Beyond Research Ethics: Dialogues in Neuro-ICT Research

open access articleThe increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to help facilitate neuroscience adds a new level of complexity to the question of how ethical issues of such research can be identified and addressed. Current research ethics practice, based on ethics reviews by institutional review boards (IRB) and underpinned by ethical principlism, has been widely criticized. In this article, we develop an alternative way of approaching ethics in neuro-ICT research, based on discourse ethics, which implements Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) through dialogues. We draw on our work in Ethics Support, using the Human Brain Project (HBP) as empirical evidence of the viability of this approach

Crossectional study of oral health and quality of life among icelandic nursing home residents

Efst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinnErlendar rannsóknir sýna að aldraðir íbúar dvalar- og hjúkrunarheimila eru líklegri til að þjást af tann- og munnsjúkdómum en aðrir sambærilegir hópar1,2. Hægt er að rekja tann- og munnsjúkdóma meðal annars til lélegrar munn- og tannhirðu, umhverfisþátta, neysluvenja og lyfjagjafar. Léleg tannheilsa getur aukið hættu á meltingartruflunum, leitt til vannæringar og sveppa- og tannholdssjúkóma í munni. Megintilgangur rannsóknarinnar er að skoða hvaða samband tannheilsa hefur við lífsgæði aldraðra sem flutt hafa á dvalarheimili. Efniviður og aðferðir: Gerð var megindleg þversniðsrannsókn á einu dvalar- og hjúkrunarheimili á höfuðborgarsvæðinu, úrtakið (N= 45) var úr hópi íbúa heimilisins sem voru 67 ára og eldri. Gagnasöfnun var tvíþætt og fólst í 1) klínískri skoðun á vettvangi á munnheilsu þátttakenda samkvæmt stöðlum Alþjóðaheilbrigðismálastofnunarinnar og 2) notaður var staðfærður viðtalsstýrður lífsgæðakvarði „Oral health impact profile“ (OHIP-49) sem mælir persónubundið huglægt mat þátttakenda á eigin munnheilsu og tengslum hennar við lífsgæði. Skýribreyta var klínísk tannheilsa þátttakenda. Útkoma var mæld með OHIP-ICE lífsgæðakvarðanum á sviðum sem lýst er sem 1) færniskerðing, 2) líkamleg óþægindi, 3) sálræn óþægindi, 4) líkamlegar hömlur, 5) sálrænar hömlur, 6) félagsleg skerðing og 7) höft eða fötlun. Tölfræðiaðferðir: Notuð var lýsandi og greinandi tölfræði á skýri- og útkomubreytur, fervikagreining (ANOVA) til að kanna samband milli tanna og tanngerva á lífsgæðum. Leiðrétt var fyrir bakgrunnsbreytum í tölfræðilíkönum. Niðurstöður: Alls luku 38 þátttakendur rannsókninni, 13 karlar og 24 konur. Meðalaldur þátttakenda var (M= 85.5, ± 5.6), meðaltannátustuðull var (M= 25.58, ± 3.52) og 71,5% þátttakenda höfðu tapað hluta af náttúrulegum tönnum sínum, 75% kvenna hafði tapað einni eða fleiri eigin tönnum samanborið við 64,8% karla. Einungis reyndist 9,8% náttúrulegra tanna vera óskemmdar hjá þátttakendum. Algengasta tanngervið var heilgómur í 51,3% tilfella. Tanngervi í neðri góm höfðu martæk áhrif á færniskerðingu F(35,2)= 4.34, p=0,021, á líkamlegar hömlur F(2,35)= 6.41, p=0,004 og á höft eða fötlun vegna munnheilsu F(2,35)= 3.57, p=0,039. Aldraðir upplifa skert lífsgæði vegna tann- og munnheilsu sinnar, fjöldi eigin tanna, staðsetning og tegund tanngerva hefur þar áhrif. Neikvæðar afleiðingar