bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Midregional proatrial naturetic peptide (MRproANP) and copeptin (COPAVP) as predictors of all-cause mortality in recently diagnosed mild to moderate COPD—results from COSYCONET
Authors: Fähndrich S. , Herr C. , Teuteberg S. , Alter P. , Söhler S. , Soriano D. , Classen J. , Adams J. , Weinhold V. , Watz H. , Waschki B. , Zeller T. , Eichenlaub M. , Trudzinski F. C. , Michels J. D. , Omlor A. , Seiler F. , Moneke I. , Biertz F. , Stolz D. , Welte T. , Kauczor H. U. , Kahnert K. , Jörres R. A. , Vogelmeier C. F. , Bals R. ,   the German COSYCONET Cohort, Andreas Stefan , Alter Peter , Bals Robert , Behr Jürgen , Kahnert Kathrin , Bahmer Thomas , Bewig Burkhard , Ewert Ralf , Stubbe Beate , Ficker Joachim H , Grohé Christian , Held Matthias , Henke Markus , Herth Felix , Kirsten Anne-Marie , Watz Henrik , Koczulla Rembert , Kronsbein Juliane , Kropf-Sanchen Cornelia , Herzmann Christian , Pfeifer Michael , Randerath Winfried J , Seeger Werner , Studnicka Michael , Taube Christian , Timmermann Hartmut , Schmeck Bernd , Vogelmeier Claus , Welte Tobias , Wirtz Hubert
Published: January 2024

Background

MRproANP and COPAVP are prognostic markers for mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Furthermore, these biomarkers predict mortality due to cardiovascular diseases, which are important prognostically determining comorbidities in patients with COPD. However, less is known about these biomarkers in recently diagnosed mild to moderate COPD. Therefore, we analyzed these biomarkers as potential predictors of mortality in recently diagnosed mild to moderate COPD.

Methods

The blood biomarkers considered were copeptin (COPAVP), midregional adrenomedullin (MRproADM), midregional proatrial naturetic peptide (MRproANP), and fibrinogen. Analyses were performed in patients with stable “recently diagnosed mild to moderate COPD” defined by GOLD grades 0–2 and diagnosis of COPD ≤ 5 years prior to inclusion into the COSYCONET cohort (COPD and Systemic Consequences—Comorbidities Network), using Cox regression analysis with stepwise adjustment for multiple COPD characteristics, comorbidities, troponin and NT-proBNP.

Results

655 patients with recently diagnosed mild to moderate COPD were included. In the initial regression model, 43 of 655 patients died during the 6-year follow-up, in the final model 27 of 487. Regression analyses with adjustment for confounders identified COPAVP and MRproANP as statistically robust biomarkers (p < 0.05 each) of all-cause mortality, while MRproADM and fibrinogen were not. The fourth quartile of MRproANP (97 pmol/L) was associated with a hazard ratio of 4.5 (95%CI: 1.6; 12.8), and the fourth quartile of COPAVP (9.2 pmol/L) with 3.0 (1.1; 8.0). The results for MRproANP were confirmed in the total cohort of grade 0–4 (n = 1470 finally).

Conclusion

In patients with recently diagnosed mild to moderate COPD, elevated values of COPVP and in particular MRproANP were robust, independent biomarkers for all-cause mortality risk after adjustment for multiple other factors. This suggests that these markers might be considered in the risk assessment of early COPD.
ChOP-CT: quantitative morphometrical analysis of the Hindbrain Choroid Plexus by X-ray micro-computed tomography
Authors: Parobková Viktória , Kompaníková Petra , Lázňovský Jakub , Kavková Michaela , Hampl Marek , Buchtová Marcela , Zikmund Tomáš , Kaiser Jozef , Bryja Vítězslav
Published: January 2024

The Hindbrain Choroid Plexus is a complex, cerebrospinal fluid-secreting tissue that projects into the 4th vertebrate brain ventricle. Despite its irreplaceability in the development and homeostasis of the entire central nervous system, the research of Hindbrain Choroid Plexus and other Choroid Plexuses has been neglected by neuroscientists for decades. One of the obstacles is the lack of tools that describe the complex shape of the Hindbrain Choroid Plexus in the context of brain ventricles. Here we introduce an effective tool, termed ChOP-CT, for the noninvasive, X-ray micro-computed tomography-based, three-dimensional visualization and subsequent quantitative spatial morphological analysis of developing mouse Hindbrain Choroid Plexus. ChOP-CT can reliably quantify Hindbrain Choroid Plexus volume, surface area, length, outgrowth angle, the proportion of the ventricular space occupied, asymmetries and general shape alterations in mouse embryos from embryonic day 13.5 onwards. We provide evidence that ChOP-CT is suitable for the unbiased evaluation and detection of the Hindbrain Choroid Plexus alterations within various mutant embryos. We believe, that thanks to its versatility, quantitative nature and the possibility of automation, ChOP-CT will facilitate the analysis of the Hindbrain Choroid Plexus in the mouse models. This will ultimately accelerate the screening of the candidate genes and mechanisms involved in the onset of various Hindbrain Choroid Plexus-related diseases.
The impact of two radical sternectomy surgical techniques on the outcome of deep sternal wound infections
Authors: Bota Olimpiu , Taqatqeh Feras , Bönke Florian , Mülhausen Maxime , Matschke Klaus , Dragu Adrian , Bienger Kevin , Rasche Stefan
Published: January 2024

Background

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a rare, yet devastating complication after cardiac surgery. While the surgical treatment always implies the soft tissue and bone debridement, there is little data about this procedure. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the radical sternectomy on the outcome in patients with DSWI and to identify the risk factors which could influence the result. The surgical techniques of piecemeal sternectomy and the newly developed en bloc sternectomy were also evaluated.

