Crowdsourcing hypothesis tests: Making transparent how design choices shape research results

To what extent are research results influenced by subjective decisions that scientists make as they design studies? Fifteen research teams independently designed studies to answer fiveoriginal research questions related to moral judgments, negotiations, and implicit cognition. Participants from two separate large samples (total N > 15,000) were then randomly assigned to complete one version of each study. Effect sizes varied dramatically across different sets of materials designed to test the same hypothesis: materials from different teams renderedstatistically significant effects in opposite directions for four out of five hypotheses, with the narrowest range in estimates being d = -0.37 to +0.26. Meta-analysis and a Bayesian perspective on the results revealed overall support for two hypotheses, and a lack of support for three hypotheses. Overall, practically none of the variability in effect sizes was attributable to the skill of the research team in designing materials, while considerable variability was attributable to the hypothesis being tested. In a forecasting survey, predictions of other scientists were significantly correlated with study results, both across and within hypotheses. Crowdsourced testing of research hypotheses helps reveal the true consistency of empirical support for a scientific claim.</div

Uruchamianie i testowanie programów utworzonych w językach normy IEC 61131-3

This paper presents new features for testing and running of IEC 61131-3 POUs (Program Organization Units) which are available in the CPDev engineering environment. Testing can be done either via simulation or in on-line mode. A data sources mechanism is used to test programs running on various target platforms. There are tools for the debugging of programs created in graphical languages like FBD or LD, as well as a tool for the final commissioning. One of the newest mechanisms added to CPDev environment is the possibility of defining POU-oriented tests. Two ways of specifying unit tests for functions, function blocks or programs are available i.e. via the dedicated test definition language CPTest or using tables.W artykule przedstawiono nowe rozszerzenia pakietu inżynierskiego CPDev umożliwiające testowanie i uruchamianie jednostek organizacyjnych oprogramowania zdefiniowanych w normie IEC 61131-3 (PN/EN 61131-3). Testowanie realizowane jest za pomocą symulacji lub w trybie on-line. Mechanizm źródeł danych umożliwia testowanie programów uruchamianych na różnych platformach docelowych. Przedstawiono narzędzia umożliwiające debugowanie programów utworzonych w językach graficznych FBD i LD oraz wykorzystywane w końcowej fazie rozruchu (commissioning). Ostatnio wprowadzono w środowisku CPDev możliwość definiowania testów zorientowanych na jednostki organizacyjne oprogramowania takie jak funkcje, bloki funkcjonalne lub programy. Takie testy jednostkowe można określać za pomocą specjalizowanego języka CPTest lub w formie tabeli

Konfigurowalny interfejs operatorski w środowisku CPDev

The paper presents a graphical extension to the IEC 61131-3 CPDev programming environment. The extension called CPVis provides development tools and runtime components to create an operator interface for control software. CPVis editor is used to design display pages. Graphic objects are selected from libraries and represent visual controls on the display. The target operator panel runs CPVis graphics runtime to process the display configuration. Update of the display is done by reflecting changes of variable values processed by CPDev virtual machine.W artykule przedstawiono rozszerzenie środowiska programistycznego CPDev o możliwość tworzenia graficznych interfejsów operatorskich. Rozszerzenie obejmuje narzędzia projektowe oraz oprogramowanie uruchomieniowe (runtime). Projektant interfejsu używa edytora CPVis do skomponowania ekranów wizualizacyjnych wybierając z bibliotek obiekty graficzne reprezentujące kontrolki. Na docelowym urządzeniu HMI uruchamiany jest moduł CPVis runtime, którego zadaniem jest interpretowanie danych wizualizacyjnych. Odświeżenie obiektów na ekranie graficznym odbywa się na podstawie informacji z maszyny wirtualnej CPDev, która dostarcza aktualne wartości zmiennych

Facilitators and barriers to optimal home blood pressure management in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a tertiary care facility in Abuja, Nigeria: a qualitative research study

Abstract Background Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of maternal deaths globally, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the country. There is a significant implementation gap in utilizing evidence-based practices for the management of HDP in Nigeria. This study evaluated facilitators and barriers to implementing a home blood pressure monitoring program to improve management of HDP. Methods From August 2022 to September 2022, we conducted 15 semi-structured, key informant interviews and 4 focus group discussions among patients, health care workers, and administrators at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), a tertiary care centre in Nigeria. The study used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to assess five domains: individual characteristics, inner and outer settings, intervention characteristics, and process of implementation. Audio files were transcribed, and data were analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. We also conducted 32 brief surveys on the participants to assess acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of a blood pressure monitoring program. Results The study sample consisted of healthcare workers (n=22) including specialists in cardiology, obstetrics and gynaecology, maternal-foetal medicine, nurses/midwives and resident doctors as well as patients (n=10). Mean (SD) age was 39.5 (10.9), and 78% were female. Participants identified facilitators including the perceived simplicity of home blood pressure monitoring program, high burden of HDP, and availability of a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals with expertise in HDP management. Barriers identified were cost, limited knowledge of HDP amongst patients, limited transportation networks, inconsistent management protocols, and inadequate manpower and facilities. Survey results indicated that between 81% and 88% of participants reported that a blood pressure monitoring program would be acceptable, 56%-72% reported that it would be appropriate, and 47%-69% reported that it would be feasible. Conclusion This study identified facilitators and barriers while highlighting key implementation strategies to leverage and effectively address these respectively to enable successful implementation of a home blood pressure monitoring program. It also demonstrated that a home blood pressure monitoring program was considered acceptable, appropriate and feasible among respondents interviewed at UATH

Maternal Food and Beverage Consumption Behaviors and Discrepant Phthalate Exposure by Race

Background: Differential exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including phthalate diesters, may contribute to persistent racial/ethnic disparities in women’s reproductive health outcomes. We sought to characterize sources of gestational exposure to these agents that may differ according to maternal race. Methods: We enrolled pregnant Black (n = 198), including African American, and White (n = 197) women during the second trimester, and measured eight phthalate monoester metabolites in urine. We assessed confounder-adjusted associations between multiple food and beverage consumption habits, summarized using a principal component analysis, as predictors of maternal urinary phthalate metabolite levels, stratified by race. Results: Whites reported significantly greater unprocessed food consumption (42.5% vs. 32.0%; p &lt; 0.001) and storage of food in clear unbreakable plastic containers (66.5% vs. 49.3%; p &lt; 0.001) than Blacks, while Blacks consumed more canned fruits and vegetables (23.5% vs. 12.2%; p &lt; 0.001) than Whites. Using plastics for food storage, microwaving in plastic containers, and using hard plastic water bottles was associated with urinary phthalate concentrations, especially DEHP metabolites (e.g., mean difference = 5.13%; 95% CI: 3.05, 7.25). These associations were driven primarily by Black pregnant women. Conclusions: Targeted interventions to reduce maternal exposure to phthalates need to be designed with specific attention to differences in food and beverage consumption behaviors among Black and White women