bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The circular RNA circHMGB2 drives immunosuppression and anti-PD-1 resistance in lung adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas via the miR-181a-5p/CARM1 axis
Authors: Zhang Ling-Xian , Gao Jian , Long Xiang , Zhang Peng-Fei , Yang Xin , Zhu Shu-Qiang , Pei Xu , Qiu Bai-Quan , Chen Shi-Wei , Lu Feng , Lin Kun , Xu Jian Jun , Wu Yong-Bing
Published: May 2022

Background

Previous studies have confirmed the oncogenic role of HMGB2 in various cancers, but the biological functions of HMGB2-derived circRNAs remain unknown. Thus, we intended to investigate the potential role of HMGB2-derived circRNAs in lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD) and squamous cell carcinomas (LUSC).

Methods

The expression profiles of HMGB2-derived circRNAs in LUAD and LUSC tissues and matched normal tissues were assessed using qRT–PCR. The role of circHMGB2 in the progression of the LUAD and LUSC was determined in vitro by Transwell, CCK-8, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry assays, as well as in vivo in an immunocompetent mouse model and a humanized mouse model. In addition, in vivo circRNA precipitation assays, luciferase reporter assays and RNA pulldown assays were performed to explore the underlying mechanism by which circHMGB2 promotes anti-PD-1 resistance in the LUAD and LUSC.

Results

The expression of circHMGB2 (hsa_circ_0071452) was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues, and survival analysis identified circHMGB2 as an independent indicator of poor prognosis in the LUAD and LUSC patients. We found that circHMGB2 exerted a mild effect on the proliferation of the LUAD and LUSC cells, but circHMGB2 substantially reshaped the tumor microenvironment by contributing to the exhaustion of antitumor immunity in an immunocompetent mouse model and a humanized mouse model. Mechanistically, circHMGB2 relieves the inhibition of downstream CARM1 by sponging miR-181a-5p, thus inactivating the type 1 interferon response in the LUAD and LUSC. Moreover, we found that the upregulation of circHMGB2 expression decreased the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy, and we revealed that the combination of the CARM1 inhibitor EZM2302 and an anti-PD-1 antibody exerted promising synergistic effects in a preclinical model.

Conclusion

circHMGB2 overexpression promotes the LUAD and LUSC progression mainly by reshaping the tumor microenvironment and regulating anti-PD-1 resistance in the LUAD and LUSC patients. This study provides a new strategy for the LUAD and LUSC treatment.
Targeted neutrophil-mimetic liposomes promote cardiac repair by adsorbing proinflammatory cytokines and regulating the immune microenvironment
Authors: Chen Jing , Song Yanan , Wang Qiaozi , Li Qiyu , Tan Haipeng , Gao Jinfeng , Zhang Ning , Weng Xueyi , Sun Dili , Yakufu Wusiman , Wang Zhengmin , Qian Juying , Pang Zhiqing , Huang Zheyong , Ge Junbo
Published: May 2022

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) induces a sterile inflammatory response that may result in poor cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Despite the progress in anti-cytokine biologics, anti-inflammation therapy of MI remains unsatisfactory, due largely to the lack of targeting and the complexity of cytokine interactions. Based on the nature of inflammatory chemotaxis and the cytokine-binding properties of neutrophils, we fabricated biomimetic nanoparticles for targeted and broad-spectrum anti-inflammation therapy of MI. By fusing neutrophil membranes with conventional liposomes, we fabricated biomimetic liposomes (Neu-LPs) that inherited the surface antigens of the source cells, making them ideal decoys of neutrophil-targeted biological molecules. Based on their abundant chemokine and cytokine membrane receptors, Neu-LPs targeted infarcted hearts, neutralized proinflammatory cytokines, and thus suppressed intense inflammation and regulated the immune microenvironment. Consequently, Neu-LPs showed significant therapeutic efficacy by providing cardiac protection and promoting angiogenesis in a mouse model of myocardial ischemia–reperfusion. Therefore, Neu-LPs have high clinical translation potential and could be developed as an anti-inflammatory agent to remove broad-spectrum inflammatory cytokines during MI and other neutrophil-involved diseases.

Graphical Abstract
Enhancing the capacity of the mental health and substance use health workforce to meet population needs: insights from a facilitated virtual policy dialogue
Authors: Leslie Kathleen , Bartram Mary , Atanackovic Jelena , Chamberland-Rowe Caroline , Tulk Christine , Bourgeault Ivy Lynn
Published: May 2022

Background

Timely knowledge mobilization has become increasingly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic and complicated by the need to establish or maintain lines of communication between researchers and decision-makers virtually. Our recent pan-Canadian research study on the mental health and substance use health (MHSUH) workforce during the pandemic identified key policy barriers impacting this essential workforce. To bridge the evidence–policy gap in addressing these barriers, we held a facilitated virtual policy dialogue. This paper discusses the insights generated at this virtual policy dialogue and highlights how this integrated knowledge mobilization strategy can help drive evidence-based policy in an increasingly digital world.

Methods

We held a 3-hour virtual policy dialogue with 46 stakeholders and policy decision-makers as the final phase in our year-long mixed-methods research study. The event was part of our integrated knowledge mobilization strategy and was designed to generate stakeholder-driven policy implications and priority actions based on our research findings. The data collected from the virtual policy dialogue included transcripts from the small-group breakout rooms and main sessions, reflective field notes and the final report from the external facilitator. Coded data were thematically analysed to inform our understanding of the prioritization of the policy implications and action items.

Results

Facilitated virtual policy dialogues generate rich qualitative insights that guide community-informed knowledge mobilization strategies and promote evidence-informed policy. Our policy dialogue identified actionable policy recommendations with equity as a cross-cutting theme. Adapting policy dialogues to virtual formats and including technology-assisted facilitation can offer advantages for equitable stakeholder participation, allow for deeper analysis and help build consensus regarding evidence-based policy priorities.

