International Scientific Associations Research Articles

Effectiveness of an institution-based adapted physical activity programme versus a home-based self-management programme for chronic poststroke adults: protocol for a randomised controlled study

IntroductionPhysical activity (PA) protects the cardiovascular system and reduces the risk of stroke recurrence. However, most stroke survivors have significantly lower daily PA levels than those recommended. Adapted PA programmes...

The role of minimally invasive surgery in gynaecological cancer: an overview of current trends.

The capabilities of minimally invasive surgery, either as conventional laparoscopy, or as robotic surgery, have increased to an extent that it enables complex operations in the field of gynaecological oncology. To document the role of minimally invasive gynaecological surgery in cancer. A review of the literature that shaped international guidelines and clinical practice. Current guidelines of major international scientific associations and trends in accepted clinical practice. In recent years, evidence on oncologic outcome has limited the role of minimally invasive techniques in cervical cancer, while the treatment of early endometrial cancer with laparoscopy and robotic surgery has become the international standard. In ovarian cancer, the role of minimally invasive surgery is still limited. Current evidence on perioperative morbidity underlines the necessity to implicate minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. The optimal surgical route for the treatment of gynaecological cancer remains in many cases controversial. The role of minimally invasive surgery remains increasing in the course of time. This comprehensive review offers an entire perspective on the current role of minimally invasive surgery in gynaecological cancer therapy.

INTERRELATION OF THE INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT INDEX SYSTEM AND CURRENT GDP & GDP BASED ON PPP INDICATORS

This article is empirical in nature. Its purpose is to analyze, on the basis of a multivariate regression model, the question of the impact of the Inclusive Development Index–as the first index instrument of an inclusive economy–on such two forms of GDP as an indicator that the Inclusive Development Index was recognized to replace: current GDP per capita and GDP based purchasing power parity (given that the constant GDP indicator is officially included in the structure of the Index). The dimension of analysis described above and presented in this article is a component of the author’s research as part of a PhD program dedicated to determining the overall effectiveness of the Inclusive Development Index presented in 2017 by the World Economic Forum. The regression analysis showed the minimal presence of significant influences of the structure of the Inclusive Development Index on current GDP and GDP based on PPP as the two main economic indicators in the world. This allows us to talk about the abstract nature of the construction of the Inclusive Development Index. In turn, the inevitability of such aforementioned studies is dictated by the incompleteness of the reorientation of the model of global economic dynamics from the concept of sustainable development developed in the 1970s to the concept of inclusive economic growth. This, in particular, is declared today by specialists from leading international scientific and economic organizations and associations: The WEF, the OECD, the World Bank, The International Monetary Fund, The United Nations, and structures like the International Labor Organization and UNICEF, which operate under the auspices of the UN. The theoretical and practical significance of the results obtained may be useful in further studies on such composite indicators.

Guidance for the Interpretation of Continual Cuffless Blood Pressure Data for the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension.

Hypertension remains the leading risk factor for death worldwide. Despite its prevalence, success of blood pressure (BP) management efforts remains elusive, and part of the difficulty lies in the tool still used to diagnose, measure, and treat hypertension: the sphygmomanometer introduced by Samuel Siegfried Karl von Basch in 1867. In recent years, there has been an explosion of devices attempting to provide estimates of BP without a cuff, overcoming many limitations of cuff-based BP monitors. Unfortunately, the differences in underlying technologies between traditional BP cuffs and newer cuffless devices, as well as hesitancy of changing a well-implemented standard, still generate understandable skepticism about and reluctance to adopt cuffless BP monitors in clinical practice. This guidance document aims to navigate the scientific and medical communities through the types of cuffless devices and present examples of robust BP data collection which are better representations of a person's true BP. It highlights the differences between data collected by cuffless and traditional cuff-based devices and provides an initial framework of interpretation of the new cuffless datasets using, as an example, a CE-marked continual cuffless BP device (Aktiia BP Monitor, Aktiia, Switzerland). Demonstration of novel BP metrics, which have the potential to change the paradigm of hypertension diagnosis and treatment, are now possible for the first time with cuffless BP monitors that provide continual readings over long periods. Widespread adoption of continual cuffless BP monitors in healthcare will require a collaborative and thoughtful process, acknowledging that the transition from a legacy to a novel medical technology will be slow. Finally, this guidance concludes with a call to action to international scientific and expert associations to include cuffless BP monitors in original scientific research and in future versions of guidelines and standards.

