between 0-2 h and 152.0 ± 98.2 µg between 2-5 h), while a total amount of 122.9 ± 44.0 µg, of (36.2 ± 16.5 and 86.7 ± 28.3 µg between 0–2 and 2-5 h, respectively) was detected after 20 mg dose. Among the 10 identified metabolites, β-OH-α-PVP was a minor metabolite (total amount: 56.4 ± 27.1 and 69.1 ± 38.1 µg after 10 mg and 20 mg). The N-butanoic acid metabolite was the most abundant, detected also as glucuronide. In conclusion, α-PVP showed a later time peak than non-pyrrolidine SCs, with comparable Cmax. The pyrrolidine ring oxidative opening produced the most abundant urinary metabolite, independently from the dose.
Desafios de um fornecedor da indústria têxtil: pressão na cadeia de suprimentos por práticas de sustentabilidade
Authors: De Vicente Bittar Alexandre , Escames Edson Fernando , Cauduro Cruz Maria Eugênia
Published: January 2025

O caso conta a histórica de uma empresa familiar da indústria têxtil, produtora de fios e tecidos que, graças à qualidade e personalização de seus produtos, fornece para grandes confecções e varejistas. O desafio do novo CEO é atender à pressão de seus clientes por práticas de sustentabilidade, ao mesmo tempo em que é pressionado por custos e limitado para novos investimentos. O caso oferece a oportunidade para discussão sobre gestão da cadeia de suprimentos sustentável, refletindo sobre colaboração e alinhamento de interesses na cadeia. Também oferece a oportunidade de discutir e estruturar possíveis caminhos para uma negociação entre fornecedor e cliente, a partir de uma situação em que o fornecedor (a empresa do caso) aparece como a parte fraca na relação. O caso é indicado para cursos de Administração e áreas afins, especificamente para disciplinas que abordem os temas de Gestão da Cadeia de Suprimentos, Sustentabilidade e Negociação.
Φορολογικές σχέσεις με στοιχεία αλλοδαπότητας
Authors: Δούβας Ευάγγελος
Published: January 2025

Σκοπός της παρούσας διατριβής είναι η διερεύνηση των απόψεων και της στάσης των Ελλήνων του εξωτερικού σχετικά με ζητήματα τα οποία ανακύπτουν στις σχέσεις τους με την ελληνική φορολογική εξουσία, καθώς και του βαθμού γνώσης τους για το νομοθετικό πλαίσιο το οποίο αναφέρεται σε ζητήματα φορολογικών σχέσεων με στοιχεία αλλοδαπότητας, ώστε να κατανοηθούν οι παράγοντες που διαμορφώνουν τη φορολογική τους συμπεριφορά. Η έρευνα πραγματοποιήθηκε σε δείγμα φορολογουμένων το οποίο επιλέχθηκε τυχαία μεταξύ Ελλήνων οι οποίοι ζουν στην αλλοδαπή καθώς και σε δείγμα λογιστών και φοροτεχνικών που εκπροσωπούν Έλληνες του εξωτερικού. Για τους σκοπούς της έρευνας, έγινε χρήση δύο διαφορετικών ερωτηματολογίων: Ενός ερωτηματολογίου της ποσοτικής ερευνητικής μεθόδου με κλειστού τύπου ερωτήσεις και ενός ερωτηματολογίου της ποιοτικής μεθόδου με ανοικτού τύπου ερωτήσεις. Τα δεδομένα της έρευνας δείχνουν ότι η φορολογική συμπεριφορά των Ελλήνων του εξωτερικού, ειδικά η απόφαση για μεταβολή της φορολογικής τους κατοικίας, επηρεάζεται σημαντικά από το ισχύον φορολογικό πλαίσιο το οποίο καθορίζει τις σχέσεις τους με την ελληνική φορολογική εξουσία καθώς επίσης και από την πολυπλοκότητα του φορολογικού συστήματος. Επίσης επηρεάζεται από τον βαθμό της φορολογικής τους γνώσης για το πώς και που αυτοί οφείλουν να τακτοποιήσουν τις φορολογικές τους υποθέσεις. Η διερεύνηση της φορολογικής τους συμπεριφοράς είναι σημαντική για την βελτίωση της λειτουργίας τους φορολογικού συστήματος όσο και του φορολογικού πλαισίου με οφέλη τόσο για τον φορολογούμενο όσο και το ελληνικό κράτος.
Αισθητικές εμπειρίες μαθητών κατά τη νοηματοδότηση μαθηματικών εννοιών
Authors: Καραβάκου Μυρτώ
Published: January 2025

