bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality measurement for cardiovascular diseases and cancer in hospital value-based healthcare: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Abdalla Rawia , Pavlova Milena , Hussein Mohammed , Groot Wim
Published: August 2022

Background

This systematic literature review identifies hospital value-based healthcare quality measures, measurement practices, and tools, as well as potential strategies for improving cardiovascular diseases and cancer care.

Methods

A systematic search was carried out in the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and MEDLINE (OvidSP) databases. We included studies on quality measures in hospital value-based healthcare for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, conducted a full-text review of potentially relevant articles, assessed the quality of included studies, and extracted data thematically. This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and four validated tools were used for methodological quality assessment.

Results

The search yielded 2860 publications. After screening the titles and abstracts, 60 articles were retrieved for full-text review. A total of 37 studies met our inclusion criteria. We found that standardized outcome sets with patient involvement were developed for some cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Despite the heterogeneity in outcome measures, there was consensus to include clinical outcomes on survival rate and disease control, disutility of care, and patient-reported outcome measures such as long-term quality of life.

Conclusion

Hospitals that developed value-based healthcare or are planning to do so can choose whether they prefer to implement the standardized outcomes step-by-step, collect additional measures, or develop their own set of measures. However, they need to ensure that their performance can be consistently compared to that of their peers and that they measure what prioritizes and maximizes value for their patients.

Trial registration

PROSPERO ID: CRD42021229763.
Malaria elimination does not cost more than malaria control: Sri Lanka a case in point
Authors: Mendis Kamini , Wickremasinghe Rajitha , Premaratne Risintha
Published: August 2022

Background

Malaria was endemic in Sri Lanka for centuries and was eliminated in 2012. It is widely assumed that the costs of elimination are generally greater than that of control. The costs of malaria elimination in Sri Lanka with that of malaria control in the past using periods in which starting transmission dynamics were similar were compared.

Methods

The expenditure of the Anti-Malaria Campaign (AMC), total and by budget category, during 2002–2010 is compared with that of malaria control during the period 1980–1989, using regression analyses and the Mann Whitney U statistic.

Results

The expenditure on malaria control and malaria elimination was similar ranging from 21 to 45 million USD per year when adjusted for inflation. In both periods, external funding for the malaria progamme constituted around 24% of the total budget; during the control phase in the 1980s, external funds came from bilateral agencies and were disbursed in accordance with government budget guidelines. In the elimination phase in the 2000s, most of external funding was from the Global Fund and had flexibility of disbursement. In the 1980s, most funds were expended on commodities—insecticides, diagnostics and medicines and their delivery; in the elimination phase, they were spent on programme management, human resources, technical assistance and monitoring and evaluation; monitoring and evaluation was not a budget line in the 1980s. Although the cost per case of malaria was considerably higher during the elimination phase than in the control phase, expenditure was not on individual cases but on general systems strengthening.

Conclusion

Malaria elimination in Southeast Asia may not require more funding than malaria control. But sustained funding for an agile programme with flexibility in fund utilization and improved efficiencies in programme management with stringent monitoring and evaluation appears to be critically important.
Assessing variations in estimates of drowning mortality in Turkey from 2013 to 2019
Authors: Işın Ali , Peden Amy E.
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Drowning is an under-recognised public health threat and a leading cause of injury-related mortality and morbidity. However, in many countries, including Turkey, limited data impair understanding of drowning burden and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study drowning estimates (defined using International Classification of Diseases [ICD] codes W65–74) do not include flood-related deaths (X38) and water transportation related drownings (V90, V92). A lack of accessible and reliable country-level data impacts a country’s ability to develop appropriate drowning prevention interventions and measure efficacy. This retrospective population-based study aimed to explore differences between two datasets in fatal drowning in Turkey between 2013 and 2019.

Methods

National, all-age data on fatal drownings (restrictive definition: ICD-10 codes W65–74) were sourced from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. In addition, a broader definition of drowning including water transport, flood-related deaths and drowning due to undetermined intent (ICD-10 codes W65–74, V90, V92, X38, Y21, T751) were sourced from TurkStat. Numeric and percentage differences in number of drowning deaths were calculated overall and by sex, age group and death year. Chi square (p < 0.05) and relative risk (95% confidence intervals) using crude drowning rates per 100,000 population were also calculated for TurkStat data.

Results

From 2013 to 2019, TurkStat reported a total of 5004 drowning deaths (coded W65–74) were reported, compared to 5252 (5% difference; n = 248) using the broader definition. A restrictive definition underreported drowning most significantly in females (9.5%; n = 97), 5–9 year-olds (8.9%; n = 31) and in the 2015 calendar year (30.2%; n = 226). Males accounted for 78.8% of drowning in Turkey, with females significantly (p < 0.001) more at risk under 10 years of age (0–4 years X2 = 67.9; 5–9 years X2 = 23.9) and aged 65+ years (X2 = 29.7). GBD data overestimated a restrictive definition of drowning by 3.2% overall (7.6% for females, 52.5% for 0–4 year-olds) and underreported drowning for 65+ year-olds by 17% when compared to TurkStat restrictive definition of drowning.

