Advance gratitude expressions as a prosocial appeal : when a little thanks can do the world a good

In this thesis I introduce and empirically test the novel concept of an advance gratitude expression as a prosocial appeal. I propose a conceptual framework which outlines when and how advance gratitude expressions may or may not result in increased prosocial tendencies. Across eight main studies (field, online and laboratory) one pilot and two follow-up studies, I demonstrate that (1) a simple advance gratitude expression can shape one’s prosocial tendencies by making the perceived morality of the appeal appear more or less salient, and (2) the direction and magnitude of the effect is contingent on the donor’s level of psychological connectedness to the cause. I test the validity and generalizability of my model by means of different operationalisations of the key theoretical constructs, dependent measures (financial donations, volunteering and cause related marketing purchases), study designs and sample populations. In Study 1 I demonstrate the predicted main effect with a real behavioural outcome (donation amount) while additionally showing how the increased desire to act prosocially stems from increased moral awareness. In Studies 2-5, I identify psychological connectedness as a key moderator of the effect of advance gratitude on prosocial behaviour and I show that under conditions of low connectedness, in which consumers do not feel engaged with the prosocial cause, advanced gratitude expressions can backfire. In Study 6, I provide a complete examination of my theoretical framework by testing for the conditional indirect effects of moral awareness on prosocial intent at different levels (high vs. low) of psychological connectedness to the cause. I show that when psychological connectedness is low (high), advance gratitude expressions result in a decrease (increase) in prosocial intent via a reduced (increased) moral awareness. Through a moderation of process design, study 7 offers conclusive evidence for the notion that moral awareness is the underlining mechanism. Finally, in Study 8, I identify a theoretically important boundary condition for the documented main effect; advance gratitude expressions fail to increase prosocial behaviour in the case of individuals whose moral identity centrality is already chronically high. This dissertation’s findings are of theoretical significance because they add to the gratitude, morality and prosocial literatures and are of practical significance because they provide non-profit organizations as well as managers of private enterprises engaging in charitable work, with actionable insights that can help them design more effective prosocial appeals

The effectiveness of M-health technologies for improving health and health services: a systematic review protocol

BACKGROUND: The application of mobile computing and communication technology is rapidly expanding in the fields of health care and public health. This systematic review will summarise the evidence for the effectiveness of mobile technology interventions for improving health and health service outcomes (M-health) around the world. FINDINGS: To be included in the review interventions must aim to improve or promote health or health service use and quality, employing any mobile computing and communication technology. This includes: (1) interventions designed to improve diagnosis, investigation, treatment, monitoring and management of disease; (2) interventions to deliver treatment or disease management programmes to patients, health promotion interventions, and interventions designed to improve treatment compliance; and (3) interventions to improve health care processes e.g. appointment attendance, result notification, vaccination reminders.A comprehensive, electronic search strategy will be used to identify controlled studies, published since 1990, and indexed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Global Health, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, or the UK NHS Health Technology Assessment database. The search strategy will include terms (and synonyms) for the following mobile electronic devices (MEDs) and a range of compatible media: mobile phone; personal digital assistant (PDA); handheld computer (e.g. tablet PC); PDA phone (e.g. BlackBerry, Palm Pilot); Smartphone; enterprise digital assistant; portable media player (i.e. MP3 or MP4 player); handheld video game console. No terms for health or health service outcomes will be included, to ensure that all applications of mobile technology in public health and health services are identified. Bibliographies of primary studies and review articles meeting the inclusion criteria will be searched manually to identify further eligible studies. Data on objective and self-reported outcomes and study quality will be independently extracted by two review authors. Where there are sufficient numbers of similar interventions, we will calculate and report pooled risk ratios or standardised mean differences using meta-analysis. DISCUSSION: This systematic review will provide recommendations on the use of mobile computing and communication technology in health care and public health and will guide future work on intervention development and primary research in this field

Using marketing theory to inform strategies for recruitment : a recruitment optimisation model and the txt2stop experience

Background: Recruitment is a major challenge for many trials; just over half reach their targets and almost a third resort to grant extensions. The economic and societal implications of this shortcoming are significant. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the processes that increase the probability that recruitment targets will be achieved. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to bring analytical rigour to the task of improving recruitment, thereby increasing the likelihood that trials reach their recruitment targets. This paper presents a conceptual framework that can be used to improve recruitment to clinical trials. Methods: Using a case-study approach, we reviewed the range of initiatives that had been undertaken to improve recruitment in the txt2stop trial using qualitative (semi-structured interviews with the principal investigator) and quantitative (recruitment) data analysis. Later, the txt2stop recruitment practices were compared to a previous model of marketing a trial and to key constructs in social marketing theory. Results: Post hoc, we developed a recruitment optimisation model to serve as a conceptual framework to improve recruitment to clinical trials. A core premise of the model is that improving recruitment needs to be an iterative, learning process. The model describes three essential activities: i) recruitment phase monitoring, ii) marketing research, and iii) the evaluation of current performance. We describe the initiatives undertaken by the txt2stop trial and the results achieved, as an example of the use of the model. Conclusions: Further research should explore the impact of adopting the recruitment optimisation model when applied to other trials

