Methodological Issues Research Articles

Linguistic Markers of Subtle Cognitive Impairment in Connected Speech: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review covers the current stage of research on subtle cognitive impairment with connected speech. It aims at surveying the linguistic features in use to single out those that can best identify patients with mild neurocognitive disorders (mNCDs), whose cognitive changes remain underdiagnosed. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines and proposed a full definition of features for the analysis of speech features. Fifty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of them focused on age-related progressive diseases and included fewer than 30 subjects. A total of 384 features labeled with 335 different names was retrieved, yielding various results in discriminating individuals with mNCDs from controls. This finding highlights the need for harmonized labels to further investigate mNCDs with linguistic markers. We suggest two different ways of assessing a feature's reliability. We also point out potential methodological issues that remain to be resolved, along with recommendations for reproducible research in the field.

Evidence for the oldest Middle Palaeolithic cave occupation in the Romanian Carpathians

ABSTRACTThe Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites in the Carpathians and Danube lowlands constitute key contexts for tracing the dispersal of Homo sapiens into central‐western Europe and the replacement of Homo neanderthalensis. Surprisingly, the Romanian archaeological inventory lacks transitional technologies and only a few sites have been systematically excavated and numerically dated, explaining the incomplete understanding of the Middle Palaeolithic and hence Neanderthal population dynamics. Here we present new age constraints for the Abri 122/1200 and Peștera Mare caves in the Romanian Carpathians, obtained by radiocarbon dating of charcoal and bone and by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of cave sediments. Methodological issues and the method's upper limit cause grossly underestimated radiocarbon ages for charcoal from Abri 122/1200 and provide only minimum ages (>41–60 14C ka bp) for bones from Peștera Mare cave. However, the OSL ages suggest Middle Palaeolithic cave occupation in the Carpathians since early Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 7 and lasting at least until MIS 5. These ages reinforce the vast potential of Carpathian cave sites in solidifying our understanding of Neanderthal dynamics in the region and their habitats. We discuss the reliability of this new chronology and the archaeological implications for the Middle Palaeolithic of neighbouring areas.

Evaluating the current methodological practices and issues in existing literature in pooling complex surveys: a systematic review.

Pooling data from complex survey designs is increasingly used in the health and medical sciences. However, current methodological practices are not well documented in theliterature while performing the pooling strategy. We aimed to review related pooling studies and evaluate the quality of pooling within the framework of specific methodological guidelines, particularly when combining complex surveys such as Demographic & Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). We performed a systematic literature search focusing on studies utilizing the pooling method with DHS and MICS survey data. These studies were selected from those published between 2010 and 2021 and were retrieved from electronic databases (PubMed and Scopus) in accordance with pre-defined inclusion criteria. Then, we extracted355 studies for the final review and evaluated the reporting quality of the pooling strategy while considering some methodological issues. The majority of studies (81.4%) reported using a pooled (one-stage) approach, while 11.8% used a separate (two-stage) approach, and 6.8% used both approaches. Approximately 63.3% of studies did not clearly describe their pooling strategy. Only 3.4% of the studies mentioned the variable harmonization process, while 66.9% addressed dealing with heterogeneity between surveys. All studies that used the separate (two-stage) approach conducted a meta-analytic procedure, while 38.1% of studies using the pooled approach employed a multilevel model. More than half of the studies (55.6%) mentioned the use of clustered standard errors. The Delta method, Bootstrap, and Taylor linearization were each applied in 11.1% of the studies for variance estimation. Survey weights, primary sampling unit (PSU) or cluster, and strata were used together in 30.5% of the studies. Survey weights were employed by 69.8%, PSU or cluster by 43.8%, and the strata variable by 31.7%. Sensitivity analysis was conducted in 16% of the studies. Our study revealed that fundamental methodological issues associated with pooling complex survey databases, such as the selection of pooling procedures, data harmonization, accounting for cycle effects, quality control checks, addressing heterogeneity, selecting model effects, utilizing survey design variables, and dealing with missing values, etc., were inadequately reported in the included studies. We recommend authors, readers, reviewers, and editors examine pooling studies more attentively and utilize the customized checklist developed by our study to assess the quality of future pooling studies.

Evaluation of ploidy and the DNA index by flow cytometry in central nervous system tumors: a review.

