12,664 research outputs found

    Incentivising research data sharing : a scoping review

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    Background: Numerous mechanisms exist to incentivise researchers to share their data. This scoping review aims to identify and summarise evidence of the efficacy of different interventions to promote open data practices and provide an overview of current research. Methods: This scoping review is based on data identified from Web of Science and LISTA, limited from 2016 to 2021. A total of 1128 papers were screened, with 38 items being included. Items were selected if they focused on designing or evaluating an intervention or presenting an initiative to incentivise sharing. Items comprised a mixture of research papers, opinion pieces and descriptive articles. Results: Seven major themes in the literature were identified: publisher/journal data sharing policies, metrics, software solutions, research data sharing agreements in general, open science ‘badges’, funder mandates, and initiatives. Conclusions: A number of key messages for data sharing include: the need to build on existing cultures and practices, meeting people where they are and tailoring interventions to support them; the importance of publicising and explaining the policy/service widely; the need to have disciplinary data champions to model good practice and drive cultural change; the requirement to resource interventions properly; and the imperative to provide robust technical infrastructure and protocols, such as labelling of data sets, use of DOIs, data standards and use of data repositories

    The applied psychology of addictive orientations : studies in a 12-step treatment context.

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    The clinical data for the studies was collected at The PROMIS Recovery Centre, a Minnesota Model treatmentc entre for addictions,w hich encouragesth e membership and use of the 12 step Anonymous Fellowships, and is abstinence based. The area of addiction is contextualised in a review chapter which focuses on research relating to the phenomenon of cross addiction. A study examining the concept of "addictive orientations" in male and female addicts is described, which develops a study conductedb y StephensonM, aggi, Lefever, & Morojele (1995). This presents study found a four factor solution which appeared to be subdivisions of the previously found Hedonism and Nurturance factors. Self orientated nurturance (both food dimensions, shopping and caffeine), Other orientated nurturance (both compulsive helping dimensions and work), Sensation seeking hedonism (Drugs, prescription drugs, nicotine and marginally alcohol), and Power related hedonism (Both relationship dimensions, sex and gambling. This concept of "addictive orientations" is further explored in a non-clinical population, where again a four factor solution was found, very similar to that in the clinical population. This was thought to indicate that in terms of addictive orientation a pattern already exists in this non-clinical population and that consideration should be given to why this is the case. These orientations are examined in terms of gender differences. It is suggested that the differences between genders reflect power-related role relationships between the sexes. In order to further elaborate the significance and meaning behind these orientations, the next two chapters look at the contribution of personality variables and how addictive orientations relate to psychiatric symptomatology. Personality variables were differentially, and to a considerable extent predictably involved with the four factors for both males and females.Conscientiousness as positively associated with "Other orientated Nurturance" and negatively associated with "Sensation seeking hedonism" (particularly for men). Neuroticism had a particularly strong association with the "Self orientated Nurturance" factor in the female population. More than twice the symptomatology variance was explained by the factor scores for females than it was for males. The most important factorial predictors for psychiatric symptomatology were the "Power related hedonism" factor for males, and "Self oriented nurturance" for females. The results are discussed from theoretical and treatment perspectives

    The company she keeps : The social and interpersonal construction of girls same sex friendships

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    This thesis begins a critical analysis of girls' 'private' interpersonal and social relations as they are enacted within two school settings. It is the study of these marginal subordinated worlds productivity of forms of femininity which provides the main narrative of this project. I seek to understand these processes of (best) friendship construction through a feminist multi-disciplinary frame, drawing upon cultural studies, psychoanalysis and accounts of gender politics. I argue that the investments girls bring to their homosocial alliances and boundary drawing narry a psychological compulsion which is complexly connected to their own experiences within the mother/daughter bond as well as reflecting positively an immense social debt to the permissions girls have to be nurturant and ; negatively their own reproduction of oppressive exclusionary practices. Best friendship in particular gives girls therefore, the experience of 'monogamy' continuous of maternal/daughter identification, reminiscent of their positioning inside monopolistic forms of heterosexuality. But these subcultures also represent a subversive discontinuity to the public dominance of boys/teachers/adults in schools and to the ideologies and practices of heterosociality and heterosexuality. By taking seriously their transmission of the values of friendship in their chosen form of notes and diaries for example, I was able to access the means whereby they were able to resist their surveillance and control by those in power over them. I conclude by arguing that it is through a recognition of the valency of these indivisiblly positive and negative aspects to girls cultures that Equal Opportunities practitioners must begin if they are serious about their ambitions. Methods have to be made which enable girls to transfer their 'private' solidarities into the 'public' realm, which unquestionably demands contesting with them the causes and consequences of their implication in the divisions which also contaminate their lives and weaken them

