bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding mechanisms of change in a family-based preventive mental health intervention for refugees by refugees in New England
Authors: DiClemente-Bosco Kira , Elizabeth Neville Sarah , Berent Jenna M. , Farrar Jordan , Mishra Tej , Abdi Abdirahman , Beardslee William R. , Creswell John W. , Betancourt Theresa S.
Published: August 2022

Transnational migration of refugees is associated with poor mental health, particularly among children. We conducted a pilot trial of the Family Strengthening Intervention for Refugees (FSI-R), using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to deliver a home-based intervention “for refugees by refugees” to improve family functioning and child mental health. N = 80 refugee families in the Greater Boston area participated in the study ( n = 40 Somali Bantu families; n = 40 Bhutanese families) with n = 41 families randomized to care-as-usual. Of the 39 families who received FSI-R, n = 36 caregivers and children completed qualitative exit interviews. We present findings from these interviews to identify the mechanisms through which a family-strengthening intervention for refugees can be acceptable, feasible, and effective at improving family functioning and children's mental health outcomes. Authors applied Grounded Theory to code interview transcripts and detailed field notes and used an iterative process to arrive at final codes, themes, and a theoretical framework. The greatest contributors to acceptability and feasibility included flexibility in scheduling intervention sessions, the interventionist being a community member, and improvements to family communication and time spent together. All of these factors were made possible by the CBPR approach. Our findings suggest that given the socio-political context within the U.S. and the economic challenges faced by refugee families, the successful implementation of such interventions hinges on culturally-grounding the intervention design process, drawing heavily on community input, and prioritizing community members as interventionists.
Clinical frailty score: A useful tool in predicting outcomes in patients with fragility fractures
Authors: Brown Robyn , Gatfield Sophie , Rogers Michaela , Peter Noel , Torrie Alex
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Frailty is a known risk factor for falls and subsequent fractures and is linked to greater hospitalisation, morbidity, and mortality in various areas of medicine. A 2017 Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN) report identified that further research was needed to determine the effect of frailty on outcomes in trauma patients. The UK Best Practice Tariff currently awards a financial incentive for frailty scoring for all patients sustaining major trauma who are managed at Major Trauma Centres (MTCs). However, this currently does not extend to Trauma Units (TUs) or to patients without major trauma. This retrospective cohort study sought to investigate whether frailty also has a significant effect on outcomes in patients presenting with fragility fractures presenting to trauma units without major trauma.

Methods

Notes from all patients aged ≥65 admitted to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in 2019 with any fragility fracture were reviewed retrospectively. Age, injury, length of stay, and mortality were recorded. A Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) was assigned retrospectively using the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale.

Results

Eight hundred sixty patients were reviewed (male:female 258:602, mean age 83 ± 8.2). Each consecutive stepwise increase in CFS was independently associated with an average cumulative increase in mortality rate at 30-day and 1 year (OR 1.55 and 1.58 respectively, p < 0.001), as well as average cumulative percentage increase in length of stay (OR 1.094, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Clinical frailty score independently predicts adverse outcome in patients with fragility fractures managed at trauma units. Clinical frailty score could be used to easily identify patients at risk of poorer outcomes and may assist in allocation of limited orthogeriatric resources and future BPT guidelines. Further work should promote recognition of frailty within trauma settings, investigate how additional resources affect outcomes for patients of varying degrees of frailty, and consider multicentre studies relating to frailty-associated outcomes in trauma.
The climate-related financial disclosure regulations 2022: A step in the right direction for ESG in the private sector
Authors: Brown Lloyd
Published: August 2022

This legislative note examines the recent regulatory changes that were introduced on 6 April 2022, and which consequently affect the Companies Act 2006 and the Limited Liability Partnerships (Account and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008. The amendments mean that companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) that fall within the regulations’ scope must now disclose their climate change risks and opportunities. It is submitted in this work that these amendments are a step in the right direction for ‘environment social governance’ (ESG) in the private sector. Indeed, the need to report on climate change risk is likely to drive the appetite of affected businesses to develop their ESG programmes within their overall risk management frameworks. Together with this intrinsic impact, the changes are also likely to increase ESG and CSR within the markets more broadly.
Calibrating home, hospitality and reciprocity in migration
Authors: Harney Nicholas DeMaria , Boccagni Paolo
Published: August 2022

Hospitality, as an analytic and a lived experience, is central to the day-to-day workings of home, and to managing the tensions and contradictions inherent in place attachment and appropriation on any scale – from the domestic to the national one. This emerges as a contentious and yet under-researched social question whenever newcomers such as immigrants and refugees lay some claim for guesthood. Following this premise, and based also on our fieldwork, this article outlines a conceptual argument for a joint understanding of home and hospitality in time and space. This leads us to conceptualize ‘calibrated hospitality’ to appreciate the ongoing dialectic between the spatial, temporal, and relational dimensions of the host–guest encounter in immigrant- and refugee-receiving societies. Looking at immigrant and refugee inclusion in terms of hospitality being claimed, negotiated, and possibly denied, relative to the theories and practices of ‘home’, opens an extensive conceptual terrain for social research that is more connected to foundational lived cultural idioms, and contextually more sensitive, than approaches based only on policy frames such as integration, or on formal entitlements such as access or residence rights.
Feminization of Female FARC-EP Combatants: From War Battle to Social-Economical Struggle
Authors: Lopera-Arbeláez Isabel
Published: August 2022

