bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of acute kidney injury in dengue patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Awad Abdelaziz A. , Khatib Mahalaqua Nazli , Gaidhane Abhay M , Ballal Suhas , Bansal Pooja , Srivastava Manish , Arora Isha , Kumar M Ravi , Sinha Aashna , Rawat Pramod , Sah Sanjit , Bushi Ganesh , Lakhanpal Sorabh , Shabil Muhammed
Published: September 2024

Background

Dengue infection poses a significant global health challenge, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Among its severe complications, Acute kidney injury (AKI) stands out due to its association with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare burdens. This Meta-analysis aim to identify and evaluate the predictors of AKI among dengue patients, facilitating early detection and management strategies to mitigate AKI’s impact.

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases, covering literature up to February 2024. We included human observational studies reporting on AKI predictors in confirmed dengue cases. Nested-Knowledge software was used for screening and data extraction. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. R software (V 4.3) was utilized to compute pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each predictor.

Results

Our search yielded nine studies involving diverse geographic locations and patient demographics. A total of 9,198 patients were included in the studies, with 542 diagnosed with AKI. in which key predictors of AKI identified include severe forms of dengue (OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.02–3.42), male gender (OR: 3.13, 95% CI: 1.82–4.44), comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.298, 95% CI: 0.274–6.322), and chronic kidney disease (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 0.42–11.24), as well as co-infections and clinical manifestations like rhabdomyolysis and major bleeding.

Conclusion

Our study identifies several predictors of AKI in dengue patients. These findings indicate the importance of early identification and intervention for high-risk individuals. Future research should focus on standardizing AKI diagnostic criteria within the dengue context and exploring the mechanisms underlying these associations to improve patient care and outcomes.
Blood molybdenum level as a marker of cancer risk on BRCA1 carriers
Authors: Matuszczak Milena , Kiljańczyk Adam , Marciniak Wojciech , Derkacz Róża , Stempa Klaudia , Baszuk Piotr , Bryśkiewicz Marta , Cybulski Cezary , Dębniak Tadeusz , Jacek Gronwald , Huzarski Tomasz , Lener Marcin , Jakubowska Anna , Pietrzak Sandra , Szwiec Marek , Stawicka-Niełacna Małgorzata , Godlewski Dariusz , Prusaczyk Artur , Jasiewicz Andrzej , Kluz Tomasz , Tomiczek-Szwiec Joanna , Kilar-Kobierzycka Ewa , Siołek Monika , Posmyk Renata , Jarkiewicz-Tretyn Joanna , Scott Rodney , Narod Steven , Lubiński Jan
Published: September 2024

Objective

To investigate whether Molybdenum blood level is a marker of cancer risk on BRCA1 carriers.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted among 989 initially unaffected women with a BRCA1 mutation. Blood samples were collected to measure molybdenum levels, and participants were followed for an average of 7.5 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between blood molybdenum levels and cancer incidence, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

High blood molybdenum levels (> 0.70 µg/L) were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer (HR = 5.55; 95%CI: 1.59–19.4; p = 0.007) and any cancer (HR = 1.74; 95%CI: 1.17–2.61; p = 0.007) but not breast cancer (HR = 1.46, CI = 0.91–2.33; p = 0.12). The cumulative incidence of ovarian cancer at ten years was 1.2% for the lowest molybdenum tertile, 4.2% for the middle tertile, and 8.7% for the highest tertile.

Conclusion

Elevated blood molybdenum levels are associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer on BRCA1 mutation carriers. Lowering molybdenum levels may potentially reduce cancer risk in this population, and high molybdenum levels could serve as a marker for considering preventive oophorectomy in BRCA1 carriers. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore interventions targeting molybdenum levels as a preventive measure for ovarian cancer in BRCA1 mutation carriers.
Technical and biological sources of unreliability of Infinium probes on Illumina methylation microarrays
Authors: Nazarenko Tatiana , Vavourakis Charlotte Dafni , Jones Allison , Evans Iona , Schreiberhuber Lena , Kastner Christine , Ishaq-Parveen Isma , Redl Elisa , Watson Anthony W. , Brandt Kirsten , Carter Clive , Zaikin Alexey , Herzog Chiara Maria Stella , Widschwendter Martin
Published: September 2024

The Illumina Methylation array platform has facilitated countless epigenetic studies on DNA methylation (DNAme) in health and disease, yet relatively few studies have so studied its reliability, i.e., the consistency of repeated measures. Here we investigate the reliability of both type I and type II Infinium probes. We propose a method for excluding unreliable probes based on dynamic thresholds for mean intensity (MI) and ‘unreliability’, estimated by probe-level simulation of the influence of technical noise on methylation β values using the background intensities of negative control probes. We validate our method in several datasets, including newly generated Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip v1.0 data from paired whole blood samples taken six weeks apart and technical replicates spanning multiple sample types. Our analysis revealed that specifically probes with low MI exhibit higher β value variability between repeated samples. MI was associated with the number of C-bases in the respective probe sequence and correlated negatively with unreliability scores. The unreliability scores were substantiated through validation in a new EPIC v1.0 (blood and cervix) and a publicly available 450k (blood) dataset, as they effectively captured the variability observed in β values between technical replicates. Finally, despite promising higher robustness, the newer version v2.0 of the MethylationEPIC BeadChip retained a substantial number of probes with poor unreliability scores. To enhance current pre-processing pipelines, we developed an R package to calculate MI and unreliability scores and provide guidance on establishing optimal dynamic score thresholds for a given dataset.
Accelerated 3D whole-heart non-contrast-enhanced mDIXON coronary MR angiography using deep learning-constrained compressed sensing reconstruction
Authors: Wu Xi , Yue Xun , Peng Pengfei , Tan Xianzheng , Huang Feng , Cai Lei , Li Lei , He Shuai , Zhang Xiaoyong , Liu Peng , Sun Jiayu
Published: September 2024

Objectives

To investigate the feasibility of a deep learning-constrained compressed sensing (DL-CS) method in non-contrast-enhanced modified DIXON (mDIXON) coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and compare its diagnostic accuracy using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) as a reference standard.