tann- og munnheilsu birtast sem skert tyggingarfærni, verri melting, hamlandi áhrif á fæðuval, breytt bragð og/eða lyktarskyn, skert tjáningargeta, minni lífsánægja og verra heilsufar. Ályktun: Samband er á milli munnheilsu og lífsgæða hjá öldruðum og batnandi tann- og munnheilsa krefst öflugar tannheilbrigðisþjónustu alla ævi. Því er mikilvægt að hafa reglulegt eftirlit með munnheilsu aldraðra og beita viðeigandi meðferðarúrræðum til að auka lífsgæði þeirra. Nauðsynlegt er að dvalar- og hjúkrunarheimili hafi skýrar verklagsreglur og úrræði sem styðjast við lög og reglugerðir stjórnvalda.Objective: In Iceland there is a lack of studies of oral health (OH) of the elderly living in nursing-homes (NH) and how OH influences their quality of life (QoL). This study is aimed at clinical OH and self-perceived OHQoL of the elderly. Material and methods: The study design was cross-sectional, data were collected from one nursing home in Reykjavík (N= 45), with clinical oral examinations using WHO oral health survey criteria. Data were collected on: status of teeth; D3MFT; types of prosthodontics; treatment needs; and demographical variables. With a structured interview using the Oral Health Impact Profile OHIP-49 questionnaire, in Icelandic, self-perspective data of negative aspects of OHQoL were collected, addressing: 1) functional limitation, 2) physical pain, 3) psychological discomfort, 4) physical disability, 5) psychological disability, 6) social disability and 7) handicap. Variables were coded for descriptive and analytic statistical data processing. The independent variable was OH, and dependent variables were scores on total OHIP and subscales. ANOVA and regression were used to investigate differences related to prosthodontic status groups: a) complete dentures; b) teeth and partial dentures; c) fixed restorations and teeth and variance in OHQoL, controlled for demographic variables. Results: A total of 38 participants completed the research: 13 male, 25 female. The mean age of participants was 85,5y ±5,6. Frequency of missing teeth was 71,5%, 75% females had one or more teeth missing compared to 64,8% males. The prevalence of full dentures was 51,3%. and the consequence of wearing prosthetic appliances in the mandibular region significantly influenced QoL related to: functional limitation F(35,2)= 4.34, p=0,021; physical disability F(2,35)= 6,41, p=0,004; and handicap F(2,35)= 3.57, p=0,039. OHQoL was affected by D3MFT and prosthodontic status. High D3MFT value correlated with less quality of life measured with OHIP-ICE. OH affected QoL among participants; number of teeth’s, location and types of removable dentures had an impact on mastication, less taste sensitivity, limited ability of eating and restricted use of certain types of food. OH also influenced life satisfaction and general health. Conclusion: This study indicates association between oral health and quality of life among the elderly and that improved oral health needs lifelong care and service. This indicates a need for continuous vigilance in oral health care in nursing homes to improve OHQoL of residents. It is essential for nursing homes to use oral health care protocols and have therapeutic treatments available according to government rules and regulations