Methods

The study was developed as a retrospective cohort study. 86 patients with DSWI who received a radical sternal resection at our institution between March 2018 and December 2021 were included.

Results

The average age of the cohort was 67.3 ± 7.4 years, and 23.3% of patients were female. The average length of stay trended shorter after en bloc sternectomy (median 26 days) compared to piecemeal sternectomy (37 days). There were no significant differences between the piecemeal and en bloc sternal resection techniques. Anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs had no significant influence on bleeding and transfusion rates. Obese patients showed an increased risk for postoperative bleeding requiring reintervention. Transfusion of packed red blood cells was significantly associated with lower hemoglobin values before surgery and ASA Class 4 compared to ASA Class 3. The in-hospital mortality was 9.3%, with female sex and reintervention for bleeding as significant risk factors. Nine patients developed an infection relapse as a chronic fistula at the level of clavicula or ribs, with ASA Class 4 as a risk factor.

Conclusion

Radical sternectomy is a safe procedure to treat DSWI with compromised sternal bone. Both piecemeal and en bloc techniques ensure reliable results, while complications and mortality appear to be patient-related.
Mir-338-3p targeting THBS1 attenuates glioma progression by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway
Authors: Jiang Lianglei , Fang Ting , Hu Tingting , Feng Jun , Yan Pengfei
Published: January 2024

Background

Glioma is a brain tumor with high morbidity and mortality rates. Understanding its molecular pathogenesis can provide targets and therapeutic strategies for glioma treatment. miR-338-3p represses tumor growth in several cancers, including glioma. Thus, this study aimed to identify the regulatory effects of miR-338-3p/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/thrombospondins 1 (THBS1) on glioma progression.

Materials and methods

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to evaluate the levels of miR-338-3p, THBS1, and PI3K/Akt phosphorylation-related proteins. TargetScan software predicted that miR-338-3p targeted THBS1. This was confirmed by performing the dual-luciferase assay. Wound-healing and cell-counting-kit-8 experiments were performed to analyze how THBS1 and miR-338-3p affect the ability of glioma cells to migrate and proliferate. The effect of miR-338-3p on tumorigenicity in mice was also analyzed.

Results

miR-338-3p downregulation was observed in gliomas, whereas THBS1 showed the opposite trend. By suppressing the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway activation, miR-338-3p overregulated the ability of glioma cells to migrate and proliferate in vitro. Additionally, miR-338-3p inhibited the development of glioma tumors in vivo. Moreover, miR-338-3p directly targeted THBS1. THBS1 overexpression promoted glioma cell migration and proliferation by increasing PI3K/Akt phosphorylation. Nonetheless, miR-338-3p overregulation alleviated the effects of THBS1 overexpression.

Conclusion

The miR-338-3p/PI3K/Akt/THBS1 regulatory axis can modulate the progression of glioma cell proliferation and migration; thus, it can be considered a therapeutic biomarker.
Temporal phytoplankton dynamics and environmental variables in four Ethiopian soda lakes
Authors: Melese Hana , Debella Habte Jebessa
Published: January 2024

We investigated the spatio-temporal dynamics of phytoplankton composition, chlorophyll-a as a proxy for algal biomass, and abundance in relation to environmental parameters in four Ethiopian soda lakes: Arenguade, Beseka, Chittu, and Shala. Triplicate water samples were collected from each lake from January to December 2020, four times in different seasons. Lake Chittu had the highest chlorophyll-a concentration, followed by Lake Arenguade, Beseka and Shala. Chlorophyll-a concentrations generally increased during the post rainy and dry season. The results of LR models are high for lakes Arengude, Beseka and Chittu. Lakes Shala and Beseka had the highest number of phytoplankton taxa, with both taxa composition and abundance dominated by Bacillariophyceae. Cyanoprokaryota, particularly Limnospira fusiformis, predominated in the abundance of Lakes Arenguade and Chittu. Water temperature, Secchi depth, turbidity, electrical conductivity, soluble reactive phosphorus, nitrate and silica significantly influenced the phytoplankton community structure. Long-term trend analysis revealed changes in phytoplankton biomass and lake taxonomic composition. The alteration in phytoplankton biomass and species composition of the lakes could be attributed to three factors: (1) frequent high-velocity explosions conducted for seismological studies in the past. This impact caused a dramatic increase in lake level in the case of Lake Beseka leading to a drop in nutrient concentration; (2) climate change and (3) salt content. Overall, our findings suggest that phytoplankton composition, biomass, and abundance varied according to seasonal fluctuations, emphasizing the possible effects of anthropogenic and natural causes on their community structure.
Role of Interleukin-17 family cytokines in disease severity of patients with knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Kamiab Zahra , Khorramdelazad Hossein , Kafi Mehdi , Jafarzadeh Abdollah , Mohammadi-Shahrokhi Vahid , Bagheri-Hosseinabadi Zahra , Saeed Askari Pooya , Abbasifard Mitra
Published: January 2024

Background

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) family plays a role in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by contributing to the inflammatory and destructive processes in the affected joint. This study aimed to measure levels of IL-17 A and IL-25 (IL-17E) in serum of KOA patients and determine their roles in the disease severity of patients.

