Opinion Article Research Articles

Public Opinions on Freedom of Speech and Prohibited Hate Speech against Islam and Muslims

This article scrutinizes the public debate in Sweden that followed the heated riots that took place with the burning of the Quran that were conduct by Rasmus Paludan in spring 2022. The Easter holiday in 2022, that coincided with Ramadan, served as the backdrop for the Danish-Swedish provoker Rasmus Paludan. Our study is based on a close reading of 71 public opinion articles that were published during April and May 2022, i.e., just after the so-called Easter riots. We argue that the discussion that followed Paludan’s public rallies in Sweden unfolds a dilemma between on the one hand freedom of speech and freedom of religion on the other. By deploying a critical discourse analyses this study helps us to notice the discursive orders that regulated the debate but more over toward what new interdiscursive patterns it was moving. The overall results indicates that the riots are mainly viewed as a result of a failed multicultural policy in which Islam is talked about as an obstacle for liberal democracy and thus freedom of speech. For example, material reasons, poverty, unemployment, racism is largely left out of the debate.

Sharing data and code facilitates reproducible and impactful research

Modern research often involves the collection or analysis of data and the use of specialized computer algorithms. Traditional text articles thus provide only partial documentation of a research study. Readers have limited ability to reproduce or utilize work if the source data are not available or if it relies on an algorithm that is described, but code is not provided. Fortunately, a wide variety of tools are now available to support the publication of research data and code. The effort required to publish data is now relatively small, and the benefits can be immense. This opinion article discusses trends toward increased sharing in academic publishing. It describes opportunities and resources to support data and code sharing and describes the benefits for both authors and readers. Finally, it discusses how Earthquake Spectra is providing resources and enhancing its policies to establish the sharing of data as the default procedure when publishing in the journal, and encourage the sharing of code and other resources.

Online Pravda’s Communicative Intentions Regarding the War in Ukraine: A CDA-Based Study of the Website’s Opinion Articles

This research paper, based on Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), aimed to uncover how the opinion articles published on Pravda.ru discursively depicted the war in Ukraine and the parties involved. To achieve this, two elements of CDA analysis, namely presupposition and structural opposition, were examined. The first element was scrutinized to determine how Pravda.ru depicted the war in Ukraine (RQ1), while the second element was analyzed to understand how Pravda.ru portrayed the parties involved, whether directly or indirectly, in the war (RQ2). For this study, 83 articles were subject to critical discourse analysis, covering the period from February 25, 2022, to February 24, 2023, the first year of the war. The results obtained from this study indicated that Pravda.ru employed various techniques to construct presuppositions and structural oppositions. Pravda.ru portrayed the war as a 'special military operation' and a 'proxy war.' The former, characterized as a euphemism, aimed to mitigate the impact of the word, presupposing that the events did not constitute aggression against Ukraine. The latter presupposed that Russia was a victim of a conspiracy. Furthermore, the results revealed that Pravda.ru used stigmatization and religious affiliations and terms to construct structural oppositions.

The Impact of Opportunistic Salpingectomy on Ovarian Reserve: A Systematic Review.

Background: In the last decade, increasing evidence has suggested that high-grade serous ovarian cancers may have their origin in the fallopian tube rather than the ovary. This emerging theory presents an opportunity to prevent epithelial ovarian cancer by incorporating prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy into all surgical procedures for average-risk women. The aim of this review is to investigate the hypothesis that bilateral salpingectomy (BS) may have a negative impact on ovarian reserve, not only following hysterectomy for benign uterine pathologies but also when performed during cesarean sections as a method of sterilization or as a treatment for hydrosalpinx in Assisted Reproductive Technology interventions. Methods: PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and Cochrane were searched for original studies, meta-analyses, and opinion articles published between 2014 and 2024. Results: Out of 114 records from the database search, after the removal of duplicates, 102 articles were considered relevant for the current study. Conclusions: Performing opportunistic salpingectomy seems to have no adverse impact on ovarian function in the short term. However, because there is an existing risk of damaging ovarian blood supply during salpingectomy, there are concerns about potential long-term adverse effects on the ovarian reserve, which need further investigation.

