bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WITHDRAWN: Comparison of 0.05% cyclosporine and 3% diquafosol solution for dry eye patients: A randomized, blinded, multicenter clinical trial
Authors: Park Chang Hyun , Lee Hyung Keun , Kim Mee Kum , Kim Eun Chul , Kim Jae Yong , Kim Tae-im , Kim Hong Kyun , Song Jong Suk , Yoon Kyung-Chul , Lee Do Hyung , Chung Tae-Young , Choi Chul Young , Kim Hyun Seung
Published: June 2019

Background
This study is aim to compare the clinical effectiveness between the two most prominent dry eye disease (DED)-specific eye drops, 0.05% cyclosporine (CN) and 3% diquafosol (DQ).

Methods
This is a multi-centered, randomized, masked, prospective clinical study. A total of 153 DED patients were randomly allocated to use CN twice per day or DQ six times daily. Cornea and conjunctival staining scores (NEI scale), tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test scores, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score were measured at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks after treatment.

Results
At 12 weeks after treatment, NEI scaled scores were significantly reduced from the baseline by -6.60 for CN and -6.63 for DQ group (all P<0.0001, P=0.9739 between groups). TBUT and Schirmer values for CN were significantly improved from the baseline at 4 and 12 weeks (P=0.0034, P<0.0001 for TBUT, P=0.0418, P=0.0031 for Schirmer test). However, for DQ, TBUT showed significant improvement at 12 weeks only (P=0.0281). Mean OSDI score differences from the baseline to 12 weeks were improved by -13.03±19.63 for CN and -16.11±20.87 for DQ, respectively (all P<0.0001, P=0.854 between groups). Regarding drug compliance, the mean instillation frequency of CN was less than that of DQ (P<0.001). There were no statistically significant intergroup differences in safety evaluation.

Conclusions
The level of improvement regarding NEI, TBUT, and OSDI scores were not significantly different between the two treatment groups. However, with regards to the early improvement of TBUT and patient compliance, patients using CN improved faster and with greater adherence to drug usage than did those treated with DQ.
Sanjin tablets for acute uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (syndrome of dampness-heat in the lower jiao): protocol for randomized, double-blind, double dummy, parallel control of positive drug, multicentre clinical trial
Authors: Lyu Jian , Xie Yan-ming , Gao Zhan , Shen Jian-wu , Deng Yue-yi , Xiang Song-tao , Gao Wen-xi , Zeng Wen-tong , Zhang Chun-he , Yi Dan-hui , Wang Lian-xin , Wang Zhi-fei
Published: June 2019

Background Acute uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections. Patients usually present with dysuria, urinary urgency, urinary frequency and suprapubic pain or tenderness. Approximately 150 million people are diagnosed with UTI each year worldwide. The high recurrence rate of lower UTI is a common problem of clinical treatment. The misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of a number of resistant bacterial strains. Thus, traditional Chinese medicine is considered as an alternative option for treating acute uncomplicated lower UTI. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sanjin tablets (SJT) for the treatment of acute uncomplicated lower UTI; explore whether SJT can reduce or substitute the use of antibiotics and reduce the recurrence rate in the treatment of acute uncomplicated lower UTI. Methods/design In this study, a randomized, double blind, double dummy, parallel control of positive drug, multicentre clinical study will be established. A total of 252 patients with acute uncomplicated lower UTI (syndrome of dampness-heat in the lower jiao) will be randomly allocated in the ratio of 1:1:1 to three groups: experimental group, control group 1 and control group 2. The experimental group receives Sanjin tablets plus levofloxacin tablets (LT) placebo; the control group 1 receives LT plus SJT placebo; and the control group 2 receives SJT plus LT on the first 5 days, SJT plus LT placebo on the last 2 days. Each group will be treated for 7 days and followed-up for 1-2 times. The primary outcome measures of effective rate and recurrence rate are symptoms. Secondary outcome measures of effective rate and recurrence rate are the urine leukocyte, bacteriology examination and safety assessment. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after treatment. Discussion This study protocol will provide the research data of efficacy and safety of SJT for the treatment of acute uncomplicated lower UTI. The first aim is to determine whether Sanjin tablets can reduce the use of antibiotics; the second aim is to determine whether Sanjin tablets can substitute the use of antibiotics. The recurrence rate will be assessed after cured to determine whether SJT can reduce the recurrence rate. The results of this study will improve the rational use of drugs, especially the rational application of antibiotics. It will also enable safety evaluation from laboratory indices and adverse events, which will provide reliable evidence for clinical treatment. Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov, NCT03658291. Registered on 4 September 2018.
Effects of Different Doses of Magnesium Sulfate on Pneumoperitoneum-related Hemodynamic Changes in Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Laparoscopy
Authors: Tan Wei , Qian Dong-chen , Zheng Meng-meng , Lu Xuan , Han Yuan , Qi Dun yi
Published: June 2019

