Relevant Assessment Research Articles

Scapula or Fibula?: Prospective data-driven decision criteria for flap selection in mandibular reconstruction planning.

The objectives of the study are twofold: 1) to propose a set of criteria for virtually evaluating different types of reconstructions for mandibular defects during surgical planning, and 2) to prospectively apply the criteria to a series of mandibular reconstructions to select the optimal flap. Clinically relevant assessment criteria were selected, including volumetric overlap, Haussdorf-95, bony contact, ramus/symphysis angles, and dental implantability. In 2021, 21 consecutive patients undergoing mandibular reconstructions were consented to the study. For each patient, seven virtual reconstructions were created: vertical scapula, horizontal scapula, 1-segment fibula, optimal fibula determined by the Ramer-Douglas-Peucker (RDP) algorithm, RDP+1 fibula, and RDP-1 fibula. The surgeon selected the optimal reconstruction for each patient based on the objective criteria and clinical considerations. The vertical scapula was selected for 12 cases, the RDP fibula for 6 cases, and the horizontal scapula for 3 cases. For defects involving the symphysis, the horizontal scapula was the frequently selected as its geometry could be leveraged to recreate the symphysis angle. For the remaining defects, the RDP fibula optimizes the bony contact, performs well in volume overlap, and is the most implantable. The vertical scapula minimizes osteotomies while maximizing each criterion but results in low implantability. On average, the chosen reconstruction performed better on all criteria compared to the remaining proposed models. The criteria proposed comprises of measurable and clinically important metrics that can serve as a useful tool for reconstructive surgeons in selecting the optimal flap for mandibular reconstruction.

From practice to protocol: The CAPE-VFQ by and for Quebec French SLPs

ABSTRACT This article presents the Quebec French adaptation of the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-VFQ), a standardised protocol for evaluating voice quality. Developed through collaboration within the Quebec Voice Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Community of Practice, the adapted tool addresses linguistic and cultural nuances specific to Quebec French. This adaptation ensures standardised assessments and harmonises clinical and research practices across the province. The article outlines the iterative development process, including clinician feedback, and describes ongoing efforts to validate and support the use of the Quebec French CAPE-V in clinical settings. The adapted protocol serves as both a clinical tool and a reference point for future research, promoting reliable and culturally relevant voice assessments.

Pengembangan Instrumen Penilaian Berbasis Proficiency Test Untuk Pendidikan Kesetaraan Paket C

The Community Learning Center (PKBM), through its Paket C program, plays a vital role in providing equality education for individuals unable to access formal schooling. This study aims to develop a proficiency test -based assessment instrument designed to holistically evaluate the competencies of Paket C learners. The instrument assesses mastery of academic material, functional skills, and entrepreneurial abilities, which are distinctive features of the Paket C program. The research adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing observation to create test specifications, blueprints, and items tailored to appropriate difficulty levels, discrimination indices, and distractor functions. The findings indicate that proficiency test s address the limitations of the current assessment system, which primarily focuses on standardized examinations, by offering a more comprehensive, valid, and relevant evaluation aligned with workforce demands. Moreover, the flexible scheduling and needs-based approach of Paket C education provide broader access for working individuals or those who have not completed formal education. Proficiency test s also ensure the fulfillment of Graduate Competency Standards (Standar Kompetensi Lulusan or SKL) through assessments that integrate Competency Credit Unit (SKK)-based curricula and the evaluation of applied skills. The study recommends the adoption of proficiency test s as an integral part of Paket C's educational evaluation system to create a more inclusive, adaptive, and relevant assessment model that aligns with the learners' needs and the challenges of the modern workforce.

