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Photovoice is a research method that changes perceptions of mental health. However, there is a lack of evidence exploring how Photovoice is used in mental health research involving adolescents. Our review aimed to understand the nature and key themes across findings of Photovoice studies exploring mental health among adolescents. We used pre-existing data and updated a search strategy. Popay and colleagues' guidance was used to analyse the studies and the quality of each study was appraised. Our review found that Photovoice studies exploring mental health among adolescents are limited in quality and that Photovoice is a flexible, adaptable, inclusive, and emerging method. Coping; resilience; beliefs about oneself; family; friends; safety; living in a lower socioeconomic area and treatment emerged as key themes across study findings. Our review is the first of its kind and highlights ways Photovoice studies in the future can be developed and is helpful to multiple stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed methods research (MMR) combines multiple traditions, methods, and worldviews to enrich research design and interpretation of data. In this virtual special issue, we highlight the use of MMR within the field of community psychology. The first MMR studies appeared in flagship community psychology journals over 30 years ago (in 1991). To explore the uses of MMR in the field, we first review existing literature by identifying all papers appearing in either Journal of Community Psychology or American Journal of Community Psychology in which the word "mixed" appeared. A total of 88 publications were identified. Many of these papers illustrate the pragmatic use of MMR to evaluate programs and to answer different research questions using different methods. We coded articles based on Green et al.'s classifications of the purpose of the mixing: triangulation, development, complementarity, expansion, and initiation. Complementarity was the most frequently used purpose (46.6% of articles), and nearly a quarter of articles mixed for multiple purposes (23.86%). We also coded for any community psychology values advanced by the use of mixed methods. We outline three themes here with corresponding exemplars. These articles illustrate how MMR can highlight ecological analysis and reconsider dominant, individual‐level paradigms; center participant and community member experiences; and unpack paradoxes to increase the usefulness of research findings. Highlights: Community psychologists have increasingly conducted mixed methods research (MMR).MMR can be used in ways that align with the values and aims of community psychology (CP).MMR in CP can be used to understand context, honor marginalized voices, and unpack paradox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What happens with data when the research process radically involves and engages those who are in the target group? How can we move towards collaborative insights by integrating our participants in the design of research, conduct of work, and, ultimately, its writing and dissemination? And how does this enable us to devise better futures when imagining such futures may be the very problem? Based on experimental research methods with Syrian refugee youth in Jordan, this article discusses how novel ways of engaging target groups in research can help push analyses in new directions. Collaborative methods, we argue, allow for 3 general analytical displacements that may help us work through the protracted nature of much humanitarian intervention and aid work: namely, moves from worldmaking to waymaking, from urgency to discernment, and from the biological to the biographical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review analyzes research over the past 20−25 years in the field of physical chemistry of complexation of humic acids with cations, including radionuclides, in aqueous solutions. Problems have been identified in describing the reactivity of humate complexes with consideration for the objective complexity of the chemical nature of humic acids as one of the main classes of natural organic matter. The main methods of modeling complexation with humic acids, experimental methods for separating humate complexes and unbound cations (ultrafiltration, dialysis, etc.), and direct instrumental (electrochemical and spectroscopic) methods for detecting complexes were considered. Attention was also paid to the practical aspect of using humic acids for the treatment of natural water and wastewater to remove pollutants—heavy metals and radionuclides. Published data on the sorption capacity of humic acids of various origins in relation to heavy metal cations and quantitative data characterizing the stability of humate complexes were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aesthetic morphology does not judge whether a work is good or bad but is a study of form in art that focuses on description, comparison, and stylistic analysis. Aesthetic morphology emphasizes great attention to the discussion of form, content, and style. However, this theory is still general, and there needs to be more research that explicitly discusses how it applies to animated artworks. This research will use the Comprehensive Literature Review (CLR) method. CLR is a methodological approach for critical and in-depth research activities on a particular topic in several stages of the research process. The CLR research process consists of three phases: exploration, interpretation, and dissemination. The result of this research is that the form consists of aspects of animation design, movement and kinetics, and sound and structural design. The content aspect consists of 2 main elements: story and character. Meanwhile, the style aspect is influenced by two main elements, namely the technology used in the production process and the appearance of the animation. The results of this research are expected to be used to explore the characteristics of animation works of certain creators, countries/locations, or periods in the history of the development of the aesthetic form of animation in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Noble Qur’an has spoken at length about reform in general، and the word “reform” is mentioned in the Noble Qur’an in more than one hundred and eighty places. This word، despite its various derivations، is abundant material in which the Book of God، peace and blessings be upon him، abounds. It carries within it multiple colors and various features and methods، in reference to the importance of reform. Reform and its role in overcoming problems and addressing ways of corruption at the individual level or at the societal level، whether in terms of economics، politics، thought، culture، or education. God، may God bless him and grant him peace، has perfected His religion and completed His blessings upon the believers through what He revealed of the Noble Qur’an to the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers، Muhammad (peace be upon him). May God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family to bring people out of darkness into light، and guide them to the straight path of God. God Almighty said: ( There has come to you from Allâh a light and a plain Book (this Qur’ân). Wherewith Allâh guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace، and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to the Straight Way (Islâmic Monotheism) ). ( ) Islam took over the leadership of humanity after the earth was corrupted and humanity tasted the calamities. There are a number of toxins that have crept into our thoughts and must be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on computerized and manual content analyses, we examined the theories, methods, topics, and authors' backgrounds of the empirical articles revolving around politics and media published by Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly (JMCQ) in its 100 years (N = 424). The most common theories are agenda-setting, framing, and selective exposure, and quantitative methods prevail with single-country studies being more prevalent than comparative analyses. A considerable portion of research has focused on political news, particularly during campaigns. Male, U.S.