Quality indicators in neuro-oncology: Review of the literature and development of a new quality indicator set for glioma care through a two-round Delphi survey.

Quality Indicators (QIs) are important tools to assessthe quality and variability of oncological care. However, their application in neuro-oncology is limited so far. The objective of this study was to develop a set of QIs for glioma, covering process and outcome indicators. A systematic review was conducted to identify both QIs in the field of adult glioma care, and guidelines or recommendations that could be translated into QIs. Also reports from national and international healthcare agencies and scientific associations ("grey literature") were taken into account. After conversion of these recommendations into QIs, merging with existing QIs found in the literature and rationalization, a two-round Delphi survey was conducted to gain consensus on relevance for the proposed QIs. In total 240 recommendations and 30 QIs were retrieved from the literature. After conversion, merging and rationalization, 147 QIs were evaluated in the Delphi survey and eventually consensus was gained on 47 QIs in the following 7 domains: Diagnosis and Imaging, Surgery, Pathology, Radio/Chemotherapy, Recurrence, Supportive Treatments (Epilepsy, Thromboembolism, Steroid Use and Rehabilitation) and Survival. This study defined a set of 47 QIs for assessing quality of care in adult glioma patients, distributed amongst 7 crucial phases in the patient's care trajectory. These QIs are readily applicable for use in diverse health care systems, depending on the availability of population-based health care data enabling (inter)national benchmarking.

Автобиография Ю. В. Кнорозова: эволюция документа в личном деле исследователя

The publication characterizes autobiographies of the historian, ethnographer, linguist, “father” of the Russian school of Mayanism Yuri Valentinovich Knorozov (1922–99), that have been identified in the fonds of various institutions and departments: (State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF), Scientific Archive of the Russian Ethnographic Museum (REM), Scientific Archive of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences (MAE RAN). Autobiography is a “free” author's presentation (with fixed semantic accents, sometimes duplicating the data of personnel sheet) and a mandatory formal element of Soviet personnel management. The text of the autobiography was influenced by the document’s purpose: individual facts unfit for socially and ideologically correct biography were “hushed up” or otherwise carefully explained by the author. Drawing on Yu. V. Knorozov’s autobiographies written in different years and for different reasons (admission to graduate school, employment, dissertation defense, promotion to honorary titles), the article assesses how explanatory statements were changing textually. “Corrections” are considered using the example of specific facts: during the Great Patriotic War (from 1941 to February 1943), Yuri Knorozov, a student of the Kharkiv Pedagogical University, unfit for military service for health reasons, was in the territory occupied by the enemy. The article is accompanied by the publication of a detailed autobiography of Yuri Knorozov (1981) compiled on the occasion of his nomination as corresponding member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences in “General history” (ethnography). The autobiography text contains information on most important facts of Yuri Knorozov’s scientific biography, including his expeditions (field research), reports at foreign scientific events and participation in international scientific associations. The author concludes that it is more important to analyze not the content of the autobiography, but the socio-political circumstances and practices that determined its semantic framework.

Consensus, Global Definitions of Whole Grain as a Food Ingredient and of Whole-Grain Foods Presented on Behalf of the Whole Grain Initiative.

