Specific Criteria Research Articles

Off-Label Reduced Dose Apixaban in Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation and Associated Outcomes.

Apixaban is commonly used to prevent stroke in older adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Although its package insert has specific dose reduction criteria, providers may dose reduce outside of these parameters based on clinical scenarios. The primary objective was to determine the incidence of apixaban off-label reduced dosing, while secondarily determining the safety and efficacy outcomes associated with such dosing. A retrospective analysis of patients aged 65 and older with orders for apixaban for AF was institutional review board (IRB)-approved and conducted across 3 academic medical centers. Patients receiving off-label reduced-dose apixaban (ie, "underdosed") were matched to a cohort of patients dosed according to the package insert at the standard dosing (5 mg twice daily) using stratified random sampling. Secondary outcomes included 1-year incidence of major bleeding, clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB), stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and mortality. The Fisher exact tests were used to compare between-group differences. Of the 1172 patients meeting initial inclusion criteria, 201 (17%) were dosed off-label, with 175 (15%) "underdosed." The 147 "underdosed" patients with documented follow-up were matched with 139 patients receiving standard Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-labeled dosing. There were no significant differences in incidence of stroke (2.7% vs 2.2%), major bleeding (0% vs 0.7%), and CRNMB (2.7% vs 1.4%) in the off-label reduced dosing versus standard dosing groups. All-cause mortality was higher in the off-label reduced-dose group (16 [10.9%] vs 2 [1.4%], P < 0.05). Older adults with nonvalvular AF are commonly prescribed lower-than-recommended doses of apixaban. However, no significant association was found between empiric off-label reduced dosing and stroke or bleeding outcomes.

Body mass assessment of male soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Body weight control of male soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is not only about ensuring their somatic (physical) health. It is also the choice of proper nutrition, neat appearance, successful passing physical training tests, high work capacity and timely performance of military duties. Moreover, it is also the presence of special criteria – norms (standards), the development of which has unreasonably little attention in the past in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but in the current conditions they are extremely relevant. Excessive body weight, and especially obesity, reduces a person’s work capacity, complicates intellectual and physical activity, causes disability, premature aging and shortened life expectancy. Body weight standards should be universal enough to take into account as much as possible departmental interests, in particular the military, and to cover individual characteristics of human development, such as height, age, and body constitution. The purpose of the study is to improve body weight assessment system of male servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with different height, age and body constitution. Methods of the study are as following: theoretical analysis and generalization; extrapolation; method of least squares; regression analysis. Material: according to the authors’ formula of optimal body weight for men of different height, age and different body constitution, the limits of body weight norms for nine age groups were obtained in accordance with the requirements of physical training standards. Results: a table of minimum and maximum body weight for servicemen of different heights depending on the age group was developed. A methodology for assessing the body weight of military personnel, taking into account their body constitution, has been developed. Conclusions. To estimate the body weight of male servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a table has been developed within the height range from 1.50 to 2.06 m in nine age groups from 18 to 60 years and older for soldiers with different body constitutions. In the case when body weight of male servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine exceeds the table requirements, it is necessary to obtain the percentage of its deviation from the optimal body weight for men of different height, age and different body constitution, which is calculated according to the formula: Optimal body weight for men = (4.7619 × wrist circumference – 90.4762) × (0/08135×age+21.6916) × L2 / 100+(0.08135 × age + 21.6916) × L2 . If the body weight differs from the optimal body weight for men by no more than ±10%, then it meets the requirements of the norm.

Optimized Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Anti-PEG Antibody Detection in Healthy Donors and Patients Treated with PEGylated Liposomal Doxorubicin.

