bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zishen pingchan granules combined with pramipexole in the improvement of depressive symptoms in Parkinson's disease: a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study
Authors: Ning Houxu , Zhou Hao , Ren Jingru , Zhou Gaiyan , Yang Ning , Wang Zhenfu , Yuan Canxing , Tian Zuojun , Chen Juping , Shen Lihua , Zheng Huifen , Zhao Yang , Wang Haidong , Liu Weiguo , Liu Zhenguo
Published: August 2022

Background and objective

Zishen Pingchan granule (ZPG), a traditional Chinese herbal recipe for treating Parkinson’s disease (PD), is usually used as an add-on drug with some antiparkinsonian drugs in China. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ZPG combined with pramipexole in the treatment of depression in PD (dPD).

Methods

A 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study on ZPG was performed on a total of 200 patients who were treated with pramipexole but still had mild to moderate depressive symptoms. Patients were randomly divided into ZPG (n = 100) or placebo (n = 100). The primary effective result was the mean change from the baseline on the Hamilton Depression Scale 17 items (HAM-D-17) over 12 weeks and the clinical efficacy rate. Secondary endpoints were the mean change from the baseline in the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale Part III (UPDRS III), Parkinson's quality of life scale (PDQ-8), and Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS-2) over 12 weeks.

Results

After 12 weeks of treatment, ZPG significantly reduced the mean [95% confidence interval] HAMD score vs. placebo (− 1.43 scores [− 2.50, − 0.36]; p = 0.009). The clinical remission rate and responders of the ZPG group were higher than those of the placebo (46.1% vs. 31.0%; p = 0.041; 34.8% vs. 18.4%; p = 0.014). A significant improvement in the PDSS-2 score was also observed in the ZPG group compared with that in the placebo group (− 3.56 scores [− 5.77, − 1.35]; p = 0.002). A total of 7 patients (7.1%) in the ZPG group had mild adverse events (AEs) vs 9 patients (9%) in the placebo group. No severe AEs were observed in either group. The randomization and controlled clinical study revealed that ZPG was effective, safe, and well-tolerated.

Conclusion

ZPG combined with pramipexole further reduced the depressive symptoms and improved the sleeping quality of PD patients.

Trial registration The protocol was retrospectively registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, Unique identifier: ChiCTR1800019942, date of registration: December 9, 2018; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=30432
Integration of CD34+CD117dim population signature improves the prognosis prediction of acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Li Xue-Ping , Zhang Wei-Na , Mao Jia-Ying , Zhao Bai-Tian , Jiang Lu , Gao Yan
Published: August 2022

Background

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a hematological cancer characterized by heterogeneous hematopoietic cells. Through the use of multidimensional sequencing technologies, we previously identified a distinct myeloblast population, CD34+CD117dim, the proportion of which was strongly associated with the clinical outcome in t (8;21) AML. In this study, we explored the potential value of the CD34+CD117dim population signature (117DPS) in AML stratification.

Methods

Based on the CD34+CD117dim gene signature, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis was performed to construct the 117DPS model using the gene expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE37642-GPL96 was used as training cohort; GSE37642-GPL570, GSE12417-GPL96, GSE12417-GPL570 and GSE106291 were used as validation cohorts). In addition, the RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-LAML and Beat AML projects of de-novo AML patients were also analyzed as validation cohorts. The differences of clinical features and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were further explored between the high-risk score group and low-risk score group.

Results

The high-risk group of the 117DPS model exhibited worse overall survival than the low-risk group in both training and validation cohorts. Immune signaling pathways were significantly activated in the high-risk group. Patients with high-risk score had a distinct pattern of infiltrating immune cells, which were closely related to clinical outcome.

Conclusion

The 117DPS model established in our study may serve as a potentially valuable tool for predicting clinical outcome of patients with AML.
Construction of a predictive model for immunotherapy efficacy in lung squamous cell carcinoma based on the degree of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and molecular typing
Authors: Yang Lingge , Wei Shuli , Zhang Jingnan , Hu Qiongjie , Hu Wansong , Cao Mengqing , Zhang Long , Wang Yongfang , Wang Pingli , Wang Kai
Published: August 2022

Background

To construct a predictive model of immunotherapy efficacy for patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) based on the degree of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIIC) in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Methods

The data of 501 patients with LUSC in the TCGA database were used as a training set, and grouped using non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) based on the degree of TIIC assessed by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Two data sets (GSE126044 and GSE135222) were used as validation sets. Genes screened for modeling by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and used to construct a model based on immunophenotyping score (IPTS). RNA extraction and qPCR were performed to validate the prognostic value of IPTS in our independent LUSC cohort. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to determine the predictive value of the immune efficacy. Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic predictive ability. Correlation analysis and enrichment analysis were used to explore the potential mechanism of IPTS molecular typing involved in predicting the immunotherapy efficacy for patients with LUSC.