Proposed global definitions of whole grain as an ingredient and whole grain food are presented by the authors on behalf of the Whole Grain Initiative. Whole grains are an important pillar of healthy and sustainable diets. Internationally accepted credible definitions of whole grains as food ingredients and whole-grain foods are necessary to ensure that all global stakeholders have shared standards, and that consumers find them clear, credible, and useful. Based on widely accepted, existing definitions and new developments, the Definitions Working Group of the global Whole Grain Initiative, with experts from academia, government agencies and industry, developed definitions for global application. The key statements of the definition documents are as follows: “Whole grains shall consist of the intact, ground, cracked, flaked or otherwise processed kernel after the removal of inedible parts such as the hull and husk; all anatomical components, including the endosperm, germ, and bran must be present in the same relative proportions as in the intact kernel” and “A whole-grain food shall contain at least 50% whole-grain ingredients based on dry weight. Foods containing 25–50% whole-grain ingredients based on dry weight, may make a front-of-pack claim on the presence of whole grain but cannot be designated ‘whole grain’ in the product name”. The definition documents have been ratified by the leading international scientific associations in this area. We urge that these consensus Whole Grain Initiative definitions be adopted as the basis for definitions used by national regulatory authorities and for health promotion organisations worldwide to use in nutrition education and food labelling.

Global survey on disruption and mitigation of neurological services during COVID-19: the perspective of global international neurological patients and scientific associations.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has dramatically disrupted healthcare systems. Two rapid WHO pulse surveys studied disruptions in mental health services, but did not particularly focus on neurology. Here, a global survey was conducted and addresses the impact of the pandemic on neurology services.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out in which 34 international neurological associations were asked to distribute the survey to national associations. The responses represented the national situation, in November–December 2020, with regard to the main disrupted neurological services, reasons and the mitigation strategies implemented as well as the disruption on training of residents and on neurological research. A comparison with the situation in February–April 2020, first pandemic wave, was also requested.Findings54 completed surveys came from 43 countries covering all the 6 WHO regions. Overall, neurological services disruption was reported as mild by 26%, moderate by 30%, complete by 13% of associations. The most affected services were cross-sectoral neurological services (57%) and neurorehabilitation (56%). The second wave of the pandemic, however, was associated with the improvement of service provision for diagnostics services (44%) and for neurorehabilitation (41%). Governmental directives were the major cause of services’ disruption (56%). Mitigation strategies were mostly established through telemedicine (48%). Almost half of respondents reported a significant impact on neurological research (48%) and educational activities (60%). Most associations (67%) were not involved in decision making for neurological patients’ issues by their national government.InterpretationThe COVID-19 pandemic affects neurological services and raises the universal need for the development of neurological health care at the policy, systems and services levels. A global national plan on mitigation strategies for disruption of neurological services during pandemic situations should be established and neurological scientific and patients associations should get involved in decision making.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00415-021-10641-3.

International scientific associations of the History of Science and Technology: formation and development (part II)

The activity of international organizations on the history of science and technology is a remarkable phenomenon in the world scientific and sociocultural sphere. Such centers influence and contribute to the scientific communication of scientists from different countries and the comprehensive development of numerous aspects of the history of science and technology, carry out scientific congresses. That is why the analysis of the acquired experience and the obtained results of these groups are important.
 The history of the formation and development, task, structure, background and directions of the activities of some international organizations in the field of science and technology, including The History of Science Society (HSS), The European Society forthe History of Science (ESHS), The Society for the History of Technology (SHOT), The Newcomen Society, The Scientific Instrument Society (SIS) have been shown.
 The History of Science Society (HSS) is the professional society for the academic study of the history of science. It is the world’s largest society dedicated to understanding science, technology, medicine and their interactions with society within their historical context. HSS was founded in 1924 by G. Sarton and L. Henderson. The aim of European Society for the History of Science (ESHS), founded in 2003, is to promote the history of science, technology and medicine throughout Europe. The Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) is an international interdisciplinary organization concerned with the history of technological devices and processes and with technology in history — that is, the relationship of technology to politics, economics, science, arts and the organization of production, The Newcomen Society is an international society that studies and promotes the history of engineering and technology from ancient times to the present day. It disseminates historical information by publications, meetings, correspondence and internet forums. The Scientific Instrument Society (SIS) was formed in April 1983 to bring together people with a special interest in scientific instruments, ranging from precious antiques to electronic devices only recently out of production. The Society aimed to contribute to historical knowledge and understanding through the collection, conservation and study of scientific artefacts.
 Ecept for the organizations considered, there are many other scientific unions and societies in the field of history and phylosophy of science and engineering, whose activities require further study and synthesis.

