Open Access Sources Research Articles

Trends in the industry of clinical trials

Background. The clinical trial (CT) industry is subject to changes, some of which are rapidly developing and their directions can be predicted, while others develop gradually, forming stable tendencies, which requires analysis to confirm and predict them. According to the generally accepted time gradation, there are an operational (up to 1 month), short-term (up to 1 year), medium-term (up to 5 years), long-term (up to 20 years), and long-term (over 20 years) prognoses. A short-term forecast is common in CT industry.Objective: to identify trends in the development of CT industry until the end of 2024.Material and methods. We searched publications in Russian and English segments of the Internet in open access sources in ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Academia, ResearchGate, CyberLeninka, eLibrary databases by key query “trends in clinical trials” for the period from January to March 2023. The query “history of clinical trials” was also used in Russian part of the Internet through Google search. The analysis included publications on the history of CT development over 1936–2023. The total number of sources analyzed was 59 (9 Russian and 50 English).Results. The tendencies in CT development can be divided into two groups. The first one is related to CT organization and conducting, while another is associated with development of innovative drugs. In the first group, the trends have persisted since 2022 and are expressed in the ongoing digitalization of operational activities, a shift from centralized research to decentralization, while the protocol design has changed towards patient-centricity. In the second group, the number of expected drugs has decreased and a shift towards biological drugs, gene and cell therapy has become more pronounced.Conclusion. Trends in CI are characterized by a number of innovations, primarily related to digitalization, the development of telemedicine technologies, mathematical modeling, artificial intelligence, virtual CI, decentralization and patient-centricity.

Critical Evaluation of Neglected Consensus Risk Factors Causing the Recurrent Upsurge of Cholera Outbreaks in Some Regions in Cameroon: A Systematic Review

Background: Cameroon is a developing nation and has been enlisted amongst the several countries in sub-Sahara Africa situated in West and Central Africa to be experiencing the recurrent cholera outbreaks. The World Health Organization (WHO), Cameroon health authorities and others researchers have considered a few risk factors that are believed to be contributing to the current and on-going cholera outbreaks in Cameroon. These risk factors include the wide circulation of Vibrio cholerae in the country, limited access to safe-drinking water in some areas, a seasonal pattern of cholera re-occurrence and inadequate water, sanitation and hygienic (WASH) conditions, unstable political atmosphere that have resulted to internally displayed persons, very poor and vulnerable persons, refugees and humanitarian crises and continued unnecessary imposed lock-downs and road-blocks. However, despite these enormous efforts made by Cameroon health authorities so far and its partners over the past decades in responding and tackling all these risk factors, the recurrent outbreak of cholera in Cameroon still remained a great challenge and potential humanitarian crisis, an unendingly reality with bewilderment amid uncertainty, threatening and vulnerability to many affected regions. Aim: This systematic review seeks to critically evaluate, identify and classify some previously overlooked consensus risk factors driving cholera endemicity, pandemicity or epidemicity in Cameroon. By highlighting these neglected factors, this review hopes to inform evidenced -based intervention to finally combat the persistence recurrent upsurge and burden of future outbreaks of cholera in Cameroon. Methodology: The current Systematic reviews gathered information from various sources using different search engines provide a comprehensive overview of existing research. These include Academic Search Engines, Specialized Search Engines, Grey Literature, Primary Sources, Secondary Sources, Registers and Repositories, Open Access Sources, Hand Searching and Other Sources. Results: The current systematic review gathered information from diverse sources and identified and classified six groups of neglected consensus risk factors, along with their associated variables, contributing to cholera outbreaks in Cameroon. Additionally, the review assessed the level of intervention and preventive measures offered by the Cameroon health authorities and other stakeholders, categorizing them as either low or high, for both documented and undocumented strategies. All data sources were thoroughly referenced accordingly ensuring transparency and accountability. Conclusion: In spite of extensive research by the World Health Organization and Cameroonian health authorities identifying and documenting numerous risk factors contributing to Cameroon's ongoing cholera outbreaks, these efforts have not prevented or eradicated recurring episodes. Decades of enormous work and efforts by Cameroonian health authorities have been incapable to eradicate cholera. This systematic review unequivocally shows that without addressing the neglected consensus risk factors and variables, Cameroon could face a high likelihood of continued cholera outbreaks. Therefore, this review underscores the urgent need for Cameroon health authorities to adopt a multifaceted approach, addressing the identified neglected consensus risk factors and variables. Implementation of targeted interventions, strengthened health infrastructure, and community engagement are crucial to prevent future cholera outbreaks. Future research should focus on developing context-specific solutions, enhancing existing strategies, and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.