Conclusions

Our facilitated virtual policy dialogue was a key knowledge mobilization strategy for our research on the capacity of the Canadian MHSUH workforce to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our policy dialogue allowed us to engage a diverse group of MHSUH workforce stakeholders in a meaningful action-oriented way, provided an avenue to get feedback on our research findings, and generated prioritized action items that incorporated the knowledge and experience of these MHSUH workforce stakeholders.
Early-onset adverse events after stereotactic radiosurgery for jugular foramen schwannoma: a mid-term follow-up single-center review of 46 cases
Authors: Kim Young Goo , Park Chang Kyu , Jung Na Young , Jung Hyun Ho , Chang Jong Hee , Chang Jin Woo , Chang Won Seok
Published: May 2022

Background

Recently, stereotacitc radiosurgery (SRS) has been in the spotlight as an alternative therapeutic option for jugular foramen schwannomas (JFS). While most reported studies focus on the long-term efficacy and safety issues of SRS, none describe the early-onset adverse events (eAEs). We aimed to investigate the incidence, clinical characteristics, and mid-term outcomes of eAEs occurring within six months after SRS for JFS.

Methods

In this retrospective review, patients who underwent at least six months of follow-up were included among all patients with JFS who have performed SRS at our institution between July 2008 and November 2019. And eAEs were defined as a newly developed neurological deficit or aggravation of pre-existing symptoms during the first six months after SRS.

Results

Forty-six patients were included in the analysis. The median follow-up period was 50 months (range 9–136). The overall tumor control rate was 91.3%, and the actuarial 3-, 5-, and 10-year progression-free survival rates were 97.8%, 93.8%, and 76.9%, respectively. Of the 46 patients, 16 had eAEs, and the median time to onset of eAEs was one month (range 1–6 months), and the predominant symptoms were lower cranial nerve dysfunctions. Thirteen of 16 patients showed improved eAE symptoms during the follow-up period, and the median resolution time was six months (range 1–52). In 11 (68.8%) of 16 patients with eAEs, transient expansions were observed with a mean of 3.6 months after the onset of eAEs, and the mean difference between the initial tumor volume and the transient expansion volume was more prominent in the patients with eAEs (3.2 cm3 vs. 1.0 cm3; p = 0.057). In univariate analysis, dumbbell-shaped tumors (OR 10.56; p = 0.004) and initial tumor volume (OR 1.32; p = 0.033) were significantly associated with the occurrence of eAEs.

Conclusions

Although acute adverse events after SRS for JFS are not rare, these acute effects were not permanent and mostly improved with the steroid treatment. Dumbell-shaped and large-volume tumors are significant predictive factors for the occurrence of eAEs. And the transient expansion also seems to be closely related to eAEs. Therefore, clinicians need to be more cautious when treating these patients and closely monitor the occurrence of eAEs.
The accuracy of an extramedullary femoral cutting system in total knee arthroplasty in patients with severe coronal femoral bowing: a radiographic study
Authors: Wang Qianjin , Zhang Xiaofeng , Shi Tianshu , Bao Zhengyuan , Wang Bin , Yao Yao , Wu Dengxian , Liu Zheng , Cai Honggang , Chen Dongyang , Dai Jin , Jiang Qing , Xu Zhihong
Published: May 2022

Background

Intramedullary (IM) femoral alignment instrument is imprecise for the coronal alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with severe lateral bowing of the femur, while the extramedullary (EM) alignment system does not depend on the structure of the femoral medullary cavity. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the accuracy of postoperative limb alignment with the two femoral alignment techniques for patients with severe coronal femoral bowing.

Methods

From January 2017 to December 2019, patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis and coronal femoral bowing angle (cFBA) ≥ 5° who underwent total knee arthroplasty TKA at our institution were enrolled in the study. The postoperative hip-knee-ankle (HKA) alignment, femoral and tibial component alignment between the IM group and the EM group were compared on 5° ≤ cFBA < 10° and cFBA ≥ 10°.

Results

In patients with 5° ≤ cFBA < 10°, no significant differences were observed in the EM group and IM group, including preoperative and postoperative parameters. However, when analyzing the patients with cFBA ≥ 10°, we found a significant difference in postoperative HKA (4.51° in the IM group vs. 2.23°in the EM group, p < 0.001), femoral component alignment angle (86.84° in the IM group vs. 88.46° in the EM group, p = 0.001) and tibial component alignment angle (88.69° in the IM group vs. 89.81° in the EM group, p = 0.003) between the two groups. Compared to the EM group, the IM group presents a higher rate of outliers for the postoperative HKA and femoral components.

Conclusions

The study showed that severe lateral bowing of the femur has an important influence on the postoperative alignment with the IM femoral cutting system. In this case, the application of EM cutting system in TKA will perform accurate distal femoral resection and optimize the alignment of lower limb and the femoral component.
Recommendations from the IRDiRC Working Group on methodologies to assess the impact of diagnoses and therapies on rare disease patients
Authors: Zanello Galliano , Chan Chun-Hung , Pearce David A. ,   IRDiRC Working Group
Published: May 2022