International scientific associations of the History of Science and Technology: formation and development (part III)

The activity of international organizations on the history and philosophy of science and technology is a remarkable phenomenon in the world scientific and sociocultural sphere. Such centers influence and contribute to the scientific communication of scientists from different countries and the comprehensive development of numerous aspects of the history and phylosiphy of science and technology, carry out scientific congresses. That is why the analysis of the acquired experience and the obtained results of these groups are important.
 The history of the formation and development, task, structure, background and directions of the activities of some international organizations in the field of history and philosophy of science and technology, including The European Philosophy of Science Association (EPSA), The International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS), The International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP) and The International council for philosophy and human sciences (ICPHS) have been shown.
 The European Philosophy of Science Association (EPSA) was established in 2007 to promote and advance the investigations and teaching the philosophy of science in Europe. EPSA edits the European Journal for Philosophy of Science (EJPS), which publishes articles in all areas of philosophy of science. The International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) promotes serious, scholarly research on the history of the philosophy of science and gathers scholars who share an interest in promoting research on the history of the philosophy of science and related topics in the history of the natural and social sciences, logic, philosophy and mathematics. The scholarly journal HOPOS is published by University of Chicago Press.
 The International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP) is the highest nongovernmental world organization for philosophy, whose members-societies represent every country where there is significant academic philosophy. It was established in Amsterdam in 1948. FISP’s first seat was located at the the Sorbonne in Paris. FISP includes approximately one hundred members. It does not include individual members, but only «societies» in a broad sense, that is, philosophical institutions of different kinds, such as associations, societies, institutes, centres and academies at national, regional and international levels. The International council for philosophy and human sciences (ICPHS) is a non-governmental organisation within UNESCO, which federates hundreds of different learned societies in the field of philosophy, human sciences and related subjects. It was conceived as the intermediary between UNESCO on one hand, and learned societies and national academies on the other. Its aim was to extend UNESCO's action in the domain of humanistic studies.

The mobilization of the academic community towards the SDGs: Mapping the initiatives of international scientific associations

This paper aims to present how the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the International Science Council (ISC) and the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi) of the scientific community have been acting in relation to the SDGs agenda, as well as how it mobilizes in the international scenario in the context of the construction of a global research agenda. Methodologically, it was based on bibliographic reviews on the theme, in addition to performing an exploratory mapping regarding the performance of scientific associations that deal directly with the SDGs. Several initiatives have been mapped, with a view to recognizing this global research agenda as one of the social commitments to be made by this community. As main initiatives, we highlight the performance of the SDSN, the ISC and the GUNi, among others. Besides that, we launch the hypothesis that the establishment of such networks aims to build an epistemic community in support of the SDGs.

Review of operational indications on the design of facilities for radiopharmaceutical manufacturing in italy

Purpose. In this article, the authors propose useful operational indications to approach in the best possible way the issues concerning the design of a facility for manufacturing radiopharmaceuticals, with focus on organizational and safety aspects. Methods. Several documents produced by authoritative bodies, national and international scientific institutions and associations were examined and referenced, to the purpose of reviewing all available information in the field. Results. Indications are gathered for the design stage, including the organization of accesses and routes and characteristics and requirements of premises and systems. Conclusions. Main goal is to guide the reader in evaluating and choosing the most suitable features and equipment to limit the risks due to ionizing radiation and to prevent contamination of the workers and the environment.

