Methodological Considerations Research Articles

Underlying mechanisms, clinical manifestation, and methodological considerations of functional connectivity in Dementia with Lewy Bodies

AbstractBackgroundFunctional connectivity disturbances are potential disease mechanisms related to observable symptoms in Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Despite several existing theories, the exact relationship between functional connectivity, underlying mechanisms of the DLB, and symptomatology is yet not clear. The present review addresses this gap by summarising research findings of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) research while considering the impact of different methodological choices causing mixed findings.MethodWe performed a systematic literature review of resting‐state functional connectivity in DLB following PRISMA. We searched multiple databases from January 2000 to November 2022. Keywords included “DLB”, “connectivity”, “EEG”, and “fMRI”, their synonyms and acronyms, and related terms of network analysis. The final sample contained 6 EEG and 14 fMRI studies.ResultThe main methodological choices of fMRI articles included a data‐driven approach (i.e., Independent Component Analysis or Graph Theory; 43%), seed‐based or regions of interest (50%), or their combination (7%) with most studies focusing on large‐scale resting‐state networks (71%). The overall trend of connectivity findings showed a decrease, yet more subtle changes in the directionality of connectivity were observed when using a hypothesis‐driven approach (Fig 1A). The Default Mode Network (DMN) was the most studied network with 75% of relevant articles reporting decreased connectivity. Other networks with a consistent decrease in connectivity included Executive and Sensorimotor Networks (80% and 100% of relevant studies respectively). The inter‐network connectivity revealed the mixed relationship between the DMN, executive, attentional and visual networks (VN; Fig 1B). EEG studies showed a consistent decrease in connectivity on alpha and beta bands (100% and 66% of relevant studies respectively) and disorganisation in graph properties in regions overlapping with findings from large‐scale networks.ConclusionDysfunctions in large‐scale networks likely contribute to progressive degenerative mechanisms and are consistent with visual attention and perception processing theories of psychotic symptoms in the DLB. Hence, connectivity measures can capture brain disturbances in the DLB and remain crucial in uncovering underlying relationships between the networks’ disorganisation and disease mechanisms resulting in psychotic, motor, and cognitive symptoms in DLB. The choice of analytical approach might contribute to the directionality and mixed findings in the literature.

Adaptive platform trials: the impact of common controls on type one error and power

ABSTRACT Platform trials offer a framework to study multiple interventions in one trial with the opportunity of opening and closing arms. The use of common controls can increase efficiency as compared to individual controls. The need for multiplicity adjustment because of common controls is currently a debate among researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and regulators. The impact of common controls on the type one error in a fixed platform trial, i.e. when all treatments start and end recruitment at the same time, has been discussed in the literature before. We complement these findings by investigating the impact of a common control on the type one error and power in a flexible platform trial, i.e. when one arm joins the platform later. We derived the correlation of test statistics to assess the impact of the overlap and compared the results to a trial with individual controls. Furthermore, we evaluate the power, and the impact of multiplicity adjustment on the power in fixed and flexible platform trials. These methodological considerations are complemented by a regulatory guideline review. With multiple arms, the FWER is inflated when no multiplicity adjustment is applied. However, the FWER inflation is smaller with common controls than with individual controls. Even after multiplicity adjustment, a trial with common controls is often beneficial in terms of sample size and power. However, in some cases, the trial with common controls loses the efficiency gain and it might be advisable to run a separate trial rather than joining a platform trial.

The impact technique in the works of Shaker Hassan Al Said and Alberto Buri

The current research succeeded in studying the method in which the artist employs interaction with the child through the language of short influence (thank you Hassan and Alberto Buri) as a comparative model only to reveal the method in which they employ everything for his concept of impact in his artwork technically and intellectually. Which were discussed as vocabulary that formed the current studies, which distinguishes four chapters: The first chapter (the general framework of the research): The emergence of the research problem that emerged in the light of the question: What is the nature of presenting the philosophy of impact and the method of its implementation in the work of Shaker Hassan and Alberto Buri? As a comparative study, the researcher then presented the basics of the research framework, including the importance, objectives, limits, and conclusion of the separation of words. The second chapter (theoretical framework and previous studies) came to obtain it Solid structural foundations on which the research is based, and the introduction of methodological and scientific considerations. Which included three sections: The first topic: was devoted to studying the concept of impact in philosophy. The second topic: specialized in studying experimental performances in contemporary art. The topic began with a general introduction that dealt with experience and experience and its role in developing performance in artistic work, and then dealt with a review of some artistic experiences, their transformations and developments. Due to experience and intellectual development, while the third topic included: the experience of the intellectual and technical impact of Shaker Hassan and Alberto Buri, after which the indicators that resulted from the theoretical framework were mentioned. and a review of previous studies, As for the third chapter (research procedures): in it the descriptive approach for the research was chosen, and then the research community was determined from which the sample was taken, as well as the selection of the research tool (observation) to achieve its objectives, then the sample models were analyzed according to a technical vision with philosophical dimensions. As for the fourth chapter (results, conclusions, recommendations and proposals): it included the results reached by the researcher through analyzing the sample and then discussing it, as the conclusions were proven.

