Open-access Platform Research Articles

PEERS - An Open Science "Platform for the Exchange of Experimental Research Standards" in Biomedicine.

Laboratory workflows and preclinical models have become increasingly diverse and complex. Confronted with the dilemma of a multitude of information with ambiguous relevance for their specific experiments, scientists run the risk of overlooking critical factors that can influence the planning, conduct and results of studies and that should have been considered a priori. To address this problem, we developed “PEERS” (Platform for the Exchange of Experimental Research Standards), an open-access online platform that is built to aid scientists in determining which experimental factors and variables are most likely to affect the outcome of a specific test, model or assay and therefore ought to be considered during the design, execution and reporting stages. The PEERS database is categorized into in vivo and in vitro experiments and provides lists of factors derived from scientific literature that have been deemed critical for experimentation. The platform is based on a structured and transparent system for rating the strength of evidence related to each identified factor and its relevance for a specific method/model. In this context, the rating procedure will not solely be limited to the PEERS working group but will also allow for a community-based grading of evidence. We here describe a working prototype using the Open Field paradigm in rodents and present the selection of factors specific to each experimental setup and the rating system. PEERS not only offers users the possibility to search for information to facilitate experimental rigor, but also draws on the engagement of the scientific community to actively expand the information contained within the platform. Collectively, by helping scientists search for specific factors relevant to their experiments, and to share experimental knowledge in a standardized manner, PEERS will serve as a collaborative exchange and analysis tool to enhance data validity and robustness as well as the reproducibility of preclinical research. PEERS offers a vetted, independent tool by which to judge the quality of information available on a certain test or model, identifies knowledge gaps and provides guidance on the key methodological considerations that should be prioritized to ensure that preclinical research is conducted to the highest standards and best practice.

An introductory course on social identities and their importance in public health

Abstract Background Social identities - e.g., sex/gender, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation - and their intersections shape health inequalities in societies. Yet, a systematic, critical integration into public health curricula is lacking, especially in the European region. To address this gap, we developed a curriculum on social identities and their importance in public health in collaboration with ASPHER. Objectives The curriculum enables students to identify mechanisms of privilege and oppression related to social identities, and to learn how to determine biases within public health structures (and oneself). Moreover, it equips them with tools and skills to address and change biases in their practices to ultimately reduce health inequities. Results We conceptualized the curriculum in an iterative and participatory process in a group of students, young professionals and senior researchers from different countries in Western Europe and North America. The curriculum covers three core elements: 1) the introduction of concepts and terminology on diversity, equity and social identities in relation to health inequalities, 2) the reflection on the role of public health professionals and their responsibility within this system; and 3) spotlights on specific social identities, e.g., sex/gender or social class. In addition, it provides guidance on teaching methods to empower a broad range of public health professionals to engage with the course materials more easily. Conclusions The curriculum has the potential to strengthen the capacities of future public health professionals to acknowledge the relevance of social identities and how to respond effectively to contribute to health equity. After piloting and revisions, the course will be made available on an open access platform.

Enhancing the resilience of the rainwater for drinking (RFD) system through systematic monitoring: a case study at the Ly Nhan rural hospital in Vietnam

Abstract Many rainwater harvesting systems have been installed and operated to supply drinking water to rural regions. However, they often lacked the management method to supply safe and reliable drinking water. The current practice of operating rainwater harvesting systems did not have systematic monitoring as the basis of reliable operation so that the operators did not have confidence in their operation. To overcome these limitations, a rainwater for drinking (RFD) system has been suggested which was to produce drinking water by adding the proper treatment processes and setting up the proper operational mode. This study aimed to evaluate stable regular monitoring results from a pilot RFD system at a local hospital in Vietnam. Water quality and quantity were monitored by the trained local operator on a quarterly and weekly basis. The raw dataset was then shared with the study team by uploading into an open data access platform, from where the technical support was provided to prevent the provision of unsafe water to users. Ultimately, employing systematic monitoring would help to enhance the resilience of the RFD system, contributing to resolving the drinking water issue in rural areas of developing countries, aiming at the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Community crime prevention and crime watch groups as online private policing