Responsible Data Governance of Neuroscience Big Data

Open access article.Current discussions of the ethical aspects of big data are shaped by concerns regarding the social consequences of both the widespread adoption of machine learning and the ways in which biases in data can be replicated and perpetuated. We instead focus here on the ethical issues arising from the use of big data in international neuroscience collaborations. Neuroscience innovation relies upon neuroinformatics, large-scale data collection and analysis enabled by novel and emergent technologies. Each step of this work involves aspects of ethics, ranging from concerns for adherence to informed consent or animal protection principles and issues of data re-use at the stage of data collection, to data protection and privacy during data processing and analysis, and issues of attribution and intellectual property at the data-sharing and publication stages. Significant dilemmas and challenges with far-reaching implications are also inherent, including reconciling the ethical imperative for openness and validation with data protection compliance and considering future innovation trajectories or the potential for misuse of research results. Furthermore, these issues are subject to local interpretations within different ethical cultures applying diverse legal systems emphasising different aspects. Neuroscience big data require a concerted approach to research across boundaries, wherein ethical aspects are integrated within a transparent, dialogical data governance process. We address this by developing the concept of “responsible data governance,” applying the principles of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) to the challenges presented by the governance of neuroscience big data in the Human Brain Project (HBP)

Distribution between risk groups determined by severity of caries among 6, 12 and 15 year old Icelandic children participating in a national oral health survey 2005

Efst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinnInngangur: Landsrannsókn á tannheilsu 6, 12 og 15 ára barna (MUNNÍS) var framkvæmd árið 2005. Það sama ár gaf Embætti landlæknis(EL) út Klínískar leiðbeiningar um varnir gegn tannátu á Íslandi. Nýlega gerði Tannlæknafélag Íslands tillögu að áhættuflokkun og forgangsröðun íslenskra barna að tannlæknaþjónustu byggða á Klínískum leiðbeiningum Embættis landlæknis. Rannsakað var hvernig þátttakendur MUNNÍS rannsóknar dreifðust milli áhættuhópa Tannlæknafélags Íslands eftir alvarleika tannskemmda. Efniviður og aðferðir: Tannáta 6, 12 og 15 ára barna var greind eftir ICDAS greiningu á tannflöt (ds/DS1-6, ds/DS3-6). Skilgreind voru áhættuviðmið fyrir þrjá áhættuflokka TFÍ, sem taka mið af aldri einstaklinga, fjölda skemmdra tannflata og alvarleika tannskemmda (ds1-6/DS1-6). Mikil áhætta fyrir 6 ára ds(3-6 )4, DS(3-6)2, fyrir 12 ára DS(3-6)4 í sex ára jöxlum, DS (3-6)1 í framtönnum og fyrir 15 ára DS(3-6)8 í forjöxlum/jöxlum, DS(3-6)2 í framtönnum. Miðlungs áhætta fyrir 6 ára ds(1-6)4, DS(1-6)2, fyrir 12 ára DS(1-6)4 í sex ára jöxlum, DS(1-2)1 í framtönnum og fyrir 15ára DS(1-6)8 í forjöxlum/jöxlum, DS(1-6)2 í framtönnum. Aðrir voru flokkaðir í litla áhættu. Niðurstöður: Samkvæmt áhættuflokkun TFÍ eru 6,7% sex ára , 8,7% tólf ára og 9,8% fimmtán ára barna í mikilli áhættu. 24,9% sex ára, 36,3% tólf ára og 42,3% fimmtán ára barna í miðlungs áhættu og 68,4% sex ára barna, 55,0% tólf ára og 47,9% fimmtán ára barna í lítilli áhættu. Börn án tannátu í barna- og fullorðinstönnum [d(3-6) mf+D(3-6)MF=0/d(1-6)mf+D(1-6)MF=0] eru 56% /36% 6 ára barna, 28% /12% 12 ára barna og 19% /6% 15 ára barna. Ef börn í mikilli og miðlungs áhættu eru talin saman tilheyra um 32% sex ára, 45% tólf ára og 52% fimmtán ára áhættuhópi. Um helmingur íslenskra barna tilheyra áhættuhópi vegna tannátu samkvæmt áhættuflokkun TFÍ. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------The Icelandic Oral Health Survey of children, 6, 12 and 15 years old was undertaken in 2005 (MUNNÍS) the same year that the Directorate of Health issued evidence-based guidelines for preventive strategies against caries. The Icelandic Dental Association has proposed a risk assessment and priority schedule regarding dental treatment for children, based on guidelines from the Directorate of Health. The project examined how the participants of the 2005 survey were distributed between risk groups identified by the Icelandic Dental Association based on severity of caries

