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Algorithmic evaluations are increasingly used to make decisions thanks to the perception of objective measures of quality and performance. However, little is known about how the current evaluation methods change with ML algorithms and with what consequences for the actors and organizations being evaluated. We conducted an exploratory case study in the breast unit of the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon. Gioia methodology guided the collection and analysis of semi-structured interviews and archival data. Our results show that besides generating visible and direct changes (e.g., extraction and quantification of relevant criteria with systematic approaches), algorithmic evaluations trigger indirect and less visible dynamics (e.g., adding a new dimension - aesthetic score – in the evaluation of research units), which have profound implications on how institutions operate and how resources are allocated based on the ranking lists. We contribute to digital undertow and institutional displacement and human ML collaborations by explaining the processes through which the new methods are used in medical communities and their less visible yet impactful consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) has endorsed Plan-S since early 2021 and it is working towards implementing its obligations. To ensure an effective fulfillment of its open science policies, FCT is implementing a new monitoring and compliance tool, that will enforce the compliance with Plan-S as well as the new FCT's open access (OA) policy. This paper details FCT's approach to implement this tool and discusses the challenges of integrating information that is spread across multiple systems. The new tool will be built on top of infrastructures and services developed by FCT over the last years under the umbrella of the Portuguese Current Research Information System (PTCRIS) program. This tool comprises an operational component, integrated with the grant management system, and an analytical component, based on a Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence (DW/BI) system. The DW/BI system for the ecosystem of Science and Technology in Portugal will be developed using Kimball's Dimensional DW architecture, which advocates the incremental design and development of dimensional data marts linked by conforming dimensions. In this approach, data marts contain atomic and summarized data, corresponding to the development of elementary and derived dimensional models. Three data marts will be developed for the subject areas of funding, scientific results and for monitoring and compliance. The last data mart will calculate the compliance indicators for Plan-S as well as for FCT's OA policy. The operational component of the new tool then receives, from the analytical component, the list of scientific results per funding registry along with data regarding compliance. A list of non-compliances for each scientific result will be the basis of a notification module that will inform the principal investigator (PI) and the FCT compliance officer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontal diseases, such as chronic periodontitis, share common inflammatory risk factors with other systemic and chronic inflammatory disorders. Mucosal tissues, such as oral epithelia, are exposed to environmental stressors, such as tobacco and oral bacteria, that might be involved in promoting a systemic inflammatory state. Conversely, chronic disorders can also affect oral health. This review will summarize recent evidence for the interrelationship between chronic periodontitis and other prevalent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. The association with pregnancy is also included due to possible obstetric complications. We will focus on inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6, because they have been shown to be increased in patients with chronic periodontitis, in patients with chronic systemic diseases, and in patients with both chronic periodontitis and other chronic diseases. Therefore, an imbalance towards a proinflammatory immune response could underline a bidirectional link between chronic periodontitis and other chronic diseases. Finally, we highlight that a close coordination between dental and other health professionals could promote oral health and prevent or ameliorate other chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Health-related data include not only the patient’s personal information, but also specific information about the patient health problems, supplementary diagnostic examination results, and much more. All this information is extremely sensitive and should only be accessed by the proper entities and actors, for special specific purposes. Described herein is an approach to address security and privacy of health-related data based on rights management technologies, with an architecture to minimize security risks and privacy conerns. This approach consists of the reutilisation of an open-source and open-specifications rights management system, and designing and adapting the necessary components to address the specific security and privacy requirements that must be faced when managing health and patient data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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