Conclusions

Although a restrictive definition of drowning doesn’t greatly impact estimates at a population level in Turkey, there are variations. This highlights the importance of accurate country-level drowning data to guide decision making for prevention.
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lamotrigine in the maintenance treatment of Chinese adult patients with bipolar I disorder
Authors: Zhang Ling , Zhang Honggeng , Lv Lu-xian , Tan Qingrong , Xu Xiufeng , Hu Jian , Zi Lu , Cooper James , Phansalkar Abhay , Wang Gang
Published: August 2022

Background

Lamotrigine is approved as a maintenance therapy for bipolar I disorder in many countries, including China in 2021. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in controlling relapse and/or recurrence of mood episodes in Chinese patients with bipolar I disorder.

Methods

Patients aged ≥ 18 years with bipolar I disorder who met response criteria (Clinical Global Impression–Severity [CGI-S] score of ≤ 3 for ≥ 4 consecutive weeks) during treatment with lamotrigine in a 6–16 week open-label (OL) phase, and who were maintained for ≥ 1 week on lamotrigine 200 mg/day monotherapy, were randomised (1:1) to continue receiving lamotrigine 200 mg/day or switch to placebo in a 36-week randomised double-blind (RD) phase. The primary efficacy outcome measure was time from entry into the RD phase to intervention for relapse and/or recurrence of a mood episode (TIME). Post hoc analyses assessed the impact of OL baseline mood severity on TIME. Safety assessments were conducted throughout the study.

Results

Of 420 patients treated in the OL phase, 264 were randomised to receive lamotrigine (n = 131) or placebo (n = 133). Overall, 112 patients had an intervention for relapse and/or recurrence of a mood episode (lamotrigine, n = 50/130 [38.5%]; placebo, n = 62/133 [46.6%]), with no significant difference in TIME between groups (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] 0.93 [0.64, 1.35]; p = 0.701). Post hoc analyses indicated a significant difference in TIME, favouring lamotrigine over placebo, for patients with baseline CGI-S score ≥ 4 (hazard ratio [95% CI] 0.52 [0.30, 0.89]; p = 0.018) and with baseline Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ≥ 18 or Young Mania Rating Scale ≥ 10 (0.44 [hazard ratio [95% CI] 0.25, 0.78]; p = 0.005). Lamotrigine was well tolerated with no new safety signals.

Conclusions

Lamotrigine was not significantly superior to placebo in preventing relapse and/or recurrence of mood episodes in this study of Chinese patients with bipolar I disorder but post hoc analyses suggested a therapeutic benefit in patients with moderate/severe mood symptoms at baseline. The discrepancy between these findings and the positive findings of the pivotal studies may be attributable to the symptom severity of the bipolar patients recruited, a high dropout rate, and the comparatively short duration of the RD phase rather than race/ethnicity differences.

Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier NCT01602510; 21st May 2012; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01602510.
Enhanced etching characteristics of Si{100} in NaOH-based two-component solution
Authors: Swarnalatha V. , Purohit S. , Pal P. , Sharma R. K.
Published: August 2022

Silicon wet bulk micromachining is the most widely used technique for the fabrication of diverse microstructures such as cantilevers, cavities, etc. in laboratory as well as in industry for micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) application. Although, increasing the throughput remains inevitable, and can be done by increasing the etching rate. Furthermore, freestanding structure release time can be reduced by the improved undercutting rate at convex corners. In this work, we have investigated the etching characteristics of a non-conventional etchant in the form of hydroxylamine (NH2OH) added sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. This research is focused on Si{100} wafer as this orientation is largely used in the fabrication of planer devices (e.g., complementary metal-oxide semiconductors) and microelectromechanical systems (e.g., inertial sensors). We have performed a systematic and parametric analysis without and with 12% NH2OH in 10 M NaOH for improved etching characteristics such as etch rate, undercutting at convex corners, and etched surface morphology. 3D scanning laser microscope is used to measure average surface roughness (Ra), etch depth (d), and undercutting length (l). Morphology of the etched Si{100} surface is examined using optical and scanning electron microscopes. The addition of NH2OH in NaOH solution remarkably exhibited a two-fold increment in the etching rate of a Si{100} surface. Furthermore, the addition of NH2OH significantly improves the etched surface morphology and undercutting at convex corners. Undercutting at convex corners is highly prudent for the quick release of microstructures from the substrate. In addition, we have studied the effect of etchant age on etching characteristics. Results presented in this article are of large significance for engineering applications in both academic and industrial laboratories.
Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: a case report
Authors: Sikorska Katarzyna , Gesing Marta , Olszański Romuald , Roszko-Wysokińska Anna , Szostakowska Beata , Van Damme-Ostapowicz Katarzyna
Published: August 2022

Background

Leishmaniasis is a widespread disease in tropical and subtropical countries, except for Australia and Oceania. In Poland, tourists, migrants and travellers from leishmaniasis-endemic countries may carry Leishmania.