Women combatants of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) participated in the Colombian peace process at different stages, at the negotiation table, at the signing of the agreement, and in the implementation of the accords. However, the process of reincorporation into civil society also produces new roles that do not appear in the Peace Agreement. Once they lay down their arms, FARC-EP women want to enjoy all human rights and expand their freedoms. But the societies that receive them have structural flaws in the way they are treated. They are acquiring, adapting, or resisting gender regulations, not widely available in the armed group. Based on qualitative fieldwork, this research aims to expose functionings and real capabilities, in the light of dimensions of reincorporation. Further evaluations of achievements and limitations suggest that female FARC-EP ex-combatants face greater barriers, burdens, and gaps than their male counterparts. These refer to unpaid domestic and care work, and gender-based violence and discrimination.
Is Religion Special?
Authors: Moon Jordan W. , Cohen Adam B. , Laurin Kristin , MacKinnon David P.
Published: August 2022

Religion makes unique claims (e.g., the existence of supernatural agents) not found in other belief systems, but is religion itself psychologically special? Furthermore, religion is related to many domains of psychological interest, such as morality, health and well-being, self-control, meaning, and death anxiety. Does religion act on these domains via special mechanisms that are unlike secular mechanisms? These could include mechanisms such as beliefs in supernatural agents, providing ultimate meaning, and providing literal immortality. We apply a critical eye to these questions of specialness and conclude that although it is clear that religion is psychologically important, there is not yet strong evidence that it is psychologically special, with the possible exception of its effects on health. We highlight what would be required of future research aimed at convincingly demonstrating that religion is indeed psychologically special, including careful definitions of religion and careful attention to experimental design and causal inference.
Changes in Small Noncoding RNA Expression during Chondrocyte Senescence
Authors: Xiao Fei , Wang Chenglong , Peng Jianping , Zhou Xing , Ma Ding , Wang Yu , Li Yanpeng , Chen Xiaodong , Wang Chuandong
Published: August 2022

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the chronic and progressive deterioration of articular cartilage. Chondrocyte senescence could lead to a shift in the balance between extracellular matrix (ECM) component synthesis and degradation. Small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), P-element-induced wimpy testis-(PIWI-) interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), and repeat-associated siRNAs (rasiRNAs), are a class of important epigenetic molecules. We aimed to gain insights into the changes and roles of sncRNA in chondrocyte senescence.

Design

Healthy mouse postnatal chondrocytes were isolated, and a replicative aging model was constructed. We used small RNA sequencing (small RNA-seq) to generate extensive small RNA data. We identified differentially expressed sncRNAs and performed tissue-specific analysis using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). β-galactosidase staining was used to detect chondrocyte senescence. The results showed that the expression profiles of sncRNA in passage 5 chondrocytes were significantly different from those in passage 0 chondrocytes. The expression of sncRNA was tissue specific. We found that 40 miRNAs were upregulated and 70 miRNAs were downregulated during chondrocyte senescence, and that miR-132-5p expression inhibition prevented chondrocyte senescence. We found that 8 piRNAs were upregulated and 17 piRNAs were downregulated during chondrocyte senescence, and that piRNA piR_025576 overexpression delayed chondrocyte senescence. We found that 24 snoRNAs were upregulated and 28 snoRNAs were downregulated during chondrocyte senescence, and that snoRNA ENSMUSG00000087935 overexpression delayed chondrocyte senescence. We found that 5 snRNAs were upregulated and 6 snRNAs were downregulated during chondrocyte senescence, and that snRNA ENSMUSG00000064682 overexpression delayed chondrocyte senescence. We found that 1 rasiRNA was upregulated and 4 rasiRNAs were downregulated during chondrocyte senescence.

Conclusions

These findings might provide novel insights into OA pathogenesis and contribute to the development of candidates for targeted therapeutics in OA.
Record of a dense succession of drowning phases in the Alpstein mountains, north-eastern Switzerland: part I—the Lower Cretaceous Tierwis Formation (latest Hauterivian to latest Barremian)
Authors: Pictet Antoine , Kürsteiner Peter , Tschanz Karl , Tajika Amane
Published: August 2022

In the Alpstein massif of north-eastern Switzerland, a complete succession of uppermost Hauterivian to uppermost Barremian condensed hemipelagic sediments crops out. This succession is known as Tierwis Formation, comprising in ascending order, the Altmann and Drusberg members. The sedimentary succession bears a number of fossiliferous glauconite- or phosphate-rich beds. A large number of newly discovered ammonites from these key beds and from several poorly explored levels of the Tierwis Formation allows for a new age calibration. The new dating as well as revised sequence stratigraphic interpretations and geochemistry contribute to a better understanding of the lithostratigraphic complexity of the Tierwis Formation and its spatio-temporal relationship with the Schrattenkalk Formation. The new lithostratigraphic observations, backed by ammonites, shows that the Altmann type-section and the Tierwis paratype-section do not cover the same stratigraphic interval because of dynamic sedimentation processes as erosion and sedimentation in submarine channels. We suggest that a phosphatic conglomerate in the Dursberg Member of middle late Barremian age corresponds to the Chopf Bed, which we recognised for the first time in the Alsptein massif. The Drusberg Member strongly thickens toward the southeast and progressively covers an upward extended stratigraphic range. Furthermore, the new dating of the key-surfaces and beds highlight a dense succession of drowning phases which occurred through the latest Hauterivian to late Barremian time interval. The latest Hauterivian onset of the glauconite-rich sedimentation of the Altmann Member is associated with a first major drowning phase, followed by the Faraoni oceanic anoxic event. The change of sedimentation to a rhythmic marl-limestone alternation of the Drusberg Member takes place over a polyzonal phosphatic conglomerate. This conglomerate coincides with a second major drowning phase and the onset of the Mid-Barremian Event, which is calibrated on the Tethyan ammonite biozonation.
Relationship between time from symptom’s onset to diagnosis and prognosis in patients with symptomatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Esteva Magdalena , Leiva Alfonso , Ramos-Monserrat María , Espí Alejandro , González-Luján Luis , Macià Francesc , Murta-Nascimento Cristiane , Sánchez-Calavera María A. , Magallón Rosa , Balboa-Barreiro Vanesa , Seoane-Pillado Teresa , Pertega-Díaz Sonia
Published: August 2022

Background

Controversy exists regarding the relationship of the outcome of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with the time from symptom onset to diagnosis. The aim of this study is to investigate this association, with the assumption that this relationship was nonlinear and with adjustment for multiple confounders, such as tumor grade, symptoms, or admission to an emergency department.