Evaluating the risk of extrusion with laser-activated irrigation techniques in root canal systems: a cadaver-based study.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence and volume of contrast medium extrusion when activated with a laser and to compare these outcomes with those of other irrigation techniques. Sixteen cadaver mandibles containing 116 single-rooted teeth were prepared using conventional rotary instrumentation. The teeth were randomly assigned to four irrigation groups: side-vented needle, sonic irrigation, laser activation at the orifice, and laser activation at the middle third of the canal. Gastrografin, an iodinated contrast medium, was used to simulate irrigants. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans were obtained pre- and post-irrigation to assess the incidence and volume of extrusion. Two blinded observers evaluated the images for the presence or absence of extrusion. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and chi-square tests. The observers reached a consensus on 116 out of 116 cases, resulting in a percent agreement of 100%. None of the experimental groups, side-vented needle (n = 29), sonic irrigation (n = 29), laser activation at the orifice (n = 29), and laser activation in the middle third (n = 29), demonstrated any radiographic evidence of extrusion. This cadaver-based model, combined with CBCT, provides a clinically relevant assessment of irrigant behavior during endodontic treatment. While the findings from this study suggest that LAI at the orifice or in the middle third of the canal may be a safe method for enhancing irrigation in endodontics, clinicians should remain cautious regarding the potential risks of irrigant extrusion.

Clinical benefits and risks of remote patient monitoring: an overview and assessment of methodological rigour of systematic reviews for selected patient groups

BackgroundRemote patient monitoring implies continuous follow-up of health-related parameters of patients outside healthcare facilities. Patients share health-related data with their healthcare unit and obtain feedback (which may be automatically generated if data are within a predefined range). The goals of remote patient monitoring are improvements for patients and reduced healthcare costs.The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of systematic reviews regarding remote patient monitoring for selected patient groups currently considered for the introduction of remote patient monitoring in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden. The selected sixteen patient groups were: patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, children and adolescents with complex needs, children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis, children and adolescents with periodic fever, elderly patients with multiple diseases, patients with eye diseases, heart failure, haematological disease, hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, neurorehabilitation, Parkinson’s disease, psoriasis, sleep apnea, and specialist maternity care. Outcomes considered in this overview were patient-relevant clinical benefits as well as risks.MethodsA literature search for systematic reviews of clinical trials on remote patient monitoring in the selected patient groups was conducted by two information specialists, followed by assessment of relevance by a team of clinical and methodological experts in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden. The methodological rigour of identified systematic reviews was assessed using QUICKSTAR – a tool for stepwise appraisal of systematic reviews. In a QUICKSTAR assessment, a level of at least five is considered a prerequisite for reliable conclusions regarding the question at issue.ResultsThe literature search resulted in 4,049 hits, of which 84 SRs were considered relevant for the question at issue. A QUICKSTAR level of at least five was reached by 13 (15%) of the relevant systematic reviews. Some patient benefit of remote patient monitoring was reported for five patient groups (asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, heart failure, hypertension, and elderly patients with multiple diseases). For four patient groups (children with complex needs, children with cystic fibrosis, specialist maternity care, and sleep apnea), systematic reviews of adequate quality concluded that scientific evidence on clinical patient benefits of remote monitoring is very limited. For seven patient groups, no systematic reviews of sufficient quality were identified.ConclusionClinical benefits and risks of remote patient monitoring as a replacement for, or in addition to, standard of care compared to standard of care (face-to-face visits) are poorly studied for most of the selected patient groups based on systematic reviews of acceptable quality. Patient-relevant clinical benefits are limited or impossible to evaluate for most diagnoses based on currently available scientific information. Possible clinical risks and costs are poorly studied.

A new approach for assessing the radioecological risk associated with the legacy discharge of oil derived natural radioactivity in the UK North Sea.