Erosive drinks on the Icelandic market

Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn View/OpenObjective: Dental erosion seems to be a growing health problem in Iceland. The international literature indicates that beverages such as carbonated drinks and fruit juices have considerable potential to causes tooth erosion. The aim of this study was to assess the erosive potential of drinks on the Icelandic market. Materials and method: This study measured, on three occasions: (1) pH before titration and (2) the volume of 1.0M sodium hydroxide required to raise the pH of 50 ml of the beverages to pH 5.5, pH 7.0 and pH 10.0. Results: The pH before titration ranged from pH 2.03-6.79 and the volume of 0.1M sodium hydroxide required to bring the beverages to pH 5.5 ranged from 0.54 to 5.92ml, pH 7.0 ranged from 0.42 to 7.73ml and pH 10.0 ranged from 2.23 to 9.10ml. This study showed that citrus fruit juices (grapefruit and orange juice) needed the most base to neutralize of the beverages tested. The milk-based beverages had an initial pH above 5.5 and are therefore non-erosive, with the exception of milk-derived lactic acid and drinks containing lactic acid aimed especially at the child market. Carbonated drinks, sport drinks and energy drinks were relatively easy to neutralize despite having a lower pH than fruit drinks. Conclusions: It is concluded that many soft drinks have considerable erosive potential and several of these are particularly targeted at the age groups found in other Icelandic studies to consume large amounts of soft drinks and to have tooth erosion.Tilgangur: Glerungseyðing virðist vaxandi vandamál á Íslandi. Alþjóðleg neysla gosdrykkja ásamt öðrum svaladrykkjum er talin vera einn helsti orsakaþáttur sjúkdómsins og neysla gosdrykkja fer vaxandi. Tilgangur rannsóknarinnar var að meta glerungseyðandi áhrif drykkja á íslenskum markaði. Efniviður og aðferðir: Hver drykkur var mældur í þrígang: (1) upphafssýrustig og (2) magn basa (1,0M NaOH) sem þurfti til að hlutleysa hvern drykk að pH 5,5, pH 7,0 og pH 10,0. Niðurstöður: Upphafssýrustig drykkjanna mældist lægst pH 2,03 en hæst 6,79. Magn basa (1,0M NaOH) í millilítrum til hlutleysingar að pH 5,5 spannaði: 0,54-5,92 ml, að pH 7,0: 0,42-7,73 ml og að pH 10,0: 2,23-9,10 ml. Drykkir með sítrónusýru (til dæmis greip- og appelsínusafar) þurftu mestan basa til hlutleysingar. Mjólkurdrykkir, að undanskilinni mysu og mysudrykkjum, þurftu engan basa til að hlutleysast að pH 5,5. Gosdrykkir, íþróttadrykkir og orkudrykkir þurftu að jafnaði minni basa til hlutleysingar að pH 5,5 en ávaxtasafarnir þrátt fyrir að hafa mun lægra upphafssýrustig en safarnir. Ályktun: Þessi rannsókn bendir til þess að flestir svaladrykkir á íslenskum markaði hafi glerungseyðandi áhrif. Þetta er mikið áhyggjuefni þar sem að neysla þessara drykkja er einna mest hjá börnum og unglingum en þar virðist tíðni glerungseyðingar fara ört vaxandi

Magnetic microstructure and magnetotransport in Co2FeAl Heusler compound thin films

We correlate simultaneously recorded magnetotransport and spatially resolved magneto optical Kerr effect (MOKE) data in Co2FeAl Heusler compound thin films micropatterned into Hall bars. Room temperature MOKE images reveal the nucleation and propagation of domains in an externally applied magnetic field and are used to extract a macrospin corresponding to the mean magnetization direction in the Hall bar. The anisotropic magnetoresistance calculated using this macrospin is in excellent agreement with magnetoresistance measurements. This suggests that the magnetotransport in Heusler compounds can be adequately simulated using simple macrospin models, while the magnetoresistance contribution due to domain walls is of negligible importance

Bibliografia Etnografii Polskiej (BEP) jako narzędzie pomocne w informacji naukowej i dydaktyce

The Bibliography of Polish Ethnography (BEP) has been online since 2007 and since that year has changed several times. At the technical level, the software was changed, which effected on the way how the editors work. At the level of functioning, the functionality of the database has been expanded by adding redirects from the database directly to the texts, if they are available in the public domain. The members of the editorial team also began to incorporate BEP into the didactic process. The paper presents the lessons learned from the work on modified database and the experience gained during didactics using BEP

The consistency between the severity of dental caries among 12- and 15-year old children (DMFT/S) and caries in key teeth