-based authors dominate, but female-authored work has increased in the past decade. Challenges remain to make the research on politics and media in JMCQ more generalizable globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Scalable methods are required for population dietary monitoring. The Supermarket Transaction Records In Dietary Evaluation (STRIDE) study compares dietary estimates from supermarket transactions with an online FFQ. Design: Participants were recruited in four waves, accounting for seasonal dietary variation. Purchases were collected for 1 year during and 1 year prior to the study. Bland–Altman agreement and limits of agreement (LoA) were calculated for energy, sugar, fat, saturated fat, protein and sodium (absolute and relative). Setting: This study was partnered with a large UK retailer. Participants: Totally, 1788 participants from four UK regions were recruited from the retailer's loyalty card customer database, according to breadth and frequency of purchases. Six hundred and eighty-six participants were included for analysis. Results: The analysis sample were mostly female (72 %), with a mean age of 56 years (sd 13). The ratio of purchases to intakes varied depending on amounts purchased and consumed; purchases under-estimated intakes for smaller amounts on average, but over-estimated for larger amounts. For absolute measures, the LoA across households were wide, for example, for energy intake of 2000 kcal, purchases could under- or over-estimate intake by a factor of 5; values could be between 400 kcal and 10000 kcal. LoA for relative (energy-adjusted) estimates were smaller, for example, for 14 % of total energy from saturated fat, purchase estimates may be between 7 % and 27 %. Conclusions: Agreement between purchases and intake was highly variable, strongest for smaller loyal households and for relative values. For some customers, relative nutrient purchases are a reasonable proxy for dietary composition indicating utility in population-level dietary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International treaties are one of the major needs of governments in the contemporary world. Therefore, according to the necessity of international life and the preservation of national interests and international values, every government turns to attracting international treaties. The government of Afghanistan has joined many international treaties. As the United Nations "Treaty Collection" shows, this country has 155 signatures, ratifications and accessions. According to this article, the main question of this article is that, considering the internationalist and state-oriented methods in the field of attracting international treaties, which method has the Afghan government chosen? The research method of this article is a descriptive-analytical method based on library data, which after collecting information and using the existing laws, the topic and problem are analyzed. The findings indicate that the practical procedure of the Afghan government towards attracting international treaties is not exactly according to any of the theories. Simultaneously, the process in the Afghan government in attracting international treaties is an internationalist vision, which has acted as a state-centered way in determining the status of treaties and their implementation. However, in many cases no procedure can be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As bridge structures become older and older, they are subject to wear and tear due to ageing, weather conditions or environmental effects, as well as due to surprise structural modifications substantially affecting the condition of the structures. Therefore, the condition assessment of bridge structures is a must for the safety and absence of risk. The condition assessment of bridge structures is also necessary for the maintenance and repair of existing structures having been in service for more than 30 years, in order to avoid breakdowns and save human lives. This paper states the condition assessment performed with the use of various nondestructive test methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both anxiety and working memory capacity appear to predict increased (more negative) error‐related negativity (ERN) amplitudes, despite being inversely related to one another. Until the interactive effects of these variables on the ERN are clarified, there may be challenges posed to our ability to use the ERN as an endophenotype for anxiety, as some have suggested. The compensatory error monitoring hypothesis suggests that high trait‐anxiety individuals have larger ERN amplitudes because they must employ extra, compensatory efforts to override the working memory demands of their anxiety. Yet, to our knowledge, no ERN study has employed direct manipulation of working memory demands in conjunction with direct manipulations of induced (state) anxiety. Furthermore, little is known about how these manipulations affect other measures of error processing, such as the error‐related pupil dilation response and post‐error behavioral adjustments. Therefore, we manipulate working memory load and anxiety in a 2 × 2 within‐subjects design to examine the interactive effects of working memory load and anxiety on ERN amplitude, error‐related pupil dilation response amplitude, and post‐error behavior. There were no effects of our manipulations on ERN amplitude, suggesting a strong interpretation of compensatory error‐processing theory. However, our worry manipulation affected post‐error behavior, such that worry caused a reduction in post‐error accuracy. Additionally, our working memory manipulation affected error‐related PDR magnitude and the amplitude of the error‐related positivity (Pe), such that increased working memory load decreased the amplitude of these responses. Implications of these results within the context of the compensatory error processing framework are discussed. Working memory load and anxiety appear to influence error‐processing, particularly the error‐related negativity (ERN). However, their interactive effects on error‐processing are still not well understood, particularly in the context of state manipulations. The present study is the first, to our knowledge, to simultaneously manipulate both working memory load and anxiety induction in an ERN paradigm. We also make a novel contribution to the literature by recording simultaneous pupillometry in the same paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trials (SMARTs) are increasing in popularity in behavior science research with over 130 federally funded studies currently active. SMARTs use multiple randomizations to experimentally evaluate the impact of different decisions during an ongoing adaptive intervention. While many aspects of SMARTs are similar to more traditional single-randomization trials, the additional complexity and variability introduced during subsequent randomization requires specificity in reporting. Due to the increase in the application and reporting of SMARTs, this paper serves as a guide to support transparent reporting of adaptive intervention research. Further, these guidelines provide detail to ensure that future meta-analyses examining SMARTs can be robust. We provide recommendations for reporting and how reporting in SMARTs warrant additional detail above and beyond a traditional randomized trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the existing research on organized crime in Africa has emphasised its development and proliferation from state and security perspectives. Such research often relies upon inflated facts for captivating public attention, is fuelled by sensationalist media reports and draws from conceptualisations that give an incomplete picture of the significance of illicit activities, both for the state and their role in enabling and sustaining people's livelihoods. In contrast, this special issue proposes that more empirical research and analysis is needed to reveal the disjunctures between state and on-the-ground perceptions. Greater attention to a bottom-up vision of illicit activities can demonstrate how defining and understanding these practices through such binary terms as legal/illegal does not necessarily indicate how those engaged in them perceive them. Through bringing together a range of contributions from different disciplinary, theoretical and empirical perspectives, this special issue explores the space between official, policy-driven narratives of crime and the realities of the everyday nature of these practices, in a bid to rethink and challenge the 'organized crime' lens through which these activities are increasingly framed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disbudding, removal of the horn buds, is performed for economic and practical reasons: to prevent bullying and injury to other animals (with implications for productivity and carcass damage, respectively) and human safety during handling. Mitigation of pain associated with the disbudding of calves is necessary to limit the pain-stress response that induces altered behavioural and physiologic states. The most common recommendation in Animal Welfare Guidelines is to disbud calves before they attain 2 months of age. From birth to 2 months of age the horn bud is not attached to the skull, which makes the removal of the horn bud and adjacent cells easier. The objectives of this review are to describe (1) the different methods of disbudding, (2) the pain responses associated with each of those methods and (3) how age and pain mitigation strategies affect those responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug overdose claimed more than 100,000 lives in the United States in 2021. Drug‐induced homicide (DIH) laws create specific criminal liability for individuals who provide drugs that cause or contribute to the death of another person. DIH prosecutions in the United States have increased substantially over the past decade despite the absence of meaningful evidence of their individual‐ or community‐level impacts. Recently, Lee et al. analyzed the impact of DIH laws on county‐level opioid overdose mortality across 92 counties in 10 states and concluded that DIH laws are associated with significant reductions in rates of opioid overdose death. In this commentary, we present evidence demonstrating that the Lee et al. study is fundamentally flawed. Specifically, the legal data used by Lee et al. to define their treatment condition (the presence or absence of a state‐level DIH law) is incorrect in almost every aspect. We also describe significant methodological weaknesses, including flawed sampling strategies that resulted in a biased sample of county overdose rates as well