bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decoding the mitochondrial connection: development and validation of biomarkers for classifying and treating systemic lupus erythematosus through bioinformatics and machine learning
Authors: Li Haoguang , Zhou Lu , Zhou Wei , Zhang Xiuling , Shang Jingjing , Feng Xueqin , Yu Le , Fan Jie , Ren Jie , Zhang Rongwei , Duan Xinwang
Published: December 2023

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifaceted autoimmune disease characterized by clinical and pathological diversity. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been identified as a critical pathogenetic factor in SLE. However, the specific molecular aspects and regulatory roles of this dysfunction in SLE are not fully understood. Our study aims to explore the molecular characteristics of mitochondria-related genes (MRGs) in SLE, with a focus on identifying reliable biomarkers for classification and therapeutic purposes.

Methods

We sourced six SLE-related microarray datasets (GSE61635, GSE50772, GSE30153, GSE99967, GSE81622, and GSE49454) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Three of these datasets (GSE61635, GSE50772, GSE30153) were integrated into a training set for differential analysis. The intersection of differentially expressed genes with MRGs yielded a set of differentially expressed MRGs (DE-MRGs). We employed machine learning algorithms—random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression—to select key hub genes. These genes’ classifying potential was validated in the training set and three other validation sets (GSE99967, GSE81622, and GSE49454). Further analyses included differential expression, co-expression, protein-protein interaction (PPI), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and immune infiltration, centered on these hub genes. We also constructed TF-mRNA, miRNA-mRNA, and drug-target networks based on these hub genes using the ChEA3, miRcode, and PubChem databases.

Results

Our investigation identified 761 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), mainly related to viral infection, inflammatory, and immune-related signaling pathways. The interaction between these DEGs and MRGs led to the identification of 27 distinct DE-MRGs. Key among these were FAM210B, MSRB2, LYRM7, IFI27, and SCO2, designated as hub genes through machine learning analysis. Their significant role in SLE classification was confirmed in both the training and validation sets. Additional analyses included differential expression, co-expression, PPI, GSEA, immune infiltration, and the construction of TF-mRNA, miRNA-mRNA, and drug-target networks.

Conclusions

This research represents a novel exploration into the MRGs of SLE, identifying FAM210B, MSRB2, LYRM7, IFI27, and SCO2 as significant candidates for classifying and therapeutic targeting.
Effect of multidimensional physiotherapy on non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bemani Sanaz , Sarrafzadeh Javad , Dehkordi Shohreh Noorizadeh , Talebian Saeed , Salehi Reza , Zarei Jamileh
Published: December 2023

Background

Many people with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) do not recover with current conventional management. Systematic reviews show multidimensional treatment improves pain better than usual active interventions. It is unclear whether multidimensional physiotherapy improves pain better than usual physiotherapy. This study determines the effectiveness of this treatment to reduce pain and disability and improve quality of life, pain cognitions, and electroencephalographic pattern in individuals with NSCLBP.

Methods

70 eligible participants aged 18 to 50 years with NSCLBP were randomized into either the experimental group (multidimensional physiotherapy) or the active control group (usual physiotherapy). Pain intensity was measured as the primary outcome. Disability, quality of life, pain Catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, fear Avoidance Beliefs, active lumbar range of motion, and brain function were measured as secondary outcomes. The outcomes were measured at pre-treatment, post-treatment, 10, and 22 weeks. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat approaches.

Results

There were 17 men and 18 women in the experimental group (mean [SD] age, 34.57 [6.98] years) and 18 men and 17 women in the active control group (mean [SD] age, 35.94 [7.51] years). Multidimensional physiotherapy was not more effective than usual physiotherapy at reducing pain intensity at the end of treatment. At the 10 weeks and 22 weeks follow-up, there were statistically significant differences between multidimensional physiotherapy and usual physiotherapy (mean difference at 10 weeks, -1.54; 95% CI, -2.59 to -0.49 and mean difference at 22 weeks, -2.20; 95% CI, − 3.25 to − 1.15). The standardized mean difference and their 95% confidence intervals (Cohen’s d) revealed a large effect of pain at 22 weeks: (Cohen’s d, -0.89; 95% CI (-1.38 to-0.39)). There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

In this randomized controlled trial, multidimensional physiotherapy resulted in statistically and clinically significant improvements in pain compared to usual physiotherapy in individuals with NSCLBP at 10 and 22 weeks.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04270422; IRCT IRCT20140810018754N11.
LayerCFL: an efficient federated learning with layer-wised clustering
Authors: Yuan Jie , Qian Rui , Yuan Tingting , Sun Mingliang , Li Jirui , Li Xiaoyong
Published: December 2023

Federated Learning (FL) suffers from the Non-IID problem in practice, which poses a challenge for efficient and accurate model training. To address this challenge, prior research has introduced clustered FL (CFL), which involves clustering clients and training them separately. Despite its potential benefits, CFL can be computationally and communicationally expensive when the data distribution is unknown beforehand. This is because CFL involves the entire neural networks of involved clients in computing the clusters during training, which can become increasingly time-consuming with large-sized models. To tackle this issue, this paper proposes an efficient CFL approach called LayerCFL that employs a Layer-wised clustering technique. In LayerCFL, clients are clustered based on a limited number of layers of neural networks that are pre-selected using statistical and experimental methods. Our experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of LayerCFL in mitigating the impact of Non-IID data, improving the accuracy of clustering, and enhancing computational efficiency.
A tale of two progressions: students’ learning progression of the particle nature of matter and teachers’ perception on the progression
Authors: Yang Yi , Liu Yi-Xuan , Song Xin-Hao , Yao Jian-Xin , Guo Yu-Ying
Published: December 2023