Case presentation

We present a case of undiagnosed cutaneous leishmaniasis in a patient who received many weeks of inadequate antibiotic treatment. Ulceration in the right submandibular region was thought to be a purulent complication after laser surgery. Six weeks before the ulcer developed, the patient had visited the jungle (Guatemala). Cutaneous leishmaniasis was finally diagnosed after nine months based on a proper history and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Treatment with antimony derivatives was administered. After three months, the ulcer healed but left a scar.

Conclusion

A lack of knowledge about tropical diseases among doctors and an incomplete medical history were the reasons for many weeks of erroneous treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with antibiotics. This is the first reported case of cutaneous leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as a complication after an aesthetic medical procedure.
A corpus-based study of a Chinese-speaking child’s acquisition of English transferred negation
Authors: Dai Huiqin , Wen Xu , Wen Rui
Published: August 2022

Native speakers of English have a strong preference for transferred negation as opposed to non-transferred negation. The present study aims to examine whether young Chinese-speaking ESL learners have a target-like preference for transferred negation and whether they have a system-wide representation of transferred negation in their early English development. Based on the corpora compiled with longitudinal data of a Chinese-speaking child learning English as a second language, the present study analyzed the child’s collocation of matrix verbs with transferred negation and non-transferred negation, the distribution of matrix verbs in transferred negation, and the distribution of negation types in terms of different matrix verbs. The findings show that the verb THINK predominates the matrix verbs of the child’s transferred negation. The imbalanced distribution of matrix verbs in his transferred negation is related to the skewed input of verbs. In sentences with the matrix verb THINK, the child has a target-like preference for transferred negation as opposed to non-transferred negation. However, he does not show a target-like preference for transferred negation in sentences with the matrix verb LOOK LIKE. Hence, we argue that young ESL learners’ generalizations about constructions are focused around particular verbs that occur frequently in those constructions. Young ESL learners do not have an abstract system-wide representation at the earliest stage of second language acquisition. Instead, their ESL acquisition is based on specific verbs.
The compatibility of new blood pressure reference values for Korean children and adolescents with the US reference: the Korean Working Group of Pediatric Hypertension
Authors: Kim Sung Hye , Song Young Hwan , An Hyo Soon , Shin Jae Il , Oh Jin-Hee , Lee Jung Won , Kim Seong Heon , Kim Hae Soon , Shin Hye-Jung , Ha Il-Soo
Published: August 2022

Background

Childhood hypertension is associated with hypertension and metabolic syndrome in adulthood. Since the definition of childhood hypertension is based on the distribution of normative blood pressure (BP), a reference range is essential to create hypertension guidelines for children. We aimed to investigate the compatibility of the new Korean BP reference with the United States (US) BP reference based on the 2017 Clinical Practice Guideline.

Methods

We compared the new Korean reference BP values for children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years with those in the 2017 Clinical Practice Guidelines. We also analyzed the differences in the prevalence of hypertension in Korean children and adolescents when reference value was applied. Considering Korean and US BP references together, linear trend lines were sought.

Results

Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) values in 95th percentiles showed no significant differences between the two BP references. Applying the two reference values, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of elevated BP and a combination of elevated BP and hypertension. Combining the Korean and US BP values and plotting them against age, approximate lines for the 90th and 95th SBP and DBP percentiles were observed.

Conclusions

The BP values of the new Korean BP reference were similar to those of the US BP reference; they were reliable and interchangeable.
The role of physical activity promoting thinking skills and emotional behavior of preschool children
Authors: Wang Changwei
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Physical activity is critical, not only for the normal growth and development of children, but also for emotional and social behavior. The purpose of the article is to determine the relationship between physical education and social and emotional development of preschool children.

Methods

The study involved 366 children (188 boys and 178 girls) at the ages of 5 (N = 191) and 6 (N = 174), who study in public kindergartens in Beijing (China). Within 3 months, additional physical education and fitness classes were held. Before and after the study, a test was conducted: Ages & Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE), which was completed by the parents. The research process did not affect the performance or development of children participants.

Results

As a result of the study, the main regularities of the influence of physical education on social and emotional behavior of children were established. Based on the results of the study, it was determined that there is a positive correlation between age, physical education, and social-emotional behavior (r +—= 0.668).

Conclusion

Gender differences are not statistically significant when it comes to physical activity’s effect on social and emotional behavior (p-value = 0.004). The results can be applied to programs for the prevention of psychosocial and social-emotional development delays of children in kindergartens.
Current diagnosis and treatment practice of central retinal artery occlusion: results from a survey among German stroke units
Authors: Hoyer Carolin , Winzer Simon , Matthé Egbert , Heinle Ida , Sandikci Vesile , Nabavi Darius , Platten Michael , Puetz Volker , Szabo Kristina
Published: August 2022

Background

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a neuro-ophthalmological emergency whose optimal management is still under debate and due to the absence of definite guidelines, practice is expected to vary. We aimed to characterize early evaluation as well as acute treatment and diagnostic approaches in German hospitals with a stroke unit (SU).