There is considerable interest in quantifying anti-PEG antibodies, given their potential involvement in accelerated clearance, complement activation, neutralization, and acute reactions associated with drug delivery systems. Published and commercially available anti-PEG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) differ significantly in terms of reagents and conditions, which could be confusing to users who want to perform in-house measurements. Here, we optimize the ELISA protocol for specific detection of anti-PEG IgG and IgM in sera from healthy donors and in plasma from cancer patients administered with PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin. The criterion of specificity is the ability of free PEG or PEGylated liposomes to inhibit the ELISA signals. We found that coating high-binding plates with monoamine methoxy-PEG5000, as opposed to bovine serum albumin-PEG20000, and blocking with 1% milk, as opposed to albumin or lysozyme, significantly improve the specificity, with over 95% of the signal being blocked by competition. Despite inherent between-assay variability, setting the cutoff value of the optical density at the 80th percentile consistently identified the same subjects. Using the optimized assay, we longitudinally measured levels of anti-PEG IgG/IgM in cancer patients before and after the PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin chemotherapy cycle (1 month apart, three cycles total). Antibody titers did not show any increase but rather a decrease between treatment cycles, and up to 90% of antibodies was bound to the infused drug. This report is a step toward harmonizing anti-PEG assays in human subjects, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness and optimized specificity.

Sampling-based test scenarios searching method for autonomous system robustness evaluation

The robustness evaluation for autonomous systems is essential before implementing them in safety-critical fields. Searching the challenging test scenarios by adaptive sampling algorithm in the transition regions between different performance modes, named performance boundary, becomes an efficient method to evaluate the robustness of systems. This paper proposes a novel model-independent nearest neighbors adaptive sampling algorithm considering gradient and distance, named GDNNAS. GDNNAS designs a special evaluation criterion to identify samples within boundary regions and a searching method to generate new samples. A novel elimination criterion is proposed to ensure the quality of samples and an adaptive stopping criterion is proposed to stop the sampling process adaptively. Considering the lack of unified data sets and metrics to assess adaptive sampling methods for searching the performance boundary, we proposed a comparison platform consisting of nine simulated systems under test (SSUT) as adaptive sampling benchmarks and four evaluation metrics to evaluate the adaptive sampling method quantitatively. We assess GDNNAS and two other adaptive sampling algorithms with the nine SSUTs. The experimental result proves that samples generated by GDNNAS are precisely located at and cover the performance boundary regions. In addition, we analyze the effectiveness of the comparison platform. Experimental result shows that the proposed SSUTs and evaluation metrics can comprehensively reflect the performance of the algorithm from various aspects and reveal the characteristics of the adaptive sampling algorithms. To verify the practicability of GDNNAS, a path planning system is used for testing GDNNAS, and the experiment result proves that GDNNAS performs outstandingly in practical system robustness evaluations.

Results of the analytical solution of the problem of radial vibrations of disks of variable thickness

An analytical solution is obtained for the problem of radial vibrations of disks of variable thickness. A disk is considered that is rigidly fixed along the inner circular contour (ρ=0.2) and free on the outer contour (ρ=1). The thickness of the disk varies according to the law H=H0(ρν+μ+Cρν-μ)2, where H0,C,μ are arbitrary constants; ν is the Poisson's ratio. The exact solution of the problem is known only for H=const and H=1/ρ3. However, these solutions are not sufficient to study the vibrations of disks of other configurations. The proposed law of thickness variation H(ρ) allows us to obtain exact solutions to the problem at any value of the constant coefficients H0, C, μ, ν. By varying the values of these coefficients within a single given function, it is possible to set the disk profile of the desired appearance. The methods used to obtain these solutions are based on appropriate mathematical transformations of the original equation. The problem of disk oscillations is solved for four variants of thickness change. The natural frequencies for the first three forms of vibration are calculated. Comparison of the natural frequencies found for the three cases of the disk profile gently sloping indicates an increase in their values with an increase in the bending of the disk thickness. Based on the obtained eigenfunctions, the stresses were calculated and the nature of their distribution along the radial coordinate of the disk was determined. The strength of the disks under resonant radial vibrations was evaluated using a special criterion. It is found that the most limiting, i.e., destructive principal stress σ1=σr at the first (main) form of vibration should be chosen from the ratio σr≈0.79 [σ-1], where [σ-1] is the endurance limit of the disk material under uniform loading. The results obtained can be used to predict the stress-strain state of disks of variable profile under their radial vibrations