Approaches to Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: Surgery vs. Non-Surgery Treatment

Introduction: Knee Osteoarthritis (KO) is a progressive, chronic disease that damage the joint cartilage of a knee and leads to a changes in a anatomy of the joint. Both surgical and non-surgical methods are used to treat the disease. In this study, we will compare the invasive vs non-invasive methods of KO treatment. Objectives: The review and presentation of the current state of knowledge on Treating Knee Osteoarthritis, comparing surgery vs non-surgery methods. Material and Methods: Review of the studies available on open access sources at PubMed, Google Scholar and National Library of Medicine. Conclusions: Surgery approach for the Knee Osteoarthritis treatment are more durable, have better pain relief and treat casually the OA. Similar effects cannot be reached by non-surgery methods yet. However, there is a big promise in future studies about non-surgery methods, which can also raise a Quality of Life significantly and even avoid or postpone an operation in some groups of patients.

Hip Dysplasia in Adults: Surgical Correction vs. Conservative Treatment Options

Introduction: Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is an anatomical deformation resulting from abnormal formation of the structures that make up the hip joint. Due to abnormal biomechanics patients with hip dysplasia usually develop radiographic osteoarthritis. Aim of the study: Despite the introduction of screening tests in children, DDH remains an issue among adults. For this group of patients, it is essential to begin treatment as early as possible to prevent early-onset osteoarthritis of the hip joint. In adults it is often too late to implement non-invasive methods such as braces or orthoses. Therefore, in this study, we aim to describe other treatment options for adults with DDH, considering both surgical and non-surgical methods. In the following work, we present both the advantages and complications associated with these surgical methods. Additionally, we describe the non-surgical alternative method of progressive resistance training (PRT) and consider the possibilities of combining it with surgical techniques. We also discuss the potential for pharmacological treatment. Material and Methods: Review of studies available through open-access sources on PubMed, Google Scholar, and the National Library of Medicine. Conclusions: The decision to quickly implement an appropriate treatment plan is crucial for improving the patient's quality of life. The choice of treatment method should consider the patient's age and the severity of the disease. Adults with DDH are most often qualified for surgical procedures, which include periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) and total hip replacement (THR). However, for some patients, surgical procedures may be contraindicated or impossible, and in such cases, other non-invasive methods, such as resistance training or appropriate pharmacotherapy, should be considered. Keywords: hip joint, osteoarthritis, surgery, conservative therapy, hip, Surgical Correction

Fire at Sea: A 70-year Review of Fire-Related Mass Casualty Events on U.S. Aircraft Carriers.

A major fire at sea is among the most devastating events that can occur while a U.S. Navy combatant vessel is underway. Since World War II, no attack on a large U.S. Navy capital ship has occurred during combat operations. However, increasing global tensions raise the threat of future peer adversary naval combat, and shipboard medical caregivers must be prepared for mass casualty events in the deployed maritime environment. To better prepare modern naval caregivers for this possibility, we reviewed mass casualty events from major fires aboard large U.S. Navy aircraft carriers from 1950 through 2020 to summarize available objective data and identify lessons learned. Underway fires from any cause aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and large amphibious assault ships causing more than 10 casualties (injuries + deaths) were reviewed from 1950 through 2020 using available open access sources including literature review, the Naval Safety Command mishap database, and U.S. Navy Judge Advocate Manual reports. Of 246 fires identified, 27 met inclusion criteria resulting in 1,634 casualties with a combined crew mortality of 23% of those injured. In the 16 events with at least 1 death, 2.0% of the total crew was injured with a combined mortality of 28%. All mishaps occurred while underway during routine training or combat operations; none were caused by an enemy combatant attack. Those events affecting more than 5% of the crew were particularly devastating resulting in a mortality rate of 29% of 1,056 total casualties. Given that main medical spaces may be damaged or destroyed during major fires from any cause, identified lessons learned included the need for (1) distributed medical supplies, (2) flexible medical treatment locations throughout the ship, (3) specific training to prepare non-physician caregivers and non-medical first responders to provide burn and hemorrhagic shock resuscitation, airway management, and prolonged care at or near the point of injury, and (4) the prolonged holding capability of critically ill burned and injured patients if evacuation off the ships is unavailable. Shipboard fires underway pose a significant threat to crew safety with a mortality of nearly a quarter of those injured. These fire mass casualty events immediately overwhelm shipboard medical capabilities requiring a complex response from all hands beginning with non-medical first responders. Notably, all events occurred outside of direct enemy combat, potentially underestimating the impact and number of casualties of a shipboard fire during naval combat. Advances in peer weaponry and the threat of future conflict emphasize the need for pre-deployment burn care training for all shipboard medical caregivers as well as advanced airway and resuscitation training for non-physician caregivers. This review underscores the profound impact of shipboard fires on crew safety, highlighting the critical need for enhanced preparedness and response strategies to prepare for fire-related mishaps during routine operations and naval combat.