Rare disease patients face many challenges including diagnostic delay, misdiagnosis and lack of therapies. However, early access to diagnosis and therapies can modify the management and the progression of diseases, which in return positively impacts patients, families and health care systems. The International Rare Diseases Research Consortium set up the multi-stakeholder Working Group on developing methodologies to assess the impact of diagnoses and therapies on rare disease patients. Using the patients’ journey on the diagnostic paradigm, the Working Group characterized a set of metrics, tools and needs required for appropriate data collection and establishment of a framework of methodologies to analyze the socio-economic burden of rare diseases on patients, families and health care systems. These recommendations are intended to facilitate the development of methodologies and to better assess the societal impact of rare diseases.
Conducting public health surveillance in areas of armed conflict and restricted population access: a qualitative case study of polio surveillance in conflict-affected areas of Borno State, Nigeria
Authors: Wiesen Eric , Dankoli Raymond , Musa Melton , Higgins Jeff , Forbi Joseph , Idris Jibrin , Waziri Ndadilnasiya , Ogunbodede Oladapo , Mohammed Kabiru , Bolu Omotayo , WaNganda Gatei , Adamu Usman , Pinsker Eve
Published: May 2022

This study examined the impact of armed conflict on public health surveillance systems, the limitations of traditional surveillance in this context, and innovative strategies to overcome these limitations. A qualitative case study was conducted to examine the factors affecting the functioning of poliovirus surveillance in conflict-affected areas of Borno state, Nigeria using semi-structured interviews of a purposeful sample of participants. The main inhibitors of surveillance were inaccessibility, the destroyed health infrastructure, and the destroyed communication network. These three challenges created a situation in which the traditional polio surveillance system could not function. Three strategies to overcome these challenges were viewed by respondents as the most impactful. First, local community informants were recruited to conduct surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis in children in the inaccessible areas. Second, the informants engaged in local-level negotiation with the insurgency groups to bring children with paralysis to accessible areas for investigation and sample collection. Third, GIS technology was used to track the places reached for surveillance and vaccination and to estimate the size and location of the inaccessible population. A modified monitoring system tracked tailored indicators including the number of places reached for surveillance and the number of acute flaccid paralysis cases detected and investigated, and utilized GIS technology to map the reach of the program. The surveillance strategies used in Borno were successful in increasing surveillance sensitivity in an area of protracted conflict and inaccessibility. This approach and some of the specific strategies may be useful in other areas of armed conflict.
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Knowledge Hub: developing an open platform for facilitating high-quality clinical research
Authors: Driver Samuel , Gray Shan , Sikhondze Welile , Awuonda Ken , Wilcox Helena , Segrt Alexis , Pandya Lara , Roth Johanna , Makanga Michael , Lang Trudie
Published: May 2022

There is stark global inequity in health research in terms of where studies happen, who leads the research and the ultimate beneficiaries of the results generated. Despite significant efforts made, limited research ideas are conceptualised and implemented in low-resource settings to tackle diseases of poverty, and this is especially true in sub-Saharan Africa. There is strong evidence to show that the barriers to locally led research do not vary largely between disease, study type and location and can be largely solved by addressing these common gaps. The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) was established in 2003 as a European response to the global health crisis caused by the three main poverty-related diseases HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. EDCTP has established a model of long-term sustainable capacity development integrated into clinical trials which addresses this lack of locally led research in sub-Saharan Africa, supporting the development of individual and institutional capacity and research outputs that change the management, prevention and treatment of poverty-related and neglected infectious diseases across Africa. In recognition of emergent data on what the barriers and enablers are to long-term, sustainable capabilities to run studies, EDCTP formed a new collaboration with The Global Health Network (TGHN) in September 2017, with the aim to make a set of cross-cutting tools and resources to support the planning, writing and delivery of high-quality clinical trials available to research staff wherever they are in the world, especially those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) via TGHN platform. These new resources developed on the ‘EDCTP Knowledge Hub’ are those identified in the mixed method study described in this commentary as being key to addressing the gaps that the research community report as the most limiting elements in their ability to design and implement studies. The Knowledge Hub aims to make these tools freely available to any potential health research team in need of support and guidance in designing and running their own studies, particularly in low-resource settings. The purpose is to provide open access to the specific guidance, information and tools these teams cannot otherwise access freely. Ultimately, this will enable them to design and lead their own high-quality studies addressing local priorities with global alignment, generating new data that can change health outcomes in their communities.
Efficacy and safety of Tanreqing oral liquid in treatment of acute bronchitis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Cheng Guilan , She Bin , Mao Bing , Jiang Hongli
Published: May 2022

Background

Approximately 5% of adults have an episode of acute bronchitis each year, accounting for more than 10 million medical visits yearly. The primary goal of treatment is reduction of symptoms. Currently, available medications are questionable in effectiveness and safety and are not recommended for routine use in clinical practice. Although Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used in the management of acute bronchitis in China, evidence-based data is lacking. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tanreqing oral liquid in the treatment of acute bronchitis with phlegm-heat obstructing lungs syndrome.

Methods/design

This study is a prospective, multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 270 acute bronchitis adult patients with phlegm-heat obstructing lungs syndrome will be enrolled from outpatients and emergency departments at nine study centers across China. All included patients will be randomly allocated to receive Tanreqing oral liquid or placebo oral liquid, 20 mL three times daily for seven consecutive days. The primary outcome will be cough resolution rate. Secondary outcomes will include change of bronchitis symptoms scores from baseline to post-treatment, cough relief rate, time to cough resolution, time to cough relief, resolution rate of a single symptom, combination medicine use, change of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score from baseline to post-treatment, and adverse events.

Discussion

This trial may provide an alternative treatment option for acute bronchitis patients, especially those in outpatients and emergency departments. It may also add evidence to Chinese herbal medicine for treating acute bronchitis.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000040264. Registered on 26 November 2020
The importance of endobag use with incision-protective devices in VATS lung resection: a preliminary study
Authors: Noguera Carlos Andrés Latorre , Lopes Agnaldo José , Mathias Filho Ivan , Higa Claudio , Nunes Rodolfo Acatauassú , Lima Carlos Eduardo Teixeira , Saito Eduardo Haruo
Published: May 2022

Objective

The advent of new techniques such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the removal of lung segments leads to compression of the surgical specimen, with the possible dissemination of neoplastic cells. The sheer volume of surgeries performed using these techniques has caused many institutions to stop removing the surgical specimen using an endobag, even when retractors/protectors are used in the instrumentalization incision. This study aimed to collect data from patients undergoing lung resection by VATS and analyze the cytopathological results of the collected material.