Methods

This multicenter study with prospective follow-up was performed in five regions of Spain from 2010 to 2012. Symptomatic cases of incident CRC from a previous study were examined. At the time of diagnosis, each patient was interviewed, and the associated hospital and clinical records were reviewed. During follow-up, the clinical records were reviewed again to assess survival. Cox survival analysis with a restricted cubic spline was used to model overall and CRC-specific survival, with adjustment for variables related to the patient, health service, and tumor.

Results

A total of 795 patients had symptomatic CRC and 769 of them had complete data on diagnostic delay and survival. Univariate analysis indicated a lower HR for death in patients who had diagnostic intervals less than 4.2 months. However, after adjustment for variables related to the patient, tumor, and utilized health service, there was no relationship of the diagnostic delay with survival of patients with colon and rectal cancer, colon cancer alone, or rectal cancer alone. Cubic spline analysis indicated an inverse association of the diagnostic delay with 5-year survival. However, this association was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that the duration of diagnostic delay had no significant effect on the outcome of patients with CRC. We suggest that the most important determinant of the duration of diagnostic delay is the biological profile of the tumor. However, it remains the responsibility of community health centers and authorities to minimize diagnostic delays in patients with CRC and to implement initiatives that improve early diagnosis and provide better outcomes.
The relationship between primary colorectal cancer histology and the histopathological growth patterns of corresponding liver metastases
Authors: Höppener Diederik J. , Stook Jean-Luc P. L. , Galjart Boris , Nierop Pieter M. H. , Nagtegaal Iris D. , Vermeulen Peter B. , Grünhagen Dirk J. , Verhoef Cornelis , Doukas Michail ,   PALGA Group
Published: August 2022

Background

The histopathological growth patterns (HGPs) are a prognostic and predictive biomarker in colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM). This study evaluates the relationship between the HGP and primary colorectal cancer (CRC) histopathology.

Methods

A total of 183 treatment-naive patients with resected CRC and CRLM were included. Thirteen CRC histopathology markers were determined and compared between the desmoplastic and non-desmoplastic HGP; tumour sidedness, pT&pN stage, tumour grade, tumour deposits, perineural- (lympho-)vascular- and extramural venous invasion, peritumoural budding, stroma type, CRC growth pattern, Crohn’s-like lymphoid reaction, and tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density. Logistic regression analysis was performed using both CRC and CRLM characteristics.

Results

Unfavourable CRC histopathology was more frequent in non-desmoplastic CRLM for all markers evaluated, and significantly so for a lower TIL density, absent Crohn’s-like lymphoid reaction, and a “non-mature” stroma (all p < 0.03). The cumulative prevalence of unfavourable CRC histopathology was significantly higher in patients with non-desmoplastic compared to desmoplastic CRLM, with a median (IQR) of 4 (3–6) vs 2 (1–3.5) unfavourable characteristics observed, respectively (p < 0.001). Multivariable regression with 9 CRC histopathology markers and 2 CRLM characteristics achieved good discriminatory performance (AUC = 0.83).

Conclusions

The results of this study associates primary CRC histopathology with the HGP of corresponding liver metastases.
Don’t blame psychosis, blame the lack of services: a message for early intervention from the Greek standard care model
Authors: Dimitrakopoulos Stefanos , Stefanatou Pentagiotissa , Vlachos Ilias , Selakovic Mirjana , Xenaki Lida-Alkisti , Ralli Irene , Soldatos Rigas-Filippos , Nianiakas Nikolaos , Kosteletos Ioannis , Foteli Stefania , Mantonakis Leonidas , Kollias Costas T. , Stefanis Nikos C.
Published: August 2022

Background

Early Intervention Services (EIS) aim to reduce relapse rates and achieve better treatment and functional outcomes for first episode psychosis (FEP) patients. Existing models of services in Greece are still treatment as usual (TAU), however a reform of mental health services is underway and initial steps have been taken to shift standard care towards EIS. The purpose of the study is to address therapeutic gaps by exploring service engagement and relapse rates in the current standard care model for psychosis.

Methods

We examined follow-up and relapse rates one year after initial treatment contact in the first longitudinal FEP study conducted in Greece. 225 patients were enrolled between 2015–2020. Sociodemographic, clinical and functional characteristics were assessed in association with follow-up and relapse rates.

Results

Within a TAU follow-up setting, one year attrition rates were high. Only 87 patients (38,7%) retained contact with services after one year and within this time frame, 19 of them (21,8%) experienced a severe relapse requiring rehospitalization. Demographic, clinical and functional contributors failed to predict service engagement and relapse rates, with the exception of treatment adherence.

