Интервьюирование с помощью компьютерных технологий в лонгитюдных обследованиях домохозяйств

В статье представлен аналитический обзор опыта перехода к CAPI (computer assisted personal interviewing) — процедуре сбора данных в лонгитюдных обследованиях домохозяйств с использованием компьютерных технологий. На материале зарубежных исследований рассмотрено, какое влияние CAPI может оказывать на процесс сбора данных и их качество. Показано, что использование процедуры CAPI во многих случаях имеет ряд важных преимуществ перед традиционной бумажной процедурой сбора данных (PAPI, paper and pencil interviewing). Так, использование CAPI приводит к уменьшению длительности полевого этапа обследования, в основном позитивно воспринимается респондентами и интервьюерами, не оказывает негативного влияния на уровень достижимости и осыпание панели, а также позволяет избежать ошибок маршрутизации у интервьюеров. Вместе с тем некоторые исследования свидетельствуют о том, что использование CAPI может привести к появлению дополнительных ошибок, связанных, в частности, с нежеланием респондентов раскрывать сенситивную информацию и ухудшением качества фиксирования интервьюерами ответов на открытые вопросы. Кроме того, исследователям необходимо решать ряд довольно сложных вопросов, связанных с программированием вопросников, отбором и тренингом интервьюеров, а также выбором устройств и программного обеспечения для проведения интервью

The use of omics technologies in creating LBP and postbiotics based on the Limosilactobacillus fermentum U-21

In recent years, there has been an increasing tendency to create drugs based on certain commensal bacteria of the human microbiota and their ingredients, primarily focusing on live biotherapeutics (LBPs) and postbiotics. The creation of such drugs, termed pharmacobiotics, necessitates an understanding of their mechanisms of action and the identification of pharmacologically active ingredients that determine their target properties. Typically, these are complexes of biologically active substances synthesized by specific strains, promoted as LBPs or postbiotics (including vesicles): proteins, enzymes, low molecular weight metabolites, small RNAs, etc. This study employs omics technologies, including genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, to explore the potential of Limosilactobacillus fermentum U-21 for innovative LBP and postbiotic formulations targeting neuroinflammatory processes. Proteomic techniques identified and quantified proteins expressed by L. fermentum U-21, highlighting their functional attributes and potential applications. Key identified proteins include ATP-dependent Clp protease (ClpL), chaperone protein DnaK, protein GrpE, thioredoxin reductase, LysM peptidoglycan-binding domain-containing protein, and NlpC/P60 domain-containing protein, which have roles in disaggregase, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. Metabolomic analysis provided insights into small-molecule metabolites produced during fermentation, revealing compounds with anti-neuroinflammatory activity. Significant metabolites produced by L. fermentum U-21 include GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), niacin, aucubin, and scyllo-inositol. GABA was found to stabilize neuronal activity, potentially counteracting neurodegenerative processes. Niacin, essential for optimal nervous system function, was detected in vesicles and culture fluid, and it modulates cytokine production, maintaining immune homeostasis. Aucubin, an iridoid glycoside usually secreted by plants, was identified as having antioxidant properties, addressing issues of bioavailability for therapeutic use. Scyllo-inositol, identified in vesicles, acts as a chemical chaperone, reducing abnormal protein clumps linked to neurodegenerative diseases. These findings demonstrate the capability of L. fermentum U-21 to produce bioactive substances that could be harnessed in the development of pharmacobiotics for neurodegenerative diseases, contributing to their immunomodulatory, anti-neuroinflammatory, and neuromodulatory activities. Data of the HPLC-MS/MS analysis are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD050857

RDS Experiment Online: The Study of Gamblers' Motivation

The article focuses on the online RDS experiment conducted to study the motivation of gamblers - i.e. people with an addiction to gambling. The rationale for the validity of the given technique for the investigation of closed social groups including the gamblers is provided by the author

The Use of PCs, Smartphones, and Tablets in a Probability-Based Panel Survey: Effects on Survey Measurement Error

Respondents in an Internet panel survey can often choose which device they use to complete questionnaires: a traditional PC, laptop, tablet computer, or a smartphone. Because all these devices have different screen sizes and modes of data entry, measurement errors may differ between devices. Using data from the Dutch Longitudinal Internet Study for the Social sciences panel, we evaluate which devices respondents use over time. We study the measurement error associated with each device and show that measurement errors are larger on tablets and smartphone than on PCs. To gain insight into the causes of these differences, we study changes in measurement error over time, associated with a switch of devices over two consecutive waves of the panel. We show that within individuals, measurement errors do not change with a switch in device. Therefore, we conclude that the higher measurement error in tablets and smartphones is associated with self-selection of the sample into using a particular device