Approval Ratings Research Articles

Animal Research Regulation: Improving Decision-Making and Adopting a Transparent System to Address Concerns around Approval Rate of Experiments.

The use of nonhuman animals in biomedical research is regulated under stringent conditions, not only in response to societal attitudes towards animal experimentation but also because ethical responsibility in scientific research requires researchers and veterinarians to be more invested and aim to improve the welfare of animals used for experiments. Analyses of animal research oversight reveal the frequent approval of experiments, and the approval of some experiments has raised and continues to raise public concerns. Societal compliance is required for a consensus-based approach to animal research policy, prompting the need to have transparent discussions about oversight and the frequency of approvals. We discuss how frequent approval may be perceived and why it seems problematic from a societal perspective: the regulatory process exists to approve only legitimate experiments. Although some experiments remain unacceptable irrespective of their harm-benefit ratios, almost all experiments are approved. We explain some possible legitimate reasons for frequent approval and how the review process could be leading to the approval of illegitimate studies. To ensure transparency and improve public trust and understanding of oversight, we propose the adoption of a platform to inform society about how unethical experiments are screened out.

Credit default swaps and shareholder monitoring

The paper examines how the initiation of credit default swaps (CDSs) influences shareholders' monitoring intensity. Prior studies show that CDSs decrease lenders' monitoring over the referenced firm (Morrison, 2005; Parlour and Winton, 2013). However, there is scant literature on how shareholders react after the initiation of CDSs. Given that the reduced lenders' monitoring could be detrimental to shareholders, we predict that shareholders will directly increase their monitoring intensity. Using a difference-in-differences design, we document that the sensitivity of the voting approval rate on director elections to firm performance increases significantly after the initiation of CDSs. The effect is more evident for firms with higher risk, lower existing shareholders' monitoring intensity, and higher existing lenders' monitoring intensity. Collectively, the results provide direct evidence that shareholders step in after the initiation of CDSs by enhancing their monitoring intensity.

Give the Media What They Need: Negativity as a Media Access Tool for Politicians

Recent studies indicate that politicians’ negativity usage fails to enhance their approval ratings among the general public, yet politicians regularly use it. This begs the following question: why are politicians so negative if this strategy does not bolster their prospects for re-election? In this paper, I argue that the media, driven by audience engagement, plays a pivotal role in shaping politicians’ propensity for negativity. Specifically, politicians resort to negativity because it aligns with the media’s negativity bias, thereby increasing their chances of securing media access and public attention. I test this expectation on the less-likely case of Belgium, using data on politicians’ negativity usage in parliament and their presence in prime-time TV news (2010–2020). The results show that using negativity significantly increases politicians’ chances of gaining media access, particularly when using uncivil negativity. The more media access politicians start to attract due to negativity, the more they resort to negativity.

Improving Best Practices in Assessing the Usage Conditions of Hospital and Long-Term Care Mattresses

Background: Inadequate mattresses can pose risks to users, and the routine inspection of mattresses often falls short in various healthcare settings. Objectives: To evaluate the physical condition of mattresses in hospitals and long-term care facilities and to explore the association with management practices regarding procurement, handling, and maintenance. Methods: This analytical descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 13 hospitals and 5 long-term care facilities, examining a total of 278 mattresses through proportional stratified sampling. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Multiple Regression Analysis were utilized for data analysis. Results: A mere 9.9% of the mattresses met the physical evaluation criteria, revealing a significant gap in mattress management standardization. The highest compliance was noted in the utilization of waterproof coverings, whereas the lowest was in mattress labeling. Factors significantly influencing the scores included the involvement of nurses in the evaluation process, periodic replacement of coverings, type of administration, assessment of mattress and covering integrity during bed making, and the nature of the institution. Conclusions: Due to inadequate physical conditions in both hospital and long-term care settings, the low approval rate of mattresses underscores the urgent need for standardized mattress management practices. Descriptors: Beds, Hospital Infection, Disinfection, Long-Term Care Facilities for the Elderly, Patient Safety.

AN INNOVATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: G-MOOC 4D TO ENHANCE VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS LEARNING MOTIVATION

The proliferation of visual impairment among school-age children in Indonesia has prompted the need for specialized online learning solutions. The G-MOOC 4D platform, a novel Learning Management System (LMS), is designed to address this need by leveraging gamification and artificial intelligence to enhance accessibility for visually impaired users. This study reports on the development and testing of two AI models within the G-MOOC 4D framework: a facial recognition model for secure user authentication and a voice command model for interactive learning. User Acceptance Testing (UAT), conducted with expert users, namely teachers at a special needs school, showed high approval rates for the platform's features. The results show that all metrics, accuracy, precision, and recall reach their optimal values at a distance of 40 cm for face detection. The respective metric scores at that distance, precision: 100%, accuracy: 98%, and recall: 97%. Additionally, the voice command functionality tested achieved a 100% recognition rate, reflecting the platform’s potential to significantly ease the learning process for visually impaired students. The findings underscore the importance of integrating assistive technologies into educational platforms to ensure all students have equal access to learning opportunities.