Methods

Ninety-nine participants were prospectively recruited for this study. Thirty healthy subjects (age range: 20–65 years; 50% female) underwent three non-contrast mDIXON-based coronary MRA sequences including DL-CS, CS, and conventional sequences. The three groups were compared based on the scan time, subjective image quality score, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The remaining 69 patients suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD) (age range: 39–83 years; 51% female) underwent the DL-CS coronary MRA and its diagnostic performance was compared with that of CCTA.

Results

The scan time for the DL-CS and CS sequences was notably shorter than that of the conventional sequence (9.6 ± 3.1 min vs 10.0 ± 3.4 min vs 13.0 ± 4.9 min; p < 0.001). The DL-CS sequence obtained the highest image quality score, mean SNR, and CNR compared to CS and conventional methods (all p < 0.001). Compared to CCTA, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of DL-CS mDIXON coronary MRA per patient were 84.1%, 92.0%, and 79.5%; those per vessel were 90.3%, 82.6%, and 92.5%; and those per segment were 98.0%, 85.1%, and 98.0%, respectively.

Conclusion

The DL-CS mDIXON coronary MRA provided superior image quality and short scan time for visualizing coronary arteries in healthy individuals and demonstrated high diagnostic value compared to CCTA in CAD patients.

Critical relevance statement

DL-CS resulted in improved image quality with an acceptable scan time, and demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance compared to CCTA, which could be an alternative to enhance the workflow of coronary MRA.

Key Points

Current coronary MRA techniques are limited by scan time and the need for noise reduction.

DL-CS reduced the scan time in coronary MR angiography.

Deep learning achieved the highest image quality among the three methods.

Deep learning-based coronary MR angiography demonstrated high performance compared to CT angiography.

Graphical Abstract
Vector competence of Culex quinquefasciatus for Tembusu virus and viral factors for virus transmission by mosquitoes
Authors: Tang Yibin , He Yu , Wang Xiaoli , Wu Zhen , Du Senyan , Wang Mingshu , Jia Renyong , Zhu Dekang , Liu Mafeng , Zhao Xinxin , Yang Qiao , Wu Ying , Zhang Shaqiu , Huang Juan , Ou Xumin , Sun Di , Cheng Anchun , Chen Shun
Published: September 2024

The ongoing epidemic of flaviviruses worldwide has underscored the importance of studying flavivirus vector competence, considering their close association with mosquito vectors. Tembusu virus is an avian-related mosquito-borne flavivirus that has been an epidemic in China and Southeast Asia since 2010. However, the reason for the outbreak of Tembusu virus in 2010 remains unclear, and it is unknown whether changes in vector transmission played an essential role in this process. To address these questions, we conducted a study using Culex quinquefasciatus as a model for Tembusu virus infection, employing both oral infection and microinjection methods. Our findings confirmed that both vertical and venereal transmission collectively contribute to the cycle of Tembusu virus within the mosquito population, with persistent infections observed. Importantly, our data revealed that the prototypical Tembusu virus MM_1775 strain exhibited significantly greater infectivity and transmission rates in mosquitoes than did the duck Tembusu virus (CQW1 strain). Furthermore, we revealed that the viral E protein and 3′ untranslated region are key elements responsible for these differences. In conclusion, our study sheds light on mosquito transmission of Tembusu virus and provides valuable insights into the factors influencing its infectivity and transmission rates. These findings contribute to a better understanding of Tembusu virus epidemiology and can potentially aid in the development of strategies to control its spread.
Organ crosstalk and dysfunction in sepsis
Authors: Borges André , Bento Luís
Published: September 2024

Sepsis is a dysregulated immune response to an infection that leads to organ dysfunction. Sepsis-associated organ dysfunction involves multiple inflammatory mechanisms and complex metabolic reprogramming of cellular function. These mechanisms cooperate through multiple organs and systems according to a complex set of long-distance communications mediated by cellular pathways, solutes, and neurohormonal actions. In sepsis, the concept of organ crosstalk involves the dysregulation of one system, which triggers compensatory mechanisms in other systems that can induce further damage. Despite the abundance of studies published on ​​organ crosstalk in the last decade, there is a need to formulate a more comprehensive framework involving all organs to create a more detailed picture of sepsis. In this paper, we review the literature published on organ crosstalk in the last 10 years and explore how these relationships affect the progression of organ failure in patients with septic shock. We explored these relationships in terms of the heart–kidney–lung, gut-microbiome–liver–brain, and adipose tissue–muscle–bone crosstalk in sepsis patients. A deep connection exists among these organs based on crosstalk. We also review how multiple therapeutic interventions administered in intensive care units, such as mechanical ventilation, antibiotics, anesthesia, nutrition, and proton pump inhibitors, affect these systems and must be carefully considered when managing septic patients. The progression to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in sepsis patients is still one of the most frequent causes of death in critically ill patients. A better understanding and monitoring of the mechanics of organ crosstalk will enable the anticipation of organ damage and the development of individualized therapeutic strategies.
The Behavior of Post-installed Rebar Connectors in Steel Frame Retrofitted Concrete Structures Under Combined Shear and Tension
Authors: Zeng Rong , Bao En-He , Yin Xia , Fu Feng
Published: September 2024