    Genome-wide identification of the genetic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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    Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex disease that leads to motor neuron death. Despite heritability estimates of 52%, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have discovered relatively few loci. We developed a machine learning approach called RefMap, which integrates functional genomics with GWAS summary statistics for gene discovery. With transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling of motor neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), RefMap identified 690 ALS-associated genes that represent a 5-fold increase in recovered heritability. Extensive conservation, transcriptome, network, and rare variant analyses demonstrated the functional significance of candidate genes in healthy and diseased motor neurons and brain tissues. Genetic convergence between common and rare variation highlighted KANK1 as a new ALS gene. Reproducing KANK1 patient mutations in human neurons led to neurotoxicity and demonstrated that TDP-43 mislocalization, a hallmark pathology of ALS, is downstream of axonal dysfunction. RefMap can be readily applied to other complex diseases

    Pedunculopontine-Induced cortical decoupling as the neurophysiological locus of dissociation

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    Mounting evidence suggests an association between aberrant sleep phenomena and dissociative experiences. However, no wake-sleep boundary theory provides a compelling explanation of dissociation or specifies its physiological substrates. We present a theoretical account of dissociation that integrates theories and empirical results from multiple lines of research concerning the domain of dissociation and the regulation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This theory posits that individual differences in the circuitry governing the REM sleep promoting Pedunculopontine Nucleus and Laterodorsal Tegmental Nucleus determine the degree of similarity in the cortical connectivity profiles of wakefulness and REM sleep. We propose that a latent trait characterized by elevated dissociative experiences emerges from the decoupling of frontal executive regions due to a REM sleep-like aminergic/cholinergic balance. The Pedunculopontine Induced Cortical Decoupling Account of Dissociation (PICDAD) suggests multiple fruitful lines of inquiry and provides novel insights

    Preparación de fibras submicrométricas de base carbonosa para aplicaciones energéticas y medioambientales

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    En esta Tesis Doctoral se estudia la valorización de la lignina como precursor de fibras de carbón. Para ello, las fibras se han preparado por electrospinning de disoluciones de lignina-etanol y lignina-etanol-H3PO4. Para ello se ha optimizado el proceso de preparación de fibras de carbón prestando atención especial a la etapa de estabilización de las fibras de lignina, ya que esta es la etapa controlante del proceso de preparación. De esta forma se han preparado fibras de carbón con distintas propiedades físico-químicas para su uso en aplicaciones funcionales como en procesos de adsorción en fase líquida, procesos catalíticos en fase gaseosa, y procesos de conversión y almacenamiento de energía. Gracias a la funcionalización de las fibras de lignina con P se producen unos entrecruzamientos en la estructura de la lignina debido a la formación de grupos éteres fosfatos y polifosfatos, los que mejoran las condiciones de estabilización acortando el proceso en 20 o 50 veces con respecto a las fibras de lignina sin funcionalizar. Además, debido a la funcionalización con P se han obtenido fibras de carbón estructuradas con elevada resistencia a la oxidación, con un carácter ácido y con elevadas superficies específicas (hasta 2000 m2/g). Las fibras de carbón sin P y funcionalizadas con P se han utilizado como adsorbentes para la adsorción de fenol en fase líquida, presentando elevadas capacidades de adsorción y cinéticas de adsorción muy rápidas, debido al carácter microporoso que estas tiene y que la porosidad está muy accesible desde la superficie de la fibra de carbón. Además, se ha planteado un modelo matemático para simular el comportamiento en columna de adsorción, obteniendo resultados muy satisfactorios. También se ha estudiado la regeneración de los adsorbentes carbonosos. Al funcionalizar precursores carbonosos con P, se obtienen materiales carbonosos con grupos de P muy estable térmicamente. De esta forma, se ha estudiado la estabilidad térmica de los grupos de fósforo preparando fibras de carbón con temperaturas de carbonización entre 500 y 1600 ºC. Para ello, se ha realizado la descomposición de isopropanol, una molécula modelo que se utiliza para caracterizar los sitios ácidos-básicos de la superficie. Las fibras de carbón funcionalizadas con P presentan carácter ácido, deshidratando el isopropanol para la producción de etileno. Estos catalizadores carbonosos presentan ácidez comparable a la de un catalizador comercial ácido. Se han preparado electrocatalizadores carbonosos con muy buena dispersión de partículas de platino por toda la matriz carbonosa. Esta buena dispersión y homogeneidad se debe a que se han preparado fibras de lignina con metales en un solo paso. Estos electrocatalizadores presentan buen comportamiento para la electroxidación de metanol y etanol. Se propone el uso de fibras de carbón como electrodos carbonosos en supercondensadores sin la adición de promotor de la conductividad y aglomerante. Se han preparado fibras de carbón lineales y con un cierto grado de interconexión a temperaturas de carbonización de 900 ºC, presentando buenas conductividades eléctricas y elevados valores de capacidad. Además, la carga y descarga del supercondensador se realiza en varios segundos