Research on central nervous system tumors (CNSTs) has a significant impact on the diagnosis and prognosis of patients. Currently, CNSTs are classified according to the schema proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which considers clinical, histopathological, and molecular characteristics, highlighting the importance of tumor biology for accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment approaches. Despite these advances, assessing DNA ploidy-a marker of tumor aggressiveness-remains complex in CNSTs. This review investigates the utility of DNA index (DNAi) and DNA ploidy analysis by flow cytometry in diagnosing CNSTs and prognosing their outcomes. We systematically reviewed studies in the PubMed database from 1990 to the present using the keywords "DNA Index", "Brain", "Flow cytometry", and "Ploidy". We identified 151 studies, 36 of which met our inclusion criteria. We found considerable variation in sample sizes and methodological variation across the studies. Discrepancies between the reported DNAi and ploidy values were observed. Aneuploidy is generally associated with more aggressive tumors, although exceptions exist. Higher DNAi levels correlate with increased malignancy, notably in glioblastomas, astrocytomas, and meningiomas, whereas diploid astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas are associated with shorter survival rates. DNA ploidy assessment via flow cytometry could predict CNST behavior, yet methodological issues with tissue selection, adequate control samples, and technique variability remain. DNAi and ploidy assessments show promise as prognostic markers in CNSTs. However, the standardization of flow cytometry protocols and alignment with the current WHO classification schema are essential steps to integrate ploidy analysis in routine CNST assessment.

Freedom of Association in Italy: Genesis, Evolution and Limits of Protection of Associations in the Italian Legal System

Abstract This paper analyses the different dimensions of freedom of association in Italy. Section 1 introduces the topic and highlights some methodological issues related to comparative law. Section 2 briefly describes the evolution of the provisions protecting freedom of association in Italy from the Albertine Statute to the 1948 Constitution and gives an overview of the various constitutional provisions in which there is an intersection between the issue of freedom of association and the protection of intermediate bodies. Section 3 analyses the entitlement to the right to freedom of association and outlines some past and present derogations for certain categories of public servants, the regulation of constitutionally prohibited associations and the issue of compulsory associations. Section 4 analyses the rights in associations and the rights of associations focusing on compulsory associations and ideologically oriented organisations. Section 5 draws some conclusions and points out some recent legislative trends.

Environmental DNA reveals a presence of Anser fabalis (Bean Goose) and an absence of A. erythropus (Lesser White-fronted Goose) in Finnish Northern Lapland

Abstract Detecting rare and elusive species from vast wilderness areas poses significant challenges. The Fennoscandian population of Anser erythropus (Lesser White-fronted Goose) is among the most endangered bird populations in Europe, with only 25–30 breeding pairs remaining in Northern Norway. Historically, its former breeding range extended across the mountainous regions of Fennoscandia. Thanks to targeted conservation efforts during the 21st century, A. erythropus has started to recolonize some of its former breeding areas in Norway and possibly also in Finland. Anser serrirostris rossicus (Tundra Bean Goose) is classified as Endangered (EN) in Finland, with just a few breeding pairs in northernmost Finnish Lapland with a poorly known breeding range. It breeds in higher numbers in Finnmark Norway and is listed as Vulnerable (VU) in Norway. Anser fabalis fabalis (Taiga Bean Goose), classified as Endangered in Norway, can also breed in the same area in low numbers. To locate individuals of these elusive goose species during breeding seasons, we used environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from filtered lake water from selected lakes in northern Finland. We amplified and sequenced a short region of the mitochondrial control region to identify the species. Additionally, for positive controls, we sampled eDNA from the water of a Finnish spring staging site and known Norwegian breeding sites of the A. erythropus, from which eDNA of the A. erythropus was identified. eDNA of the A. erythropus was not detected within the former Finnish breeding range. Based on this, the A. erythropus has either not recolonized its former breeding habitats in Finland, the correct lakes were not sampled, the eDNA concentration was below detection limits, or due to other methodological issues. Anser serrirostris rossicus was detected in 3 lakes and A. fabalis fabalis in 10 lakes, providing new information about the breeding distribution of Bean Geese in Finnish Lapland.