Learning progressions (LPs) provide researchers with a robust framework to describe the process of students’ cognitive development in science and provide teachers with an effective reference to help students’ competences develop. In physics education, the understanding of the particle nature of matter (PNM) is important, as it affects students’ conceptualization of matter and, over the long term, the entire view of science. Developing a systematic understanding of the PNM requires an effective instruction. Teachers’ instruction is heavily influenced by their understanding on students’ progression. Therefore, this study first tested and refined students’ LPs of PNM. Then, with the lens of LPs, we investigated teachers’ perception on the progression. The results show that students’ LPs of PNM in teachers’ minds are partly different from students’ actual situations, as most teachers have not been sufficiently informed of students’ conceptual understanding of PNM and especially lack the knowledge of students’ understanding in PNM at the lower level. When designing instruction, some teachers did not have an awareness of LP-based instructional design and sometimes neglected students’ conceptual development. This study ends with some suggestions for supporting teachers’ professional development.
Intention to vaccinate chronic disease children against COVID-19; a multicenter survey
Authors: Ghazy Ramy Mohamed , Elkhadry Sally Waheed , Elkaragy Engy Saad , Makhlouf Mona Sayed Aly Hassan , Abdelaziz Alyaa Ahdy , Hammouda Esraa Abdellatif
Published: December 2023

Background

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has gained recognition as a crucial strategy to prevent and reduce the risk of infection, including emerging variants, due to its proven safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the vaccination hesitancy (VH) among Egyptian parents towards SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, specifically focusing on parents with chronically ill children.

Method

A multicentered cross-sectional survey was conducted at outpatient clinics of El-Raml Pediatric Hospital, Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) in Alexandria, Alexandria Main University Hospital for Maternity and Children (AMUH), Al-Galaa Teaching Hospital, General Organization for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes (GOTHI) Cairo, and Pediatric Department, Menoufia University Hospital from May 1st till December 15th, 2022. Parents of children with chronic diseases were recruited using a simple random sampling technique to respond to the validated Arabic version of parental attitudes about childhood vaccination (PACV).

Results

In this study, we enrolled 527 caregivers, 55.4% of them were aged 30–39 years old, 85.2% were females, and 46.9% had chronic diseases. Commonly mentioned information sources included television and radio (69.8%), and social media (35.3%). Among the parents studied, 59.6% refused vaccination. The predictors of the PACV score were governorate, Menoufia (β = 11.30, 95%CI [5.32, 17.27], p < 0.001), study setting, Menoufia University Hospital (β = -20.07, 95%CI [-25.40, -14.75] and El-Raml Hospital (β = -10.74, 95%CI [-14.50, -6.98], p < 0.001), income; not enough and loans repaid (β = 3.18, 95%CI [0.54, 5.82], p = 0.018) and not enough and loans not repaid (β = 3.57,95%CI [0.08, 7.07], p = 0.045).

Conclusions

The study reveals geographic and economic factors as predictors of PACV, and emphasizes the need for region-specific interventions and financial barriers to improve vaccine acceptance and child well-being.
Findings of MRI, CT scan and ultrasound in Marion's disease in a young woman: a case report
Authors: Noroozi Shima Ghafourian , Soltani Mohsen Ghazi
Published: December 2023

Background

Primary bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) is a rare condition of the lower urinary tract in young and middle-aged patients. PBNO is a urological condition affecting both sexes in which the bladder neck fails to open adequately during voiding, resulting in obstruction of urinary flow in the absence of anatomic obstruction, such as benign prostatic hypertrophy in men or genitourinary prolapse in women. PBNO may present voiding symptoms (decreased force of stream, hesitancy, intermittent stream, incomplete emptying) or irritative symptoms (frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, nocturia) or a combination of both.

Case presentation

A 31-year-old female without medical history presented to our department with a 4–5 months history of a sense of incomplete emptying bladder and suprapubic discomfort. In Abdominal and Pelvic CT images of her CT scan, evidence of homogenous concentric hypertrophy of the urethra with mild enhancement in the post-contrast image was seen. Also, pelvic MRI shows isointense on T1- weighted and isointense to mildly hyperintense on T2-weighted Images (to skeletal muscle signal) of the concentric hypertrophy muscular layer of the urethra. The post-contrast image demonstrates moderate enhancement in the hypertrophied urethra. A month later, while the patient had not received any treatment, a pelvic ultrasound showed concentric hypertrophy hypoechoic muscular layer of the urethra.

Discussion

The true prevalence of PBNO is unknown but Farrar et al. reported a 2% prevalence of primary bladder neck obstruction.In 1933, Marion described PBNO as caused by fibrous narrowing of the bladder neck and detrusor hyperplasia. Also, Marion described two types of disease (congenital and acquired) and treatment methods. In this study was shown isointense on T1-weighted and isointense to mildly hyperintense on T2-weighted Images of concentric hypertrophy muscular layer of urethra with moderate enhancement on the post-contrast image. A doughnut sign was also seen in our axial slices (particularly in T2-weighted images), so this sign seems to be a diagnostic finding in MRI. In our study, the diffusion sequence and ADC map showed no obvious restriction.

Conclusions

Although PBNO has been described for decades, there is still a controversy about diagnosis and treatment. In patients suspected of PBNO, imaging methods, especially MRI, can help confirm the diagnosis or rule out other causes of bladder neck obstruction. In future studies, imaging modalities can be one of the diagnostic criteria for PBNO.
MRI evaluation by T1 mapping of the post-myocardial infarction left ventricular thrombus
Authors: Abi Khalil Samer , Willoteaux Serge , Biere Loic , Barraud Lucas , Leou Thomas
Published: December 2023

Background

Left ventricular thrombus is a post-myocardial infarct complication. It is composed of a fibrinous composition that evolves over time, being assessable by MRI.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to evaluate the post-myocardial infarction left ventricular thrombus on cardiac MRI by measuring its T1 mapping value, thus to determine the age of thrombus.