Efst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinnTilgangur: Markmið rannsóknarinnar var að skoða staðsetningu og dreifingu tannátu og kanna hvort hægt sé að benda á lykiltennur eða fleti tanna við mat á tannátu hjá 12 og 15 ára börnum í gögnum MUNNÍS (VSN 03-140) 2005. Efniviður og aðferðir: Gögn um tannátu hjá 12 og 15 ára börnum sem skoðuð voru í MUNNÍS (VSN 03-140) 2005 voru greind til að meta dreifingu á tannátu og til að finna hvort hægt væri að benda á lykiltennur til greiningar á tannátu hjá börnum. Upplýsingar um 1.388 börn voru skoðaðar. Notuð var núll þanin Poisson aðhvarfsgreining, hlutfall rétt flokkað, Cohen´s Kappa og næmi og sértæki til að meta gögnin. Niðurstöður: Sex ára jaxlar höfðu oftast fyllingu eða tannátu sem náði inn í tannbein hjá bæði 12 og 15 ára börnum. Ef litið var til framtanna í efri gómi voru hliðarframtennur með mest af byrjandi tannátu í glerungi hjá báðum aldurshópum. Framtennur neðri góms voru með minnst af fyllingum og tannátu hjá þessum aldurshópum. Hjá bæði 12 og 15 ára börnunum voru 12 ára jaxlar næst á eftir sex ára jöxlum hvað varðar fjölda fyllinga og tannátu sem náði inn í tannbein. Þegar fjórir til átta jaxlar voru skoðaðir sjónrænt og bornir saman við bestu skoðun (samsett sjónræn skoðun og röntgenskoðun) var næmi þess 69-77, hlutfall rétt flokkað 0,737-0,839 og Kappa 0,53-0,63. Skimun á öllum tönnum gaf næmið 78,8, hlutfall rétt flokkað 0,841 og Kappa 0,65 samanborið við bestu skoðun í gögnum MUNNÍS en 38,7% þeirra sem voru greind án tannátu með sjónrænni skimun allra tanna voru í raun með tannátu við bestu skoðun. Ályktun: Gæði skimunar allra tanna með sjónrænni skoðun eru ekki góð og gefur ekki rétta mynd af tannheilsu einstaklingsins þannig að ekki er réttlætanlegt að benda á ákveðnar lykiltennur fyrir slíka skimun.Introduction: The objective of this research was to analyse the location and distribution of dental caries to determine ig it would be possible to find key teeth or tooth surfaces in the assessment of dental caries in 12- and 15-year old children from the MUNNIS data (VSN 03-140) in 2005. Materials and methods: Data on dental caries in 12- and 15-year old children surveyed in MUNNIS (VSN 03-140) in 2005 were analysed (N=1.388 children) to see the distribution of dental caries and to analyse if it would be possible to find key teeth for the diagnosis of dental caries in children. Zero Inflated Poisson Regression, Agreement, Cohen´s Kappa and Sensitivity and Specificity were used to analyse the data. Results: First molars were most often affected by dental caries in both 12- and 15-year old children. Looking at the front teeth in the upper jaw, lateral incisors were those most at risk for dental caries in both age groups. Canines and incisors in the lower jaw were the least affected teeth in these age groups. In both 12-year old and 15-year old children, second molars were next to first molars when scoring the teeth most affected by dental caries. When four to eight molars were examined visually and compared with combined visual and X-ray examination then the sensitivity was 69-77, Agreement 0.737-0.839 and Kappa 0.53-0.63. Screening all teeth gave sensitivity of 78.8, Agreement of 0.841 and Kappa of 0.65 compared with combined visual and X-ray examination in MUNNIS data and 38.7% of those diagnosed without caries did in fact have caries. Conclusion: The quality of screening all teeth by visual examination is not good enough to allow one to point out certain key teeth for such screening and the screening do not give an accurate picture of the individuals dental health