Background: The infusion of magnesium sulfate is well known to reduce arterial pressure and attenuate hemodynamic response to pneumoperitoneum. This study aimed to investigate whether different doses of magnesium sulfate can effectively attenuate the pneumoperitoneum-related hemodynamic changes and the release of vasopressin in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery.
Methods: Sixty-nine patients undergoing laparoscopic partial gastrectomy were randomized into three groups: group L received magnesium sulfate 30 mg/kg loading dose and 15 mg/kg/h continuous maintenance infusion for 1 h; group H received magnesium sulfate 50 mg/kg followed by 30 mg/kg/h for 1 h; and group S (control group) received same volume 0.9% saline infusion, immediately before the induction of pneumoperitoneum. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR), cardiac output (CO), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), central venous pressure(CVP), serum vasopressin and magnesium concentrations were measured. The extubation time, visual analogue scale were also assessed. The primary outcome is the difference in SVR between different groups. The secondary outcome is the differences of other indicators between groups, such as CO, MAP, HR, CVP, vasopressin and postoperative pain score.
Results: Pneumoperitoneum instantly resulted in a significant reduction of cardiac output and an increase in mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, central venous pressure and heart rate in the control group (P < 0.01). The mean arterial pressure (T2 – T4), systemic vascular resistance (T2 – T3), central venous pressure(T3-T5) and the level of serum vasopressin were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and the cardiac output (T2 – T3) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group H than those in the control group. The mean arterial pressure (T4) , systemic vascular resistance (T2) and central venous pressure(T3-T4) were significantly lower in group H than those in group L (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the visual analogue scales at 5 min and 20 min, the level of vasopressin, and the dosage of remifentanil were significantly decreased in group H compared to the control group and group L (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Magnesium sulfate could safely and effectively attenuate the pneumoperitoneum-related hemodynamic instability during gastrointestinal laparoscopy and improve postoperative pain at serum magnesium concentrations above 2 mmol/L.
Abscisic Acid Application Affects Color and Acceptance of the New Hybrid ‘BRS Melodia’ Seedless Grape Grown in a Subtropical Region
Authors: Koyama Renata , Colombo Ronan Carlos , Silva Borges Wellington Fernando , Silvestre João Pedro , Hussain Ibrar , Shahab Muhammad , Ahmed Saeed , Prudencio Sandra Helena , Teodoro de Souza Reginaldo , Roberto Sergio Ruffo
Published: June 2019

The application of S-ABA enantiomer to clusters of poor pigmentation cultivars can improve grape color. The aim of this study was to assess whether S-ABA applied to clusters of the new hybrid ‘BRS Melodia’ seedless grape can improve its color characteristics and to evaluate the consumer acceptance. The following treatments were evaluated: Control; S-ABA at 200 mg·L−1 7 days after veraison (DAV); S-ABA at 400 mg·L−1 7 DAV; S-ABA at 200 mg·L−1 7 DAV + 200 mg·L−1 21 DAV; and S-ABA at 400 mg·L−1 7 DAV + 400 mg·L−1 21 DAV. To apply the treatments, clusters were sprayed using a backpack sprayer until runoff. The exogenous application of S-ABA significantly improves the color of berries of ‘BRS Melodia’ seedless grape, particularly at a concentration of 400 mg·L−1 in two applications, at 7 DAV and 21 DAV, resulting in clusters with greater consumer acceptance through visual-sensory analysis. Regardless of concentration or application timing, there was no change in the physicochemical characteristics of the berries or clusters, nor in the number of shoots per cane or clusters per shoot in the season after its application.
Phenotypic Variations and Heritability in Hybrid Populations of Bearded Iris
Authors: Fan Zhuping , Gao Yike , Guo Ling , Cao Ying , Liu Rong , Zhang Qixiang
Published: June 2019

Bearded iris (Iris ×hybrida Hort.) is a large horticultural hybrid complex in the Iris genus, and the lack of understanding about its inheritance laws has seriously hindered the breeding process. From parental bearded iris ‘Indian Chief’ and ‘Sugar Blues’, four hybrid populations—including F1, F2, BC1P1, and BC1P2—were generated through hybridization. Fifteen key phenotypic traits, including plant height (PH), scape height (SH), length of fall (LF), width of fall (WF), length of standard (LS), width of standard (WS), and so on, were measured, and several genetic parameters (e.g., trait variation, heritability, trait correlation, distribution of flower color) were analyzed. The variation of phenotypic traits indicated that the F1 generation could produce larger flowers and a greater number of blooming stems than other generations, whereas backcrossing was beneficial at producing more flowers on one scape in the offspring of ‘Indian Chief’ and ‘Sugar Blues’. WF had the greatest broad-sense heritability (73.91%) among the 15 phenotypic traits, whereas the broad-sense heritability of SH was the lowest (2.06%). The correlation between a vegetative trait (PH) and a reproductive trait (WS) provided a path to early selection of germplasm. Furthermore, four important floral traits (LF, WF, LS, and WS) also correlated significantly to each other, thus simplifying the selection of larger flowers. Genes regulating fuchsia flower color were dominant over those for bluish purple flowers. Genetic effects of flower color in recurrent parents could be reinforced by backcrossing, thereby providing a potential way to modify flower color through hybridization.
Biotechnological approaches for production of bioactive secondary metabolites in Nigella sativa: an up-to-date review
Authors: KAZMİ Abeer , KHAN Mubarak Ali , ALİ Huma
Published: June 2019