Conclusion

Both follow-up and one-year rehospitalization rates in our FEP sample, highlight the need for the implementation of early intervention services, that will aim at engagement maximization and relapse prevention. These indexes also provide a benchmark against which future early intervention services for psychosis in Greece will have to demonstrate superior efficacy.
Chronic diseases and multi-morbidity in persons experiencing homelessness: results from a cross-sectional study conducted at three humanitarian clinics in Germany in 2020
Authors: Lutchmun Wandini , Gach Janina , Borup Christiane , Froeschl Guenter
Published: August 2022

Background

Persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) suffer a high burden of chronic diseases and multi-morbidity, yet face significant barriers in accessing healthcare services. These health inequalities were further aggravated during the COVID-19 pandemic. While there is a lack of comprehensive health data on PEH, even less is known about populations experiencing housing exclusion, a hidden form of homelessness. This study examines and compares chronic diseases and multi-morbidity in PEH, persons experiencing housing exclusion, and persons with secure housing who lacked access to regular healthcare services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

Methods

Study participants were adults who sought medical care at clinics of the humanitarian organisation “Ärzte der Welt” in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin in 2020. The patients were categorised into three housing groups according to the ETHOS classification of homelessness and housing exclusion. Socio-demographic characteristics, self-rated health, chronic diseases and multi-morbidity were described in each group. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify socio-demographic factors associated with higher odds of chronic diseases and multi-morbidity in each housing group.

Results

Of the 695 study participants, 333 experienced homelessness, 292 experienced housing exclusion and 70 had secure housing. 92.3% of all patients had either no or limited health coverage, and 96.7% were below the poverty line. Males and EU/EEA citizens were highly represented among PEH (74.2% and 56.8% respectively). PEH had lower self-rated health (47.8%,p = 0.04), and a higher prevalence of psychiatric illness (20.9%,p = 0.04). In adjusted analyses, belonging to the age group 35–49 and ≥ 50 years were associated with greater odds of chronic disease (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.68–3.24; AOR = 3.57, 95% CI = 2.55–5.01, respectively) while being ≥ 50 years old was associated with multi-morbidity (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.21, 3.33). Of the 18 participants tested for SARS-COV-2, 15 were PEH, 1 of whom tested positive.

Conclusions

Housing status was not an independent risk factor for chronic disease and multi-morbidity in our study population. However, PEH reported poorer self-rated and psychiatric health. Strategies to improve access to healthcare services amongst persons experiencing homelessness and housing exclusion are needed in Germany.
The use of generative adversarial networks to alleviate class imbalance in tabular data: a survey
Authors: Sauber-Cole Rick , Khoshgoftaar Taghi M.
Published: August 2022

The existence of class imbalance in a dataset can greatly bias the classifier towards majority classification. This discrepancy can pose a serious problem for deep learning models, which require copious and diverse amounts of data to learn patterns and output classifications. Traditionally, data-level and algorithm-level techniques have been instrumental in mitigating the adverse effect of class imbalance. With the recent development and proliferation of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), researchers across a variety of disciplines have adapted the architecture of GANs and implemented them on imbalanced datasets to generate instances of the underrepresented class(es). Though the bulk of research has been centered on the application of this methodology in computer vision tasks, GANs are likewise being appropriated for use in tabular data, or data consisting of rows and columns with traditional structured data types. In this survey paper, we assess the methodology and efficacy of these modifications on tabular datasets, across domains such network traffic classification and financial transactions over the past seven years. We examine what methodologies and experimental factors have resulted in the greatest machine learning efficacy, as well as the research works and frameworks which have proven most influential in the development of the application of GANs in tabular data settings. Specifically, we note the prevalence of the CGAN architecture, the optimality of novel methods with CNN learners and minority-class sensitive measures such as F1 score, the popularity of SMOTE as a baseline technique, and the improved performance in the year-over-year use of GANs in imbalanced tabular datasets.
Successful recording of direct cortical motor-evoked potential from a pediatric patient under remimazolam anesthesia: a case report
Authors: Kamata Kotoe , Asagi Suguru , Shimoda Yoshiteru , Kanamori Masayuki , Abe Nozomu , Sugino Shigekazu , Tominaga Teiji , Yamauchi Masanori
Published: August 2022

Background

Intraoperative motor-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring reduces postoperative motor deficits. Propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia is the gold standard for intraoperative myogenic MEPs. Although there is no contraindication to administering propofol in adults with peanut, soy, or egg allergies, its safety in children with these allergies remains unclear.

Case presentation

A 12-year-old girl required general anesthesia under intraoperative direct cortical MEP (dc-MEP) monitoring due to supratentorial glioma. Remimazolam-based anesthesia was selected, instead of propofol, due to the patient’s egg hypersensitivity. Stable myogenic MEPs were recorded throughout the surgery with remimazolam at 0.9 mg/kg/h and remifentanil at 0.35 μg/kg/min, following adjustments of stimulation intensity and titration of remimazolam infusion. Neither intraoperative memory nor motor deficits were present after surgery.

Conclusions

We present a pediatric case whose dc-MEP was recorded under remimazolam anesthesia. The cardiovascular stability and avoidance of propofol infusion syndrome with remimazolam were superior to propofol.
Super-refractory status epilepticus in adults
Authors: Malter Michael P , Neuneier Janina
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) represents the culmination of refractory status epilepticus (RSE) and carries a significant risk of poor neurological outcome and high mortality. RSE is not defined primarily by seizure duration, but by failure to respond to appropriate antiseizure treatment. SRSE is present when a RSE persists or recurs after more than 24 h of treatment with anesthetics. No evidence-based treatment algorithms can be provided for SRSE. Therefore, we propose a pragmatic standard operating procedure (SOP) for the management of SRSE that addresses the existing uncertainties in the treatment of SRSE and provides options for resolution and decision-making.

Comments

First, we recommend the assessment of persistent seizure activity and the evaluation of differential diagnoses to confirm correct diagnosis. Relevant differential diagnoses include psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, hypoxic, metabolic, or toxic encephalopathies, and tetanus. During SE or in severe encephalopathies, a so-called electroclinical ictal-interictal continuum may occur, which denotes an intermediate stage that cannot be defined with certainty as ictal or interictal by EEG and should not lead to harmful overtreatment. Because both prognosis and specific treatment options depend crucially on the etiology of SRSE, the etiological evaluation should be performed rapidly. When SRSE is confirmed, various pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options are available.