Methods

This observational retrospective study was performed on all patients scheduled for 3.0 Tesla cardiac MRI post-myocardial infarction on our institution from January 2015 to December 2022. Thirty-five patients with a left ventricular thrombus that may be measurable on T1 mapping sequence were included. They were separated in two groups based on the duration between the infarct and the MRI—less than three months: group A and more than three months: group B. T1 mapping value was measured for all thrombi.

Results

T1 of thrombi was 1098 ± 61 ms in group A and 1316 ± 75 ms in group B, p < 10–4. T1 of the myocardium was 1224 ± 73 ms in group A and 1254 ± 48 ms in group B, p = 0.139. T1 of the blood pool was 1934 ± 137 ms in group A and 2008 ± 124 ms in group B, p = 0.135.

Conclusions

Recent thrombi had shorter mapping T1 than old thrombi.
Comprehensive assessment of cable-stayed bridge based on Pagerank algorithm
Authors: Liu Ying , Wang Bing , Liu Xiaoling
Published: December 2023

This paper develops an improved structural health assessment method for cable-stayed bridge to address the issue of neglecting component correlations in existing assessment standards. Firstly, the directed graph of fault transmission between components in the cable-stayed bridge system was constructed. The Pagerank algorithm was used to analyze the degree of correlation between these components, and then the influencing degree of and the influenced degree of each component were determined. Secondly, considering the failure rate of individual components and the influenced degree of other component faults, a condition evaluation method with component correlation for cable-stayed bridge was proposed. Finally, the improved assessment method was applied to a super large-span steel cable-stayed bridge as a case study and compared with the relevant assessment specifications. The results show that main girder alignment, cable force and main tower alignment have a greater degree of correlation with other components and are important indicators for bridge health monitoring. Visual inspection of main girder and bridge bearing are the fault appearance components and should be paid attention to in preventive maintenance. The drainage system and electromechanical facilities are the fault source components and must be kept in good condition in daily inspections. The proposed method considers the interrelationships among components more comprehensively and can provide more reliable bridge health assessment results to support bridge maintenance decisions.
The unintended consequences of inconsistent closure policies and mobility restrictions during epidemics
Authors: Althouse Benjamin M. , Wallace Brendan , Case B. K. M. , Scarpino Samuel V. , Allard Antoine , Berdahl Andrew M. , White Easton R. , Hébert-Dufresne Laurent
Published: December 2023

Background

Controlling the spread of infectious diseases―even when safe, transmission-blocking vaccines are available―may require the effective use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), e.g., mask wearing, testing, limits on group sizes, venue closure. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many countries implemented NPIs inconsistently in space and time. This inconsistency was especially pronounced for policies in the United States of America (US) related to venue closure.

Methods

Here, we investigate the impact of inconsistent policies associated with venue closure using mathematical modeling and high-resolution human mobility, Google search, and county-level SARS-CoV-2 incidence data from the USA. Specifically, we look at high-resolution location data and perform a US-county-level analysis of nearly 8 million SARS-CoV-2 cases and 150 million location visits, including 120 million church visitors across 184,677 churches, 14 million grocery visitors across 7662 grocery stores, and 13.5 million gym visitors across 5483 gyms.

Results

Analyzing the interaction between venue closure and changing mobility using a mathematical model shows that, across a broad range of model parameters, inconsistent or partial closure can be worse in terms of disease transmission as compared to scenarios with no closures at all. Importantly, changes in mobility patterns due to epidemic control measures can lead to increase in the future number of cases. In the most severe cases, individuals traveling to neighboring jurisdictions with different closure policies can result in an outbreak that would otherwise have been contained. To motivate our mathematical models, we turn to mobility data and find that while stay-at-home orders and closures decreased contacts in most areas of the USA, some specific activities and venues saw an increase in attendance and an increase in the distance visitors traveled to attend. We support this finding using search query data, which clearly shows a shift in information seeking behavior concurrent with the changing mobility patterns.

Conclusions

While coarse-grained observations are not sufficient to validate our models, taken together, they highlight the potential unintended consequences of inconsistent epidemic control policies related to venue closure and stress the importance of balancing the societal needs of a population with the risk of an outbreak growing into a large epidemic.
Impact of mhGAP-IG training on primary care physicians’ knowledge of mental, neurological and substance use disorders in Iraq
Authors: Al-Uzri Mohammed , Al-Taiar Hasanen , Abdulghani Emad Abdulrazaq , Abbas Yassen Ahmed , Suleman Muhammad
Published: December 2023

To address the growing need for good-quality mental health service provision to patients in Iraq, mhGAP-IG 2.0 training in mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders was delivered for primary care physicians in May–June 2022 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) volunteers scheme. An innovative hybrid model was used to deliver this training to improve engagement compared with virtual training alone. Pre- and post-training assessment tools showed a significant improvement in participants knowledge of MNS disorders. Follow-up fortnightly supervision sessions by RCPsych volunteers were planned to help participants consolidate their learning in managing MNS disorders.
The association between mental healthcare professionals’ personal characteristics and their clinical lifestyle practices: a national cross-sectional study in The Netherlands
Authors: Koomen Lisanne E.M. , Deenik Jeroen , Cahn Wiepke
Published: December 2023

Background

Lifestyle interventions are important to improve the mental and physical health outcomes of people with mental illness. However, referring patients to lifestyle interventions is still not a common practice for mental healthcare professionals (MHCPs) and their own lifestyle habits may impact this. The aim of this study was to investigate MHCPs’ personal lifestyle habits, their lifestyle history and referral practices, and if these are associated with their lifestyle habits, gender, and profession.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire was distributed across relevant MHCP’s in The Netherlands. Ordinal regression analyses on lifestyle habits, gender, profession, and lifestyle history and referral practices were conducted.

