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 five original research questions related to moral judgments, negotiations, and implicit cognition. Participants from 2 separate large samples (total N > 15,000) were then randomly assigned to complete 1 version of each study. Effect sizes varied dramatically across different sets of materials designed to test the same hypothesis: Materials from different teams rendered statistically significant effects in opposite directions for 4 of 5 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 2 hypotheses and a lack of support for 3 hypotheses. Overall, practically none of the variability in effect sizes was attributable to the skill of the research team in designing materials, whereas 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.info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersio

Incidence, clinical characteristics and management of inflammatory bowel disease in Spain: large-scale epidemiological study

(1) Aims: To assess the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Spain, to describe the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and the evolution of the disease, and to explore the use of drug treatments. (2) Methods: Prospective, population-based nationwide registry. Adult patients diagnosed with IBD—Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD unclassified (IBD-U)—during 2017 in Spain were included and were followed-up for 1 year. (3) Results: We identified 3611 incident cases of IBD diagnosed during 2017 in 108 hospitals covering over 22 million inhabitants. The overall incidence (cases/100, 000 person-years) was 16 for IBD, 7.5 for CD, 8 for UC, and 0.5 for IBD-U; 53% of patients were male and median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 31–56 years). During a median 12-month follow-up, 34% of patients were treated with systemic steroids, 25% with immunomodulators, 15% with biologics and 5.6% underwent surgery. The percentage of patients under these treatments was significantly higher in CD than UC and IBD-U. Use of systemic steroids and biologics was significantly higher in hospitals with high resources. In total, 28% of patients were hospitalized (35% CD and 22% UC patients, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusion: The incidence of IBD in Spain is rather high and similar to that reported in Northern Europe. IBD patients require substantial therapeutic resources, which are greater in CD and in hospitals with high resources, and much higher than previously reported. One third of patients are hospitalized in the first year after diagnosis and a relevant proportion undergo surgery. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Effect of different coating-forming agents on the efficacy of the biocontrol agent Candida sake CPA-1 for control of Botrytis cinerea on grapes

[EN] Multiple formulations of known biocontrol agent (BCA) Candida sake, containing different coatingforming polymers and surfactants were tested at different polymer:BCA ratios, in order to improve control of Botrytis cinerea on grapes. The BCA cell viability on the grape surface was analyzed and reduction in disease incidence and severity was determined. Coating-forming solids improved the survival and effi- cacy of C. sake as a BCA against B. cinerea, depending on the polymer type and ratio. The incorporation of surfactants did not improve survival or disease control, although they promoted a better cell dispersion on the grape surface. Cell growth of the antagonist during incubation led to the formation of aggregates, even when surfactants were present. Sodium caseinate and starch were the most suitable polymers to formulate C. sake preparations to obtain coating-forming systems with this BCA and to increase its survival and efficacy at the minimum economic cost of the ingredients. 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reservedThe authors are grateful to the Spanish Government for the financial support from the national project RTA2012-00067-C02 (Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria, Spain and FEDER founds) and to the Conselleria d'Educacio of the Generalitat Valenciana, (Spain) for A. Marin's PhD grant.Marín-Gozalbo, A.; Cháfer Nácher, MT.; Atarés Huerta, LM.; Chiralt, A.; Torres, R.; Usall, J.; Teixidó, N. (2016). Effect of different coating-forming agents on the efficacy of the biocontrol agent Candida sake CPA-1 for control of Botrytis cinerea on grapes. Biological Control. 96:108-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2016.02.012S1081199

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

Espacio y territorios: razón, pasión e imaginarios

En este caleidoscopio de acercamientos hacia lo espacial y territorial, las visiones se mueven desde aquellas románticas y existencialistas, pasando por aquellas objetivistas y positivistas, hasta las estructuralistas y postestructuralistas. Por el espacio y el territorio se interesan con enfoques diversos numerosas disciplinas, desde la psicología, la etología o la literatura, y las ciencias naturales como la biología o la ecología, hasta las ciencias sociales y políticas, como la geografía, la antropología, la economía y la sociología. Este interés multidisciplinario demuestra la importancia y la complejidad del tema espacial y territorial, y reclama la necesidad de su estudio y comprensión interdisciplinarios, como se intenta con esta publicación