To investigate the response of post-installed rebar connectors in steel frame retrofitted concrete structures under combined shear and tension, seven shear-and-tensile tests were conducted. The bearing capacity, stiffness, and hysteresis behavior of the connectors were investigated during the tests. Both Monotonic and cyclic load regimes were applied in the loading process. The results show that with the increase of the loading angle, the deformation capacity, the yield force, ultimate tensile force, and tensile stiffness of the specimen decrease, while the maximum shear force and shear stiffness of the specimen increase. The bearing capacity, stiffness, and energy dissipation performance of the specimen under a monotonic load is greater than that under the coupled shear-and-pull load. The bearing capacity, stiffness, hysteresis curve, and failure status of the specimens are not affected by different loading regimes. At the end, the design formula of anchor bolt for this type of connectors from the design code of China, United States, and Japan were compared. Formulas to calculate the shear strength under combined shear and tension is developed.
Study on the restoration of glass slides dating back to the 1940s
Authors: Ruan Yuyao , Li Yanli , Yang Fei , Chen Yanru , Liu Panpan , Ge Mantang , Han Kezhu , Li Yuhu
Published: September 2024

The Museum of Sun Yat-sen University houses a collection of antique glass slides dating back to the 1940s. These historical artifacts not only serve as a record of the past but also bring history to life. During extended storage, the emulsion layer on glass slides may harden and become brittle, leading to cracking and buckling. This study suggests a method to enhance the physical property of the emulsion layer by using a combination of nonionic surfactant isomeric alcohol ethoxylates eight (TO-8) and waterborne epoxy resin (WER). We investigated the microscopic action mechanism of the two on the emulsion layer of glass slides using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), water contact angles, and other techniques. Our study revealed that TO-8 can significantly eliminate the spherulitic crystal structure of the emulsion layer, as well as improve its softness and hydrophilicity. The addition of the WER ensures that the cracking and warping of the emulsion layer film is fully corrected, resulting in a flat surface. Additionally, the size of the emulsion layer film remains stable even after wetting. The WER has minimal impact on the image information of glass slides. The emulsion layer of the glass slides, restored using the softening protection solutions developed in this study, showed almost full recovery of image information. This research holds significant theoretical and practical value for repairing cracked and warped emulsion layers on glass slides.
Performance analysis of indicators in teaching hospitals after the Health Transformation Plan: a Case Study in Iran
Authors: Ghasemzadeh Bahman , Amerzadeh Mohammad , Shahsavari Saeed , Moosavi Saeideh , Keshavarz Abdollah , Maleki Aisa , Kalhor Rohollah
Published: September 2024

Background

This study aimed to examine the status of performance indicators in hospitals affiliated with Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (QUMS) before and after the implementation of the Health Transformation Plan (HTP).

Methods

This longitudinal descriptive-analytical study was conducted utilizing hospital data. The study collected data using a checklist that included both general characteristics of the participating hospitals and performance indicators such as “the number of outpatient visits,” “the number of paraclinical patients,” “the number of surgeries,” and “the number of inpatients” on a monthly basis for 2012–2019. The intervention examined in this study was the implementation of the HTP in May 2014. The data collected was analyzed using interrupted time series and STATA statistical software version 15.

Results

The study examined seven hospitals affiliated with QUMS, including general, trauma, pediatric, gynecology, and psychiatry hospitals. The findings indicated a significant increase in outpatient visits, paraclinical patients, and inpatients in the first month after the intervention. Specifically, there was an increase of 1739 in the number of outpatient visits, an increase of 513 in the number of paraclinical patients, and an increase of 135 in the number of inpatients (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The HTP has improved patients’ access to medical services. It achieved this by reducing out-of-pocket payments for healthcare services and implementing programs such as developing clinics, improving the quality of visits, and retaining doctors in deprived areas. The reduction in out-of-pocket payments has been particularly beneficial for individuals who lack financial resources and previously faced barriers to accessing healthcare services.
The impact of sense of loneliness on geriatric depression: the mediating role of sense of mattering and psychological adjustment
Authors: Aman Haya Khaled
Published: September 2024

Background

Depression is a highly prevalent mental disorder in older adults, and among its highest risk factors is loneliness. Although this relationship is commonly evident, the mechanisms underlying it, such as sense of mattering and psychological adjustment, lack exploration. The current research aims to examine the relationship between loneliness and geriatric depression and explore the mediating roles of sense of mattering and psychological adjustment.

Methods

A sample of 200 older adults (63.5% females; mean age = 75.6; SD = 8.806) were recruited from 24 geriatric homes in Cairo, Egypt. Participants responded to the Arabic versions of the Mini-Mental State Examination for excluding the severely demented, Geriatric Depression Scale-15, University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale-version 3, General Mattering Scale, and Brief Adjustment Scale-6. The mediation analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression with Hayes’ process macro on SPSS26 and structural equation modeling on JASP0.18.1.0.

Results

Sense of mattering and psychological adjustment showed a significant total effect (β = .051, 95%CI [.045, .056], z = 18.436, p < .001) separated into a significant direct effect (β = .019, 95%CI [.009, .029], z = 3.784, p < .001) and a significant indirect effect (β = .031, 95%CI [.022, .041], z = 6.478, p < .001), indicating simultaneous partial mediation by the two variables. Additionally, sense of mattering accounts for 76% of the impact of loneliness on geriatric depression, and psychological adjustment accounts for 60.1%.