Corporate social performance through instrumental stakeholder theory: a sector-specific perspective

PurposeThis study uses instrumental stakeholder theory to explore the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and financial performance in various market sectors. It aims to show how CSP, driven by stakeholder demands in different markets, affects financial outcomes.Design/methodology/approachUsing panel data analysis on data from 2007 to 2020, this research examines how stakeholder demand impacts a firm's ability to turn social performance into financial gains. The study ensures reliable results by addressing methodological and endogeneity issues related to CSP.FindingsThe results show that a firm's success in converting social performance into financial benefits depends on stakeholder demands in different markets. While better CSP generally leads to improved financial performance, the extent of this benefit varies based on stakeholder expectations. This highlights the importance of managers strategically addressing stakeholder demands to maximize financial returns from social initiatives.Originality/valueBy examining the CSP–financial performance link through the lens of market and stakeholder demands, this research provides new insights into how firms can strategically gain stakeholder support for financial benefits. It shows the long-term value of CSP as an investment that gains stakeholder support over time. This approach broadens the understanding of CSP by considering diverse stakeholder influences across industries, filling a gap in long-term CSP research.

Multi-Level Approach for Critical Discourse Analysis

This study addresses methodological issues of critical discourse analysis and shows how an analytical multi-level approach we developed can be useful in adding theoretical resources and systematization to its methods. The analytical approach is grounded on the macrostructure of human activity (activity, actions, operations) and appropriates resources from text linguistics and sociolinguistics. We crossed this approach with historical and positioning discourses to identify ways of talking, foregrounded, and concealed meanings and ideologies in the statement of the ex-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson as delivered to the House of Commons on Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Our results point out he established an agreement with the House through an explanatory statement with the predominance of the use of informing discursive procedures, which corresponded for almost half of his procedures. Most of the time Johnson spoke in the future tense through the intense use of the modal auxiliary verb “will”. These, among other linguistic choices, collaborated to conceal the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s roles in the invasion of Ukraine, framing responsibility solely on the president of Russia. In conclusion, we comment on the contributions and limitations of the analytical approach.

Intensive Home Treatment-Clinical and Methodological Issues.

Intensive Home Treatment-Clinical and Methodological Issues.

Barriers to implementing nursing evidence-based practice at the Palestinian Medical Complex: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: The use of nursing evidence-based practice (EBP) has grown more and more important for healthcare professionals globally in their goal of delivering high-quality patient care. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess barriers to implementing EBP among Palestinian nurses at the Palestinian Medical Complex (PMC). Methods: The study was carried out at the PMC over the course of a month and employed a cross-sectional descriptive approach. Data were gathered from 100 nurses who satisfied the inclusion criteria by using convenient sampling. Barriers to the application of EBP were measured by the BARRIER Scale. Results: Participants identified key barriers such as inadequate time (62%, M ± SD: 3.34 ± 1.066) and lack of assistance (30%, M ± SD: 3.15 ± 1.029). Concerns included literature dispersion (45%, M ± SD: 3.23 ± 0.973), inadequate facilities (53%, M ± SD: 3.70 ± 1.010), and methodological issues (52%, M ± SD: 3.16 ± 1.012). In addition, 57% felt that research is published too slowly (M ± SD: 3.39 ± 0.898), 33% noted unjustified conclusions (M ± SD: 3.01 ± 0.882), and 35% highlighted a lack of replication (M ± SD: 3.07 ± 0.879). Conclusion: This study found that head nurses and men perceived more significant barriers to research quality, while individuals with baccalaureate degrees reported fewer barriers. There was an association between perceived barriers and age and work experience, indicating age as a positive predictor of barriers related to research quality.

Letter to Editor regarding: “Between human and AI: methodological issues on reliability, effectiveness and accuracy to avoid misinterpretation” by Semeraro et al.

Letter to Editor regarding: “Between human and AI: methodological issues on reliability, effectiveness and accuracy to avoid misinterpretation” by Semeraro et al.

Conducting observational analyses with the target trial emulation approach: a methodological systematic review

ObjectivesTarget trial emulation is an approach that is increasingly used to improve transparency in observational studies and help mitigate biases. For studies declaring that they emulated a target trial, we...

Relationships between self-esteem-related dream content and explicit and implicit measures of self-esteem

While there is evidence of continuity between waking life and dream content, findings with regard to personality are questionable due to methodological issues. In addition, previous studies have used explicit measures, although one could assume that dream content, which is formed implicitly, should have a closer relationship with implicit measures of personality. We investigated how explicit and implicit measures of self-esteem are related to two possibly pertinent variables of dream content. We analyzed 1359 dreams collected from 85 participants. We found that one dream content variable, the proportion of self-esteem-relevant dreams, was significantly related to self-esteem, corroborating the idea of a continuity between waking life and dreaming. Interestingly, the relationship was present only for dreams relevant to social self-esteem. This finding can be considered an example of the well-known sociality bias of dreams. Contrary to our expectations, these results were obtained only for explicit measures but not for implicit ones.