Results

A total of 47 endobag fluid samples were collected from patients who underwent VATS. The surgical specimen was subjected to histopathological analysis, and all patients underwent pathological TNM staging. In the cytopathological analyses, only 2 (4.3%) specimens of endobag fluid aspirate were positive for neoplastic cells. In these two cases, the tumors were peripheral, both with diagnoses of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and with classifications of T1bN0M0 and T3N0M0. These results indicate that although there is a low incidence of tumor cells in endobag fluid, it is always better to perform surgery using all available protective measures to avoid tumor implantation in the thoracic cavity to the greatest extent possible.
Myt1l haploinsufficiency leads to obesity and multifaceted behavioral alterations in mice
Authors: Wöhr Markus , Fong Wendy M. , Janas Justyna A. , Mall Moritz , Thome Christian , Vangipuram Madhuri , Meng Lingjun , Südhof Thomas C. , Wernig Marius
Published: May 2022

Background

The zinc finger domain containing transcription factor Myt1l is tightly associated with neuronal identity and is the only transcription factor known that is both neuron-specific and expressed in all neuronal subtypes. We identified Myt1l as a powerful reprogramming factor that, in combination with the proneural bHLH factor Ascl1, could induce neuronal fate in fibroblasts. Molecularly, we found it to repress many non-neuronal gene programs, explaining its supportive role to induce and safeguard neuronal identity in combination with proneural bHLH transcriptional activators. Moreover, human genetics studies found MYT1L mutations to cause intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder often coupled with obesity.

Methods

Here, we generated and characterized Myt1l-deficient mice. A comprehensive, longitudinal behavioral phenotyping approach was applied.

Results

Myt1l was necessary for survival beyond 24 h but not for overall histological brain organization. Myt1l heterozygous mice became increasingly overweight and exhibited multifaceted behavioral alterations. In mouse pups, Myt1l haploinsufficiency caused mild alterations in early socio-affective communication through ultrasonic vocalizations. In adulthood, Myt1l heterozygous mice displayed hyperactivity due to impaired habituation learning. Motor performance was reduced in Myt1l heterozygous mice despite intact motor learning, possibly due to muscular hypotonia. While anxiety-related behavior was reduced, acoustic startle reactivity was enhanced, in line with higher sensitivity to loud sound. Finally, Myt1l haploinsufficiency had a negative impact on contextual fear memory retrieval, while cued fear memory retrieval appeared to be intact.

Limitations

In future studies, additional phenotypes might be identified and a detailed characterization of direct reciprocal social interaction behavior might help to reveal effects of Myt1l haploinsufficiency on social behavior in juvenile and adult mice.

Conclusions

Behavioral alterations in Myt1l haploinsufficient mice recapitulate several clinical phenotypes observed in humans carrying heterozygous MYT1L mutations and thus serve as an informative model of the human MYT1L syndrome.
A survey of food-borne and antimicrobial resistance-harbouring bacteria in meat by-products from knackeries and associated equipment and kennels
Authors: McDonnell Shannon , Gutierrez Montserrat , Leonard Finola C. , O’Brien Tony , Kearney Pat , Swan Catherine , Madigan Gillian , Bracken Elaine , McLernon Joanne , Griffin Margaret , O’Sullivan Ciaran M. , Egan John , Prendergast Deirdre M.
Published: May 2022

Background

In Ireland, meat by-products (MBP) harvested at knackeries from farmed animals that have not died of an infectious or systemic disease are legally permitted to be fed to dogs in kennels and packs of hounds. There is limited information available on the risks of spreading foodborne bacteria or antimicrobial resistant (AMR) determinants to dogs, their handlers or the associated environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of Salmonella serovars, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter species, enterococci, their associated AMR determinants and the level of Escherichia coli in samples of MBP from knackeries and associated equipment and kennels. For this purpose, 313 fresh and 208 frozen MBP samples from 22 knackeries, 16 swabs of mincing equipment from two of the knackeries and 138 swabs from kennels adjacent to seven of the knackeries were collected and processed over a 12-month period.

Results

From the 521 MBP samples analysed, a total of 77 Salmonella (14.8%), 101 L. monocytogenes (19.4%), 12 Campylobacter (2.3%), 271 Enterococcus faecalis (52.0%) and 127 Enterococcus faecium (24.4%) strains were recovered. The 154 analysed environmental samples from kennels and mincing equipment yielded 194 isolates (3 Salmonella, 85 E. coli, 76 E. faecalis and 30 E. faecium.). E. coli was quantifiable in 423 of the 521 MBP samples with log counts per gram ranging between 1 and 6. AMR characterisation of 168 E. coli, enterococci and Salmonella isolates from MBP and environmental samples showed high levels of AMR including multi-drug resistance (MDR) with 63.6%, 9.1%, 29% and 45.8% of E. coli, Salmonella, E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates, respectively showing resistance to three or more antimicrobials (MDR)

Conclusions

The findings of this survey confirm that MBP from fallen animals contain high levels of zoonotic and AMR-harbouring bacteria that pose a risk of transmission to dogs, their handlers, and the environment.
Neural, physiological, and psychological markers of appetitive conditioning in anorexia nervosa: a study protocol
Authors: Murray Stuart B. , Zbozinek Tomislav D. , Craske Michelle , Tadayonnejad Reza , Strober Michael , Bari Ausaf A. , O’Doherty John P. , Feusner Jamie D.
Published: May 2022

Background

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a chronic and disabling psychiatric condition characterized by low hedonic drive towards food, and is thought to be inclusive of altered dimensions of reward processing. Whether there exists a fundamental aberrancy in the capacity to acquire and maintain de novo hedonic associations—a critical component of hedonic responding—has never been studied in AN.