Development of a digital amplifier system for cut-open oocyte electrophysiology

The cut-open oocyte Vaseline gap (COVG) technique is a powerful electrophysiological method for the characterization of ion channels. However, traditional amplifiers for COVG are labor-intensive and require significant user expertise. We introduce an innovative, open-source digital amplifier system with high-speed digitization and software-controlled electronics for computer-driven automation. This system compares well to existing commercial systems in terms of conventional specifications of step response (current peak at 25°μs and decay of 36°μstime constant), current noise (1.0 nA at 3 kHz bandwidth), and dynamic range (96.9 dB). Additionally, it unlocks new methods through close integration of the amplifier and software, including machine learning techniques for tuning capacitive compensation waveforms, achieving a 100-fold suppression of mean-squared transient current, and impedance measurement methods to identify system components such as membrane capacitance and electrode resistances. For future extensions, the design has unique attributes such as real-time digital signal processing for feedback; multiple-input and multiple-output; and allows for user customization. By providing open-source access to the circuit board designs, control software, and FPGA code on GitHub, this approach aims to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and facilitate instrument customization enabling previously inaccessible electrophysiology experiments.

An improved digital soil mapping approach to predict total N by combining machine learning algorithms and open environmental data

Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) is fundamental for soil monitoring, as it is limited and strategic for human activities. The availability of high temporal and spatial resolution data and robust algorithms is essential to map and predict soil properties and characteristics with adequate accuracy, especially at a time when the scientific community, legislators and land managers are increasingly interested in the protection and rational management of soil.Proximity and remote sensing, efficient data sampling and open public environmental data allow the use of innovative tools to create spatial databases and digital soil maps with high spatial and temporal accuracy. Applying machine learning (ML) to soil data prediction can improve the accuracy of maps, especially at scales where geostatistics may be inefficient. The aim of this research was to map the nitrogen (N) levels in the soils of the Nurra sub-region (north-western Sardinia, Italy), testing the performance of the Ranger, Random Forest Regression (RFR) and Support Vector Regression (SVR) models, using only open source and open access data. According to the literature, the models include soil chemical-physical characteristics, environmental and topographic parameters as independent variables. Our results showed that predictive models are reliable tools for mapping N in soils, with an accuracy in line with the literature. The average accuracy of the models is high (R2 = 0.76) and the highest accuracy in predicting N content in surface horizons was obtained with RFR (R2 = 0.79; RMSE = 0.32; MAE = 0.18). Among the predictors, SOM has the highest importance. Our results show that predictive models are reliable tools in mapping N in soils, with an accuracy in line with the literature. The results obtained could encourage the integration of this type of approach in the policy and decision-making process carried out at regional scale for land management.