Results

A total of the 1,607 included MHCPs, 87.6% finds that lifestyle should be part of every psychiatric treatment, but depending on which lifestyle factor, 55.1–84.0% take a lifestyle history, 29.7–41.1% refer to interventions, and less than half (44.2%) of smoking patients are advised to quit. MHCPs who find their lifestyle important, who are physically more active, females, and MHCPs with a nursing background take more lifestyle histories and refer more often. Compared to current smokers, MHCPs who never or formerly smoked have higher odds (2.64 and 3.40, respectively, p < 0.001) to advice patients to quit smoking.

Conclusions

This study indicates that MHCPs’ personal lifestyle habits, gender, and profession affect their clinical lifestyle practices, and thereby the translation of compelling evidence on lifestyle psychiatry to improved healthcare for patients.
Impact of Restricted Phosphorus, Calcium-adjusted Diet on Musculoskeletal and Mental Health in Hypophosphatasia
Authors: Kuehn Katinka , Hahn Andreas , Seefried Lothar
Published: December 2023

Context

Impairments in musculoskeletal and mental health are common in adults with Hypophosphatasia (HPP). Restricted phosphorus intake has been suggested to positively affect symptoms in HPP, but there is a lack of interventional evidence.

Objective

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of a phosphorus-restricted, calcium-adjusted diet on musculoskeletal and mental health in HPP.

Methods

A prospective, noncontrolled, single-center interventional study (NuSTEPS II) was conducted among outpatients at the Osteology Department, University of Wuerzburg, Germany. A total of 26 adults with an established HPP diagnosis received a standardized diet with a defined daily intake of phosphorus (1160-1240 mg/d) and calcium (870-930 mg/d) over 8 weeks. Main outcome measures were functional testing and patient-reported outcome measures.

Results

At 8 weeks, significant improvements were observed in usual gait speed (P = .028) and the chair-rise test (P = .019), while no significant changes were seen in the 6-minute walk test (P = .468) and the timed up-and-go test (P = .230). Pain was not significantly reduced according to the visual analog scale (VAS) (P = .061), pain subscale of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) (P = .346), and Pain Disability Index (P = .686). Further, there was a significant improvement in the SF-36 vitality subscale (P = .022) while all other subscales as well as the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (P = .670) and the Fatigue Assessment Scale (P = .392) did not change significantly. Adjustments of mineral intake were not associated with relevant alterations regarding the intake of energy and energy-supplying nutrients or body composition.

Conclusion

Adjusting phosphorus and calcium intake may positively affect individual symptoms in adults with HPP, but overall clinical effectiveness regarding major issues like pain and endurance appears limited.
Ventral Tegmental Area Glutamatergic Neurons Facilitated Emergence From Isoflurane Anesthesia Involves Excitation of Lateral Septum GABA-ergic Neurons in Mice
Authors: Zhang Simin , Zhang Xinxin , Li Huiming , Wang Dan , Wang Sa , Wang Yuhao , Zhao Guangchao , Dong Hailong , Li Jiannan
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) glutamatergic neurons promote wakefulness in the sleep-wake cycle; however, their roles and neural circuit mechanisms during isoflurane (ISO) anesthesia remain unclear.

METHODS:

Fiber photometry and in vivo electrophysiology were used to observe the changes in neuronal or terminal activity during ISO anesthesia and arousal processes. Optogenetic and anesthesia behaviors were used to investigate the effects of VTA glutamatergic neurons and their projections to the lateral septum (LS) during ISO anesthesia and arousal. Anterograde and retrograde tracings were performed to identify the connections between VTA glutamatergic neurons and the LS.

RESULTS:

Population activity and firing rates of VTA glutamatergic neurons decreased during ISO anesthesia (ISO: 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83–2.06 Spikes.s–1 vs wake: 95% CI, 3.53–7.83 Spikes.s–1; P =.0001; n = 34 from 4 mice). Optogenetic activation of VTA glutamatergic neurons reduced the burst-suppression ratio in electroencephalography (laser: 95% CI, 13.09%–28.76% vs pre: 95% CI, 52.85%–71.59%; P =.0009; n = 6) and facilitated emergence (ChR2: 95% CI, 343.3–388.0 seconds vs mCherry: 95% CI, 447.6–509.8 seconds; P < .0001; n = 11/12) from ISO anesthesia. VTA glutamatergic neurons monosynaptically innervated LS γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons. The activity of VTA glutamatergic terminals in the LS decreased during ISO anesthesia, and optogenetic activation of the VTA glutamatergic terminals in the LS facilitated emergence from ISO anesthesia. Furthermore, optogenetic activation of VTA glutamatergic terminals increased the firing rates of LS γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) neurons (laser: 95% CI, 0.85–4.03 Spikes.s–1 vs pre: 95% CI, 0.24–0.78 Spikes.s–1; P =.008; n = 23 from 4 mice) during ISO anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS:

VTA glutamatergic neurons facilitated emergence from ISO anesthesia involving excitation of LS GABAergic neurons.
Forward or backwards? Sutural tube formation during ontogeny in Alycaeidae (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Cyclophoroidea)
Authors: Páll-Gergely Barna
Published: December 2023

The Alycaeidae are characterized by a complex gas exchange device, which consists of a sutural tube that is closed at its end, and several, perpendicularly running, narrow microtunnels. A single report, published in a hard-to-access journal, mentioned that the tube is formed “backwards”, but the author provided no illustrations. Here I publish photos and SEM micrographs of an adult alycaeid shell with an incompletely developed tube, and a subadult alycaeid shell with microtunnels, but no sutural tube. Both cases suggest that the sutural tube is indeed formed “backwards”, after all microtunnels are completed. With this, the previous observation is confirmed.
Perspectivas sobre segurança pública em cidades inteligentes: uma revisão da literatura de 2002 a 2022
Authors: Sales Eric Rodrigues de , Lui Lizandro
Published: December 2023