Methods

In 07/2021, all 335 certified German SUs were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey endorsed by the German Stroke Society on emergency department care organization, diagnostic procedures, and treatment of patients with unilateral vision loss (UVL) subsequently diagnosed with CRAO.

Results

One hundred and sixty-three (48.6%) of the 335 eligible centers responded. Most (117/135; 86.7%) stated that UVL patients were treated as an emergency, in 62/138 (44.9%) hospitals according to specific guidelines. First-line evaluation was performed by neurologists in 85/136 (62.5%) hospitals, by ophthalmologists in 43/136 (31.6%) hospitals. Seventy of 135 (51.9%) respondents indicated a lack of on-site ophthalmological expertise. Seventy-four of 129 (57.4%) respondents performed thrombolysis in CRAO and 92/97 (94.8%) stated that patients with CRAO–if admitted to neurology–were treated on a SU.

Conclusions

Our findings reflect notable heterogeneity in early intrahospital care of CRAO in German SUs but demonstrate a preference for work-up and management as acute stroke by the involved neurologists. Streamlining interdisciplinary emergency evaluation is essential for ongoing and future prospective trials.
Long-term follow-up of patients with drug-related atrioventricular block without a need of permanent pacemaker during index hospitalization
Authors: Parsova Kemal Emrecan , Hayiroglu Mert Ilker , Pay Levent , Cinier Goksel , Gurkan Kadir
Published: August 2022

Background

Most of the patients hospitalized due to drug-related atrioventricular (AV) block do not require permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) since AV block regresses following cessation of the responsible drug. However, AV block requiring PPI may relapse in long-term follow-up. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the factors predicting the need for a PPI in the long-term follow-up in patients admitted to our hospital with drug-related AV block but did not require PPI in index hospitalization.

Results

We evaluated 177 patients who had been hospitalized with drug-related AV block between January 2012 and July 2020 and who had not required PPI during hospital follow-up. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether PPI was performed or not. The independent predictors of long-term PPI were evaluated and the effect of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of the patients during the index hospitalization on the long-term outcome was compared. A GFR above 60 ml/min is an independent significant risk factor in predicting long-term permanent pacemaker implantation in drug-related AV blocks. It is found that the need for PPI was 2.64 times higher without adjusted and 1.9 times higher with adjusted for all covariates in patients with GFR above 60 ml/min during hospitalization compared to those with GFR below 30 ml/min.

Conclusions

GFR may be considered as an indicator of the PPI need in patients with drug-related atrioventricular AV block.
Intraparenchymal brain hemorrhage due to rupture of aneurysm in infants: report of two cases
Authors: Rubio Atienza Yolanda , Ibiza Palacios Emilio , del Peral Samaniego Maria Pilar , Álvarez Montañana Pablo , Molina Corbacho Maria , Modesto i Alapont Vicent
Published: August 2022

Background

Cerebral or brain hemorrhage due to the rupture of intracranial aneurysms is extremely rare in pediatric population. The aim of our work is to describe two cases in children and to review the existent bibliography about this issue.

Case presentation

Both of our patients presented with nonspecific symptoms and subsequent neurological deficit. The brain imaging test revealed intraparenchymal hemorrhage. In both cases, the aneurysm was located at the distal portion of the middle cerebral artery. Surgical intervention was needed, clipping the aneurysm due to the impossibility of intravascular embolization. After the surgery, one patient presented with persistent hydrocephalus secondary to intraventricular hemorrhage, requiring the placement of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt. Over time, the child presented with refractory epilepsy compatible with West syndrome. The second patient did not present postoperative complications but died suddenly 2 months after.

Conclusions

Our two patients presented with a middle cerebral artery aneurysm at the distal level, which seems to be the most frequent location according to literature. The correct diagnosis can be delayed because of the nonspecific initial symptoms, as occurred in one of our patients with a delay of 3 days from the onset of symptoms. In both patients, surgical treatment was preferred over endovascular treatment, due to the anatomical characteristics of the aneurysm and the patient’s age.

Torpid evolution is also described, with one of our patients dying at 2 months, probably due to rebleeding, and the other suffering right hemiparesis and epilepsy compatible with West syndrome.
Student Zone: Student chapter encourages others through Chapters and Universities Mentorship Circle
Authors: Arukwe Chinazaekpere Mary , Olanrewaju Toluwanimi Peter
Published: August 2022

The Chapters and Universities Mentorship Circle is a program designed to mentor student chapters in taking advantage of the benefits of SEG at their institutions. It was created by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Geophysical Society (SEG-NAU) on 22 August 2021. Originally, five universities participated. Today, 11 universities from all parts of Nigeria are involved. Courtesy of the program, six student chapters have been reactivated and two have been created ( Figure 1 ).
Comparison of Hormonal Response to a Mixed-Meal Challenge in Hypoglycemia After Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Gastric Bypass
Authors: Lee Clare J , Clark Jeanne M , Egan Josephine M , Carlson Olga D , Schweitzer Michael , Langan Susan , Brown Todd
Published: August 2022

Context

Exaggerated postprandial incretin and insulin responses are well documented in postbariatric surgery hypoglycemia (PBH) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). However, less is known about PBH after sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

Objective

We sought to compare meal-stimulated hormonal response in those with PBH after SG vs RYGB.