Examining opinion journalism in the United Arab Emirates national press: A comparative analysis

This study provides a comprehensive examination of the primary characteristics of opinion journalism within two prominent newspapers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Utilizing a content analysis approach, a systematic random sample comprising 560 opinion articles published in 2022 was analyzed from these two printed newspapers in the UAE. The findings unveiled a predominance of male columnists (87%) and a predominant focus on international issues (67%) within opinion journalism featured in the leading UAE newspapers. Interpretation emerged as the primary goal (37%), with political topics ranking highest on the agenda (37%). Noteworthy differences were observed between the newspapers at the individual level, with nearly half of Al-Ittihad’s columnists being local, while The National’s writers exhibited a more international profile. Moreover, issues pertinent to the Emirates garnered less attention in The National compared with Al-Ittihad. In addition, while The National prioritized interpretation, Al-Ittihad leaned toward providing information. Furthermore, The National predominantly addressed political and conflict issues, whereas Al-Ittihad focused on political and social issues. The study’s implications and limitations are deliberated upon in further detail.

Discovering the nucleus in a world of biomaterials

The nucleus serves as the central hub for cellular activity, driving cell identity and behavior. Despite its crucial role, understanding how biomaterials influence the nucleus remains an underexplored area of research. In our opinion, this is an overlooked opportunity, particularly in regenerative medicine — a field where cellular control is not just beneficial, but essential. As such, we emphasize the need to recognize nuclear characteristics as a key metric for evaluating material functionality. In this leading opinion article, we discuss how state-of-the-art technologies can help reveal biomaterial-driven nuclear alterations, offering crucial insights that will advance the field of regenerative medicine.

Early first-trimester transvaginal ultrasound screening for cesarean scar pregnancy in patients with previous cesarean delivery: analysis of the evidence

Obstetric hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. An important etiology of obstetric hemorrhage is placenta accreta spectrum. In the last two decades, there has been increased clinical experience of the devastating effect of undiagnosed, as well as late diagnosed, cases of Cesarean scar pregnancy. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that Cesarean scar pregnancy is an early precursor of second- and third-trimester placenta accreta spectrum. As such, Cesarean scar pregnancy should be diagnosed in the early first trimester. This early diagnosis could be achieved by introducing regimented sonographic screening in pregnancies of patients with previous Cesarean delivery. This Opinion article evaluates the scientific and clinical basis of whether Cesarean scar pregnancy, with special focus on its early first-trimester discovery, complies with the accepted requirements of a screening test. Each of the 10 classical screening criteria of Wilson and Jungner were systematically applied to evaluate if the criteria were met by Cesarean scar pregnancy, to analyze if it is possible and realistic to carry out screening in a population-wide fashion.

CDGSH iron-sulfur domain 2 as a therapeutic target for stroke: an opinion article.

CDGSH iron-sulfur domain 2 as a therapeutic target for stroke: an opinion article.

Commentary] Reporting and Subjectivity Traps: A Brief Opinion Article on Consciousness as Belief

We explore the notion that consciousness may be more of a belief than an empirically verifiable fact, shaped by the subjective nature of our experiences and the inherent limitations of reporting them. Contemporary science has yet to provide definitive proof of subjective experience beyond self-reports, which even sophisticated machines could mimic under specific conditions. Philosophical concepts such as phenomenological zombies—creatures identical to us but lacking consciousness—highlight the difficulty of distinguishing between actual conscious experience and mere behavioral reports. Current experimental designs often conflate metacognition (beliefs about perception) with consciousness, as seen in Higher-Order Thought theories and the Perceptual Reality Monitoring theory. These frameworks suggest that our sense of being conscious arises from metacognitive processes, potentially leading to cognitive biases. Studies involving disruptions to brain regions responsible for metacognitive accuracy further complicate our understanding of consciousness. Additionally, phenomena like delusional misidentification syndromes challenge the assumption of a coherent self that reliably perceives and reports reality. By questioning these assumptions, we propose that consciousness might be an elaborate belief system, a convenient construct for survival rather than an intrinsic quality of our being. This perspective urges a reconsideration of the fundamental nature of consciousness and our approach to studying it.