Results

The training set was divided into a low immune cell infiltration type (C1) and a high immune cell infiltration type (C2) by NMF typing, and the IPTS molecular typing based on the 17-gene model could replace the results of the NMF typing. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.82. In both validation sets, the IPTS of patients who responded to immunotherapy were significantly higher than those who did not respond to immunotherapy (P = 0.0032 andP = 0.0451), whereas the AUC was 0.95 (95% CI = 1.00–0.84) and 0.77 (95% CI = 0.58–0.96), respectively. In our independent cohort, we validated its ability to predict the response to cancer immunotherapy, for the AUC was 0.88 (95% CI = 1.00–0.66). GSEA suggested that the high IPTS group was mainly involved in immune-related signaling pathways.

Conclusions

IPTS molecular typing based on the degree of TIIC in the TME could well predict the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with LUSC with a certain prognostic value.
Evidence of pyroptosis and ferroptosis extensively involved in autoimmune diseases at the single-cell transcriptome level
Authors: Zhang Danfeng , Li Yadan , Du Chunyan , Sang Lina , Liu Liu , Li Yingmei , Wang Fang , Fan Wenjuan , Tang Ping , Zhang Sidong , Chen Dandan , Wang Yanmei , Wang Xiaoyi , Xie Xinsheng , Jiang Zhongxing , Song Yongping , Guo Rongqun
Published: August 2022

Background

Approximately 8–9% of the world’s population is affected by autoimmune diseases, and yet the mechanism of autoimmunity trigger is largely understudied. Two unique cell death modalities, ferroptosis and pyroptosis, provide a new perspective on the mechanisms leading to autoimmune diseases, and development of new treatment strategies.

Methods

Using scRNA-seq datasets, the aberrant trend of ferroptosis and pyroptosis-related genes were analyzed in several representative autoimmune diseases (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, multiple sclerosis, systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease, Crohn’s disease, and experimental autoimmune orchitis). Cell line models were also assessed using bulk RNA-seq and qPCR.

Results

A substantial difference was observed between normal and autoimmune disease samples involving ferroptosis and pyroptosis. In the present study, ferroptosis and pyroptosis showed an imbalance in different keratinocyte lineages of psoriatic skinin addition to a unique pyroptosis-sensitive keratinocyte subset in atopic dermatitis (AD) skin. The results also revealed that pyroptosis and ferroptosis are involved in epidermal melanocyte destruction in vitiligo. Aberrant ferroptosis has been detected in multiple sclerosis, systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease, Crohn’s disease, and autoimmune orchitis. Cell line models adopted in the study also identified pro-inflammatory factors that can drive changes in ferroptosis and pyroptosis.

Conclusion

These results provide a unique perspective on the involvement of ferroptosis and pyroptosis in the pathological process of autoimmune diseases at the scRNA-seq level. IFN-γ is a critical inducer of pyroptosis sensitivity, and has been identified in two cell line models.
Public Cord Blood Banks as a source of starting material for clinical grade HLA-homozygous induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Álvarez-Palomo Belén , Veiga Anna , Raya Angel , Codinach Margarita , Torrents Silvia , Ponce Verdugo Laura , Rodriguez-Aierbe Clara , Cuellar Leopoldo , Alenda Raquel , Arbona Cristina , Hernández-Maraver Dolores , Fusté Cristina , Querol Sergi
Published: August 2022

Background

The increasing number of clinical trials for induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapy products makes the production on clinical grade iPSC more and more relevant and necessary. Cord blood banks are an ideal source of young, HLA-typed and virus screened starting material to produce HLA-homozygous iPSC lines for wide immune-compatibility allogenic cell therapy approaches. The production of such clinical grade iPSC lines (haplolines) involves particular attention to all steps since donor informed consent, cell procurement and a GMP-compliant cell isolation process.

Methods

Homozygous cord blood units were identified and quality verified before recontacting donors for informed consent. CD34+ cells were purified from the mononuclear fraction isolated in a cell processor, by magnetic microbeads labelling and separation columns.

Results

We obtained a median recovery of 20.0% of the collected pre-freezing CD34+, with a final product median viability of 99.1% and median purity of 83.5% of the post-thawed purified CD34+ population.

Conclusions

Here we describe our own experience, from unit selection and donor reconsenting, in generating a CD34+ cell product as a starting material to produce HLA-homozygous iPSC following a cost-effective and clinical grade-compliant procedure. These CD34+ cells are the basis for the Spanish bank of haplolines envisioned to serve as a source of cell products for clinical research and therapy.
The well-posedness problem of an anisotropic porous medium equation with a convection term
Authors: Zhi Yuan , Zhan Huashui
Published: August 2022

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Impact of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on embryo ploidy: a retrospective cohort study of 133 PGT-A cycles in China
Authors: Huang Jialyu , Xia Leizhen , Tian Lifeng , Fan Hancheng , Xu Dingfei , Ai Xiaoyan , Wu Xingwu , Chen Jia , Xing Genbao , Huang Lingling , Zuo Huijun , Chen Jia , Li Mengxi , Zhang Ke , Liu Peipei , Lin Jiaying , Wu Qiongfang
Published: August 2022

Background

Unsubstantiated concerns have been raised on the potential correlation between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination and infertility, leading to vaccine hesitancy in reproductive-aged population. Herein, we aim to evaluate the impact of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on embryo ploidy, which is a critical indicator for embryo quality and pregnancy chance.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of 133 patients who underwent preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) cycles with next-generation sequencing technology from June 1st 2021 to March 17th 2022 at a tertiary-care medical center in China. Women fully vaccinated with two doses of Sinopharm or Sinovac inactivated vaccines (n = 66) were compared with unvaccinated women (n = 67). The primary outcome was the euploidy rate per cycle. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to adjust for potential confounders.

