Joint Opinion Research Articles

Expert opinion of the Heart Rhythm Association of the Polish Cardiac Society and the Polish Neurological Society on evidence-driven implementation of implantable loop recorders in Poland.

Implantable loop recorders (ILR) are considered increasingly helpful in diagnosing cardio-neurological conditions, especially if arrhythmic events are of high clinical importance but are unlikely to be captured by standard methods of electrocardiogram recording due to the low frequency of events and short duration of a single event. The compelling evidence from randomized trials and observational studies strongly supports ILR utilization in patients after cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack and in patients with recurrent transient loss of consciousness of unknown origin. These two groups of patients are expected to gain the most from initiating ILR-driven clinically effective management strategies. Stroke or transient ischemic attack survivors with detected subclinical atrial fibrillation can be switched from antiplatelets to anticoagulants, whilst patients with recurrent syncope may avoid severe injuries and/or substantial impairment of their quality of life. This joint opinion of the Heart Rhythm Association of the Polish Cardiac Society and experts from the Polish Neurological Society summarizes the up-to-date rationale for using ILR in everyday clinical practice and describes the road map for implementing this technology in Poland. Special emphasis is placed on the most recent guidelines issued by both cardiological and neurological scientific societies.

Integrating learners into research and quality improvement projects: A joint opinion of the Adult Medicine and Education and Training Practice Research Networks of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy

AbstractResearch plays a vital role in advancing the pharmacy profession and improving patient care. It is a fundamental skill for learners to develop during their training under guided mentorship. Incorporating learners into research and quality improvement (QI) projects can yield numerous benefits for the learner, mentor, and institution. Despite this, there are barriers to integrating learners into research and QI projects which may stem from institutions and individuals. To ensure success when engaging in the research process, strategies centered around clear communication and illustrating the value should be implemented. Successful research programs require planning strategically, setting clear expectations, providing mentorship, and remaining adaptable to overcome barriers encountered during the process. The purpose of this paper is to discuss barriers to incorporating learners into research and QI projects and provide both mentors and learners strategies, tips and examples for success with perspectives and opinions from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Adult Medicine and Education and Training Practice Research Networks.

Риски безопасности: современное состояние государственного управления

The problem of state management of security risks in the context of a special military operation and conducting a hybrid war against Russia by NATO forces is actualized; an analysis of individual conditions and factors that form a critical possibility of harming life safety and, in general, the national interests of the Russian Federation is carried out.
 The current state of security risk management is revealed through the analysis of such strategic state documents as the Federal Law «On Security» as amended in 2023, «The Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation» in 2023, «Strategies for the development of civil defense, protection of the population and territories from emergencies, fire safety and human safety on water facilities for the period up to 2030», the state program of the Russian Federation «Protection of the population and territories from emergency situations, ensuring fire safety and human safety at water bodies» 2023, the Federal Law «On Voluntary Fire Protection» of 2011 with amendments and additions made to it in August 2023.
 Attention is focused on the risks of wartime.
 An express analysis of scientific research in recent years has been carried out. The joint opinion of scientists and experts in the field of civil defense on the existence of problems in legislative activity requiring prompt resolution has been revealed.
 Using the example of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, some practical results of the state's management activities are shown, as well as the importance of changes in the Federal Law «On Voluntary Fire Protection" to activate the volunteer movement and minimize fire safety risks with the participation of the population.

Developing the TeamOBS-vacuum-assisted delivery checklist to assess clinical performance in a vacuum-assisted delivery: a Delphi study with initial validation.