Methods

In this, 34 patients with KOA and 30 age and sex-matched healthy subjects (HS) were enrolled. Patients were categorized based on their Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Body Mass Index (BMI) scores. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was employed to measure serum levels of IL-17 A and IL-25.

Results

Level of IL-25 was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the KOA subjects than HS. IL-17 A level was significantly higher in KOA cases with WOMAC < 40 (P < 0.0001) in comparison to HS. IL-25 level was significantly higher in the KOA cases with WOMAC < 40 (P < 0.0001) and with WOMAC ≥ 40 (P < 0.0001) compared to HS. IL-17 A concentration was significantly higher in the KOA cases with VAS < 5 (P < 0.0001) compared to HS. IL-25 level was significantly higher in the KOA cases with VAS < 5 (P < 0.0001) and with VAS ≥ 5 (P < 0.0001) in comparison to HS. KOA patients with BMI ≥ 30 had significantly higher IL-17 A and IL-25 concentration in comparison to HS.

Conclusions

The serum level of IL-25 in KOA patients is increased probably due to negative controlling feedback on inflammatory responses, which can be associated with obesity and disease activity.
Effective treatment of NR2F1-related epilepsy with perampanel
Authors: Li Xiao , Gao Kai , Li Yutang , Zhang Yuehua , Zhang Han , Jiang Yuwu
Published: January 2024

Background

NR2F1 mutations are associated with Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome (BBSOAS). Although ~ 46.7% of BBSOAS patients present with epilepsy, which is always drug-resistant and associated with higher rates of behavioral and cognitive problems, the treatment and outcomes of NR2F1-related epilepsy have rarely been described. Here, we present new cases of BBSOAS-related epilepsy and summarize all previously reported cases to explore the effective treatment for this type of epilepsy.

Methods

We identified six new Chinese cases of BBSOAS with epilepsy. Five different de novo heterozygous NR2F1 mutations were identified in these cases, including two novel mutations c.365G > T, p.Cys122Phe and c.449G > T, p.Gly150Val. By combining the six cases and 14 previously reported cases, we analyzed the characteristics and treatment outcomes of NR2F1-related epilepsy.

Results

Twelve of the 20 patients (60%) had infantile epileptic spasms, while the other patients had generalized tonic/tonic-clonic, focal, myoclonic, absence, or unclassified seizures. Several anti-seizure medications, steroids, and a ketogenic diet were administered in these cases. However, seizures were controlled in only 50% of previously reported cases, while all of the six new cases became seizure-free after perampanel as an add-on treatment. The average time from the addition of perampanel to seizure control was 7.33 ± 4.59 months (range, 1–12 months). The median time to seizure freedom was 14 months (1–32 months, > 19 months in 3 cases). The average dosage of perampanel needed for epilepsy control was 0.22 ± 0.17 mg/kg per day.

Conclusions

In this paper, we comprehensively summarized the clinical characteristics, treatments and outcomes of NR2F1-related epilepsy for the first time. Perampanel exhibits dramatic efficacy for NR2F1-related epilepsy. This will help optimize the treatment of this type of epilepsy and provide clues for its pathogenic mechanisms. The two novel mutations expand the genotype spectrum of this disease.
Efficacy of lumbar motor control training in treatment of patients with cervicogenic headache
Authors: Marzok Hagar A. , Ashry Ahmed H. , Sedhom Magda G. , Abd El-Raoof Neveen A.
Published: January 2024

Background

Cervicogenic headache (CGH), is a secondary headache arising from cervical disorders. Training core muscles have a corrective effect on the whole spine. Moreover, increased deep neck flexors (DNFs) activation is closely linked with balanced core stabilization of the global cervical-thoracic-lumbopelvic chains. This study aimed to investigate the effect of lumbar motor control training combined with cervical stabilization exercises compared to cervical stabilization exercises alone in CGH patients.

Methods

Fifty-two subjects of both genders with CGH and chronic mechanical neck pain (CMNP) participated in this study. They were recruited from the outpatient Physical Therapy Clinic at Mubarak Central Hospital, Giza, Egypt; their mean age was 28.1 ± 5.8 years and their BMI was 22.8 ± 1.6 kg/m2. They received treatment for three sessions per week for 4 weeks. Subjects were assigned randomly into two equal groups; the control group: received cervical stabilization exercises (axial elongation, cranio-cervical flexion, cervical extension, rowing, and Y-exercise). Study group: received cervical stabilization exercise in addition to lumbar motor control training (abdominal draw-in maneuver, side plank, and quadruped position), each exercise had a 4-week progression. Headache frequency, duration, intensity by visual analog scale (VAS), and neck functional disability by Neck Disability Index (NDI) were measured before the first session and after the last session of the 4 weeks of treatment.

Results

There was a high statistically significant difference in post-treatment mean values of headache frequency, headache duration, headache intensity, and neck functional disability between the two groups in favor of the study group.

Conclusion

Adding lumbar motor control training to cervical stabilization exercise is more effective than cervical stabilization alone in decreasing headache frequency, duration, intensity, and neck functional disability in CGH patients with CMNP.

Trial registration

NCT05952115. Registered 11 July 2023-retrospectively registered, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/LoginUser?ts=1&cx=-jg9qo4.
The use of Arabic Language Sample Analysis as a screening tool in kindergarten Egyptian bilingual children
Authors: Osman Dalia Mostafa , Abdel Hamid Asmaa Ahmed , Maged Samar , Abdel Hady Aisha Fawzy
Published: January 2024

Background

Language sample analysis is a naturalistic method used for measuring child’s expressive language abilities. It is used in case of difficulty in direct interaction in remote places or pandemics.