How do loan officer-borrower gender-driven behavioural differences impact on the microfinance lending market?

This paper analyses the impact of the gender of the loan officer-borrower pair on the loan-size, credit availability and time spent in managing the credit application. By using 3,020 lending transactions from Ecuador during 2016–2019, we document that the loan officer-borrower pair gender drives differences in the microcredit portfolio management. We find that female loan officers grant smaller microcredits to both male and female borrowers. However, the loan-size increases when matching the loan officer-borrower gender. We also demonstrate that female loan officers have greater loan approval rates, mainly in the segment of higher loan-sizes granted to male clients. Finally, our results show that the microcredits that have the fastest evaluation process are those that have a lower loan-size and are granted by female loan officers to female borrowers. Our findings have practical implications for the analysis of the credit availability for entrepreneurs as well as the loan portfolio management.

Augmented Reality-Based 3D Technology Learning Media for Human Respiratory Organs

Augmented Reality (AR) technology is selected for seamlessly integrating virtual objects into the real world. Users can represent objects in three dimensions, offering an interactive, real-time experience. The educational sector widely embraces Augmented Reality due to its interactive and timely advantages. This study focuses on the human respiratory system, demonstrating Augmented Reality's efficacy as an interactive learning tool for understanding respiratory organs. The learning material utilizes three-dimensional visualizations with animations, sound, and vibrant colors, enhancing comprehension and preventing boredom. Employing the Multimedia Development Method and software tools like Unity 3D, Blender, CorelDraw, Vuforia, and Visual Studio Code, the research produces a learning media application facilitating the understanding of human respiratory organs. Evaluation through questionnaires, with a 93.16% approval rate from teachers and students, confirms the application's suitability as an effective learning tool.

Prior authorization for FDA-approved PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer

ObjectivesPARP inhibitors (PARP-I) improve survival in ovarian cancer, especially in patients with germline or somatic BRCA mutations or other homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). With high efficacy and costs, insurers may enact barriers or facilitators to PARP-I. Our objective was to examine the prevalence of prior authorization for PARP-I in ovarian cancer. MethodsWe performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients with ovarian cancer prescribed a PARP-I within the University of Pennsylvania practices from December 2018 through May 2021. We assessed prevalence of prior authorization for PARP-I overall, by frontline or recurrent maintenance, and by genetic status. We then assessed approval and appeal rates and time to PARP-I start. ResultsOf 180 patients with a PARP-I prescription and information regarding prior authorization, 116 (64 %, 95 % CI 57–71) experienced prior authorization. Of patients in the frontline setting, 60 of 90 (67 %, 95 % CI 56–76) experienced prior authorization. Of patients prescribed PARP-I in recurrence, 55 of 85 (65 %, 95 % CI 54–74) experienced prior authorization. Having a germline or somatic genetic mutation was associated with higher risk of prior authorization (adjusted risk ratio 1.35, 95 %CI 1.09–1.67). 102 patients (89 %, 95 % CI 83–94) required one appeal, 8 required two appeals and 5 cases required 3 appeals. Five patients were denied. Mean time from PARP-I prescription to PARP-I start was 10 days longer for patients who experienced prior authorization. Conclusions64% of patients experienced prior authorization for PARP-I. Risk of prior authorization was increased for patients with BRCA, despite greater clinical benefit. Prior authorization contributes to delays in care, and reform is needed.

Federal Tax Deductions and the Demand for Local Public Goods

Abstract The United States tax system allows taxpayers to deduct local taxes from their taxable incomes. Using school district referendum results, we employ a continuous treatment two-way fixed-effects framework to provide causal evidence of a positive relation between the demand for local public goods and the share of residents deducting local taxes. We find that a one-percentage-point decrease in the share of residents deducting property taxes reduces tax and bond referendum approval rates by approximately 0.97 percentage points. Because these federal tax deductions disproportionately benefit higher-income individuals, they potentially widen disparities in public service provision across jurisdictions.