Current trends in radiological diagnostics of the temporal bone pyramid pathologies

Diseases of the middle ear and the temporal bone pyramid remain one of the most common diseases in the structure of otorhinolaryngological pathologies, which have a significant impact on the quality of life of adults and children. Exudative processes, as well as their consequences, become one of the main causes of persistent hearing loss and are characterized by an asymptomatic course with a gradual evolution to chronic forms. It should be noted that in childhood the risk of impaired speech and intellectual development increases, leading to changes in the psycho-emotional status, social maladaptation of the child, and a decrease in the quality of life. Timely and complete diagnosis and high-quality follow-up takes a leading role in preventing the development of conductive hearing loss and other complicated pathologies of the temporal bone pyramid.<br /> Purpose of the study. To study the main predisposing factors, methods of radiological diagnosis and dynamic observation of patients, as well as some modern aspects of the treatment of the most common pathologies of the temporal bone pyramid.<br /> Methodology. We conducted an analytical review of open access sources from scientific databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, DisserCat, CyberLeninka. Key words used for the search: “chronic otitis media”, “cholesteatoma”, “mastoiditis”, “complications”, “magnetic resonance imaging”, “DWI”, “computed tomography”. Publications included in the literature review were full-text articles in English and Russian and dissertations in Russian. Exclusion criteria: brief reports, newspaper articles and personal communications. The search range was 5 years (2018-2023). A total of 108 sources were analyzed, of which 50 met the research objectives and inclusion criteria.<br /> Results and conclusions. In the diagnosis of temporal bone pathologies, the gold standard for diagnosis is computed tomography, but non-ionizing research techniques are increasingly used. Indications for the use of magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal bones are constantly expanding, and techniques for merging data with computed tomography data are being increasingly introduced. As a follow-up tool, magnetic resonance therapy is increasingly becoming a priority technique to reduce patient radiation exposure in the long term. In the treatment of complicated forms of diseases, endoscopic and laser correction techniques are used in foreign practice, helping to reduce the risk of recurrence and postoperative complications.<br /> <b>Key words</b>: chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, treatment

The influence of aquatic activity on osteoarthritis

© 2024 Medical University of Lublin. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonComercial-No Derivs licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/) Abstract Introduction. In 2020, osteoarthritis (OA) affected up to 595 million people in the world, which is 7% of the population. Three quarters of them are over 55 years old and 60% are women. The pathophysiological basis of degenerative disease is a disturbance in the balance between the processes of formation and degradation of articular cartilage. Additionally, degeneration processes affect other elements of the musculoskeletal system, such as the synovial capsule, ligaments and muscles around the joint. Due to the severe pain, degenerative disease leads to a significant reduction in the quality of life and limited mobility. In the final stage it leads to disability. Arthritis most often involves the knee, hip joints, arms as well as vertebral column. To slow down the degenerative processes and minimize the complications of the disease, effective preventive methods should be implemented as soon as possible. Especially since there is currently no effective drug available for this disease. A popular method of combating pain is aquatic activity. The physical properties of water have a positive effect on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. This review article assessed the effectiveness of aquatherapy depending on risk factors and the stage of osteoarthritis. Aim. Review and presentation of the current state of knowledge about water exercises on the course of osteoporosis, taking into account groups at risk of degenerative disease. Material and methods. Analysis of the studies available on open access sources at PubMed, Google Scholar, National Library of Medicine and Coachrane. The research was conducted through word analysis key words such as: “arthritis”, „aquatic activity”, „osteoarthritis”. Selection criteria for articles included consideration of their title, abstract, and publication date, with a focus on English-language publications. Conclusion and Results.This article demonstrates the positive impact of water exercises on the course of osteoporosis, as well as their preventive effect. The relationship between hydrotherapy and OA in individual risk groups was presented. Aquatic activity has been shown to be effective in inhibiting degenerative processes, reducing joint stiffness, improving walking distance, and mental condition. Keywords: osteoarthritis, aquatic activity, arthritis, WOMAC, degenerative disease, DALY.

Integration of an Open Source Identity Management System in Educational Platforms

Making research advances available to the community in the shape of open source software has the potential to introduce cutting-edge innovations from early on, foster collaborative development, and revolutionize industrial applications. However, including open source software resulting from a research project as part of a production system poses some risks and must be evaluated in detail, considering all pros and cons. This is especially delicate when that piece of software is in charge of authentication and authorization. This article reports on an experience of integrating open source identity and access management (IAM) software that is the result of multiple research projects, the FIWARE Keyrock IAM, into three educational web-based platforms: two learning object repositories and a course management platform. We intend to draw the lessons learned from this experience so they can guide software practitioners when deciding if they should integrate open source software developed in research projects.