Aim of the work

The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of a language sample analysis as an easy applicable screening tool for narrative ability in kindergarten Egyptian bilingual children in order to reach a better understanding of their language profile. Subjects and methods: 150 bilingual Egyptian preschool male and female children exposed to Arabic and English languages were included and divided into two groups according to their age. All were subjected to the BEA-LSA narration assessment including macrostructure, microstructure items, and conversation assessment including verbal and nonverbal items.

Results

The results revealed that bilingual children showed better performance in English than Arabic in most of the narration and conversation tasks. However, there was equal development between both age groups in English language regarding temporality, connectives, and reference clarity. The older age group showed higher code switching than younger age group and code switching occurred more from Arabic to English language. Both age groups bilingual children showed better frequency of words and mean length of utterance in narration. While in conversation, both age groups showed better type token ratio. Language sample analysis showed good test–retest reliability.

Conclusion

Language sample analysis could identify the characteristic profile of bilingual kindergarten Egyptian children and was a reliable method to analyze both narration and conversation skills of bilingual children.
Advances in Staging of schizophrenia. Development of an empirical staging model for schizophrenia.
Authors: Garcia-Portilla P.
Published: January 2024

After a short review of the state of the art of clinical staging in schizophrenia, I will present a recently developed empirical staging model.

Methods

Two hundred twelve stable outpatients with schizophrenia from Oviedo (Spain) were assessed with: an ad hoc questionnaire (demographic, clinical information); psychopathology: PANSS, CDS, OSQ, CGI-S; functioning: PSP; cognition: MATRICS; lab tests: C-Reactive Protein, IL-1RA, IL-6, Platelet/Lymphocyte (PLR), Neutrophil/Lymphocyte (NLR), and Monocyte/Lymphocyte (MLR) ratios.

An ad hoc genetic algorithm (GA) was developed to select those variables showing the best performance for patients’ CGI classification. The objective function of the GA maximizes the individual’s correct classification of a support vector machines (SVM) model that employs as input variables those given by the GA. Models’ performance was assessed with the help of 3-fold cross-validation, and this process was repeated 10,000 times for each one of the models evaluated. Once developed, we used the ANOVA test (Duncan’s post-hoc) for all the variables included in the model to demonstrate its construct validity.

Results

Our model included the following variables: positive, negative, depressive, and general psychopathological symptoms, processing speed, visual learning, social cognition, and real-world functioning. Its classification accuracy is 64.54% (SD=4.83%) with a specificity and sensitivity of 0.85 and 0.63. The external validity of the new model is being tested using a French sample from the FACE-SZ (FondaMental Advanced Centers of Expertise-Schizophrenia) cohort.

Conclusions

We developed an SVM model including psychopathological, cognitive, and functional variables.

Our model demonstrated good construct validity since all the variables included behaved as expected. That is, they score significantly worse as the patients’ severity increases. Besides, it showed good accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity classification properties.

Using staging models in daily clinical practice will help clinicians to better.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Symptom-level effects of SSRIs in depression studies in a large-scale study programme: efficacy, effects of baseline severity, impact on suicidality, and more
Authors: Näslund J.
Published: January 2024

Conclusions about the efficacy of antidepressants, such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), in clinical trials have generally been based on analyses of total sum scores on psychometric rating scales, mainly the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). However, this rating scale has several drawbacks, such as multidimensionality and a tendency of several items to pick up side-effects. Therefore, analyses that only rely on global drug treatment effects on the HDRS and similar scales risk misrepresenting important properties of any drugs investigated.

This presentation concerns the findings of a research project investigating item-level effects of SSRIs in treating depression in a material encompassing 8262 patients having participated in pre- and post-marketing industry-sponsored studies concering paroxetine, sertraline or citalopram. This has been a fruitful endeavour, having resulted in numerous research papers. Though our main focus at the outset was to investigate if a comparatively low efficacy of SSRIs in clinical trials was an artefact related to the use of HDRS sum scores as the main outcome (which was indeed the case), we have also used this material to investigate a number of other important questions relating to the influence of SSRIs on the various symptoms experienced by patients with depression. Major findings discussed in the presentation include: i) confirmation of early (but not widely known) reports that SSRIs significantly reduce core depression symptoms already after a week of treatment ii) strong evidence for SSRIs being equally effective in treating core depressive symptoms in mild as well as severe depression, earlier reported differences apparently being explained by differences in terms of effects (and prevalence) of non-core symptoms iii) SSRIs do not seem to exacerbate suicidality as measured by the relevant item of the HDRS scale - indeed, both average scores as well as likelihood of worsening are significantly reduced already at week 1. The implications of these, and other, findings are discussed in relation to both the role of SSRIs in the clinic as well as pre-clinical research into e.g. the mode of action of these drugs.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Cerebral networks of apathy and goal-oriented patterns of actimetry in late-life depression
Authors: Robert G.
Published: January 2024