as flawed modeling strategies that cannot effectively evaluate the hypothesis that DIH laws negatively impact opioid overdose mortality. More research on the individual‐ and community‐level impacts of DIH laws is needed. In the meantime, we advise policymakers to strengthen state 911 Good Samaritan laws, as DIH laws appear to erode the efficacy of this proven overdose‐prevention strategy. Key points: Drug‐induced homicide laws create specific criminal liability for individuals who provide drugs that cause or contribute to the death of another person and are increasingly used in the United States despite little evidence of their impact on overdose and other harms.This paper critically evaluates a recent paper that analyzed the impact of these laws on county‐level opioid overdose mortality across 92 counties in 10 US states, concluding that these laws are associated with reduced opioid overdose deaths.We present evidence demonstrating that the previous paper is fundamentally flawed, detailing serious errors in the underlying legal research as well as significant methodological weaknesses that render the results of the paper unreliable.Reliable research on the impact of these laws is urgently needed. In the meantime, policymakers are urged to implement policies with robust evidence demonstrating their overdose‐prevention impacts: medications for opioid use disorder, naloxone access, and syringe services programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maps have served as authoritative and trustworthy sources of geospatial information for years. However, maps are increasingly being wielded to spread misinformation due to the democratization of mapmaking, advances in AI, and the emergence of post-truth politics. Trust plays a fundamental role in the spread of misinformation, but our understanding of trust in the context of maps is limited. In this paper, I examine the methodologies employed by empirical studies on trust in maps and synthesize the major findings of said studies. Most of the reviewed studies were experiments that utilized single-item self-reporting Likert-type measures to capture trust. I organized the findings of the studies into six major themes including source, metadata, transparency, uncertainty, design, and information modality. Additionally, I present a research agenda based on the findings and limitations of existing works. This agenda highlights methodological challenges to studying trust in maps and proposes opportunities in the form of research questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dual randomized controlled trials (DRCT) are type 2 hybrid studies that include two randomized trials: one testing implementation strategies and one testing an intervention. We argue that this study design offers efficiency by providing rigorous investigation of both implementation and intervention in one study and has potential to accelerate generation of the evidence needed to translate interventions that work into real-world practice. Nevertheless, studies using this design are rare in the literature. Main text: We construct a paradigm that breaks down the components of the DRCT and provide a step-by-step explanation of features of the design and recommendations for use. A clear distinction is made between the dual strands that test the implementation versus the intervention, and a minimum of three randomized arms is advocated. We suggest an active treatment arm that includes both the implementation strategy and intervention that are hypothesized to be superior. We suggest two comparison/control arms: one to test the implementation strategy and the second to test the intervention. Further, we recommend selection criteria for the two control arms that place emphasis on maximizing the utility of the study design to advance public health practice. Conclusions: On the surface, the design of a DRCT can appear simple, but actual application is complex. We believe it is that complexity that has limited its use in the literature. We hope that this paper will give both implementation scientists and trialists who are not familiar with implementation science a better understanding of the DRCT design and encouragement to use it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein ubiquitylation is a post-translational modification (PTM) process that covalently modifies a protein substrate with either mono-ubiquitin moieties or poly-ubiquitin chains often at the lysine residues. In Arabidopsis, bioinformatic predictions have suggested that over 5% of its proteome constitutes the protein ubiquitylation system. Despite advancements in functional genomic studies in plants, only a small fraction of this bioinformatically predicted system has been functionally characterized. To expand our understanding about the regulatory function of protein ubiquitylation to that rivalling several other major systems, such as transcription regulation and epigenetics, I describe the status, issues, and new approaches of protein ubiquitylation studies in plant biology. I summarize the methods utilized in defining the ubiquitylation machinery by bioinformatics, identifying ubiquitylation substrates by proteomics, and characterizing the ubiquitin E3 ligase-substrate pathways by functional genomics. Based on the functional and evolutionary analyses of the F-box gene superfamily, I propose a deleterious duplication model for the large expansion of this family in plant genomes. Given this model, I present new perspectives of future functional genomic studies on the plant ubiquitylation system to focus on core and active groups of ubiquitin E3 ligase genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most abundant biomass resource in nature, the utilization of renewable aromatic rings contained in lignin has always been the focal point for materials science and chemistry. Many of the current lignin degradation methods need to be carried out under harsh conditions such as extremely high temperatures or high pressures. This leads to the cross‐linking reaction between lignin and depolymerization intermediates to produce solid char. The milder method also requires the use of heating, which may also lead to the polymerization of some intermediates in the reaction to form char. It has been a difficult problem for researchers to find a way to reduce the solid char. This review discusses different methods to avoid or reduce char formation and sedimentation, including thermal degradation, electrochemical catalysis, fungal degradation, and mechanochemical methods. The aim of the review is to help reduce char formation during lignin degradation and to increase the rate of lignin biomass degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geography undergraduate students have broad academic backgrounds; consequently, teaching statistics can be especially challenging. Unfortunately, there is a lack of up-to-date and geography-specific literature on the pedagogies of statistics instruction on an undergraduate geography degree course. In this paper we detail, discuss, and reflect on a range of innovative attempts to improve engagement and attainment. Many of the examples revolve around technological platforms to enhance student engagement, but also to improve and simplify module management, an under-valued part of delivering a team-taught module. We discuss a variety of quizzing platforms as effective ways of engaging students with content, but, also, as a method of scaffolding teaching, whereby student comprehension is gauged, and content is adapted on-the-fly. We also highlight that use of frequent formative quizzing can increase module engagement through a substantive increase in attendance in an era of lecture recording. We also reflect on differences in engagement pre-and-post pandemic. Overall, we highlight the benefit of incorporating technology into teaching geographical statistics, but caution that this must be on a case-by-case basis and should be used for clear pedagogical reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method has been developed for analyzing connectivity between regions based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. This method, termed structural and physiological modeling (SAPM), combines information about blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) responses, anatomy, and physiology to model coordinated signaling across networks of regions, including input and output signaling from each region and whether signaling is predominantly inhibitory or excitatory. The present study builds on a prior proof-of-concept demonstration of the SAPM method by providing evidence for the choice of network model and anatomical sub-regions, demonstrating the reproducibility of the results and identifying statistical thresholds needed to infer significance. The method is further validated by applying it to investigate human nociceptive processing in the brainstem and spinal cord and comparing the results to the known neuroanatomy, including anatomical regions and inhibitory and excitatory signaling. The results of this analysis demonstrate that it is possible to obtain reliable information about input and output signaling from anatomical regions and to identify whether this signaling has predominantly inhibitory or excitatory effects. SAPM provides much more detailed information about neuroanatomy than was previously possible based on fMRI data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researcher has studied analytically the