Occurrence and predominance of the fish killer Cochlodinium polykrikoides on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Water samples were collected at several points along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica (10°00’N, 84°15’E) fortnightly from January 2003 to June 2004. During this period, dense red-ochre discolourations dominated byCochlodinium polykrikoides were observed, particularly over the dry season. In 2003, the highest cell density of 1.75 X 108 cells l–1 was observed in October. During April and June 2004, extensive blooms werepresent, with the highest cell density (3.8 X 108 cells l–1) occurring in April. These blooms were accompanied by a strong fetid odour and large quantities of yellow foam. Fish mortalities also occurred near some coastalareas. The observed discolourations tended to be associated with the strongest north-west winds on the North Pacific coast of Costa Rica. To date, blooms caused by C. polykrikoides have been increasing infrequency and in extent. The previously unreported high cell densities and the increase in the duration and extent of these harmful algal blooms suggest that the environmental conditions have changed to the benefitof C. polykrikoides over other phytoplankton species that usually bloom at that time of year. The fish mortalities associated with C. polykrikoides blooms are cause for concern, as are the possible environmentalchanges contributing to the production of these extensive blooms

Effect of organic nitrogen and carbon mineralization on sediment organic matter accumulation in fish ponds

In aquaculture, ponds with high loads of organic inputs, organic matter accumulates at the bottom over time. Uneaten feed, senescent phytoplankton and faeces are the principal sources of accumulated material, but quantifications are scarce. The sedimented organic matter develops into a flocculent layer in which different processes transform the material into inorganic forms. A better understanding of factors influencing organic matter accumulation/decomposition in the sediment is needed to better understand and manage the dynamics of nitrogen in fish ponds. In this study, the rate of mineralization of organic nitrogen and the nitrogen flux between the sediment and the water column were measured. Organic matter accumulation in fish ponds was quantified, and the data were used to construct, calibrate and validate a dynamic simulation model of organic matter deposition/decomposition in fish ponds. The accumulating material consisted of dead phytoplankton, fish faeces and uneaten feed. Through model calibration, the proportion of these materials in the total accumulated organic matter was determined. In the model, gross photosynthetic rate was estimated from an empirical relationship with feed input. After calibration, the model was validated using independent data. The model simulated well the concentrations of organic carbon and nitrogen in the sediments but it may be developed further, especially by considering the effects of resuspensio

Comparison of sucrose with glucose in oral therapy of infant diarrhea

artículo (arbitrado), Universidad de Costa Rica, Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA). 1978. Este documento es privado debido a limitaciones de derechos de autor.In a randomised double-blind trial, 51 5-10% dehydrated infants were rehydrated with oral electrolyte solutions containing sucrose or glucose. Most infants in both groups were successfuUy rehydrated, but the sucrose solution produced a slower correction of electrolyte abnormalities and a higher percentage of patients who needed more than 24 h of therapy. Where there is adequate knowledge of the oral therapy method sucrose can substitute for glucose in many cases; wbere there is a choice glucose is recommended. THERE is controversy over the relative merits of sucrose and glucose in sugar-electrolyte solutions for oral replacement of diarrhoeal fluid-losses. While both solutions can reduce intravenous fluid needs, 1-4 children! and adults%" receiving the sucrose solution have tended to have more diarrhoea. No controlled trial of sucrose versus glucose has beenreported in infants, who form the majority of patients with acute dehydrating diarrheea, and no trial has compared the two oral solutions without any intravenous fluids in patients with significant dehydration. Because of the importance to government health planners of establishing the relative merits of the two solutions, they were compared in a controlled double-blind clinical trial at the National Children's Hospital, San Jose, Costa Rica.The Narional Children's Hospital and The Institute for Health Research. Univerrsity of Costa Rica, and the Center for Vaccine Development, Division of Infections Diseases. University Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA