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The integration of drug molecular representations into predictive models for Drug Response Prediction (DRP) is a standard procedure in pharmaceutical research and development. However, the comparative effectiveness of combining these representations with genetic profiles for DRP remains unclear. This study conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy of various drug molecular representations employing cutting-edge machine learning models under various experimental settings. Our findings reveal that the inclusion of molecular representations from either PubChem fingerprints or SMILES can significantly enhance the performance of DRPs when used in conjunction with deep learning models. However, the optimal choice of drug molecular representation can vary depending on the predictive model and the specific DRP task. The insights derived from our study offer useful guidance on selecting the most suitable drug molecular representations for constructing efficient predictive models for DRPs, aiding for drug repurposing, personalized medicine, and new drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: This study aims to compare the effects of conventional surgical techniques and laser-assisted methods on salivary oxidative stress biomarkers following third molar extraction, in order to evaluate the potential benefits of laser surgery in reducing oxidative stress and promoting faster recovery. Methods: A total of 154 patients, aged 16–30, undergoing third molar extractions were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: conventional surgery (n = 75) and laser-assisted surgery (n = 79). Saliva samples were collected at baseline, and 24, 48, 72, and 168 h postoperatively. The levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were measured as indicators of oxidative stress. Results: Initial biomarker levels were similar across all participants. Postoperative oxidative stress increased in both groups, with significantly higher levels in the conventional surgery group at 48 and 72 h. Salivary biomarkers of oxidative stress were significantly lower in the laser group at 48 and 72 h post-surgery (p < 0.05), indicating a faster recovery. By 168 h, biomarker levels in the laser group had nearly returned to baseline, whereas levels in the conventional group remained slightly elevated. Conclusions: Laser-assisted surgery significantly reduces oxidative stress and promotes faster recovery when compared with conventional methods, as evidenced by the more rapid normalization of salivary biomarkers. These findings suggest that laser techniques may offer superior clinical outcomes in third molar extractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the relationship between participation in competitive sports and oral health in children, specifically focusing on hockey and football players. The study finds that children engaged in competitive sports have better oral health, with improved oral hygiene and reduced incidence of periodontal disease and dental caries. The research also highlights the positive correlation between sports activity and oral health, but acknowledges limitations such as a small sample size and a specific focus on two sports. Further research with a larger and more diverse sample is recommended. Additionally, the article discusses a study on the effects of a specific supplement on athletic performance, which found positive impacts on muscle strength and endurance. However, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects and potential risks of the supplement. [Extracted from the article]

Patient education is an essential part of management of complex, disabling neurological disorders. Mobile web-based educational materials provide a novel and potentially valuable means to communicate clinical information that can aid in both medical management and rehabilitation. We, therefore, evaluated an educational tablet-based intervention in three patient cohorts regarding the following topics: Parkinson's disease (PD) medications, dystonia and botulinum toxin treatment. A total of 50 subjects with PD, 32 with dystonia and 61 receiving botulinum toxin treatment for movement disorders or sialorrhoea were enrolled. Participants in each cohort completed a specific educational module at the time of their regularly scheduled clinic visit, comprising slides, in addition to pre- and post-module quizzes and a satisfaction survey. Additionally, participants in the dystonia and botulinum toxin modules were given a follow-up test at their 3- or 6-month clinical treatment visit. There were 143 participants with 50 completing the PD module, 32 completing the dystonia module and 61 completing the botulinum toxin module. All three groups demonstrated significant improvement in knowledge of module content between their pre- and post-module test scores (PD: p=.0001, dystonia: p<.0001 and botulinum toxin: p=.008), and those who took the dystonia module maintained significant improvement at either a 3- or 6-month follow up compared to pre-module (p <.0001). Tablet-based teaching modules are an effective means of communicating key concepts to patients. This study supports their use for improving patient understanding that can support lifelong approaches to managing disabling, neurological conditions. Tablet-based modules are relatively easy to use for enhancing education during clinic visits and can possibly help reduce and maintain disability with chronic conditions like Parkinson's disease and dystonia. Improvements in post-test scores suggested that patient participants were able to retain information from the tablets about their complex and challenging conditions and treatments. Adding patients who are fluent in another language would have made this study more generalizable and future studies exploring educational interventions are warranted to help better tailor interventions to patients with chronic neurologic illnesses to help understand the complex aspects of their medical and rehabilitation therapy. The effect of cognitive changes in neurological conditions and understanding of educational information needs to be further tested. This positive result is especially meaningful during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person access to both medical and rehabilitative care has been curtailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a disabling phenomenon defined by the periodic absence or reduction of forward progression of the feet despite the intention to walk. We sought to understand whether Google Glass (GG), a lightweight wearable device that provides simultaneous visual-auditory cues, might improve FOG in parkinsonism. Patients with parkinsonism and FOG utilized GG custom-made auditory-visual cue applications: "Walk With Me" and "Unfreeze Me" in a single session intervention. We recorded ambulation time with and without GG under multiple conditions including 25 feet straight walk, dual task of performing serial 7's while straight walking, 180 degree turn after walking 25 