Understanding participation in European cohort studies of preterm children: The views of parents, healthcare professionals and researchers

Background: Retention of participants in cohort studies is a major challenge. A better understanding of all elements involved in participation and attrition phenomena in particular settings is needed to develop effective retention strategies. The study aimed to achieve an in-depth understanding of participant retention in longitudinal cohorts focusing on participants’ and researcher’s perspectives, across three diverse socio-geographic and cultural settings. Methods: This study used a triangulation of multi-situated methods to collect data on cohort studies of children born with less than 32 weeks of gestation in Denmark, Italy and Portugal. It included focus groups and individual semi-driven interviewing with involved key actors (i.e. parents, staff, healthcare professionals, researchers) and a collaborative visual methodology. A purposive sample of 48 key actors (n = 13 in Denmark; n = 13 in Italy; n = 22 in Portugal) was collected. A triangulation of phenomenological thematic analysis with discourse analysis was applied. Cross-contextual and context-specific situational elements involved in participation and attrition phenomena in these child cohorts were identified at various levels and stages. Results: Main findings included: situational challenges affecting potential and range of possibilities for implementation strategies (geopolitical environment, societal changes, research funding models); situational elements related to particular strategies acting as deterrents (postal questionnaires) and facilitators (multiple flexible strategies, reminders, regular interaction); main motivations to enrol and participate (altruism/solidarity and gratitude/sense of duty to reciprocate); main motivational deterrents to participate to follow-up waves (lack of bonding, insufficient feedback); entanglement of clinical and research follow-up as facilitator and deterrent. Conclusions: The multi-situated approach used, addressing the interplay of the lived experience of individuals, was of most value to understand participation variability under different implemented strategies in-context. Cross-contextual and context-specific situational elements that have been influential factors towards participation and attrition in the cohorts were identified.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Compreender a participação em estudos de coorte europeus de crianças prematuras: pontos de vista de pais, profissionais de saúde e investigadores

Contextualização: A retenção de participantes em estudos de coorte é um grande desafio. É necessária uma melhor compreensão de todos os elementos envolvidos nos fenómenos de participação e de atrito em contextos par‑ ticulares para desenvolver estratégias de retenção eficazes. O estudo visou alcançar uma compreensão aprofundada da retenção de participantes em coortes longitudinais centrando‑se tanto nas perspetivas de participantes investigados quanto de investigadores, em três cenários sociogeográficos e culturais diversos. Métodos: Este estudo utilizou uma triangulação de métodos multi‑situados para recolher dados sobre estudos de coorte de crianças nascidas com menos de 32 semanas de gestação na Dinamarca, Itália e Portugal. Incluiu uma metodologia visual colaborativa, grupos focais e entrevistas individuais semi‑‑dirigidas com atores chave envolvidos nas coortes (pais, staff, profissionais de saúde, investigadores). Foi recolhida uma amostra intencional de 48 ato‑ res chave (n=13 na Dinamarca; n=13 na Itália; n=22 em Portugal). Na análise foi aplicada uma triangulação de análise temática fenomenológica com análise do discurso. Foram identificados, em vários níveis e etapas, elementos situacionais contextualmente específicos e transversais envolvidos nos fenómenos de participação e atrito nestas coortes infantis. Resultados: Principais resultados incluíram: desafios situacionais que afetam o potencial e amplitude de possibilidades na implementação estratégica (ambiente geopolítico, mudanças sociais, modelos de financiamento da inves‑ tigação); elementos situacionais relacionados com estratégias particulares que atuam como dissuasores (questionários postais) e facilitadores (múltiplas estratégias flexíveis, lembretes, interação regular); motivações maiores para aceitar participar e continuar na coorte (altruísmo/solidariedade e gratidão/ /sentido do dever de retribuir); principais desmotivadores para participar em ondas de acompanhamento/follow‑up (fraco elo de ligação ao estudo, retorno de informação insuficiente); perceção parental de entrelaçamento dos acompanhamentos clínico e da investigação que atua quer como facilitador quer Conclusões: A utilização de uma abordagem multi‑situada, focada na interação da experiência vivida dos indivíduos envolvidos, foi da maior utilidade para compreender a variabilidade da participação sob diferentes implementações estratégicas em contexto. Foram identificados elementos situacionais contextualmente específicos e transversais que atuam como fatores influenciadores na participação e no atrito das coortes como dissuasor.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Potential effects of oilseed rape expressing oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) and of purified insecticidal proteins on larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis

Despite their importance as pollinators in crops and wild plants, solitary bees have not previously been included in non-target testing of insect-resistant transgenic crop plants. Larvae of many solitary bees feed almost exclusively on pollen and thus could be highly exposed to transgene products expressed in the pollen. The potential effects of pollen from oilseed rape expressing the cysteine protease inhibitor oryzacystatin-1 (OC-1) were investigated on larvae of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis (= O. rufa). Furthermore, recombinant OC-1 (rOC-1), the Bt toxin Cry1Ab and the snowdrop lectin Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) were evaluated for effects on the life history parameters of this important pollinator. Pollen provisions from transgenic OC-1 oilseed rape did not affect overall development. Similarly, high doses of rOC-1 and Cry1Ab as well as a low dose of GNA failed to cause any significant effects. However, a high dose of GNA (0.1%) in the larval diet resulted in significantly increased development time and reduced efficiency in conversion of pollen food into larval body weight. Our results suggest that OC-1 and Cry1Ab expressing transgenic crops would pose a negligible risk for O. bicornis larvae, whereas GNA expressing plants could cause detrimental effects, but only if bees were exposed to high levels of the protein. The described bioassay with bee brood is not only suitable for early tier non-target tests of transgenic plants, but also has broader applicability to other crop protection products