Η διατριβή περιλαμβάνει μία εμπειρική έρευνα σχεδιασμού που έχει ως αντικείμενο μελέτης την νοηματοδότηση των περιοδικών συναρτήσεων από μαθητές Β’ Λυκείου, καθώς εμπλέκονται με δραστηριότητες καλλιτεχνικής δημιουργίας δυναμικών γεωμετρικών σχημάτων, ώστε να ταιριάζουν με τραγούδια, μέσω της χρήσης εκφραστικών ψηφιακών εργαλείων. Για την κατασκευή των περιοδικών «χορευτικών» σχημάτων, οι μαθητές χρησιμοποίησαν και επεξεργάστηκαν ψηφιακά δομήματα που ενσωμάτωναν διαφορετικές αναπαραστάσεις (συμβολική, γραφική, γεωμετρική και δυναμική) των περιοδικών συναρτήσεων δύο ειδών: α) απλών τριγωνομετρικών συναρτήσεων ημιτόνου-συνημιτόνου, και β) τριγωνομετρικών πολυωνύμων – προσεγγίσεων σειρών Fourier. Καθοδηγούμενοι από την ανάγκη για συνεχόμενη βελτίωση της δυναμικής αναπαράστασης για την προσαρμογή της στα προσωπικά τους αισθητικά κριτήρια, ώστε να συνδέσουν την περιοδική κίνηση με χαρακτηριστικά των τραγουδιών, όπως ο ρυθμός, η μελωδία, η ένταση και η ενέργεια, οι μαθητές ανέπτυξαν και εξέλιξαν σταδιακά τους συλλογισμούς τους πάνω στις περιοδικές συναρτήσεις. Οι συλλογισμοί αυτοί εκφράστηκαν ως μέρος των αισθητικών τους κριτηρίων και αφορούσαν: α) στην κατασκευή και ερμηνεία των γραφικών παραστάσεων, και β) στη διάκριση του ρόλου των παραμέτρων του πλάτους και της γωνιακής συχνότητας στην περιοδική κίνηση-συμπεριφορά. Η έρευνα υλοποιήθηκε μέσω διδακτικών παρεμβάσεων σε δύο σχολεία, στις οποίες συμμετείχαν συνολικά 23 μαθητές. Μέσα από τη θεματική ανάλυση των δεδομένων, εντοπίστηκαν και κωδικοποιήθηκαν διαφορετικά μοτίβα εστίασης και εξέλιξης των συλλογισμών των μαθητών, τα οποία κατηγοριοποιήθηκαν στους εξής πέντε άξονες της περιοδικής συμπεριφοράς: την σταθερότητα της περιοδικότητας, την περίοδο της συμμεταβολής, την ποσότητα αλλαγής, την κατεύθυνση αλλαγής και τον ρυθμό μεταβολής. Στη συζήτηση των αποτελεσμάτων δίνεται βάση στα χαρακτηριστικά και στον ρόλο των αισθητικών εμπειριών των μαθητών, καθώς και στον ρόλο των διαφορετικών ψηφιακών εργαλείων και αναπαραστάσεων στην εξέλιξη των συλλογισμών τους. Η έρευνα αυτή συνεισφέρει στην κατανόηση του τρόπου με τον οποίο οι μαθητές νοηματοδοτούν την έννοια της περιοδικής συνάρτησης, και της συνάρτησης ως συμμεταβολής (παράλληλης αλλαγής δύο συσχετιζόμενων ποσοτήτων) ως μέρος καλλιτεχνικών και μαθηματικών αισθητικών εμπειριών.
Comparison of serum vitamin D level and vitamin D receptor gene FokI polymorphism in leprosy patients with and without trophic ulcers: protocol for a case-control study
Authors: Halim Paulus Anthony , Sirait Sondang P. , Miranda Eliza , Ariani Yulia , Indriatmi Wresti , Thio Hok Bing
Published: January 2025