Results

The euploidy rate was similar between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups (23.2 ± 24.6% vs. 22.6 ± 25.9%, P = 0.768), with an adjusted β of 0.01 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.08–0.10). After frozen-thawed single euploid blastocyst transfer, the two groups were also comparable in clinical pregnancy rate (75.0% vs. 60.0%, P = 0.289), with an adjusted odds ratio of 6.21 (95% CI: 0.76–50.88). No significant associations were observed between vaccination and cycle characteristics or other laboratory and pregnancy outcomes.

Conclusions

Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination had no detrimental impact on embryo ploidy during in vitro fertilization treatment. Our finding provides further reassurance for vaccinated women who are planning to conceive. Future prospective cohort studies with larger datasets and longer follow-up are needed to confirm the conclusion.
Evaluation of sensitivity and accuracy of maternal serum alpha fetoprotein to the diagnosis of open spina bifida in comparison with sonographic findings of open spina bifida and Chiari II malformation in pregnant women
Authors: Gerami Reza , Agahi Tahereh , Barkhordari Shoresh , Kargar Jalal
Published: August 2022

Background

NTD is one of the most important problems of the nervous system and the second fetal anomaly that is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Therefore, its prenatal diagnosis is very important. AFP has a high false positive, which reduces its diagnostic value, so the discovery of ultrasound findings in OSB is very important and can replace AFP testing.

Results

4 patients with positive OSB were detected and their diagnosis was confirmed during pathological follow-up (100% diagnostic accuracy) and the rest of the patients with high AFP (51 patients) were negative for OSB. Therefore, the diagnostic accuracy of AFP during statistical analysis was about 7%, which is a very low value.

Conclusion

According to the results of this study, IT, BS, BSOB, BS/BSOB ultrasound criteria in the first screening and decreased BPD and ventriculomegaly in the second screening ultrasound in OSB diagnosis have a higher diagnostic value than the AFP laboratory level. It should pay more attention to MS-AFP results in OSB screening.
Using Iterative RE-AIM to enhance hospitalist adoption of lung ultrasound in the management of patients with COVID-19: an implementation pilot study
Authors: Maw Anna M. , Morris Megan A. , Glasgow Russell E. , Barnard Juliana , Ho P. Michael , Ortiz-Lopez Carolina , Fleshner Michelle , Kramer Henry R. , Grimm Eric , Ytell Kate , Gardner Tiffany , Huebschmann Amy G.
Published: August 2022

Background

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a clinician-performed evidence-based imaging modality that has multiple advantages in the evaluation of dyspnea caused by multiple disease processes, including COVID-19. Despite these advantages, few hospitalists have been trained to perform LUS. The aim of this study was to increase adoption and implementation of LUS during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic by using recurrent assessments of RE-AIM outcomes to iteratively revise our implementation strategies.

Methods

In an academic hospital, we implemented guidelines for the use of LUS in patients with COVID-19 in July 2020. Using a novel “RE-AIM dashboard,” we used an iterative process of evaluating the high-priority outcomes of Reach, Adoption, and Implementation at twice monthly intervals to inform revisions of our implementation strategies for LUS delivery (i.e., Iterative RE-AIM process). Using a convergent mixed methods design, we integrated quantitative RE-AIM outcomes with qualitative hospitalist interview data to understand the dynamic determinants of LUS Reach, Adoption, and Implementation.

Results

Over the 1-year study period, 453 LUSs were performed in 298 of 12,567 eligible inpatients with COVID-19 (Reach = 2%). These 453 LUS were ordered by 43 out of 86 eligible hospitalists (LUS order adoption = 50%). However, the LUSs were performed/supervised by only 8 of these 86 hospitalists, 4 of whom were required to complete LUS credentialing as members of the hospitalist procedure service (proceduralist adoption 75% vs 1.2% non-procedural hospitalists adoption). Qualitative and quantitative data obtained to evaluate this Iterative RE-AIM process led to the deployment of six sequential implementation strategies and 3 key findings including (1) there were COVID-19-specific barriers to LUS adoption, (2) hospitalists were more willing to learn to make clinical decisions using LUS images than obtain the images themselves, and (3) mandating the credentialing of a strategically selected sub-group may be a successful strategy for improving Reach.

Conclusions

Mandating use of a strategically selected subset of clinicians may be an effective strategy for improving Reach of LUS. Additionally, use of Iterative RE-AIM allowed for timely adjustments to implementation strategies, facilitating higher levels of LUS Adoption and Reach. Future studies should explore the replicability of these preliminary findings.
Effects of physical activity and dietary supplement on fat free mass and bone mass density during weight loss – a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Authors: Roth Anja , Sattelmayer Martin , Schorderet Chloé , Gafner Simone , Allet Lara
Published: August 2022

Background: After a diet- or surgery induced weight loss almost 1/3 of lost weight consists of fat free mass (FFM) if carried out without additional therapy. Exercise training and a sufficient supply of protein, calcium and vitamin D is recommended to reduce the loss of FFM.