Although oil and gas (O&G) derived produced waters and drill cuttings are known to contain enhanced levels of naturally occurring radium-228 (228Ra) and radium-226 (226Ra), most relevant ecological impact assessments have excluded radiological hazards and focus on other important contaminants, such as hydrocarbons and metals. Also, due to restricted access to the delimiting safety zone around operational O&G platforms, the few previous radioecological risk assessment studies have been conducted using seawater samples collected far from the main discharge point and applying default dilution and transfer factors to estimate concentrations of contaminants in biota. In this case study, sediment cores were collected close to a former O&G platform, Northwest Hutton (NWH), that used to be in the UK North Sea (61.11N, 1.31E). The sediment materials were analysed by gamma spectrometry and ICP-MS to confirm the presence of particles enriched in natural radioactivity. Benthic macrofaunal assemblages in the surrounding seabed were also characterised and one of the dominant species was selected for additional nano-hard X-Ray Fluorescence (nano-XRF) imaging to confirm the exposure pathways and refine the radioecological risk assessment using the ERICA tool. This novel approach for estimating dose rates was found to be less conservative than more traditional approaches using the ERICA default concentration ratio for 228Ra and 226Ra. The dose rate estimations were confirmed to be significantly lower than the ERICA screening level of 10μGy/h, in agreement with findings from previous studies.

A Review of LCA Studies on Marine Alternative Fuels: Fuels, Methodology, Case Studies, and Recommendations

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology can be used to quantitatively assess the greenhouse gas emissions of low- or zero-carbon marine alternative fuels throughout their life cycle (from well to wake) and is an important basis for ensuring a green energy transition in the shipping industry. This paper first clarifies the trends and requirements of low-carbon development in shipping and introduces the major ship emission reduction technologies and evaluation methods. Next, the characteristics of various alternative marine fuels (i.e., LNG, hydrogen, methanol, ammonia, and biofuels) are comprehensively discussed and analyzed in terms of production, storage, transportation, and ship applications. In addition, this work provides a comprehensive overview of LCA methodology, including its relevant standards and assessment tools, and establishes a framework for LCA of marine alternative fuels. On this basis, a literature review of the current research on LCA of marine alternative fuels from the perspectives of carbon emissions, pollution emissions, and economics is presented. The case review covers 64 alternative-fueled ships and 12 groups of fleets operating in different countries and waters. Finally, this paper discusses the main shortcomings that exist in the current research and provides an outlook on the future development of LCA research of marine alternative fuels.

Association of Admission Nutritional Status Evaluated by Prognostic Nutritional Index with One-Year Walking Independence after Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty for Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study Based on 1,152 Patients.

Malnutrition is significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes, but the relevant prognostic assessment is not emphasized in patients who have osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). This study aimed to assess the association between preoperative nutritional status evaluated by the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and walking independence at one year postoperatively in patients who have ONFH undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from patients admitted to a tertiary referral hospital who had ONFH and underwent primary unilateral THA from October 30, 2014 to April 26, 2019. The restricted cubic spline was used to assess the dose-effect relationship between PNI and recovery of walking independence. Propensity score matching was performed to balance potential preoperative confounders, and multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the association between malnutrition and losing walking independence (LWI) with perioperative and follow-up factors for further adjustment. Inverse probability treatment weighting and sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the results. Subgroup analyses were used to determine potential population heterogeneity. We found a negative relationship between admission PNI levels and recovery of walking independence at one year postoperatively, and that low PNI (< 42.2) was independently associated with a 2.35-fold (95% CI [confidence interval], 1.16 to 4.77; P = 0.018) increased risk of LWI. The results were overall robust. Significant heterogeneities were observed in the subgroups of age, labor intensity, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, Charlson's comorbidity index, and Association Research Circulation Osseous stage (P for interaction < 0.05). Preoperative low-level PNI is a significant risk factor for LWI after THA in patients who have ONFH. This finding supports nutritional screening and interventions for surgeons in decision-making for elective surgery and postoperative rehabilitation management.