The effectiveness of mobile-health technology-based health behaviour change or disease management interventions for health care consumers: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Mobile technologies could be a powerful media for providing individual level support to health care consumers. We conducted a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of mobile technology interventions delivered to health care consumers. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We searched for all controlled trials of mobile technology-based health interventions delivered to health care consumers using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Global Health, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, UK NHS HTA (Jan 1990-Sept 2010). Two authors extracted data on allocation concealment, allocation sequence, blinding, completeness of follow-up, and measures of effect. We calculated effect estimates and used random effects meta-analysis. We identified 75 trials. Fifty-nine trials investigated the use of mobile technologies to improve disease management and 26 trials investigated their use to change health behaviours. Nearly all trials were conducted in high-income countries. Four trials had a low risk of bias. Two trials of disease management had low risk of bias; in one, antiretroviral (ART) adherence, use of text messages reduced high viral load (>400 copies), with a relative risk (RR) of 0.85 (95% CI 0.72-0.99), but no statistically significant benefit on mortality (RR 0.79 [95% CI 0.47-1.32]). In a second, a PDA based intervention increased scores for perceived self care agency in lung transplant patients. Two trials of health behaviour management had low risk of bias. The pooled effect of text messaging smoking cessation support on biochemically verified smoking cessation was (RR 2.16 [95% CI 1.77-2.62]). Interventions for other conditions showed suggestive benefits in some cases, but the results were not consistent. No evidence of publication bias was demonstrated on visual or statistical examination of the funnel plots for either disease management or health behaviours. To address the limitation of the older search, we also reviewed more recent literature. CONCLUSIONS: Text messaging interventions increased adherence to ART and smoking cessation and should be considered for inclusion in services. Although there is suggestive evidence of benefit in some other areas, high quality adequately powered trials of optimised interventions are required to evaluate effects on objective outcomes

Audio recordings dataset of grazing jaw movements in dairy cattle.

This dataset is composed of correlated audio recordings and labels of ingestive jaw movements performed during grazing by dairy cattle. Using a wireless microphone, we recorded sounds of three Holstein dairy cows grazing short and tall alfalfa and short and tall fescue. Two experts in grazing behavior identified and labeled the start, end, and type of each jaw movement: bite, chew, and chew-bite (compound movement). For each segment of raw audio corresponding to a jaw movement we computed four well-known features: amplitude, duration, zero crossings, and envelope symmetry. These features are in the dataset and can be used as inputs to build automated methods for classification of ingestive jaw movements. Cow's grazing behavior can be monitored and characterized by identifying and analyzing these masticatory events

A RELEVÂNCIA DE MÚLTIPLOS GRUPOS ZOOPLANCTÔNICOS PARA O MONITORAMENTO AMBIENTAL NO CERRADO: ESTUDO DA ESTAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA ÁGUAS EMENDADAS

Because of the growing and intense impact of human population on natural resources, environmental monitoring programs become increasingly necessary to continually evaluate such impacts and propose mitigation measures in a timely manner. However, effective monitoring programs are limited by the lack of time, fi nancial resources and qualifi ed professionals. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the most effective strategies to monitor the zooplankton community in the Lagoa Bonita, located in the Águas Emendadas Ecological Station, Planaltina (DF). The following issues were raised: (i) which is the zooplankton diversity at the study area? (ii) do the zooplankton groups show concordant patterns of spatial distribution? (iii) is there a signifi cant loss of information when using higher taxonomic levels (genera data instead of species data) and different numerical resolutions (species occurrence data instead of organisms density data?). The results of this study indicates that cladocerans, copepods and rotifers could be well evaluated in a environmental monitoring program at genus level, once the loss of species data information is low. On the other hand, all zooplankton groups and the information generated from density data must be considered.Devido ao crescente e intenso impacto da população humana sobre os recursos naturais, programas de monitoramento ambiental tornam-se cada vez mais necessários para avaliar continuamente tais impactos e propor medidas mitigadoras em tempo hábil. Entretanto, efi cientes programas de monitoramento são limitados pela falta de tempo, recursos fi nanceiros e profi ssionais qualifi cados. Desta forma, este estudo pretende avaliar estratégias mais efetivas de monitorar a comunidade zooplanctônica em um pequeno lago tropical (Lagoa Bonita, localizada na Estação Ecológica de Águas Emendadas, Brasília - DF). As seguintes questões foram levantadas: (i) qual a diversidade zooplanctônica da área de estudo? (ii) os grupos zooplanctônicos apresentam padrões de distribuição espacial concordantes? (iii) existe uma perda de informação signifi cativa ao utilizar níveis taxonômicos superiores (dados de gêneros ao invés de espécies) e resoluções numéricas diferentes (dados de ocorrência de espécies ao invés de densidades de organismos)? Os resultados desse estudo indicam que programas de monitoramento ambiental na Lagoa Bonita poderiam avaliar cladóceros, copépodes e rotíferos utilizando informações em nível de gênero, pois a perda de informação relativa aos dados de espécies é pequena. Por outro lado, todos os grupos zooplanctônicos e as informações geradas a partir de dados de densidade devem ser considerados