Особенности изучения переживания чувства вины у осужденных в исправительном учреждении

This article presents the features of studying the experience of guilt in convicts in a correctional institution. The recognition of guilt by convicts is a special criterion for the correction of convicts. The article presents an empirical study conducted on the subject under study. Theoretical and methodological approaches studying guilt as a psychological characteristic are reflected, as well as the complexity of ongoing research on this topic has been noted more than once. Thus, researchers in the field of penitentiary sciences pay attention to the peculiarities of the experience of guilt by convicts in places of deprivation of liberty. The relevance of the study is confirmed by the low level of study of the phenomenon of guilt experience by convicts in a correctional institution. For an empirical study, the goal was defined: to study the characteristics of the experience of guilt in convicts held in places of deprivation of liberty. The object of the study is the feeling of guilt itself. The subject of the study was the peculiarities of the experience of guilt by convicts in a correctional institution. The hypothesis of the study was determined in such a way that the guilt of repeat offenders is less pronounced than that of those who committed a crime for the first time. The study sample consisted of 60 male convicts aged 30 to 60 years, who were divided into 2 experimental groups, taking into account the recurrence of crimes. Diagnostic tools have identified the following methods: the method "Measuring feelings of guilt and shame" (Test of Self-Conscious Affect - TOSCA) (Tangney J.P.) (J. P. Tangney) TOSCA and the test "Measuring maladaptive guilt" (IGQ), developed by American psychologists (O'Connor et al.) in adaptation of E. V. Korotkova. The conducted research allowed us to identify a number of patterns and features. According to the results of the study, some practical recommendations were given to employees of the psychological services of the correctional institution on the organization of preventive, educational and psychocorrective effects on the personality of convicts from their stay in the quarantine department. It is especially important to carry out appropriate work to train convicts of a correctional institution in socially acceptable communication skills, the adoption of an appropriate socially approved lifestyle that will help them adapt to later life after release and cope with the experience of guilt at the present moment.

The content of the «social literacy» concept in pedagogical theory and practice

Scientific research in recent years has documented a violation of the mechanism for the inclusion of young citizens in adulthood and the dominance of consumer attitudes among modern youth. It is quite obvious that one of the indicators of civil society is the desire of people to be its full members, responsible and capable of socially useful activities. The ongoing change in the geopolitical situation in the world has particularly acutely actualized the problem of children and adolescents developing social literacy as a special criterion for the development of society. The need to solve this issue determined the research problem, which lies in the insufficient knowledge of the content of social literacy of children and adolescents in modern pedagogical discourse and the demand for a theoretical justification of this term from the standpoint of the modern sociocultural situation. Accordingly, the purpose of this research is to reveal the concept of “social literacy” in pedagogical theory and practice. The research methods used in the work are the following: analysis of teaching experience and theoretical approaches to the problem under study, synthesis, differentiation, methods of visual presentation of the data obtained. The results of the research. The content of social literacy in pedagogical scientific and scientific-methodological research has been revealed; components of social literacy have been proposed. Key conclusions: social literacy is understood as an individual’s readiness to socialize safely in the environment; possession of an interdependent set of knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as the necessary personal qualities that ensure the formation of this readiness; social literacy includes a set of interrelated components: personal, activity and reflexive, identified on the basis of systematization of axiological, environmental, competence and multi-subjective approaches.

GENERAL CONDITION ASSESSMENT METHOD FOR SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS: THE CASE OF IBAGUE, COLOMBIA

This study proposes a new method created to perform a universal assessment on the status of signalized intersections implemented in the city of Ibague, Colombia. The condition of each signalized intersection is classified according to parameters established to improve vehicular and pedestrian traffic, as well as the long-term development of the city. To achieve the research objective, the aspects to be evaluated are divided in two categories: Functionality and Utility, as well as specific criteria for each of them. Therefore, field data is collected using a geospatial tool and assigning levels of importance associated with a numerical scale that is plotted on maps of influence. We can therefore conclude that the proposed assessment method is not only necessary, but suitable for the evaluation of signalized intersections, which effectively assess the pertinent aspects, granting a rating supported by their respective analysis, and making the comparison of their specific conditions over time possible. For example, in the case study of Ibague 2023, according to the evaluation method, 59% of the intersections were ranked in the lowest states of the scale, also showing that between 2018 and 2023 there was an overall decay, as most of the intersections (85%) lowered their ratings and degraded to a greater extent compared to those with improvements.