O conceito das smart cities e suas tecnologias inovadoras contribuem para a discussão no campo da segurança pública e da prevenção criminal. O objetivo deste artigo é abordar a forma pela qual a literatura apresenta evidências relativas ao desenvolvimento de projetos voltados às smart cities no campo da segurança pública. Para isso, foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura brasileira e internacional, por meio de uma extensa pesquisa bibliográfica sobre publicações científicas entre os anos 2002 e 2022, a fim de identificar como estes dois campos, segurança pública e smart cities, convergem e podem trazer benefícios para a sociedade. O levantamento indica que esse é um assunto relativamente novo e ainda emergente no campo das discussões acadêmicas. Foi verificado que existem avanços significativos nessa área, principalmente no que tange ao uso de sistemas baseados em inteligência artificial; desenvolvimento de tecnologias; programas eletrônicos dependentes de big data e maching learning; interoperabilidade de dados e algoritmos, os quais podem resultar em impactos relevantes nas políticas de segurança pública. Identificou-se que os principais campos de pesquisa referentes à segurança pública em smart cities estão vinculados à área de combate e prevenção da criminalidade, bem como estudos na área de defesa civil, combate e prevenção de desastres naturais, estudos sobre tráfego e mobilidade urbana e pesquisas que visam combater a violência de populações em vulnerabilidade. Por fim, propõe-se uma agenda de pesquisa sobre o assunto para o Brasil.
Esse cara sou eu (?)
Authors: Tavares Cláudia da Silva , Pereira Leonardo Lopes Francisco , Costa Vanessa Monteiro da
Published: December 2023

O caso de ensino apresenta como dilema a tensão num órgão executivo da administração pública diante da pressão midiática em torno de um crime de grande comoção social, em que se faz necessária a aquisição de um software essencial para o trabalho da investigação pericial e a consequente elucidação do caso. Ocorre que a alta administração do órgão pouco se envolve com as atividades-meio, pois está mais preocupada com a imagem da instituição perante a sociedade, que critica o produto da atividade-fim da instituição, ignorando a importância dos servidores técnicos responsáveis pelas atividades administrativas, da estrutura dos fluxos processuais e do trabalho realizado para dar suporte aos trabalhos da ponta, da atividade-fim do órgão. Contudo, apesar de o gestor máximo do órgão não ter se envolvido ou mesmo se preocupar com as ações necessárias à aquisição do software, não se eximiu de colher para si os louros da ação sem dar o devido reconhecimento ou o crédito do trabalho à equipe responsável pelo sucesso da operação.
ESTADO, DEMOCRACIA E GUERRA
Authors: Lima Lucas Bertolucci Barbosa de , Garboza Junior José Mauro , Botelho Marcos César
Published: December 2023

Objetivo: O objetivo deste artigo é demonstrar de que modo as teorias do direito de Hans Kelsen e Carl Schmitt refletem o contexto político-econômico de seu tempo. Assim, trata de investigar o seguinte problema: em que medida as filosofias políticas de Schmitt e de Kelsen são coerentes com suas críticas dos efeitos da guerra no Estado contemporâneo?Metodologia: Tal objetivo foi desenvolvido a partir da exposição de alguns pontos das filosofias políticas dos autores, bem como de algumas de suas considerações sobre a guerra. A metodologia utilizada foi a comparação bibliográfica entre os escritos dos autores mencionados, com o apoio de referências secundárias que auxiliam na elucidação do contexto histórico.Resultado: Após esse desenvolvimento, pôde-se constatar a coerência acima mencionada em ambos os autores, respectivamente: na correspondência entre a defesa que Schmitt faz do político estatal e sua conclusão do fim da era da estatalidade; e na correspondência entre a defesa de Kelsen da democracia e sua crítica ao jus belli.Conclusão: Constatando-se tais pontos de aproximação na argumentação dos autores, conclui-se não apenas que seus diagnósticos sobre a guerra têm lastro em seus escritos políticos, mas também que seus próprios escritos políticos já desenvolvem, de certa forma, o tema da guerra, presente de forma latente no imaginário histórico da primeira metade do século XX.
O PROCESSO DE REGULAMENTAÇÃO DO TRABALHO FEMININO NO BRASIL À LUZ DA TEORIA DE CAROL SMART: O DIREITO COMO TECNOLOGIA DE GÊNERO
Authors: Bertolin Patrícia Tuma Martins , Magacho Filho Murilo Riccioppo
Published: December 2023

Objetivo: O artigo tem por objeto o processo de regulamentação do trabalho das mulheres no Brasil, tomando-se 1932 como marco. A legislação, no período, é frequentemente apresentada apenas como uma conquista das mulheres, mas foi também fator de sua exclusão do espaço público de trabalho. A crítica do direito em Carol Smart possibilita compreender o porquê.Metodologia: Foi utilizado o método histórico-jurídico (GUSTIN; DIAS; NICÁCIO, 2020, p. 80), a partir de fontes legais e doutrinárias. Recuperou-se a legislação da época, no que concerne à regulamentação do trabalho das mulheres e ao ideal de mulher difundido pelo Estado brasileiro, por meio de suas normativas, no período estudado.Resultados: A noção do Direito como tecnologia de gênero permitiu uma análise crítica do processo de regulamentação jurídica do trabalho das mulheres no Brasil e dos motivos pelos quais legitimou o retorno das mulheres ao lar nos anos 30. Para além do conteúdo das leis, o próprio Direito (discurso e forma) permitia esse retorno, já que, enquanto tecnologia de gênero, estabilizava uma diferenciação entre mulheres e homens à base da oposição binária da mulher cuidadora e do homem provedor.Contribuições: Pretende-se contribuir para um olhar crítico sobre o Direito no tocante a sua função para promoção da igualdade de gênero e não exclusão institucional das mulheres do espaço público do trabalho. Acredita-se que promover e aprimorar a discussão sobre a diferenciação e oposição binária que se perpetua, no campo do Direito, entre a figura do homem e da mulher, possa servir a esse objetivo.
OS FUNDAMENTOS DO REPUBLICANISMO CÍVICO NO PENSAMENTO CONSTITUCIONALISTA ROUSSEAUNIANO
Authors: Leite Leonardo Delatorre , Menezes Daniel Francisco Nagao , Moraes Gerson Leite de
Published: December 2023