news websites (CNN, BBC, Sky News, Al Arabiya, Sabq, Akhbar Al-Aan, Al Sharq Al Awsat, News 24, Urgent), in terms of formal features, objective characteristics, and the foundations of their news coverage. The study demonstrated the interest of the news sites in using persuasive forms and methods most notably interactive methods, the most prominent of which was the possibility of sharing the news, commenting on it, and the possibility of liking the news, which indicates the interest of the sample of the analytical study in general in the opinions of users and recording their impressions on the news presented. Likewise, these sites used persuasion methods to support the news, primarily; Citing current events and keeping up with events, as well as providing evidence and evidence to support the news which indicates the interest of the sites sampled in the analytical study in attracting users, through technical and objective methods. The analytical study also demonstrated that the most important issue addressed by the news sites was: Political issues, conflicts, demonstrations, and social issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines options for orbit configurations for a space interferometer. In contrast to previously presented concepts for space very long baseline interferometry, we propose a combination of regular and retrograde near-Earth circular orbits in order to achieve a faster filling of (u , v) coverage. With the rapid relative motion of the telescopes, it will be possible to quickly obtain high quality images of supermassive black holes. As a result of such an approach, it will be possible for the first time to conduct high quality studies of the supermassive black hole close surroundings in dynamics. • A new configuration for the space interferometer is proposed. • This configuration uses near-Earth regular and retrograde orbits. • Calculated orbits are stable more than 10 years. • The supermassive black hole can be imaged within 20 h. • Synthetic simulations show observations of black holes are possible in dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For example, the UK has prioritized the collection of high-quality prevalence data of mental disorders among children and youth, disaggregated by key sociodemographic factors, every three years beginning in 2021, acknowledging the importance of routinely collected and timely data for informing policy.[26] Canada faces significant temporal gaps in available mental health data for children and youth. By working closely with provincial/territorial mental health policymakers and people with lived experiences, to understand their collectively informed needs, Canada can ensure that mental health data will be used and will be useful for evidence-informed mental health policies. Int J Popul Data Sci. 2018;3(3):1-11. 17 Orpana H, Vachon J, Dykxhoorn J, McRae L, Jayaraman G. Monitoring positive mental health and its determinants in Canada: the development of the positive mental health surveillance indicator framework. Keywords: surveillance; child and adolescent psychiatry; mental health services; epidemiology; community mental health services; administrative data; population-level surveys; data linkage; methods EN surveillance child and adolescent psychiatry mental health services epidemiology community mental health services administrative data population-level surveys data linkage methods 819 825 7 10/25/23 20231101 NES 231101 Introduction Public health surveillance is defined as the continuous and dynamic process of observing and measuring a target in a specific population over time and space. [Extracted from the article]

Despite six decades of microplastic contamination research, this field struggles to establish clear, universally accepted methods and techniques. Furthermore, scant published work scrutinizes the application, effectiveness, and utility of positive and negative controls. This study examines three common practices involved in microplastic processing, enumeration, and particle characterization. The first component evaluates four filtered water sources that are commonly used to run procedural laboratory blanks and rinse laboratory glassware and instruments. A statistically significant difference was found between tap water and three sources of filtered water and between two sources of filtered water. This suggests the magnitude of correction applied to samples is dependent on the type of filtered water chosen for blanks. The second component chronicles particle loss, specifically particle adhesion to the filtration apparatus. Water samples spiked with plastic standards representing three distinct morphologies and vacuum filtered through a two-piece borosilicate glass filtration apparatus yielded a notable difference in recovery rates compared to a two-piece filtering apparatus made of stainless steel. The steel filter had significantly higher recovery rates of irregular polyethylene fragments compared to glass, although there was no statistical difference in the recovery of nylon fibers or symmetrical polyester fragments. The final component compares the effectiveness of ImageJ, a popular imaging software program, with Material Image Processing and Automated Reconstruction (MIPAR), a new program with deep learning capabilities. Both systems analyzed identical images captured from a set of polycarbonate filters that contain environmental media spiked with plastic standards. While ImageJ is capable of reporting particle enumeration, as well as basic measurement and categorization, it grossly overestimated fragments and frequently mischaracterized fibers. Particle count summaries from MIPAR, however, were in accord with the known quantity of standard spiked into each sample. These findings underscore the importance of quality controls when developing new methods or when modifying established methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is extensive literature on the agency of actors in urban and regional planning which draws on a wide range of theoretical lenses and concepts. One of the recurring themes is the relationship between agency and structure—the mutual interdependence between individual actions and collective institutions, rules, and norms. This article provides a narrative overview of the wide range of literature on agency and structure in relation to spatial planning clustered around six interrelated themes: institutions, discretion, pragmatism, networks, leadership, and emotions. It identifies new avenues for research, paying particular attention to empirical, scalar, and methodological issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children in settler colonial settings engaged with institutions in diverse ways. They were sometimes coerced, benignly encouraged or lured into these engagements and sometimes they actively engaged and shaped the nature of these institutions over their childhood and subsequent adult years. This lead article provides the historiographical, methodical and conceptual framework for the special issue of Settler Colonial Studies on children, institutions and settler colonial contexts. It provides the basis for the discussion of the following articles which examine children's interactions with and experiences of institutions in settler colonial contexts in Australia, Palestine, the Philippines, Poland, and Southern Rhodesia that were affected by American, British, German, and Japanese imperialism. Studies of colonialism, and settler colonialism in particular, have tended to overlook the role and position of children in these contexts as objects and agent of change. Rather, focus has been predominantly placed upon the actions and agency of adults of various cultural groups, ones who have left larger traces in the colonial archives. In this article, we provide an overview of some of the broad concepts that frame the special issue being: childhood and race; Institutions and motives; and settler colonialism and imperial contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background: When you are a property owner and are considering selling, buying, or renting a real estate property, it is recommended to have your property evaluated by a professional expert who assumes significant responsibility, in order to determine an appropriate price based on the nature of the desired transaction. Indeed, decisions regarding real estate often have significant financial consequences. Real estate appraisal is a complex process that requires the involvement of recognized and experienced experts. It involves detailed analyses aimed at determining the market value of the property, by considering numerous information and data. There are several evaluation methods, but two of them are frequently used: comparative analysis and income capitalization. The choice of evaluation method depends on the objectives of the appraisal client. Goal and Objectives: Our goal is to gain a comprehensive and detailed understanding of all aspects and nuances of the field. This requires careful consideration of the specific responsibilities, obligations and complexities real estate professionals face in their work. Through this comprehensive analysis, we intend to develop a wellrounded perspective that captures the essence of real estate expertise in the context of Morocco. Methodology: The methodology adopted for this article is based on a thorough analysis of the real estate expertise field, with special attention given to identifying the specific obligations and responsibilities of real estate experts. The main objective is to highlight the essential elements that characterize this specialized role. To achieve this goal, in addition to the careful compilation of reference documents, we have chosen a participatory approach and broad consultation. Results: Professional expertise from a liability-engaged expert is required in real estate transactions. This is necessary in order to establish the correct price. To accurately determine the worth of the property in question, thorough real estate experience necessitates a comprehensive examination. The resulting appraisal report has a significant impact on the applicant's orientation choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perverseness of racial and ethnic inequities in the United States continues to implore the investigation of their causes. While there have been improvements in the health of the US population, these improvements have not been equally distributed. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the American Journal of Epidemiology , in this commentary, we aim to highlight the Journal 's contributions to: 1) the definition and use of race and ethnicity in research, and 2) understanding racial and ethnic inequities, both empirically and methodologically, over the past decade. We commend the Journal for its contributions and for spearheading many of the challenges related to measuring and interpreting racial and ethnic data for the past 20 years. We identify 3 additional areas in which the Journal could make further impact to address racial and ethnic inequities: 1) devote a section in every issue of the Journal to scientific papers that make substantive epidemiologic or methodological contributions to racial and ethnic inequities in health; 2) update the Journal 's guidelines for authors to include justifying the use of race and ethnicity; and 3) diversify the field of epidemiology by bringing a new cadre of scholars from minoritized racial and ethnic groups who represent the most affected communities into the research process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1986, Willett and Stampfer (Am J Epidemiol. 1986;124(1):17–27) propelled the nutritional epidemiology field forward by publishing a commentary emphasizing the importance of analyzing diet in relation to total energy intake in epidemiologic analyses of diet and disease, detailing the value of accounting for body size, physical activity, and metabolic efficiency in diet-disease analyses via energy intake adjustment. Their publication has since been cited over 2,886 times and has inarguably advanced methodology for studying diet-disease associations, with most nutritional epidemiology studies standardly including some form of energy adjustment. However, there remains debate regarding the best scenarios and methods for energy adjustment. The goals of this commentary are to provide an updated review on factors that account for interindividual differences in energy intake, provide a balanced discussion regarding the considerations for or against adjustment for energy intake, and provide an updated examination of the commonly employed methods for the analysis of nutrient-disease associations. The principles of energy adjustment continue to be relevant nearly 25 years later, as it remains a critical method to account for potentially confounding interindividual variations in body size and physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence synthesis, embedded within a systematic review of the literature, is a well-established approach for collating and combining all the relevant information on a particular research question. A robust synthesis can establish the evidence base, which underpins best practice guidance. Such endeavours are frequently used by policymakers and practitioners to inform their decision making. Traditionally, an evidence synthesis of interventions consisted of a meta-analysis of quantitative data comparing two treatment alternatives addressing a specific and focussed clinical question. However, as the methods in the field have evolved, especially in response to the increasingly complex healthcare questions, more advanced evidence synthesis techniques have been developed. These can deal with extended data structures considering more than two treatment alternatives (network meta-analysis) and complex multicomponent interventions. The array of questions capable of being answered has also increased with specific approaches being developed for different evidence types including diagnostic, prognostic and qualitative data. Furthermore, driven by a desire for increasingly up-to-date evidence summaries, living systematic reviews have emerged. All of these methods can potentially have a role in informing older adult healthcare decisions. The aim of this review is to increase awareness and uptake of the increasingly comprehensive array of newer synthesis methods available and highlight their utility for answering clinically relevant questions in the context of older adult research, giving examples of where such techniques have already been effectively applied within the field. Their strengths and limitations are discussed, and we suggest user-friendly software options to implement the methods described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real‐time fMRI neurofeedback (rt‐fMRI‐NF) is a technique in which information about an individual's neural state is given back to them, typically to enable and reinforce neuromodulation. Its clinical potential has been demonstrated in several applications, but lack of evidence on optimal parameters limits clinical utility of the technique. This study aimed to identify optimal parameters for rt‐fMRI‐NF‐aided craving regulation training in alcohol use disorder (AUD). Adults with AUD (n = 30) participated in a single‐session study of four runs of rt‐fMRI‐NF where they downregulated "craving‐related" brain activity. They received one of three types of neurofeedback: multi‐region of interest (ROI), support vector machine with continuous feedback (cSVM), and support vector machine with intermittent feedback (iSVM). Performance was assessed on the success rate, change in neural downregulation, and change in self‐reported craving for alcohol. Participants had more successful trials in run 4 versus 1, as well as improved downregulation of the insula, anterior cingulate, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Greater downregulation of the latter two regions predicted greater reduction in craving. iSVM performed significantly worse than the other two methods. Downregulation of the striatum and dlPFC, enabled by ROI but not cSVM neurofeedback, was correlated with a greater reduction in craving. rt‐fMRI‐NF training for downregulation of alcohol craving in individuals with AUD shows potential for clinical use, though this pilot study should be followed with a larger randomized‐control trial before clinical meaningfulness can be established. Preliminary results suggest an advantage of multi‐ROI over SVM and intermittent feedback approaches. Our study finds preliminary evidence for the utility of neurofeedback in regulating alcohol craving. Real‐time fMRI neurofeedback enabled downregulation of craving‐related brain activity in individuals with alcohol use disorder. We also identified better‐performing feedback delivery/calculation parameters. Importantly, neural downregulation predicted changes in self‐reported alcohol craving, laying the groundwork for future clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the potential for novel research utilising data generated by the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) in the UK, focussing on the long tail of metadata associated with the UK’s rich cultural events landscape. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 researchers and related domain experts to ascertain: (1) How cultural data is valued; (2) The landscape of cultural data; (3) How UK research can make better use of cultural events data; (4) The benefits and pitfalls of an evidence-based approach to cultural policy; and (5) The repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic on how data-led work is positioned within the CCI. We advocate for the potential value of cultural events data to academic research, policy and industry, and also for a humanities-led approach. We suggest that a centralised cultural events data service for use in research, industry and policy is one way of supporting this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based medicine requires synthesis of research through rigorous and time-intensive systematic literature reviews (SLRs), with significant resource expenditure for data extraction from scientific publications. Machine learning may enable the timely completion of SLRs and reduce errors by automating data identification and extraction. Methods: We evaluated the use of machine learning to extract data from publications related to SLRs in oncology (SLR 1) and Fabry disease (SLR 2). SLR 1 predominantly contained interventional studies and SLR 2 observational studies. Predefined key terms and data were manually annotated to train and test bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) and bidirectional long-short-term memory machine learning models. Using human annotation as a reference, we assessed the ability of the models to identify biomedical terms of interest (entities) and their relations. We also pretrained BERT on a corpus