Model Penghimpunan Dana Zakat Infak Sedekah Yang Efektif Dan Efisien Di Era Digital

Baitul Maal Hidayatullah (BMH) is an institution that received permission to manage zakat infaq, alms, and humanitarian funds. In its management, BMH Kaltim Representatives are managed by appointed amil without special criteria. This study aims to analyze effective and efficient collection models in the digital era. Research is expected to provide knowledge about effective and efficient collection models in the digital era. This research is qualitative descriptive research with data analysis using NVIVO 12 PLUS. Based on the results of field findings, it is known that the collection model in BMH is a variety of models, this adjusts to the choice of people who pay infaq zakat and alms through BMH. Effective and efficient in the digital era in BMH can be seen from the acquisition of BMH which has increased with the lack of operations spent to achieve it.

Multi-factor based Regression Test Case Prioritization using Fuzzy Logic

The maintenance level activity generally done after the modification in the software to check whether it is functioning right or not is termed as regression testing. Test case prioritization, a key practice, involves strategically ordering test cases based on specific criteria to enhance the efficiency of fault detection within a condensed time frame. The fuzzy rule base serves as an alternative to the conventional crisp value set, offering a nuanced approach beyond binary outcomes (Yes or No). The primary objective of this research is to address critical factors often overlooked in existing literature on prioritization. Notably, prevalent approaches focus on singular factors during test case prioritization, highlighting the need for a comprehensive technique. To enhance the prioritization of test cases, there is a demand for a method that considers multi-factors or combinations thereof, ultimately increasing effectiveness. This paper introduces an innovative approach a multi-factors regression test-case prioritization technique utilizing fuzzy rules. The methodology aims to optimize the prioritization of test cases, striking a balance between effectiveness and time efficiency. Fuzzy rules are formulated to assess the effectiveness of a prioritized set of test cases in developing the proposed approach. A user-friendly tool has been developed to facilitate the application of this technique, allowing users to input relevant factors and subsequently prioritize test cases accordingly. Through extensive experiments using the developed tool, the effectiveness of the proposed approach has been validated. The results demonstrate that the priority lists of test cases generated for different projects, considering multi-factors, show greater promise compared to techniques relying solely on a single factor for prioritization.

Generalized Early Stopping in Evolutionary Direct Policy Search

Lengthy evaluation times are common in many optimization problems such as direct policy search tasks, especially when they involve conducting evaluations in the physical world, e.g. in robotics applications. Often when evaluating solution over a fixed time period it becomes clear that the objective value will not increase with additional computation time (for example when a two wheeled robot continuously spins on the spot). In such cases, it makes sense to stop the evaluation early to save computation time. However, most approaches to stop the evaluation are problem specific and need to be specifically designed for the task at hand. Therefore, we propose an early stopping method for direct policy search. The proposed method only looks at the objective value at each time step and requires no problem specific knowledge. We test the introduced stopping criterion in five direct policy search environments drawn from games, robotics and classic control domains, and show that it can save up to \(75\%\) of the computation time. We also compare it with problem specific stopping criteria and show that it performs comparably, while being more generally applicable.