Conclusion

We provide a pragmatical SOP for adult people with SRSE.
Regional computed tomography perfusion deficits in patients with hypoglycemia: two case reports
Authors: Sartor-Pfeiffer Jennifer , Lingel Mirjam , Stefanou Maria-Ioanna , Lindig Tobias , Bender Benjamin , Poli Sven , Ziemann Ulf , Fritsche Andreas , Feil Katharina , Mengel Annerose
Published: August 2022

Background

Hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus, particularly type 1 can mimic acute ischemic stroke by causing focal neurological deficits. In acute ischemic stroke, the interpretation of emergency imaging including computed tomography with angiography and perfusion is crucial to guide revascularizing therapy including intravenous thrombolysis. However, different metabolic abnormalities and stroke mimics can cause focal hypoperfusion.

Methods

We describe two type 1 diabetes patients presenting with acute focal neurological deficits and hypoglycemia, who underwent multimodal computed tomography and follow-up imaging.

Case presentation

Patient 1, a 20-year-old man presented with aphasia and interstitial glucose level of 54 mg/dl. Patient 2, a 77-year-old man presented with aphasia, mild right-sided brachiofacial paresis and interstitial glucose level of 83 mg/dl. On brain imaging, no acute infarct signs were noted. Yet, both had focal left hemispheric cerebral hypoperfusion without large-vessel occlusion or stenosis. Due to persistent symptoms after normalization of blood glucose and despite a perfusion imaging pattern that was interpretated as non-typical for ischemia, both patients underwent thrombolysis without any complications.

Conclusion

Computed tomography perfusion might help to discriminate hypoglycemia with focal neurological signs from acute stroke, but further evidence is needed.
Real-time GNSS precise point positioning with smartphones for vehicle navigation
Authors: Li Zishen , Wang Liang , Wang Ningbo , Li Ran , Liu Ang
Published: August 2022

The availability of raw Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements from Android smart devices gives new possibilities for precise positioning solutions, e.g., Precise Point Positioning (PPP). However, the accuracy of the PPP with smart devices currently is a few meters due to the poor quality of the raw GNSS measurements in a kinematic scenario and in urban environments, particularly when the smart devices are placed inside vehicles. To promote the application of GNSS PPP for land vehicle navigation with smart devices, this contribution studies the real-time PPP with smartphones. For data quality analysis and positioning performance validation, two vehicle-based kinematic positioning tests were carried out using two Huawei Mate30 smartphones and two Huawei P40 smartphones with different installation modes: the vehicle-roof mode with smartphones mounted on the top roof outside the vehicle, and the dashboard mode with smartphones stabilized on the dashboard inside the vehicle. To realize high accuracy positioning, we proposed a real-time smartphone PPP method with the data processing strategies adapted for smart devices. Positioning results show that the real-time PPP can achieve the horizontal positioning accuracy of about 1–1.5 m in terms of root-mean-square and better than 2.5 m at the 95th percentile for the vehicle-based kinematic positioning with the experimental smartphones mounted on the dashboard inside the vehicle, which is the real scenario in vehicle navigation.
Sustainability and Justice: Challenges and Opportunities for an Open STEM Education
Authors: Diaz Eaton Carrie , Bonner Kaitlin , Cangialosi Karen , Dewsbury Bryan , Diamond-Stanic Maggie , Douma Jason , Smith Michelle , Taylor Robin , Wojdak Jeremy , Wilfong Krystie
Published: August 2022

Open educational resources (OER) provide important opportunities to address and promote social justice and open and accessible education philosophies. This essay provides general information about OER, describes communities developing OER for STEM education, and presents insights about challenges of sustaining OER, with a focus on educational justice.
Which Group Dynamics Matter: Social Predictors of Student Achievement in Team-Based Undergraduate Science Classrooms
Authors: Premo Joshua , Wyatt Brittney N. , Horn Matthew , Wilson-Ashworth Heather
Published: August 2022

While group work tends to benefit students, less is known about the specific peer–peer dynamics that optimize learning during group interaction. This study explores how different group qualities either promote willingness to work with a group member or predict student achievement in group-based science courses.
Guides to Advance Teaching Evaluation (GATEs): A Resource for STEM Departments Planning Robust and Equitable Evaluation Practices
Authors: Krishnan Sandhya , Gehrtz Jessica , Lemons Paula P. , Dolan Erin L. , Brickman Peggy , Andrews Tessa C.
Published: August 2022

This article describes the iterative development of the Guides to Advance Teaching Evaluation (GATEs) and provides examples of potential uses. This research-based resource is designed to serve as a long-term planning tool for STEM departments to reform teaching evaluation practices.
Supervised Study: Required Independent Research at a Community College Supports Persistence in Science
Authors: Allison Anne B. , York Virginia V. , Hoefner Donna M. , Clark Melinda E. , Yost Marlena C. , Vondrasek Joanna R.
Published: August 2022

A community college science degree program with a required, mentored authentic research experience is evaluated. Students demonstrate gains in several factors related to persistence in the sciences. Students show high rates of graduate-transfer and bachelor’s degree completion in the physical and natural sciences among all demographic groups.
Longitudinal Education and Career Outcomes of a Cancer Research Training Program for Underrepresented Students: The Meharry-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership
Authors: Meadows Meredith L. , Suiter Sarah V. , Sealy Linda J. , Marshall Dana R. , Whalen Margaret M. , Adunyah Samuel E.
Published: August 2022

A quantitative, longitudinal assessment of a multi-institution program designed to increase the number of underrepresented students participating in cancer research and entering cancer research careers.
Relationships between Prediction Accuracy, Metacognitive Reflection, and Performance in Introductory Genetics Students
Authors: Knight Jennifer K. , Weaver Daniel C. , Peffer Melanie E. , Hazlett Zachary S.
Published: August 2022