Design, Analysis and Detection of Urban Mobility Patterns in Guayaquil through Supervised Learning Algorithms

This work explores the use of GPS trajectory data (Git Hub) and supervised learning algorithms to analyze mobility patterns in the city of Guayaquil-Ecuador. The analysis reveals that identifying mobility patterns is crucial to improve urban planning and optimize public transport in terms of its innovations from 2024. The methodology has included data collection from various open access sources, data preprocessing and the use of a Random Forest Classifier to detect mobility patterns. The results indicate a model accuracy of 50%, opening the possibilities for future specialized research to optimize the model and collect more data to improve its performance and propose new StartUPS for the city. The data compiled supports the implementation of the Single Card for Public Transport (TUT), which modernizes and unifies the payment system, facilitating the collection of essential data for analysis. The research concludes that the integration of data from applications such as Waze and Moovit is crucial for efficient and sustainable urban planning and that supervised learning algorithms are effective tools for urban mobility analysis and leaving open the possibility of exploring additional data and other algorithms to improve the accuracy of models and the generation of new mobility routes.

Evaluating Molecular Complexity with Open-Source Machine Learning Approaches to Predict Process Mass Intensity.

The application of green chemistry is critical for cultivating environmental responsibility and sustainable practices in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Process mass intensity (PMI) is a key metric that quantifies the resource efficiency of a manufacturing process, but determining what constitutes a successful PMI of a specific molecule is challenging. A recent approach correlated molecular features to a crowdsourced definition of molecular complexity to determine PMI targets. While recent machine learning tools show promise in predicting molecular complexity, a more extensive application could significantly optimize manufacturing processes. To this end, we refine and expand upon the SMART-PMI tool by Sheridan et al. to create an open-source model and application. Our solution emphasizes explainability and parsimony to facilitate a nuanced understanding of prediction and ensure informed decision-making. The resulting model uses four descriptors-the heteroatom count, stereocenter count, unique topological torsion, and connectivity index chi4n-to compute molecular complexity with a comparable 82.6% predictive accuracy and 0.349 RMSE. We develop a corresponding app that takes in structured data files (SDF) to rapidly quantify molecular complexity and provide a PMI target that can be used to drive process development activities. By integrating machine learning explainability and open-source accessibility, we provide flexible tools to advance the field of green chemistry and sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Development of esophagogastroduodenoscopy in China: results from the national census in 2013 and 2020.

Given the significant burden of upper digestive diseases, there has been a substantial increase in the utilization of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in China from 2012 to 2019. The objective of this study is to investigate the development, practice, and factors influencing the widespread use of EGD during this period. Two national censuses were conducted among all hospitals in mainland China that perform gastrointestinal endoscopy. These censuses aimed to extract information on the infrastructure, volume, and quality of EGD. The analysis of potential factors influencing EGD practice was based on real-world data from open access sources. From 2012 to 2019, the number of hospitals performing EGD in mainland China increased from 1,518 to 2,265 (1.49-fold) in tertiary hospitals and from 3,633 to 4,097 (1.12-fold) in secondary hospitals, respectively. The national utilization rate of EGD also increased from 1,643.53 to 2,018.06 per 100,000 inhabitants, indicating a 1.23-fold increase. Regions with more endoscopists per 100,000 inhabitants (OR 9.61, P<0.001), more tertiary hospitals performing EGD per million inhabitants (OR 2.43, P<0.001), higher incidence of esophageal and gastric cancer (OR 2.09, P=0 016), and higher number of hospitals performing EGD per million inhabitants (OR 1.77, P=0.01) tended to provided more numerous and qualitied EGD. And hospital grading, regional GDP, incidence of esophageal and gastric cancer and the volume of EGD were observed as the significantly relevant factors of malignant dictation rate (MDR) (P<0.05), but not the number and educational background of endoscopists. Over the past seven years, China has made significant progress in EGD. However, challenges persist in terms of quality and inequality.