Apathy and goal-oriented behaviors are key dimensions of late-life depression (LLD) and are iteratively associated with cognitive decline in most neuropsychiatric disorders. However, scales and criteria remains insufficient to provide robust individual biomarkers that could foster personalized therapeutic approaches. Therefore, dimensional and digital phenotyping offer new possibilities of stratifying LLD population. This presentation will show our recent results of functional connectivity cerebral networks associated with multidimensional paper-and-pen measures of apathy, including the default mode and the cingulo-opercular networks. We will also show how dimensional reduction (functional principal component analysis) of 3 days actimetry measures are associated with both FC and inflammatory measures (diffusion and multicompartment indices such as free water and neurite orientation dispersion), providing arguments for different pathophysiological mechanisms underlying goal-oriented behaviors and reinforcing actimetry as a good candidate for individual biomarker of cognitive decline in LLD. Finally, machine learning approaches using combination of different, yet correlated, indices of actimetry will be presented and discussed with their corresponding classifying accuracies (outside of cerebral imaging). Altogether, this presentation aims at bridging the gap between cerebral imaging and digital phenotyping to enhance personalized medicine in the field of old-age psychiatry and cognitive decline prevention.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Sex-Related Differences in Self-Reported Symptoms at Diagnosis in Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas
Authors: Parisien-La Salle Stefanie , Bourdeau Isabelle
Published: January 2024

Context

Biological sex can play a role in the severity of certain diseases.

Objective

Our objective was to evaluate whether sex-related differences affect the signs and symptoms of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) at presentation.

Methods

We reviewed the records of patients with PPGLs at our center from 1995 to 2022.

Results

Our study included 385 patients with PPGLs: 118 (30.6%) head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs), 58 (15.1%) thoracoabdominal paragangliomas (TAPGLs) and 209 (54.3%) pheochromocytomas (PHEOs). The cohort consisted of 234 (60.8%) women and 151 (39.2%) men. At diagnosis, more women than men presented with headaches (47.5% vs 32.4%; P = .007); however, more men presented with diabetes (21.1% vs 12.5%; P = .039). When subdivided by tumor location, headaches occurred more often in women with HNPGLs and TAPGLs (31.0% vs 11.4%; P = .0499 and 60.0% vs 21.7%; P = .0167). More men presented with diabetes among patients with PHEOs (28.2% vs 11.2%; P = .0038). In regard to nonsecretory PPGLs, women presented with a higher prevalence of headaches (46.9% vs 3.6%; P = .0002), diaphoresis (16.3% vs 0.0%; P = .0454), and palpitations (22.4% vs 0.0%; P = .0057). In patients with secretory tumors, women presented with more headaches (58.9% vs 42.7%; P = .0282) and men with more diabetes (29.3% vs 12.5%; P = .0035).

Conclusion

In our cohort, more women presented with headaches across all tumor types and secretory statuses. More men presented with diabetes among patients with PHEOs and secretory tumors. In nonsecretory PPGLs, women had more adrenergic symptoms. These findings can be explained by differences in adrenergic receptor sensitivity, self-reported symptoms, and possibly other vasoactive peptides and sex-hormone status.
La géopolitique de la diaspora orthodoxe en France
Authors: Πνευματικάκης Βασίλειος
Published: January 2024

Οι γεωπολιτικές αναλύσεις της ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας επικεντρώνονται κατά κύριο λόγο στη μελέτη της σχέσης μεταξύ ορθοδοξίας, εθνογένεσης και εδαφικής διαμόρφωσης των κρατών της Ανατολικής Ευρώπης. Την ώρα όμως που οι μελέτες αυτές πραγματεύονται τον ορθόδοξο κόσμο εντός του χωρικού πλαισίου της Ανατολής, φαίνεται να αγνοούν την παρουσία της ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας στη Δύση. Λόγω του εύρους των γεωπολιτικών ανακατατάξεων και της σημασίας των πολιτικών, ιδεολογικών και εκκλησιολογικών διακυβευμάτων που συνδέονται με την παρουσία των ορθοδόξων στη Δύση, η μελέτη της ορθόδοξης διασποράς μπορεί να προσφέρει μια καινούργια γεωπολιτική αντίληψη της ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας σε ζητήματα που άπτονται της θεσμικής της οργάνωσης και της αλληλεπίδρασής της με τον γεωγραφικό χώρο, την πολιτική εξουσία και την εθνική ταυτότητα. Ιδιαίτερα στην περίπτωση της Γαλλίας, η ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία υπόκειται σε ιδεολογικές ζυμώσεις που ξεπερνούν το πλαίσιο των παραδοσιακών σχέσεων μεταξύ Έθνους, Κράτους και Εθνικής Εκκλησίας που συναντάμε στον ορθόδοξο κόσμο της Ανατολής. Το ζήτημα συνεπώς που τίθεται είναι αυτό της διάρθρωσής της ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας στη Γαλλία σε σχέση με τα εθνικά της χαρακτηριστικά: γιατί υπάρχει στη Γαλλία μια πλειάδα "εθνικών" ορθόδοξων Εκκλησιών που υπάγονται δικαιοδοτικά στα ορθόδοξα πατριαρχεία της Ανατολής και όχι μία ανεξάρτητη τοπική Εκκλησία; Πώς εξηγείται το ότι ορισμένες από αυτές τις "εθνικές" Εκκλησίες διασπάστηκαν σε επιμέρους επισκοπές οι οποίες προσχώρησαν σε διαφορετικά πατριαρχεία; Είναι δυνατό να υφίστανται στην ορθόδοξη διασπορά και άλλα κριτήρια εκκλησιαστικής υπαγωγής των διάφορων επισκοπών, ενοριών και κοινοτήτων πέραν της εθνικής τους καταγωγής; Και σε αυτές τις περιπτώσεις, ποιες είναι οι γεωπολιτικές δυναμικές που αναπτύσσονται;
Visual interactive knowledge management for multicriteria decision making and ranking in linked open data environments
Authors: Τριπερίνα Ευαγγελία
Published: January 2024