Methods

This multi-modal study will employ a 2-day Pavlovian appetitive conditioning paradigm to interrogate the (1) acquisition, (2) extinction, (3) spontaneous recovery and (4) reinstatement of appetitive learning in adolescents and young adults with AN. Participants will be 30 currently ill, underweight individuals with AN; 30 weight-restored individuals with AN; and 30 age-matched healthy controls, all aged 12–22 years. All subjects will undergo clinical assessment, followed by the 2-day appetitive conditioning task during which fMRI, pupillometry, heart rate deceleration, and subjective ratings will be acquired.

Discussion

This study will be the first to interrogate appetitive conditioning in AN—a disorder characterized by altered hedonic responding to food. Results will help establish objective biomarkers of appetitive conditioning in AN and lay the groundwork for developing novel lines of treatment for AN and other psychiatric disorders involving diminished ability to experience pleasure and reward.

Trial registration: Pending.

Intended registry

Clinicaltrials.gov.
Weaving words for textile museums: the development of the linked SILKNOW thesaurus
Authors: Alba Ester , Gaitán Mar , León Arabella , Mladenić Dunia , Brank Janez
Published: May 2022

The cultural heritage domain in general and silk textiles, in particular, are characterized by large, rich and heterogeneous data sets. Silk heritage vocabulary comes from multiple sources that have been mixed up across time and space. This has led to the use of different terminology in specialized organizations in order to describe their artefacts. This makes data interoperability between independent catalogues very difficult. To address these issues, SILKNOW created a multilingual thesaurus related to silk textiles. It was carried out by experts in textile terminology and art historians and computationally implemented by experts in text mining, multi-/cross-linguality and semantic extraction from text. This paper presents the rationale behind the realization of this thesaurus.
Pharmacological use of gamma-aminobutyric acid derivatives in osteoarthritis pain management: a systematic review
Authors: Du Ze , Chen Hanxiao , Cai Yongrui , Zhou Zongke
Published: May 2022

Background

Pain is the major complication of osteoarthritis (OA) patients and is a decisive symptom for medical intervention. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives are optional painkillers but not widely used in pain management of OA patients. We synthesized the efficacy and safety of GABA derivatives for OA pain management.

Methods

We searched Medline, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, and ClinicalTrals.gov from inception to 13 October 2021 and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy and safety of GABA derivatives with placebo or standard control in OA pain management. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed these studies for risk of bias using Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for RCT.

Results

In total, three eligible RCTs (n = 3) meeting the eligibility criteria were included. Among these RCTs, one focused on hand OA pain management, while two RCTs focused on knee OA. In hand OA, pregabalin reduced numerical rating scale (NRS) score and the Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) pain score significantly compared with placebo, and caused 55 AEs. In knee OA, pregabalin reduced visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score significantly with no recorded adverse event (AE). Meanwhile, in knee OA, gabapentin reduced both VAS score and WOMAC pain score compared with acetaminophen and caused 9 AEs.

Conclusions

GABA derivatives seem to be effective and safe in OA pain management. However, future researches with large sample size are needed to further prove the efficacy of GABA derivatives in OA pain control.

Trial registration: CRD42021240225.
Slavery and the Rise of the Nineteenth-Century American Economy
Authors: Wright Gavin
Published: May 2022

The essay considers the claim that slavery played a leading role in the acceleration of US economic growth in the nineteenth century. Although popular among pro-slavery apologists, the proposition fails under rigorous historical scrutiny. The slave South discouraged immigration, underinvested in transportation infrastructure, and failed to educate the majority of its population. It is not even clear that the region produced more cotton than it would have under a counterfactual alternative settlement by free family farmers, on the free-state pattern. The grain of truth in recently popular narratives is that many northerners and business interests were complicit in the crime of slavery: routinely engaging in transactions with slaveholders, even promoting activities that facilitated slavery and the domestic slave trade. Complicity complicates simple historical moralism, but it is quite different from the notion that the prosperity of the nation as a whole derived from slavery in any fundamental way.
A Social Insurance Perspective on Pandemic Fiscal Policy: Implications for Unemployment Insurance and Hazard Pay
Authors: Romer Christina D. , Romer David H.
Published: May 2022

This paper considers fiscal policy during the pandemic through the lens of optimal social insurance. We develop a simple framework to analyze how government taxes and transfers could mimic the insurance that people would like to have had against pandemic income losses. Permutations of the framework provide insight into how unemployment insurance should be structured, when and how much hazard pay is called for, and whether fiscal policy should aim just to redistribute income or also to stimulate aggregate demand during a pandemic. When we use the insights from the model to evaluate unemployment insurance measures taken during the pandemic, we find that some, but far from all, of the implications of the social insurance framework were followed. In the case of hazard pay, we find that the proposal for a national program (the never-implemented HEROES Act) was both broader and more generous than a social insurance perspective would call for. We suggest that the social insurance perspective on fiscal policy is likely to become increasingly relevant as pandemics and climate-related natural disasters become more common causes of unemployment and recessions.
Η ναυτιλιακή κίνηση του Χάνδακα κατά τον 15ο και 16ο αιώνα
Authors: Γρατσέα Αριστέα
Published: May 2022