Students often overpredict their grades. This study explored whether predictions correlated with grades and changed over time and connected predictions to post-grade metacognitive reflections. Students who are already performing well both predict more accurately and provide the most metacognitive reflections.
Novel Ca and Ca-Li Intercalated B/C and B/C/N Materials with Layered Structures
Authors: Kawaguchi Masayuki , Ishikawa Hiromichi , Berger Pascal , Fauchard Mélissa , Cahen Sébastien , Hérold Claire
Published: August 2022

Boron/carbon/nitrogen (B/C/N) materials and boron/carbon (B/C) materials having graphite-like layered structures were synthesized by using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Calcium (Ca) was intercalated into the B/C materials by the reaction of Ca vapor with the host B/C film to form an intercalation compound with a second stage structure as a main product. Ca was also co-intercalated with lithium (Li) into the B/C/N materials by using a liquid-alloy method to form an intercalation compound. These are the first examples of syntheses of Ca and Ca-Li intercalated B/C and B/C/N materials. A nuclear microprobe analysis (NMA) indicated the compositions of the original host B/C/N and B/C materials to be BC2.6N0.55 and BC6.4, and the Ca-Li intercalated compound to be Ca0.67Li0.42(BC3.3N0.50) and suggested the homogeneity of these materials and the compound. We also found that the NMA is one of the most accurate methods for determining the compositions of air and water sensitive intercalation compounds as well as complex systems like B/C/N and B/C materials.
Assessments of Core Fitness
Authors: Behm David G. , Daneshjoo Abdolhamid , Alizadeh Shahab
Published: August 2022

Apply It!

By reading this feature article, readers will learn:

• The assessment of core muscle strength, endurance, and coordination is important for training and health because the core is a crucial foundation for torque production and the transfer of loads from the limbs, pelvic, and shoulder girdles.

• Although clinical core assessments tend to emphasize the measurement of muscle activation, a wide array of functional assessments are effective for monitoring core strength when sustaining or completing a variety of positions (isometric) or tasks/movements (dynamic).

• In accord with training specificity, common movements such as squats, jumps, push-ups, and others are visually inspected to detect core dysfunctions (e.g., movement compensations, trunk buckling, and others). Many of these functional tests as well as balance tests do not solely evaluate core function.

• There are very few dynamic tests that measure core strength or power associated with the spectrum of human movement and specific to different sports (e.g., soccer, basketball, etc.), and this is a crucial area for future research.
Feasibility study of deep-learning-based bone suppression incorporated with single-energy material decomposition technique in chest X-rays
Authors: Lim Younghwan , Lee Minjae , Cho Hyosung , Kim Guna , Choi Jaegu , Cha Bokyung , Kim Sunkwon
Published: August 2022

Objective:

To improve the detection of lung abnormalities in chest X-rays by accurately suppressing overlapping bone structures in the lung area. According to literature on missed lung cancer in chest X-rays, such structures are a significant cause of chest-related diagnostic errors.

Methods

This study presents a deep-learning-based bone suppression method where a residual U-Net model is trained for chest X-rays using data set generated from the single-energy material decomposition (SEMD) technique on CT. Synthetic projection images and soft-tissue selective images were obtained from the CT data set via the SEMD, which were then used as the input and label data of the U-Net network. The trained network was tested on synthetic chest X-rays and two real chest radiographs.

Results:

Bone-suppressed images of the real chest radiographs obtained by the proposed method were similar to the results from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine lung CT data; pulmonary nodules in the soft-tissue selective images appeared more clearly than in the synthetic projection images. The peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity values measured between the output and the corresponding label images were approximately 17.85 and 0.90, respectively.

Conclusion:

The proposed method effectively yielded bone-suppressed chest X-ray images, indicating its clinical usefulness, and it can improve the detection of lung abnormalities in chest X-rays.

Advances in knowledge:

The idea of using SEMD to obtain large amounts of paired images for deep-learning-based bone suppression algorithms is novel.
Βιοηθική για Νομικούς
Authors: Παναγιωτόπουλος Αδάμ
Published: August 2022

Το βιβλίο αυτό αποτελεί συνοπτικό και αναγκαίο εργαλείο, το οποίο βοηθάει τους δικαστές να αντιμετωπίζουν ποικίλα ιατρικο-νομικά ερωτήματα. Οι υποθέσεις εργασίας, οι οποίες παρουσιάζονται στην παρούσα έκδοση, βασίζονται σε πραγματικές υποθέσεις, οι οποίες απασχόλησαν έντονα τους δικαστές που ασχολήθηκαν με αυτές. Η συζήτηση, καθώς και οι ερωτήσεις που συνοδεύουν κάθε ενότητα, βασίζονται στην τεράστια εμπειρία και την βαθιά κατανόηση των ειδικών που συνέβαλαν σε αυτή την έκδοση, προεξαρχόντος του επί κεφαλής επιμελητή, Καθηγητή Amnon Carmi. Δεν χωρά αμφιβολία ότι η οργανική σχέση της UNESCO και του Διεθνούς Οργανισμού για την Εκπαίδευση των Δικαστών θα προωθήσει την διάδοση της γνώσης που εμπεριέχεται στο βιβλίο αυτό, τόσο μεταξύ των δικαστών, όσο και στις Σχολές Δικαστικών Λειτουργών ανά τον κόσμο.
Ψυχιατρική Ηθική και τα Δικαιώματα των Ατόμων με Νοητική Αναπηρία στα Ιδρύματα και στην Κοινότητα
Authors: Γιαννούσιου Σοφία
Published: August 2022