PRIORITIES OF EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN MODERN TIMES

This article delves into methodological considerations pertaining to the evolution of the educational system and the establishment of the educational milieu amidst significant global transformations in politics, economics, ecology, and socio-cultural dynamics. It explores novel approaches aimed at shaping a fresh paradigm for education and fostering collaborative pedagogy tailored to the exigencies of the contemporary era. Furthermore, the paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the outcomes derived from sociological surveys administered to educators. These surveys focus on key theses and approaches presented within the article, offering insights into the reception and perspectives of teaching professionals on the outlined concepts. The synthesis of theoretical exploration, practical pedagogical strategies, and empirical feedback contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted landscape of modern educational methodologies.

Using technology to study refugee, conflict-affected, and hard-to-reach populations: Methodological and ethical considerations

The worldwide refugee population will continue to grow in the coming decades due to the rise of civil conflict and the growing consequences of climate change. This trend poses a significant challenge in understanding displacement and the impacts of war trauma on populations and finding ways to mitigate these effects. Technology presents an unprecedented opportunity to address this challenge. Technology provides powerful tools to study refugees, conflict-affected, and hard-to-reach populations. However, the use of technology in this context has yet to be theorized into a coherent framework. This article explores the diverse range of technologies used to study refugees and other conflict-affected groups. It provides a typology that focuses on the data, encompassing its nature (participative or non-interactive) and the acquisition methods (either through human action or automated processes). We propose mapping and quantifying technology's impact on data quality. Finally, we explore some ethical and practical challenges and considerations researchers must carefully weigh when selecting an appropriate data collection tool for studying refugee populations in a socially responsible way.

Systematic Review Procedures for the World Health Organization (WHO) Evidence Syntheses on Benefits and Harms of Structured and Standardized Education/Advice, Structured Exercise Programs, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), and Needling Therapies for the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain in Adults.

As commissioned by the WHO, we updated and expanded the scope of four systematic reviews to inform its (in development) clinical practice guideline for the management of CPLBP in adults, including older adults. Methodological details and results of each review are described in the respective articles in this series. In the last article of this series, we discuss methodological considerations, clinical implications and recommendations for future research.

Viral Diversity in Benthic Abyssal Ecosystems: Ecological and Methodological Considerations.

Viruses are the most abundant 'biological entities' in the world's oceans. However, technical and methodological constraints limit our understanding of their diversity, particularly in benthic abyssal ecosystems (>4000 m depth). To verify advantages and limitations of analyzing virome DNA subjected either to random amplification or unamplified, we applied shotgun sequencing-by-synthesis to two sample pairs obtained from benthic abyssal sites located in the North-eastern Atlantic Ocean at ca. 4700 m depth. One amplified DNA sample was also subjected to single-molecule long-read sequencing for comparative purposes. Overall, we identified 24,828 viral Operational Taxonomic Units (vOTUs), belonging to 22 viral families. Viral reads were more abundant in the amplified DNA samples (38.5-49.9%) compared to the unamplified ones (4.4-5.8%), with the latter showing a greater viral diversity and 11-16% of dsDNA viruses almost undetectable in the amplified samples. From a procedural point of view, the viromes obtained by direct sequencing (without amplification step) provided a broader overview of both ss and dsDNA viral diversity. Nevertheless, our results suggest that the contextual use of random amplification of the same sample and long-read technology can improve the assessment of viral assemblages by reducing off-target reads.

A data mining approach for determining biomechanical adaptations in runners who experienced and recovered from patellofemoral pain syndrome

ABSTRACT Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common musculoskeletal pain disorder experienced by runners. While biomechanics of those with PFP have been extensively studied, methodological considerations may omit important adaptations exhibited by those experiencing and recovered from pain. Instead of a priori selection of discrete biomechanical variables, a data mining approach was leveraged to account for the high dimensionality of running gait data. Biomechanical data of runners symptomatic for, recovered from, and who had never experienced PFP were collected at the 1st (M1) and 21st (M21) minutes of a treadmill run. Principal component analysis and a logistic regression model were used to classify healthy and symptomatic runners, and a feature ranking process determined the important features. The M1 model achieved an accuracy of 82.76% with features related to knee flexion angle, hip abduction moment and gluteus maximus activation, while the M21 model required an additional nine features to achieve an accuracy of 79.31%. Data for recovered runners were projected onto the models, resulting in five and seven out of twelve symptomatic classifications at M1 and M21, respectively. Following the onset of pain, a greater number of features were required to classify runners with PFP, suggesting they may experience individual pain adaptation strategies.