A Behavioral Perspective for Improving Exercise Adherence.

Adherence to exercise is a crucial aspect of behavioral changes related to exercise. However, current models fail to predict behavioral change, and exercise programs struggle to foster adherence. In this Current Opinion article, we defined adherence as a process linking behavior and attitude. More specifically, exercise adherence is the process by which people's behaviors conform to their attitudes and vice versa. Behavioral change theories should be able to predict changes, transformations, and modifications of behaviors; however, this is not currently the case. Prediction models of behavior are mainly focused on how to predict behavioral changes by affecting attitudes; however, these models have not considered the target behavior as a facilitator of adherence. Herein, a behavioral perspective is considered in three directions: first, exercise is a therapeutic modality that has the potential to improve motivation; second, chronic exercise helps sustain effort over time and increase executive functions and willpower; and third, exercise is an active behavior that has the potential to facilitate attitude change.

Culturalism and Religious fundamentalism: Lexicalisation of counter-ideologies on same-sex sexualities in selected Nigerian newspapers

Against the backdrop of cultural conservatism and legal restrictions on same-sex relationships, this study examines how language use foregrounds cultural and religious ideologies surrounding same-sex sexualities as depicted in selected Nigerian newspapers. Drawing on Fairclough’s approach to critical discourse analysis (CDA), the study explores how language is used to construct, represent, and perpetuate specific ideologies regarding same-sex sexualities within the Nigerian context. A total of 50 opinion articles on same-sex sexualities were randomly sampled from five purposively selected Nigerian newspapers (Vanguard, The Punch, The Guardian, Nigerian Tribune and The Sun). The newspapers were selected based on their preponderant coverage of the discourses on same-sex sexualities between 2013 and 2015. Data were subjected to critical discourse analysis. Findings reveal that different lexical strategies, such as lexical relations, repetition, negative evaluative adjectives foreground pro- and anti-culturalist ideologies as well as religious fundamentalism and secularism. The study reveals the conflicting ideologies surrounding same-sex sexualities in the Nigerian context.

Implementation of medical technology in management and engineering studies: A systematic literature review and future research agenda

Medical technology is an important part of healthcare and society, and new solutions are needed to meet the demands of aging population and prevalence of chronic diseases. During the last decade considerable technical progression has taken place but implementation of these new solutions is still cumbersome. This study reviews the current state of research within management and engineering studies concerning implementation of medical technology and identifies avenues for further research. A systematic search with keywords such as implementation and medical technology identified 2809 hits of which only ten papers were about implementation of medical technology. This review provides four contributions to research and management: (1) the findings show that there is no field that can be called implementation of medical technology within management and engineering studies, (2) there is no specific journal that publishes research on the topic, (3) majority of the papers are opinion articles and qualitative case studies and (4) many reported barriers to implementation relate to technology. In order to address the complex task of implementing medical technology, management scholars to a larger extent need to acknowledge and study aspects that go beyond technology.

Integrating omics atlas in health informatics system design-an opinion article.

Integrating omics atlas in health informatics system design-an opinion article.

Opinion: New directions in atmospheric research offered by research infrastructures combined with open and data-intensive science

Abstract. The acquisition and dissemination of essential information for understanding global biogeochemical interactions between the atmosphere and ecosystems and how climate–ecosystem feedback loops may change atmospheric composition in the future comprise a fundamental prerequisite for societal resilience in the face of climate change. In particular, the detection of trends and seasonality in the abundance of greenhouse gases and short-lived climate-active atmospheric constituents is an important aspect of climate science. Therefore, easy and fast access to reliable, long-term, and high-quality observational environmental data is recognised as fundamental to research and the development of environmental forecasting and assessment services. In our opinion article, we discuss the potential role that environmental research infrastructures in Europe (ENVRI RIs) can play in the context of an integrated global observation system. In particular, we focus on the role of the atmosphere-centred research infrastructures ACTRIS (Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure), IAGOS (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System), and ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System), also referred to as ATMO-RIs, with their capabilities for standardised collection and provision of long-term and high-quality observational data, complemented by rich metadata. The ATMO-RIs provide data through open access and offer data interoperability across different research fields including all fields of environmental sciences and beyond. As a result of these capabilities in data collection and provision, we elaborate on the novel research opportunities in atmospheric sciences which arise from the combination of open-access and interoperable observational data, tools, and technologies offered by data-intensive science and the emerging collaboration platform ENVRI-Hub, hosted by the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).