Σε αυτόν τον τόμο προσφέρουμε περιπτώσεις ορισμένων από τα επαναλαμβανόμενα ζητήματα που απασχολούν τους επαγγελματίες του τομέα της υγείας και που εγείρουν ηθικούς προβληματισμούς. Δεν διατεινόμαστε ότι μπορούμε να τα λύσουμε, αλλά μάλλον γράφουμε για αυτά προκειμένου να εμπνεύσουμε τον αναγνώστη να συλλογιστεί πάνω σε αυτά πιο προσεκτικά. Πολλές περιπτώσεις προέρχονται από πραγματικές υποθέσεις και σε αυτές τις περιπτώσεις παρέχουμε αναφορά εν είδει παραπομπής στην εν λόγω υπόθεση, ενώ άλλες είναι ένα σύνθετο υλικό περιπτώσεων με τα οποία οι συγγραφείς έχουν ασχοληθεί ή τα οποία έχουν παρατηρήσει στην εργασία τους. Οι περισσότερες περιπτώσεις είναι αρκετά σύντομες, όμως αρκετές είναι μεγαλύτερες σε έκταση· σε μία περίπτωση έχουμε παρουσιάσει εναλλακτικές αναγνώσεις του ίδιου ζητήματος - πρόκειται για το δικαίωμα των προσωρινά ανίκανων ποινικών κατηγορουμένων να αρνούνται τη φαρμακευτική αγωγή που έχει οριστεί να λάβουν και που θα τους καθιστούσε, φαινομενικά, ικανούς να δικαστούν. Σαφέστατα, δεν θεωρούμε ότι αυτές οι περιπτώσεις είναι, κατά κάποιο τρόπο, πιο “σημαντικές” από άλλες, αλλά μάλλον ότι οι αποφάσεις σε αυτές τις υποθέσεις δύνανται να φανούν πιο προκλητικές, και ακόμα, ίσως, πιο ενοχλητικές σε προσωπικό επίπεδο, όσον αφορά τους επαγγελματίες στον τομέα της ψυχικής υγείας. Ελπίζουμε να παρουσιάσουν όλες τους ενδιαφέρον.
Διδάσκοντας Ηθική στην Ψυχιατρική
Authors: Αργυράκου Αγγελική Μαρία
Published: August 2022

Το παρόν εγχειρίδιο πραγματεύεται υποθέσεις ψυχιατρικής φύσεως από την σκοπιά της βιοηθικής. Το ζήτημα αυτού του βιβλίου είναι να διδάξει ψυχιατρους και ψυχολόγους σε ηθικά ζητήματα, όπως αυτά της συναίνεσης, της σύγκρουσης συμφερόντων, του ιατρικού απορρήτου και άλλων. Τα ζητήματα ηθικής που αφορούν επαγγέλματα όπως αυτά της ιατρικής, τα οποία ασχολούνται κατεξοχήν με τον άνθρωπο και οφείλουν να δίνουν, ως αποτέλεσμα, μεγάλη βάση στον ανθρώπινο παράγοντα κάθε ξεχωριστής περίπτωσης, είναι δύσκολο να πλαισιωθούν στη μορφή ενός βιβλίου με σκοπό τη διδασκαλία τους στους νεαρούς επαγγελματίες του τομέα. Μέσω της συνεργασίας διαφόρων ειδικών από όλο τον κόσμο, αυτό το βιβλίο καταφέρνει να προσφέρει αυτό το έργο.
Η Επικοινωνία στην Αίθουσα Διδασκαλίας
Authors: Ζαχαριά Παρασκευή
Published: August 2022

Το παρόν εγχειρίδιο είναι ένας κρυμμένος θησαυρός που περιέχει πρακτικά και αποτελεσματικά εργαλεία, η χρήση των οποίων θα διευκολύνει την υγιή, αυθεντική, αξιέπαινη και αποτελεσματική μετάδοση της επικοινωνίας από τον διδάσκοντα στον φοιτητή, καθώς και την παροχή μέσων στον διδάσκοντα για την αποτελεσματική και ολική αποκωδικοποίηση τόσο της λεκτικής επικοινωνίας που προέρχεται από το σύνολο των φοιτητών όσο και των προσωπικών αντιδράσεων από μεμονωμένους φοιτητές. Επομένως, ο διδάσκων είναι σε θέση να αντιδράσει επωφελώς, να δημιουργήσει μια «εγκάρδια συνεννόηση» (entente cordiale) που τον συνδέει σταθερά και αποτελεσματικά με τους φοιτητές του.
Βιοηθική και Ολοκαύτωμα
Authors: Βερτζάγια Δέσποινα
Published: August 2022

Το Ολοκαύτωμα άρχισε με την αποπροσωποποίηση των θυμάτων και κατέληξε στην αποπροσωποποίηση των θυτών. Το ναζιστικό ιατρικό κατεστημένο ξεκίνησε με το να αποπροσωποποιεί τους ασθενείς και κατέληξε στη διάπραξη γενοκτονίας. Ένας από τους στόχους αυτού του εγχειριδίου είναι να ανα-προσωποποιήσει τόσο τους δράστες, όσο και τους θύματα. Εάν δώσουμε όνομα σε έναν γιατρό-θύτη, ένα θύμα των σκληρών διαδικασιών ή σε έναν ιατρό που ήταν αιχμάλωτος σε ναζιστικό γκέτο ή στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης μας, αυτό θα μας κάνει όλους να συνειδητοποιήσουμε ότι είμαστε πρωτίστως ευάλωτοι άνθρωποι, και μόνον δευτερευόντως επαγγελματίες ιατροί. Η εξατομίκευση αυτών των ιστορικών γεγονότων μας παρακινεί να κοιτάξουμε εκ νέου τους εαυτούς μας και να αναζητήσουμε μέσα μας, και μέσα στις κοινωνίες μας, το βάρος και την ευθύνη που όλοι φέρουμε για την ανθρωπότητα και για την ευημερία της ίδιας της ιατρικής. Η εξέταση των βιοηθικών ζητημάτων που συνδέονται με το Ολοκαύτομα και της συνενοχής της γερμανικής ιατρικής προσφέρει ένα καίριο πρίσμα που μπορεί να βοηθήσει σε αυτό το δύσκολο αλλά επιτακτικό έργο.
Ενήμερη Συναίνεση
Authors: Μπίφης Γεώργιος
Published: August 2022