Dupilumab in the treatment of severe uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP): A multicentric observational Phase IV real-life study (DUPIREAL)

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is associated with significant morbidity and reduced health-related quality of life. Findings from clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of dupilumab in CRSwNP, although real-world evidence is still limited. Methods This Phase IV real-life, observational, multicenter study assessed the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP (n = 648) over the first year of treatment. We collected data at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up. We focused on nasal polyps score (NPS), symptoms, and olfactory function. We stratified outcomes by comorbidities, previous surgery, and adherence to intranasal corticosteroids, and examined the success rates based on current guidelines, as well as potential predictors of response at each timepoint. Results We observed a significant decrease in NPS from a median value of 6 (IQR 5–6) at baseline to 1.0 (IQR 0.0–2.0) at 12 months (p < .001), and a significant decrease in Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test-22 (SNOT-22) from a median score of 58 (IQR 49–70) at baseline to 11 (IQR 6–21; p < .001) at 12 months. Sniffin' Sticks scores showed a significant increase over 12 months (p < .001) compared to baseline. The results were unaffected by concomitant diseases, number of previous surgeries, and adherence to topical steroids, except for minor differences in rapidity of action. An excellent-moderate response was observed in 96.9% of patients at 12 months based on EPOS 2020 criteria. Conclusions Our findings from this large-scale real-life study support the effectiveness of dupilumab as an add-on therapy in patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP in reducing polyp size and improving the quality of life, severity of symptoms, nasal congestion, and smell

Les droits disciplinaires des fonctions publiques : « unification », « harmonisation » ou « distanciation ». A propos de la loi du 26 avril 2016 relative à la déontologie et aux droits et obligations des fonctionnaires

The production of tt‾ , W+bb‾ and W+cc‾ is studied in the forward region of proton–proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98±0.02 fb−1 . The W bosons are reconstructed in the decays W→ℓν , where ℓ denotes muon or electron, while the b and c quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions.The production of $t\overline{t}$, $W+b\overline{b}$ and $W+c\overline{c}$ is studied in the forward region of proton-proton collisions collected at a centre-of-mass energy of 8 TeV by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.98 $\pm$ 0.02 \mbox{fb}^{-1}. The $W$ bosons are reconstructed in the decays $W\rightarrow\ell\nu$, where $\ell$ denotes muon or electron, while the $b$ and $c$ quarks are reconstructed as jets. All measured cross-sections are in agreement with next-to-leading-order Standard Model predictions

LHCb upgrade software and computing : technical design report

This document reports the Research and Development activities that are carried out in the software and computing domains in view of the upgrade of the LHCb experiment. The implementation of a full software trigger implies major changes in the core software framework, in the event data model, and in the reconstruction algorithms. The increase of the data volumes for both real and simulated datasets requires a corresponding scaling of the distributed computing infrastructure. An implementation plan in both domains is presented, together with a risk assessment analysis

Physics case for an LHCb Upgrade II - Opportunities in flavour physics, and beyond, in the HL-LHC era

The LHCb Upgrade II will fully exploit the flavour-physics opportunities of the HL-LHC, and study additional physics topics that take advantage of the forward acceptance of the LHCb spectrometer. The LHCb Upgrade I will begin operation in 2020. Consolidation will occur, and modest enhancements of the Upgrade I detector will be installed, in Long Shutdown 3 of the LHC (2025) and these are discussed here. The main Upgrade II detector will be installed in long shutdown 4 of the LHC (2030) and will build on the strengths of the current LHCb experiment and the Upgrade I. It will operate at a luminosity up to 2×1034 cm−2s−1, ten times that of the Upgrade I detector. New detector components will improve the intrinsic performance of the experiment in certain key areas. An Expression Of Interest proposing Upgrade II was submitted in February 2017. The physics case for the Upgrade II is presented here in more depth. CP-violating phases will be measured with precisions unattainable at any other envisaged facility. The experiment will probe b → sl+l−and b → dl+l− transitions in both muon and electron decays in modes not accessible at Upgrade I. Minimal flavour violation will be tested with a precision measurement of the ratio of B(B0 → μ+μ−)/B(Bs → μ+μ−). Probing charm CP violation at the 10−5 level may result in its long sought discovery. Major advances in hadron spectroscopy will be possible, which will be powerful probes of low energy QCD. Upgrade II potentially will have the highest sensitivity of all the LHC experiments on the Higgs to charm-quark couplings. Generically, the new physics mass scale probed, for fixed couplings, will almost double compared with the pre-HL-LHC era; this extended reach for flavour physics is similar to that which would be achieved by the HE-LHC proposal for the energy frontier