Objective: To investigate the effect of exercise training, protein, calcium, and vitamin D supplementation on the preservation of FFM during non-surgical and surgical weight loss and of the combination of all interventions together in adults with obesity.

Methods: A systematic review was performed with a pairwise meta-analysis and an exploratory network meta-analysis according to the PRISMA statement.

Results: Thirty studies were included in the quantitative analysis. The pairwise meta-analysis showed for Exercise Training + High Protein vs. High Protein a moderate and statistically significant effect size (SMD 0.45; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.86), for Exercise Training + High Protein vs. Exercise Training a high but statistically not significant effect size (SMD 0.91; 95% CI -0.59 to 2.41) and for Exercise Training alone vs. Control a moderate but statistically not significant effect size (SMD 0.67; 95% CI -0.25 to 1.60). In the exploratory network meta-analysis three interventions showed statistically significant effect sizes compared to Control and all of them included the treatment Exercise Training.

Conclusions: Results underline the importance of exercise training and a sufficient protein intake to preserve FFM during weight loss in adults with obesity. The effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation remains controversial and further research are needed.
Calendar ageing modelling using machine learning: an experimental investigation on lithium ion battery chemistries
Authors: Celen Burak , Ozcelik Melik Bugra , Turgut Furkan Metin , Aras Cisel , Sivaraman Thyagesh , Kotak Yash , Geisbauer Christian , Schweiger Hans-Georg
Published: August 2022

Background: The phenomenon of calendar ageing continues to have an impact on battery systems worldwide by causing them to have undesirable operation life and performance. Predicting the degradation in the capacity can identify whether this phenomenon is occurring for a cell and pave the way for placing mechanisms that can circumvent this behaviour.

Methods: In this study, the machine learning algorithms, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and artificial neural network (ANN) have been used to predict the calendar ageing data belonging to six types of cell chemistries namely, Lithium Cobalt Oxide, Lithium Iron Phosphate, Lithium Manganese Oxide, Lithium Titanium Oxide, Nickle Cobalt Aluminum Oxide and Nickle Manganese Cobalt Oxide.

Results: Prediction results with overall Mean Absolute Percentage Error of 0.0126 have been obtained for XGBoost algorithm. Among these results, Nickle Cobalt Aluminum Oxide and Nickle Manganese Cobalt Oxide type cell chemistries stand out with their mean absolute percentage errors of 0.0035 and 0.0057 respectively. Also, algorithm fitting performance is relatively better for these chemistries at 100% state of charge and 60°C temperature compared to ANN results. ANN algorithm predicts with mean absolute error of approximately 0.0472 overall and 0.0238 and 0.03825 for Nickle Cobalt Aluminum Oxide and Nickle Manganese Cobalt Oxide. The fitting performance of ANN for Nickle Manganese Cobalt Oxide at 100% state of charge and 60°C temperature is especially poor compared to XGBoost.

Conclusions: For an electric vehicle battery calendar ageing prediction application, XGBoost can establish itself as the primary choice more easily compared to ANN. The reason is XGBoost’s error rates and fitting performance are more usable for such application especially for Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide and Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide chemistries, which are amongst the most demanded cell chemistries for electric vehicle battery packs.
Perceptions about controlled human infection model (CHIM) studies among members of ethics committees of Indian medical institutions: A qualitative exploration
Authors: Sharma Abhishek , Apte Aditi , Rajappa Medha , Vaz Manjulika , Vaswani Vina , Goenka Shifalika , Malhotra Samir , Sangoram Rashmi , Lakshminarayanan Subitha , Jayaram Suganya , Mathaiyan Jayanthi , Farseena Khadeejath , Mukerjee Prarthna , Jaswal Surinder , Dongre Amol , Timms Olinda , Shafiq Nusrat , Aggarwal Rakesh , Kaur Manmeet , Juvekar Sanjay , Sekhar Amrita , Kang Gagandeep
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) studies provide a unique platform for studying the pathophysiology of infectious diseases and accelerated testing of vaccines and drugs in controlled settings. However, ethical issues shroud them as the disease-causing pathogen is intentionally inoculated into healthy consenting volunteers, and effective treatment may or may not be available. We explored the perceptions of the members of institutional ethics committees (IECs) in India about CHIM studies.

Methods: This qualitative exploratory study, conducted across seven sites in India, included 11 focused group discussions (FGD) and 31 in-depth interviews (IDI). A flexible approach was used with the aid of a topic guide. The data were thematically analyzed using grounded theory and an inductive approach. Emerging themes and sub-themes were analyzed, and major emergent themes were elucidated.

Results: Seventy-two IEC members participated in the study including 21 basic medical scientists, 29 clinicians, 9 lay people, 6 legal experts and 7 social scientists. Three major themes emerged from this analysis—apprehensions about conduct of CHIM studies in India, a perceived need for CHIM studies in India and risk mitigation measures needed to protect research participants and minimize the associated risks.