Test-retest reliability of the Arabic version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

This study aimed to assess the test-retest reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (A-PSQI), a 19-item sleep evaluation tool, in a population of medical students and interns in Saudi Arabia. Following a 16-person pilot study, 202 participants completed 2 A-PSQI questionnaires with a 2-week test-retest interval to avoid a carryover effect. Statistical analysis using RStudio included Cronbach alpha, Spearman rank correlation, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The ICC results showed moderate to strong correlations in most PSQI components. The "Sleep efficiency" component had the lowest ICC (0.460), while "Sleep latency" had the highest (0.730). Overall, the PSQI reliability score is 0.694. Gender (sex assigned at birth) and academic level had no significant impact on the PSQI scores. The sleep quality categories (poor quality, good quality, and acute sleep disturbance) remained stable over time. The A-PSQI demonstrates varying internal consistency across components, with some displaying lower reliability. Nevertheless, it exhibits moderate to strong reliability, and the study confirms the stability of sleep quality categories over time among medical students and interns. This serves as a final validation step to set the stage for large-scale research in the region. This pioneering study is the first test-retest reliability investigation of the A-PSQI, addressing a critical gap in sleep assessment tools tailored to clinical practices in Arabic-speaking communities. It follows the pathway set by previous studies and serves to validate the A-PSQI in this demographic, providing a vital foundation for more catered sleep medicine in the region, targeting better reach to overlooked monolinguals. These findings advance our understanding of sleep quality among medical trainees and contribute to the development of culturally relevant sleep assessment tools.

Longitudinal qualitative assessment of meaningful symptoms and relevance of WATCH-PD digital measures for people with early Parkinson’s

BackgroundLongitudinal qualitative data on what matters to people with Parkinson’s disease are lacking and needed to guide patient-centered clinical care and development of outcome measures.ObjectiveTo evaluate change over time in symptoms, impacts, and relevance of digital measures to monitor disease progression in early Parkinson’s.MethodsIn-depth, online symptom mapping interviews were conducted with 33 people with early Parkinson’s at baseline and 1 year later to evaluate (A) symptoms, (B) impacts, and (C) relevance of digital measures to monitor personally relevant symptoms. Maps and transcripts were coded for frequencies, Likert scale rankings (0 = not present to 4 = most bothersome), and thematic findings. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to evaluate change over time.ResultsOther than walking and balance, most motor symptoms did not change significantly from baseline to 1 year later. Multiple significant changes were observed in non-motor areas (cognition, speech, sleep, mood, fatigue, pain; p < 0.05) and functional impacts (mobility, effort to do usual activities, personal comfort; p < 0.05). Thematic analysis revealed ability to cope with and compensate for actual or anticipated symptoms reduced disruptions to well-being and changed how bothersome symptoms were. All digital measures targeted symptoms that were personally important to most participants (> 80%).ConclusionNon-motor and walking/balance symptoms changed sooner than other motor symptoms during the course of 1 year. Evaluation of coping and compensatory mechanisms may be essential to understanding symptom bothersomeness at a given point in time. Smartphone and smartwatch digital measures were relevant to personally meaningful symptoms of early PD.

Downscaling global reference points to assess the sustainability of local fisheries.

Multispecies coral reef fisheries are typically managed by local communities who often lack research and monitoring capacity, which prevents estimation of well-defined sustainable reference points to perform locally relevant fishery assessments. Recent research modeling coral reef fisheries globally has estimated multispecies sustainable reference points (i.e., the maximum reef fish yields that can be harvested sustainably and the corresponding reef fish standing biomass at which those are expected to be achieved) based on environmental indicators. These global reference points are a promising tool for assessing data-poor reef fisheries but need to be downscaled to be relevant to resource practitioners. Using a small-scale multispecies reef fishery in Papua New Guinea, we estimated sustainable reference points and assessed the sustainability of the fishery by integrating global-scale analyses with local-scale environmental conditions (i.e., coral cover, sea surface temperature, ocean productivity, and whether the reef is an atoll), reef area, fish catch and standing biomass estimates, and fishers' perceptions. Local-scale relevant data were obtained from a combination of remote sensing products, underwater visual censuses, catch surveys, and household structured social surveys. Our sustainability assessment based on downscaled estimated sustainable reference points was consistent with local fishers' perceptions. Specifically, our downscaled results suggested that the fishing community was overfishing their reef fish stocks and stocks were below biomass levels that maximize production, making the overall reef fishery unsustainable. These results were consistent with fisher perceptions that reef fish stocks were declining in abundance and mean fish length and that fishers had to spend more time finding fish. Our downscaled site-level assessment revealed severe local resource exploitation, the dynamics of which were masked in national-scale assessments, emphasizing the importance of matching assessments to the scale of management. Overall, we show how global reference points can be applied locally when long-term data are not available, providing baseline assessments for sustainably managing previously unassessed multispecies reef fisheries around the globe.