Evaluating Airborne Sound Insulation in Dwellings Constructed with Hollow Ceramic Blocks under Brazilian Housing Policies

In Brazil, there is a shortage of approximately 5.80 million residences, a challenge that intensified during the pandemic. Since 2013, there has been a mandate to implement specific performance criteria in residential constructions. However, many construction firms face difficulties in meeting these standards, especially concerning sound insulation in partition elements. This work aims to assess the airborne sound insulation performance and compliance with legal standards in new residential buildings through measurements and simulations. In particular, subsidized housing units for low-income populations are studied, which are eligible for reduced taxes on building loans. These buildings are typically made of hollow ceramic blocks with vertical perforations as separating walls, a commonly used national building material. Three buildings located in Guarapuava, a southern city in Brazil with a population of approximately 183,000 residents, were selected for this purpose. Measurements were conducted following ISO 16283-1 guidelines, whereas simulations were performed using ISO 12354-1, initially assuming a uniform plate but also exploring an alternative model that considers orthotropic behavior with analytical expressions. The calculations considered both static and dynamic moduli of elasticity. The results indicated that all the units failed to meet the specified standards. The measured DnT,w values were below the required thresholds, obtaining 42 &lt; 45 dB for Building B1, 40 &lt; 45 dB for Building B2, and 38 &lt; 40 dB for Building B3. The predicted DnT,w values agreed well with the measured values when considering orthotropy with a dynamic elastic modulus. However, discrepancies were observed in the spectral analysis, especially at lower and higher frequencies. The findings suggest refraining from employing single-leaf partition walls made of vertical hollow ceramic blocks in such buildings. Improving sound insulation necessitates embracing a comprehensive strategy that takes into account the separating element, flanking paths, and the room geometries.

Review article: Current indications and selection criteria for early liver transplantation in severe alcohol-associated hepatitis.

Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is a severe inflammatory form of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) that carries a high mortality rate. Early liver transplantation for severe AH is increasingly available. However, specific criteria for referral and selection remain a subject of debate. To provide a narrative review of the natural history, diagnostic criteria and indications for referral for early liver transplantation for severe AH. We searched PubMed for articles published through August 2023. Key search terms were 'alcoholic hepatitis,' 'alcohol-associated hepatitis,' 'abstinence,' 'alcohol relapse,' and 'liver transplantation.' Previously, a six-month period of alcohol abstinence was required before patients with ALD were considered for liver transplantation. However, studies in recent years have demonstrated that, among carefully selected patients, patients who received early transplants have much higher survival rates than patients with similarly severe disease who did not undergo transplants (77% vs. 23%). Despite these successes, early liver transplantation remains controversial, as these patients have typically not undergone treatment for alcohol use disorder, with the ensuing risk of returning to alcohol use. While early liver transplantation for AH has survival benefits, many patients would not have received treatment for alcohol use disorder. An integrated approach to evaluating candidacy for early liver transplantation is needed.

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ)

BackgroundThe Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ) originated from the Revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality. This study was conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the RST-PQ among a group of Iranian adults. MethodThe cross-sectional study was carried out among 600 Iranian adults utilizing a convenient sampling method, following specific participant selection criteria to enhance the study methodology's transparency (including the age range between 18 and 35 years' participants without major psychiatric diagnoses). Participants completed both the Iranian version of the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ) and the Five-Factor NEO-FFI questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis, employing the multiple indicators model (MIMIC) approach, was utilized in this study to control for demographic variables such as age and gender. ResultsThe confirmatory factor analysis results showed an acceptable fit of the proposed six-factor model based on the English version of RST-PQ (CFI = 0.905; RMSEA = 0.053). Also, Cronbach's alpha values confirmed the internal consistency of the proposed structure. In addition, competing models were also used to select the best-proposed model. In this way, different models were evaluated, assuming a change in the correlation intensity between BIS and the Fight-Flight-Freeze System (FFFS). ConclusionsThe convergent validity results with the Five-Factor Personality measure provided further support and were consistent with previous research findings. It is crucial to have an Iranian-language version of the RST-PQ to promote RST research and show how this theoretical framework aids in explaining and predicting various actions, whether they are abnormal or healthy.