Conclusion: Development of a specific regulatory and ethical framework, training of research staff and ethics committee members, and ensuring specialized research infrastructure along with adequate community sensitization were considered essential before initiation of CHIM studies in India.
Clinical efficacy and neurobiological correlates of electroconvulsive therapy in patients with clozapine-resistant/intolerant schizophrenia: study protocol of multi-site parallel arm double-blind randomized sham-controlled study
Authors: Arumugham Shyam Sundar , Praharaj Samir K. , Shreekantiah Umesh , Sreeraj Vanteemar S. , Roy Chandramouli , Shenoy Sonia , Purohith Abhiram Narasimhan , Chithra Uppinkudru , Bagali Kiran Basawaraj , Venkataramaiah Sudhir , Nanjundaiah Gopala Krishna Kadarapura , Thennarasu Kandavel , Kumar Channaveerachari Naveen , Goyal Nishant , Das Basudeb , Mehta Urvakhsh Meherwan , Muralidharan Kesavan , Venkatasubramanian Ganesan , Sinha Preeti , Thirthalli Jagadisha
Published: August 2022

Background: A substantial proportion of patients with treatment resistant schizophrenia do not respond well or partially to clozapine, with a subset that does not tolerate an adequate trial of clozapine. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is regarded as one of the augmenting options, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence for this practice. This protocol describes a double-blind randomised sham-controlled modified-ECT trial to evaluate its efficacy in patients with clozapine resistant/intolerant schizophrenia. The study also involves multimodal investigations to identify the response predictors and the mechanistic basis of modified ECT in this population.

Methods: One hundred consenting schizophrenia patients with resistance/intolerance to clozapine referred by clinicians for ECT would be randomly assigned to receive true ECT or sham ECT at three study centers. Sham ECT would mimic all the procedures of modified ECT including anaesthesia and muscle relaxation, except the electrical stimulation. After a blinded course, non-responders to sham ECT would be offered open-label true ECT. Clinical assessments, neurocognitive assessments and multimodal investigations (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], electroencephalography, heart rate variability, investigative transcranial magnetic stimulation-transcranial direct current stimulation, gene polymorphism) would be conducted at baseline and repeated after the end of the trial, as well as open-label ECT course. The trial would evaluate the improvement in positive symptoms (scale for assessment of positive symptoms) of schizophrenia as the primary outcome measure with prediction of this change by resting-state functional-MRI based brain-connectivity as the second primary objective.

Registration: Clinical Trial Registry of India (Reg no: CTRI/2021/05/033775) on 24th May 2021.
Audit of Business: Overview of Current Standards in the Focus of ESG- Regulation
Authors: Bulyga R. , Safonova Irina
Published: August 2022

The article provides an overview using certain provisions of the current auditing standards and quality management system standards for the purposes of confirming sustainability reporting. A comparison of Russian practice in the field of regulation of assurance of public reports of companies and European regulations obliging auditors to confirm the reliability of non-financial statements with the possibility of expressing a reasonable degree of confidence is given. On the basis of the analysis carried out, directions for improving the regulatory regulation of the procedure for confirming the reliability of non-financial reporting are proposed: regulation of the process of interaction between the auditor and other verifiers of non-financial reporting; introduction of a requirement for the mandatory audit of non-financial (and all corporate) reporting, which actually means a transition from the audit of financial statements to the audit of business. An approach has been formulated to define the concept of "corporate reporting" as a new object of audit.
La aportación de ‘Patria’ a la “gran conversación” sobre el terrorismo de ETA
Authors: Abellán-García Barrio Álvaro
Published: August 2022

Apoyados en los trabajos de Mijaíl Bajtín abordamos el estudio de Patria (Fernando Aramburu, 2016) respetando su singularidad como obra literaria y, a un tiempo, atendiendo a su ineludible referencia a la historia del País Vasco. La hipótesis es que Patria aprovecha los recursos del género para constituirse como una gran novela dialógica, aportando un valioso enfoque a la “gran conversación” sobre el terrorismo de ETA. Para confirmar esta hipótesis, realizaremos un análisis de la macroestructura narrativa de la novela, así como de la polifonía y dialogía en sus diversas voces narrativas al nivel de la microestructura narrativa del relato. Estos análisis nos invitan a sugerir la noción de mímesis de vigencias sociales para dar cuenta del tipo de “realismo” que podemos encontrar en la novela.
Retórica noble, prácticas criminales. El código del conflicto vasco a partir del documental Pays Basque et liberté. Un long chemin vers la paix, de Thomas Lacoste
Authors: Alonso Zarza Martín , Merino Pacheco F. Javier
Published: August 2022

Este texto analiza las estrategias narrativas del nacionalismo vasco radical (NVR) a partir del documental de Thomas Lacoste, Pays Basque et liberté (2019). Se compone de cuatro partes. La primera, a modo de introducción, se centra en unas consideraciones generales sobre el lenguaje para enmarcar las prácticas narrativas del NVR. La segunda y tercera abordan los dos elementos centrales de la estrategia de comunicación aberzale: el uso de figuras internacionales como mecanismo de amplificación, por un lado, y la apropiación de un lenguaje noble que funciona como elemento legitimador y de prestigio (hoja de parra), mientras que incorpora elementos susceptibles de ser decodificados por los miembros del colectivo como parte de su interpretación canónica (silbidos de perro), por otro. En la cuarta se resumen los principales ejes argumentativos que vehiculan los participantes en el documental. Se cierra el texto con una breve conclusión. La herramienta metodológica principal es el análisis de contenido.
De la invisibilidad a la reparación: el largo camino de las mujeres víctimas del terrorismo y su construcción en el cine.
Authors: Martínez Álvarez Josefina
Published: August 2022