The China miracle in a technological and socio-political framework—The role of institutions

China’s economy has grown at an average annual rate of around 9.5% in the past four decades, which is often hailed as the China Miracle. This paper proposes a new theoretical model to analyse the causes of China’s phenomenal growth in a technological and socio-political framework. In our new framework, the contemporary technology (T) determines what an economy can achieve; the objective (O) of the society has a fundamental impact on its economic growth; the performance (P) in implementing the social objective largely determines the growth rate of the economy; and the stability (S) of the society determines the sustainability of the economic growth. China’s institutions have played key roles in the TOPS framework to initiate and sustain China’s rapid growth in the past four decades. Socio-political changes caused by economic growth might affect the capacity of these institutions to promote economic growth in future

Quantitative Historical Change in Bumblebee (Bombus spp.) Assemblages of Red Clover Fields

Flower visiting insects provide a vitally important pollination service for many crops and wild plants. Recent decline of pollinating insects due to anthropogenic modification of habitats and climate, in particular from 1950's onwards, is a major and widespread concern. However, few studies document the extent of declines in species diversity, and no studies have previously quantified local abundance declines. We here make a quantitative assessment of recent historical changes in bumblebee assemblages by comparing contemporary and historical survey data. species observed in the 1930's, five species were not observed at present. The latter were all long-tongued, late-emerging species.Because bumblebees are important pollinators, historical changes in local bumblebee assemblages are expected to severely affect plant reproduction, in particular long-tubed species, which are pollinated by long-tongued bumblebees

Recommendations for the design of laboratory studies on non-target arthropods for risk assessment of genetically engineered plants

This paper provides recommendations on experimental design for early-tier laboratory studies used in risk assessments to evaluate potential adverse impacts of arthropod-resistant genetically engineered (GE) plants on non-target arthropods (NTAs). While we rely heavily on the currently used proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in this discussion, the concepts apply to other arthropod-active proteins. A risk may exist if the newly acquired trait of the GE plant has adverse effects on NTAs when they are exposed to the arthropod-active protein. Typically, the risk assessment follows a tiered approach that starts with laboratory studies under worst-case exposure conditions; such studies have a high ability to detect adverse effects on non-target species. Clear guidance on how such data are produced in laboratory studies assists the product developers and risk assessors. The studies should be reproducible and test clearly defined risk hypotheses. These properties contribute to the robustness of, and confidence in, environmental risk assessments for GE plants. Data from NTA studies, collected during the analysis phase of an environmental risk assessment, are critical to the outcome of the assessment and ultimately the decision taken by regulatory authorities on the release of a GE plant. Confidence in the results of early-tier laboratory studies is a precondition for the acceptance of data across regulatory jurisdictions and should encourage agencies to share useful information and thus avoid redundant testing

Invasion Genetics of the Western Flower Thrips in China: Evidence for Genetic Bottleneck, Hybridization and Bridgehead Effect

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is an invasive species and the most economically important pest within the insect order Thysanoptera. F. occidentalis, which is endemic to North America, was initially detected in Kunming in southwestern China in 2000 and since then it has rapidly invaded several other localities in China where it has greatly damaged greenhouse vegetables and ornamental crops. Controlling this invasive pest in China requires an understanding of its genetic makeup and migration patterns. Using the mitochondrial COI gene and 10 microsatellites, eight of which were newly isolated and are highly polymorphic, we investigated the genetic structure and the routes of range expansion of 14 F. occidentalis populations in China. Both the mitochondrial and microsatellite data revealed that the genetic diversity of F. occidentalis of the Chinese populations is lower than that in its native range. Two previously reported cryptic species (or ecotypes) were found in the study. The divergence in the mitochondrial COI of two Chinese cryptic species (or ecotypes) was about 3.3% but they cannot be distinguished by nuclear markers. Hybridization might produce such substantial mitochondrial-nuclear discordance. Furthermore, we found low genetic differentiation (global FST = 0.043, P<0.001) among all the populations and strong evidence for gene flow, especially from the three southwestern populations (Baoshan, Dali and Kunming) to the other Chinese populations. The directional gene flow was further supported by the higher genetic diversity of these three southwestern populations. Thus, quarantine and management of F. occidentalis should focus on preventing it from spreading from the putative source populations to other parts of China

Growth and breastfeeding of preterm infants receiving neonatal tele-homecare compared to hospital-based care

OBJECTIVE: Neonatal tele-homecare implies that parents of clinically stable preterm infants can manage tube feeding and establishment of oral feeding in the home. Support is provided from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) through a telehealth service. The aim of this study was to compare growth and breastfeeding rates amongst infants being managed in the NICU (conventional care) and by neonatal tele-homecare. METHODS: A total of 96 preterm infants with tube feeding requirements participated in the observational study of neonatal tele-homecare. Retrospective data in 278 preterm infants receiving standard care in the same neonatal intensive care unit prior to implementation of neonatal tele-homecare were used for comparison. Rates of breastfeeding and growth were monitored during neonatal tele-homecare. Infant weights were converted to standard deviation weight-for-age z-scores based on a reference. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in rates of exclusive breastfeeding between the neonatal tele-homecare infants and the controls. Among the very preterm singleton infants more neonatal tele-homecare infants were exclusively breastfed at discharge compared to the controls (p=0.04). There was no significant difference in median weight for age z-scores at discharge. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that neonatal tele-homecare may be an appropriate model of care for the management of preterm infants outside of the hospital environment; with the added benefit of higher rates of breastfeeding at time of discharge for very preterm infants