Background Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nervous system, often leading to disabilities, including trophic ulcers (TU). The role of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms in the development of TU among leprosy patients remain unclear. Objective This study aims to investigate the differences in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and the frequency of VDR gene FokI polymorphism between leprosy patients with and without TU, and to evaluate their association with the occurrence of TU. Methods This Institutional Review Board-approved, single-center, observational, analytic case-control study will enroll adult leprosy patients from the Dermatology and Venereology Clinic at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Participants will be divided into cases (patients with TU) and controls (patients without TU). Serum 25(OH)D levels will be measured using a chemiluminescence immunoassay, and FokI polymorphism detection is conducted through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. Statistical analysis will be performed to evaluate the differences and associations. Results Data collection commenced in March 2024 and was completed in September 2024. Data analysis and reporting are expected to be finalized by January 2025. Discussion The findings of this study will enhance the current understanding of the role of the vitamin D axis in the development of TU among leprosy patients. This could lead to new therapeutic strategies, such as vitamin D supplementation or personalized medicine based on genetic profiling, potentially reducing the burden of TU among leprosy patients.
Sistemas de gestión procesal, inteligencia artificial generativa y justicia orientada al dato: retos y desafíos.
Authors: Bueno de Mata Federico
Published: January 2025

En el presente artículo se examina la intersección entre los sistemas
de gestión procesal, la inteligencia artificial (IA) generativa y la justicia orientada al dato, desde una perspectiva crítica y propositiva. En
un primer momento, realizamos un análisis de los principales debates
jurídicos que surgen en torno a la aplicación de la IA en el sistema
judicial, algunos de ellos pocos tratados hasta el momento a nivel
doctrinal, y que pensamos condicionan el tratamiento jurídico de esta
realidad, al tiempo que se ponen de relieve tanto las oportunidades y
desafíos que esta tecnología lleva aparejado a nivel legal.
En cuanto a los sistemas de gestión procesal, se aborda su evolución
frente a la IA generativa y la justicia orientada al dato. Se parte del
potencial que estas dos técnicas para optimizar la gestión procesal
y aumentar la eficiencia de la propia administración de justicia, al
tiempo que se plantean los principales riesgos que las mismas llevan
aparejadas.
El artículo también aborda las principales incidencias del Real Decreto-ley 6/2023, de 19 de diciembre y del Reglamento de Inteligencia
Artificial (RIA) en los programas de gestión procesal informatizada. Se
enfatiza la importancia de un tratamiento adecuado de los datos, así
como la necesidad de establecer un marco de gobernanza que promueva la transparencia y la responsabilidad en el uso de la IA como
medida esencial para asegurar que los propios sistemas encajen de
manera adecuada en nuestro Estado de derecho.
La reforma del juicio ordinario a la luz de la eficiencia digital y procesal.
Authors: Rizo Gómez Belén
Published: January 2025

El presente trabajo tiene por objeto analizar la reforma del juicio ordinario que formula en el proceso civil el Real Decreto-ley 6/2023, de
19 de diciembre, por el que se aprueban medidas urgentes para la
ejecución del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia en
materia de servicio público de justicia, función pública, régimen local
y mecenazgo y en el Proyecto de Ley Orgánica de medidas en materia de eficiencia del Servicio Público de Justicia y de acciones colectivas para la protección y defensa de los derechos e intereses de los
consumidores y usuarios de 22 de marzo de 2024. Desde esta perspectiva, se estudian las principales novedades que se introducen en
este proceso, como son el ámbito de aplicación, la demanda, el establecimiento de los medios adecuados de resolución de controversias
como requisito de procedibilidad, la contestación a la demanda y las
actuaciones judiciales telemáticas, en concreto, la audiencia previa y
el juicio. Asimismo, se plantea la posibilidad de reformular el ámbito
de aplicación de los procesos declarativos ordinarios y potenciar el
juicio verbal, teniendo presente que la eficiencia constituye una máxima que preside el modelo actual de Administración de Justicia.
La configuración de la cadena de custodia tecnológica en el ordenamiento jurídico español.
Authors: Jamardo Lorenzo Andrea
Published: January 2025

