Final Statement Research Articles

Joint international consensus statement on crowdsourcing challenge contests in health and medicine: results of a modified Delphi process

ObjectivesTo develop a consensus statement to provide advice on designing, implementing and evaluating crowdsourcing challenge contests in public health and medical contexts.DesignModified Delphi using three rounds of survey questionnaires and...

An Assessment of the Integrated Water Resources Management in Egypt

Egypt's water requirements increase due to the growing population, improved living standards, and agricultural land expansion to ensure food security. The proper planning and integrated water resources management in Egypt is a complex process that requires considering many different aspects: Available water resources, the water requirements from the various sectors, and water quality. As for water resources, the current deficit reaches up to 20 billion cubic meters per year, mainly covered by reusing agricultural drainage water in irrigation through mixing stations, with a significant negative impact on health and environmental standards. As for urban water and sanitation, the rapid population increase puts immense pressure on the existing network and the government to expedite its infrastructure assets to cope with such an increasing pace. The development of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) was particularly recommended in the ministers' final statement at the International Conference on Water and the Environment in 1992 (so-called the Dublin principles). This concept aims to promote changes in practices that are considered fundamental to improved water resource management. This paper will provide an overall and comprehensive assessment of IWRM concept implantation in Egypt and pay particular attention to the concept implementation results against its objectives, key lessons, and recommendations to improve current and future sector financing options for modern water.

Structural dynamics versus a macroeconomic approach – A final statement?

Structural dynamics versus a macroeconomic approach – A final statement?

Свобода и неравенство: к проблеме истории и философии либерализма

The article is devoted to the study of the problem of the doctrinal identification of freedom and inequality by classical liberalism and neoliberalism. Identifying the features of the naturalistic and theological approaches to the manifestation of inequality in human communities, the author notes the philosophical justification of the legal argumentation of inequality in the theories of natural law and the social contract of modern thinkers. The appeal to the value dynamics reflected in the slogans of the French revolution of the 18th century allows the author to reveal the gradual displacement of the priorities of “Equality” and “Brotherhood”, which were put forward by the revolutionary democracy, by the liberal movements. The final statement of Locke’s version of the orientation of classical liberalism on the triad “Freedom. Property. Life”, according to the author, logically determines the identification of freedom with inequality, and equality with slavery by representatives of liberal circles. The development of the concepts of “social solidarity” by the theorists of neoliberalism, according to the author’s proof, does not change the liberal attitude to “freedom in inequality”. The analysis of the categories of freedom and inequality allows the author to formulate the contradictions of this provision. The article concludes that with the aggravation of the derived contradiction to the maximum, the risk of self-denial of liberalism increases.

Development of the alopecia areata scale for clinical use: Results of an academic–industry collaborative effort

The current classification for alopecia areata (AA) does not provide a consistent assessment of disease severity. To develop an AA severity scale based on expert experience. A modified Delphi process was utilized. An advisory group of 22 AA clinical experts from the United States was formed to develop this AA scale. Representatives from the pharmaceutical industry provided feedback during its development. Survey responses were used to draft severity criteria, aspiring to develop a simple scale that may be easily applied in clinical practice. A consensus vote was held to determine the final AA severity statement, with all AA experts agreeing to adopt the proposed scale. The scale is a static assessment intended to be used in clinical practice and not clinical trials. The final AA disease severity scale, anchored in the extent of hair loss, captures key features commonly used by AA experts in clinical practice. This scale will better aid clinicians in appropriately assessing severity in patients with this common disease.

Amelogenin-Derived Peptides in Bone Regeneration: A Systematic Review.

Amelogenins are enamel matrix proteins currently used to treat bone defects in periodontal surgery. Recent studies have highlighted the relevance of amelogenin-derived peptides, named LRAP, TRAP, SP, and C11, in bone tissue engineering. Interestingly, these peptides seem to maintain or even improve the biological activity of the full-length protein, which has received attention in the field of bone regeneration. In this article, the authors combined a systematic and a narrative review. The former is focused on the existing scientific evidence on LRAP, TRAP, SP, and C11’s ability to induce the production of mineralized extracellular matrix, while the latter is concentrated on the structure and function of amelogenin and amelogenin-derived peptides. Overall, the collected data suggest that LRAP and SP are able to induce stromal stem cell differentiation towards osteoblastic phenotypes; specifically, SP seems to be more reliable in bone regenerative approaches due to its osteoinduction and the absence of immunogenicity. However, even if some evidence is convincing, the limited number of studies and the scarcity of in vivo studies force us to wait for further investigations before drawing a solid final statement on the real potential of amelogenin-derived peptides in bone tissue engineering.