Medicinal and aromatic plants and their refined natural products have gained global attraction for their therapeutic potential against many human diseases. Nigella sativa is a medicinally important plant, commonly known as Black cumin or Black seed is a dicotyledon plant of the Ranunculaceae family. It is in common use for a longer time in history as preservative and spice and has also been extensively utilized by different communities around the globe. Black cumin has been an eminent component of traditional medicine systems like Unani and Tibb, Ayurveda and Siddha. Its biological activities include antidiarrheal, analgesic, antibacterial, liver tonic, diurectic, digestive agent and to treat several skin disorders. Furthermore, the therapeutic properties also include antidiabetic, anticancer, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, spasmolytic and bronchodialator. This is all because of its miraculous healing power that it has been ranked as top ranked, among evidence based herbal medicines. The literature supports that the pharmacological activities of Nigella sativa are mainly because of the essential oil and its constituents particularly thymoquinone. The current review is an attempt to present a detailed literature survey regarding chemical composition, phytochemistry, therapeutic potential and biotechnological approaches to enhance the medicinal potential of this valuable plant.
The Effectiveness of Video Modelling to Teach Hotel Housekeeping Skills to Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: DEĞİRMENCİ H. Deniz , ÖZEN Arzu
Published: June 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of video modelling in teaching hotel house-keeping skills
to adults with intellectual disabilities and to assess the acquisition of video-based non-target information. A
multiple probe across behaviours design was used. 4 adults with intellectual disabilities participated in the study.
Baseline, probe, intervention, maintenance and generalization sessions were conducted. Results indicated that
video modelling was effective in teaching hotel house-keeping skills to adults with intellectual disabilities.
Moreover, the acquired hotel house-keeping skills were maintained over time and generalized across settings and
materials. The assessment of video based non-target skills data showed that participants acquired the non-target
information with the range from 33% to 100%. In conclusion video modelling can be used effectively in teaching
vocational skills to adults with intellectual disabilities.
Robust booster chlorination in water distribution systems: design and operational perspectives under uncertainty
Authors: Nono Denis , Basupi Innocent
Published: June 2019

Booster chlorination designs have been widely based on predefined (deterministic) network conditions and they perform poorly under uncertainty in water distribution systems (WDSs). This paper presents a scenario-based robust optimisation approach which was developed to obtain booster chlorination designs that withstand uncertain network operations and water demand conditions in the WDSs. An optimisation problem was formulated to minimise mass injection rates and the risk of chlorine disinfection. This problem was solved by a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). The proposed approach was demonstrated using the Phakalane network in Botswana. The results present robust booster chlorination (RBC) designs, which indicate the number of boosters, locations and injection rates in the network. The performance of RBC designs evaluated under uncertainty reveals lower risks of chlorine disinfection compared to deterministic-based designs. The proposed approach obtains booster chlorination designs that respond better to uncertainty in the operations of WDSs.
Development of a risk-based tool for groundwater well rehabilitation and replacement decisions
Authors: Güngör-Demirci Gamze , Lee Juneseok , Keck Jonathan , Harrison Stephen J. , Bates Geoffrey
Published: June 2019

Groundwater wells are critical drinking water infrastructure elements that widely support basic system supply needs while also providing supply reliability, better water quality (in some cases), and comparatively lower operational costs. Well rehabilitation and replacement are thus an area where water utilities could benefit from rational decision support frameworks and quantitative tools that enable them to better navigate the complex trade-off relationship(s) that exist among a variety of environmental quality, public health, financial, regulatory, organizational, and technological dimensions. Consistent with these considerations, a business risk-based prioritization tool was developed for this study that augments/extends California Water Service (Cal Water)'s well rehabilitation and the replacement decision-making process. For this derivation, a business risk exposure methodology is combined with an analytical hierarchy process (AHP), with the AHP being utilized to determine the weights of the factors involved in the likelihood of failure and the consequence of failure calculation. It is expected that the new tool will assist in optimizing inspection and action plans and identify the wells requiring attention and/or additional work for water utilities.
Comprehensive review on wastewater discharged from the coal-related industries – characteristics and treatment strategies
Authors: Maiti Deblina , Ansari Iqbal , Rather Mohd Ashraf , Deepa Arukula
Published: June 2019