In Northern Europe, vacuum-assisted delivery (VAD) accounts for 6-15% of all deliveries; VAD is considered safe when conducted by adequately trained personnel. However, failed vacuum extraction can be harmful to both the mother and child. Therefore, the clinical performance in VAD must be assessed to guide learning, determine a performance benchmark, and evaluate the quality to achieve an overall high performance. We were unable to identify a pre-existing tool for evaluating the clinical performance in real-life vacuum-assisted births. We aimed to develop and validate a checklist for assessing the clinical performance in VAD. We conducted a Delphi process, described as an interactive process where experts answer questions until answers converge toward a "joint opinion" (consensus). We invited international experts as Delphi panelists and reached a consensus after four Delphi rounds, described as follows: (1) the panelists were asked to add, remove, or suggest corrections to the preliminary list of items essential for evaluating clinical performance in VAD; (2) the panelists applied weights of clinical importance on a Likert scale of 1-5 for each item; (3) each panelist revised their original scores after reviewing a summary of the other panelists' scores and arguments; and (4) the TeamOBS-VAD was tested using videos of real-life VADs, and the Delphi panel made final adjustments and approved the checklist. Twelve Delphi panelists from the UK (n = 3), Norway (n = 2), Sweden (n = 3), Denmark (n = 3), and Iceland (n = 1) were included. After four Delphi rounds, the Delphi panel reached a consensus on the checklist items and scores. The TeamOBS-VAD checklist was tested using 60 videos of real-life vacuum extractions. The inter-rater agreement had an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.73; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of [0.58, 0.83], and that for the average of two raters was ICC 0.84 95% CI [0.73, 0.91]. The TeamOBS-VAD score was not associated with difficulties in delivery, such as the number of contractions during vacuum extraction delivery, cephalic level, rotation, and position. Failed vacuum extraction occurred in 6% of the video deliveries, but none were associated with the teams with low clinical performance scores. The TeamOBS-VAD checklist provides a valid and reliable evaluation of the clinical performance of vaginal-assisted vacuum extraction.

Discussion forum model in the Covid-19 pandemic era at Batu Api Library

Discussion forums are activities to distribute information, ideas, and question. The Batu Api Library held discussion forums to exchange ideas that are discussed and presented through a problem or question that must be resolved based on a joint opinion or decision. This research aimed to find out the discussion forum model at the Batu Api Library during the pandemic with analysis discussion forum model and the development of library services through discussion forums. The research method used is a qualitative approach with a case study research method. The research was carried out for four months, from February to May 2022, using in-depth interview techniques with five people as the number of subjects in this study. The study results stated that during the pandemic, the Batu Api Library continued to conduct discussion forum activities, despite several changes due to the pandemic. Discussion forum at the Batu Api Library is sharing knowledge activity that source library collections. The discussion forum model in the pandemic era at Batu Api Library can be a bridge between users and the library. The discussion forum was also to develop library services so that more people would visit the library. In conclusion, the Batu Api Library can still conduct discussion forum activities as part of library services during the Covid-19 pandemic; this aligns with the statement that libraries are organisms that can constantly develop even during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Randomized Trials Fit for the 21st Century: A Joint Opinion From the European Society of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation.

Randomized Trials Fit for the 21st Century: A Joint Opinion From the European Society of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation.

Randomized Trials Fit for the 21st Century. A Joint Opinion from the European Society of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation.

Randomized Trials Fit for the 21st Century. A Joint Opinion from the European Society of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation.

Randomized trials fit for the 21st century. A joint opinion from the European Society of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation.

Randomized trials fit for the 21st century. A joint opinion from the European Society of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation.

Terminological problems of terminology users

Abstract Terminological counselling is ad hoc terminology work that provides the terminology user with a relatively quick and credible answer to a terminological question. In this article, we present the Terminological Counselling Service offered by the Terminology Section of the ZRC SAZU Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language since 2013. Through a web form, users submit a question, which is answered by five terminologists in a joint opinion. For this article, all 75 questions received by the Terminological Counselling Service in 2020 were examined. They were analysed in terms of the subject fields in which the users have terminological problems, the institutions the users are affiliated with, and the content of the questions. We believe that the Terminological Counselling Service plays an important role, as the number of users is increasing year by year.

Non-recognition of Dissenting Opinions in CAS as a Controversial and Unresolved Matter

In this article the authors cover the problem of expressly established non-recognition of dissenting opinions (separate opinions) in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) being uncommon for arbitration institutes. In particular, the authors analyse approaches to dissenting opinions in various national legal systems and arbitration institutes (as well as other dispute resolution bodies) which mainly allow dissenting opinions (as described below). The main focus and goal of this article is to explore possible considerations that might have led to non-recognition of dissenting opinions in CAS proceedings and whether this is common in arbitration and international justice. Having researched this question, the authors conclude that the origins of such a substantive influence on the existing regulation could be: (1) the CAS’s precedent role; and (2) the influence of Swiss law as lex arbitri. The authors also conduct substantial analysis of existing views, asking whether the lack of dissenting opinion is a positive or a negative feature and conclude that the dissenting opinion is still very controversial regarding its impact. The chosen topic is important because the approach of various dispute resolution bodies seems not to be unanimous and there is no global tendency in this respect. The topic is especially timely, considering the recent decision of a Frankfurt Court of Appeal which refused to enforce an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) award due (among other reasons) to the existing dissent which in the opinion of the court violated public policy. dissenting opinions, separate opinions, concurring opinions, arbitral awards, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), sports arbitration, international arbitration, decision, award, alternative dispute resolution, arbitrators, deliberation, joint or individual opinions