Η διδακτορική διατριβή αφορά στην εφαρμογή της οπτικής αναλυτικής και των τεχνολογιών σημασιολογικού ιστού στην πολυκριτηριακή λήψη αποφάσεων και πιο συγκεκριμένα σε προβλήματα κατάταξης εναλλακτικών, στο πλαίσιο των ερευνητικών και ακαδημαϊκών πληροφοριακών συστημάτων. Οι οπτικοποιήσεις υποστηρίζονται επίσης από διαδικασίες εξόρυξης δεδομένων και εξαγωγής γνώσης σε περιβάλλοντα διασυνδεδεμένων δεδομένων. Επιπροσθέτως, θα χρησιμοποιηθούν τεχνικές οπτικής αναλυτικής για την οργάνωση των οπτικοποιήσεων, προκειμένου να παρουσιαστούν οι πληροφορίες με τέτοιο τρόπο που θα αξιοποιηθούν οι αντιληπτικές ικανότητες των χρηστών και τελικά θα ενισχύσουν τις διαδικασίες υποστήριξης αποφάσεων και χάραξης πολιτικής. Επιπλέον, η οπτική αναπαράσταση και κατά συνέπεια οι διαδικασίες λήψης αποφάσεων και χάραξης πολιτικής θα βελτιωθούν μέσω των σημασιολογικών τεχνολογιών που βασίζονται σε εννοιολογικά μοντέλα με τη μορφή οντολογιών. Έτσι, ο κύριος στόχος της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι ο συνδυασμός των σημασιολογικών τεχνολογιών με τεχνικές διαδραστικών οπτικοποιήσεων, προκειμένου να γίνουν πιο αποτελεσματικά τα συστήματα υποστήριξης αποφάσεων. Κατά την διάρκεια του διδακτορικού αναπτύχθηκε ένα πολυδιάστατο πλαίσιο βασισμένο σε οντολογίες για οπτική κατάταξη (MOBVR framework), το οποίο το εφαρμόστηκε σε δυο μελέτες περίπτωσης, η πρώτη ήταν ο ακαδημαϊκός τομέας και η δεύτερη ήταν οι δείκτες παγκόσμιας ανάπτυξης.
COGNITIVE MECHANISMS OF FORMATION OF TEMPORAL MEANINGS IN THE ADVERTISING TOURIST NARRATIVE
Authors: Men’shikova Ekaterina E.
Published: January 2024

Background. The article considers cognitive mechanisms of the formation of the temporal meanings in the advertising tourist narrative. Relevance of the study is determined by its correlation with modern linguistic research aimed at studying linguistic semantics in its relationship with cognitive structures. Having a multicomponent structure, time is currently positioned as an attribute of human activity and also as a phenomenon of human existence. However, there is insufficient study of the interpretive potential of time, which makes research topic relevant.

Purpose. The research purpose is as follows: to determine the cognitive mechanisms of the temporal organization of the advertising tourist narrative.

Materials and methods. Language units of various levels were used for the study, obtained from authentic online texts of advertising tourist narrative. The main research methods include analysis and synthesis of theoretical material, the continuous sampling method, descriptive method, contextual analysis method as well as cognitive modeling method.

Results. The results have shown that the main cognitive mechanisms of formation and interpretation of temporal meanings in the advertising tourist narrative include focusing, profiling, perspectivization, conceptual metaphor. Cognitive models of structuring temporal meanings, the source of which are the cognitive mechanisms outlined above, are considered.

Practical implications. The research results can be used in the development of courses on general linguistics, lexicology and cognitive linguistics.
NEW MODEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING AND PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Esaulova Irena , Arzamasova G.
Published: January 2024

Environmental training is an important component of the environmental management system as a basic practice for developing knowledge and skills among employees to effectively reduce environmental impact. However, new types of environmental training are necessary to shape the environmental behavior of employees at all levels of the organization. This is due to the increase in environmental issues and their integration into all business processes. The article presents a new model of environmental training through the comprehensive development of employees’ value, knowledge and activity components of environmental competence. This became possible based on an analysis of research on green human resource management (GHRM) and an analysis of the practices of leading Russian companies. This model should include mandatory environmental training and practices to develop environmental leadership, green teams to address significant environmental issues, and practices to develop employee environmental values.
EFFECTIVE ACTIVITY OF A TEACHER — INDICATOR OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Authors: Chernyh Svetlana , Timofeeva Svetlana
Published: January 2024

Ensuring labor protection and safety in the workplace is the responsibility of the employer. It is necessary to systematically carry out procedures aimed at improving working conditions and increasing the level of preparedness for actions in the conditions of localizing and eliminating the consequences of realized professional risks. One of the directions of state policy in the field of labor protection is the creation of conditions for the development of a healthy lifestyle. Note that the lives of many people are characterized by a lack of time, chronic fatigue and stressful situations. Permanent stress at work can become a source of professional burnout. This article examines teaching staff whose work is characterized by high responsibility and emotional intensity. The effectiveness of teachers’ work activities depends not only on the correct organization of educational and educational work, but also on their well-being. The professional health of teachers has a direct relationship with the level of training and education of the younger generation. Therefore, it is especially important to study the psychosocial factors that influence the professional health of teaching staff, to solve problems related to eliminating production stress and optimizing working conditions. The purpose of the work was to study the main symptoms of professional burnout and their impact on professional performance.
Taking into account the specific features of teaching foreign languages in the practice of secondary schools
Authors: Bashlueva Natalya
Published: January 2024