Contexto: A filosofia do pensador genebrino Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) foi de fundamental importância para o desenvolvimento da mentalidade constitucionalista e, principalmente, dos princípios do republicanismo, enquanto uma orientação axiológico-normativa em prol do chamado “bem comum”, compreendido como o conjunto dos bens e dos valores imprescindíveis para o desenvolvimento da comunidade. Além disso, as teses republicanas enxergam a liberdade não apenas como um direito, mas, sobretudo, na qualidade de um dever. Nesse sentido, o republicanismo apresenta, em seu âmago, uma nova compreensão sobre a liberdade, encarando-a a partir do papel do indivíduo na organização do poder político.  Objetivos e metodologia: Desse modo, as discussões rousseaunianas acerca da chamada “vontade geral”, das virtudes cívicas, da liberdade enquanto autorregulação e da soberania do corpo coletivo estabelecem um diálogo central com os elementos nevrálgicos da cosmovisão republicana, cujas reflexões são de grande valia para um melhor entendimento das fragilidades democráticas contemporâneas e da crise da democracia liberal. Fundamentado sob a metodologia de abordagem dedutiva, o presente trabalho foi construído com a utilização de fontes bibliográficas.Conclusão: Observa-se a imprescindibilidade da estruturação do constitucionalismo democrático a partir de mecanismos que favoreçam uma compreensão deontológica da liberdade civil, sobretudo, para uma melhor concretização do princípio da dignidade da pessoa humana.
Εικονογραφικές αναπαραστάσεις της εξορίας
Authors: Καρυστιναίου-Ευθυμιάτου Ερνεστίνα
Published: December 2023

Η διατριβή εστιάζει στο ζήτημα της αναπαράστασης της εξορίας στη φωτογραφία. Ειδικότερα, επικεντρωθήκαμε στη μελέτη της αναπαράστασης του χώρου του καθημερινού της εξορίας σε φωτογραφικά τεκμήρια από τα στρατόπεδα των νησιών Τρίκερι και Γυάρο, που λειτούργησαν ως τόποι αποκλεισμού και σωφρονισμού στην πρόσφατη ιστορία της χώρας. Η φωτογραφία νοείται ως αντικείμενο, πρακτική και γεγονός, που διαπλέκεται με το βιωμένο ατομικά και συλλογικά χώρο της εξορίας. Οι φωτογραφίες που διαμόρφωσαν τη βάση για τη διατριβή, συγκεντρώθηκαν μέσω εκτενούς έρευνας σε θεσμικά αρχεία και προσωπικές συλλογές και προέρχονται από τρεις οπτικές γωνίες. Η πρώτη είναι αυτή των προσωπικών φωτογραφιών εξόριστων που ανήκουν σήμερα στα αρχεία των Α.Σ.Κ.Ι. (Αρχεία Σύγχρονης Κοινωνικής Ιστορίας), το αρχείο του ΚΚΕ (Κομμουνιστικού Κόμματος Ελλάδας) καθώς και σε μία σειρά από προσωπικά αρχεία. Η δεύτερη συγκροτείται από φωτογραφικό υλικό του Οπτικοακουστικού αρχείου του Διεθνούς Ερυθρού Σταυρού, θεσμού με έδρα τη Γενεύη που επισκεπτόταν τα στρατόπεδα για την παροχή ανθρωπιστικής βοήθειας. Την τρίτη ομάδα αποτελούν δημοσιογραφικές φωτογραφίες δύο ευρωπαϊκών περιοδικών (Stern και Paris Match) που πέταξαν πάνω από το στρατόπεδο της Γυάρου στη χούντα. Οι φωτογραφίες των επιμέρους οπτικών αναλύθηκαν στο επίπεδο του εικονογραφικού περιεχομένου τους, αφού ταξινομήθηκαν με βάση συγκεκριμένες θεματολογικές επικεντρώσεις, που αφορούν την αναπαράσταση καθημερινών πρακτικών γύρω από ένα δίπτυχο «καθημερινού» και «ειδικού». Μία παράλληλη αναλυτική διαδικασία επικεντρώθηκε στις τελεστικές επενέργειες των φωτογραφιών στο χρόνο της λήψης τους, αλλά και αργότερα, καθώς και στη διερεύνηση του πλαισίου στο οποίο παρήχθησαν. Η έρευνα καταλήγει στη θέση ότι διαμέσου καθεμιάς από τις οπτικές γωνίες, η «ίδια» πραγματικότητα της εξορίας, συγκροτείται ως διαφορετική, ανάλογα με την ερμηνεία που της αποδίδεται από τους παραγωγούς και τους συμμετέχοντες/ουσες στα φωτογραφικά γεγονότα. Οι φωτογραφίες που παρήχθησαν στο πεδίο της εξαίρεσης από τον πολιτικό βίο, από την οπτική γωνία των υποκειμένων που την υπέστησαν, όσο και των εξωτερικών παρατηρητών κατασκεύασαν δυνητικά πεδία πολιτειακότητας, μετέχοντας στη διαμόρφωση πεδίων συναντήσεων, στα οποία καλούν τους/τις θεατές να συμμετάσχουν. Επιπρόσθετα, οι εικόνες της εξορίας εμπλέκονται και μετέχουν σε σχέσεις παρουσίας, ενώ ακόμη και αυτές «που δεν υπάρχουν», κατά Azoulay, αποτελούν τμήματα των φωτογραφικών συναντήσεων. Παράλληλο αποτέλεσμα της διατριβής, αποτελεί η ένταξη σε ένα ερευνητικό πεδίο ορατότητας των φωτογραφικών τεκμηρίων της εξορίας, κάποια από τα οποία δεν ήταν μέχρι πρόσφατα δημοσιευμένα στο ευρύ κοινό.
Μάρκος Δεφαράνας: Το έργο
Authors: Γκιουλέκα Όλγα
Published: December 2023