APPLYING DESIGN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO OPTIMIZE COMFORT, SAFETY, AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS IN THE REDESIGN OF ACCOMMODATION ROOMS ON THE SHIP KM TAREX 2

In late December 2021, the ship KM Tarex 2, owned by PT. Pelayaran Mandala Sejahtera Abadi, underwent its annual docking at PT. Tambangan Permai Raya. During this time, the ship was found to be in a state of disrepair, including its accommodation rooms. The ship's current condition, feedback from stakeholders, and financial considerations served as the catalyst for a comprehensive interior redesign, with a primary focus on enhancing comfort, safety, and economy. The interior redesign of the accommodation spaces on the ship KM Tarex 2 involved the exploration of two alternative design concepts. These concepts centered around the Owner's Room, Crew's Room, Messroom and Life Jacket Storage. Alternative Design 1 adopted a Contemporary Concept, while Alternative Design 2 embraced a Modern Minimalist concept. The selection process for these designs involved soliciting feedback from a panel of 18 individuals, consisting of 12 representatives from PT. Pelayaran Mandala Sejahtera Abadi, 3 individuals from PT. Tambangan Permai Raya, and 3 crew members of the ship KM Tarex 2. Ultimately, Alternative Design 1 garnered an average approval rating of 67% across all rooms, surpassing Alternative Design 2 in preference. The selected design alternatives were evaluated for compliance with regulatory standards, achieving a 100% compliance rate for each room and an average comfort rating of 40%. Additionally, the chosen materials, as determined through a Google Form questionnaire, included ALUMETAL brand ACP Materials for room lining and ceiling, along with Henan Fortovan brand LVT for ship deck covering. These materials received an average approval rating of 61%. Economically, the analysis of material costs demonstrated that the project could be undertaken without exceeding the ship's annual income, ensuring financial feasibility.

Digital Twin Fundamentals of mRNA In Vitro Transcription in Variable Scale Toward Autonomous Operation.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the rapid development of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines and new RNA-based therapeutic methods. However, the approval rate for candidates has the potential to be increased, with a significant number failing so far due to efficacy, safety, and manufacturing deficiencies, hindering equitable vaccine distribution during pandemics. This study focuses on optimizing the production of mRNA, a critical component of mRNA-based vaccines, using a scalable machine by investigating the key mechanisms of mRNA in vitro transcription. First, kinetic parameters for the mRNA production process were determined. The validity of the determination and the robustness of the model are demonstrated by predicting different reactions with and without substrate limitations as well as different transcripts. The optimized reaction conditions, including temperature, urea concentration, and concentration of reaction-enhancing additives, resulted in a 55% increase in mRNA yield with a 33% reduction in truncated mRNA. Additionally, the feasibility of a segmented flow approach allowed for high-throughput screening (HTS), enabling the production of 20 vaccine candidates within a short time frame, representing a 10-fold increase in productivity, compared to nonsegmented reactions limited by the residence time in the plug flow reactor. The findings presented for the first time here contribute to the development of a fully continuous and efficient manufacturing process for mRNA and other cell and gene therapy drugs/vaccine candidates as presented in our previous work, which discussed the integration of process analytical technologies and predictive process models in a Biopharma 4.0 facility to enable the production of clinical and large-scale doses, ensuring a rapid and resilient supply of critical therapeutics. The results in this study especially highlight that the same machine and equipment can be used for screening and manufacturing different drug candidates in continuous operation. By streamlining production and adhering to quality standards, this approach enhances the industry's ability to respond swiftly to pandemics and public health emergencies, addressing the urgent need for accessible and effective vaccines.

Time scales in the dynamics of political opinions and the voter model

Opinions in human societies are measured by political polls on time scales of months to years. Such opinion polls do not resolve the effects of individual interactions but constitute a stochastic process. Voter models with zealots (individuals who do not change their opinions) can describe the mean-field dynamics in systems where no consensus is reached. We show that for large populations, the voter model with zealots is equivalent to the noisy voter model and it has a single characteristic time scale associated with the number of zealots in the population. We discuss which parameters are observable in real data by analysing time series of approval ratings of several political leaders that match the statistical behaviour of the voter model using the technique of the time-averaged mean squared displacement. The characteristic time scale of political opinions in societies is around 12 months, so it cannot be resolved by analysing election data, for which the resolution is several years. The effective population size in all fitted data sets is much smaller than the real population size, which indicates positive correlations of successive voter model steps. We also discuss the heterogeneity of voters as a cause of subdiffusion on long time scales, i.e. slow changes in the society.