Determinants of meal satisfaction in a workplace environment

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the pageWorkplace lunches are recurrent meal occasions that can contribute to the general well-being of employees. The objective of our research was to study which factors influence consumers' satisfaction with these meals by exploring the relative role of food-related, personal, situational factors. Using a longitudinal approach, we monitored a total of 71 participants compiled and experienced 519 meals from their workplace canteen buffet during a three-month period; in addition the composed lunches were photographed. Before and after the lunch choice period respondents filled in a questionnaire on several meal-related variables. A mixed modelling approach was used to analyse the data. Meal satisfaction was directly associated with a positive ambience and a positive evaluation of both the quality of the food eaten and the buffet assortment, whereas the meal's energy content did not contribute to meal satisfaction. Additionally, meal satisfaction was associated with a more positive mood, lower hunger level as well as feeling less busy and stressed after lunch. The buffet assortment, a more positive mood before lunch and mindful eating contributed to the perceived food quality, but not associated with the hunger level before lunch. Time available, mindful eating and eating with close colleagues were positively associated with perceived ambience. The results indicate that consumers' satisfaction with workplace meals can be increased by putting emphasis on the quality of food served, but equally important is the ambience in the lunch situation. Most of the ambience factors were related to available time and mental resources of the participants and the possibility to share the meal with close colleagues. These are factors that can be facilitated by the service provider, but not directly influenced.Senswell project, Innovation Fund Denmark/0603-00418

The prevalence of dental erosion amongst competitive swimmers

Efst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinnTilgangur: Markmið þessarar rannsóknar var að meta algengi glerungseyðingar hjá sundíþróttafólki 18 ára og eldra á höfuðborgarsvæðinu. Efniviður og aðferðir: Framkvæmd var samanburðarrannsókn sem samanstóð af 38 þátttakendum í tveimur hópum, tilraunahópi (sundíþróttafólk, N=20) og samanburðarhópi (nemar sem ekki æfa sund, N=18). Glerungseyðing var metin með BEWE index. Allir þátttakendur svöruðu spurningalista varðandi matarvenjur með sérstöku tilliti til neyslu súrra drykkja. Niðurstöður: Enginn marktækur tölfræðilegur munur fannst á milli samanburðarhóps og tilraunahóps þegar meðaltöl BEWE index hópanna voru skoðuð og borin saman. Framtennur í efri- og neðri gómi voru einu svæðin sem sýndu marktækan mun milli hópa, þar sem tilraunahópur sýndi meiri glerungseyðingu fyrir bæði efri og neðri góms framtennur. Samanburðarhópur sýndi hærra meðaltalsgildi á öllum jaxlasvæðum samanborið við tilraunahóp en munurinn var ekki tölfræðilega marktækur. Enginn munur var á milli hópa í neyslu á súrum drykkjum. Ályktun: Niðurstöður benda til aukinnar glerungseyðingar á framtönnum sundíþróttafólks. Fræðslu er þörf fyrir þessa einstaklinga, bæði á vegum íþróttafélaga og tannlækna sem geta bent á fyrirbyggjandi aðferðir til að draga úr hættu á glerungseyðingu tanna.Introduction: Research has shown that dental erosion in competitive swimmers is common. The process of dental erosion can be rapid if the chlorine content of swimming pools is poorly controlled. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental erosion in competitive swimmers 18 years and older in the capital area of Iceland. Materials and methods: A comparative study was made consisting of 38 participants in two groups, a test group (competitive swimmers, N=20) and a control group (college students who were not competitive swimmers, N=18). Dental erosion was evaluated with the BEWE index. All participants answered a questionnaire regarding food habits with a special consideration to acidic drinks. Results: There was no significant difference between the control group and the test group when the average BEWE index of the groups was compared. The anterior teeth in both upper and lower jaws were the only regions with significant difference between the groups, where the test group showed more dental erosion for both the upper and lower anterior teeth. The control group showed higher value in all posterior regions compared to the test group, but the difference was not significant. There was no difference between the groups regarding consumption of acidic drinks. Conclusion: The results indicate that competitive swimmers are more at risk for dental erosion in anterior teeth. Competitive swimmers need to be aware of this risk. Preventive education is needed in the competitive swimming community and dentists should suggest methods to reduce the chances of dental erosion