Wastewaters discharged from various coal-related activities deteriorate fresh water quality and inflict possibilities of groundwater contamination. Their characteristics mostly depend on the parent coal properties, though some of the pollutants are cyanide, thiocyanate, ammonia, phenol, heavy metals and suspended solids. This paper has reviewed the treatment techniques along with the characteristics of all such kinds of wastewater and also identified the challenges and future perspectives. Primarily, demineralization of coal can attenuate and control release of pollutants in wastewaters if implemented successfully. Mine water from non-lignite mines can be purified using simple techniques, for its reutilization. Acidic mine water and leachates can be treated using passive bioreactors with microbial activity, different organic substrates and limestone drains. Additionally bio-electrochemical systems, membranes, macrocapsules, zeolite filters, ores, physical barriers, and aquatic plants can also be used at various stages. Coal washery wastewater can be treated using natural coagulants obtained from plant extracts along with conventional coagulants. Nitrification and denitrification bacteria fixed in reactors along with activated carbon and zero-valent iron can treat coke oven wastewater. Some other sophisticated techniques are vacuum distillation, super critical oxidation, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis. Practical use of these methods, wisely in an integrated way, can reduce freshwater consumption.
Improvement of the process of removing phosphorus from high-phosphorus distillery effluent by ferric chloride using response surface methodology and three-step method
Authors: Li Shengjian , Lei Ting , Jiang Fang , Miao Changlin , Yang Xiangjun , Wang Shixiong , Tang Lihong
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study was to optimize the coagulation–flocculation effect of a wastewater treatment system using the response surface methodology (RSM) and three-step method to minimize phosphorus concentration in the distillate wastewater. In order to minimize the concentration of total phosphorus (TP), experiments were carried out using -factorial designs with three levels and three factors. A Box–Behnken design, which is the standard design of RSM, was used to evaluate the effects and interactions of three major factors (Fe:P (w/w) ratio, coagulation pH and fast mixing speed (FMS)) on the treatment efficiency. A multivariable quadratic model developed for studying the response indicated that the values for optimum conditions for Fe:P (w/w) ratio, coagulation pH and FMS were 2.40, 6.48 and 100 rev min−1, respectively. Under optimal process conditions, the TP concentration in the distillery effluent was reduced from 10 mg L−1 to 0.215 mg L−1, representing a removal efficiency of 97.85%. Based upon the statistical evaluation of results, it is inferred that RSM can be used as an appropriate approach to optimize the coag-flocculation process. Meanwhile, the study has shown that, for the equivalent dose of ferric chloride, the average three-step effect is better than that of the one-time addition.
Diversified Thiazole Substituted Coumarins and Chromones as Non- Cytotoxic ROS and NO Inhibitors
Authors: Salar Uzma , Khan Khalid Mohammed , Jabeen Almas , Hussain Shafquat , Faheem Aisha , Naqvi Farwa , Perveen Shahnaz
Published: June 2019

Background:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin,
indomethacin, flufenamic acid and phenylbutazone are used to treat most of the inflammatory
disorders. These NSAIDs are also associated with serious side effects including gastric ulceration,
nephrotoxicity, and bleeding, mainly due to acidic nature. Hence, there is a need to identify highly
potent and safer treatment for inflammatory disorders.

Methods:

Herein, synthetic hydrazinyl thiazole substituted coumarins and chromones 1-48 were
evaluated for ROS inhibitory activity. ROS were generated from zymosan activated whole blood
phagocytes.

Results:

Among all tested compounds, compounds 1 (IC50 = 38.3 ± 7.1 μM), 2 (IC50 = 5.7 ±
0.2 μM), 5 (IC50 = 28.3 ± 3.5 μM), 23 (IC50 = 12.5 ± 3.1 μM), 27 (IC50 = 32.8 ± 1.1 μM), 39 (IC50 =
20.2 ± 1.6 μM), and 42 (IC50 = 43.2 ± 3.8 μM) showed potent ROS inhibition as compared to
standard ibuprofen (IC50 = 54.3 ± 1.9 μM). Whereas, compounds 3 (IC50 = 134.7 ± 1.0 μM), 16
(IC50 = 75.4 ± 7.2 μM), 24 (IC50 = 102.4 ± 1.0 μM), and 31 (IC50 = 86.6 ± 1.5 μM) were found to be
moderately active. Compounds 1, 2, 5, 23, 27, 39, and 42, having potent ROS inhibitory activity
were also screened for their nitric oxide (NO) inhibition. Cytotoxicity was also checked for all active
compounds on NIH-3T3 cell line. Cyclohexamide (IC50 = 0.13 ± 0.02 μM) was used as standard.

Conclusion:

Identified active compounds from these libraries may serve as lead candidates for future
research in order to obtain a more potent, and safer anti-inflammatory agent.
Review of Diabetic Polyneuropathy: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management According to the Consensus of Egyptian Experts
Authors: Amara Fahmy , Hafez Sherif , Orabi Abbas , El Etriby Adel , Abdel Rahim Aly Ahmed , Zakaria Ebtissam , Koura Farouk , Talaat Farouk Mohamed , Gawish Hanan , Attia Ihab , Abdel Aziz Mohamed Fahmy , El Hefnawy Mohamed Hesham Mohamed Fahmy , Kamar Mohamed , Halawa Mohamed Reda , El-Sayed Mohamed Shawky , El Kafrawy Nabil Abdelfatah , Khalil Samir Helmy Assaad , Assaad Samir Naem
Published: June 2019

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a complex and multifactorial entity in which various
factors besides hyperglycemia play an important role. Symptoms of DPN are sensory, motor or autonomic.
Intensive research proved that oxidative stress is the common denominator for the four major
destructive pathways of hyperglycemia including increased hexosamine pathway flux, activation of
Protein kinase-C (PKC) pathway, increased Advanced Glycated End-products (AGEs) formation, and
increased Polyol Pathway flux. National data in Egypt confirms that more than 60% of Egyptian
diabetic patients suffer from neuropathy. The most common complications of DPN are Cardiac
Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN), diabetic foot and ulcers, neuromuscular disability, and anxiety. In
addition, DPN affects the Quality of Life (QoL). According to common clinical practice, the common
diagnostic tools are bed-side diagnosis and electrophysiological tests. Early diagnosis is critical to
improve the prognosis of DPN and therapeutic intervention in the early phase. In this review, we provide
a clear understanding of the pathogenesis, early diagnosis and the good management of DPN.
Since the pathogenesis of DPN is multifactorial, its management is based on combination therapy of
symptomatic; either pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatments, and pathogenic treatment.
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a potent anti-oxidant that has several advantages as a pathogenic treatment
of DPN. So, in clinical practice, ALA may be prescribed for patients with early neuropathic deficits and
symptoms. Patient education has an important role in the managemement of DPN.
Videofluoroscopic and Manometric Evaluation of Oropharyngeal and Esophageal Motility Disorders
Authors: Samanci Cesur , Onal Yilmaz , Korman Ugur
Published: June 2019

Background:

Esophageal motility studies are performed in patients who have dysphagia that is not explained by stenosis. Diagnosis can be challenging and requires expertise in the interpretation of tests and symptoms.