The main purpose of the study is to consider the specific features of teaching foreign languages in the practice of secondary schools. We are talking about three main components of language communication. When mastering many sign-forming means of a foreign language (not only written, but also sound), their description may be useful; as a result of mastering a group of structures, it is sometimes advisable to give a descriptive summary of what has been mastered. The unavoidable problems may include: a relatively small number of weekly hours and the total time allocated to learning a foreign language in the school curriculum; the workload of students in many other academic disciplines; a relatively large number of students in the classroom. An obvious and unavoidable difficulty is also the lack of an oral language environment for students. Although when using the digital environment and the capabilities of the Internet, the latter circumstance is quite easily eliminated. Successful overcoming of all these difficulties and obstacles (and the available experience suggests that they can be overcome) requires the fulfillment of two conditions:

1) the general training task should be very limited and possibly more specific;

2) only the most effective (in school conditions) teaching methods and techniques should be used.
Psychological professionally important qualities of operators of unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Zvonikov Vyacheslav , Kulikov Sergey
Published: January 2024

The work analyzes the current state of affairs in the field of selection of unmanned aerial vehicle operators. Subject of research: psychophysiological characteristics of UAV operators. Purpose of the study: to identify significant professionally important psychological qualities of UAV operators; assessment of the influence of these qualities on the effectiveness of professional activities. The study consisted of three parts: studying the characteristics of operators’ activities and technical documentation; organizing and conducting research using a psychographic questionnaire; conducting research using a battery of tests. The study involved 47 men aged 20 to 36 years old. The lag of this industry in the Russian Federation and the need for its development and research are shown. Further, significant psychological professionally important qualities of UAV operators were identified. These include responsibility, attention span, emotional stability, spatial orientation, balance of excitation and inhibition processes, reaction speed, long-term memory, volitional qualities, speed of thought processes, internal locus of control, orientation to achieving success, high level of attention distribution. A method of professional psychological selection was also presented and tested, which included the following battery of tests: Red-black tables, Amthauer test, Landolt rings, Clocks, Compasses, multifactor personality questionnaire "Adaptivity", Aizen test adapted by Shmelev A.G., scale Spielberger's anxiety in the adaptation of Khanin Yu.L., ANNETTE. Thus, based on the conducted research, proposals for professional psychological selection were formed, and significant psychological professionally important qualities of UAV operators were identified. An analysis of the current situation in the development of a scientific problem was also carried out, based on which several proposals were made for further research. The results of the study can be used in organizing professional psychological selection.
The ratio of resilience among employees of the security and safety departments of a correctional institution
Authors: Sobolev Nikolay , Lyapin Alexey , Sepiashvili Ekaterina
Published: January 2024

The article presents a study of the correlation between the level of resilience among employees of the security department and the security department of the penal system. The purpose of the study was to study the resilience of employees of the security department and security department, as those most exposed to frequent interaction with special forces and being in difficult non-standard life situations. The subject of the study is the peculiarities of being in stressful situations among employees of the security department and the security department. The hypothesis of the study is the assumption that in a study of the relationship between the vitality of employees of the security department and the security department, differences will be identified. The study was carried out using diagnostic tools - S. Maddi's vitality test (adapted by D.A. Leontyev, E.I. Rasskazov). The study involved 60 respondents from selected departments, divided into two experimental groups. The results obtained during the study indicate that statistical differences were identified on the scales of “involvement”, “control” and the general level of resilience. It has been determined that security department employees have a higher level of resilience, involvement and control than security department employees. The article reflects three areas of theoretical and analytical study of the relationship between resilience and key and significant personal characteristics. The view of the researcher of the concept of “resilience” S. Maddi is also presented. The author defines three components of the studied concept: involvement, control, risk taking. The parts determine the level of resilience of an individual, that is, his ability to engage in reality, actively confront difficulties and accept emerging problems as an opportunity to realize his abilities.
Cuestionando el papel de las tecnologías en la Educación Infantil: brechas y falsas visiones
Authors: Digón Regueiro Patricia , Méndez García Rosa María , Romero Rodrigo M. Mercedes , Becerra Brito Cecilia Verónica
Published: January 2024

El uso de recursos digitales en la Educación Infantil es objeto de debate. Las visiones que sostienen docentes y familias determinan el papel que le otorgan a estos recursos y las mediaciones que ponen en marcha tanto en la escuela como en el hogar. Ambos agentes educativos parecen mostrar posturas confusas y muchas veces contrapuestas. En este estudio, llevado a cabo con una metodología de investigación mixta, se analizan las percepciones y prácticas de uso de tecnologías en la etapa 3-6, en el contexto escolar y familiar. Los resultados del análisis de datos recogidos mediante cuestionarios, grupos focales y estudios de caso, apuntan a la existencia de una serie de percepciones dominantes que reflejan importantes contradicciones e indican la existencia de brechas digitales. Brechas que abarcan desde el acceso al uso, y que también señalan lo que se puede entender como una brecha específica al hablar de tecnologías y Educación Infantil.
Métodos experimentais e xiro colaborativo: a etnografía itinerante nunha sociedade (in)mobilizada.
Authors: Diz Carlos
Published: January 2024