Dos and don'ts for conducting mediation analysis: A commentary with practical tips to avoid common problems.

Purpose: Mediation analyses allow for exploration of causal mechanisms that explain how a predictor is related to an outcome. Tests of mediation are fundamental to addressing some of the most consequential questions in rehabilitation science. In recent decades, the development of easy-to-use analytical tools has made conducting statistical tests of mediation more accessible to researchers. Unfortunately, there are persistent problems in the conceptual underpinning of many tests of mediation. Even in cases where the statistical analyses are correctly run, problems with the underlying rationale for the mediational analysis will render the results inconsequential, in the best case, or misleading, in the worst case. Method: In this commentary, I summarize the uses of mediation analysis and through a series of six main types of errors provide practical, plain language guidance ("Dos and Don'ts") for conducting a conceptually robust mediation analysis. Results: The "Dos and Don'ts" laid out in this commentary highlight that there are persistent issues with lack of understanding of mediation, confusion about the differences between moderation, mediation, and covariates, lack of strong theoretical justification for mediation, and lack of attention to methodological issues (e.g., measurement) in many mediation analyses. Conclusions: Promoting the use of mediation analysis in rehabilitation research will advance theory and effective practice in our field. Researchers undertaking mediation analysis are encouraged to prioritize developing a strong theoretical framework that justifies use of mediation analysis, ensuring study methodology supports and enables tests of mediation, as well emphasizing a strong statistical approach to conducting the test of mediation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Atrial hiPSC-CM as a Pharmacologic Model to Evaluate Anti-AF Drugs: Some Lessons From I Kur.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) and atrial hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) have entered the arena of preclinical atrial fibrillation research. A central question is whether they reproduce the physiologic contribution of atrial selective potassium currents (such as the ultrarapid potassium current, I Kur ) to repolarization. Of note, 2 studies in single atrial hiPSC-CM reported prolongation of action potential duration by I Kur block indicating that I Kur might in fact represent a valuable target for the treatment of human atrial fibrillation. However, the results and interpretation are at odds with the literature on I Kur block in human atria and the results of clinical studies. We believe that the discrepancies indicate that experiments in single atrial CM (both adult atrial CM and atrial hiPSC-CM) might be misleading. Under particular experimental conditions, atrial hiPSC-CMs may not closely resemble the electrophysiology of the human atrium. Therefore, we recapitulate here methodological issues evaluating potential value of the I Kur as an antiarrhythmic target when investigated in animal models, in human atrial tissues, and finally in atrial hiPSC-CM.

Epidemiological Studies on COVID-19 and Mental Health in Mexico: Better Methodology for Better results: a Literature Review

Background. Updated information is required on studies conducted in Mexico on the mental health consequences of COVID-19. Objective. In comparison with previous efforts, we increased the timeframe of the literature search to February 2023 and used a larger list of potential mental health outcomes. Method. We used common international literature databases and more local databases, such as SciELO, and the Biblioteca Virtual en Salud (BVS). We focussed on the methodological issues of these studies, their prevalence estimates and suspected risk factors. Results. We reported on ninety-five studies that included Mexican data on symptoms of alcohol use, anxiety, depression, gaming, sleep problems and suicidal thoughts and behaviours. In most cases, we found a cross-sectional survey with self-reported information on mental health symptoms usually although not always with validated screening instruments and scales. These studies were implemented on websites, and sometimes over the phone, on self-selected volunteers. We found a small subset of fourteen longitudinal datasets (for alcohol use, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts and behaviours) that suggested a more cautious interpretation of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Mexicans. Discussion and conclusion. Although the initial rapid studies during the early phases of the pandemic yielded warning signs, they did not necessarily follow standard epidemiological principles. Methodological improvements are required for future studies on the mental health consequences of natural, man-made disasters and epidemic contingencies.