ДЕЯКІ ПИТАННЯ ВДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ ЗАКОНОДАВСТВА У КОНТЕКСТІ КОНСТИТУЦІЙНО-ПРАВОВОГО РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ ВСЕУКРАЇНСЬКОГО РЕФЕРЕНДУМУ

The article highlights the issue of the content of the concept of "all-Ukrainian referendum" in the context of constitutional and legal regulation of referendums and outlines the main problems associated with the consolidation and implementation of the right to the latter. Based on the analysis of the recommendations made in the urgent joint opinion of the European Commission for Democracy through Law and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on the draft Law "On People's Power through All-Ukrainian Referendum", it is possible to identify and analyze the main gaps in the legislation on the All-Ukrainian referendum. Based on the analysis of the current legislation, guided by the experience of the European Union countries regarding the laws on referendums, the ways to solve this problem are proposed.

European Union ∙ The EDPB-EDPS Joint Opinion on the Commission Proposal for a Regulation on the European Health Data Space: Key Issues to be Considered in the Legislative Process

European Union ∙ The EDPB-EDPS Joint Opinion on the Commission Proposal for a Regulation on the European Health Data Space: Key Issues to be Considered in the Legislative Process

Clinician Well-Being-addressing global needs for improvements in the health care field: a joint opinion from the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, World Heart Federation.

Clinician Well-Being-addressing global needs for improvements in the health care field: a joint opinion from the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, World Heart Federation.

The Tobacco Endgame-Eradicating a Worsening Epidemic: A Joint Opinion From the American Heart Association, World Heart Federation, American College of Cardiology, and the European Society of Cardiology.

The Tobacco Endgame-Eradicating a Worsening Epidemic: A Joint Opinion From the American Heart Association, World Heart Federation, American College of Cardiology, and the European Society of Cardiology.

Taking a Stand Against Air Pollution-The Impact on Cardiovascular Disease: A Joint Opinion From the World Heart Federation, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and the European Society of Cardiology.

Although the attention of the world and the global health community specifically is deservedly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, other determinants of health continue to have large impacts and may also interact with COVID-19. Air pollution is one crucial example. Established evidence from other respiratory viruses and emerging evidence for COVID-19 specifically indicates that air pollution alters respiratory defense mechanisms leading to worsened infection severity. Air pollution also contributes to comorbidities that are known to worsen outcomes among those infected with COVID-19, and air pollution may also enhance infection transmission due to its impact on more frequent coughing. Yet despite the massive disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are reasons for optimism: broad societal lockdowns have shown us a glimpse of what a future with strong air pollution measures could yield. Thus, the urgency to combat air pollution is not diminished, but instead heightened in the context of the pandemic.

Společné stanovisko odborných společností k farmakologické léčbě obezity

Společné stanovisko odborných společností k farmakologické léčbě obezity

Mobilizing pharmacists to address the opioid crisis: A joint opinion of the ambulatory care and adult medicine practice and research networks of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy

AbstractThe opioid crisis represents one of the largest failures of our current health care system as it continues to claim lives at an unprecedented rate and has caused a devastating range of preventable morbidity. Although the availability of highly potent synthetic opioids has amplified the urgency of the crisis for patients and communities, this problem has evolved over several decades. Pharmacists are in a position to offer many potential solutions due to their widespread accessibility, extensive drug knowledge, and integration into various health care settings. This opinion paper challenges the status quo by calling on all pharmacists to embrace evidence‐based opioid stewardship and harm reduction practices, contribute to the medical management of opioid use disorder, and address the misconceptions and prejudices that serve as barriers to effective, compassionate patient care. Regardless of practice setting or available resources, pharmacists can take deliberate and impactful steps to address the opioid crisis. Some pharmacists may be positioned to implement innovative and far‐reaching pharmacist‐led clinical services, while others may simply begin with careful consideration of the language they use when speaking to and about patients with substance use disorders. To optimize patient outcomes, the ineffective laws, regulations, and policies that negatively impact pain and addiction care must be addressed so that evidence‐based solutions can be widely disseminated. Pharmacists must aggressively advocate for the removal of barriers preventing high‐level clinical practice or policies that perpetuate patient harm and abandonment. Finally, there must be support for continued research on pain and opioid use disorder treatments and services, as well as the impacts of harm reduction practices and pharmacist‐led clinical services, so that resources can be allocated effectively.