Aims:

Our aim is to investigate the diagnostic value of videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) in combination with esophageal manometry.

Study Design: :

This study has a prospective study design.

Methods:

73 patients with dysphagia underwent videofluoroscopy in a standing position. Each subject swallowed barium boluses and findings were correlated with manometry findings.

Results:

The study cohort was categorized into five groups according to their disease as achalasia (31.1%), presbyesophagus (4.1%), scleroderma (5.5%), neurogenic dysphagia (6.8%), and other diseases (54.4%), which included gastroesophageal reflux, diffuse esophageal spasm, cricopharyngeal achalasia, and diseases with nonspecific VFSS patterns. When evaluating VFSS, the perfect agreement was observed between two observers in the final diagnosis. (kappa: 0.91, p<0,001

Conclusion:

Although it does not replace manometry, VFSS is important as an additional useful imaging method in EMDs.
Autoeficácia formativa e envolvimento nos processos de aprendizagem de estudantes portugueses maiores de 23 anos
Authors: Barros Rita , Monteiro Angélica , Sousa Cláudia
Published: June 2019

A aprovação do regime de acesso ao Ensino Superior pela via dos “maiores de 23” constitui um dos principais desafios com que se deparam as Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) portuguesas, que se traduz na necessidade de construção de respostas educativas tendo em conta a heterogeneidade do seu público. O estudo exploratório aqui apresentado tem por objetivo retratar a autoperceção destes estudantes acerca da sua eficácia formativa e o seu envolvimento académico, em função da idade de ingresso no Ensino Superior, assim como explorar a relação entre estas autoperceções, suas dimensões e idade de ingresso no Ensino Superior. Foram recolhidos dados junto de 55 estudantes de duas IES privadas, através de inquéritos por questionário, os quais foram sujeitos a análises descritivas e de regressão linear. Os resultados mostram que é possível diferenciar dois grupos de estudantes em função da idade, até aos 26 anos e mais, sendo que este último se destaca pelo maior envolvimento académico e pela maior autoperceção de eficácia formativa. A discussão destes resultados, à luz dos referenciais teóricos do desenvolvimento da idade adulta, assume particular relevância para a promoção da equidade de acesso e ingresso no Ensino Superior.

Palavras-chave: Ensino Superior; Autoeficácia formativa; Envolvimento académico
Comparing a Tailored Self-Help Mobile App With a Standard Self-Monitoring App for the Treatment of Eating Disorder Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Tregarthen Jenna , Paik Kim Jane , Sadeh-Sharvit Shiri , Neri Eric , Welch Hannah , Lock James
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND

Eating disorders severely impact psychological, physical, and social functioning, and yet, the majority of individuals with eating disorders do not receive treatment. Mobile health apps have the potential to decrease access barriers to care and reach individuals who have been underserved by traditional treatment modalities.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored, fully automated self-help version of Recovery Record, an app developed for eating disorders management. We examined differences in eastin disorder symptom change in app users that were randomized to receive either a standard, cognitive behavioral therapy–based version of the app or a tailored version that included algorithmically determined clinical content aligned with baseline and evolving user eating disorder symptom profiles.

METHODS

Participants were people with eating disorder symptoms who did not have access to traditional treatment options and were recruited via the open-access Recovery Record app to participate in this randomized controlled trial. We examined both continuous and categorical clinical improvement outcomes (measured with the self-report Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire [EDE-Q]) in both intervention groups.

RESULTS

Between December 2016 and August 2018, 3294 Recovery Record app users were recruited into the study, out of which 959 were considered engaged, completed follow-up assessments, and were included in the analyses. Both study groups achieved significant overall outcome improvement, with 61.6% (180/292) of the tailored group and 55.4% (158/285) of the standard group achieving a clinically meaningful change in the EDE-Q, on average. There were no statistically significant differences between randomized groups for continuous outcomes, but a pattern of improvement being greater in the tailored group was evident. The rate of remission on the EDE-Q at 8 weeks was significantly greater in the group receiving the tailored version (d=0.22; P≤.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report to compare the relative efficacy of two versions of a mobile app for eating disorders. The data suggest that underserved individuals with eating disorder symptoms may benefit clinically from a self-help app and that personalizing app content to specific clinical presentations may be more effective in promoting symptomatic remission on the EDE-Q than content that offers a generic approach.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02503098; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02503098.
Comunicación pública de la ciencia y la tecnología: reflexiones desde experiencias de investigación y extension universitaria
Authors: Rodriguez Maria Itati
Published: June 2019