Neste artigo de reflexión metodolóxica analízanse algunhas das experimentacións contemporáneas co método etnográfico. En primeiro lugar, aténdese ao xiro reflexivo e á experimentación coa escritura iniciada nos anos oitenta. De seguido, reflexionando en torno á produción de coñecementos, preséntase o paradigma da colaboración como un signo característico das etnografías experimentais das últimas dúas décadas. A continuación exponse a emerxencia actual das colaboracións experimentais, que fan do traballo de campo a materia prima de reflexión política, ética e epistemolóxica. Xunto a esta reflexión máis teórica, o artigo parte dunha investigación en curso sobre a economía de plataformas e o reparto de comida a domicilio, para propoñer, provisionalmente, a etnografía itinerante como unha forma de experimentación espazo-temporal no terreo. A etnografía itinerante mobiliza os métodos experimentais, despraza a mirada no campo e, finalmente, constrúe a in/mobilidade como unha perspectiva máis que coma un obxecto.
Indigenismo, racismo silencioso y desarrollo: un caso Andino para la centralidad de la raza en el diseño y la práctica del desarrollo.
Authors: Chichizola Ramirez Bruno
Published: January 2024

Race has been present in critical analysis of development for decades. However, its analytical potential has been mildly explored. For this reason, this article aims to contribute to an effort to bring race into current discussions on development studies and practice. It argues the need to be reflective of race and racist practices to facilitate a more horizontal dialogue with indigenous people. This argument is sustained by a fictionalised ethnographic case study based in the Andes. This case illustrates the complexities arising from the encounter of development experts and Quechua farmers in producing new knowledge, which sustain a similar practice as what De la Cadena’s has coined as silent racism.
To nie jest państwo dla kobiet, czyli pozycja polityczek i działaczek w Czechosłowacji i Republice Czeskiej w latach 1918–2023
Authors: Jakimowicz-Pisarska Iwona
Published: January 2024

This paper discusses the position of women in the Czechoslovak and Czech parliaments over the last one hundred years. On the one hand, it shows declarative support for the political career of the ladies willing to devote their time and energy working for the state. On the other hand, it describes the challenges women choosing this kind of life have had to face. Czech society, so open to changes modernising their state, was not and still is not ready to admit that the work of an MP, a male or female politician, should be judged equally, regardless of their sex. The author points out the most important, in her opinion, causes of this attitude in the subsequent decades of Czechoslovak and Czech history.
Song Meiling, charyzmatyczna pierwsza dama Republiki Chińskiej
Authors: Polit Jakub
Published: January 2024

Song Meiling, wife of China’s President Chiang Kai-shek, was also his adviser and English interpreter. She became a leader of Chinese women, representing the Chinese cause before the world during WWII.
Generalization Bounds in the Predict-Then-Optimize Framework
Authors: El Balghiti Othman , Elmachtoub Adam N. , Grigas Paul , Tewari Ambuj
Published: January 2024

The predict-then-optimize framework is fundamental in many practical settings: predict the unknown parameters of an optimization problem and then solve the problem using the predicted values of the parameters. A natural loss function in this environment is to consider the cost of the decisions induced by the predicted parameters in contrast to the prediction error of the parameters. This loss function is referred to as the smart predict-then-optimize (SPO) loss. In this work, we seek to provide bounds on how well the performance of a prediction model fit on training data generalizes out of sample in the context of the SPO loss. Because the SPO loss is nonconvex and non-Lipschitz, standard results for deriving generalization bounds do not apply. We first derive bounds based on the Natarajan dimension that, in the case of a polyhedral feasible region, scale at most logarithmically in the number of extreme points but, in the case of a general convex feasible region, have linear dependence on the decision dimension. By exploiting the structure of the SPO loss function and a key property of the feasible region, which we denote as the strength property, we can dramatically improve the dependence on the decision and feature dimensions. Our approach and analysis rely on placing a margin around problematic predictions that do not yield unique optimal solutions and then providing generalization bounds in the context of a modified margin SPO loss function that is Lipschitz continuous. Finally, we characterize the strength property and show that the modified SPO loss can be computed efficiently for both strongly convex bodies and polytopes with an explicit extreme point representation.

Funding: O. El Balghiti thanks Rayens Capital for their support. A. N. Elmachtoub acknowledges the support of the National Science Foundation (NSF) [Grant CMMI-1763000]. P. Grigas acknowledges the support of NSF [Grants CCF-1755705 and CMMI-1762744]. A. Tewari acknowledges the support of the NSF [CAREER grant IIS-1452099] and a Sloan Research Fellowship.
Corpoconstrução
Authors: Tavares Gabriela Tarouco
Published: January 2024

O trabalho investiga a aproximação entre materiais oriundos da construção civil e o corpo-mulher; buscando provocar nosso imaginário através da hibridização das ferramentas apresentadas com o corpo feminino. Assim, busca refletir a respeito do corpo como um canteiro de obras em constante construção, desconstrução, reformulação, desterritorialização e reterritorialização.Palavras-chave: corpo; narrativa visual; composição visual; insumos.
Limites, divisas, fronteiras
Authors: Mazzoni Júlia
Published: January 2024

Limites, divisas, fronteiras consiste em uma série em desenvolvimento que compreende o corpo como principal meio de contato com o mundo, pertencendo a um território limiar: entre interior e exterior, entre as linhas do desenho e do bordado, entre o que o corpo absorve do espaço e como pode atuar nele.