Methods

We enrolled 23 post-SG (12 with and 11 without PBH) and 20 post-RYGB (7 with and 13 without PBH) individuals who underwent bariatric surgery at our institution. PBH was defined as plasma glucose less than 60 mg/dL on 4-hour mixed-meal tolerance test (MTT). Islet and incretin hormones were compared across the 4 groups.

Results

Participants (N = 43) were on average 5 years post surgery, with a mean age of 48 years, mean preoperative body mass index of 48.4, 81% female, 61% White, and 53% post SG. Regardless of PBH, the SG group showed lower glucose, glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) responses to MTT and similar insulin and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) responses compared to the RYGB group. Among those with PBH, the SG group following the MTT showed a lower peak glucose (P = .02), a similar peak insulin (90.3 mU/L vs 171mU/L; P = .18), lower glucagon (P < .01), early GLP-1 response (AUC0-60 min; P = .01), and slower time to peak GIP (P = .02) compared to PBH after RYGB.

Conclusion

Among individuals with PBH, those who underwent SG were significantly different compared to RYGB in meal-stimulated hormonal responses, including lower glucagon and GLP-1 responses, but similar insulin and GIP responses. Future studies are needed to better understand the differential contribution of insulin and non–insulin-mediated mechanisms behind PBH after SG vs RYGB.
Prevalence of Postoperatively Detected High-risk Features in 2- to 4-cm Papillary Thyroid Cancers
Authors: Choi Jee-Hye , Lee Ja Kyung , Kim Woochul , Yu Hyeong Won , Kim Su-jin , Chai Young Jun , Choi June Young , Lee Kyu Eun
Published: August 2022

Context

The 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines proposed thyroid lobectomy as an acceptable option for 1- to 4-cm papillary thyroid cancers (PTC) without extrathyroidal extension (ETE) or lymph node (LN) metastasis. However, high-risk features are often detected postoperatively, even in tumors that are considered low risk on preoperative workup. A continued evaluation is necessary to determine the optimal treatment strategies.

Objective

We examined the frequency of preoperatively and postoperatively detected high-risk features in 2- to 4-cm PTCs to assess the appropriate surgical extent.

Methods

All patients who underwent a thyroid surgery between 2015 and 2020 with a final diagnosis of 2- to 4-cm PTC were selected. Demographics, preoperative findings, perioperative course, and surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Of the entire study cohort (N = 424), 244 (57.5%) patients had at least 1 of the following high-risk features: gross ETE (18.6%), distant metastasis (1.2%), >3 LN involvement with extranodal extension (24.8%), any LN > 3 cm (0.5%), positive margin (13.2%), TERT mutation (2.6%), vascular invasion (10.8%), cN1 disease (28.5%), and > 5 LN involvement (30.4%). Two hundred patients had neither ETE nor LN metastasis on preoperative imaging, but 62/200 (31.0%) were found to have at least 1 of the aforementioned high-risk features on final pathology. Preoperative imaging had sensitivities of 75.9% and 44.4% for detecting gross ETE and LN metastasis, respectively.

Conclusion

A significant portion of patients with 2- to 4-cm PTCs, including those who preoperatively met the criteria for lobectomy, were found to have high-risk features on final pathology. Careful patient selection and appropriate counseling are necessary when considering lobectomy for tumors greater than 2 cm.
Metabolic accompaniment of urina lithogenicity in female rats
Authors: Flyunt Viktor , Flyunt Igor-Severyn , Żukow Xawery
Published: August 2022

Background. We have previously discovered connections between the lithogenicity index of urine and a number of components of its composition. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the urine lithogenicity index and a number of metabolic components of plasma. Materials and Methods. Experiment was performed on 60 healthy old female Wistar rats 220-300 g. Ten animals remained intact, using daily water from drinking ad libitum. Other animals for 6 days were loaded through the tube with daily and various mineral waters at a dose of 1,5 mL/100 g of body mass. The day after the completion of the drinking course collected daily urine and estimate its lithogenicity. We determined plasma levels of electrolytes, nitric metabolites, glucose, amylase, cholesterol and lipids peroxidation parameters. Results. The lithogenicity of urine is upregulated by the plasma level of uric acid, bilirubin, potassium, malondialdehyde and catalase, but it is downregulated by calciumemia. The rate of determination of lithogenicity is 45,7%. Conclusion. Both lithogenic and litholytic factors are present in the plasma. This gives grounds for finding ways to correct lithogenicity.
Identification of the Elements and Systematisation of the Pillars of Solid Waste Management
Authors: Espuny Maximilian , Ferreira Costa Ana Carolina , da Motta Reis José Salvador , Ferreira Motta Barbosa Luís César , Carvalho Raquel , Santos Gilberto , De Oliveira Otávio José
Published: August 2022