Conclusion

Loneliness significantly impacts geriatric depression through a sense of mattering and psychological adjustment. These findings implicate substantial insight for interventions that can be targeted at the reduction of geriatric depression through reducing loneliness feelings and enhancing sense of mattering and adjustment.
27-Hydroxycholesterol Enhances Secretion of Extracellular Vesicles by ROS-Induced Dysregulation of Lysosomes
Authors: Das Gupta Anasuya , Park Jaena , Sorrells Janet E , Kim Hannah , Krawczynska Natalia , Pradeep Dhanya , Wang Yu , Vidana Gamage Hashni Epa , Nelczyk Adam T , Boppart Stephen A , Boppart Marni D , Nelson Erik R
Published: September 2024

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as crucial mediators of cell-to-cell communication in normal physiology as well as in diseased states; they have been largely studied in regard to their role in cancer progression. However, the mechanisms by which their biogenesis and secretion are regulated by metabolic or endocrine factors remain unknown. Here, we delineate a mechanism by which EV secretion is regulated by a cholesterol metabolite, 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC), where treatment of myeloid immune cells (RAW 264.7 and J774A.1) with 27HC impairs lysosomal homeostasis, leading to shunting of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) away from lysosomal degradation, toward secretion as EVs. This altered lysosomal function is likely caused by mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, cotreatment with a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant rescued the lysosomal impairment and attenuated the 27HC-mediated increase in EV secretion. Overall, our findings establish how a cholesterol metabolite regulates EV secretion and paves the way for the development of strategies to regulate cancer progression by controlling EV secretion.
Principles and regulation of mechanosensing
Authors: Sala Stefano , Caillier Alexia , Oakes Patrick W.
Published: September 2024

Research over the past two decades has highlighted that mechanical signaling is a crucial component in regulating biological processes. Although many processes and proteins are termed ‘mechanosensitive’, the underlying mechanisms involved in mechanosensing can vary greatly. Recent studies have also identified mechanosensing behaviors that can be regulated independently of applied force. This important finding has major implications for our understanding of downstream mechanotransduction, the process by which mechanical signals are converted into biochemical signals, as it offers another layer of biochemical regulatory control for these crucial signaling pathways. In this Review, we discuss the different molecular and cellular mechanisms of mechanosensing, how these processes are regulated and their effects on downstream mechanotransduction. Together, these discussions provide an important perspective on how cells and tissues control the ways in which they sense and interpret mechanical signals.
The functional role of the rabbit digastric muscle during mastication
Authors: Kissane Roger W. P. , Bates Karl T. , Fagan Michael J. , Wang Linjie , Watson Peter J. , Askew Graham N.
Published: September 2024

Muscle spindle abundance is highly variable in vertebrates, but the functional determinants of this variation are unclear. Recent work has shown that human leg muscles with the lowest abundance of muscle spindles primarily function to lengthen and absorb energy, while muscles with a greater spindle abundance perform active-stretch–shorten cycles with no net work, suggesting that muscle spindle abundance may be underpinned by muscle function. Compared with other mammalian muscles, the digastric muscle contains the lowest abundance of muscle spindles and, therefore, might be expected to generate substantial negative work. However, it is widely hypothesised that as a jaw-opener (anatomically) the digastric muscle would primarily function to depress the jaw, and consequently do positive work. Through a combination of X-ray reconstruction of moving morphology (XROMM), electromyography and fluoromicrometry, we characterised the 3D kinematics of the jaw and digastric muscle during feeding in rabbits. Subsequently, the work loop technique was used to simulate in vivo muscle behaviour in situ, enabling muscle force to be quantified in relation to muscle strain and hence determine the muscle's function during mastication. When functioning on either the working or balancing side, the digastric muscle generates a large amount of positive work during jaw opening, and a large amount of negative work during jaw closing, on average producing a relatively small amount of net negative work. Our data therefore further support the hypothesis that muscle spindle abundance is linked to muscle function; specifically, muscles that absorb a relatively large amount of negative work have a low spindle abundance.
Validity of Wrist-Worn Activity Tracker Heart Rate Detection in Fontan Patients during Exercise
Authors: PIERICK ALYSON R. , BURKE KELLY J. , PRUSI MEGAN , LARGENT BETHANY , YU SUNKYUNG , LOWERY RAY E. , DUIMSTRA ASHLEY , HANSEN JESSE E.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Physical activity and a healthy lifestyle play an essential role in optimizing long-term health in patients with Fontan physiology. Wrist-worn activity trackers may be useful in medically directed exercise programs for patients with Fontan physiology. The objective of this study was to measure the validity of Garmin and Fitbit activity tracker heart rate detection in patients with Fontan circulation when compared with electrocardiogram during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Methods

Forty-seven Fontan patients undergoing CPET for clinical indications were included and wore activity trackers during CPET. Heart rate via the activity tracker was collected at baseline, maximal exercise, and recovery. Patient heart rates, peak V̇O2, and peak respiratory exchange ratio were collected using standard CPET protocols and equipment. Heart rate at each time point was compared between the activity trackers and CPET electrocardiogram.

Results

Median age of participants was 17.1 yr, 15.1 yr since Fontan completion. Mean percentage of predicted peak V̇O2 was 56.8%, with a z-score of −3.2, and 61.7% of participants completing a maximal CPET. Baseline mean oxygen saturation was 92.9% and 90.0% at maximal exercise. Activity trackers demonstrated mean absolute percentage error <10% at most time points, comparable with other studies. Demographics, Fontan-associated comorbidities, and echocardiogram findings did not impact the accuracy.