Registry versus claims-based index dates for studies of cancer diagnosis in administrative data.

Studies of healthcare encounters leading to cancer diagnosis have increased over recent years. While some studies examine healthcare utilization before the cancer registry date of diagnosis, relevant pre-diagnosis interactions are not always immediately prior to this date due to date abstraction guidelines. We evaluated agreement of a registry date with a claims-based index and examined Emergency Department (ED) involvement in cancer diagnosis as an example of possible pre-diagnostic healthcare misclassification that could arise from improper date choice. We implemented an algorithm to define a claims-based index as the date of the earliest International Classification of Diseases code for the cancer in Medicare and estimated agreement with the date of diagnosis from a North Carolina registry for patients diagnosed aged 66 or older with 16 cancer types from 2008 to 2017 (n = 92,056). We then classified whether each cancer was initially diagnosed through care originating in the ED using each date. The index date was identical to the cancer registry date for 47% of patients and preceded the registry date for 28%, with extent of agreement varying by cancer- and patient-specific characteristics. Agreement in ED-involved diagnosis classification using each date varied by cancer site, with sensitivity of classifications using the registry date relative to the index having a minimum of 86% for prostate and kidney cancer. Studies assessing healthcare utilization proximal to cancer diagnosis should carefully consider the relevant assessment window and be aware that the use of cancer registry versus claims-based dates may impact variable classification.

The Sustainable Development Nexus (SDN): Delivering Environmental Innovation Technologies (EITs) for Community Ecological Resilience (CER) in Indonesia

This paper aims to analyze and describe the Sustainable Development Nexus (SDN), in relation to Environmental Innovation Technologies (EITs) for Community Ecological Resilience (CER) in Indonesia. Phenomena such as climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution exert considerable influence on ecosystems and human existence. Developing countries, such as Indonesia, have more complex problems due to high dependence on natural resources and limited adaptive technologies. This research uses a qualitative method with an integrated literature review approach to examine the technological dimensions of environmental innovations that aim for stronger community ecological resilience. The materials used included a decade of publications from 2013 to 2023, which underwent rigorous credibility-based evaluation, relevance assessment, and source triangulation. The results show that the diffusion of environmental technologies, support of policy initiatives by the state, and increased public awareness significantly contribute to mitigating environmental degradation. The integration of economic, social, and environmental aspects in the sustainable development nexus can ensure ecosystem balance while meeting the needs of the population. In conclusion, the Sustainable Development Nexus (SDN) is very essential to harmonize economic progress, social equality, and environmental sustainability. In addition, environmental technology innovations (EITs) are evidently reduce environmental degradation, and increase community's ecological resilience (CER).

Children's amputee mobility predictor—Assessing the functional capability of children with leg length discrepancy

Objective The study purpose was twofold: (1) to develop the Children’s Amputee Mobility Predictor and establish its content and social validity and (2) to determine its intra and inter-rater reliability. Design A reliability and validity study. Setting Pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Participants Content validity study: 10 clinical experts; Social validity study: 24 stakeholders (i.e., children’s parents); Reliability study: 3 physical therapists. Intervention Not applicable. Main measure The functional capability of 30 children with leg length discrepancy was evaluated using the Children’s Amputee Mobility Predictor. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, two-way mixed model, and absolute agreement for a single measure were used to establish intra and inter-rater reliability. Results Experts reached a consensus on the relevancy and clarity of all 26 tasks included in the Children’s Amputee Mobility Predictor. The intra- and inter-rater reliability were excellent, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC)2,1 = .95, with 95% CI ranging from 0.88–0.98; and ICC3,1 = 0.96 with 95% CI ranging from 0.93–0.98, respectively. Parent feedback indicated the relevancy of tasks for children with leg length discrepancies. Conclusions The Children's Amputee Mobility Predictor is a comprehensive outcome measure that requires minimal equipment or space. It appears stable over time when used by the same physical therapist and results suggest that it may be used by multiple physical therapists. The Children's Amputee Mobility Predictor appears to measure important and relevant aspects of functional capability and be a meaningful and relevant assessment tool, helping to guide the determination of medical necessity for specific prosthetic and physical therapy interventions.