El presente trabajo constituye una aportación necesaria en torno a la
figura de la cadena de custodia tecnológica. A las dificultades propias
de la cadena de custodia tradicional, dado lo exiguo de su regulación,
se le suman diversas complejidades fruto de su dimensión tecnológica; en tal sentido, se expone cómo se construye y el modo en que se
formulan sus vertientes material y formal. Con un enfoque dirigido a
la reflexión, concluye con el análisis de la problemática específica que
surge en el marco de su vertiente formal y, en particular, de cara a delimitar los diferentes modos de garantizar la corrección de la cadena
de custodia tecnológica.
Factors that support the wellbeing of healthcare professionals: an interpretivist phenomenological study
Authors: Sanan Payal
Published: January 2025

Background/Aims

There is limited knowledge about the complex experiences that contribute to the wellbeing of healthcare professionals emerging from positive elements of this high-stress job environment. It is crucial to explore the underlying mechanisms that promote positive emotions, rather than concentrating solely on the absence of negative emotions. This study aimed to understand the factors affecting the wellbeing of healthcare professionals through the lens of positive psychology.

Methods

An interpretivist phenomenological study was conducted, focusing on how healthcare professionals interpret the experience of wellbeing. A sample of 12 healthcare professionals, comprising six doctors and six nurses, were interviewed via telephone. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the PERMA framework from positive psychology.

Results

Several factors were identified as contributing to participants' wellbeing in each domain of the PERMA framework. These included feelings of warmth and joy (positive emotions), a strong sense of interest and immersion in their work (engagement), positive relationships with colleagues and patients (relationships), the ability to derive fulfilment and purpose from their work (meaning) and a sense of their achievements being recognised (accomplishment).

Conclusions

Exploring the factors that can support the wellbeing of healthcare professionals could help managers and organisations to ensure a more positive experience for staff, which could have benefits for patient care.
Public attitudes towards disclosing personal and anonymous health-related data and information
Authors: Yen Dorothy Ai-wan , Dorussen Han , Pickering Steve , Hansen Martin , Scotto Thomas , Reifler Jason
Published: January 2025

Background/Aims

Public perceptions of the acceptability of healthcare organisations, such as the NHS, sharing their data or information with other relevant entities may depend on various factors. This study aimed to fill gaps in the literature relating to this topic by investigating public perceptions of health record sharing with different entities, and how the anonymity (or lack thereof) of records and the terminology used may affect these attitudes.

Methods

A survey was distributed to 2335 members of the public in England, sampled through YouGov's online panel. Respondents were randomly sorted into four groups and given a scenario about health record sharing. The scenarios differed between groups in terms of whether records were personal (non-anonymous) or anonymous, and whether the term ‘data’ or ‘information’ was used. Respondents were asked to rate the acceptability of sharing with different entities, including health and social care providers, insurance companies and local government. Differences between responses were analysed, with significance set at P<0.01.

Results

The majority (84%) of respondents indicated that they found it either acceptable or very acceptable for the NHS to share personal data and information with hospitals and GPs. Higher levels of acceptability were observed when the term ‘information’ rather than ‘data’ was used. However, over half of respondents found it either unacceptable or very unacceptable for the NHS to share such information with pharmaceutical companies for research purposes or with councils, whether these data were personal or anonymised.

Conclusions

This study suggests that people are more willing to share personal data when they perceive there to be potential personal benefits. It also contradicts the commonly held assumption that people are more comfortable sharing records that have been anonymised. These findings could inform future public health initiatives.
The power of play
Authors: Denny Glenn
Published: January 2025

In the second article in this series of reflections from the sector about what should be prioritised in the future, Glenn Denny, nursery manager, discusses the importance of play for learning and how we should follow children's play cues.
Post-War Mega-Project Unites a Nation
Authors: Ford Jason
Published: January 2025

Built to provide electricity and irrigation, the Snowy Mountains Scheme has become a symbol of national pride in Australia
A Novel Multi-objective Synthesis Method of Non-uniform Excitation Sparse Square Planar Transmitting Array Antenna for Microwave Wireless Power Transmission
Authors: Li Jianxiong , Zhang Ranran , Han Ziyu
Published: January 2025