    Foot and Ankle Impairments Affecting Mobility in Stroke

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    Introduction: Altered foot characteristics are common in people with stroke, with a third presenting with abnormal foot posture which is associated with ambulatory difficulties. Understanding the relationship between measures of foot and ankle impairment and their association with mobility and balance outcomes is therefore important; however, poor clinimetric properties of foot and ankle measures after stroke precludes evaluation of these relationships. Therefore, this research, undertaken as part of a multicentred research project, had the following aims: Study 1: To evaluate the clinimetric properties (feasibility, test–retest reliability, and clinical relevance) of measures of foot and ankle impairments, for application in people with stroke. Study 2: To examine how these measures differ between people with stroke and normal controls; and whether they are associated with mobility and balance outcomes. Methods: In Study 1, community-dwelling people with stroke, able to walk 10 m (metres), attended two testing sessions to evaluate the clinimetric properties of different foot and ankle measures. These included: static foot posture and dynamic foot loading (peak plantar pressure, PPP, contact area, CA and centre of pressure, CP) using a plantar pressure mat; isometric muscle strength using a hand-held dynamometer (HHD); peak ankle and hallux dorsiflexion and stiffness using bespoke rigs; and ankle plantarflexion spasticity using the Tardieu scale. Statistical analysis used intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs₍₃,₁₎), standard error of measurement (SEM) and Bland–Altman plots. In Study 2, measures identified as reliable from Study 1 were incorporated in a cross-sectional study design. Participants were recruited from acute and community neurological services in East London and North Devon. Statistical analysis tested the differences between groups and between affected limbs in people with stroke. Impairment measures were evaluated using multivariate regression analysis for their association with functional outcomes: walking speed (over 10 m); Timed Up and Go (TUAG), Forward Functional Reach Test (FFRT) and presence of falls (> 1 in the last 3 months). Results: In Study 1, 21 people with stroke tested the measures. These were found to be feasible and easy to administer, although loss of data (up to 33%) was observed. All measures had moderate to excellent test–retest reliability (coefficients 0.50‒0.98), except ankle plantarflexion stiffness (ICCs₍₃,₁₎ = 0.00‒0.11). In Study 2, there were significant differences in all measures between people with stroke (n = 180) and controls (n = 46), apart from static foot posture (p = 0.670), toe deformity (p = 0.782) and peak hallux dorsiflexion (p = 0.320). Between limb differences were identified for all measures except foot posture (p = 0.489) and foot CA (p > 0.05). Multicollinearity analysis found 10 measures appropriate for multivariate regression which identified the following R² and variance explained: 59% walking speed (R² = 0.543); 49% TUAG (R² = 0.435); 36% FFRT (R² = 0.285) and 26% for Falls Presence. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that seven foot and ankle measures of impairment after stroke were clinically feasible, reliable and associated with mobility and balance outcomes. The measures were ankle and foot isometric muscle strength, sway velocity, PPP (RFT and FFT), CA (MFT and FFT) and peak ankle dorsiflexion. These measures can now be incorporated into research to examine methods to improve the treatment of foot and ankle after stroke

    Higher education, regional growth and cohesion: insights from the Spanish case

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    Este artículo pretende analizar la relación entre el crecimiento económico regional y el desarrollo de la educación superior. Para ello se abordará desde una perspectiva macroeconómica, utilizando un panel de datos relativos al conjunto de las comunidades autónomas españolas para el periodo comprendido entre 1985 y 2016. El crecimiento económico regional se mide en términos de Producto Interior Bruto per cápita, mientras que el crecimiento de la educación superior se mide en términos de un indicador alternativo al utilizado tradicionalmente en la literatura: alumnos matriculados en cada año académico. El principal resultado es la estimación de un efecto positivo de la educación superior en el crecimiento regional. Además, dado que este efecto es más intenso en las regiones menos desarrolladas económicamente, se puede concluir que la educación superior juega un efecto positivo en la cohesión económica y social entre regiones, reduciendo las diferencias económicas y de bienestar. Por otra parte, la reducida movilidad interna de la mano de obra en España tiene su reflejo en un efecto no significativo entre regiones. Finalmente, el análisis de los efectos composición se muestra relevantes dado que se pueden observar efectos de distinta intensidad en función del campo de conocimiento en el que se ha formado el trabajador