Development and validation of an assessment approach for competency-based nursing education in low-income settings: A consensus study.

To report the development and validation of an assessment approach for competency-based nursing education in low-income settings BACKGROUND: Adopting a competency-based curriculum has been linked with the resource-intensive, programmatic assessment approach. However, implementing this approach in low-income contexts has challenges. Nursing education institutions in low-income contexts reported difficulties implementing programmatic assessment. These challenges threaten the outcomes of the assessment innovation, highlighting the need to develop a tailored approach to assessment for these contexts. A modified e-Delphi study METHODS: The modified e-Delphi was used to refine and validate a proposed assessment approach following the recommendations of Conducting and REporting of DElphi Studies. Nine health professions education experts, with qualifications or publications in educational assessment, or curriculum design and development, were purposively sampled to validate the proposed assessment approach. Consensus was reached at ≥ 70 % after two iterative rounds. Items included in the two rounds were the six domains which described organisational contexts in terms of the people, the culture and technological infrastructure. Eleven out of 47 items in round one did not reach the set ³ 70 % consensus. The 11 items were refined and sent for round two. A total of 46 items were included in the final approach. The results report the developed assessment approach for competency-based nursing education in low-income settings. A contextually relevant assessment approach should be underpinned by empirical evidence and knowledge of the context. Nursing institutions should support faculty development in assessment to enhance the implementation and sustainability of the assessment approach.

Advancing Autoantibody Detection: A Journey from Conventional to State-of-the-Art Methods

Autoimmune diseases are a diverse group of disorders characterized by immune disturbances that cause aberrant B cell and T cell reactivity to normal constituents of the host1. Autoantibodies are commonly found in individuals with autoimmune diseases. A large number of autoantibodies are directed against intracellular or extracellular targets such as nucleic acids, structural proteins, enzymes, RNA binding proteins, receptors, cytokines, among others2. The detection of these autoantibodies is key to the diagnosis and classification of patients with autoimmune diseases. In addition, some studies have shown that autoantibodies can appear years before the onset of an autoimmune disease; therefore, the detection of these antibodies would serve as early predictors of risk and would also help to choose a possible therapeutic intervention to prevent or delay the disease progression3. Several methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, fixed tissue or cell-based assays, are commonly used for the detection of autoantibodies. Although these technologies are limited in sensitivity, specificity, and sample throughput, therefore, new experimental techniques are continuously developed to discover novel autoantigens involved in autoimmune diseases4. There are several limitations in the detection of autoantibodies, such as sensitivity and specificity, temporal variability in autoantibody levels, technical limitations, subjective interpretation, and lack of standards and quality controls in the tests. Autoantibody tests are only a diagnostic tool and must be used in combination with clinical evaluation for an accurate diagnosis. In this chapter, we will describe the technologies used in the detection of classic and new autoantibodies, exploring the assessment of clinical relevance, accuracy, validation, and possible regulatory requirements as an approved diagnostic test that could be promoted in routine clinical practice.

Treatment-induced ripple effect: a systematic review exploring the abscopal phenomenon in Glioblastoma multiforme.