Single-stage revision in the management of prosthetic joint infections after total knee arthroplasty – A review of current concepts

IntroductionProsthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication following total knee arthroplasty (TKA); and the gold standard surgical approach involves a two-staged, revision TKA (TSR). Owing to the newer, emerging evidence on this subject, there has been gradual shift towards a single-stage revision approach (SSR), with the purported benefits of mitigated patient morbidity, decreased complications and reduced costs. However, there is still substantial lacuna in the evidence regarding the safety and outcome of the two approaches in chronic PJI. This study aimed to comprehensively review of the literature on SSR; and evaluate its role within Revision TKA post PJI. MethodsThe narrative review involved a comprehensive search of the databases (Embase, Medline and Pubmed), conducted on 20th of January 2024 using specific key words. All the manuscripts discussing the use of SSR for the management of PJI after TKA were considered for the review. Among the screened manuscripts, opinion articles, letters to the editor and non-English manuscripts were excluded. ResultsThe literature search yielded a total 232 studies. Following a detailed scrutiny of these manuscripts, 26 articles were finally selected. The overall success rate following SSR is reported to range from 73 % to 100 % (and is comparable to TSR). SSR is performed in PJI patients with bacteriologically-proven infection, adequate soft tissue cover, immuno-competent host and excellent tolerance to antibiotics. The main difference between SSR and TSR is that the interval between the 2 stages is only a few minutes instead of 6 weeks. Appropriate topical, intraoperative antibiotic therapy, followed by adequate postoperative systemic antibiotic cover are necessary to ascertain good outcome. Some of the major benefits of SSR over TSR include reduced morbidity, decreased complications (such as arthrofibrosis or anesthesia-associated adverse events), meliorated extremity function, earlier return to activities, mitigated mechanical (prosthesis-associated) complications and enhanced patient satisfaction. ConclusionSSR is a reliable approach for the management of chronic PJI. Based on our comprehensive review of the literature, it may be concluded that the right selection of patients, extensive debridement, sophisticated reconstruction strategy, identification of the pathogenic organism, initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy and ensuring adequate follow-up are the key determinants of successful outcome. To achieve this will undoubtedly require an MDT approach to be taken on a case-by-case basis.

Enhancing educational technology practical course: Designing and validating tools for evaluating knowledge, performance, and satisfaction of public health students.

The present study was conducted with the aim of designing and validating questionnaires for evaluating the public health students' knowledge, performance, and satisfaction (KPS) in the course of educational technology. The present study was conducted with qualitative-quantitative approach. Qualitative stage was done based on experts'opinion and related articles and questionnaires for developing, designing, and validating the tools. For validating the tools, face validity and content validity was done based on the opinion of the 10 expert panel. In quantitative stage, all initial validated tools were implemented on 50 students of public health for determining the reliability. The reliability of the tools was calculated using the internal consistency method of the items with Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient, and Kuder-Richardson. All analyses were conducted using SPSS-19 software. In the field of qualitative research, an assessment tool consisting of 20 four-option questions was designed. The content validity of this tool was confirmed based on the opinions of 10 educational experts, with CVI Total = 0.862 and CVR = 0.885. Additionally, the reliability of the tool was validated through testing on 50 public health students, resulting in a reliability coefficient of r = 0.780. Furthermore, for performance evaluation, four assessment tools each comprising 20 questions (totaling 80 questions) were designed. The validity values for these tools in the areas of PowerPoint (CVI = 0.981, CVR = 0.960), pamphlet (CVI = 0.866, CVR = 0.877), poster (CVI = 0.871, CVR = 0.906), role-playing (CVI = 0.871, CVR = 0.980), and the reliability of the tools with Cronbach's ⍺ r > 0.80 were confirmed. In the satisfaction assessment section, a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 18 questions across seven domains was designed, with confirmed content validity (CVI = 0.949, CVR = 0.861) and reliability (r = 0.928). It seems that this tool can be used to measure the KPS of students from the educational technology course of the health field and similar fields.