    Mandatory detention and treatment of drug users in Malaysia : The implications for the principles of human rights

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    The research framework is founded upon a critical analysis of the extent to which the legal process involved in the mandatory treatment and rehabilitation of drug users in Malaysia is consistent with the principles of human rights according to the national and international human rights instruments; the Malaysian Constitution and the UDHR respectively. The mandatory treatment is based upon the principles of punishment rather than rehabilitation. The arrest and detention of these drug users, which are salient features of the legal process raises the issue of serious violations of the human rights principles. To fulfill the true objective of the government's Drug Intervention Programme (DIP) through treatment and rehabilitation at Puspen centres, by reducing drug dependency and preventing relapse, treatment must be consistent with the principles of human rights for it to be effective. Data and information were gathered from empirical research through the application of various qualitative methods: these include a case study, direct observation, semistructured and unstructured interviews with key stakeholders, focus group with former drug users and an analysis of case files. Findings revealed that the legal process of funneling 'suspected drug dependants' into treatment involved a series of breaches of the fundamental human rights principles that could not be justified. The scope of police powers with regard to the arrest and detention of 'suspected drug dependants' has been widely abused and such exercise of power has been without proper statutory safeguards to protect the rights of these individuals from such arbitrary arrest. Unnecessary prolonged period of detention have led to grave infringement of individual liberty whilst conditions of confinement and failure to provide medical assistance and medication-assisted treatment particularly during withdrawal symptoms have amounted to inhuman, cruel and degrading treatment. Lack of due process including denying the right to legal representation has caused severe legal implications upon the drug users. As a consequence, the flaw in the legal system has deprived them of their constitutional rights and in contravention of the international human rights principles. Recommendations are proposed for an immediate reform to the drug policies and procedures with paramount consideration towards a more humane and effective treatment

    Modelling approaches for histology-independent cancer drugs to inform NICE appraisals : a systematic review and decision-framework

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    Background The first histology-independent marketing authorisation in Europe was granted in 2019. This was the first time that a cancer treatment was approved based on a common biomarker rather than the location in the body at which the tumour originated. This research aims to explore the implications for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence appraisals. Methods Targeted reviews were undertaken to determine the type of evidence that is likely to be available at the point of marketing authorisation and the analyses required to support National Institute for Health and Care Excellence appraisals. Several challenges were identified concerning the design and conduct of trials for histology-independent products, the greater levels of heterogeneity within the licensed population and the use of surrogate end points. We identified approaches to address these challenges by reviewing key statistical literature that focuses on the design and analysis of histology-independent trials and by undertaking a systematic review to evaluate the use of response end points as surrogate outcomes for survival end points. We developed a decision framework to help to inform approval and research policies for histology-independent products. The framework explored the uncertainties and risks associated with different approval policies, including the role of further data collection, pricing schemes and stratified decision-making. Results We found that the potential for heterogeneity in treatment effects, across tumour types or other characteristics, is likely to be a central issue for National Institute for Health and Care Excellence appraisals. Bayesian hierarchical methods may serve as a useful vehicle to assess the level of heterogeneity across tumours and to estimate the pooled treatment effects for each tumour, which can inform whether or not the assumption of homogeneity is reasonable. Our review suggests that response end points may not be reliable surrogates for survival end points. However, a surrogate-based modelling approach, which captures all relevant uncertainty, may be preferable to the use of immature survival data. Several additional sources of heterogeneity were identified as presenting potential challenges to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence appraisal, including the cost of testing, baseline risk, quality of life and routine management costs. We concluded that a range of alternative approaches will be required to address different sources of heterogeneity to support National Institute for Health and Care Excellence appraisals. An exemplar case study was developed to illustrate the nature of the assessments that may be required. Conclusions Adequately designed and analysed basket studies that assess the homogeneity of outcomes and allow borrowing of information across baskets, where appropriate, are recommended. Where there is evidence of heterogeneity in treatment effects and estimates of cost-effectiveness, consideration should be given to optimised recommendations. Routine presentation of the scale of the consequences of heterogeneity and decision uncertainty may provide an important additional approach to the assessments specified in the current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence methods guide. Further research Further exploration of Bayesian hierarchical methods could help to inform decision-makers on whether or not there is sufficient evidence of homogeneity to support pooled analyses. Further research is also required to determine the appropriate basis for apportioning genomic testing costs where there are multiple targets and to address the challenges of uncontrolled Phase II studies, including the role and use of surrogate end points
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