Towards a shared understanding of sustainability for neglected tropical disease programs.

BackgroundSustainability within neglected tropical disease (NTD) programs is a complex and challenging issue. The need for a shared understanding about what sustainability means for NTD programs is more important than ever as stakeholders are currently realigning for the next decade of NTD programming with the launch of WHO’s new NTD roadmap for 2012–2030. The aim of this paper is to assess different perspectives to generate a working definition of sustainability for NTD programs.Methodology/Principal findingsThis study surveyed affiliates of the NTD NGO Network (NNN) about their definitions of sustainability and then analyzed the data using an inductive and deductive process. The research team drafted a sustainability statement based on the survey findings and then solicited and incorporated feedback on the statement from a diverse group of expert reviewers. The final statement includes a working definition of sustainability for NTD programs that highlights three key essential components to sustainability: domestic commitment, responsive resource mobilization, and accountability.Conclusions/SignificanceThis research resulted in a sustainability statement, based on a survey and extensive consultation with stakeholders, that represents a starting point for shared understanding around the concept of sustainability for NTD programs. Future collaborative work should build off this definition and seek to incorporate indicators for sustainability into programmatic decision-making.

Bibliography and the doctrine of bibliosphere: the state and prospects of development

The article is devoted to the analysis of the methodological potential of the main provisions of the Doctrine of Bibliosphere, developed by A. V. Sokolov. It is noted that its source is the concept of Noosphere by V. I. Vernadsky, which has been developed in the works of N. N. Moiseev. The basis of the Doctrine is a number of provisions. The first one concerns the nature of bibliosphere. However, in different works by A. V. Sokolov, it is defined in different ways, e.g. as part of a social space, as a national system of infrastructural book and communication systems that have developed at the industrial stage of man-made civilization, as a part of the document sphere, as a supersystem of book and communication systems that ensure the reproduction, preservation and further development of the national book culture. The second proposition concerns Bibliologos, or Book Mind, as the governing principle of Bibliosphere. The content of the third provision is devoted to the identification of the conflict between book and digital culture. The fourth and final statement is aimed at revealing the humanistic nature of Bibliosphere. It is based on ideas on the humanistic nature of book. The existing contradictions are analyzed. Theу include, first of all, the impossibility of the direct transfer of terminology and basic provisions of the theory of Noosphere to library and bibliographic concepts due to the difference in the scale of these theories (Noosphere and Bibliosphere), as well as the applied nature of the latter. Secondly, the contradiction highlighted by A. V. Sokolov is considered as a local problem caused by the transition to new technologies. Its resolution is not of a key nature and does not determine the vector of development of librarianship and bibliography. Third, the author questions the validity of identifying Bibliologos as a governing principle within the framework of a theory based on the principles of scientific rationality, which excludes the appeal to mysticism. Fourth, it is noted that the humanistic nature of librarianship and bibliography is given not by the nature of the book, which is indifferent, but by library and library and bibliographic activities aimed at the humanistic development of society. As a result of the analysis of Doctrine, the author comes to the conclusion that the idea of creating a theory, the main provisions and methodology of which allow us comprehensive consideration of social, information, technological and ethical (humanistic) aspects of librarianship and bibliography is relevant for modern library and bibliographic science in the context of the transition to a new model of organizing librarianship and bibliography. The analysis of the Doctrine on Bibliosphere has shown that it can potentially become such a theory, provided that the contradictions and unresolved issues identified by us are successfully resolved. At the same time, from a methodological point of view, it is fundamental to return to the positions of materialism and dialectics.