Updating the Informational and Control Practices in the Sustainability Agenda

Abstract Research purpose. The sustainability concept embraces a wide scope of linked practices: green thinking, sustainability informational and management assurance, ESG reporting and scoring, responsible and impact investment, stability measurements, and others. Significantly expanding beneficiary's and stakeholders' circle needs information to build and implement a policy providing ESG values creation and meeting their requirements in relevant sustainable agenda. This is why it is important to create a transparent information landscape and to shape new highlights in management and decision-making. The article is aimed at exploring specific ways to transform information and management practices, primarily accounting, ESG-reporting, analysis, and assurance to create a transparent information environment for sustainability. Design / Methodology / Approach. The study is designed as a qualitative analysis of existing information and related practices to identify gaps in the information needed by stakeholders for decision-making with that practically generated in the current environmental momentum. It involves summarising, categorizing, and interpreting open access sources data, such as unidirectional studies, non-financial reporting and ESG-rankings databases, program documents, frameworks and standards for sustainability and "responsible" reporting, professional audit analytics, and others. Logical and comparative analysis was used for data processing. The study’s theoretical framework is based on accounting theories, particularly the Interpretative paradigm. Findings. The possibilities were assessed following proposed approaches to upgrade the up-to-date system of informational-verifying appraisal practices by the requirements of a proper ESG environment. A holistic system layout was suggested, including information and control practices employed to provide sustainability. The main part of the recommendations refers to accounting and reporting for sustainability. New accounting ESG objects to display in this system were identified. It developed an integrated balance model of total capitals and their sources engaged and ESG -value-creating, taking for the basis traditional balance theory. Given the diversity of corporate non-financial reporting, classification characteristics for ESG reporting were suggested, and two key models of ESG reporting were defined. Recommendations were made in the field of design and methodology for information support of sustainability. Originality / Value / Practical implications. The article is the author's vision of the problems and ways of advancing traditional information practices in the context of global sustainability management requests. Recommendations for the holistic system of sustainability governance, informational support creation, transformation of accounting, ESG-reporting, other linked practices, streamlining, and methodological development of information activities that can be used in the practical field and employed in programmatic, advisory, and regulatory documents that structure the information field of socio-economic life.

YouTube as a reliable source of information on antibody drug conjugates: A qualitative analysis.

9050 Background: YouTube is an open-access source of information which can serve a platform for health information and misinformation. Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC) are a novel therapy that utilizes monoclonal antibodies to target antigens expressed on cancer cells, thus delivering cytotoxic agents specifically to malignant cells and minimizing toxic effects on healthy cells. Our study sought to assess the quality and engagement parameters of the 100 most viewed videos on YouTube regarding ADCs. Methods: A YouTube search was conducted with the keywords “Antibody Drug Conjugate” and “cancer”. The videos were sorted by the highest number of views. Duplicates and videos not in the English language were excluded. A total of 100 videos were included in the final analysis. They were organized into three categories: academic, commercial, and media. Next, they were assessed for quality using two validated quality instruments, the DISCERN and PEMAT scoring systems. The number of views, comments, and likes were also evaluated. A Pearson correlation and descriptive statistics using R Studio v2002.12.0-353 was then used to generate data. Results: The total number of views on the videos on YouTube regarding ADC was 95,969 with a (median number of views of 723.5). The videos were categorized into 71% from academic sources, 28% from commercial, and 1% from media sources. The mean DISCERN sum was 41.13. The number of YouTube videos that were rated as poor or very poor were 44%, followed by 33% that was rated as fair, and only 23% were rated as good or excellent. 21% videos discussed risks and benefits, while only 6 % of the videos provided support in shared decision making. 63% of the videos stated the aims clearly. Based on the PEMAT score, 87% of videos made their purpose evident, 34% summarized the videos, and 31% explained how to use the medication. There was a significant positive correlation in number of likes on videos and DISCERN score (r 0.253, 95% CI 0.06-0.428, p 0.011), PEMAT understandability score (r 0.197, 95% CI 0.00063-0.379, p 0.0494), and PEMAT accountability (r 0.2, 95% CI 0.00368-0.381, p 0.0461). There was also a positive correlation between length of video and DISCERN score (r 0.32, 95% CI 0.13-0.49, p&lt;0.001), PEMAT understandability score (r 0.23, 95% CI 0.04-0.41, p 0.01), and PEMAT actionability score (r 0.4, 95% CI 0.31-0.62, p &lt;0.001). Conclusions: Our analysis revealed that the overall quality of videos was suboptimal, with the majority categorized as poor or fair. Important aspects such as risks, benefits and shared decision-making were inadequately addressed, indicating a potential gap in patient education and informed decision-making. Although longer videos have positive correlation, it would be impactful to keep the duration of the video shorter. Efforts to promote high-quality, patient-centered educational content on ADCs are needed to ensure access to reliable information to support treatment decisions.