Conclusions

Consumer-oriented wrist-worn activity trackers show promising accuracy for heart rate monitoring in medically directed exercise programs for adolescents and young adults with Fontan physiology. Further validation across different exercise modalities is needed.
Η αφανής κρίση και η διαχείριση της νέας εποχής
Authors: Ζούνης Δημήτριος
Published: September 2024

Η διατριβή έχει σκοπό την ανάλυση της σχέσεως μεταξύ της ηγεσίας και της γραφειοκρατίας την περίοδο 1985-1995 στη Γαλλία και τις ΗΠΑ και τον βαθμό που αυτή επηρεάζει την λήψη της απόφασης σε αμφότερα τα δύο κράτη. Η έρευνα συσχετίζεται επίσης με την συστημική αλλαγή που συμβαίνει την περίοδο προς εξέταση. Συνεπώς σκοπεύει να απαντήσει στο παραπάνω υπόδειγμα ανάλυσης μέσα από μία πολυδιάστατη ανάπτυξη τόσο των εσωτερικών μεταβλητών που λαμβάνονται υπόψιν ως ανεξάρτητες στο εσωτερικό των δύο κρατών, όσο και τις συστημικές ανεξάρτητες μεταβλητές που χαρακτηρίζουν το διεθνές σύστημα, δηλαδή την δομή και τον καταμερισμό ισχύος μεταξύ των δρώντων. Ο λόγος που επιλέξαμε τις δύο συγκεκριμένες περιπτώσεις μελέτης, τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες Αμερικής και την Γαλλία είναι για να συγκρίνουμε δύο διαφορετικές διαδικασίες λήψης απόφασης μεταξύ της γραφειοκρατίας και της ηγεσίας, γνωρίζοντας ότι στο εσωτερικό επίπεδο οι δύο αυτές περιπτώσεις έχουν συγκεκριμένα κοινά σημαντικά στοιχεία. Το πρώτο στοιχείο είναι η Προεδρική ισχύς, όπου σε αμφότερες τις χώρες το θεσμικό τους οικοδόμημα παρέχει συγκεκριμένες εξουσίες στο πρόσωπο που κατέχει το ανώτατο αξίωμα, έχοντας ρητώς ή αρρήτως κάποιους ελέγχους και περιορισμούς. Οι τελευταίοι βασίζονται κυρίως στο Σύνταγμα αλλά και στο πολιτικό – κομματικό παίγνιο εξουσίας. Επειδή η διαλεκτική μεταξύ ιδιοσυγκρασιακών στοιχείων και ορθολογισμού είναι ουσιώδης, η σύγκριση μεταξύ των προσώπων σε αμφότερες τις χώρες είναι ένα δυναμικό στοιχείο που επηρεάζει σαφώς τα ευρήματα της διατριβής. Ένα δεύτερο στοιχείο είναι η βαθιά και κυρίως η ουσιαστική και πολιτικώς - οντολογικώς νοούμενη οργάνωση των κυριότερων γραφειοκρατιών στην λήψη της απόφασης. Και στα δύο κράτη οι κεντρικές γραφειοκρατίες που εμπλέκονται στην εξωτερική πολιτικής της χώρας τους είναι πολύ κρίσιμη, όμως η φιλοσοφία πίσω από την αντίληψη που υπάρχει εντός αυτών είναι διαφορετική. Τρίτο στοιχείο είναι η αντίληψη για το κράτος και την πολιτική εντός των εθνών που ενυπάρχει στα ιδεολογικά θεμέλια των δύο κρατών. Ενίοτε είναι όμοια, όπως η έννοια της εξαιρετικότητας, ενίοτε όχι, όπως η έννοια της Raison d’État, που αποτελεί εξαίρεση στην εξωτερική πολιτική των ΗΠΑ αλλά θεμέλιο σε εκείνη της Γαλλίας. Τέλος, η επιλογή των δύο αυτών χωρών, δεδομένων των σημαντικών διαφορών στους συντελεστές ισχύος και της θέσης τους στον τότε διεθνή καταμερισμό ισχύος, έγινε για να αναδειχθεί η σχέση γραφειοκρατίας – ηγεσίας κατά την διάρκεια μίας περιόδου αφανώς ασταθούς και να αναδείξει όλα τα προβλήματα που υπάρχουν εντός δύο δρώντων με φανερό στίγμα αποδεδειγμένο ιστορικώς και παραστάσεις ισχύος.
Why political goals are difficult to achieve in a multi-level governance system?
Authors: Παναγιωτάτου Δήμητρα
Published: September 2024