Biomechanics, Bioactive and Biomimetic philosophy in restorative dentistry ̶ Quo vadis?

IntroductionIn recent years, restorative dentistry has embraced various techniques, including direct, semi-direct, and indirect restorations, to address the replacement of lost tooth tissue. The focus has been on integrating the principles of Biomechanics, Bioactivity, and Biomimicry (3-Bio) as key drivers behind these innovations. MethodsThe aim of this article is to provide a concise overview of three important aspects of restorative dental materials: biomechanics, bioactivity and biomimetics. Further, the aim is to provide readers with relevant information on the 3-Bio concept, offering insights in to the innovative approaches shaping modern restorative dentistry. ResultsDeveloping restorative materials with interactive properties aligned with the 3-Bio concept poses a significant challenge. Currently, dentistry lacks a comprehensive system in this regard. The development of dental materials based on the 3-Bio concept could potentially elicit positive mechanical and biological responses in targeted tooth tissues. ConclusionAssessing several parameters through a battery of in vitro and in silico assays could help in tailoring the different aspects of the 3-Bio concept, spanning from bioactivity to biomimetics via biomechanics. This approach could allow the prediction and translation of the clinical performance of the assessed restorative materials. Clinical significanceThe findings of this opinion article highlight that the development of restorative materials aligned with the 3-Bio concept could enhance the management of dental defects and extend the longevity of bonded restorations, thereby improving patient care through tissue preservation. More collective efforts between clinicians, researchers, and even industrial partners are required to fully understand the correlation between bioactive behavior, biomechanical limitations, and biomimetics to provide suitable restorative materials for specific clinical applications.

The discourse strategy of irrationalizing the perception of an English-language opinion article

The discourse strategy of irrationalizing the perception of an English-language opinion article

Science and Technology Reportage in Selected Nigerian Newspapers: A Study of Punch, The Guardian and VanguardScience and Technology Reportage in Selected Nigerian Newspapers: A Study of <i>Punch, The Guardian and Vanguard</i>

researchers also set out to determine the level of coverage given to science and technology news by the newspapers; to ascertain the story types (genres) used in reporting science and technology by the newspapers; and identify the sources of science and technology news in the select newspapers. This study adopted quantitative content analysis approach, using agenda-setting theory as its theoretical framework. This study found, among others, that the level of coverage of the issue of discourse was low. Again, different story types were used, but the news genre was mostly applied while major sources of science and technology news were private companies and foreign media. In the vein of these findings, the researchers recommended that Nigeria’s newspapers should increase their coverage of science and technology stories. Also, features and opinion articles (by specialists in the field of science and technology) should be used to explain how most science and technology equipment function, and can be utilised.

Adapting to the market: leftist ideological justifications of liberal economic policies, 1977–1986

ABSTRACT Why do leftist forces accept, support and adopt free-market policies? To answer this question, we carry out a comparative study of left-wing groups (both parties and trade unions) in France, Italy and Spain during the late 1970s and the early 1980s. This period is widely acknowledged in international political economy to have represented a paradigm shift from post-war Keynesianism to neoliberal policy-making. We employ in-depth content analysis of memoirs, interviews to the press, opinion articles and policy-papers to explain actors’ positions on landmark policies implemented during such transition. In alignment with a developing literature in political economy (e.g. Mudge 2018), we find a proactive role of progressives in developing the ideological justification for the resort to liberal policies. However, we emphasise that widespread consensus among so-called progressives, rather than a leading role of technocrats or party experts, best explains such shifts. In this way, the paper casts doubts on interpretations of the liberalisation process that place excessive emphasis on the role of external constraints as well as on elite power. Drawing on Hall (1993), we argue that left-wing forces in the early 1980s have enacted a ‘second order change’, whereby policymakers use new instruments to meet existing policy objectives.