Influence of dental occlusion on oculomotory function—A pilot study

The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between the oculomotory system and the stomatognathic system based on morphofunctional relationships between the corresponding cranial nerves, their core areas and the reticular formation as a "link" by means of optometric examinations.Test subjects (N = 100) were prospectively recruited and divided into two groups: a young-age (N = 53, age 6–16 years) and old-age group (N = 47, 23–78 years). We determined the horizontal range of convergence and divergence as well as the near convergence point. These optometrically measured parameters were recorded in both groups in the resting position, at maximal mouth opening and with bite-blocking via tin foils (0.5 mm and 1 mm), which were inserted occlusally of the first lower left molar.All oculomotory parameters were significantly altered by bite manipulation and maximal mouth opening. These effects could be observed regardless of age and gender and thus suggest an interaction between eye movement and the orofacial complex. Subjects with asthenopic symptoms showed no different reactions compared to healthy subjects.For a final statement on the correlation between the oculomotory and stomatognathic system, further investigations are necessary. An interdisciplinary cooperation between the different subject areas is recommended for further studies.

10 oecd National Contact Point, Belgium: Final Statement in iuf / AB-InBev, 19 November 2020

10 oecd National Contact Point, Belgium: Final Statement in iuf / AB-InBev, 19 November 2020

Identifying Best Practices for Managing Internal Carotid Artery Injury During Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery by Consensus of Expert Opinion.

Injury to the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a potentially devastating complication of endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) that as many as 20% of skull base surgeons will experience at least once during their careers. Managing these injuries is difficult given the small operative field and poor visibility created by high-flow hemorrhage, and, at present, there is no consensus regarding best practices. This study seeks to consolidate the practices and opinions of experienced skull base surgeons from high-volume tertiary care centers into a single consensus statement regarding the best practices for managing ICA injuries during EES. A panel of 23 skull base surgeons (15 neurosurgeons and 8 otolaryngologists) completed a 3-round Delphi survey that assessed experiences and opinions regarding various aspects of ICA injury management. Mean (SD) years since fellowship completion was 15.6 (8.1) and all but 3 surgeons had experienced an ICA injury at least once. The final consensus statement included 36 guidelines all of which were grouped under 1 of 4 categories: 11 statements concerned preoperative management and equipment for high-risk patients; 14 statements concerned hemorrhage control; 4 statements concerned definitive management; 7 statements concerned pharmacologic treatment, blood pressure, and neurophysiologic monitoring. There are numerous decisions that a surgeon must make when facing a carotid artery injury. In our estimation, many questions can be grouped under 1 of the 4 categories outlined in our consensus statement and can be addressed by these findings.

Three Kantian Accounts of Concept Formation

Abstract This article has two aims. First, I offer a philological analysis of a key passage from Kant’s Logic: § 6. § 6 is widely regarded as the locus classicus for Kant’s theory of concept formation. However, I show that the part of this section that is most cited and discussed by scholars should not be attributed to Kant, as it is not corroborated by any of his Reflexionen. Second, I attempt to identify Jäsche’s source for this unsupported passage. Ultimately, I conclude that the unsupported passage in § 6 was based on a set of student notes that was similar to the Wiener and Warschauer logic notebooks. However, I also argue that it would be a mistake to regard this passage as the final or definitive statement of Kant’s views about concept formation.

First Annual Conference on New Health Practitioners.

The First National Conference on New Health Practitioners was a seminal event in the development of the fledgling PA profession. Sponsored by the Association of Physician Assistant Programs and the American Academy of Physician Assistants, it was achieved by the cooperation of leaders committed to the success of the new profession. This article reveals, in a manner never before detailed, how this conference milestone was planned and what took place, and emphasizes its importance to the field. The meeting, held in April of 1973, was groundbreaking, attracting, among the 252 participants, the leadership of the American Medical Association, the National Board of Medical Examiners, the Federation of State Medical Boards, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Nurses Association, and federal agencies within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, responsible for promoting and funding PA education, as well as PAs and PA educators. This remarkable participation, and conference program, have long deserved a more explicit accounting than they have had to date. Details for this article were enhanced when one of the authors (Piemme) discovered, among his archive of personal documents (from almost 50 years ago), 2 items originally generated by the US Air Force that provide more insight into details of the conference. One is a robust conference planning document outlining in detail both the organizational elements and the programmatic elements of the conference. The other is a final financial statement from the conference organizing committee.