Ενώ η διαδικασία της ευρωπαϊκής ολοκλήρωσης παρουσιάζεται κυρίως με όρους οικονομικής λογικής, το ευρωπαϊκό σχέδιο είχε πάντα μια υποκείμενη πολιτική διάσταση. Οι πρόσφατες εξελίξεις στην Ευρώπη, ιδίως η οικονομική και η μεταναστευτική κρίση και οι επακόλουθες επιπτώσεις στις οικονομίες, τις κοινωνικές δομές και τις εσωτερικές πολιτικές των κρατών μελών έχουν, ωστόσο, αμφισβητήσει την έννοια της «Ευρώπης» στο σύνολό της. Η παρούσα διατριβή διερευνά γιατί οι πολιτικοί στόχοι, οι οποίοι ορίζονται ως περιλαμβάνοντες τη διάχυση των ευρωπαϊκών αξιών και ιδανικών και αποσκοπούν τελικά στην οικοδόμηση της ευρωπαϊκής ταυτότητας, είναι δύσκολο να επιτευχθούν μέσω των δημόσιων πολιτικών σε ένα σύστημα πολυεπίπεδης διακυβέρνησης. Ο στόχος αυτός επιδιώκεται μέσα από το πρίσμα ενός κονστρουκτιβιστικού αναλυτικού πλαισίου, το οποίο φέρνει στο προσκήνιο την κοινωνικοποίηση, τη μάθηση και το διάλογο ως διαδικασίες που είναι πιθανό να εξηγήσουν τον τρόπο με τον οποίο το μοντέλο πολυεπίπεδης διακυβέρνησης που διέπει τη διαμόρφωση και την εφαρμογή πολιτικών επηρεάζει την επίτευξη των πολιτικών στόχων. Συγκεκριμένες προτάσεις εργασίας σχετικά με τις προαναφερθείσες διαδικασίες διερευνώνται μέσω έρευνας μελέτης περίπτωσης σχετικά με τη διαμόρφωση, την εφαρμογή και την επικοινωνία της πολιτικής συνοχής της ΕΕ σε επιλεγμένες ευρωπαϊκές περιφέρειες, και συγκεκριμένα στην Ουαλία στο Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου, στην Κρήτη στην Ελλάδα και στη Σιλεσία στην Πολωνία. Η κριτική επισκόπηση της βιβλιογραφίας και η ανάλυση πηγών γκρίζας βιβλιογραφίας και ημιδομημένων συνεντεύξεων με ελίτ δείχνουν ότι, παρά τις βασικές διαφορές στις τρεις περιπτώσεις (νέα έναντι παλαιών κρατών μελών, δωρητές έναντι αποδεκτών στον/από τον προϋπολογισμό της ΕΕ και μοντέλο εδαφικής οργάνωσης), σε καμία από τις τρεις περιπτώσεις οι εγχώριες - εθνικές και υποεθνικές - πολιτικές ελίτ δεν έχουν κοινωνικοποιηθεί στους κανόνες της ΕΕ και στους πολιτικούς στόχους της πολιτικής συνοχής της. Αυτό οφείλεται στο γεγονός ότι η μάθηση που παράγεται κατά τη διάρκεια της πολιτικής διαδικασίας και ο συντονιστικός διάλογος μεταξύ των φορέων της πολιτικής στην κάθετη διάσταση του μοντέλου πολυεπίπεδης διακυβέρνησης περιορίστηκε σε όλες τις περιπτώσεις στις πρακτικές πτυχές της χάραξης πολιτικής και στις ιδέες που διέπουν τους οικονομικούς της στόχους αντίστοιχα. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας δείχνουν επίσης ότι η πολιτική συνοχής δεν συνέβαλε σημαντικά στην οικοδόμηση ευρωπαϊκής ταυτότητας ως αποτέλεσμα της πολιτικής κουλτούρας και των αντιλήψεων για τον σκοπό και τους περιορισμούς της συμμετοχής στην ΕΕ, που χαρακτηρίζουν την κάθε χώρα ή/και περιφέρεια. Ωστόσο, η πολιτική συνοχής και η περιφερειακή χρηματοδότηση της ΕΕ φαίνεται να έχουν ενισχύσει την περιφερειακή ταυτότητα και στις τρεις μελέτες περίπτωσης.
The Impact of the Opportunity Zone Program on Residential Real Estate
Authors: Bekkerman Ron , Cohen Maxime C. , Liu Xiaoyan , Maiden John , Mitrofanov Dmitry
Published: September 2024

Problem definition: Opportunity zones (OZs) are designated census tracts in which real estate investments can gain tax benefits. Introduced by the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the goal of the OZ program is to foster economic development in distressed neighborhoods. In this paper, we investigate and optimize the OZ selection process and examine the impact of OZs by exploiting two data sets: a proprietary real estate data set that includes 36.1 million residential transactions spanning all 50 U.S. states and census-tract demographics data between 2010 and 2019. Methodology/results: We show that census tracts with higher poverty and unemployment rates were more likely to be selected. Counterintuitively, however, tracts with a higher average real estate price were also more likely to be selected. We then apply difference-in-differences, synthetic control, and matching techniques to rigorously assess the impact of the OZ program on two key real estate metrics: price and transaction volume. We find that the OZ program increased real estate prices by 4.03%–6.13% but do not observe a significant effect on the transaction volume. We also find that investors primarily targeted the high-end real estate market, namely, exhibiting a cherry-picking behavior. To better fulfill its intended societal and economic goals, we propose an optimization framework with fairness considerations for OZ assignment decisions. We show that the OZs assigned from our fairness-aware optimization formulation can better serve distressed communities and mitigate investors’ cherry-picking behavior. Managerial implications: Our paper underscores the importance of incorporating fairness in OZ designation to achieve a desirable real estate market reaction. Our large-scale empirical analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of the current government OZ assignment, and our fairness-aware optimization framework provides concrete recommendations for policy makers.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2024.0746 .
Cihat Aşkın ve Küçük Arkadaşları (CAKA) keman eğitim sistemi hakkında Cihat Aşkın’ın görüşlerinin incelenmesi
Authors: Kurtaslan Hazan , Aldut Deniz Berk
Published: September 2024