Purpose This paper aims to examine the online communications, symbolism and imagery of 35 community crime prevention and crime watch groups across Canada to explore how these groups organize themselves and assess the resulting community actions. Design/methodology/approach Contributing to digital criminology, gathering data from open access platforms such as Facebook and online platforms such as websites, the authors analyse communications from community crime prevention and crime watch groups in 12 Canadian cities. The authors used qualitative content analysis to explore the types of posts to assess trends and patterns in types of ideas communicated and symbolized. Findings Whilst such groups bring the community together to help promote community safety, the groups may also encourage stereotyping, shaming and even vigilantism through misrepresenting the amount of crime occurring in the community and focusing on fear. The authors demonstrate how crime prevention becomes sidelined amongst most of the groups, and how intense crime reporting and the focus on fear derail actual community development. Research limitations/implications The current study is limited to two years of posts from each group under examination. Interviews with members of online community crime prevention and crime watch groups would provide insights into the lived experience of regular users and their reasons for interacting with the group. Practical implications Given some of the vigilante-style the actions of such groups, the authors would suggest these groups pose a governance problem for local governments. Originality/value Community crime prevention and crime watch groups are not a new phenomenon, but their activities are moving online in ways that deserve criminological research. The authors contribute to the field of digital criminology by researching how online communications shape community crime prevention organizations and how ideas about regulation of crime and social control circulate online. The authors also explain how this community crime prevention trend may contribute to issues of vigilantism and increased transgression.

A global social sciences network for infectious threats and antimicrobial resistance

A global social sciences network for infectious threats and antimicrobial resistance The rise of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the last 20 years increases the need for improved prevention and response. The EU-funded SoNAR-Global project will establish a sustainable international social science network to attract the active participation of social sciences and advance complementarity and synergy in the governance of prevention and response to EIDs and AMR. The project is driven by social scientists specialised in EIDs and AMR, and aims to become an integral part of emergency response. SoNAR-Global will develop an open-access platform, adapt, test and assess vulnerability assessment tools and engagement models, and create and assess curricula for training social scientists and non-social sciences actors interested in working with them.

Mexico Silent Film Festival's Journey of Cultural Resistance: Tracing a Path of Community Survival

Mexico Silent Film Festival's Journey of Cultural Resistance:Tracing a Path of Community Survival Alejandra Calleja Toxqui (bio), Roxana Hernández Martínez (bio), Ana Gabriela Hernández Rodríguez (bio), Rosa María Licea Garibay (bio), Enrique Moreno Ceballos (bio), Julio Cesar Quiterio Morales (bio), Ana Belén Recoder López (bio), Cecilia Ramírez Morales (bio), Lluvia Soto Rodríguez (bio), and Laetitia Vigneron (bio) Festival Internacional de Cine Silente México/FIC Silente or Mexico Silent Film Festival was born out of a collective necessity to celebrate, study, and promote silent cinema within the city of Puebla and beyond. At the time of our creation, in 2016, a great number of heritage film festivals were already in the picture, from the legendaries such as Bologna's Cinema Ritrovato and Pordenone Silent Film Festival/Le Giornate del Cinema Muto, to the closer (but equally legendary) San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Though we share the same raison d'être with these other festivals, there remain significant differences between us: their priorities have focused on North American and European film archives and materials, and our programming emphasizes Latin American filmmaking and exhibition contexts. Located in Puebla, one of the largest cities in Mexico, we strive for a balance in our programming that both speaks to local audiences and exposes them to silent cinema, since an initiative like ours was entirely new in the region. That was our starting point as a team, which mostly includes women and workers in [End Page 263] Click for larger view View full resolution Figure 1. FIC Silente México opens the gates of time and invites audiences to appreciate the complexities and richness of silent films in their own cultural right. Courtesy of Festival Internacional de Cine Silente México. the cultural sector. Our labor is volunteer-driven, independently financed, and requires us to work other jobs to sustain our livelihood. Pueblan Film Culture and the Emergence of FIC Silente At the time of our first edition, Puebla was already a city of thriving film festivals, cinema schools, and cine-clubs. Yet local familiarity with silent cinema was limited to a canonical, patriarchal, and western universe of "great male masters." That is why we insisted on going back to the earliest years: to topple the canon by rediscovering its wild and unruly formations. We all encountered early cinema together as an overflowing river. That abundance further provoked us to confront the absence of cross-cultural dialogue about silent cinema that substantively includes Latin America. Doing so became an impetus for creation and emancipation in the face of established formulas, rigid conventions, and hegemonic screen markets. Simultaneously, and with this nonlinear notion of time and space in mind, we played with the idea of opening the festival to contemporary silent cinema as another aspect of our programming. We decided to expand the corpus of silent films to the twenty-first century, highlighting new works that are marked by the past but made for the present. We curated them through various genre and geographical categories, ranging from French [End Page 264] feminist farce to Bolivian docu-drama. But any technology or aesthetic strategy is fair game, as long as there is no audio dialogue. These films vary quite a bit in terms of budget, production values, and access to resources. To help level the playing field, we do not demand a registration fee from the creators, especially since we receive their materials through open-access digital platforms such as FilmFreeway and Festhome. This is how we programmed our Contemporary Official Selections and also how they became interspersed with the aesthetic practices of films from the early twentieth century. Our aim is to surprise and attract audiences of all ages, persuading and revealing to them that silent cinema is more alive than ever; it is a current multicultural social practice rather than a passing trend or obscure fetish. Along with these screenings and live cinema concerts, we established an educational program that includes courses and workshops, even for children, all designed to encourage people to question their concept of cinema, which has been predominantly shaped by the capitalist culture industry and by Hollywood-sanctioned film canons...