A novel multi-objective optimal subarray partitioning synthesis method for non-uniformly excited sparse square planar array (NESSPA) antenna is proposed for the problems of maximizing beam collection efficiency (BCE) and minimizing excitation difference (diff) in microwave wireless power transmission (MWPT). The algorithm adopts the multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm based on the set of non-dominated solutions (NDSMOPSO) proposed in this paper, which determines the non-dominated solutions in the swarm according to the fitness value and updates the population during the evolution process; the array element positions and excitations are optimized simultaneously in each iteration. In addition, the performance parameter diff proposed in this paper can effectively measure the performance of the array; in general, the smaller the diff, the better the array performance. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated through a large number of simulations and, according to the method proposed in this paper compared with other two-step methods, a higher BCE can be obtained with fewer subarrays.
Modeling and Analysis of a Proposed AC-DC C-Core Heteropolar Radial Hybrid Magnetic Bearing
Authors: Boutra N. , Mehasni R. , Feliachi M.
Published: January 2025

In this study, a new C-Core heteropolar radial hybrid magnetic bearing (HRHMB) driven by a three-phase power inverter is proposed. The use of a three-phase inverter driving technology improves the performance of magnetic bearings in terms of cost and power consumption. The force-current and the force-displacement characteristics of the proposed HRHMB are linear and the magnetic field coupling between the X and Y directions is significantly reduced. To analyze the proposed HRHMB, the configuration, working principle and required mathematical model based on the equivalent magnetic circuit (EMC) method are firstly presented. Then the load capacity and important parameters design are deduced. A comparison between the results obtained by the used analytical approach and those given by the finite element method (FEM) allowed verification of the developed mathematical model’s accuracy. Compared with the twelve-pole HRHMB, the proposed HRHMB improves bearing capacity, reduces mass, and enhances cost efficiency and performance, making it highly suitable for large journal diameter applications.
Uncommon Presentation of Hip Pain Due to Calcific Tendonitis in the Rectus Femoris
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India,, Krishna Rayavarapu Hari , Jain Vijay Kumar ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India,, Ramasubramanian Swaminathan ,   Department of Internal Medicine, Government Medical College, Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India,, Jeyaraman Naveen ,   Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India., Jeyaraman Madhan ,   Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Calcific tendonitis is characterized by calcium hydroxyapatite crystal deposition in tendons, leading to inflammation and pain. While predominantly observed in the rotator cuff tendons of the shoulder, its occurrence in the rectus femoris tendon of the hip is exceedingly rare and poses a diagnostic challenge.

Case Report: A 38-year-old female housewife presented with a 1-month history of left hip pain, which was dull, aching, and exacerbated by movements such as standing and walking. High-resolution computed tomography imaging showed calcification at the insertion of the left rectus femoris muscle. A magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis, revealing no significant abnormalities in the hip joints or surrounding structures. The patient was diagnosed with calcific tendonitis at the insertion of the left rectus femoris muscle and was managed conservatively with rest, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy. Follow-up visits were scheduled to monitor her progress and response to treatment.

Conclusion: This case underscores the importance of thorough clinical and imaging evaluations in diagnosing calcific tendonitis in atypical locations. Conservative treatment proved effective, highlighting the need for tailored management strategies. Future research should focus on elucidating the pathogenesis and optimizing treatment for calcific tendonitis in uncommon sites.

Keywords: Calcific tendonitis, rectus femoris, hip pain, conservative management, imaging, case report.
1-Year Follow-Up Result of Early Definitive Management of the Trauma Patient in a Tertiary Health Care Centre
Authors:   [1] Consultant Orthopaedic spine surgeon, Apollo Hospital, Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India, [2] Department of Orthopaedics, MGM Medical College, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, India,, Vatkar Arvind , Kale Sachin ,   [3] Apollo Hospital, Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India [4] Department of Orthopaedics, D. Y Patil School of Medicine and Hospital, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, India, Jayaram Rohan ,   Department of Orthopaedics, D. Y Patil School of Medicine and Hospital, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, India, Verma Ashmit ,   Department of Orthopaedics, D. Y Patil School of Medicine and Hospital, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, India, Pandey Saurabh ,   Department of Orthopaedics, D. Y Patil School of Medicine and Hospital, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, India, Kale Sachiti ,   Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical college, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Road traffic accidents (RTA) account for a sizable portion of morbidity and mortality globally, with a particularly high incidence among young and active individuals. Patients presenting with polytrauma require a multidisciplinary approach guided by protocols for advanced trauma life support.