Desde 2001, los cineastas han reflejado en sus obras las consecuencias del terrorismo endógeno en las mujeres que, directa o indirectamente, han sido víctimas de la violencia política. En este artículo se analiza el tratamiento cinematográfico dado a estas víctimas en las películas de ficción producidas en cuatro países –Irlanda, Alemania, Italia y España– castigados con una mayor virulencia por la lucha armada una vez depuestas las armas. El objetivo de esta investigación es conocer las diferencias y similitudes de los estereotipos propuestos por el séptimo arte. Concretamente, aquellas mujeres que fueron silenciadas durante los años más duros de la lucha armada, ahora, serán definidas con unas características que sirven de modelo universal para comprender el papel de las mujeres en la sociedad después de los conflictos.
La banlieue y el proceso de radicalización colectiva en Francia: análisis de las películas La Haine y Les Misérables
Authors: Re Matteo , Georgeault Léna
Published: August 2022

En este artículo se analiza la banlieue como lugar en el cual se desarrollan dinámicas propias de poder y en el que se presentan fenómenos de radicalización violenta interpretados de diferente manera por parte de la historiografía y la sociología actuales. El hilo conductor de este estudio se centra en las películas francesas La Haine (1995) y Les Misérables (2019), éxitos de taquilla y valiosos ejemplos de cine de banlieue a distancia de más de veinte años la una de la otra.
Los escritores del boom y la acción terrorista internacional
Authors: Abdiu Majlinda
Published: August 2022

La Revolución cubana de 1959 instaló en la isla caribeña la ideología de extrema izquierda, el gobierno revolucionario, el tránsito del populismo al marxismo en amplios sectores de la juventud intelectual latinoamericana. Este contexto produjo la entrada en el escenario geopolítico y sociocultural de la época del boom como movimiento de emancipación liberal de América Latina y postuló a sus protagonistas como movilizadores e inspiradores del conflicto ideológico en el seno de la Guerra Fría.
MLN-Tupamaros: origen y evolución de la guerrilla urbana (1962-1973)
Authors: Ríos Sierra Jerónimo
Published: August 2022

Este trabajo explora el concepto de guerrilla urbana del cual fue impulsor e innovador el Movimiento de Liberación Nacional – Tupamaros (MLN-T), en Uruguay. Tras una prolija revisión del Archivo de Lucha Armada “David Cámpora” –ubicado en la Universidad de La República– y entrevistas en profundidad con destacados integrantes tupamaros, se analiza la evolución de este particular proyecto revolucionario. Se abordan cuestiones como los factores que influyeron en la adopción del planteamiento de la guerrilla urbana y las consecuencias y exigencias, internas y externas, de las que se acompañó. También se presentan las influencias, tensiones y contradicciones surgidas respecto al uso de la violencia, la disputa frente al Estado o la adaptación a unas circunstancias que cambiaron drásticamente en menos de una década – de una calidad de la democracia sin parangón en la región, a un régimen dictatorial de impronta militar. Todo lo anterior, sin perder de vista la dimensión geopolítica excepcional por la que transitó el continente latinoamericano, y en especial el Cono Sur, en los años 60 y 70 del pasado siglo XX.
Represión y tortura. Influencias de la CIA en los regímenes dictatoriales del Cono Sur
Authors: Madueño Álvarez Miguel , Azcona Pastor José Manuel
Published: August 2022

Partiendo del análisis de documentación primaria procedente de manuales de interrogatorios tanto de Estados Unidos como de los países del cono sur americano -Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay y Chile-, así como de comisiones de investigación emitidas por los distintos países, la intención del artículo es analizar las pautas comunes en el proceso de detención y tortura que sufrían los guerrilleros e insurgentes pertenecientes a organizaciones violentas. Así mismo, tratamos de poner de manifiesto la trascendencia del modelo inspirador estadounidense y las mutuas influencias entre las dictaduras que se desarrollaron en los citados países de América Latina en las décadas de 1960 y 1970 y trazar una línea comparativa en la metodología utilizada por las fuerzas policiales y militares.
Apuntes sobre las experiencias internacionalistas del Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) chileno en la Revolución Sandinista
Authors: Cortina Orero Eudald
Published: August 2022

La Revolución Sandinista atrajo la solidaridad de numerosos contingentes internacionalistas que, desde la etapa insurreccional y durante la reconstrucción de Nicaragua, se incorporaron al proceso revolucionario nicaragüense. En función de fuentes orales, profundizamos en las experiencias de colaboración e integración de militantes del Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) de Chile con el Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN). Con este objetivo, analizamos las redes que permitieron su vinculación al proceso sandinista, la inserción en los diversos periodos y ámbitos del proceso revolucionario, y las tensiones que estas experiencias generaron al interior del MIR, en el marco de su estrategia de movilización antidictatorial.
“Si Nicaragua venció, el Salvador vencerá y Guatemala seguirá”: relaciones entre el FSLN, el FMLN y la URNG en la década de los ochenta del siglo xx
Authors: Harto de Vera Fernando , Morales Gamboa Abelardo
Published: August 2022