Words Algorithm Collection - finding closely related open access books using text mining techniques

Open access platforms and retail websites are both trying to present the most relevant offerings to their patrons. Retail websites deploy recommender systems that collect data about their customers. These systems are successful but intrude on privacy. As an alternative, this paper presents an algorithm that uses text mining techniques to find the most important themes of an open access book or chapter. By locating other publications that share one or more of these themes, it is possible to recommend closely related books or chapters.
 The algorithm splits the full text in trigrams. It removes all trigrams containing words that are commonly used in everyday language and in (open access) book publishing. The most occurring remaining trigrams are distinctive to the publication and indicate the themes of the book. The next step is finding publications that share one or more of the trigrams. The strength of the connection can be measured by counting – and ranking – the number of shared trigrams. The algorithm was used to find connections between 10,997 titles: 67% in English, 29% in German and 6% in Dutch or a combination of languages. The algorithm is able to find connected books across languages.
 It is possible use the algorithm for several use cases, not just recommender systems. Creating benchmarks for publishers or creating a collection of connected titles for libraries are other possibilities. Apart from the OAPEN Library, the algorithm can be applied to other collections of open access books or even open access journal articles. Combining the results across multiple collections will enhance its effectiveness.

A differential equations model-fitting analysis of COVID-19 epidemiological data to explain multi-wave dynamics

Compartmental epidemiological models are, by far, the most popular in the study of dynamics related with infectious diseases. It is, therefore, not surprising that they are frequently used to study the current COVID-19 pandemic. Taking advantage of the real-time availability of COVID-19 related data, we perform a compartmental model fitting analysis of the portuguese case, using an online open-access platform with the integrated capability of solving systems of differential equations. This analysis enabled the data-driven validation of the used model and was the basis for robust projections of different future scenarios, namely, increasing the detected infected population, reopening schools at different moments, allowing Easter celebrations to take place and population vaccination. The method presented in this work can easily be used to perform the non-trivial task of simultaneously fitting differential equation solutions to different epidemiological data sets, regardless of the model or country that might be considered in the analysis.

Mapping the spatio-temporal variability of hillslope erosion with the G2 model and GIS: A case-study of the South Australian agricultural zone

Soil erosion is a major cause of land degradation globally and requires consistent and continuous monitoring methods to ensure future agricultural productivity and soil security. Therefore, tools investigating the impact and frequency of erosive events are crucial for land managers and policymakers to apply corrective measures for better erosion management in the future. Here we used the G2 erosion model to two agricultural regions of South Australia (the Eyre Peninsula and Mid-North) to predict and monitor monthly hillslope erosion. We also explored the use of a high spatio-temporal resolution rainfall product combined with other high-resolution datasets to develop a model that realistically represents the complex combination of critical drivers of erosion. The modelling outputs were used to identify the spatial and temporal variation of hillslope erosion in South Australia to support cost-effective soil and land-management strategies. The average annual hillslope erosion was relatively low, but regional erosion estimates were about three times higher for the Eyre Peninsula (0.050 t ha−1 y-1) compared to the Mid-North region (0.148 t ha−1 y-1). The Flinders Ranges and Orroroo/Carrieton Local Government Areas (LGAs) were predicted to be the most impacted by erosion between 2001 and 2017 (0.24 and 0.22 t ha−1 y-1 respectively). On the other hand, hillslope erosion estimates were very low for most of the Eyre Peninsula and the Adelaide Plains LGA. The model presented in this paper could be applied elsewhere as the input data can be downloaded through open access platforms Australia-wide, and similar datasets are available globally.

The Importance of Journal Publication in Community and Occupational Medicine in Indonesia

Research in community and occupational medicine field has grown rapidly in the last decade. In European countries such as Netherland, the contribution of authors in occupational health journal has even doubles in the past five years.1 Knowledge of community and occupational health medicine; which includes community, and occupational health and medicine, epidemiology, community nutrition, and health economics, is constantly growing, hence increase the need of journal submissions and reference searches. In this digital era, the role of web has greatly reduced the barriers for publishing and communicating scientific and research works outcome.2 Journals online in open access (OA) platform is one of many strategic methods with high impact and relevancy. With peer-reviewed method prior of publication, this model of publishing can be freely accessed.3
 In Indonesia, there are still only few of open accessed journal publications in the field of community and occupational medicine. We understand the urge and importance of providing publication platform in this field, therefore The Association of Alumni of Occupational Medicine Magister Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia (ILUNI MKK FKUI) launches The Indonesian Journal of Community and Occupational Medicine (IJCOM) as an open access journal for the expansion of community and occupational medicine-related knowledge and acts as a media for authors to publish their researches.
 IJCOM is the peer-reviewed, world scale scientific journal of community, occupational clinical, and epidemiology, community nutrition, and health economics. As the official journal of ILUNI MKK FKUI we committed to facilitate authors, academicians, students and health care professionals to share their science work in community and occupational medicine, as well as other related field includes epidemiology, community nutrition, family medicine, health economics and other public health research works. This Journal also act as the platform to provide learnings and recommendations in community and occupational medicine and related data for the development of good health practice for Indonesian community and the world.
 We do realize that this first issue is a baby step for a greater future. We will definitely put our utmost effort and energy to develop and grow this journal to meet all the requirements of national accredited journal and ultimately a reputable international journal standard.

Searching for safe SARS COV­2 immunodominant peptides in silico

HLA molecules function to control the constancy of the internal environment of the body. HLA class I molecules are expressed on the surface of all nucleated cells and represent the peptides of all proteins that are synthesized in each individual cell. When a cell is infected with a virus, the peptides of its proteins bind to HLA class I and inform the immune system of the presence of the virus in that cell. The SARS COV-2 virus is chosen as a relevant example. This publication discusses an algorithm for selecting immunodominant peptides of SARS COV-2 virus that can be used to determine body immunoreactivity, immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy. Proteins from the original strain hCoV-19/Wuhan/WIV04/2019 (hereafter WIV04), the isolate MW674675.1. from RB (hereafter MW674675.1.), strain B.1.617.2 from India (hereafter delta or MZ314977.1.), and the worrisome variant B.1.1.529 (hereafter omicron or OL677199.1) were analyzed. Immunodominant peptides from the SARS COV-2 proteome were searched using various programs on open access platforms: NCBI – GenBank, Protein; IEDB – MHC-I Processing Predictions, Population Coverage; GISAID – CoVsurver: Mutation Analysis of hCoV-19, UNIPROT – BLAST; ToxinPred. The search work resulted in the selection of 27 immunodominant peptides – targets for cytotoxic T-lymphocytes by representation through HLA-A *02:01. We hope that this information will contribute to the dissemination and implementation of ideas aimed at the safest prevention of infections. In predicting in silico bases for peptide vaccines, the practical component can be approached in an early and efficient manner, leading to personalized vaccination of humans as an extremely effective measure.