Los esfuerzos por la democratización del conocimiento comenzaron a proponer diálogos genuinos con la sociedad. En este artículo pretendemos destacar la comunicación pública de la ciencia y la tecnología como un espacio de trabajo importante para los comunicadores, no solamente práctico sino también de investigación y producción de conocimientos. En el presente artículo nos proponemos compartir y reflexionar sobre nuestra propuesta para pensar la CPCyT. Luego, cómo estos modos de entender la CPCyT se materializan en dos propuestas académicas: una de extensión y otra de investigación, ancladas en un contexto de enunciación específico, una Universidad periférica considerada de “vacancia” en relación a recursos y formación de recursos humanos.
Relation of Personality to Grades and Grading in Undergraduate Peer Review
Authors: Shaw Jenessa Louise , Cramer Kenneth
Published: June 2019

Peer reviews offer a unique assessment of post-secondary students’ writing, wherein students grade fellow students’ (or peers’) essay submissions according to a provided rubric. Previous research found that students’ personality dimensions were related to the grades that students both gave and received through peer assessment. The present study examined the association between personality factors on grader leniency and grades received during a peer review assignment in an introductory psychology course. Participants completed an online survey to assess academic entitlement, learning/grade orientation, narcissism, and the 5-factor personality traits; these were later joined to peer review grades received and given. Results showed that rater leniency was negatively related to learning orientation, conscientiousness, and grade orientation. Moreover, the strongest predictors of grades received included academic entitlement, conscientiousness, and narcissism. Implications of these findings, plus directions for future research, are discussed.

            Keywords: peer review, rater leniency, personality, academic achievement

 

L’évaluation par les pairs constitue un processus exceptionnel d’évaluation de l’écriture d’étudiants de niveau postsecondaire. Des étudiants notent les rédactions de leurs camarades de classe (leurs « pairs ») en utilisant une grille d’évaluation qui leur est fournie. Des recherches ont montré que les aspects de la personnalité des étudiants ont une incidence sur les notes que ceux-ci donnent ou reçoivent. La présente étude examine le lien entre, d’une part, les facteurs liés à la personnalité et, d’autre part, la clémence des évaluateurs et les notes reçues au cours d’une évaluation par les pairs dans un cours d’introduction à la psychologie. Les participants ont rempli un sondage en ligne pour mesurer leurs attentes en matière de notes, leur intérêt pour l’apprentissage ou pour les notes, leur narcissisme et les cinq traits centraux de la personnalité. Les réponses au sondage ont ensuite été combinées aux évaluations par les pairs que les participants ont rendues et reçues. Les résultats montrent que la clémence de l’évaluateur est liée de façon négative à l’intérêt en matière d’apprentissage, au caractère consciencieux et à l’intérêt pour les notes. Qui plus est, les principaux indicateurs des notes reçues comprennent l’attente de recevoir de bonnes notes, le caractère consciencieux et le narcissisme. L’article examine les conséquences de ces résultats et indique la direction à prendre pour des recherches à venir.

Mots clés : évaluation par les pairs, clémence de l’évaluateur, personnalité, rendement universitaire
Multidisciplinary Team-based Model for Faculty Supports in Online Learning
Authors: Dalton CJ , Thornton Antoinette , Dinsmore Christina , Beyer Wanda , Akiva Keren , King Beverly
Published: June 2019

This study examined the experiences of three new online instructors supported by a multidisciplinary, team-based model of course development and how their experiences may transform their knowledge of teaching and learning. In-depth, individual interviews with instructors during the course development process provided insights into participants’ perspectives. Analysis reveals faculty reflected positively on the overall development process and that they intend to incorporate new understandings in future course design, suggesting that the model provides a solid foundation for online course development and faculty support. Based on a cross-case analysis using Cranton’s (2002) adaptations to transformative learning theory, findings indicated the importance of critical reflection and discourse during the course development process. Lastly, the need for development teams to acknowledge time-management concerns and to consider instructors as novice learners is recognized as an essential requirement to online course development. 

 

La présente étude se penche sur l’expérience de trois nouveaux instructeurs en ligne utilisant un modèle d’élaboration de cours multidisciplinaire fondé sur le travail d’équipe. Nous nous demandons comment cette expérience est susceptible de transformer leur connaissance de l’enseignement et de l’apprentissage. Des entrevues individuelles approfondies avec les instructeurs pendant l’élaboration des cours nous ont permis d’observer le point de vue des participants. Selon notre analyse, les enseignants ont formulé des réflexions positives au sujet du processus d’élaboration dans son ensemble. Ils ont dit vouloir incorporer leurs nouvelles connaissances dans la conception de leurs cours à l’avenir, ce qui suggère que le modèle constitue une assise solide pour l’élaboration de cours en ligne et pour le soutien des enseignants. Fondés sur une analyse transversale faisant usage des adaptations de Cranton (2002) aux théories de l’apprentissage transformationnel, nos résultats mettent en relief l’importance de la réflexion critique et du discours dans le processus d’élaboration des cours. Enfin, nous prenons acte du fait que l’équipe d’élaboration des cours doit prendre en compte les préoccupations en matière de gestion du temps et doit considérer les instructeurs comme des apprenants débutants. Ce sont là des exigences essentielles pour l’élaboration de cours en ligne.
Genanvendt: Et kritisk tilbageblik på digitale metoders konsekvenser for kontroverskortlægningen
Authors: Munk Anders Kristian
Published: June 2019