feet, and walking through a doorway. FOG and patient experience questionnaires were administered. Using the GG "Walk With Me" program, improvements were noted in the following: average 25 feet straight walk by 0.32 s (SD 2.12); average dual task of serial 7's and 25 feet straight walk by 1.79 s (SD 2.91); and average walk through doorway by 0.59 s (SD 0.81). Average 180 degree turn after 25 feet walk worsened by 1.89 s (SD 10.66). Using the "Unfreeze Me" program, only the average dual task of serial 7's and 25 feet straight walk improved (better by 0.82 s (SD 3.08 sec). All other tasks had worse performance in terms of speed of completion. This feasibility study provides preliminary data suggesting that some walking tasks may improve with GG, which uses various musical dance programs to provide visual and auditory cueing for patients with FOG. Freezing of gait in parkinsonian syndromes is a disabling motor block described by patients as having their feet stuck to the floor leading to difficulty in initiation of gait and increased risk for falls. Wearable assistive devices such as Google Glass™ use visual and auditory cueing that may improve gait pattern in patients with freezing of gait. Augmented reality programs using wearable assistive devices are a home-based therapy, with the potential for reinforcing physical therapy techniques; this is especially meaningful during the COVID-19 pandemic when access to both medical and rehabilitative care has been curtailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the century we live in, the main scene of political display is the virtual space of the internet. It is used by political agents to promote their own agendas and by citizens for demonstrations and political support. Cyber-activism is being strengthened every day, and the general belief is that the new generations, "clean" from any ideological perspective, through the informational exchange facilitated by the internet, will want to promote and consolidate democratic values. One of the main ideologies that started this type of belief is cyber-utopianism. In this paper, we will try to outline, starting from the hypotheses of this ideology, that e-democracy can become the worse of all kinds of democracies, because it's based on instruments capable of building its own censorship. The information overload determines that relevant information can be overlooked and misjudged leading to risky vulnerabilities for the healthy development of democracy. We can accept that edemocracy can be very helpful in promoting democratic values in autocratic regimes around the world, but it's risking a failure at home. Exposure to too much information it's just a new type of mass political communication, that can backslide to other extremes. The lack of information and information overload can mirror the same effect: political ignorance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to function, the ethical norm creates a system, called and known as an ethical system. It is separated from the legal system, as the ethical norm is separated from other types of norms or law. The comparative model allows us to see to what extent there are common elements of construction and operation of these systems to see if they are the ones that impose or limit the international ethics. Only after reviewing the characteristics of international ethics we will able to evaluate these limits through several dimensions in which ethics is encountered or invoked (human rights, humanitarian interventions, non-proliferation etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL-CONSTRUCTIVISTS, THE NORM IS BUILT UP BY INTERACTION OF THE AGENTS. SOCIAL-CONSTRUCTIVISM HAS REMAINED THE DOMINANT THEORY IN RECENT DECADES AND THE ONLY ONE THAT DESERVES TO BE EVALUATED WHEN WE SPEAK OF INTERNATIONAL NORMS IN THE CURRENT SOCIO-POLITICAL CONTEXT. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL-CONSTRUCTIVISTS, AN INTERNATIONAL NORM IS BASED ON THE CAPACITY AND OPENNESS OF STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS TO COLLABORATE AND INTERACT IN ORDER TO FORM THE NORM. THIS PROCESS PLACES THE INTERNATIONAL NORM ON A CENTRAL POSITION IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS, AS OPPOSED TO RATIONALIST APPROACHES IN WHICH INTERNATIONAL NORM IS DETERMINED BY INTEREST AND IMPOSED BY POWER. A GOOD WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THIS CENTRAL POSITION OF THE NORM, AND THE WAY TO DEMONSTRATE ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE PERCEPTION OF INTEREST AND POWER, IS TO CHALLENGE THESE THREE IN AN EXERCISE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right to self-defense of states, as well as any other right, has to be regulated in order to be applicable and to have the consequences of a right. Known over time in terms of value and principle of national self-determination, the right to self-defense of states was necessary, especially after World War II, to become an international norm established by common consensus between the signatories parties of the UN Charter. In addition to the internal regulations that may exist in the fundamental or special laws of the States, this international regulation comes to establish the general guidelines that governments must note in taking action in cases that entail the self-defense of a state. An important aspect of this right to self-defense is that of its preventive and anticipatory dimension, which some states invoke for their own interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domain of ethics deals with the antagonisms between "good and evil, right or wrong, correct or unjust, virtuoso or vicious" etc. However, ethics is not the only area where these terms can be used, but as a norm, most ethical systems have been grounded in negotiating and consolidating these debates. Ethics has been transposed into many areas of activity, social and / or professional, so over time, according to Harry Redner, ethics have been born on account of the relationship of feelings: love vs blame (religious or moral ethics), patriotism and glory vs. disgrace and disapproval (civic ethics), respect and veneration vs. rejection and humility (ethics of responsibility). These types of ethics over time have mixed up and can be "distinguished according to the external guarantees that they rely on to ensure social conformities." These external guarantees, according to Harry Redner, are conventions, norms and laws. Even though they seem to be identical, there are some details of difference that are worth mentioning to understand the analytical assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an international system characterized by interdependencies, morality and ethics have played over time an important role in determining the relations among actors. These concepts may impose responsibility to actors to respect their interactions and this paper aims to make an analysis on how sovereignty is affected by morality and ethics as instruments of interventions in conflict areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]