COVID-19 and Cardiovascular Comorbidities.

The emergence of a new coronavirus - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - has resulted in a global pandemic. The associated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a high number of death worldwide. Observational studies and case reports have provided insights that older age and the presence of chronic diseases is frequently associated with a higher COVID-19 severity. These individuals also seem to have a higher risk of mortality due to COVID-19. In this review we provide insights into the impact chronic diseases associated with the cardiovascular system, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiovascular disease might have on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19. Additionally we review recommendations and guidance's of international scientific associations and discuss which key learnings might be of importance for the future.

Opening the record of science: making scholarly publishing work for science in the digital era

There is increasing concern about the extent to which the modern system of scientific and scholarly publishing serves the best interests of science. The International Science Council, as the global voice for science, and with its membership of 40 international scientific unions and associations and 144 national members, including national academies and research councils, is pursuing a major new initiative on this topic. This sets out a series of durable principles for scientific and scholarly publishing and analyses the extent to which current publishing regimes are consistent with these principles. It identifies serious deficits in the inhibition of access to the record of science, in global inclusion and innovation, in metrics that stimulate perverse behaviour and in the emerging shift of control of the research cycle into commercial hands. A series of virtual meetings involving the international science community, as represented by the Council’s members, will discuss these issues in September 2020, with the intention of creating an international coalition for action and change that will includes key stakeholders, including the library, funding and university communities. It is vital that the novel capabilities offered by the digital revolution are harnessed to disseminate science more efficiently and effectively to the global public good.

Improving Education and Training to Reduce the Burden of Occupational Cancer. The Riga-European Association of Schools of Occupational Medicine (EASOM) Statement on Work-Related Cancer.

Reducing the burden of occupational cancers (OCs) is currently one of the most challenging Occupational Health (OH) issues. The European Union (EU) has made efforts to improve the existing legal framework and developed specific legislation aimed at reducing the burden of OC. However, available data suggest that OC are underreported. In August 2019, the European Association of Schools of Occupational Medicine (EASOM) adopted a statement that highlighted the importance of improving the education and training of Medical Doctors (MDs) to facilitate improvements in recognizing and reporting OC. To achieve this, EASOM proposes to promote OH education and training of MDs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, foster harmonization of OH education and teaching standards and programs across EU countries, and enhance cooperation between universities and international scientific associations. Finally, we suggest that occupational data should be recorded in cancer and medical registers. By engaging MDs more fully in the debate about OCs, they will become more aware of the Occupational Physician’s role in reducing the burden of OCs and, furthermore, embed consideration of occupation as a potential cause of cancer into their own practice. These interventions will help promote the implementation of policies and interventions aimed to reduce OC in the workplace.

Тенденції розвитку міжнародного науково-технічного співробітництва

In recent decades, there has been an intensification of international scientific and technological cooperation (ISTC), which takes place in various forms. The publication is aimed at generalizing the methodological bases of research and examining the main tendencies in the development of modern ISTC. The essence of ISTC and its objective predeterminence are defined, its importance as a factor of a world-wide development on the basis of the global spread of the achievements of science is specified. The peculiarities of ISTC progress at both macro- and micro-levels, which covers all stages of knowledge acquisition and takes place in an intensive manner in the field of both fundamental and applied research, are explained. The main elements of the methodology of the ISTC research are: principles, conditions of development, types, forms, directions, mechanisms and main effects. It is substantiated that the most important precondition for the development of ISTC is its institutionalization. International business became one of the leading forces in the ISTC. The main structural tendencies in the development of ISTC (increasing the degree of institutionalization, geographical diversification, diversification of the directions of cooperation, wide application of information and communication technologies (ICT), international scientific associations, etc.) are allocated. The peculiarities of participation in the ISCT of both developed and developing countries, as well as spatial changes (increasing the level of globalization, intensification of cooperation at the level of cities, universities, innovation zones; development of spatial and network structures of production, organization and use of knowledge; intensification of global mobility of highly qualified personnel, transfer of technologies) are explained. Attention is drawn to the formation of global innovation networks; development of intensive knowledge communities; expanding participation of universities in the ISTC; increasing the number of information platforms as the basis of ISTC; expanding the role of international scientometric databases, repositories, archives, libraries on the Internet. Measures are proposed to intensify and improve the ISTC system at both the global and the regional levels, especially the multilateral mechanisms to support developing countries. Attention is focused on the need to use a noosphere approach.