El triunfo de la Revolución Sandinista el 19 de julio de 1979 marcó el comienzo de un periodo de intensificación de la lucha de los movimientos insurgentes en El Salvador y Guatemala. Animados por la victoria de sus camaradas sandinistas trataron de emular la derrota de la oligarquía en sus respectivos países. Nicaragua adquirió un papel relevante como hasta ese momento no había tenido en la región, transformándose en uno de los actores que marcaría el rumbo del istmo durante la década de los ochenta del siglo pasado. Uno de los efectos de este nuevo rol fue el estrechamiento de las relaciones entre el Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) y el gobierno de Nicaragua con las guerrillas del Frente Farabundo Martí de Liberación Nacional (FMLN) de El Salvador y la Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional de Guatemala (URNG). El clima de optimismo revolucionario que expresaba muy gráficamente esta visión centroamericana de la revolución se sintetizaba en el lema de la época: “Si Nicaragua venció, El Salvador vencerá y Guatemala seguirá”. El objetivo del presente artículo es describir y analizar las relaciones que se tejieron entre el FSLN, el FMLN y la URNG en la década de los ochenta del siglo XX.
Revolución y terrorismo en los 70s: ideología, utopía y consecuencias de una etapa liberticida
Authors: Crespo Alcázar Alfredo
Published: August 2022

A largo del siguiente análisis proponemos una reflexión sobre las razones y causas que motivaron la aparición y desarrollo del “terrorismo revolucionario” o de extrema izquierda en América Latina y Europa occidental. Repasamos el rol desempeñado por algunas de sus principales organizaciones de referencia (ideología, modus operandi…) y la respuesta ofrecida por los Estados en los que actuaron. Como ejes fundamentales, consideramos dos. Por un lado, el rol que jugó la violencia en estas organizaciones. Por otro lado, las causas que motivaron su derrota/desaparición.
To Batch or Not to Batch? Impact of Admission Batching on Emergency Department Boarding Time and Physician Productivity
Authors: Feizi Arshya , Carson Anita , Jaeker Jillian Berry , Baker William Evan
Published: August 2022

Trade-offs Caused by Batching Inpatient Admissions from Emergency Departments

In “To Batch or Not to Batch? Impact of Admission Batching on Emergency Department Boarding Time and Physician Productivity,” Feizi and coauthors tackle the important problem of identifying causes of emergency department (ED) boarding with the goal of identifying a managerial lever to reduce it. They investigate the impact of batching admissions of ED patients. The authors empirically show that batching occurs frequently at the end of shifts when physicians wrap up their tasks. Interestingly, Feizi et al. find a trade-off. Batching improves individual physician productivity, which explains its prevalence. However, it increases boarding times, an outcome that negatively impacts patients and the hospital. A counterfactual analysis comparing empirical results to theoretical queuing models finds that eliminating batching reduces boarding times by 15%. The paper highlights that boarding can be reduced by physicians completing admissions work as it occurs rather than delaying to the end of shift.
Ratios consultation and backdrop
Authors: Cowley Sue
Published: August 2022

On 4 July 2022, the Government published a consultation on regulatory changes to ratios for childcare in England, outlining its intention to increase the number of two-year-olds that practitioners can care for, and to make changes to supervision of children eating in early years settings. The consultation is open to all interested respondents and closes on 16 September 2022.
Femur Shaft Fracture in a Polio Patient
Authors: Wagh Aniket , Shetty Vivek , Wagh Yash , Shekhar Sajeev , Tandel Jignesh
Published: August 2022