Case Report: We report the case of a 31-year-old female, transferred-in to our center following primary care after an RTA on June 17th, 2023. Initial assessment at the other hospital found multiple fractures accompanying her internal injuries – a right haemothorax and pulmonary contusion, with Grade 3 injuries to the liver, spleen, and kidneys. The patient, who was also found to be pregnant, presented to our facility with hypotension and breathlessness. Stabilization efforts spanned to include ventilatory support following resuscitation in the intensive care unit. Upon achieving hemodynamic stabilization, early definitive fixation was meticulously planned and implemented, leading to intramedullary nailing of the femur, open reduction and internal fixation in the left wrist, and percutaneous fixation of the right acetabulum. Despite landing in post-operative complications such as pleural effusion and subcutaneous emphysema, the patient showed remarkable recovery and was successfully extubated on June 27th, 2023. She was discharged vitally stable, and continued recovery at her residence. The patient managed to regain full range of motion in all joints, with good union of fractures at the end of her 1-year post-operative follow-up period.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of tailoring an approach which was unique to the polytrauma presentation. While damage control orthopaedics is often recommended in unstable patients, early definitive orthopedic care must be considered where patients are successfully resuscitated and stabilized, invariably improving trauma outcomes.

Keywords: Road traffic accident, polytrauma, advanced trauma life support, early definitive orthopedic care, bilateral femoral fractures, pneumothorax.
Acute Atraumatic Thumb Pain
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Free Hospital, University College London Royal Free Hospital, London, England., Patel Nikhil , Sha Menazi ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Free Hospital, University College London Royal Free Hospital, London, England., Tandon Juhi ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Free Hospital, University College London Royal Free Hospital, London, England., Patel Akash ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Free Hospital, University College London Royal Free Hospital, London, England.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Painter first described painful periarticular soft-tissue calcium deposits in 1907. Further research has led to a variety of nomenclature, including calcareous tendinitis, pseudopodagra, and rheumatism. This report details the journey of a patient with acute calcific periarthritis (ACP) and explores issues concerning diagnosis, management, and provides possible preventative strategies.

Case Report: A 39-year-old female presented to the emergency department after developing severe thumb metacarpophalangeal joint pain and swelling in her right dominant hand. A slight pain over the radial aspect of the first metacarpal was noticed 5 months before her acute hospital attendance.

Conclusion: ACP of the thumb is commonly misdiagnosed due to its comparably low prevalence and clinical features which mimic more common conditions. Our case highlights the need for radiological imaging in patients with acute atraumatic thumb pain and evidence of a connection between chronic behavioral patterns and the development of ACP.

Keywords: Acute calcific periarthritis, behavioral injury, monoarticular arthritis, atraumatic.
The Basis for the International Division of Labor and International Trade Is Absolute Rather than Comparative Advantage: Theory and Empirical Evidence
Authors: Zhang Xian , Fan Jingyuan
Published: January 2025

According to the general consensus in academia, Ricardo’s theory of international trade embodies the theory of comparative advantage. The principle of comparative advantage he proposed, based on the model of physical trade and employing comparative cost analysis, holds that comparative advantage rather than absolute advantage forms the basis of the international division of labor and of international trade, and is thus the negation of Smith’s theory of absolute advantage. However, a complete examination of Ricardo’s theory of international trade shows that the comparative advantage determined by Ricardo on the basis of comparative cost analysis is precisely the absolute advantage of intra-sector competition across countries in physical trade. Moreover, Ricardo also established a monetary model compatible with his understanding of physical trade. This monetary model, which has generally been ignored by academics, and especially by those adhering to the mainstream, i.e., the neoclassical theory of comparative advantage, is in line with the principle of absolute advantage. In particular, Ricardo emphasized the decisive role of exogenous technological progress in altering positions of advantage. The present analysis, however, shows equally that what the neoclassical theory of comparative advantage actually proves is still absolute advantage.
Buen Vivir and the dynamics of time in Indigenous women’s care work: between emancipation and alienation
Authors: Gallardo Lastra Gabriela , Siqueira Gabriel Castro
Published: January 2025

