Eleven strategies for making reproducible research and open science training the norm at research institutions

Across disciplines, researchers increasingly recognize that open science and reproducible research practices may accelerate scientific progress by allowing others to reuse research outputs and by promoting rigorous research that is more likely to yield trustworthy results. While initiatives, training programs, and funder policies encourage researchers to adopt reproducible research and open science practices, these practices are uncommon inmanyfields. Researchers need training to integrate these practicesinto their daily work. We organized a virtual brainstorming event, in collaboration with the German Reproducibility Network, to discuss strategies for making reproducible research and open science training the norm at research institutions. Here, weoutline eleven strategies, concentrated in three areas:(1)offering training, (2)adapting research assessment criteria and program requirements, and (3) building communities. We provide a brief overview of each strategy, offer tips for implementation,and provide links to resources. Our goal is toencourage members of the research community to think creatively about the many ways they can contribute and collaborate to build communities,and make reproducible research and open sciencetraining the norm. Researchers may act in their roles as scientists, supervisors, mentors, instructors, and members of curriculum, hiring or evaluation committees. Institutionalleadership and research administration andsupport staff can accelerate progress by implementing change across their institution

Eleven strategies for making reproducible research and open science training the norm at research institutions

Across disciplines, researchers increasingly recognize that open science and reproducible research practices may accelerate scientific progress by allowing others to reuse research outputs and by promoting rigorous research that is more likely to yield trustworthy results. While initiatives, training programs, and funder policies encourage researchers to adopt reproducible research and open science practices, these practices are uncommon inmanyfields. Researchers need training to integrate these practicesinto their daily work. We organized a virtual brainstorming event, in collaboration with the German Reproducibility Network, to discuss strategies for making reproducible research and open science training the norm at research institutions. Here, weoutline eleven strategies, concentrated in three areas:(1)offering training, (2)adapting research assessment criteria and program requirements, and (3) building communities. We provide a brief overview of each strategy, offer tips for implementation,and provide links to resources. Our goal is toencourage members of the research community to think creatively about the many ways they can contribute and collaborate to build communities,and make reproducible research and open sciencetraining the norm. Researchers may act in their roles as scientists, supervisors, mentors, instructors, and members of curriculum, hiring or evaluation committees. Institutionalleadership and research administration andsupport staff can accelerate progress by implementing change across their institution

Techniksoziologische Betrachtung innovativer Energieversorgungs-Strukturen

Der vorliegende Bericht entwickelt potentielle Szenarien mit den sozialen, politischen, öko-nomischen und kulturellen Folgen, die der Bau einer CSP-Anlage in Marokkos Wüste mit sich bringen kann. Ziel der Zusammenarbeit von DLR und Studierenden der Universität Stuttgart ist es, zunächst einen aktuellen Stand über die soziokulturellen Aspekte in Marokko herauszuarbeiten. Im zweiten Schritt wurden dann mit der qualitativen Methode „Szenariotechnik“ mögliche Veränderungen in den Lebens- und Arbeitsbedingungen durch die neue Strom-Infrastruktur abgeleitet. Um den Möglichkeitstrichter der Szenarien möglichst weit aufzuspannen, wurden zunächst mit einer Cross-Impact-Analyse und der Software „SzenarioWizard“ ein positives und negatives Szenario formuliert. Anschließend wurde, gestützt durch zunehmendes Expertenwissen der Seminarteilnehmer, mit den verschiedenen Nachhaltigkeitsdeskriptoren ein möglichst „realistisches“ Szenario erarbeitet. Da sich realistisches und positives Szenario in nur wenigen Deskriptorenausprägungen unterscheiden, wird im Folgenden das, unseres Erachtens nach, realistische Szenario vorgestellt

Identifying End Users' Preferences about Structuring Pharmacogenetic Test Orders in an Electronic Health Record System

Pharmacogenetics (PGx) testing can be used for detecting genetic variations that may affect an individual's anticipated metabolism of, or response to, medications. Although several studies have focused on developing tools for delivering results from PGx testing, there is a relative dearth of information about how to design provider-friendly electronic order-entry systems for PGx. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is preparing to implement a new electronic health records system. In this study, VA PGx test end users were surveyed about their preferences for how electronic test orders for PGx should be structured, including the nomenclature that should be used to search for and identify PGx-test orders, whether to offer single- versus multigene tests, and whether information about test methodology should be included in the order name. Responses were analyzed systematically to identify areas of agreement and disagreement with the survey options, and areas where respondents' opinions diverged. End users endorsed preferences for flexible ways to identify and order PGx tests and multigene panel tests; opinions on whether test methodology should be included in the test name were divergent. The results could be used for both informing the VA's new electronic health records implementation (including how PGx tests are searched for and ordered) and for providing insights for other health systems implementing PGx-testing programs

Hepatocellular loss of mTOR aggravates tumor burden in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related HCC

Obesity and associated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are on the rise globally. NASH became an important driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in recent years. Activation of the central metabolic regulator mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) is frequently observed in HCCs. However, mTOR inhibition failed to improve the outcome of HCC therapies, demonstrating the need for a better understanding of the molecular and functional consequences of mTOR blockade. We established a murine NASH-driven HCC model based on long-term western diet feeding combined with hepatocellular mTOR-inactivation. We evaluated tumor load and whole-body fat percentage via µCT-scans, analyzed metabolic blood parameters and tissue proteome profiles. Additionally, we used a bioinformatic model to access liver and HCC mitochondrial metabolic functions. The tumor burden was massively increased via mTOR-knockout. Several signs argue for extensive metabolic reprogramming of glucose, fatty acid, bile acid and cholesterol metabolism. Kinetic modeling revealed reduced oxygen consumption in KO-tumors. NASH-derived HCC pathogenesis is driven by metabolic disturbances and should be considered separately from those caused by other etiologies. We conclude that mTOR functions as tumor suppressor in hepatocytes especially under long-term western diet feeding. However, some of the detrimental consequences of this diet are attenuated by mTOR blockade