The vulgarization hypothesis and the translation of swearwords by male and female translators in AVT in Spain

This article aims to test the vulgarization hypothesis in audiovisual translation (AVT) with regards to possible differences between male and female translators’ practices. It starts with an overview of the most recent publications on swearing and AVT, and of studies that have analyzed the use of swearwords by male and female speakers. Two seasons of these police dramas were used for the study. Both were produced by the same team at approximately the same time. After some methodological and theoretical considerations, the article presents and analyzes the translational choices made by the female translators (F) of Chicago PD and the male translator (M) of FBI. The results confirm the vulgarization hypothesis in AVT in both series, although the tendency in (F) Chicago PD is to use a greater number of swearwords than in (M) FBI.

Activity reconstruction of Rangifer tarandus feet in Fennoscandian -archaeology: Methodological considerations and application to archaeological material from two Sámi habitation sites

ObjectiveThis study explores the presence and prevalence of working Rangifer tarandus tarandus (domestic reindeer) through entheseal changes present in Rangifer tarandus phalanges at the Sámi habitation sites of Juikenttä and Nukkumajoki, located in Finland and dating from the 14th to the 18th centuries. MaterialsModern samples (n = 23 phalanges, Rangifer tarandus fennicus; n = 60 phalanges, Rangifer tarandus tarandus non-working; n = 72 phalanges, Rangifer tarandus tarandus working) with known life histories. Archaeological samples (n = 22 phalanges, Juikenttä; n = 118 phalanges, Nukkumajoki). MethodsWe analysed entheseal changes on the first and second phalanges of both the thoracic and pelvic limbs. The minute movements of reindeer feet create entheseal changes which are specific to different activity patterns. This analysis was compared to the results obtained from long-bone analysis. ResultsOur results show the presence of working reindeer at both sites and are consistent with previous analysis of the long bones found at the site. ConclusionsThis archaeological application of phalangeal entheseal changes suggests that reindeer phalanges may be used to assess both the presence and proportion of working animals in an assemblage. SignificanceThis study provides more evidence for the use of working reindeer as early as the 14th century in Northern Finland. This work also helps to provide archaeological evidence for Sámi subsistence patterns, as well as proving new tools for zooarchaeological assessment. LimitationsSmall sample size and taphonomy may affect assessment. Additionally, entheseal changes take time to envelope and may under-represent the number of working reindeer. Suggestions for further researchAssessment of additional modern and archaeological samples.

A Content Analysis of English Textbook “English For Nusantara” for 7 Grade Junior High School in Kurikulum Merdeka

This study aims to analyze English textbook entitled English for Nusantara for grade 7 junior high school students at the Kurikulum Merdeka and to find out all the strengths and the weaknesses of this book in the items aims and approach, language content, skills, topic, methodology, and practical consideration determined by Cunningsworth's theory (1995). The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method with content analysis and literature study. The subjects in this study are the 5 chapters contained in the English for Nusantara textbook. In collecting data, the writer makes a table and evaluates each item determined from Cunningsworth's theory (1995). In data analysis techniques, the percentage of item fulfillment is calculated by dividing the total criteria met by the total number of criteria for each item then multiplied by 100%. Then determine the strengths and the weaknesses of each of these items. The results of this study indicate that the English textbook English for Nusantara fulfills an average of 94% in the "Good" category with items aims and approach (100%), language content (66.67%), skills (100%), topic (100%), methodology (100%), and practical consideration (100%) and has its strengths and weaknesses inside.

The relationship between entrepreneurial intention and behavior: A meta-analytic review

A vibrant literature studying antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions is largely motivated by an often implicit assumption that they will be followed by subsequent entrepreneurial behaviors or actions. A much smaller number of studies actually test this assumption. Their results suggest that while the entrepreneurial intention–behavior relationship is usually present, its strength turns out highly contextual. This meta-analysis intends to integrate and summarize the available research base on the entrepreneurial intention–behavior relationship, assessing the moderating impacts of environmental, demographic and methodological factors. Data from 75 studies (150,703 individuals) were included in the analysis. Our results indicate that the focal relationship is robust across environmental contexts, populations, and methodologies except for the measures used for entrepreneurial behavior, the use of a database compared to collecting new data, and the duration of time between intention and behavior. Additionally, entrepreneurial intentions were found to account for only 17% of the variance in entrepreneurial behaviors as opposed to the commonly expected and cited 37%. Our findings suggest theoretical and methodological considerations for future work aimed at exploring and overcoming the non-trivial intention–behavior gap and we encourage the discovery of cognitive and behavioral factors reinforcing the intention–action translation at different levels of analysis and over time.

A longitudinal view of an approach to responsiveness: Principles followed and lessons learned

Responsiveness is currently a hot topic in the psychotherapy literature with a large variation in what the term means to colleagues of various orientations. This adds to its popularity but limits the scope of whatever is written or said about responsiveness. The fact that the meaning of responsiveness has developed over time within the approaches adds also to the variation, while an understanding of development has the potential of deepening the understanding of each approach. As a fair description and comparison of even just the most important approaches is by far out of reach for a page-limited article, the development of one approach, which may be termed the “Bernese” approach is described here, along with lessons learnt and general comments. The approach includes Plan Analysis case formulations, the concept of complementary or Motive-Oriented Relationship, a description of a combined qualitative and quantitative assessment, and many methodological and conceptual considerations. Personal development is woven in. Overall, it seems fair to say that this approach, at its core developed long before responsiveness became popular, has turned out to still be useful, with a gain in depth as far as concepts and assessment are concerned.

Mysterium Corpus: The Solo Piano Music of Alexander Scriabin

This article introduces the Mysterium corpus, the complete published oeuvre of Alexander Scriabin’s 207 solo piano works, and makes the corpus available in Humdrum’s kern format. Scriabin’s music presents distinct challenges, specifically in relation to his use of complex rhythmic and metric explorations and the idiosyncratic ways in which he notated his compositional ideas. While this sidetdataset is focused on Scriabin, the methodological challenges explored in the article may shed light on the encoding process for other related late-tonal and early post-tonal repertoires. As such, this article provides a case study of methodological considerations involved in systematically translating messy musical notations into a symbolic encoding of the musical data. Finally, this article provides descriptive statistics of the corpus, especially focusing on Scriabin’s treatment of meter and two harmonies (i.e., the dominant-seventh chord with lowered fifth, and the “Mystic” chord), and discusses the applicability of the Mysterium corpus for future research.

Trends and challenges within Reddit and health communication research: A systematic review

There is a growing body of health communication literature addressing health-related discourse across user-generated platforms. Specifically, Reddit, the 19th most visited website in the world, serves as a promising venue for understanding communication surrounding health concerns. Such studies apply a variety of theories and methodological approaches, analyze large corpora, and build predictive and descriptive models for public health communication. The current study investigates health communication literature in the context of Reddit, identifying major topics, theories, and methods employed across studies, as well as how health communication topics have evolved over time. We identify future research directions, proposing theoretical and methodological considerations as well as issues and practices to employ when researching health phenomena via social platforms.

Using Multisource High-Resolution Remote Sensing Data (2 m) with a Habitat–Tide–Semantic Segmentation Approach for Mangrove Mapping

Mangrove wetlands are hotspots of global biodiversity and blue carbon reserves in coastal wetlands, with unique ecological functions and significant socioeconomic value. Annual fine-scale monitoring of mangroves is crucial for evaluating national conservation programs and implementing sustainable mangrove management strategies. However, annual fine-scale mapping of mangroves over large areas using remote sensing remains a challenge due to spectral similarities with coastal vegetation, tidal periodic fluctuations, and the need for consistent and dependable samples across different years. In previous research, there has been a lack of strategies that simultaneously consider spatial, temporal, and methodological aspects of mangrove extraction. Therefore, based on an approach that considers mangrove habitat, tides, and a semantic segmentation approach, we propose a method for fine-scale mangrove mapping suitable for long time-series data. This is an optimized hybrid model that integrates spatial, temporal, and methodological considerations. The model uses five sensors (GF-1, GF-2, GF-6, ZY-301, ZY-302) to combine deep learning U-Net models with mangrove habitat information and algorithms during low-tide periods. This method produces a mangrove map with a spatial resolution of 2 m. We applied this algorithm to three typical mangrove regions in the Beibu Gulf of Guangxi Province. The results showed the following: (1) The model scored above 0.9 in terms of its F1-score in all three study areas at the time of training, with an average accuracy of 92.54% for mangrove extraction. (2) The average overall accuracy (OA) for the extraction of mangrove distribution in three typical areas in the Beibu Gulf was 93.29%. When comparing the validation of different regions and years, the overall OA accuracy exceeded 89.84% and the Kappa coefficient exceeded 0.74. (3) The model results are reliable for extracting sparse and slow-growing young mangroves and narrow mangrove belts along roadsides. In some areas where tidal flooding occurs, the existing dataset underestimates mangrove extraction to a certain extent. The fine-scale mangrove extraction method provides a foundation for the implementation of fine-scale management of mangrove ecosystems, support for species diversity conservation, blue carbon recovery, and sustainable development goals related to coastal development.