Purpose: This study identifies elements and systematises them into pillars based on relevant scientific publications on the subject, highlighting actions that contribute to the public authorities and private organisations for developing Solid Waste Management (SWM), contributing to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
Methodology/Approach: This research used the content analysis method with the aim of identifying the main elements of SWM. To this end, the inductive approach was used to classify in a logical and organised manner the elements identified in the literature and then systematise them into pillars.
Findings: The pillars identified in SWM were: Public Management, Public Policies, Environmental Solutions and Triple Bottom Line.
Research Limitation/Implication: The main limitation of the study is the use of articles between the periods 2014 and 2018.
Originality/Value of paper: The main scientific contribution was to expand and deepen the literature on the subject, articulating concepts in pillars that can be developed and improved according to the characteristics of different regions or localities, improving the use of SWM resources. As to the applied contribution, it was possible to analyse the fields of direct and indirect action of public and private sectors that can be implemented in SWM, improving the understanding of the limits that each stakeholder can contribute to the effectiveness of SWM.
Tożsamość konstytucyjna – monolit czy krajobraz inności?
Authors: Mokrzycka Krystyna
Published: August 2022

CONSTITUTIONAL IDENTITY - A MONOLITH OR A PANORAMA OF DIFFERENCES? Although the notion of constitutional identity still lacks a unified definition, attempts can be made to delineate a framework of features by which it could be characterized. One of the fundamental problems that arise in this process is the question of the possible multiplicity of constitutional identities. While it may be viewed as a monistic entity, reducible to the most general and abstract set of postulates, such a definition would give rise to further problems, primarily that of an excessively generalised approach to constitutional identity, which does not make it possible to clearly distinguish it from other concepts in the social sciences, and does not fully reflect its nature. Therefore, an alternative approach should be considered, related to the possibility of a multiple character of constitutional identity (allowing for its several variants and making this multiplicity one of its postulated features) or even the existence not of several variants of identity with the same axiological core, but several equal, typologically distinctive variants of constitutional identity derived from the same set of values. The purpose of this paper is to outline the framework of each of the above discussed answers to the problem of the multiplicity of constitutional identities, and to present the issues related to its uniform definition in an extremely pluralist, polarized society.
Wspólne tradycje konstytucyjne państw członkowskich Unii Europejskiej a koncepcja wspólnej unijnej tożsamości konstytucyjnej
Authors: Florczak-Wątor Monika
Published: August 2022

COMMON CONSTITUTIONAL TRADITIONS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE CONCEPT OF A COMMON CONSTITUTIONAL IDENTITY OF THE UNION The aim of this paper is to present the concept of common constitutional traditions of the Member States of the European Union, along with its advantages and drawbacks, especially those of a methodological nature. The author discusses the development of this concept in the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union (hereinafter CJEU) as well as its formal inclusion into the EU regulations. The analysis of the CJEU case law and EU law enables the author to formulate some remarks concerning the way of reconstructing common constitutional traditions of the EU Member States. Subsequently, the position of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal in relation to this concept is presented, including the change of this position in the most recent case law of this authority. This study concludes with a consideration of the relationship between common constitutional traditions and a common EU constitutional identity.
Margines oceny w orzecznictwie Europejskiego Trybunału Praw Człowieka. Perspektywa ochrony tożsamości konstytucyjnej
Authors: Jabłońska Paulina
Published: August 2022

MARGIN OF APPRECIATION IN THE CASE LAW OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. THE PERSPECTIVE OF CONSTITUTIONAL IDENTITY PROTECTION The paper deals with the application of the margin of appreciation doctrine from the perspective of the protection of constitutional identity. The discussion is divided into three parts. First, the author identifies four situations in which the margin of appreciation is taken into consideration by the European Court of Human Rights. In the second part, the author analyses these situations in the light of the question about the grounds of the doctrine of margin of appreciation in the European Convention on Human Rights. Finally, an attempt is made to show how the application of the margin of appreciation doctrine affects the protection of the constitutional identity of Contracting States. The analysis shows notably that the European Court of Human Rights refers to this doctrine in a relatively liberal way. The practice of application of the margin of appreciation in situations when there is no common approach (European consensus) to a particular case raises concerns. The paper concludes that the application of the margin of appreciation doctrine without sufficient justification reduces the level of protection of the constitutional identity of Contracting States.
Tożsamość konstytucyjna w perspektywie socjologicznej
Authors: Oszczyk Filip , Mardausz Karolina
Published: August 2022