Υπό το όνομα του ζακύνθιου ποιητή του 16ου αιώνα Μάρκου Διεριέδη Δεφαράνα έχουν παραδοθεί δύο δημώδη ποιήματα, οι "Λόγοι διδακτικοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς πρὸς τὸν υἱὸν" και η "Ἱστορία τῆς Σωσάννης". Τα δύο ποιήματα ανήκουν στις λεγόμενες "φυλλάδες" ή "ριμάδες", που εκδόθηκαν από τα βενετικά τυπογραφεία τον 16ο αιώνα και αποτέλεσαν τα αναγνώσματα των Ελλήνων που βρίσκονταν στις Βενετοκρατούμενες και Οθωμανοκρατούμενες ελληνικές περιοχές για πολλά χρόνια. Παραδόξως, τα δύο ποιήματα δεν έχουν μελετηθεί λεπτομερώς από την φιλολογική έρευνα. Σκοπός της διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η κριτική έκδοση των δύο ποιημάτων, η οποία βασίζεται στα κείμενα των δύο πρώτων έντυπων βενετικών εκδόσεων τους, των ετών 1543 και 1569 αντίστοιχα. Επιπλέον, η έκδοση συνοδεύεται από εισαγωγή, η οποία αναφέρεται στη ζωή του ποιητή, στην παράδοση των δύο ποιημάτων, στις λογοτεχνικές πηγές και στα πρότυπά τους, στην πρόσληψή τους από μεταγενέστερους ποιητές, στη γλώσσα και το μέτρο τους. Συνοδεύεται τέλος από αναλυτικό ερμηνευτικό υπόμνημα, γλωσσάρι και επίμετρο.
Διαχρονική διαμεσολάβηση στη θεματολογία του πολιτισμού
Authors: Ζακάκης Νικόλαος
Published: December 2023

Η συγκεκριμένη διατριβή, αντλεί στοιχεία από το Smithsonian Institution, έναν παγκόσμιο, κυρίαρχο πολιτιστικό οργανισμό η οποία εξετάζει την επιρροή της θεωρίας της θεματολογίας σε 2 διαφορετικά πλαίσια. Αρχικά, εξετάζει, μια κλασσική υπόθεση της θεωρίας της θεματολογίας κατά τη διάρκεια τριάντα ετών σε σχέση με την προσοχή που δέχεται το Smithsonian από τα μέσα αλλά και κατά πόσο επηρεάζεται η επισκεψιμότητά του διαχρονικά. Δεύτερον εξετάζει αν και κατά πόσο επηρεάζεται η θεωρία της θεματολογίας των μέσων μεταξύ δύο χρονικών περιόδων, την περίοδο των αναλογικών μέσων και την περίοδο των ψηφιακών. Αυτή η διαχρονική ανάλυση, καταλήγει στο ότι υπάρχει συσχέτιση μεταξύ της προσοχής των μέσων και της κάλυψης του Smithsonian καθώς και της επισκεψιμότητάς του και στις δύο αυτές περιόδους, ενώ υπάρχουν ενδείξεις μικρής επιρροής της θεματολογίας των ελίτ εφημερίδων. Η έρευνα χρησιμοποιώντας ποσοτικές μεθόδους, καταλήγει ότι οι οργανισμοί μπορούν να επηρεάσουν την κάλυψη που δέχονται από τα μέσα ανάλογα με τις ενέργειες που προωθούν μέσω στρατηγικών δημοσίων σχέσεων στα αναλογικά και στα ψηφιακά μέσα. Όσον αφορά την διαχρονική ανάλυση που πραγματοποιήθηκε για το Smithsonian παρατηρήθηκε ότι η θεωρία της θεματολογίας συνεχίζει να εφαρμόζεται και στην ψηφιακή εποχή παρά τις αμφιβολίες που έχουν διαμορφωθεί τα τελευταία χρόνια από ένα μέρος της επιστημονικής κοινότητας.
‘Οδύσσεια’ της παιδαγωγικής και διδακτικής κατάρτισης των εκπαιδευτικών Δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης στην Ελλάδα
Authors: Λιακοπούλου Μαρία
Published: December 2023

O εκπαιδευτικός σήμερα καλείται να ασκεί το παιδαγωγικό και διδακτικό του έργο, έτσι ώστε να επιτυγχάνεται υψηλής ποιότητας εκπαίδευση για όλους τους μαθητές. Ως εκ τούτου η άριστη γνώση του αντικειμένου που διδάσκει δεν αρκεί, προκειμένου να ανταπεξέλθει στο σύνθετο ρόλο που αναλαμβάνει, αλλά είναι αναγκαία η επαρκής παιδαγωγική και διδακτική του κατάρτιση. Ωστόσο, η παιδαγωγική και διδακτική κατάρτιση εκπαιδευτικών Δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης, αποτελεί ακόμη ζητούμενο, και όχι μόνο για την ελληνική πραγματικότητα. Σε ό,τι αφορά την ελληνική πραγματικότητα η παιδαγωγική και διδακτική κατάρτιση των εκπαιδευτικών Δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης-παρά την 25ετή προσπάθεια διασφάλισης και εδραίωσής της- παρουσιάζει ακόμη πολλές ελλείψεις, αντιφάσεις και εγείρει ερωτήματα και συγκρούσεις. Σκοπός του άρθρου αυτού είναι να σκιαγραφηθούν οι πρακτικές και οι πολιτικές αναφορικά με τη διασφάλιση της παιδαγωγικής και διδακτικής επάρκειας των εκπαιδευτικών Δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης μέσα από τη μελέτη αφενός του σχετικού θεσμικού πλαισίου και αφετέρου μέσα από τη μελέτη των προγραμμάτων σπουδών των Τμημάτων των οποίων οι απόφοιτοι έχουν το δικαίωμα να εργαστούν σε σχολεία Δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης.
Permanent roommates in the transparent blockchain ecosystem
Authors: Grigoriadou Valentini , Koskinas Konstantinos
Published: December 2023