CORR Insights®: More Than One-third of Orthopaedic Applicants Are in the Top 10%: The Standardized Letter of Recommendation and Evaluation of Orthopaedic Resident Applicants.

CORR Insights®: More Than One-third of Orthopaedic Applicants Are in the Top 10%: The Standardized Letter of Recommendation and Evaluation of Orthopaedic Resident Applicants.

6 oecd National Contact Point, the Netherlands: Final Statement, iuf vs. Perfetti Van Melle, 15 June 2020

6 oecd National Contact Point, the Netherlands: Final Statement, iuf vs. Perfetti Van Melle, 15 June 2020

2 oecd National Contact Point, Germany: Final Statement, Specific instance submitted by südwind Institut, Sedane Labour Resource Centre, Stichting Schone Kleren/Clean Clothes Campaign against Adidas ag, 24 April 2020

2 oecd National Contact Point, Germany: Final Statement, Specific instance submitted by südwind Institut, Sedane Labour Resource Centre, Stichting Schone Kleren/Clean Clothes Campaign against Adidas ag, 24 April 2020

MISSION STATEMENT ACCOMPLISHED: PROMISES AND CHALLENGES IN USING E-PARTICIPATION FOR MISSION STATEMENT DEVELOPMENT

Mission statements are written declarations that summarize and communicate an organization’s core values and strategies and present managerial tools that can be used to motivate employees by creating a common self-understanding of an organization. With politics aiming to become ever more inclusive and participative ranging from the local to the global level, new technologies and findings about possibilities of self-determined, collaborative work from the field of e-participation emerge, which can be transferred onto organizational participation. We therefore present a procedure for incorporating e-participation approaches in mission statement creation processes to make place for more collaborative and open processes. This paper presents an eight-step nominal group process for the participative online creation of a mission statement. The process was tested and evaluated within three consecutive studies that surrounded different stages of a mission statement development, which relied on an existing e-participation platform. Our core findings show that (1) the participants of this initiative considered the use of e-participation to be helpful for mission statement creation and generally support the proposed process structure, (2) the platform’s suitability for developing mission statements was reviewed critically, making suggestions for important criteria of digital mission statement creation tools that should be met, and (3) participants could identify themselves with the final mission statement more strongly because of their own participation in the development process. While observing overall support for the suggested mission statement creation procedure, we build on the results of our studies to make suggestions for the design of e-participation platforms that will make them even more suitable for mission statement development.

3D simulations of deep mixed columns under road embankment

When column stabilisation is meant to function as a ground improvement under an embankment, the design cases to be considered consist of overall stability, compression resistance of the column heads, arching of the embankment on the columns and settlements. This paper focuses on the compression resistance of the columns. The proper geotechnical design of deep mixed (deep stabilised) columns under road embankment requires good estimation of the stress-strain behaviour of the columns and the surrounding soil under the embankment and traffic loading. Earlier Finnish design approaches relied on an even traffic load of 10 kN/m2 on the road surface. The dimensioning methods for column stabilised soil are also based on the idea of an even traffic load. Due to Eurocode recommendations a more realistic scenario is introduced, which remarkably increases the magnitude of the traffic loading. After deriving suitable material properties and stiffness parameters for static and dynamic traffic loading, three-dimensional finite element calculations are performed to achieve better understanding of the mechanical interaction between the embankment, columns and soil under the new loading configuration. Even though more investigations are needed before delivering a final statement, the calculations show that, for the considered case in this paper, the new loading scenario has no relevant consequences on the design compared to the earlier design approach.