How within-person research can extend marketing knowledge

Much existing research in marketing examines theory using between-persons research designs, yet draws implications that are based on within-person causal logics. This mismatch is problematic in developing marketing knowledge, and in impacting marketing practice effectively. The present article discusses the importance of conducting within-person research in marketing, alongside suggesting marketing constructs that could benefit from within-person analyses. We provide details on how to conceptualize within-person theories, and compare them with the more common between-persons approach. Furthermore, a set of important methodological considerations and recommendations for designing within-person studies is elaborated on, and theoretical and empirical principles are applied to an empirical demonstration. The results show how theories and relationships can sometimes differ across levels, but in other instances can remain consistent. We draw out a set of important implications and directions for future marketing research, and encourage researchers to incorporate within-person approaches into their toolkit of theoretical and empirical methods.

Aging and sympathetic transduction to blood pressure in humans: methodological and physiological considerations.

Recent reports suggest that quantification of signal-averaged sympathetic transduction is influenced by resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and burst occurrence relative to the average mean arterial pressure (MAP). Herein, we asked how these findings may influence age-related reductions in sympathetic transduction. Beat-to-beat blood pressure and MSNA were recorded during 5 min of rest in 27 younger (13 females: age, 25 ± 5 yr; BMI, 25 ± 4 kg/m2) and 26 older (15 females: age, 59 ± 5 yr; BMI, 26 ± 4 kg/m2) healthy adults. All MSNA bursts were signal averaged together. Beat-to-beat MAP values were then split into low (T1), middle (T2), and high (T3) tertiles, and signal-averaged transduction was calculated within each tertile. Resting MSNA was higher in older adults and MAP was similar between groups. Older adults exhibited blunted overall MAP transduction (younger, Δ1.5 ± 0.6 vs. older, Δ0.9 ± 0.7 mmHg; P = 0.005), which was irrespective of relation to prevailing MAP. A greater proportion of bursts occurred above the average MAP in older adults (P < 0.001), and a larger proportion of these bursts were associated with depressor responses (P = 0.005). Nonetheless, assessment of bursts above the average MAP associated with pressor responses revealed similar age-associated reductions in transduction (younger, Δ2.6 ± 1.6 vs. older, Δ1.7 ± 0.8 mmHg; P = 0.016). These findings indicate an age-related increase in burst occurrence above the average resting MAP, which alone does not explain blunted transduction, thereby supporting the physiological underpinnings of age-related decrements in sympathetic transduction to blood pressure.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The current study demonstrated that aging is associated with a greater prevalence of sympathetic bursts occurring above the average blood pressure, which offers both methodologically and physiologically relevant information regarding aging and sympathetic control of blood pressure. These data support age-related reductions in sympathetic transduction via a reduced pressor response to sympathetic bursts irrespective of the prevailing absolute blood pressure value, along with increases in sympathetic outflow necessary to maintain blood pressure.

An introduction to carrying out and appraising systematic reviews in healthcare

Systematic literature reviews remain one of the most trusted sources of evidence used to inform policy and clinical decision-making. The proliferation of academic publications makes reviews increasingly essential to practitioners and policy makers as they enable them to rapidly access high-quality evidence synthesised from multiple sources. Knowledge and awareness of the structure and components of a systematic review can aid in the production of high-calibre reviews and improve the ability to appraise their quality. An overview of the main stages of carrying out a review is presented here along with frameworks and methodological considerations that will aid those producing or appraising systematic reviews.

Ethnic-Racial Socialization in Transracially Adoptive Families: Foundational Review and Educational Implications

While all families are responsible for the ethnic-racial socialization of their children, this process represents a nuanced undertaking for parents who have adopted transracially. Following the model of change (Mace, 1981), this paper first presents a review of the socialization and transracial adoption literature with a special focus on intrinsic and extrinsic factors shaping how children are socialized, followed by a set of practical strategies for adoptive parents and practitioners to use with the goal of empowering parents to take on the task of socialization confidently and effectively. Methodological considerations relevant for scholars studying ethnic-racial socialization are also included.