of 100,000 open access clinical publications and/or enhanced context-dependent entity classification with a conditional random field (CRF) model. Performance was measured using the F1 score, a metric that combines precision and recall. We defined successful matches as partial overlap of entities of the same type. Results: For entity recognition, the pretrained BERT+CRF model had the best performance, with an F1 score of 73% in SLR 1 and 70% in SLR 2. Entity types identified with the highest accuracy were metrics for progression-free survival (SLR 1, F1 score 88%) or for patient age (SLR 2, F1 score 82%). Treatment arm dosage was identified less successfully (F1 scores 60% [SLR 1] and 49% [SLR 2]). The best-performing model for relation extraction, pretrained BERT relation classification, exhibited F1 scores higher than 90% in cases with at least 80 relation examples for a pair of related entity types. Conclusions: The performance of BERT is enhanced by pretraining with biomedical literature and by combining with a CRF model. With refinement, machine learning may assist with manual data extraction for SLRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric morphometrics (GM) enable the quantification of morphological variation on various scales. Recent technical advances allow analyzing complex three‐dimensional shapes also in cases where landmark‐based approaches are not appropriate. Pelvic girdle bones (basipterygia) of Sulawesi ricefishes are 3D structures that challenge traditional morphometrics. We hypothesize that the pelvic girdle of ricefishes experienced sex‐biased selection pressures in species where females provide brood care by carrying fertilized eggs supported by elongated pelvic fins ("pelvic brooding"). We test this by comparing pelvic bone shapes of both sexes in species exhibiting pelvic brooding and the more common reproductive strategy "transfer brooding," by using landmark‐free 2D and 3D GM, as well as qualitative shape descriptions. Both landmark‐free approaches revealed significant interspecific pelvic bone variation in the lateral process, medial facing side of the pelvic bone, and overall external and internal wing shape. Within pelvic brooders, the three analyzed species are clearly distinct, while pelvic bones of the genus Adrianichthys are more similar to transfer brooding Oryzias. Female pelvic brooding Oryzias exhibit prominent, medially pointing tips extending from the internal wing and basipterygial plate that are reduced or absent in conspecific males, Adrianichthys and transfer brooding Oryzias, supporting our hypothesis that selection pressures affecting pelvic girdle shape are sex‐biased in Sulawesi ricefishes. Furthermore, both sexes of pelvic brooding Oryzias have overall larger pelvic bones than other investigated ricefishes. Based on these differences, we characterized two reproductive strategy‐ and sex‐dependent pelvic girdle types for Sulawesi ricefishes. Morphological differences between the investigated pelvic brooding genera Adrianichthys and Oryzias provide additional evidence for two independent origins of pelvic brooding. Overall, our findings add to a better understanding on traits related to pelvic brooding in ricefishes and provide a basis for upcoming studies on pelvic girdle function and morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Rapeseed with the scientific name (Brassica napus L.) are one of the most important oilseed crops in the world. Considering the country's increasing need to import oil and the importance of rapeseed among oilseeds plants, increasing the yield and percentage of oil is very important. Therefore, identification the traits that increase seed yield, play an important role in the success of breeding programs. Yield is a complex trait that is affected by many factors. direct selection of a variety for yield is not often very effective, so investigating the relationships between grain yield and other traits for indirect selection may be effective. In such a situation, correlations may not clarify the relationships well, therefore, multivariate statistical methods and path analysis can help in understanding the nature of the relationship between traits for direct or indirect selection and improve the efficiency of selection in breeding programs plants become useful. Materials and Methods: In this study, eight genotypes of spring rapeseed (SPN-202, SPN-204, SPN-206, SPN-207, SPN-217, SPN-225, SPN-227, SPN-182) along with 56 rapeseed hybrids (F1) were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2019-2020 crop years in the research farm of Gorgan Agricultural Research Station. During the experiment, phenological, morphological traits, yield and yield components were recorded. The normality of the data was evaluated based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov method. In order to understand the relationships between traits and to identify the traits affecting on grain yield, at first, correlation coefficients were estimated, then stepwise regression were done. Then, path analysis based on correlation coefficients was used to determine the direct and indirect effects of traits. Finally, all traits were grouped based on principal component analysis. Results: The results of analysis of variance indicate a significant difference for all studied traits at the probability level of one percent. The coefficient of variation (C.V) for the traits varied from 1.37 (physiological maturity) to 10.31 (number of sub-branches), which indicates that there is sufficient accuracy in conducting the research. The results of correlation evaluation showed that number of pod per lateral branches (0.864), number pods per Plant (0.865), number of lateral branches (0.466), physiological maturing (0.329) and number of grain per pod (0.358) had a positive and significant correlation with grain yield (P<0.01). Stepwise regression analysis showed that the traits of number of pods per plant, number of grain per pod and 1000-grain weight has a decisive role on grain yield. Based on the results of path analysis, number of pods per plant had the most direct effect (0.881) and number of grain per pod had the most indirect effect (0.053) through the number of pods per plant on grain yield. In order the results of principal component analysis, four components were able to explain 75.91% of the changes in the measured data of 64 rapeseed varieties. Conclusions: Results of the path analysis showed that number of pods per plant, number of grain per pod and 1000-grain weight had a direct positive effect on grain yield. Also, the stepwise regression analysis showed that the stated traits have the highest regression coefficients. Therefore, selection for these traits can be very effective in achieving high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetry and postural changes can be triggered after breast cancer treatment, which is the most common type of cancer among women. The posture disorders, which can often be ignored can cause different pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Moreover, these may adversely affect psychology and body image. Cancer patients are a most sensitive group though cancer treatments have many side effects such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. One of the most common side effects is postural changes which needs to be assessed carefully and detailly in all individuals. There are several studies on postural changes in breast cancer survivors in the literature; thus, various postural evaluations and different treatment methods have been used. However, there is no consensus on the gold standard evaluation method or a comparison study of the reliability of the methods in this patient group. The aim of this narrative review is to contribute to the literature while discussing which method could be preferred by summarizing the methods of postural assessment used for breast cancer. In accordance with this purpose, comprehensive searches were made using different keywords in different electronic databases such as PUBMED, Google Scholar, and EBSCO. As a result of the search, evaluation and treatment studies using different evaluation methods for posture in breast cancer were determined and examined. In our study, the advantages and disadvantages of all these methods are summarized in order to contribute to clinical practice of this subject, owing to the fact that there are limited data in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The compatibility of digital and analog methods assessing the positions of gingival zenith (GZ) points has not been evaluated before. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of a digital scanner and a three‐dimensional (3D) measuring tool in specifying positions of GZs by comparing it to the conventional method, an analog plaster cast and a caliper. Materials and Methods: Both analog and digital impressions were obtained from 32 individuals. Following measurements were conducted in the anterior maxillary region from canine to canine on both the plaster casts and 3D images: (1) The distance from GZ to the corresponding vertical midline in each tooth (GZVM), (2) The distance from GZ of lateral incisor to the corresponding tangent that connects GZs of central incisor and canine (GZLI). Results: The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of GZVM in each tooth varied between 0.366 and 0.755, demonstrating moderate to good compatibility between the two methods. The ICC of analog and digital GZLI for the right and left lateral incisors was 0.788 and 0.395, respectively. Conclusion: The digital and analog methods used in this study are compatible in determining the positions of GZs. Therefore, within the limitations of the present study, the choice of method can be based on the available equipment, time, comfort, and personal preference of the researcher. Clinical Significance: Both digital and analog methods have the capability of determining the positions of GZs in compatible way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to address the topic of data analysis, providing a comprehensive overview of the concept, techniques, and methods of utilization, as well as examples of possible applications. Although the field of Data Science is relevant to companies and businesses of all sizes, this article will focus its efforts on highlighting the specific importance and relevance of this discipline for small businesses. In this regard, an accessible and easily understandable language will be explored, with the intention of simplifying the methods of application and facilitating the assimilation of this knowledge by entrepreneurs and managers of small businesses. Practical examples of how data analysis can be implemented in different areas such as marketing, sales, operations, and strategic decision-making will be addressed. Additionally, the direct and indirect benefits that small businesses can obtain by adopting a data-driven approach will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duplex ultrasound (DUS) is an essential tool for characterizing and monitoring arteriovenous (AV) access for hemodialysis. The aim of the work described here, requested by the French Society of Vascular Medicine in collaboration with the French-Speaking Vascular Access Society, is to propose a standardized methodology for performing and documenting DUS, taking into account the variety of AV access techniques and the problems routinely encountered. A steering committee reviewed the literature and selected the relevant references. A draft was prepared, and all items with missing or conflicting data were submitted to a Delphi consensus. The final document was discussed and approved by all participants. The principles of DUS evaluation of AV access consist of examination of the afferent artery, the anastomosis and the entire venous drainage system. DUS uses B-mode ultrasound, color flow, pulsed wave and power Doppler analysis. DUS can be used in a variety of clinical situations, which can directly influence the methodology of the examination and the interpretation of the results. Blood flow should be assessed as it correlates with the risk of thrombosis. The measurement should be adapted to the different anatomical and hemodynamic conditions encountered. Characterization of stenosis should take into account the residual diameter of the drainage vein and its hemodynamic consequences. Other complications can be assessed with a standardized DUS examination. When performed according to a rigorous methodology, DUS of the AV access allows a comprehensive assessment of its functionality and eliminates the need for further invasive diagnostic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cesarean delivery is an abdominal surgical procedure performed for child delivery when the vaginal route is not feasible or desired due to maternal/fetal indications. All childbirth facilities should be able to safely perform a cesarean, which is not the current reality. For planned cesarean delivery, the facility must be prepared for the patient. In contrast, for unplanned arrivals at the facility, FIGO's Prep-for-Labor triage method allows rapid decision-making on whether cesarean delivery can be safely performed on site or whether transfer to an advanced care center is needed. A checklist of staff/tools for safe on-site cesarean delivery is provided to enable timely decision-making. Maternal complications following cesarean are three-fold higher than vaginal delivery. To prevent nonmedically indicated cesarean by favoring vaginal delivery, up-to-date safe and effective guidance is provided, defining labor, second stage length, and status before an arrested labor is confirmed. Whether cesarean delivery is planned or emergency, the Misgav Ladach simplified procedure is proposed as it is suitable for both low-and high-risk cases, including twins, thereby reducing both operative morbidity and postoperative recovery. A trial of labor after first cesarean (TOLAC) should be pursued when feasible, for which the indications, contraindications, safeguards, and steps of safe labor induction are delineated. Implementation of these good practice recommendations will improve childbirth by reducing excessive nonindicated cesareans, while precisely defining the resources and postoperative care required for safe performance on site. Enabling safe childbirth by cesarean and TOLAC, even at sites with low rates currently, will significantly improve maternal and fetal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cesarean delivery is an abdominal surgical procedure performed for child delivery when the vaginal route is not feasible or desired due to maternal/fetal indications. All childbirth facilities should be able to safely perform a cesarean, which is not the current reality. For planned cesarean delivery, the facility must be prepared for the patient. In contrast, for unplanned arrivals at the facility, FIGO's Prep‐for‐Labor triage method allows rapid decision‐making on whether cesarean delivery can be safely performed on site or whether transfer to an advanced care center is needed. A checklist of staff/tools for safe on‐site cesarean delivery is provided to enable timely decision‐making. Maternal complications following cesarean are three‐fold higher than vaginal delivery. To prevent nonmedically indicated cesarean by favoring vaginal delivery, up‐to‐date safe and effective guidance is provided, defining labor, second stage length, and status before an arrested labor is confirmed. Whether cesarean delivery is planned or emergency, the Misgav Ladach simplified procedure is proposed as it is suitable for both low‐ and high‐risk cases, including twins, thereby reducing both operative morbidity and postoperative recovery. A trial of labor after first cesarean (TOLAC) should be pursued when feasible, for which the indications, contraindications, safeguards, and steps of safe labor induction are delineated. Implementation of these good practice recommendations will improve childbirth by reducing excessive nonindicated cesareans, while precisely defining the resources and postoperative care required for safe performance on site. Enabling safe childbirth by cesarean and TOLAC, even at sites with low rates currently, will significantly improve maternal and fetal outcomes. Synopsis: Cesarean delivery rates remain high. FIGO's Prep‐for Labor triage method defines site suitability, staff/tools, indications, methods, and how to minimize risks. Redefining labor arrest and trial of labor after cesarean reduces rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EFSA Strategy 2027 outlines the need for fit‐for‐purpose protocols for EFSA generic scientific assessments to aid in delivering trustworthy scientific advice. This EFSA Scientific Committee guidance document helps address this need by providing a harmonised and flexible framework for developing protocols for EFSA generic assessments. The guidance replaces the 'Draft framework for protocol development for EFSA's scientific assessments' published in 2020. The two main steps in protocol development are described. The first is problem formulation, which illustrates the objectives of the assessment. Here a new approach to translating the mandated Terms of Reference into scientifically answerable assessment questions and sub‐questions is proposed: the 'APRIO' paradigm (Agent, Pathway, Receptor, Intervention and Output). Owing to its cross‐cutting nature, this paradigm is considered adaptable and broadly applicable within and across the various EFSA domains and, if applied using the definitions given in this guidance, is expected to help harmonise the problem formulation process and outputs and foster consistency in protocol development. APRIO may also overcome the difficulty of implementing some existing frameworks across the multiple EFSA disciplines, e.g. the PICO/PECO approach (Population, Intervention/Exposure, Comparator, Outcome). Therefore, although not mandatory, APRIO is recommended. The second step in protocol development is the specification of the evidence needs and the methods that will be applied for answering the assessment questions and sub‐questions, including uncertainty analysis. Five possible approaches to answering individual (sub‐)questions are outlined: using evidence from scientific literature and study reports; using data from databases other than bibliographic; using expert judgement informally collected or elicited via semi‐formal or formal expert knowledge elicitation processes; using mathematical/statistical models; and – not covered in this guidance – generating empirical evidence ex novo. The guidance is complemented by a standalone 'template' for EFSA protocols that guides the users step by step through the process of planning an EFSA scientific assessment. This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2022.EN-7349/full [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Behavioral risk factors are highlighted in the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Screening for health locus of control could be a feasible way to better identify individuals who could benefit from preventive behavioral change interventions. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between a single question measuring internal health locus of control (IHLC) and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC) and to assess how IHLC relates to the General Self‐Efficacy scale (GSE) in a primary care setting. Methods: Primary care patients, aged 18 and older, attending three primary care centers in southwest Sweden were consecutively asked to anonymously participate in the study. The patients were given a questionnaire and instructed to return the questionnaire in a sealed box in the waiting room. Results: In all, 519 patients were included. The correlation between MHLC Internality and IHLC was weak (r = 0.21, p < 0.001). An increase of one point on the internality scale of the MHLC gave an odds ratio of 1.19 (95% CI 1.11–1.28) for reporting high IHLC, and thus a five‐point increase gave a doubled likelihood, OR = 2.40, CI 1.67–3.46. The results for the other scales of the MHLC and GSE were similar. Conclusion: In this study, we found weak but statistically significant support for the single‐question IHLC as a measure of internal health locus of control. Given that the correlation was weak, we recommend using the MHLC when possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) has provided policy scholars with a valuable method to gain empirical insight into the power of narratives in the policy process. However, a significant limitation of the NPF has been its ability to deploy this framework on large N datasets due to the labor‐intensive nature of collecting narrative data. In recent years, NPF scholars have turned to computational social science tools to address this challenge. This study builds upon this emerging body of literature and our previous work, which uses sentiment analysis, a natural language processing technique, to evaluate the use of the angel/devil shift across coalitions before and after a major policy change. We examined Tweets that included the terms "fracking" and "New York" before and after the introduction of a moratorium. While sentiment analysis allowed us to gain insight into the narrative structure of the fracking policy discourse space, the labor involved in hand‐coding Twitter users into neutral‐, pro‐, or anti‐fracking groups was onerous. This project aims to supplement our natural language processing method by employing supervised machine learning techniques to increase the universe of respondents. We hand‐coded 500 Twitter users into neutral‐, pro‐, or anti‐fracking groups and trained a much larger dataset using an extreme gradient boost algorithm to classify a broader corpus of Tweets. This enabled us to expand the number of Tweets used in the analyses. We then applied sentiment analysis on this newly classified larger dataset to reveal differences in the pro‐fracking and anti‐fracking advocacy coalitions. By using machine learning to classify pro and con Tweets, we gained the ability to achieve significantly greater insight into how these two subgroups employed different narrative and linguistic devices in their Twitter discussions about fracking. Related Articles: Merry, Melissa K. 2022. "Trump's Tweets as Policy Narratives: Constructing the Immigration Issue via Social Media." Politics & Policy 50(4): 752–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12487. Robles, Pedro, and Daniel J. Mallinson. 2023. "Catching Up with AI: Pushing toward a Cohesive Governance Framework." Politics & Policy 51(3): 355–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12529. Shanahan, Elizabeth A., Mark K. McBeth, and Paul L. Hathaway. 2011. "Narrative Policy Framework: The Influence of Media Policy Narratives on Public Opinion." Politics & Policy 39(3): 373–400. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00295.x. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, educators and researchers use different terms to describe instructors' approaches when presenting instructional material in formal and informal settings. Terms commonly used to describe instructional approaches include teaching/instructional strategy, teaching/instructional method, and teaching/instructional technique. Although practicing educators and researchers use these words interchangeably, they have different meanings, leading to confusion regarding the relationship between these approaches and their proper usage when describing instructional practices. The research-to-practice gap in all fields exacerbates the issue, as practitioners and researchers may use different terms. As a result, there is a need for consistency in the terms used to describe instructional approaches across all fields and a shared understanding of the correct meaning of the terms and the relation between the terms. Practitioners and researchers need a resource that includes the correct terms and provides information on instructional approaches for classroom application and research purposes. This paper presents a framework consisting of the definitions, the relationship, and the taxonomy for the terms: instructional strategies, methods, and techniques. This framework can help educators and researchers locate information about instructional approaches for classroom application and can serve as a catalog presenting the most common instructional strategies, instructional methods, and instructional techniques used in formal instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic contamination extends across all Great Lakes ecosystems, including in wildlife, with the potential for risk based on laboratory experiments and risk assessment. Due to widespread contamination, and based on evidence suggesting measurable risk, it is time for policy-makers to develop and implement monitoring programs to guide management. Here, we discuss the need for a monitoring strategy with clear guidelines. We synthesize the research that has been published across the Great Lakes, reporting on contamination, regions that have been the focus of study, and the methods used across matrices. Based on our findings, we suggest how research may inform guidelines and next steps—especially if microplastics are to be considered as a toxic chemical sub-indicator under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Future monitoring, using standard and (or) harmonized protocols for sampling and analysis, should build baselines across the basin and begin tracking how contamination changes to assess the health of the Great Lakes, to inform source reduction, and to measure the effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing emissions of plastics to freshwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the impact of allocation concealment and blinding on the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) trials, using the World Health Organization COVID-19 database (to February 2022). We identified 488 randomized trials comparing drug therapeutics with placebo or standard care in patients with COVID-19. We performed random-effects meta-regressions comparing the results of trials with and without allocation concealment and blinding of health-care providers and patients. We found that, compared with trials with allocation concealment, trials without allocation concealment may estimate treatments to be more beneficial for mortality, mechanical ventilation, hospital admission, duration of hospitalization, and duration of mechanical ventilation, but results were imprecise. We did not find compelling evidence that, compared with trials with blinding, trials without blinding produce consistently different results for mortality, mechanical ventilation, and duration of hospitalization. We found that trials without blinding may estimate treatments to be more beneficial for hospitalizations and duration of mechanical ventilation. We did not find compelling evidence that COVID-19 trials in which health-care providers and patients are blinded produce different results from trials without blinding, but trials without allocation concealment estimate treatments to be more beneficial compared with trials with allocation concealment. Our study suggests that lack of blinding may not always bias results but that evidence users should remain skeptical of trials without allocation concealment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary cardiac fibroblast (CF) tissue culture is a necessary tool for interrogating specific signaling mechanisms that dictate the phenotypic heterogeneity observed in vivo in different disease states. Traditional approaches that use tissue culture plastic and nutrient-rich medium have been shown to induce CF activation and, therefore, alter CF subpopulation composition. This shift away from in vivo phenotypes complicate the interpretation of results through the lens of the animal model. As the field works to identify CF diversity, these methodological flaws have begun to be addressed and more studies are focused on the dynamic interaction of CFs with their environment. This review focuses on the aspects of tissue culture that impact CF activation and, therefore, require consideration when designing in vitro experiments. The complexity of CF biology overlaid onto diverse model systems highlight the need for study-specific optimization and validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]