CONSTITUTIONAL IDENTITY: A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE The two largest protests in recent years in Poland were closely related to the constitution and the Constitutional Tribunal. The protests by the Committee for the Defence of Democracy resulted from discussions on the legitimacy of the composition of the Constitutional Tribunal, and those by the All-Poland Women’s Strike have been a reaction to the decision of the Constitutional Tribunal on the “abortion compromise”. However, despite its social significance, the constitution has not been considered in Polish sociology as an essential element for the analysis of these movements. The article presents a theoretical perspective derived from cultural sociology, treating constitutional identity as a result of competition within the field of constitutional law to impose an interpretation of the constitution. In this perspective, the constitution is a cultural object that must be interpreted by all social actors. This article presents the results of qualitative research analyzing the relationship between the constitution understood as a cultural object and wider society, and the ways in which respondents understand the constitution, and how this understanding affects activities in the public sphere. A total of thirteen individual in-depth interviews were conducted among university students. The results of the research show the ambivalent attitude of young people to the constitution, which is perceived as a tool for exercising power through the ruling party. For the respondents, the constitution is not a significant point of reference in terms of the values they represent and their civic activity. The article points to a link between a decline in confidence in the constitution and the tribunal’s decision restricting reproductive rights.
Tendencia Editorial UR Número 32
Authors: Córdoba-Restrepo Juan Felipe , Díaz Calderón Julio César , Rudas-Burgos Gabriel , Mera Hansel , Palumbo María Mercedes , Serrano Corredor Camilo
Published: August 2022

Proponer un Tendencia Editorial como el que estamos entregando en esta oportunidad, y que está dedicado a reunir algunas de las reseñas divulgadas en diferentes medios de libros publicados por nuestro sello editorial, tiene el objetivo de realzar este género y mostrar su utilidad para los lectores. El punto de partida obligado es reconocer el trabajo de cada una de las personas que se dedican a escribir reseñas, cada una de estas merece nuestra gratitud, pues dedicar tiempo y esfuerzo para producir textos de calidad que permitan contar con elementos para motivar la lectura y proponer discusiones alrededor de un tema particular es sin lugar a dudas útil. Los elementos de una reseña, tales como un análisis crítico del texto, la información del autor o autores del libro, las características de la obra, demuestran que consultarlas y leerlas es valioso para entablar un diálogo con un texto.
The Mnemonomics of Contractual Screening
Authors: Guo Liang
Published: August 2022

In many markets, buyers sign advance contracts before actual decisions on transactions or consumptions are made. Therefore, a buyer may have private information on expected payoff at the contracting stage, and as time moves on, new information on other components of payoff may arrive. However, prior information can be losable, forgettable, or unattended. In this paper, we investigate how limited memory may influence the optimal design of contracts for sequential screening. Despite memory loss, the buyer can make ex post inference about her initially informed type from the chosen contract. As ex ante screening facilitates subsequent retrospection, the chosen contract can serve as a self-reminding instrument. This would yield an endogenous demand for separation in ex ante contract choice. In response, distortions in the optimal contract design can be either mitigated or intensified, leading to improved or undermined social welfare, respectively. As a result, the equilibrium buyer surplus can be higher than that under perfect memory. We also show that the buyer can exhibit the so-called flat-rate bias, even though her preference is time consistent and perfectly predicted. In addition, as memory can be perfectly recovered from the equilibrium contract choice, investing on any other memory-improving instrument is redundant. Moreover, the buyer’s demand for screening can induce her to choose dominated refund contract. Nevertheless, when dominance must be obeyed, the seller may offer a menu of refund contracts with two-way distortions.

This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing.

Funding: The financial support offered by the Hong Kong RGC General Research Fund [Grant 14500519] is acknowledged.
Analysis of the male annual antler cycle, reproductive behavior and spotted fawn presence in the tropical white-tailed deer
Authors: Rodríguez-Ramírez Miguel , Mora Jose Manuel
Published: August 2022

The rutting season of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is seasonal in North America, but in tropical latitudes it occurs year-round with peaks locally variable. Reproductive cycle of this species in Costa Rica is variable, clearly seasonal in San Lucas Island but continuous with two birth peaks in Palo Verde and Santa Rosa national parks in northwestern Costa Rica. In Hacienda y Refugio de Vida Silvestre Curú in the Nicoya Peninsula, a site south of these parks but in a different life zone, we observed males with hard antlers in 2015 but only from July to November. We therefore hypothesized that white-tailed deer have a continuous reproductive cycle during the year in Curú because the rainfall pattern is the same as in Palo Verde and Santa Rosa. We visited Curú every month and recorded the status of white-tailed deer antler growth: nubs, velvet, and hard, from January 2016 to December 2019. We also recorded other rut behaviors and the presence of spotted fawns. We recorded 1,134 observations of the status of antler growth, 13 observations on reproductive behavior and 133 observations of spotted fawns. The antler cycle was seasonal in the four years of study. Male antler casting took place from mid-November to mid-February and the growth of new antlers began in mid-December and lasted until mid-March. Velvet shedding occurred in April, May and June, and by July males had hard antlers. The rutting season lasted three months from mid-June to mid-August. Small spotted fawns were observed from the middle of the dry season to the beginning of the rainy season. All this highly contrasts with the reproduction pattern observed in Santa Rosa. Lack of seasonal variation in the photoperiod is likely an important factor that allows deer to reproduce throughout the year in these protected areas, but this variation does not exist in Curú either, where the species is seasonal. The reproductive patterns of white-tailed deer in Central and South America may have evolved in response to seasonal fluctuations in specific food availability, competition, or predation, all of which may be directly related to rainfall patterns. Greater knowledge of the link between rainfall patterns and food availability for deer would be of great help to further our understanding of factors driving the reproduction cycle of the White-tailed deer.
The Trend of Physics Education Research During COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Prahani Binar Kurnia , Amiruddin Mohd Zaidi Bin , Suprapto Nadi , Deta Utama Alan , Cheng Tsung-Hui
Published: August 2022