Introduction:Although poliomyelitis is on the verge of eradication, the survivors of this disease are still living with its complications. Polio survivors with its musculoskeletal complications will continue to be a part of our population for many more decades’. Although poliomyelitis in itself is not common today, fractures in polio affected patients’ limbs are a common entity and are difficult to manage with common fracture management protocols. Case Presentation: This study presenting a case of 58-year-old male with alleged history of twisting of the right lower limb while walking. X-rays suggested fracture right shaft femur. Patient had a history of poliomyelitis with the right lower limb affection and had a fixed flexion deformity of 15 at the right knee joint. The patient had to undergo two surgeries. In the first procedure, distal femur plating was done through lateral approach. Due to radiological signs of non-union, in the next procedure, additional medial plate was added and bone grafting was done to ensure stable fixation and union. Conclusion: Treating a fracture in a polio affected limb is a challenging task taking into consideration the previous bony deformity as well as the myopathy. Knowledge of treating these fractures as well as pre-operative planning is important to a trauma surgeon as such scenarios are not very rare.
Non-surgical Management of an Acute Isolated Volar Dislocation of the Distal Radioulnar Joint
Authors: Sreenivasan Sachith , Nair Rajiv R , Das Debashis , Talawadekar Gautam
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Isolated distal radioulnar joint dislocations are rare and commonly missed on radiographs. Knowledge of the management of these injuries, therefore, has room for improvement. We present a case with an alternative method of closed reduction. Case Presentation:A young Caucasian male presented with severe pain and deformity of the left wrist, following a collision while playing rugby. This was easily diagnosed using plain radiographs and the initial attempted reduction methods in the Emergency Department failed. The patient was subsequently anesthetized in theatre, yet reduction by an accepted method of palmar to dorsal pressure over the interosseous membrane with simultaneous distraction of the wrist failed. A further attempt to manipulate the dislocated ulnar head was successful, with the same force applied, while the wrist was maximally flexed and pronated – thereby avoiding an open reduction. Conclusion: This technique has not previously been described in the literature and may be used in similar injuries in the future.
An Uncommon Finding of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Intrasubstance Cyst: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Boushnak Mohammad O , Moussa Mohamad K , Abed Ali Ahmad , Alayane Ali , Bayoud Wael
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Ganglion cyst of the cruciate ligaments is a rare entity. These cysts are usually found as incidental finding during knee arthroscopy, even though they can be the cause of knee discomfort or dull pain without a clear etiology. Case Presentation: We present herein a case of 35-year-old male who presented with unexplained dull knee pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed and it showed a cystic-like lesion measuring 14 mm localized within the fibers of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) with no other significant pathology identified. A diagnosis of symptomatic PCL intrasubstance cyst was made. Patients were treated by arthroscopic debridement with good long-term outcomes. Conclusion: Ganglion cysts of the PCL are uncommon and especially if they were localized within the PCL fibers. MRI studies are inevitable to make the diagnosis, and arthroscopic debridement remains a reasonable surgical option with low recurrence rate.
Rare Case of Gaucher’s Disease Presenting as a Solitary Swelling of the Proximal Tibia Mimicking a Musculoskeletal Tumor in an Adult: A Case Report
Authors: Rahman Syed Hifzur , Srinivasan Smruti , Rai Abhishek Kumar , Kumar K G Geekesh , Sadar Amey Santosh , Srivastava Sushant Sudhir
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Gaucher’s disease is a congenital lysosomal storage disorder caused by an autosomal recessive mutation in B-glucocerebrosidase. It is a multi-system disease, wherein patients present with hematological abnormalities, joint pain, osteonecrosis, and developmental delay. We present a case of 38-year-old male with a painless solitary soft-tissue swelling over the left proximal tibia, eventually diagnosed it to be a case of Gaucher’s disease. This case is unique in the literature, because this subcutaneous Gaucher mass was not associated with a significant past history and was being evaluated as a standard approach to a bone tumor. Case Presentation: A 38-year-old man presented to our outpatient department with a solitary, painless soft-tissue swelling of the left proximal tibia noticed 6 months back, which has gradually progressed to a present size of 9x5 cm over a period of 6 months. General physical examination revealed moderate splenomegaly. Radiographs showed an osteolytic lesion in the left proximal tibia without cortical erosion. Radiographs for skeletal survey revealed similar osteolytic lesions elsewhere. Hematological investigations revealed thrombocytopenia. A serum protein electrophoresis was found to be normal and the urine was negative for myeloma proteins. Blood workup for endocrine abnormalities was within normal limits. MRI of the lesion suggests bone infarct. Biopsy from the lesion showed a giant binucleate storage cell filled with glucocerebrosides suggestive of Gaucher’s disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by elevated plasma levels of glucocerebrosidases. Conclusion: Gaucher’s disease is a rare metabolic disease of the bone which may mimic a primary bone tumor or metastasis. A step-wise meticulous approach with biopsy and elevated plasma levels of glucocerebrosidase helps establish the diagnosis. Once must have a high index of suspicion for Gaucher’s disease in an adult with multiple osteolytic lesions without any significant past medical and surgical history.
355-nm direct-detection Doppler wind lidar for vertical atmospheric motion measurement
Authors: Ishii Shoken , Kishibuchi Kodai , Takenaka Hideki , Jin Yoshitaka , Nishizawa Tomoaki , Sugimoto Nobuo , Iwai Hironari , Aoki Makoto , Kawamura Seiji , Okamoto Hajime
Published: August 2022

A compact and simple 355-nm direct-detection Doppler wind lidar (DDDWL) was developed to measure the line-of-sight (LOS) wind speed of the background atmosphere from atmospheric molecule return signals with and without aerosols and clouds. A receiver design with a Fabry–Perot etalon interferometer (FPEI) without an inside deposited step coating or fiber coupling is considered for the DDDWL using the double-edge technique. The receiver with the double-edge technique uses a FPEI and wedge prism to form a double-edge filter. The development of the double-edge filter in this combination is, to the best of our knowledge, an improvement at 355-nm wavelength. Considerations for the DDDWL receiver with a FPEI revealed that a full-angle light beam divergence into the FPEI and a working FPEI aperture are significant factors for the receiver design. Preliminary experimental evaluation demonstrated that the DDDWL had the potential of LOS wind speed measurements with a random error of less than 1 m/s when the signal-to-noise ratio was approximately 300. The DDDWL-measured vertical LOS wind speed profile was consistent with that of a 2-µm coherent Doppler wind lidar within the measurement error range. The preliminary experimental LOS wind measurement results demonstrated the capability of the DDDWL to measure low LOS wind speeds.