Türkiye’deki keman eğitiminde önemli bir yere sahip olan Cihat Aşkın ve Küçük Arkadaşları (CAKA) projesi, Türk keman virtüözü Cihat Aşkın tarafından 2001 yılında Bursa’da Uludağ Üniversitesi Devlet Konservatuvarı çatısı altında kurulmuştur. Çalışma CAKA’nın eğitim sistemi ile Türkiye’de şubeleşerek yaygınlaşması ve yurt içinde yaptığı çalışmalar ile uzun yıllar sürdürülebilir bir proje olması nedeniyle yapılmış ve CAKA keman eğitim sisteminin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada amaçlı örnekleme yöntemlerinden kolay ulaşılabilir durum örneklemesi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden durum çalışması desenindedir. Veriler doküman incelemesi ve görüşme tekniğiyle toplanmıştır. Yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formu 5 sorudan oluşmaktadır. Görüşme sorularına verilen yanıtların içerik analizleri yapılarak temalar ve alt temalar oluşturulmuş, belirlenen alt temalarda oluşan kodlar ile ilgili yorum ve tartışmalar bulgular bölümünde yapılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında CAKA keman eğitim sisteminin içeriği, CAKA ile etkileşim, Türk keman ekolü oluşumu, CAKA’nın karşılaştığı sorunlar ve CAKA›daki öğretimsel yaklaşım şeklinde 5 tema belirlenmiştir. Belirlenen bu 5 tema altında toplam 14 alt tema ve bu alt temalarla bağlantılı toplam 51 kod belirlenmiştir. Belirlenen tema ve alt temalara yönelik elde edilen bulgular arasında; CAKA’nın çalışma sistemi ve gelişimsel yönüne ilişkin bulgular, CAKA’da müzisyenlerin etkileşim ve amatörlerin etkileşimine ilişkin bulgular, CAKA’nın Türk keman ekolü oluşumundaki rolü ve Türk keman ekolü oluşum şartlarına ilişkin bulgular, CAKA’da karşılaşılan sistemsel sorunlar, mevzuatla ilgili sorunlar ve çevresel sorunlara ilişkin bulgular, CAKA keman eğitiminde öğretim metodu, eğitmen özelliği, materyal kullanımı, öğretimsel etkinlikler ve öğretimsel etkinlik planlamasına ilişkin bulgular yer almaktadır. Çalışmadan keman sanatçısı Cihat Aşkın’ın görüşleri doğrultusunda CAKA’nın 2018 yılı itibariyle revizyon sürecine girmesi nedeniyle online sistem üzerine yoğunlaşıldığı, Yaz ve Kış Okullarının devam ettirildiği, CAKA’nın virtüöz yetiştiren bir kurum olmayıp öğrencileri öncelikle yerel değerlerle kaynaştıran ardından ulusal ve uluslararası değerlerle buluşturan bir platform olduğu, CAKA’ya yönelik hazırlanmış olan keman metodunun basım aşamasında olduğu, CAKA Yaz ve Kış Okulları ile ülkemizdeki çocukları müzik kampı kültürüne alıştırmanın önemli olduğu ve Türk keman ekolü oluşumuna katkı sağladığı gibi sonuçlar ortaya çıkmıştır. CAKA projesi, Türkiye’de keman eğitiminin yaygınlaşması yönünde müzisyenler için örnek teşkil etmektedir. Aynı ya da farklı çalgılar için benzer projeler gerçekleştirmek isteyen müzisyenler için CAKA projesinin uyarlanması önerilmektedir.
OCTA-ReVA: an open-source toolbox for comprehensive retinal vessel feature analysis in optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Dadzie Albert K. , Le David , Abtahi Mansour , Ebrahimi Behrouz , Adejumo Tobiloba , Son Taeyoon , Heiferman Michael J. , Lim Jennifer I. , Yao Xincheng
Published: September 2024

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has significantly advanced the study and diagnosis of eye diseases. However, current clinical OCTA systems and software tools lack comprehensive quantitative analysis capabilities, limiting their full clinical utility. This paper introduces the OCTA Retinal Vessel Analyzer (OCTA-ReVA), a versatile open-source platform featuring a user-friendly graphical interface designed for the automated extraction and quantitative analysis of OCTA features. OCTA-ReVA includes traditional established OCTA features based on binary vascular image processing, such as blood vessel density (BVD), foveal avascular zone area (FAZ-A), blood vessel tortuosity (BVT), and blood vessel caliber (BVC). Additionally, it introduces new features based on blood perfusion intensity processing, such as perfusion intensity density (PID), vessel area flux (VAF), and normalized blood flow index (NBFI), which provide deeper insights into retinal perfusion conditions. These additional capabilities are crucial for the early detection and monitoring of retinal diseases. OCTA-ReVA demystifies the intricate task of retinal vasculature quantification, offering a robust tool for researchers and clinicians to objectively evaluate eye diseases and enhance the precision of retinal health assessments.
Determinants of quality antenatal care use in Kenya: Insights from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Asiimwe John Baptist , Namulema Angella , Sserwanja Quraish , Kawuki Joseph , Amperiize Mathius , Amwiine Earnest , Nuwabaine Lilian
Published: September 2024

Provision of quality antenatal care (ANC) is important to reduce maternal and newborn fatalities worldwide. However, the use of quality ANC by women of reproductive age and associated factors remain unclear in many developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine factors associated with receiving quality ANC in Kenya among women of reproductive age. We analyzed secondary data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, which included 11,863 women. Participants were selected using two-stage stratified sampling. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Of the 11,863 participating women, 61.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 59.7%–62.6%) received quality ANC. Participants aged 20–34 years had a 1.82 (95%CI: 1.15–2.87) times higher likelihood of receiving quality ANC compared with those aged 15–19 years. Those who had attended four or more ANC visits were 1.42 (95%CI: 1.14–1.79) times more likely to receive quality ANC than those who attended three or fewer visits. Participants with media access were 1.47 (95%CI: 1.06–2.03) times more likely to receive quality ANC than those without media access. Compared with participants in the “poorest” quintile, the likelihood of receiving quality ANC was 1.93 (95%CI: 1.21–3.08) and 1.44 (95%CI: 1.01–2.06) times higher for participants in the “richest” and “richer” quintiles, respectively. Furthermore, compared with participants from the Coastal region, the odds of receiving quality ANC were 0.25 (95%CI: 0.15–0.31) to 0.64 (95%CI: 0.44–0.92) times lower for those from all other Kenyan regions. Participants whose partners made their healthcare decisions were 0.74 (95%CI: 0.58–0.95) times less likely to receive quality ANC than those who made decisions independently. We found that just over 60% of participating mothers had received quality ANC. Factors associated with receiving quality ANC were: age, region, maternal education, healthcare-seeking decision-making, access to media, time to the health facility, ANC visits, and ANC provider type (doctor, nurse/midwife/clinical officer). Maternal health improvement programs should prioritize promoting access to education for girls. Furthermore, interventions should focus on promoting shared decision-making and autonomy in healthcare-seeking behaviors among pregnant women and their partners, increasing access to care provided by skilled healthcare workers, and addressing regional disparities in healthcare delivery.
The oral intake of specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP) improves gait and quality of life in canine osteoarthritis patients—A translational large animal model for a nutritional therapy option
Authors: Dobenecker Britta , Böswald Linda Franziska , Reese Sven , Steigmeier-Raith Stephanie , Trillig Lukas , Oesser Steffen , Schunck Michael , Meyer-Lindenberg Andrea , Hugenberg Jutta
Published: September 2024

