324677 research outputs found
Sort by
Advocacy by nonprofit scientific institutions needs to be evidence-based: a case study
No full textScientific institutions, including universities and research centers, occasionally engage in advocacy to gain financial support. However, this can be problematic if they selectively present scientific evidence. We describe a case involving a French semi-public foundation dedicated to clinical research on four adult psychiatric disorders: autism without intellectual disability, treatment-resistant depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The foundation has claimed that an initial assessment at any of its Expert Centers led to a 50 % reduction in hospitalization days. We analyzed communication directed at the public in the French press, advocacy efforts towards members of the French Parliament (MFPs), evidence supporting this claim within those activities, and MFPs' initiatives that addressed the foundation's request. However, the reduction in hospitalization originated from a single study of bipolar disorder patients, which lacked a control group and had other methodological flaws. No scientific publications supported similar claims for the other three disorders. On May 2, 2024, 70 members of the French Parliament introduced a bill aimed at integrating these Expert Centers into the healthcare system. Justifications for the bill explicitly cited the 50 % reduction in hospitalization for all four conditions. This case highlights the need for policy makers and journalists to verify the robustness of scientific claims before these become policy. It also emphasizes the responsibility of scientists and journal editors to recognize and mitigate spin in research studies and opinion articles and to develop tools that help evaluate advocacy and lobbying claims in scientific contexts
Il "daspo urbano" al crocevia delle accezioni del concetto di sicurezza: tra logica legislativa e approdi giurisprudenziali
No full textScheda a H. FLEISCHER – S. KALSS – H.-U. VOGT (hrsg.), Aufsichtsrat – Verwaltungsrat – Beirat, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, 2023, XVI, 1-290
No full textAntiarrhythmic efficacy and safety of oral mexiletine in dogs with ventricular arrhythmias: a multicentre, retrospective analysis
No full textObjective: To describe mexiletine's efficacy in suppressing ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and its safety in dogs. Methods: In a multicenter retrospective study, dogs received oral mexiletine, prescribed as a second-line antiarrhythmic in addition to a first-line agent, for the treatment of VA ineffectively controlled by initial monotherapy. Signalment, clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and outcome data were retrieved. Only dogs that underwent Holter monitoring both before and after starting mexiletine treatment were included in the ECG analysis of efficacy. This was represented by a reduction in the Lown-Wolf grade < 5 or a reduction in the number of ventricular premature complexes ≥ 85%. Treatment-related side effects (TRSE) were noted in all dogs. Statistical analysis was performed to compare selected data before and after mexiletine prescription. Results: 38 dogs were included. Twenty dogs met the criteria for the efficacy analysis; mexiletine effectively suppressed VA in 16 of 20 cases (80%). In 11 of 38 dogs (28.9%), TRSE occurred (ie, gastrointestinal and neurological signs in 10 of 11 [90.9%] and 1 of 11 cases [9.1%], respectively). Supportive therapies were prescribed to 10 of 11 dogs (90.9%) and the daily dose of mexiletine was reduced in 6 of 11 dogs (54.5%), resulting in resolution of TRSE in 5 of 11 dogs (45.5%). In the remaining 6 of 11 dogs (54.5%), the persistence of TRSE led to the discontinuation of mexiletine. The median duration of TRSE was 7 days (IQR, 4 to 10 days). Conclusions: Mexiletine was highly effective in suppressing VA, but reversible gastrointestinal TRSE occurred relatively frequently. Clinical relevance: Useful information on the effects of mexiletine in dogs with VAs is provided
Distributed Constraint-Coupled Optimization: Harnessing ADMM-consensus for robustness
No full textIn this paper, we consider a network of agents that jointly aim to minimize the sum of local functions subject to coupling constraints involving all local variables. To solve this problem, we propose a novel solution based on a primal-dual architecture. The algorithm is derived starting from an alternative definition of the Lagrangian function, and its convergence to the optimal solution is proved using recent advanced results in the theory of timescale separation in nonlinear systems. The rate of convergence is shown to be linear under standard assumptions on the local cost functions. Interestingly, the algorithm is amenable to a direct implementation to deal with asynchronous communication scenarios that may be corrupted by other non-idealities such as packet loss. We numerically test the validity of our approach on a real-world application related to the provision of ancillary services in three-phase low-voltage microgrids
Singling Out the Electrochemiluminescence Profile in Microelectrode Arrays
No full textAmong various electrochemical imaging techniques, electrochemiluminescence microscopy (ECLM) stands out as a powerful approach to visualize electrochemical reactions by converting localized reactivity into optical signals. This study investigates ECL light emission spatial distribution in a confined space by using microelectrode arrays (MEAs) fabricated on glassy carbon (GC) and gold (Au) substrates via thermal nanoimprint lithography (TNIL). With the Ru(bpy)3 2 +/TPrA system, ECL imaging revealed distinct emission profiles, with Au exhibiting a broader spatial distribution compared to GC under identical geometric conditions. The estimated thickness of the ECL emitting layer (TEL) was significantly larger on Au (similar to 7 mu m) than on GC (similar to 4 mu m), attributed to the interplay between the electrode material and dominant ECL mechanism. Decreasing Ru(bpy)3 2 + concentration resulted in minimal perturbation of the GC ECL profile, consistent with a predominant oxidative-reductive mechanism. In contrast, a significant narrowing of the ECL profile was observed on Au, indicative of a transition from a catalytic to an oxidative-reductive pathway. These observations were corroborated and rationalized by finite element simulations. Our findings demonstrate the capacity to fine-tune the Thickness of the Emission Layer (TEL) and modulate ECL emission through electrode material selection and luminophore concentration. Such precise control has significant implications for the development of highly sensitive and spatially resolved bioanalytical assays, particularly those employing bead-based detection methodologies
Mastering esophageal cancer imaging: what radiologists need to know
No full textEsophageal cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (EAC), is a major contributor to cancer-related mortality. The different histopathologic subtypes have different pathological origins, epidemiology and prognosis. TNM staging system allows to stratify the prognosis and determine the most appropriate treatment. Surgery remains the gold standard for treating early-stage esophageal cancer, including various procedures that can adapt to the singular cases helping to reduce morbidity. However, esophagectomy remains burdened by considerable postoperative complications, such as anastomotic leakage, pleural effusion, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, stricture formation, chylothorax, delayed gastric emptying, hiatal herniation, and reflux esophagitis. Accurate radiologic evaluation plays a crucial role in detecting, characterizing, and staging esophageal cancer, directly influencing treatment strategies. Radiological imaging is pivotal in determining patient’s prognosis, both for the management of post-operative complications and for long-term follow-up. A thorough understanding of the imaging characteristics and underlying pathology is essential for improving diagnostic accuracy and guiding therapeutic decision-making
Exploring women’s work in early modern rural Italy: Insights from the Republic of Venice
Get PDFThis article examines women’s work in rural areas of the Republic of Venice between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with a focus on the district of Padua. By applying the verb-oriented method to judicial sources, it reconstructs a detailed and nuanced picture of female labour, highlighting the extent and continuity of women’s economic activities. The findings show that women were engaged across all sectors of the economy, including sectors far beyond care and housework. They played an active role in agriculture, trade, and manufacturing. Moreover, their work was fully integrated into the household economy, structured around seasonal labour demands, and performed throughout the year. A comparison with previous studies suggests that women’s work in the Venetian countryside aligned closely with broader European patterns. These findings underscore the fundamental contribution of female labour to household survival, challenging long-standing assumptions about women’s economic roles in Italy and the Mediterranean