Η παρούσα διατριβή έχει ως αντικείμενο τη ναυτιλία και το εμπόριο του Χάνδακα στο μεταίχμιο από τον ύστερο μεσαίωνα στους πρώιμους νεότερους χρόνους. Η υπό μελέτη περίοδος σηματοδοτεί τη μετάβαση από την κρατικά οργανωμένη ναυτιλία σε μία περισσότερο ελεύθερη ναυτιλία, στην οποία οι αποικίες της Γαληνοτάτης διαδραμάτισαν καθοριστικό ρόλο. Κορμό της μελέτης αποτελούν τα αρχεία που εναπόκεινται στο Κρατικό Αρχείο της Βενετίας (Archivio di Stato di Venezia) σε συνδυασμό με το δημοσιευμένο αρχειακό υλικό και την υπάρχουσα βιβλιογραφία. Συγκεκριμένα, η μελέτη βασίζεται σε 1047 εγγυητικά έγγραφα και σε πλήθος νοταριακών εγγράφων. Παράλληλα χρησιμοποιήθηκαν και άλλα είδη εγγράφων όπως αιτήσεις των υπηκόων προς τη Γαληνοτάτη, εκθέσεις Προνοητών, αποφάσεις Συγκλήτου και ενημερωτικές επιστολές. Αρχικά παρουσιάζονται οι απαραίτητες πληροφορίες για την πόλη, την αγορά και το λιμάνι του Χάνδακα, καθώς και η πολιτική της Γαληνοτάτης σε σχέση με το εμπόριο της Ανατολικής Μεσογείου. Πυρήνα της μελέτης αποτελεί το θαλάσσιο εμπόριο και η ναυτιλία που αναπτύχθηκε στο λιμάνι του Χάνδακα. Υπό αυτό το πρίσμα εξετάζονται οι ναυτιλιακές ζώνες του κρητικού εμπορίου, τα είδη των πλοίων που χρησιμοποιούνταν και ο ρόλος του λιμανιού του Χάνδακα και του όρμου των Φρασκιών στο εμπορικό και ναυτιλιακό σύστημα της Βενετίας Αναλύονται οι εμπορικές συμφωνίες που δημιουργήθηκαν στο λιμάνι του Χάνδακα, τα εμπορεύματα που διακινούνταν και η κοινωνική και γεωγραφική προέλευση των συμμετεχόντων στις ναυτιλιακές δραστηριότητες του λιμανιού. Επιπλέον, παρουσιάζονται τα σημαντικότερα πρόσωπα που συμμετείχαν σε αυτές τις δραστηριότητες. Τέλος με αφορμή συμβόλαια αντικαταστατών στις γαλέρες που επανδρώνονταν στον Χάνδακα αναλύεται ο θεσμός τη αγγαρείας της θάλασσας και ο θεσμός των αντισκάρων, καθώς και τα δίκτυα που αναπτύχθηκαν μεταξύ χωρικών-φεουδαρχών-sopracomiti και αντισκάρων.
Τοπική αυτοδιοίκηση και προστασία περιβάλλοντος
Authors: Κουστένη Σταυρούλα
Published: May 2022

Στις μέρες μας, η ανάγκη εξασφάλισης ενός βιώσιμου, οικολογικά ισόρροπου και καλαίσθητου περιβάλλοντος συνιστά κοινή παραδοχή. Η ικανοποίηση της ζωτικής αυτής ανάγκης αποτελεί δε προϋπόθεση για την επιβίωση του ανθρώπου και τη διατήρηση της υγείας του, όπως και για τη διασφάλιση της αξιοπρέπειάς του, απόρροια της οποίας αποτελεί η αξίωση για ποιότητα ζωής. Γι’ αυτό, ο στόχος της περιβαλλοντικής προστασίας πρέπει να ενσωματωθεί στις δημόσιες πολιτικές κάθε επιπέδου κρατικής διοίκησης και τοπικής αυτοδιοίκησης. Στο επίπεδο, μάλιστα, της τοπικής αυτοδιοίκησης, ως το διοικητικό επίπεδο το πλησιέστερο προς τον πολίτη, η περιβαλλοντική διαχείριση μπορεί να γίνει πιο αποτελεσματική.Υπό τα δεδομένα αυτά, η παρούσα μελέτη στοχεύει στην διερεύνηση των τριών βασικών παραγόντων της μετάβασης προς μια πιο δυνατή τοπική αυτοδιοίκηση, ήτοι την ενίσχυση της διοικητικής αυτοτέλειας, της δημοσιονομικής επάρκειας και της δημοκρατικής συμμετοχής, ώστε να είναι πράγματι σε θέση να έχει ένα πιο ουσιαστικό ρόλο στην περιβαλλοντική προστασία. Σημειωτέον ότι η μελέτη εστιάζει στο ρόλο της τοπικής αυτοδιοίκησης στην προστασία του φυσικού και του οικιστικού περιβάλλοντος.Έτσι, αρχικά, οριοθετείται η έννοια του προστατευτέου εννόμου αγαθού του περιβάλλοντος και γίνεται μια όσο το δυνατόν περιεκτικότερη αναφορά στην ισχύουσα περιβαλλοντική νομοθεσία, καθώς και στην νομοθεσία που διέπει το θεσμό της Τοπικής Αυτοδιοίκησης στην Ελλάδα, με έμφαση στο πεδίο των αρμοδιοτήτων της τοπικής αυτοδιοίκησης. Η μελέτη αφιερώνει ιδιαίτερο κεφάλαιο στην εξέταση του περιεχομένου της έννοιας «τοπική υπόθεση». Στη συνέχεια, εξετάζονται οι δυνατότητες ενίσχυσης της διοικητικής και της δημοσιονομικής αυτοτέλειας των ΟΤΑ, βάσει του ισχύοντος θεσμικού πλαισίου, τις οποίες, όμως, αυτοί αξιοποιούν κατά εσφαλμένο τρόπο ή δεν έχουν αξιοποιήσει καθόλου. Προτείνονται ακόμα ορισμένες γενικότερες θεσμικές αλλαγές σε νομοθετικό επίπεδο, όπως η θέσπιση ενός συστήματος τοπικών φόρων με βάση περιβαλλοντικά κριτήρια. Τέλος δε, εξετάζονται ειδικότερα μέσα συμβατικής δράσης της τοπικής αυτοδιοίκησης και η δυνατότητα χρήσης ορισμένων επιχειρηματικών σχημάτων, ενώ διερευνάται η πρακτική αξία της δημοκρατικής συμμετοχής στην προαγωγή της περιβαλλοντικής διαχείρισης σε τοπικό επίπεδο.Η μελέτη καταλήγει στο συμπέρασμα ότι η τοπική αυτοδιοίκηση οφείλει, κατά τεκμήριο, να διαχειρίζεται περιβαλλοντικές αρμοδιότητες τοπικού χαρακτήρα. Προς τούτο, προτείνεται η διεύρυνση των διοικητικών αρμοδιοτήτων της, με γνώμονα συγκεκριμένα νομικά και λειτουργικά κριτήρια, η εξασφάλιση της δημοσιονομικής της επάρκειας, μέσω της ορθολογικής διαχείρισης των υφιστάμενων οικονομικών πόρων και της θέσπισης νέων τοπικών εσόδων, καθώς και η ενθάρρυνση της ενεργού συμμετοχής των μελών της τοπικής κοινωνίας σε διαδικασίες λήψης αποφάσεων για το περιβάλλον, ιδίως μέσω της αξιοποίησης των υφισταμένων θεσμών δημοκρατικής συμμετοχής και των δυνατοτήτων των νέων τεχνολογιών.
Σχέσεις εξουσίας και σχολείο
Authors: Ρετάλης Γεώργιος
Published: May 2022