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in humans and dogs. Due to its chronic progressive nature, the predominant clinical signs after a certain point are pain and immobility. The similar pathogenesis allows conclusions to be drawn from canine to human OA. Current treatments are limited and often attempt to treat OA symptoms rather than improve joint structure and function. Collagen hydrolysates as oral supplements are a promising therapeutic option to achieve this advanced therapeutic aim in both species. The effects of oral supplementation were therefore investigated in canine OA patients.

Method

In a systematic, placebo-controlled, double-blind interventional study in 31 dogs with naturally occurring OA, the efficacy of oral supplementation of specific bioactive collagen peptides (BCP) was tested in comparison to the approved combination of the active substances omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. The dogs were examined on a horizontal treadmill with 4 integrated piezoelectric force plates at the beginning and end of a twelve-week test period. At both points, the owners completed a specific questionnaire containing the validated Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) and the dogs were fitted with accelerometers to record total daily activity data.

Results

Only the oral supplementation of BCP resulted in a significant improvement of several kinetic parameters measured using a force-plate fitted treadmill, and the quality of life assessed by CBPI, while accelerometry was unaffected by the intervention.

Conclusion

The results of this three-month BCP supplementation study using objective measurement parameters in dogs with naturally occurring OA demonstrate an efficacy, suggesting the therapeutic use of BCP in canine OA patients and demonstrating the relevance of this collagen hydrolysate formulation for the treatment of OA in human patients as well.
„Jelenleg a globális feladat az infláció csökkentése úgy, hogy ne romoljanak a növekedési lehetőségek.” – Interjú dr. Csáki György egyetemi tanárral
Authors: Horváth Anna , Trautmann László
Published: September 2024

Dr. Csáki György egyetemi tanár régóta foglalkozik a globális pénzügyi piacok működésével és a fejlődésgazdaságtannal. Az interjú apropóját Magyarország kínai hitelfelvétele adta, ennek kapcsán kérdeztük a szakértőt a nemzetközi pénzügyi folyamatokról, a COVID-válság idején jelentősen eladósodott országok pénzügyi kezeléséről és a nagy pénzügyi központok monetáris politikáiról. További kérdés, hogy számít-e az 1980-as évekhez hasonló pénzügyi válságra.
A budapesti magánegészségügyi szektor 2023-ban: piaci körkép és a szolgáltatók fejlődési lehetőségei egy kvalitatív kutatás tükrében
Authors: Tamás Balázs , Szabó Krisztofer
Published: September 2024

A magánegészségügy egyre fontosabb szerepet tölt be az emberek életében és az egészségügyi ellátásban Magyarországon az utóbbi években. Mindez kihatással van a köz- és magánegészségügyi piac helyzetére, melynek következtében jelentős változás figyelhető meg a szektoron belül. Jelen kutatás célja egy piaci körkép ismertetése a hazai magánegészségügyi szektor legfőbb szereplőinek fejlődési útjáról, fejlődési szakaszokról, a piaci változások körüli nehézségekről és arról, hogy jelenleg milyen stratégiát és üzleti modellt alkalmaznak az egyes piaci szereplők. A kutatás kvalitatív módszerre épül, három meghatározó piaci szereplő négy vezetőjével és egy független orvosfoglalási rendszer vezetőjével készült szakértői mélyinterjúk alapján ismerteti és elemzi, hogy milyen mértékben tekinthető a budapesti magánegészségügyi piac telítettnek, és ez alapján milyen lehetséges fejlesztési irányok és stratégiai lehetőségek mutatkoznak a szektorban. Az elemzés alapján a piac kettős viszonyt mutat: míg a szolgáltatások árai emelkednek, addig a hosszú várólisták a pácienseket a privát szektor felé terelik. A magyar magánegészségügyi szolgáltatási piac jelenleg szétaprózott, több ezer kisebb-nagyobb szereplő osztozik a teljes árbevételen. A piac továbbra is növekszik a közegészségügyből a magánegészségügybe történő átáramlás miatt, melyet a hosszú várólisták, a páciensközpontú gyógyítás és az átlátható finanszírozás eredményez. A vizsgált vállalkozások alapján a növekedési stratégia jellemzi a piacot, melynek keretében szolgáltatás- és/vagy lokációbővítés a cél. A kutatás eredményeként megfigyelhető, hogy kezd a középpontba kerülni a vidéki terjeszkedés és ez megjelenik a hosszabb távú stratégiai célokban is, emellett a szolgáltatásbővítésre is nagy hangsúlyt helyeznek a szereplők. A kutatás eredményei a hazai szakirodalmi hozzájáruláson túl gyakorlati hasznossággal is párosulnak a várható jövőbeli piaci helyzet alakulásának feltárásához, melyhez iránymutató következtetések is bemutatásra kerülnek.