El trabajo afronta la introducción de sistemas automatizados y de inteligencia artificial (IA) en la evaluación de la credibilidad en el ámbito de las solicitudes de protección internacional en ...Alemania. A estos efectos, se centra en el examen de dos instrumentos, a saber, la extracción y evaluación de los datos contenidos en los dispositivos electrónicos de los solicitantes de asilo y el análisis lingüístico realizado por un software capaz de establecer el país de origen más probable del que proceden los demandantes. A través de las respuestas de la doctrina y de la jurisprudencia alemana respecto de los instrumentos mencionados, el estudio permite observar, desde la perspectiva del derecho de asilo, la tensión constante entre el camino hacia una mejora de la objetividad y eficiencia de las decisiones en el ámbito de la Administración pública, y la tutela de los derechos fundamentales de los interesados.
La innovación digital en el campo de los controles fronterizos, la migración y el asilo ha devenido progresivamente un tema crucial en los estudios migratorios, debido al aumento exponencial de ...instrumentos tecnológicos aplicados en estos ámbitos. El texto se centra en una nueva faceta de este fenómeno representado por el creciente interés, advertido dentro y fuera de la UE, en la aplicación de sistemas de inteligencia artificial (IA), como nuevas herramientas experimentadas y utilizadas para apoyar los procedimientos decisionales en los asuntos migratorios. En particular, el texto centra la atención sobre el proyecto iBorderCtrl, a través del cual se ha experimentado un tipo particular de IA, denominada inteligencia artificial emocional, que supone el ingreso de problemáticas inéditas en el terreno de la protección de los derechos fundamentales de los sujetos interesados y en particular de los extranjeros. A estos efectos, tras repasar la rápida difusión de la IA en el ámbito migratorio y perfilar el concepto de IA emocional, como subsistema merecedor de un análisis especifico, se examinará el proyecto iBorderCtrl como caso de estudio, haciendo hincapié en la sentencia del Tribunal General de la Unión Europea, del 15 de diciembre de 2021 (T-158/19), y contextualizándolo a la luz de la Propuesta de Reglamento de la Comisión Europea en materia de IA, valorando las repercusiones que supone la IA emocional en el ámbito de los derechos fundamentales.
Abstract The article employs comparative analysis to investigate the nexus between constitutional adjudication and electoral systems through the perspective of the principle of equality in elections. ...It delves into the different reasoning of the constitutional courts of Germany, Italy and Spain, trying to unpack the various interpretations attached to that principle under the case law of these courts. In particular, it explores the arguments revolving around the interpretation of equality as the “one person, one vote” rule and its potential wider meaning, comparing the approaches adopted in the case law of the three jurisdictions. On a theoretical level, this submission aims to provide insights on the functions and limits of constitutional review in electoral matters and, more generally, to contribute to studies of constitutional law concerned with the tension between legislative discretion and the role of constitutional courts.
To investigate the local control and radiation-induced brain necrosis in patients with brain metastases >2 cm in size who received single-fraction or multifraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS); ...factors associated with clinical outcomes and the development of brain radionecrosis were assessed.
Two hundred eighty-nine consecutive patients with brain metastases >2.0 cm who received SRS as primary treatment at Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy, were analyzed. Cumulative incidence analysis was used to compare local control and radiation-induced brain necrosis between groups from the time of SRS. To achieve a balanced distribution of baseline covariates between treatment groups, a propensity score analysis was used.
The 1-year cumulative local control rates were 77% in the single-fraction SRS (SF-SRS) group and 91% in the multifraction SRS (MF-SRS) group (P=.01). Recurrences occurred in 25 and 11 patients who received SF-SRS or MF-SRS (P=.03), respectively. Thirty-one patients (20%) undergoing SF-SRS and 11 (8%) subjected to MF-SRS experienced brain radionecrosis (P=.004); the 1-year cumulative incidence rate of radionecrosis was 18% and 9% (P=.01), respectively. Significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of local control and risk of radionecrosis were maintained after propensity score adjustment.
Multifraction SRS at a dose of 27 Gy in 3 daily fractions seems to be an effective treatment modality for large brain metastases, associated with better local control and a reduced risk of radiation-induced radionecrosis as compared with SF-SRS.
•Microplastic (MP) bioaccumulation was summarized in marine organisms.•Differences in MP bioaccumulation among taxonomic groups was noted.•No geographical differences in bioaccumulation was ...noted.•High variability in MP bioaccumulation request method standardization.
Microplastic (MP) contamination of marine ecosystems has been confirmed as an environmental issue of global concern. A growing number of monitoring surveys has extensively documented the occurrence and distribution of a wide array of MPs of different sizes, shapes, colours, and polymeric compositions in seawater, sediments, and marine organisms worldwide. The presence of MPs in marine organisms has been explored in many species belonging to different taxonomic groups collected in diverse geographical locations. These studies have revealed the ingestion and the bioaccumulation of MPs in organisms at each trophic level, confirming the ubiquity of MP contamination in marine ecosystems. This systematic review aimed at summarizing the results of the vast literature concerning the bioaccumulation of MPs in marine organisms to 1) shed light on potential differences in MP body burden among different taxonomic groups and 2) investigate the spatial and temporal variation of MP bioaccumulation at the global level. Our analyses showed that, independently of the geographic origin of the sample, the MP body burden significantly differed among trophic levels and/or taxonomic groups. Zooplankton showed the lowest MP levels, while the highest levels were observed in vertebrates other than fish (i.e. mammals, birds and reptiles). In contrast, no temporal or geographical differences in MP bioaccumulation were noted, independently of the taxonomic groups. These results confirmed that all marine organisms can ingest and accumulate MPs, but the large variability in body burden within and among the taxonomic groups precludes the opportunity to identify global patterns of contamination.
to investigate the factors affecting survival and toxicity in patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), with special attention to volumes of brain receiving a specific dose (V10 - V16 ...Gy) as predictors for brain radionecrosis.