Acceptability and tolerability of alcohol-based hand rubs among health workers and concessionaires in Malaysia during the COVID pandemic: a hospital-wide cross-sectional study using a modified WHO protocol

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the acceptability and tolerability of three alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) at Sarawak General Hospital, Malaysia. Conducted from 12-26 November 2021 using a modified WHO Protocol, it involved a survey among health workers and concessionaires, with a 35% response rate (1,598 of 4,628 participants). The majority were nurses (60.8%), with the medical division most represented (28.4%). Most respondents (93.2%) used ABHRs at least five days a week and found them easily accessible (72.3%). Product B was the preferred ABHR (65%), primarily for its color and fragrance, surpassing WHO’s 50% approval rate in these aspects. However, no other product features met WHO criteria. There were no significant differences in self-reported skin tolerability across the products, and none achieved overall WHO approval. These results offer important insights for ABHR selection in developing countries and highlight the value of the WHO Protocol in assessing product acceptability and tolerability.

Penerapan Convolutional Neural Network dengan Arsitektur Mobilenetv2 Pada Aplikasi Penerjemah dan Pembelajaran Bahasa Isyarat

Sign Language is the main communication medium for deaf people, in Indonesia itself there are several types of sign language, one of which is SIBI or Indonesian Sign Language System. This type of SIBI sign language is one type of sign language used in special school (SLB) environments. Deaf children are not yet able to use sign language and others have difficulty communicating with people around them. This research aims to help deaf children learn sign language, as well as help them communicate through sign language interpreters. The methodology applied to the application is by using a Convolutional Neural Network with the MobileNetV2 architecture. CNN is an algorithm that is included in the artificial neural network category which has the advantage of having a very high level of accuracy in classification, and MobileNetV2 is a form of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture that is able to overcome the need for excess computing resources created by Google researchers. so that it can be used on mobile devices or cell phones. The model training stage obtained an accuracy value of 98.99% with a total of 100 epochs. The model trained did not experience overfitting or underfitting so the model can be used. The testing stage uses black box testing to ensure the application is running correctly. The final stage is conducting research using TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) to measure the level of approval of the application using a Likert scale. Testing using black box testing was successful and met expectations, and the implementation of the application received an approval rate of 78.4% on average.

Public trust to institutions as a resource of interethnic consolidation in the regional community

The article is devoted to the phenomenon of trust in terms of the resource to achieve interethnic consolidation in the Russian regional community. The article indicates that trust allows developing a communication mechanism and defining how effectively social relations are built. Besides, the author uses traditional sociological research methods: structuralist and institutional approaches, social capital theory. Trust is one of the socio-psychological foundations of social harmony that determines the dynamics of basic social processes development, the integrity of society, its ability to overcome the arising difficulties. With the help of the array of secondary data analysis presented on the websites of domestic sociological centres, it is shown how in the Russian society the importance of national consolidation is clearly increasing. It is based on the increased trust at all levels of relationships: interpersonal, intergroup, institutional, and regional. This is due to the fact that Russia is one of the most multinational states in the world. If citizens do not share certain common goals and objectives, then this, as a rule, will negatively affect the interethnic consolidation of the regional or entire community of the country most. Undoubtedly, the phenomenon of trust is especially important in the transforming society. It exists in the multiethical environment of citizens and, first of all, directly at the regional level of the institutions, functioning in Russia. Trust is an indicator of values similarity and values systems of the Russian population. Today there are many examples of the decrease of trust to certain institutions, however, the approval rating regarding the activities of the President, the Government of the country, the Russian army is increasing. Thus, a positive attitude of Russians towards the political system and power structures is recorded. The same trends have begun to be noted more often in the field of interethnic consolidation and in relation to the institutions of the regional community.

Relatório sobre a taxa de aprovação no município de Rio das Antas-SC

School performance rates are information produced annually by the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (Inep), through the data collected by the Basic Education School Census and are fundamental for the verifi cation and monitoring of school and municipal data. Thus, the perception of teachers along with the average eff ective rate of students approved in the school year is important to visualize an overview of education in the city of Rio das Antas, a municipality in the state of Santa Catarina. To verify the perceptions about the approval rate in the municipality of Rio das Antas - SC by education professionals, a questionnaire was elaborated with three questions, the same went to this group of education via Google Form for teachers to answer the questions. Data from the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), On individual perception of education professionals participating in the research (graph 2), 35.0% also found that the approval rate in the municipality of Rio das Antas is NOT adequate with the knowledge acquired by students; 27.5% think they think that YES the approval rate is adequate with the knowledge acquired by students, 22.5% think that MAYBE the approval rate is adequate with the knowledge acquired by the students and 15.5% of the interviewees did not know how to answer the question. We can conclude that most education professionals have a perception that the approval rate of students does not always correspond with their acquired knowledge and from the collected data.