Η ολοένα αυξανόμενη δύναμη της σύγχρονης Φαρμακευτικής και Ιατρικής επιστήμης και οι περίπλοκες κοινωνιολογικές συνθήκες εντός των οποίων ασκούνται, εγείρουν νέα ηθικά ερωτήματα σχετικά με το τι είναι δίκαιο, τι είναι αγαθό και τι ορθό στη συμπεριφορά γιατρών και ασθενών, ατόμων και κοινωνίας. Η τρομερή πρόοδος στη φαρμακευτική τεχνολογία, το υψηλό κόστος ιατρικής περίθαλψης, η ανεπάρκεια των πόρων, η άνοδος των δημόσιων προσδοκιών και απαιτήσεων και η μετατόπιση στο επίπεδο των αξιών απαιτούν να ληφθεί σοβαρά υπόψιν το μέλλον του συστήματος υγείας και να επανεξεταστούν συγκεκριμένα ηθικά προβλήματα του παρελθόντος, ή, πιο σωστά, η εφαρμοσιμότητά τους σε νέες καταστάσεις. Πέρα από πολιτικά ζητήματα, είναι απαραίτητο να κατανοηθούν οι αρχές σύμφωνα με τις οποίες πρέπει να λαμβάνονται οι αποφάσεις που αφορούν στην ιατρική και τι καθορίζει τον τρόπο με τον οποίο λαμβάνονται αυτές οι αποφάσεις σήμερα. Είναι ευθύνη όλων μας να υποθέσουμε ότι υπάρχουν αντιφάσεις και συγκρούσεις μεταξύ αυτών των αρχών. Τα θεμελιώδη δικαιώματα ενός ατόμου εγκαθιδρύονται επί τη βάσει του ίδιου του γεγονότος ότι είναι άνθρωπος, του απρόσβλητου της ζωής του και του γεγονότος ότι γεννήθηκε και θα παραμείνει για πάντα, ελεύθερο. Ο σεβασμός για τις αξίες και επιθυμίες του ατόμου είναι ένα καθήκον που γίνεται ακόμα ισχυρότερο εάν το άτομο καταστεί ευάλωτο. Εφόσον η αυτονομία και η ευθύνη του κάθε ατόμου, συμπεριλαμβανομένων όσων χρειάζονται ιατρική περίθαλψη, είναι αποδεκτές ως σημαντικές αξίες, η λήψη ή συμμετοχή σε αποφάσεις που αφορούν το σώμα ή την υγεία του πρέπει να είναι κοινώς αναγνωρίσιμες ως δικαίωμα. Τα ηθικά προβλήματα που εγείρονται από την απαίτηση της ενήμερης συναίνεσης των ασθενών είναι τόσο ποικιλόμορφα που φαίνεται κατάλληλο να αφιερώσουμε το πρώτο από μια σειρά εγχειριδίων εκπαίδευσης σε ζητήματα ηθικής σε αυτό το ζήτημα και να εξοικειώσουμε τους φοιτητές ιατρικής με περιπτώσεις που απαιτούν τη λήψη ηθικών καθώς και ιατρικών ή χειρουργικών αποφάσεων μετά τις αρχικές διαγνώσεις των παθήσεων των ασθενών και πολύ πριν οι ίδιοι οι φοιτητές αναλάβουν προσωπική ευθύνη για την άσκηση της ιατρικής. Είναι πρόθεσή μας η “Ενήμερη Συναίνεση” να αποτελέσει το πρώτο από μία σειρά εγχειριδίων εκπαίδευσης σε ηθικά ζητήματα. Το καθένα θα αφορά σε ηθικά προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζει ο γιατρός σε αυτές τις διαφορετικές γνωστικές σφαίρες στις οποίες ειδικεύονται οι συγγραφείς του εκάστοτε εγχειριδίου.
Ο ενιαίος εποπτικός μηχανισμός της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης
Authors: Μπαλατσούκας Αθανάσιος
Published: August 2022

Η παρούσα διατριβή καταπιάνεται αφενός με την εξέλιξη της εποπτείας των πιστωτικών ιδρυμάτων στον χώρο της Ένωσης από την ίδρυση της ΕΟΚ μέχρι την θέσπιση του Ενιαίου Εποπτικού Μηχανισμού και αφετέρου με τα χαρακτηριστικά του νέου φορέα εποπτείας, με ζητήματα που ανακύπτουν από την υλοποίηση του και με την προστασία των προσώπων που επηρεάζονται από την δράση του. Καθώς, μάλιστα, η ένταση του δικαστικού ελέγχου της δράσης της ΕΚΤ από το ΔΕΕ παρουσιάζει ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον, ήδη από την νομολογία που συνδέεται με τις ενέργειες της ΕΚΤ στον τομέα της νομισματικής πολιτικής, επιχειρείται στο πλαίσιο της παρούσας διατριβής να αντληθούν συμπεράσματα για την αντιμετώπιση του ενιαίου εποπτικού φορέα από το ΔΕΕ υπό το φως των πρώτων αλλά σημαντικών υποθέσεων που έχουν φτάσει ενώπιον του τελευταίου.