Two hundred six consecutive patients with 310 cerebral metastases less than 3.5 cm were treated with SRS as primary treatment and followed prospectively at University of Rome La Sapienza Sant'Andrea Hospital. Overall survival, brain control, and local control were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method calculated from the time of SRS. Univariate and multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards regression model were performed to determine the predictive value of prognostic factors for treatment outcome and SRS-related complications.
Median overall survival and brain control were 14.1 months and 10 months, respectively. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 58% and 24%, and respective brain control were 43% and 22%. Sixteen patients recurred locally after SRS, with 1-year and 2-year local control rates of 92% and 84%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, stable extracranial disease and KPS >70 were associated with the most significant survival benefit. Neurological complications were recorded in 27 (13%) patients. Severe neurological complications (RTOG Grade 3 and 4) occurred in 5.8% of patients. Brain radionecrosis occurred in 24% of treated lesions, being symptomatic in 10% and asymptomatic in 14%. On multivariate analysis, V10 through V16 Gy were independent risk factors for radionecrosis, with V10 Gy and V12 Gy being the most predictive (p = 0.0001). For V10 Gy >12.6 cm3 and V12 Gy >10.9 cm3 the risk of radionecrosis was 47%.
SRS alone represents a feasible option as initial treatment for patients with brain metastases, however a significant subset of patients may develop neurological complications. Lesions with V12 Gy >8.5 cm3 carries a risk of radionecrosis >10% and should be considered for hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy especially when located in/near eloquent areas.
Direct injection mass spectrometry (DIMS) entails the direct introduction of a gaseous sample into a mass analyser without prior treatment or separation. DIMS techniques offer the opportunity to ...monitor processes in time, with limits of detection as low as 0.5 parts per trillion in volume (for a 1 s measurement time) while providing results with high informational content. This review provides insight into current and promising future developments of DIMS in the analysis of grape, wine and other alcoholic beverages. Thanks to its unique characteristics, DIMS allows the online monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by grapes during fermentative bioprocesses or by wine directly from the glass headspace or during drinking. A DIMS-based approach can also be adopted to perform quality control and high-throughput analysis, allowing us to characterise the volatile profile of large sample sets rapidly and in a comprehensive fashion. Furthermore, DIMS presents several characteristic elements of green analytical chemistry approaches, catalysing an interest linked to the development of sustainable paths in research and development activities in the field of viticulture and oenology.
Fucoidan is a natural derived compound found in different species of brown algae and in some animals, that has gained attention for its anticancer properties. However, the exact mechanism of action ...is currently unknown. Therefore, this review will address fucoidans structure, the bioavailability, and all known different pathways affected by fucoidan, in order to formulate fucoidans structure and activity in relation to its anti-cancer mechanisms. The general bioactivity of fucoidan is difficult to establish due to factors like species-related structural diversity, growth conditions, and the extraction method. The main pathways influenced by fucoidan are the PI3K/AKT, the MAPK pathway, and the caspase pathway. PTEN seems to be important in the fucoidan-mediated effect on the AKT pathway. Furthermore, the interaction with VEGF, BMP, TGF-β, and estrogen receptors are discussed. Also, fucoidan as an adjunct seems to have beneficial effects, for both the enhanced effectiveness of chemotherapy and reduced toxicity in healthy cells. In conclusion, the multipotent character of fucoidan is promising in future anti-cancer treatment. However, there is a need for more specified studies of the structure⁻activity relationship of fucoidan from the most promising seaweed species.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), clinically defined by an acute polyfocal neurological syndrome usually with ...monophasic course. ADEM often occurs after infections, but 5%–10% of cases are preceded by vaccinations. Several cases of ADEM have been described after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, whereas no case has been reported after adenovirus-vectored or mRNA COVID-19 vaccine administration. Here we describe a case of ADEM presenting 2 weeks after receiving the first dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. Patient clinical/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) status spontaneously improved and rapidly resolved with corticosteroids. A 4-month follow-up showed complete recovery and no relapses.
Setting up legal and safe pathways to the European Union is a crucial part of the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), and resettlement programmes are one of the most relevant ...instruments in this regard. This paper examines the measures and recent proposals on resettlement adopted in the European Union, demonstrating: a) that resettlement must continue to be humanitarian in nature and complement accessing international protection; and b) that it cannot be an argument for adopting more restrictive policies towards asylum applications made in national territory. This paper also assesses the impact of EU resettlement policies in Spain, which underwent a significant shift with the adoption of Asylum Law 12/2009 and the introduction of an annual national resettlement programme.
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