Development of the iOTA Model®; a dietary optimisation tool for assessing nutrient adequacy, environmental impact and acceptability of diets in New Zealand

Based on the World Health Organization’s definition(1), sustainable healthy diets are “dietary patterns that promote all dimensions of an individuals’ health and well-being; have low environmental pressure and impact; are accessible, affordable, safe and equitable; and are culturally acceptable”. Over the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in the environmental sustainability of diets, but little attention has been paid to the nutrient adequacy, consumer acceptability and affordability of such diets. Such knowledge is particularly scarce in New Zealand where approximately 40% of adults and 20% of children may live under severe to moderate food insecurity(2,3). The iOTA Model® is a dietary optimisation tool designed to fill this gap by bringing the various aspects of diet sustainability together and providing evidence-based knowledge on not just the environmental impact of food but also its economic and nutritional sustainability at a national level. The iOTA Model® was constructed using mixed integer linear programming by integrating New Zealand-specific dietary data. This underlying data was obtained from various open-access sources including but not limited to New Zealand’s Food Composition Database, New Zealand Total Diet Study and the nutrient reference values published by the Ministry of Health. Diet-related greenhouse gas emissions were also incorporated into the model based on the data obtained from the scientific literature. Results derived from the preliminary development of the iOTA Model® suggest that meeting nutrient adequacy is possible with minimal dietary pattern changes in New Zealand. It is also evident that adhering to dietary guidelines may provide 26% reduction in dietary greenhouse gas emissions. This is consistent with the findings of previous studies showing that following dietary guidelines alone assists reduction of dietary greenhouse gas emissions. Further features such as digestibility and bioavailability considerations have also been incorporated as part of the iOTA Model®, allowing for a more accurate estimation of nutrient supply. The model will be available as an open-access tool and will allow users to explore various sustainability implications of their diet.

Labor market in rural areas of Akmola region of Kazakhstan: regional aspect

The goal is to identify the features and determine quantitative parameters of the regional labor market in the Akmola region. Methods – analytical and statistical industry information is systematized and summarized using economic-statistical, balance sheet and abstract-logical methods from open access sources and scientific literature. Results - the features were studied and characteristics of labor potential of the region were given, analysis of absolute and relative indicators characterizing the dynamics of region's population movement was carried out, which made it possible to identify the main trends in its change in recent years. Demographic factors affecting the formation of labor force are shown. The volumes of socio-demographic load were calculated. Conclusions - it has been established that proportion of village residents tends to decrease both in absolute value and in the structure of total number. The main criteria are population migration and decrease in its natural increase. The reduction in the number of economically active residents of rural areas is explained by negative balance of difference between people who have entered active age and those who have retired, as well as migration processes that have their own specifics. It is noted that the level of the region’s labor resources is directly related to demographic development of the given territory. The deterioration of the demographic situation has a negative impact on quantitative and qualitative dimensions characterizing the regional labor market. The youth segment remains rather unbalanced, the areas of employment of young specialists are closely related to low levels of income and labor productivity, the persistent gap between professional orientation of youth and the labor needs of enterprises becomes one of the barriers to the employment of young people.