The Inconspicuous DHS: The Supreme Court, Celebrity Culture, and Justice David H. Souter

Thirty years ago this summer President George H.W. Bush nominated Judge David H. Souter to fill the Supreme Court seat from which Justice William Brennan had just announced his retirement. Souter quickly became known as the “stealth nominee”—he had taken no public positions on the controversial issues of the day and lived an unusually disconnected personal life. Liberals were convinced he had given private assurances he would provide the fifth vote to overrule Roe and conservatives hoped that was the case. Those who knew Souter—and Souter himself—claimed he would bring no agenda to the Court. This latter group proved most prescient. Indeed, in just his second term Justice Souter teamed with Justices Kennedy and O’Connor to author a joint opinion in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, in which they provided the crucial votes to uphold Roe. As a result, “No More Souters” became a conservative refrain. More generally, Souter’s behavior as a justice tracked that of his past. He shunned celebrity and the trappings of life as a justice. Each summer he quickly retreated to his home in New Hampshire in an effort “to make a close approach to solitude.” This essay provides a brief biographical sketch of Justice Souter (the first of its kind since his retirement), then situates his life and career in light of recent concerns arising out of the celebrity culture that increasingly surrounds the Court and its justices. Souter provides an example that was unique and curious even thirty years ago. His instinctive aversion to the spotlight and general reluctance to engage with the Court’s various public audiences, I contend, helped provide him the space and ability to follow the law wherever it led him, disappointing the results-based expectations of those who supported his appointment but in a larger sense acting in accordance with the ideal of the rule of law. His approach stands in marked contrast to the current justices, who write books, cultivate audiences, and in some cases achieve a level of general celebrity—all of which, as many commentators have suggested, may have pernicious effects on their behavior as justices. In an ideal world, perhaps, the Court would be populated with justices who likewise resist the allure of celebrity. But there likely will be no more Souters, partly because Souters are rare, and partly because contemporary political culture works strongly against their emergence. As a result, second-best solutions, such as the anonymization of opinions, may thus represent the most realistic avenues for reform. Either way, “No More Souters” should thus take on a new meaning, less as mantra and more as lament.

Criteria for assessing the suitability of intended surrogate mothers in South Africa: Reflections on Ex Parte KAF II

In order to protect the interests of all parties involved in a surrogacy agreement as best as possible, what should the psychological profile of a surrogate mother be? This is the question that the Johannesburg High Court recently engaged with in the case of Ex Parte KAF II. The court had the benefit of a psychological expert opinion co-authored by three clinical psychologists. In their joint opinion, these experts suggested an answer to the question in the form of eight criteria for assessing the suitability of an intended surrogate mother. The surrogate mother should: ( i ) understand the nature of surrogate motherhood; ( ii ) agree with the commissioning parents regarding selective reduction; ( iii ) be motivated by altruism; ( iv ) enjoy good mental health; ( v ) be emotionally well-resourced; ( vi ) be emotionally available for her own child or children; ( vii ) be free of unhealthy substances; and ( viii ) be financially stable. Although reformulated, these eight criteria were effectively adopted by the court, thus creating a new precedent to be followed by clinical psychologists who provide reports to the court in future surrogacy cases.

End-to-end neural opinion extraction with a transition-based model

Fine-grained opinion extraction has received increasing interests in the natural language processing community. It usually involves several subtasks. Recently, joint methods and neural models have been investigated by several studies, achieving promising performance by using graph-based models such as conditional random field. In this work, we propose a novel end-to-end neural model alternatively for joint opinion extraction, by using a transition-based framework. First, we exploit multi-layer bi-directional long short term memory (LSTM) networks to encode the input sentences, and then decode incrementally based on partial output results dominated by a transition system. We use global normalization and beam search for training and decoding. Experiments on a standard benchmark show that the proposed end-to-end model can achieve competitive results compared with the state-of-the-art neural models of opinion extraction.