This systematic review aimed to collate and synthesize the available literature on the abscopal effect in Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) neoplasms, focusing on the reported biochemical mechanisms driving the abscopal effect. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Epistemonikos from inception to May 1, 2023. Studies exploring the abscopal effect in GBM were included. The Clinical Relevance Assessment of Animal Preclinical research (RAA) tool was used to assess methodological quality of preclinical studies. Data on preclinical models, biochemical mechanisms, and outcomes were extracted and synthesized systrmatically. Out of a total of 7 studies, five preclinical studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies utilized various in vivo mouse models, including bilateral tumor models and immunohumanized mice. Key biochemical mechanisms identified included immunogenic cell death, danger-associated molecular pattern release, macrophage activation, and enhanced T cell responses. Combinatorial approaches involving oncolytic virotherapy, nanoparticle-based treatments, radiation therapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors showed promise in inducing abscopal effects. Significant tumor growth inhibition and improved survival were reported in treated animals. However, the RAA analysis highlighted concerns regarding research transparency and internal validity across studies. This systematic review highlighted the potential of the abscopal effect in GBM, demonstrating its ability to enhance anti-tumor immune responses both locally and systemically. The synergistic effects of combinatorial approaches showed promise for improving outcomes. However, the low methodological quality of existing studies underscored the need for more rigorous preclinical research. Future studies should focus on improving research transparency, exploring the abscopal effect in other primary CNS neoplasms, and translating these findings into clinical trials to assess safety and efficacy in humans.

On the safe levels of micro-sized particles PM1.0 in ambient air

Introduction. Micro- and nano-sized suspended particles may be toxic to humans more than larger particles. Effects of these particles can cause diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine and immune system, etc. There are no safety standards for micro-sized particles PM1.0 at present in the Russian Federation. The aim of this work is scientific substantiation of the safe level of micro-sized suspended particles PM1.0 in ambient air. Materials and methods. Safe PM1.0 levels in ambient air upon long-term inhalation intake were established on the base of selecting previously conducted relevant studies and assessment of the quantitative and qualitative data (assessment of study design elements, exposure levels, adverse health responses (effects), etc.) provided in them. In key studies ‘point of departure’ for exposure was established most relevant for substantiating safe PM1.0 levels; these levels were then calculated considering use of the total (complex) modifying factor. Results. Out of sixty eight publications reported the results obtained in studies with their focus on effects of PM1.0 on the health, two key studies were selected for the procedure for justifying the value of the PM1.0 safe level in ambient air, namely, Zhang et al., 2021 and Yu et al., 2020. The safe level for PM1.0 upon chronic inhalation exposure is scientifically substantiated at 0.002 mg/m3 based on establishing the values of modifying factors and calculating the total (complex) modifying factor. Limitations. The study does not provide any toxicological results. Conclusion. The proposed safe PM1.0 level in ambient air (0.002 mg/m3) has the potential for practical application in the health risk assessment as a reference concentration, as well as for use in the system for sanitary and hygienic regulation.

Methodology for AI-Based Search Strategy of Scientific Papers: Exemplary Search for Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicles in the Semantic Scholar Database

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly enhanced productivity, particularly in repetitive tasks. In the scientific domain, literature review stands out as a key area where AI-based tools can be effectively applied. This study presents a methodology for developing a search strategy for systematic reviews using AI tools. The Semantic Scholar database served as the foundation for the search process. The methodology was tested by searching for scientific papers related to batteries and hydrogen vehicles with the aim of enabling an evaluation for their potential applications. An extensive list of vehicles and their operational environments based on international standards and literature reviews was defined and used as the main input for the exemplary search. The AI-supported search yielded approximately 60,000 results, which were subjected to an initial relevance assessment. For the relevant papers, a neighbourhood analysis based on citation and reference networks was conducted. The final selection of papers, covering the period from 2013 to 2023, included 713 papers assessed after the initial review. An extensive discussion of the results is provided, including their categorisation based on search terms, publication years, and cluster analysis of powertrains, as well as operational environments of the vehicles involved. This case study illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed methodology and serves as a starting point for future research. The results demonstrate the potential of AI-based tools to enhance productivity when searching for scientific papers.

Healthcare workers’ well-being and perspectives on support during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies

BackgroundSince the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) have faced multiple difficulties in their work and personal lives. However, most of the quantitative reviews have focused on the...