A Protocol for a Bibliometric Analysis of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine Research Preprints

Background: Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) has witnessed significant growth in interest globally. Despite its popularity, TCIM research encounters numerous challenges including funding, methodological issues, and risk of bias. Preprints (scientific manuscripts openly accessible before formal peer review) present a potential solution, and understanding the characteristics and impact of TCIM preprints could offer valuable insights.Methods: A bibliometric analysis will be conducted on all TCIM-related preprints, since inception, and posted on preprint servers with TCIM subject filters. Preprints will be sourced from servers listed in the Accelerating Science and Publication in Biology directory which allow filtering by TCIM-related categories. The preprint server and URLs, preprint server’s disciplinary scope, ownership type, screening processes, external content indexing, permanence of content, preservation of content, and comments will be extracted. The number of TCIM-related preprints yielded, and which TCIM-related term each preprint server uses will be noted. Data will be extracted from each eligible preprint: preprint server, title, DOI, preprint posted date, status of preprint, journal of final publication, final publication date, type of preprint, abstract of preprint, authors, author affiliation(s), country of corresponding author, funders, number of views, number of downloads, number of comments, number of citations, number of versions, and keywords. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize the bibliometric characteristics, and trend analysis will identify publication patterns over time.Conclusion: This protocol was developed for a study to identify trends in TCIM research dissemination, and contribute to a better understanding of how preprints are being used to advance the field

Neurocognitive correlates of cerebral mitochondrial function and energy metabolism using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in older adults.

The goal of the current study was to learn about the role of cerebral mitochondrial function on cognition. Based on established cognitive neuroscience, clinical neuropsychology, and cognitive aging literature, we hypothesized mitochondrial function within a focal brain region would map onto cognitive behaviors linked to that brain region. To test this hypothesis, we used phosphorous (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to derive indirect markers of mitochondrial function and energy metabolism across two regions of the brain (bifrontal, left temporal). We administered cognitive tasks sensitive to frontal-executive or temporal-hippocampal systems to a sample of 70 cognitively unimpaired older adults with subjective memory complaints and a first-degree family history of Alzheimer's disease and predicted better executive function and recent memory performance would be related to greater frontal and temporal 31P MRS indirect markers, respectively. Results of separate hierarchical linear regressions indicated better recent memory scores were related to 31P MRS indirect markers of lower static energy and higher energy reserve within the left temporal voxel; these findings were associated with moderate effect sizes. Contrary to predictions, executive function performance was unrelated to 31P MRS indirect markers within the bilateral frontal voxel, which may reflect a combination of theoretical and/or methodological issues. Findings represent a snapshot of the relationship between cognition and 31P MRS indirect markers of mitochondrial function, providing potential avenues for future work investigating mitochondrial underpinnings of cognition. 31P MRS may provide a sensitive neuroimaging marker for differences in aspects of memory among persons at-risk for mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

DAPNet: A Dual-Attention Parallel Network for the Prediction of Ship Fuel Consumption Based on Multi-Source Data

The precise prediction of ship fuel consumption (SFC) not only serves to enhance energy efficiency to benefit shipping enterprises but also to provide quantitative foundations to aid in carbon emission reduction and ecological environment protection. On the other hand, SFC-related data represent typical multi-source characteristics and heterogeneous features, which lead to several methodological issues (e.g., feature alignment and feature fusion) in SFC prediction. Therefore, this paper proposes a dual-attention parallel network named DAPNet to solve the above issues. Firstly, we design a parallel network structure containing two kinds of long short-term memory (LSTM) and improved temporal convolutional networks (TCNs) for time-series analysis tasks so that different source data can be applied to suitable networks. Secondly, a local attention mechanism is included in each single parallel network so as to improve the ability of feature alignment from different-scale training data. Finally, global attention is employed for the fusion of all parallel networks, which can enrich representation features and simultaneously enhance the performance of SFC prediction. In experiments, DAPNet is compared with 10 methods, including baseline and attention models. The comparison results show that DAPNet and several of its variants obtain the highest accuracy in SFC prediction.

A Critical Evaluation of the Updated Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale

ABSTRACT The article critiques the adaptation of the Transgender Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (TABS). While commending the modernization of language, the critique highlights methodological issues, including limited sample diversity, overemphasis on terminology changes, and a lack of test-retest reliability. Additionally, the study is criticized for inadequate theoretical engagement and insufficient exploration of practical applications, particularly in healthcare. Recommendations for future research include incorporating more diverse samples and deeper theoretical analysis to enhance the scale’s utility.