Currently, physics education is a science that is still considered abstract by many students and the public. Thus, there is a need for information on the current trends in physics education to adapt to the current situation. Based on the Scopus, the research objective is to explore the ongoing trends in the last ten years and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is a bibliometric and bibliometric analysis. The findings show that research related to physics education is dominated by the most developed during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 – 2021) countries Indonesia. Meanwhile, the Journal of Physics Conference Series is the journal that publishes the most publications (Scopus) related to physics education, followed by the AIP Conference Proceeding. Research implication to research, librarian, and policy maker (1) Research and development need to be carried out in-depth related to the growing trend of physics education so that it can be published in Scopus. (2) Cooperation and collaboration between other universities to increase publications at the international level. (3) The need for continuous research to follow current trends.
Modelling osteoarthritis in mice via surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus with or without a stereomicroscope
Authors: Hu Wencheng , Lin Junqing , Wei Jiabao , Yang Yunlong , Fu Kai , Zhu Tianhao , Zhu Hongyi , Zheng Xianyou
Published: August 2022

Aims

To evaluate inducing osteoarthritis (OA) by surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) in mice with and without a stereomicroscope.

Methods

Based on sample size calculation, 70 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three surgery groups: DMM aided by a stereomicroscope; DMM by naked eye; or sham surgery. The group information was blinded to researchers. Mice underwent static weightbearing, von Frey test, and gait analysis at two-week intervals from eight to 16 weeks after surgery. Histological grade of OA was determined with the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scoring system.

Results

Surgical DMM with or without stereomicroscope led to decrease in the mean of weightbearing percentages (-20.64% vs -21.44%, p = 0.792) and paw withdrawal response thresholds (-21.35% vs -24.65%, p = 0.327) of the hind limbs. However, the coefficient of variation (CV) of weight-bearing percentages and paw withdrawal response thresholds in naked-eye group were significantly greater than that in the microscope group (19.82% vs 6.94%, p < 0.001; 21.85% vs 9.86%, p < 0.001). The gait analysis showed a similar pattern. Cartilage degeneration was observed in both DMM-surgery groups, evidenced by increased OARSI scores (summed score: 11.23 vs 11.43, p = 0.842), but the microscope group showed less variation in OARSI score than the naked-eye group (CV: 21.03% vs 32.44%; p = 0.032).

Conclusion

Although surgical DMM aided by stereomicroscope is technically difficult, it produces a relatively more homogeneous OA model in terms of the discrete degree of pain behaviours and histopathological grading when compared with surgical DMM without stereomicroscope. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(8):518–527.
Optimization of tissue adhesive curing time for surgical wound closure
Authors: Wellington Ian J. , Hawthorne Benjamin C. , Dorsey Caitlin , Connors John P. , Mazzocca Augustus D. , Solovyova Olga
Published: August 2022

Aims

Tissue adhesives (TAs) are a commonly used adjunct to traditional surgical wound closures. However, TAs must be allowed to dry before application of a surgical dressing, increasing operating time and reducing intraoperative efficiency. The goal of this study is to identify a practical method for decreasing the curing time for TAs.

Methods

Six techniques were tested to determine which one resulted in the quickest drying time for 2-octyle cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) skin adhesive. These were nothing (control), fanning with a hand (Fanning), covering with a hand (Covering), bringing operating room lights close (OR Lights), ultraviolet lights (UV Light), or prewarming the TA applicator in a hot water bath (Hot Water Bath). Equal amounts of TA were applied to a reproducible plexiglass surface and allowed to dry while undergoing one of the six techniques. The time to complete dryness was recorded for ten specimens for each of the six techniques.

Results

Use of the Covering, OR Lights, and Hot Water Bath techniques were associated with a 25- (p = 0.042), 27- (p = 0.023), and 30-second (p = 0.009) reduction in drying time, respectively, when compared to controls. The UV Light (p = 0.404) and Fanning (p = 1.000) methods had no effect on drying time.

Conclusion

Use of the Covering, OR Lights, and Hot Water Bath techniques present a means for reducing overall operating time for surgeons using TA for closure augmentation, which can increase intraoperative efficiency. Further studies are needed to validate this in vivo. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(8):607–610.