System for Tracking and Assessing Issues of Students in College Life

This project explores the development and implementation of a web-based platform designed to connect mentors and mentees, fostering meaningful interactions through messaging and appointment scheduling. The platform aims to bridge the gap between individuals seeking guidance (mentees) and experienced professionals willing to share their expertise (mentors). By offering a user-friendly interface and various functionalities, the website seeks to streamline the mentorship process, creating a conducive environment for communication and learning. The platform's primary features include comprehensive user profiles, a secure messaging system enabling direct communication between mentors and mentees, and an intuitive appointment scheduling mechanism. Mentors can showcase their expertise and availability, while mentees can search for mentors based on specific criteria and request appointments at their convenience. The project delves into the technological and design considerations essential for the platform's success, emphasizing the significance of a secure messaging system, personalized user experiences, efficient appointment scheduling, and reliable data privacy measures. Additionally, the implementation of a robust review and feedback system fosters trust and transparency, allowing mentees to make informed decisions when selecting mentors. Key Words: Web platform, mentorship,

The relationship between the level of postural stress, Musculoskeletal Disorders, and chronic fatigue: A case study in the dairy industry.

Dairy industry workers face numerous ergonomic risk factors in their workplace, including improper posture, manual material handling, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Fewstudies have been conducted on the correlation of postural stress, MSDs, and chronic fatigue among workers in the dairy industry. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the level of postural stress, MSDs, and chronic fatigue in a dairy company. In this cross-sectional study, 260 male workers were included in the research based on specific inclusion criteria. The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire, Chalder Fatigue Scale, and a researcher-made demographic questionnaire were used to collect data. The posture of workers was evaluated using RULA and REBA software, and the evaluation of the manual lifting of loads was assessed using the WISHA lifting calculator. Finally, the collected data were entered into the SPSS software version 26.0 and analyzed. The findings revealed a significant statistical relationship between the level of postural stress and chronic fatigue and a significant positive correlation between MSDs and chronic fatigue. Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship was observed between MSDs, chronic fatigue, and ergonomics training experience. The results obtained in this study support the notion that high levels of postural stress and MSDs can produce an increase in chronic fatigue among workers, and lack of ergonomics training for workers can increase both MSDs and chronic fatigue. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out intervention measures in the field of ergonomics management in similar industries through the implementation of ergonomic intervention programs with a focus on proactive and preventive measures and the use of participatory ergonomic programs and educational demands assessment.

Sensory properties of thickened and protein-enriched plant-based frozen desserts.

The number of consumers following plant-based diets has increased and in turn, the variety of plant-based foods available on the market has also increased. Many plant-based foods aim to mimic the functionality and sensory properties of conventional dairy products; however, they may not be suitable for specific populations. Dysphagia, for example, is a swallowing condition requiring texture-modified foods that meet specific criteria. While many conventional thickened products exist that are safe for individuals with dysphagia, the growing interest in plant-based eating alongside the increasing prevalence of dysphagia prompts a need for research on the use and safety of thickened plant-based alternatives. This study investigated the sensory properties of a thickened protein-enhanced ice cream (dairy and whey) compared to thickened protein-enhanced plant-based frozen desserts (cashew and pea, and coconut and pea). The formulations were evaluated using the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization (IDDSI) Spoon Tilt Test and a sensory trial (n = 104 participants, 47 flexitarians and 57 typical consumers) using static (hedonic scales and check-all-that-apply [CATA]), and dynamic (temporal check-all-that-apply (TCATA)) methods. The dairy and whey sample consistently passed the IDDSI test, while the plant-based samples did not. TCATA identified that the plant-based samples had an increased cohesiveness and adhesiveness, and decreased slipperiness when compared to the dairy and whey sample. The differences in textural properties may explain why the plant-based samples did not pass the IDDSI test. The study identified that although plant-based foods strive to mimic conventional dairy products, they have different textural and flavor properties.

Machine Learning First Response to COVID-19: A Systematic Literature Review of Clinical Decision Assistance Approaches during Pandemic Years from 2020 to 2022