Transition from intravenous to subcutaneous biological therapies in inflammatory bowel disease: An online survey of patients.

The transition from in-hospital intravenous administration to subcutaneous therapies to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can raise some concerns among patients due to the self-administration concerns, the management of potential side effects and the overall worries related to a change of treatment. This study aimed at evaluating patients' opinion about the switch from intravenous to subcutaneous formulations and their knowledge on new available therapeutic options. We conducted a survey using a questionnaire prepared by a team of gastroenterologists and nurses working at the IBD unit. It consists of 31 items and has been divided into four sections: descriptive, commitment, knowledge and passage mode opinion. The questions were formulated in Italian and conceived according to daily consultations with patients in everyday practice, without any previous piloting or specific medical literature reference. The survey was administered to consecutive IBD patients in intravenous biological treatment; patients currently or previously treated with subcutaneous therapy were excluded. Four hundred questionnaires were distributed to participants. As many as 311 patients (77.7%) completed the survey, while the remaining were excluded from the analysis; 155 (49.8%) patients were favorable to switch from intravenous to subcutaneous therapy, while only 78 (25.1%) disagreed. In univariate and multi-variate analysis, the approval rate for home therapy was significantly associated with the distance from the IBD center and work/family/personal commitments. Surprisingly, only a quarter of the IBD patients knew that almost all available therapeutic agents have a subcutaneous administration route. Regarding patients' opinion on the efficacy of subcutaneous administration of biological agents compared to intravenous drugs, 194 (63%) had no definite idea, while 44 (14%) believed that the effectiveness could be reduced. The transition from in-hospital to subcutaneous therapeutic management of biological therapy at home was generally viewed favorably by patients, especially if they have commitments or were residents far from the IBD center.

Persuadable voters decided the 2022 midterm: Abortion rights and issues-based frameworks for studying election outcomes.

Leading up to the 2022 Congressional midterm elections, all predictions pointed to a Republican wave, given factors such as the incumbent president's low approval rate and a struggling national economy. Accordingly, the underwhelming performance of the Republican Party surprised many, resulting in an election that became known as the "asterisk election" due to its unusual and seemingly unpredictable outcome. This study delves into the specifics of the 2022 midterms, exploring factors that may have influenced the results beyond those traditionally considered by political scientists. Our analysis particularly seeks to understand whether a sudden shift in the public salience of specific issues could have influenced voters' preferences, leading them to consider factors they might not have otherwise. To achieve this, we analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of registered voters surveyed immediately after the midterm elections. Our findings reveal that the issue of abortion played a pivotal role during this election. The prominence of abortion was not predestined, as evidenced by a comparative analysis with data from a survey conducted after the 2020 presidential election. Indeed, it seems that the decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022 significantly increased the salience of abortion. This unexpected policy shock had a significant impact on the behavior of voters in the 2022 midterm elections.

The tone of the president's immigration rhetoric

AbstractWe examine the tone of the president's immigration policy speeches as a function of the political context, policy characteristics, and individual presidents in two ways. First, we describe the tone of the president's immigration rhetoric using DICTION software and its five global categories of tone. Second, we hypothesize that commonality and optimism, two categories of tone expressive of immigration policy, will co‐vary by political context, policy characteristics of immigration, and a president's approach to rhetoric. To test our expectations, we collected presidential mentions of immigration since 1953 from the Public Papers of the Presidents. Key variables, like the president's honeymoon and the post‐9/11 era, increase a president's commonality tone, and the president's approval ratings encourage greater optimism. Individual presidents also shape presidential rhetoric, indicating the importance of presidential style to immigration tone, especially for optimism. We conclude with implications of our work for the systematic study of presidential tone and the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform.

Do Chinese Citizens Conceal Opposition to the CCP in Surveys? Evidence from Two Experiments

Abstract Most public opinion research in China uses direct questions to measure support for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and government policies. These direct question surveys routinely find that over 90 per cent of Chinese citizens support the government. From this, scholars conclude that the CCP enjoys genuine legitimacy. In this paper, we present results from two survey experiments in contemporary China that make clear that citizens conceal their opposition to the CCP for fear of repression. When respondents are asked directly, we find, like other scholars, approval ratings for the CCP that exceed 90 per cent. When respondents are asked in the form of list experiments, which confer a greater sense of anonymity, CCP support hovers between 50 per cent and 70 per cent. This represents an upper bound, however, since list experiments may not fully mitigate incentives for preference falsification. The list experiments also suggest that fear of government repression discourages some 40 per cent of Chinese citizens from participating in anti-regime protests. Most broadly, this paper suggests that scholars should stop using direct question surveys to measure political opinions in China.