Στο τυπικό εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα οι μαθητές-ριες αποκλείονται από τη λήψη αποφάσεων σε κάθε επίπεδο. Η παρούσα εργασία μελετά τις περιπτώσεις τριών τυπικών δημόσιων σχολικών μονάδων σε ένα χωριό της ελληνικής επαρχίας, οι οποίες εφάρμοσαν άτυπα αμεσοδημοκρατικές ενδοσχολικές συνελεύσεις (‘Σχολικό Συμβούλιο’), μέσα από τις οποίες οι εκπαιδευτικοί από κοινού με τους/τις μαθητές-ριες λάμβαναν τις αποφάσεις που αφορούν τη σχολική ζωή. Οι συνελεύσεις συντονίζονταν από επιτροπή μαθητών-ριών, ενώ εκπαιδευτικοί και μαθητές-ριες συμμετείχαν ισότιμα. Η εφαρμογή ξεκίνησε από το Δημοτικό/Νηπιαγωγείο και επεκτάθηκε, σε πιο περιορισμένη έκταση, στο τοπικό Γυμνάσιο. Οι περιπτώσεις μελετώνται και σε σχέση με το τοπικό Λύκειο.Στόχος της έρευνας ήταν να μελετηθεί η λειτουργία των συνελεύσεων, ο τρόπος με τον οποίο λειτουργούσαν οι εν λόγω σχολικές μονάδες και οι στάσεις, αντιλήψεις και αποτίμηση της εφαρμογής τους από τους/τις μαθητές-ριες, εκπαιδευτικούς και γονείς. Η μελέτη γίνεται με βάση την ανάλυση του Michel Foucault για την εξουσία σε συστήματα όπως η Εκπαίδευση. Ακολουθήθηκε η μέθοδος της συμμετοχικής παρατήρησης με παράλληλη λήψη ημιδομημένων συνεντεύξεων από μαθητές-ριες, εκπαιδευτικούς καιγονείς. Τα δεδομένα αναλύθηκαν με τη μέθοδο της θεματικής ανάλυσης.Βασικά συμπεράσματα της έρευνας είναι ότι οι εν λόγω σχολικές μονάδες και οι ενδοσχολικές σχέσεις εξουσίας λειτουργούσαν κατά τα προβλεπόμενα από το κυρίαρχο σύστημα, καθώς και ότι οι μαθητές-ριες φάνηκαν να ενδυναμώνονται μέσα από τη λειτουργία αυτών των Συμβουλίων. Επίσης, οι συμμετέχοντες-ουσες είχαν εύστοχη αντίληψη της πρακτικής, ως επί το πλείστον θετική αποτίμηση της εφαρμογής της και θετική στάση απέναντί της. Η διατριβή ολοκληρώνεται με αναστοχασμό για τις δυνατότητες, τις προϋποθέσεις και τη δυναμική της εφαρμογής μιας εκπαιδευτικής πρακτικής όπως η μελετώμενη εντός των κυρίαρχων συστημάτων.
Dataset for measuring the conceptual understanding of optics in Rwanda
Authors: Ndihokubwayo Kizito , Ralph Michael , Ndayambaje Irénée , Uwamahoro Jean
Published: May 2022