In this article, we examine unpaid care work through the lens of subaltern women in Ecuador, highlighting their oppression and resistance. Based on decolonial feminist epistemology, we propose a new framework for analysing well-being in care work, inspired by Indigenous cosmologies. The study presents an analytical framework for Buen Vivir centred on care time and applies it to the Ecuadorian Amazon community of Tzawata. Using such methods as time diaries, interviews and a focus group, it explores when care time devoted to family, self-care, community and territory-nature is perceived as emancipatory and/or alienating. The findings reveal both the emancipatory and alienating dimensions of care and demonstrate the interconnectedness of these four times.
Reform policies and distribution struggles in the eldercare sector in Germany
Authors: Theobald Hildegard
Published: January 2025

The poor working conditions of care workers within Germany’s eldercare sector have resulted in a series of reforms. Employing a conceptual framework that combines feminist perspectives on the devaluation of care work, Fraser’s concept of recognition and redistribution, and Honneth’s concept of distribution struggles, this article assesses whether these reforms have increased the social status of this undervalued sector. The findings indicate that these reforms have both positively and negatively impacted the social status of eldercare work – a phenomenon that this article links to the contradictory influence of the state, trade unions and provider associations during distribution struggles.
gcDLSeg: Integrating Graph-cut into Deep Learning for Binary Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Xie Hui , Xu Weiyu , Wu Xiaodong , Wang Ya , buatti john
Published: January 2025

Binary semantic segmentation in computer vision is a fundamental problem. As a model-based segmentation method, the graph-cut approach was one of the most successful binary segmentation methods thanks to its global optimality guarantee of the solutions and its practical polynomial-time complexity. Recently, many deep learning (DL) based methods have been developed for this task and yielded remarkable performance, resulting in a paradigm shift in this field. To combine the strengths of both approaches, we propose in this study to integrate the graph-cut approach into a deep learning network for end-to-end learning. Unfortunately, backward propagation through the graph-cut module in the DL network is challenging due to the combinatorial nature of the graph-cut algorithm. To tackle this challenge, we propose a novel residual graph-cut loss and a quasi-residual connection, enabling the backward propagation of the gradients of the residual graph-cut loss for effective feature learning guided by the graph-cut segmentation model. In the inference phase, globally optimal segmentation is achieved with respect to the graph-cut energy defined on the optimized image features learned from DL networks. Experiments on the public AZH chronic wound data set and the pancreas cancer data set from the medical segmentation decathlon (MSD) demonstrated promising segmentation accuracy, and improved robustness against adversarial attacks.
The value of diabetes technology enabled coaching (DTEC) to support remission evaluation of medical interventions in T2D: Patient and health coach perspectives
Authors: Taylor Madison , Ng Denise , Pfisterer Kaylen J. , Cafazzo Joseph A. , Sherifali Diana
Published: January 2025

The multicomponent Remission Evaluation of Medical Interventions in T2D (REMIT) program has shown reduction of hazard of diabetes relapse by 34–43%, but could benefit from improved ability to scale, spread, and sustain it. This study explored, at the conceptualization phase, patient and health coach perspectives on the acceptability, adoption, feasibility, and appropriateness of a digital REMIT adaptation (diabetes technology enabled coaching (DTEC)). Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients (n = 6) and health coaches (n = 6) to explore their experiences with the REMIT study, opportunities for virtualisation, and a cognitive walkthrough of solution concepts. Transcripts were analyzed both inductively and deductively to allow for organic themes to emerge and to position these themes around the constructs of acceptability, adoption, feasibility, and appropriateness while allowing new codes to emerge for discussion. Participants saw value in DTEC as: an opportunity to facilitate and extend REMIT support; a convenient, efficient, and scalable concept (acceptability); having potential to motivate through connecting behaviours to outcomes (adoption); an opportunity for lower-effort demands for sustained use (feasibility). Participants also highlighted important considerations to ensure DTEC could provide compassionate insights and support automated data entry (appropriateness). Several considerations regarding equitable access were raised and warrant further consideration including: provision of technology, training to support technology literacy, and the opportunity for DTEC to support and improve health literacy. As such, DTEC may act as a moderator that can enhance or diminish access which affects who can benefit. Provided equity considerations are addressed, DTEC has the potential to address previous shortcomings of the conventional REMIT program.