Background: The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic triggered global efforts to control and manage the virus impact. Scientists and researchers have been strongly involved in developing effective strategies that can help policy makers and healthcare systems both to monitor the spread and to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been applied in several fronts of the fight. Foremost is diagnostic assistance, encompassing patient triage, prediction of ICU admission and mortality, identification of mortality risk factors, and discovering treatment drugs and vaccines. Objective: This systematic review aims to identify original research studies involving actual patient data to construct ML- and AI-based models for clinical decision support for early response during the pandemic years. Methods: Following the PRISMA methodology, two large academic research publication indexing databases were searched to investigate the use of ML-based technologies and their applications in healthcare to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The literature search returned more than 1000 papers; 220 were selected according to specific criteria. The selected studies illustrate the usefulness of ML with respect to supporting healthcare professionals for (1) triage of patients depending on disease severity, (2) predicting admission to hospital or Intensive Care Units (ICUs), (3) search for new or repurposed treatments and (4) the identification of mortality risk factors. Conclusion: The ML/AI research community was able to propose and develop a wide variety of solutions for predicting mortality, hospitalizations and treatment recommendations for patients with COVID-19 diagnostic, opening the door for further integration of ML in clinical practices fighting this and forecoming pandemics. However, the translation to the clinical practice is impeded by the heterogeneity of both the datasets and the methodological and computational approaches. The literature lacks robust model validations supporting this desired translation.

Preoperative evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes in non-small cell lung cancer using [68Ga]FAPI-46 PET/CT: a prospective pilot study.

Mediastinal nodal staging is crucial for surgical candidate selection in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but conventional imaging has limitations often necessitating invasive staging. We investigated the additive clinical value of fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT, an imaging technique targeting fibroblast activation protein, for mediastinal nodal staging of NSCLC. In this prospective pilot study, we enrolled patients scheduled for surgical resection of NSCLC based on specific criteria designed to align with indications for invasive staging procedures. Patients were included when meeting at least one of the following: (1) presence of FDG-positive N2 lymph nodes, (2) clinical N1 stage, (3) central tumor location or tumor diameter of ≥ 3 cm, and (4) adenocarcinoma exhibiting high FDG uptake. [68Ga]FAPI-46 PET/CT was performed before surgery after a staging workup including [18F]FDG PET/CT. The diagnostic accuracy of [68Ga]FAPI-46 PET/CT for "N2" nodes was assessed through per-patient visual assessment and per-station quantitative analysis using histopathologic results as reference standards. Twenty-three patients with 75 nodal stations were analyzed. Histopathologic examination confirmed that nine patients (39.1%) were N2-positive. In per-patient assessment, [68Ga]FAPI-46 PET/CT successfully identified metastasis in eight patients (sensitivity 0.89 (0.52-1.00)), upstaging three patients compared to [18F]FDG PET/CT. [18F]FDG PET/CT detected FDG-avid nodes in six (42.8%) of 14 N2-negative patients. Among them, five were considered non-metastatic based on calcification and distribution pattern, and one was considered metastatic. In contrast, [68Ga]FAPI-46 PET/CT correctly identified all non-metastatic patients solely based on tracer avidity. In per-station analysis, [68Ga]FAPI-46 PET/CT discriminated metastasis more effectively compared to [18F]FDG PET/CT-based (AUC of ROC curve 0.96 (0.88-0.99) vs. 0.68 (0.56-0.78), P < 0.001). [68Ga]FAPI-46 PET/CT holds promise as an imaging tool for preoperative mediastinal nodal staging in NSCLC, with improved sensitivity and the potential to reduce false-positive results, optimizing the need for invasive staging procedures.

Impact of Business Risk and Board of Directors Size on Dividend Policy in ASEAN-5 During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The objective of this investigation is to scrutinize the determinants influencing the dividend policies of financial sector firms listed on the stock exchanges in each of the ASEAN-5 countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Employing a purposive sampling method, this research encompasses a sample of 195 companies meeting specific criteria during the COVID-19 pandemic spanning from 2020 to 2022. Researchers employed a probit model logistic regression, utilizing Eviews 12 software, to assess the impact of business risk and board size on dividend policy. The outcomes indicate that the independent variable of business risk exerts a negative influence on dividend policy, whereas the independent variable of board size exhibits a positive effect. Additionally, the research introduces a control variable, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), revealing a negative impact on dividend policy. The outcomes of this research serve as a managerial tool for enhancing company performance and augmenting dividend disbursements, thereby capturing the attention of shareholders.