This dataset is an accumulation of data collected to test Rwandan physics students’ conceptual understanding of light phenomena and to assess instructional tools for active learning of optics. We collected and analysed data from 251 grade 11 (senior 5) students using our Light Phenomena Conceptual Assessment (LPCA) tool and from 136 grade 10 (senior 4) students using Geometric Optics Conceptual Understanding Test (GOCUT) in 2019. Before collecting data, we designed and validated LPCA and GOCUT, and tested their reliability. Data were collected before and after students learnt about the unit of light. Both day and boarding schools in rural and urban areas were included in our sampling. Data collected were test scores from students after performing a 30-item LPCA test or 25-item GOCUT test in 40 minutes. The data may be reused to extend  students' understanding of optics concepts through item analysis, analysis of school characteristics such as location and school type, or by analysing students' characteristics such as subject combinations.
ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FREIGHT FORWARDERS IN THE LOGISTICS SERVICES MARKET
Authors: MELNIKOV A.R. , MELNIKOVA I.P. , MELNIKOVA M.A.
Published: May 2022

The characteristic of the forwarding company is given, which is able to provide the client-cargo owner with a reduction in costs in the transport component of the price of goods. The object of the study is: the market of freight forwarding services. The objectives of the research, based on the methods of analysis and synthesis are research and analysis of the current state of the issue of interaction between the customer and the forwarder in the logistics market; determination of requirements for the forwarding company and determination of approaches to solving the problem of reducing the transport costs of the customer-cargo owner.
METHODOLOGICAL FEATURES OF APPLICATION OF SIMILARITY THEORY IN THE CALCULATION OF NON-STATIONARY ONE-DIMENSIONAL LINEAR THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF A ROD
Authors: ZOTOVA V.A. , SKACHKOVA E.G. , FEOFANOVA T.D.
Published: May 2022

The article describes the methodological features of the analytical solution of the problem of non-stationary one-dimensional linear thermal conductivity of the rod. The authors propose to obtain a solution to such problems by the method of finite differences using the Fourier similarity criterion. This approach is especially attractive because the similarity theory in the vast majority of cases makes it possible to do without expensive experiments and obtain simple solutions for a wide range of problems.
PROFESSIONALLY-ORIENTED TRAINING OF MANAGERS BY METHODS OF MATHEMATICS
Authors: MONAKO T.P.
Published: May 2022

The article is devoted to topical issues related to the development of a methodology for teaching mathematics, aimed at enhancing the educational and cognitive activity of students. The purpose of the article is the development of didactic conditions for the activation of students’ cognitive activity. The author is based on modern research on the problem of activating the cognitive activity of students. The leading approach is the process approach to learning, ensuring that students understand the mathematical content. The main result is the identification and substantiation of the conditions for the activation of educational and cognitive activity of students of technical universities in the process of teaching mathematics. The results of the research can serve as a basis for writing other scientific papers on a given topic. The practical significance is since the results of the study can be used for educational purposes.
METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF TECHNOLOGY “INVERTED LEARNING” IN CHEMISTRY LESSONS
Authors: NELYUBINA E.G. , PANFILOVA L.V.
Published: May 2022

At the present time - the time of information technology and the rapid development of science and technology - a person has to constantly learn and retrain. The changes that have taken place in the education system in recent years have led to a rethinking of teaching methods and technologies. The technology of blended learning, one of the models of which is “inverted learning”, allows to succinctly include information and communication technologies in the educational process, while increasing the quality of education, creating a new level of personal responsibility for the student and by creating conditions for the development of metasubject competencies. Purpose - to develop methodological techniques for the implementation of the “flipped learning” technology in the framework of teaching chemistry in basic school, aimed at the formation of subject universal educational activities in chemistry. Method or methodology of the work: the main research methods were analysis, pedagogical experiment and interpretation of the results of the experiment. Results: solved at the theoretical and methodological level the problem of selection of methodological techniques aimed at the implementation of the technology “inverted learning” in the basic school.
VR TECHNOLOGIES AS A MEANS OF VIRTUAL MUSEUM PEDAGOGY
Authors: DMITRIENKO B.Ch. , KOVALEVA O.A. , RUBETS E.A.
Published: May 2022

Currently, museum pedagogy is a very promising area, covering all types of interactions between the museum and its audience. Museum pedagogy is an interdisciplinary field of scientific knowledge, “formed at the intersection of pedagogy, psychology, museology and the relevant discipline of the museum and built on its basis specific practical activities focused on the transfer of cultural (artistic) experience in a museum environment”. The rapid development of technology has led to the so-called modification of this scientific field, we mean a new branch of pedagogical knowledge is emerging - virtual museum pedagogy. VR technologies are beginning to occupy leading positions, but it is important to note that today in art pedagogy there is no idea how to build the educational process in such a context. Thus, this area of pedagogy today requires a deep and comprehensive study. This has determined the purpose of this study. The objectives of the study follow from the goal: 1) To reveal the specifics of virtual museum pedagogy 2) To develop basic pedagogical recommendations for conducting virtual excursions using VR technologies Materials and methods. The methods of this study were analysis and synthesis. Results and discussion. The results of the study consist in the VR technologies usage in art pedagogy features identification.
METHODICAL APPROACHES AND EXPERIENCE OF THE FORMATION OF THE COMMUNICATIVE UNIVERSAL LEARNING SKILLS OF YOUNGER SCHOOLCHILDREN USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES (LITERATURE REVIEW)
Authors: ZATONA D.S. , SHATOKHINA I.V.
Published: May 2022

The article is devoted to the problem of formation of communicative universal learning skills of junior schoolchildren in the process of primary lingual education. The authors consider the organization of communicative interaction of the agents of the educational process at the lessons using digital technologies to be one of the important conditions for solving this problem. The article contains a theoretical review of researches on the role and capabilities of those technologies in both lingual education and the development of primary school students. The components of digital technologies, the use of which at the lessons of native language contributes to the development of students’ communicative skills are described in the article. The authors also analyze and summarize the experience of using digital technologies at native language lessons by primary school teachers. The researchers conclude that the use of various opportunities of the modern digital educational environment allows individual teaching methods and differentiated approach to students, creating opportunities for the development of their communicative skills and abilities.