Digitale metoders centrale postulat er, at vi kan genanvende nettets medier til at sige noget om samfundet i øvrigt. Det gælder ikke mindst indenfor kontroverskortlægningen,hvor digitale medier er blevet væsentlige skuepladser for diskussioner om ny viden og teknologi. Begrebet genanvendelse synes at indebære, at en eksisterende metodisk og analytisk tradition finder nye måder at bruge nogle redskaber på. Vi kan således have en tendens til at spørge, hvordan kontroverskortlægningen har fundet nye anvendelser for værktøjer til eksempelvis mønstergenkendelse eller automatiseret tekstanalyse. I denne artikel argumenterer jeg for, at vi bør stille spørgsmålet om genanvendelse anderledes. Efter 15 år i tæt parløb med nettets indfødte medier og metoder kan vi konstatere, at det også er kontroverskortlægningen selv, der har forandret sig; at det i nogen grad også er den metodiske og analytiske tradition, der er blevet genanvendt til nye formål og i sine nye redskabers billede.

ENGELSK ABSTRACT:

Anders Kristian Munk:
Repurposed: a critical review of digital methods and their consequences for the cartography of controversies

The central claim of digital methods is that we can repurpose online media to make claims about society more generally. This is not least the case in controversy mapping where digital media have become significant arenas for discussions about new knowledge and technology. The concept of repurposing seems to suggest that an existing methodological and analytical tradition is finding new ways of using a set of tools. We can thus have a tendency to ask how controversy mapping has found new applications for tools designed to do for example pattern recognition or automated text analysis. In this paper I argue that we should be approaching the question of repurposing from a different angle. After 15 years of close engagements with the native media and methods of the web it is evident that the practice of controversy mapping has also in itself changed; that it is also, to some extent, the methodological and analytical tradition that has been repurposed under the influence of its new tools.

Keywords: Digital methods, ANT, STS, controversy mapping
Shitstorms, bobler eller sagsorienterede offentligheder? Digitale metoder og kontroverser på sociale medier
Authors: Birkbak Andreas
Published: June 2019

Kontroversen om planerne for en betalingsring i København afstedkom blandt andet en række sider på Facebook. Eksemplet er ikke enestående: Sociale medier lægger i disse år ofte brugerflade til folkelige protester og kontroverser. Sociologien har med digitale metoder fået en række værktøjer til at indsamle data om dem. Flere af de digitale teknikker er formet af et teoretisk udgangspunkt hos Bruno Latour. Artiklen undersøger, hvilke metodiske retningslinjer der følger af en Latour-inspireret forståelse af politik og demokrati. Først afsøges Latours inspirationskilder i den amerikanske pragmatisme. Dernæst diskuteres Noortje Marres’ bud på konsekvenserne for digitale metoder. Endelig analyseres betalingsringskontroversen for at give et eksempel på en undersøgelse med digitale metoder, der tager udgangspunkt i idéen om demokratisk offentlighed som noget, der opstår i anledning af konkrete problematiske sager. Analysen bygger på 4.500 posts og kommentarer fra syv forskellige Facebook-sider om betalingsringen, der opsummeres i en co-wordvisualisering. Artiklen fremfører, at et Latour-inspireret fokus på sagsorienterede offentligheder tilbyder et interessant alternativ til affejende begreber som shitstorms og ekkokamre, og diskuterer de metodiske udfordringer, som tilgangen medfører for digitale metoder. ENGELSK ABSTRACT Andreas Birkbak: Shit storms, bubbles or issue publics? Digital methods and controversies on social media The controversy around plans to introduce congestion charges in Copenhagen included a number of protest pages on Facebook. This is not unique since social media are often used for popular protests these days. With the rise of digital methods, sociology has obtained a number of tools for collecting data about such protests. Several of the digital techniques are inspired by the work of Bruno Latour. This article investigates the methodological challenges that arise from a Latour-inspired understanding of politics and democracy. First, Latour’s inspiration from American pragmatism is explored. Next, Noortje Marres’s arguments about the consequences for digital methods are discussed. Finally, the congestion charge controversy is analyzed in order to provide an example of an inquiry with digital methods that is based on the idea that publics emerge in relation to problematic issues. The analysis is based on 4,500 posts and comments from seven different Facebook pages about the congestion charge controversy. The article argues that a Latour-inspired focus on issue-oriented publics offers an interesting alternative to sweeping concepts like shit storms and echo chambers, and explores the methodological challenges that the approach entails for digital methods. Keywords: Digital methods, Facebook, publics, controversy, Latour, congestion charges
Dataficerede offentligheder – overvejelser over digitale metoder i lyset af den tidlige amerikanske pragmatisme
Authors: Madsen Anders Koed
Published: June 2019