Real-world Observational Multi-center Study: Retrospective Analysis of Diagnostic and Treatment Patterns for Stage III–IV Melanoma in Ukraine from 2018 to 2020

BACKGROUND: Despite open-access sources with information about cancer patients (National Cancer Registry of Ukraine), there are considerable gaps about actual diagnostic methods and specific treatment patterns or any details on how different regimens are applied for melanoma treatment in Ukraine. OBJECTIVES: This non-interventional, multicenter, retrospective medical chart review study aims to describe real-world therapeutic strategies and characterize the profile of patients with melanoma Stage III–IV in real-life clinical practice in Ukraine. METHODS: Anonymized data were collected from medical records of 747 patients in 9 oncology centers in Ukraine - four private and five public. The data variables were retrieved, captured in electronic case report forms, and analyzed with descriptive statistical methods. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Subjects were not enrolled unless they met all the following criteria: (1) Age &gt;18 years at the time of being diagnosed with III–IV stage melanoma. (2) Morphologically (including cytology) confirmed diagnosis of III–IV stage melanoma. Sufficient available medical records for data abstraction to meet the objectives of the study, that is, the patient has been under the medical care of the participating site for the entirety of the patient observation period or the patient’s detailed historical data on their disease course, and clinical management are otherwise available at the participating site consent has been granted by the Institutional Review Board/Ethical Committee of the study site. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Subjects were not enrolled if they met any of the following criteria: (1) The patient has received treatment with anticancer systemic therapy for reasons other than melanoma. (2) Primary cancer other than melanoma. (3) The patient is participating (or was participating) in any investigational program/clinical trial with interventions outside of routine clinical practice. All the statistical tests were two sided and performed at a 0.05 significance level. p-values were rounded to three decimal places. p &lt; 0.001 were reported as &lt;0.001 in tables. RESULTS: Most melanoma cases (95.05%) were diagnosed histologically, although information about the primary tumor’s characteristics and treatment are heterogeneous. Most individuals (51.05%) diagnosed with Stage III undergo surgical treatment without additional therapy. Chemotherapy constitutes the primary form of systemic therapy for Stages III and IV, accounting for 33.3% and 45.65%, respectively. CONCLUSION: It is crucial to tackle the problems associated with diagnosing and treating melanoma in Ukraine. This involves creating a unified registry for melanoma patients, establishing uniform methods for staging and re-staging, and standardizing medical records. Nevertheless, the most critical issue is the absence of access to modern therapy, which should be addressed at the state level.

Lib2Life – Digital Library Services Empowered with Advanced Natural Language Processing Techniques.

Educational institutions are struggling to keep up with the accelerated technological advancements; hence, sustainable and supportive tools have become essential to reshape traditional models into intelligent learning systems. This paper introduces Lib2Life, a digital library that uses advanced Natural Language Processing techniques to facilitate the digital transformation of historical documents provided by Central University Libraries in Romania. The platform enables Central University Libraries in Romania to preserve the cultural heritage of historically valuable documents, facilitating open-source access to old, printed materials such as books, manuscripts, newspapers, or literary magazines no longer protected by copyright. Lib2Life offers comprehensive functionalities, allowing librarians to benefit from automated text processing and indexing workflows that facilitate digitization, ensuring a consistent representation of original documents. For readers, the platform presents a user-friendly interface with semantic search capabilities and a recommendation engine. The system employs an ontology to organize and manage documents in a unified and structured way, contributing to the evolution of intelligent education technologies. The innovative contributions of Lib2Lifeinclude identifying new solutions for cultural heritage preservation, promoting patrimony through modern methodologies, increasing access to documentary resources, enhancing library services, and fostering the transfer of knowledge and technology to society.

Using adjacency matrix to explore remarkable associations in big and small mineral data

Data exploration, usually the first step in data analysis, is a useful method to tackle challenges caused by big geoscience data. It conducts quick analysis of data, investigates the patterns, and generates/refines research questions to guide advanced statistics and machine learning algorithms. The background of this work is the open mineral data provided by several sources, and the focus is different types of associations in mineral properties and occurrences. Researchers in mineralogy have been applying different techniques for exploring such associations. Although the explored associations can lead to new scientific insights that contribute to crystallography, mineralogy, and geochemistry, the exploration process is often daunting due to the wide range and complexity of factors involved. In this study, our purpose is implementing a visualization tool based on the adjacency matrix for a variety of datasets and testing its utility for quick exploration of association patterns in mineral data. Algorithms, software packages, and use cases have been developed to process a variety of mineral data. The results demonstrate the efficiency of adjacency matrix in real-world usage. All the developed works of this study are open source and open access.