FDG PET/CT in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer worldwide. Although its incidence is increasing, mainly in those aged under 50, mortality has decreased by 50 % in the more developed countries, principally due to the adoption of new practices in prevention, diagnosis and treatment. In particular, the various diagnostic imaging modalities allow improved therapeutic decision-making, evaluation of the response to and efficacy of new therapies and early detection of recurrence. The aim of this paper is to review the available scientific evidence on the value of positron emission tomography with 18F-FDG (18F-FDG PET / CT) in the CCR, with special emphasis on the indications of the guidelines and recommendations of the main international scientific associations regarding this imaging technique.

International scientific associations оn the history of science and technology: formation and development (part I)

The history of the formation and development, the task, structure and directions of the activities of some international organizations in the field of history of science and technology, including The International Academy of the History of Science, International Union of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (IUHPST) and International Committee for the History of Technology (ICOHTEC), are highlighted. The participation of Ukrainian scientists in the activity of these research centers is shown.

The Websites of International Association Organizations in the Science and Engineering Area: Analysis of Their Functionality, Webometric Ranks, and Role in the Scientific Information Space

The position of international scientific associations (commonwealths, unions, and alliances) in the general structure of scientific organizations, as well as the role of such associations in the formation of the scientific information space, both national and international, are shown. For the associations, we analyzed the basic methodological issues of the construction of their websites, the information content of web pages, provision of the necessary functionality and user experience, and compliance to the rules of information security. This paper discusses the sources and composition of the information published on the websites of international associations working in the science and engineering area and defines the particular features of the structure of certain websites and their functional capabilities. The design and software solutions used on these websites are characterized. A detailed comparative study of webometric ranks is carried out and the main areas of their application in decision making by Russian researchers and research teams, as well as content managers of the websites of Russian research and development establishments, universities, institutes, and scientific communities are defined.

Evaluation of a Guidelines-Based Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

International scientific associations have made recommendations for the management of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) that have been summarized in clinical guidelines. To evaluate the clinical impact of guideline recommendations for CSU management. A multicenter, triple-blinded, prospective, randomized study (the Urticaria Research of Tropical Impact and Control Assessment project; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01940393) was performed. Patients older than 12 years and diagnosed with CSU were recruited and treated according to the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology/Global Allergy and Asthma European Network/European Dermatology Forum/World Allergy Organization guideline recommendations. The Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) was assessed every 2 weeks. As a first line of treatment, patients received a daily oral dose of antihistamine. After 4 weeks, in those patients without clinical response (DLQI ≤ 5), a higher dose (up to 4 times) of antihistamine was administered as a second line of therapy. After 2 months of follow-up, unresponsive patients received omalizumab or cyclosporine (as add-on therapy) for 4months as a third line of treatment. One hundred fifty patients were enrolled. After the first line of treatment, 88 patients (58.7%) reached a DLQI of 5or less. With the second line of treatment, disease control rate was 76.7%. With the third line, 12 patients from the omalizumab group (8%) and 11 patients from the cyclosporine group (7.3%) reached a good clinical control (additional 15.3%). Control rate with line 1 treatment was superior at 1 month than at 2 weeks (P < .0001). The application of these guideline recommendations for CSU led to a high rate of disease control,assessed by scoring severity and patients' perception ofquality of life. These results support the usefulness of guideline recommendations.