Med afsæt i henholdsvist den amerikanske offentlighedssociologi fra den første halvdel af det 20. Århundrede – samt den vigtigste litteratur indenfor digitale metoder – vil denne artikel fremføre to argumenter. Det første argument er, at offentligheder ikke kan begrebsliggøres isoleret fra de materielle omstændigheder, der giver dem synlighed for sig selv og andre. Det andet argument er, at infrastrukturen omkring digitale spor og digitale metoder åbner for muligheden af at synliggøre – og dermed også begrebsliggøre – den offentlige debat ud fra et mere relationelt of processuelt perspektiv end f.eks. spørgeskemaundersøgelsen. Med afsæt i disse to argumenter introducerer artiklen fire principper, der kan være med til at guide anvendelsen af digitale metoder til at forstå offentlighedsdannelser i en digitalt medieret tid. De fire principper er a) at følge sagsdrevne offentligheder, b) se distinktioner nede fra de symboler, der udveksles af disse offentligheder, c) tage borgeres netværkspositioner med i vurderingen af deres meningers effekt og d) at være opmærksom på temaers intensitet og omskiftelighed over tid. Den praktiske konsekvenser af at følge disse principper vises gennem empiriske erfaringer fra et nyligt overstået datasprint med Teknologirådet.

ENGELSK ABSTRACT:

Anders Koed Madsen:
Data­Publics – reflections on digital methods in the light of early American pragmatism

This article introduces two arguments concerning discussions of digital methods. They are based on US public sociology from the first half of the 20th century and the most important literature within the field of digital methods. The first argument is that publics cannot be understood in isolation from the material conditions that give them visibility both for themselves (intra-public visibility) and for others. The second argument posits that the infrastructure of digital traces and digital methods affords visualizing and conceptualizing public debate from a relational and procedural perspective rather than from employing a questionnaire survey. The article introduces four principles that can help guide the use of digital methods to understand publics in a digitally mediated era. They are: a) follow issue publics, b) use the analytical distinctions from the symbols exchanged by these publics, c) take into account the network positions of citizens when assessing the impact of their opinion, and d) be aware of the intensity and interchangeability of themes over time. The practical consequences following these principles are shown through empirical experiences from a recently held data sprint with the Danish Board of Technology.

Keywords: Digital methods, pragmatism, Chicago-school, publics, surveys, Lazarsfeldt.
Density-based clustering with constraints
Authors: Lasek Piotr , Gryz Jarek
Published: June 2019

In this paper we present our ic-NBC and ic-DBSCAN algorithms for data clustering with constraints. The algorithms are based on density-based clustering algorithms NBC and DBSCAN but allow users to incorporate background knowledge into the process of clustering by means of instance constraints. The knowledge about anticipated groups can be applied by specifying the so-called must-link and cannot-link relationships between objects or points. These relationships are then incorporated into the clustering process. In the proposed algorithms this is achieved by properly merging resulting clusters and introducing a new notion of deferred points which are temporarily excluded from clustering and assigned to clusters based on their involvement in cannot-link relationships. To examine the algorithms, we have carried out a number of experiments. We used benchmark data sets and tested the efficiency and quality of the results. We have also measured the efficiency of the algorithms against their original versions. The experiments prove that the introduction of instance constraints improves the quality of both algorithms. The efficiency is only insignificantly reduced and is due to extra computation related to the introduced constraints.
Reducing energy usage in resource-intensive Java-based scientific applications via micro-benchmark based code refactorings
Authors: Longo Mathias , Rodriguez Ana , Mateos Cristian , Zunino Alejandro
Published: June 2019

In-silico research has grown considerably. Today?s scientific code involves long-running computer simulations and hence powerful computing infrastructures are needed. Traditionally, research in high-performance computing has focused on executing code as fast as possible, while energy has been recently recognized as another goal to consider. Yet, energy-driven research has mostly focused on the hardware and middleware layers, but few efforts target the application level, where many energy-aware optimizations are possible. We revisit a catalog of Java primitives commonly used in OO scientific programming, or micro-benchmarks, to identify energy-friendly versions of the same primitive. We then apply the micro-benchmarks to classical scientific application kernels and machine learning algorithms for both single-thread and multi-thread implementations on a server. Energy usage reductions at the micro-benchmark level are substantial, while for applications obtained reductions range from 3.90% to 99.18%.
A tripartite-graph based recommendation framework for price-comparison services
Authors: Lee Sang-Chul , Kim Sang-Wook , Park Sunju , Chae Dong-Kyu
Published: June 2019

The recommender systems help users who are going through numerous items (e.g., movies or music) presented in online shops by capturing each user?s preferences on items and suggesting a set of personalized items that s/he is likely to prefer [8]. They have been extensively studied in the academic society and widely utilized in many online shops [33]. However, to the best of our knowledge, recommending items to users in price-comparison services has not been studied extensively yet, which could attract a great deal of attention from shoppers these days due to its capability to save users? time who want to purchase items with the lowest price [31]. In this paper, we examine why existing recommendation methods cannot be directly applied to price-comparison services, and propose three recommendation strategies that are tailored to price-comparison services: (1) using click-log data to identify users? preferences, (2) grouping similar items together as a user?s area of interest, and (3) exploiting the category hierarchy and keyword information of items. We implement these strategies into a unified recommendation framework based on a tripartite graph. Through our extensive experiments using real-world data obtained from Naver shopping, one of the largest price-comparison services in Korea, the proposed framework improved recommendation accuracy up to 87% in terms of precision and 129% in terms of recall, compared to the most competitive baseline.