Tonga

Tonga Trish Tupou (bio) and Amanda Sullivan-Lee (bio) Like many countries around the Pacific, Tonga has experienced a multitude of change in the past twelve months. One of the biggest changes to the House of Representatives was, of course, the passing of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva in September 2019. Only one month prior, newspapers reported on the tears Pōhiva shed while listening to the Pacific Climate Warriors’ speech during the biannual Pacific Islands Forum (pif) summit, held in Tuvalu—perhaps a foreshadow ing of what was to come. After being evacuated to Aotearoa/New Zealand with pneumonia, Pōhiva passed away in Auckland City Hospital on the morning of 12 September, aged seventy-eight. To many, his passing did not come as a surprise, as he had been battling liver disease for many months. Semisi Sika, Pōhiva’s deputy, took over as acting prime minister until 8 October, when current Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu‘i‘onetoa was elected as leader by the Legislative Assembly. Since taking office, Tu‘i‘onetoa has made no significant changes to the Tongan government, apart from announcing his own party—the People’s Party. This could be seen as a strategic move on his behalf, symbolizing Tu‘i‘onetoa’s focus on mitigating the divisive nature of current Tongan politics (Graue 2019). How the People’s Party differs from the People’s National Party and the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands—and how effective Tu‘i‘onetoa’s ability to unite Tongan politics will be—remains to be seen. However, the beginning of his term has not been uneventful. Just five months after Tu‘i‘onetoa’s October 2019 inauguration, the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (covid-19) became a global pandemic, announced by the World Health Organization on 11 March. Luckily, at the time of writing, Tonga remains one of the few Pacific nations to be free of covid-19. Although the virus has not come to Tonga, the aftermath of the global economic crisis in response to the pandemic could significantly impact the kingdom’s economy. This will be yet another challenge that Tu‘i‘onetoa will have to address. While the future remains unknown, this political review concentrates on three main events: the passing of Pōhiva, including the lead up to his death, his funeral, and public response; Prime Minister Tu‘i‘onetoa’s leadership; and Tonga’s response to covid-19 and its immediate impacts. One of Pōhiva’s last acts as Tonga’s prime minister was his attendance at the pif summit in Tuvalu a month before his passing. The summit was focused on climate change, with regional leaders gathering to negotiate and write their statement and [End Page 252] communiqué for September’s climate change talks at the United Nations. A major area of contention was whether the pif statement would condemn some nations’ continued reliance on coal and coal-powered energy. This critique, which was spearheaded by the smaller island states, did not make it into the final statement from the pif leaders. However, for Pōhiva, the summit was not just a moment of political negotiations but also an emotional event. As part of the gathering, leaders heard from Pacific Climate Warrior activists from Tuvalu, and it was this that moved Pōhiva to tears. It appeared that Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga was deeply moved by Pōhiva’s expression of emotion, saying that he had “shed tears in front of the leaders, because of the passion referring to the presentation from the two young warriors of climate change” (sbs News 2019). This was a bittersweet contrast to the actions of Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who continued to deny Australia’s outrageous carbon emissions and ongoing reliance on its coal-exporting industry. Though not much has been written about Pōhiva’s influence in the pif summit, it is fitting that one of his last major appearances would involve climate justice—an issue he had strongly advocated for throughout his tenure as prime minister—and, moreover, that his presence and leadership would continue to offer a deep contrast to the prime ministers of larger nation states. However...

Preparation of Platelet-Rich Plasma: National IADVL PRP Taskforce Recommendations.

The goal of these recommendations is to provide a framework to practitioners for implementing useful, evidence-based recommendations for the preparation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in various dermatological indications. The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) assigned the task of preparing these recommendations to its task force on PRP. A comprehensive literature search was done in the English language on the preparation of PRP across multiple databases. The grade of evidence and strength of recommendation was evaluated on the GRADE framework (Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation). A draft of clinical recommendations was developed on the best available evidence which was also scrutinized and critically evaluated by the IADVL Academy of Dermatology. Based on the inputs received, this final consensus statement was prepared. A total of 45 articles (meta-analyses, prospective and retrospective studies, reviews [including chapters in books], and case series) were critically evaluated and the evidence thus gathered was used in the preparation of these recommendations. This expert group recommends the use of double-spin manual method for the preparation of PRP. The recommended parameters for centrifuge are 100–300 g for 5–10 min for the first spin and 400–700 g for 10–17 min for the second spin. The recommended platelet concentration in PRP for the treatment of various dermatological conditions is 1–1.5 million platelets/μL. The activation of PRP is not required when it is injected into soft tissues.