In this article we present the interpretation of the results of a qualitative research conducted in 2022 as part of a doctoral thesis, the subject of which is the socio-psychological implications, caused by the application of the innovative blockchain technology in education and in our society in general. For the needs of this research, an experimental application for degree certification was created. Through its extensive use, the participants formed elaborate opinions based on their experiential interaction with blockchain technology. This study drew on semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were collected from fourteen contemporary citizens with the scientific capacity of political and social studies. This research is a flash of illumination in the relationships developed between the members of the university community and the relationships beyond it, focusing on the main features of blockchain technology, security, immutability, traceability, availability, integrity, absence of a central authority, privacy, shifting security to the end user and possible use of tokens. The reflexive thematic analysis led to the construction of a more general theme: "Blockchain will form what we will be in the future" which captures how the participants perceive the future reality filtered through the differentiated needs of each of one's multiple identities. Two main themes were constructed under the overarching theme. Those two are: “blockchain as the Trojan horse of authorities and governing power” and “blockchain as the deus ex machina for modern man”. The adoption of blockchain technology as a tool to facilitate and simplify standard processes, meets the individual's need for validity, transparency, meritocracy, fairness and the emergence of truth. At the same time, participants express intense concern about the possibility of blockchain being instrumentalized as a new form of power in conjunction with new technologies such as 5G, AI, cloud computing, IoT and BDAA. The results of the research demonstrate the thorough attention that needs to be given to the conditions, in which the application of blockchain technology will be implemented in the field of education, in order to have the acceptance of the whole university community and society.
Adolescents and the Internet: Relationships and Social Competencies in the Physical and Digital World
Authors: Makrodimitri Adamantia , Tragou Elena
Published: December 2023

The excessive use of the Internet by adolescents nowadays is associated with the term “addiction” and seems to affect young people’s functioning in their daily activities, education, interpersonal relationships and mental health. Many studies have highlighted the association of excessive Internet use with lowered subjective well-being feeling, depressive symptoms, problematic behaviors, and a marked decrease in social integration. The aim of this research is to investigate adolescents’ long-term use of the Internet, the impact of this use on their mental health and how this use relates to their social skills and daily activities. Eight adolescents from a provincial seaside area of Attica, aged 14 to 18 years old, participated in the present study and responded to open-ended semi-structured interview questionnaire. The present research was based on the thematic method of qualitative analysis. From the analysis of the data six main thematic categories emerged, such as the Internet and its multitasking use, Companionship and Internet, Emotional effects and social anxiety, Exposure to danger and Getting mature through the internet use. This research shows that social media form a parallel universe for adolescents in which communication and socialization are its main benefits. Moreover, at the end of the article some suggestions/indications for further research on this issue are presented, as it seems that the influence of excessive internet use has consequences in many areas of adolescents’ lives.
VIVALDI Cohort Profile: Using linked, routinely collected data and longitudinal blood sampling to characterise COVID-19 infections, vaccinations, and related outcomes in care home staff and residents in England
Authors: Krutikov Maria , Bone David , Stirrup Oliver , Bruton Rachel , Azmi Borscha , Fuller Chris , Lau May , Low Juliet , Rastogi Shivika , Monakhov Igor , Tut Gokhan , Fink Douglas , Moss Paul , Hayward Andrew , Copas Andrew , Shallcross Laura
Published: December 2023

VIVALDI (ISRCTN14447421) is a government-funded longitudinal open observational cohort study of staff and residents in care homes for older people in England. The study aimed to describe epidemiology (including seroprevalence) and immune responses to COVID-19 in a subset of care homes, in the context of extremely high mortality in this setting, in the first 12-18 months of the pandemic. Data linkage to routine health data was undertaken for all staff and residents and a subset of individuals who consented to sequential blood sampling to investigate SARS-CoV-2 immunity. This paper aims to describe the samples stored within the study biobank, available for use by researchers. Over 70,000 individuals from 346 care homes were included in the data linkage cohort (1st March 2020–31st March 2023). 4975 samples from 2268 individuals (1419 staff, 827 residents) collected between 29th October 2020 and 10th March 2023 are stored. Amongst these samples, there was a maximum of seven per participant however, 217 (26.2%) residents and 555 (39.1%) staff participated in one round only. Key study findings include high COVID-19 seroprevalence among surviving residents, exceeding rates in community-dwelling peers. COVID-19 vaccinations generated robust immune responses in staff and residents which waned, supporting the need for booster vaccination, particularly in response to new variants. Prior infection significantly improved vaccine-induced immune responses, however protection from infection declined following Omicron variant emergence. This is a unique cohort of pre- and post-infection samples linked to data on COVID-19 infections, vaccinations, and outcomes. The cohort spans host immune response evolution to infection and vaccination in this rarely sampled population of frail older care home residents who are especially vulnerable to infection and severe outcomes. These samples can be used to investigate biological mechanisms behind disparate infection responses in older people and make a valuable contribution to research into ageing.