Direct symbol decoding using GA-SVM in chaotic baseband wireless communication system

To retrieve the information from the serious distorted received signal is the key challenge of communication signal processing. The chaotic baseband communication promises theoretically to eliminate the inter-symbol interference (ISI), however, it needs complicated calculation, if it is not impossible. In this paper, a genetic algorithm support vector machine (GA-SVM) based symbol detection method is proposed for chaotic baseband wireless communication system (CBWCS), by this way, treating the problem from a different viewpoint, the symbol decoding process is converted to be a binary classification through GA-SVM model. A trained GA-SVM model is used to decode the symbols directly at the receiver, so as to improve the bit error rate (BER) performance of the CBWCS and simplify the symbol detection process by removing the channel identification and the threshold calculation process as compared to that using the calculated threshold to decode symbol in the traditional methods. The simulation results show that the proposed method has better BER performance in both the static and time-varying wireless channels. The experimental results, based on the wireless open-access research platform, indicate that the BER of the proposed GA-SVM based symbol detection approach is superior to the other counterparts under a practical wireless multipath channel.

CytomegaloVirusDb: Multi-omics knowledge database for cytomegaloviruses

Cytomegalovirus infection is a significant health concern and need further exploration in immunologic response mechanisms during primary and reactivated CMV infection. In this work, we evaluated the whole genomes and proteomes of different CMV species and developed an integrated open-access platform, CytomegaloVirusDb, a multi-Omics knowledge database for Cytomegaloviruses. The resource is categorized into the main sections “Genomics,” “Proteomics,” “Immune response,” and “Therapeutics,“. The database is annotated with the list of all CMV species included in the study, and available information is freely accessible at http://www.cmvdb.dqweilab-sjtu.com/index.php. Various parameters used in the analysis for each section were primarily based on the whole genome or proteome of each specie. The platform provided datasets are open to access for researchers to obtain CMV species-specific information. This will help further to explore the dynamics of CMV-specific immune response and therapeutics. This platform is a useful resource to aid in advancing research against Cytomegaloviruses.

Assessment of Scientific Productivity by India and South Korea

The purpose of this study is to make a quantitative analysis and to compare scientific productivity between the countries of India and South Korea: both countries offer scholarships and fellowships for various programs and disciplines. The data are collected from SCOPUS through the open access portal www.scimagojr.com and mainly focus on rank and number of publications, global publication share and growth of publications, international collaboration pattern, quality of publications, and open access pattern. Various bibliometric indicators have been used along with simple percentage. Further, a new relative indicator Relative Open Access Index (ROAI) is proposed to compare the number of documents in an open access platform with its overall scientific production. Among the most productive countries, India is ranked at fifth and South Korea at thirteenth in the year 2018. India improved by eight positions while South Korea did by three from 1998 to 2018 at the global level. South Korea has a higher proportion of publications with international collaboration as compared to India. Both countries maintain better positions in a few disciplines such as chemical engineering and materials science.

Luox: novel validated open-access and open-source web platform for calculating and sharing physiologically relevant quantities for light and lighting

Light exposure has a profound impact on human physiology and behaviour. For example, light exposure at the wrong time can disrupt our circadian rhythms and acutely suppress the production of melatonin. In turn, appropriately timed light exposure can support circadian photoentrainment. Beginning with the discovery that melatonin production is acutely suppressed by bright light more than 40 years ago, understanding which aspects of light drive the 'non-visual' responses to light remains a highly active research area, with an important translational dimension and implications for "human-centric" or physiologically inspired architectural lighting design. In 2018, the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) standardised the spectral sensitivities for predicting the non-visual effects of a given spectrum of light with respect to the activation of the five photoreceptor classes in the human retina: the L, M and S cones, the rods, and the melanopsin-containing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). Here, we described a novel, lean, user-friendly, open-access and open-source platform for calculating quantities related to light. The platform, called luox, enables researchers and research users in chronobiology, sleep research and adjacent field to turn spectral measurements into reportable quantities. The luox code base, released under the GPL-3.0 License, is modular and therefore extendable to other spectrum-derived quantities. luox has been endorsed by the CIE following black-box validation.

Non-elective and revision arthroplasty are independently associated with hip and knee prosthetic joint infection caused by Acinetobacter baumannii: a Brazilian single center observational cohort study of 98 patients

BackgroundProsthetic joint infection (PJI) caused by Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) has become a growing concern due to its overwhelming ability to express resistance to antibiotics and produce biofilm.AimThis study aimed to identify independent risk factors (RFs) associated with Ab-associated PJI and their role in the treatment outcome.MethodsThis was a single-centre, retrospective cohort study of PJI patients diagnosed between January 2014 and July 2018. A PJI diagnosis was made based upon the MSIS 2018 criteria. To estimate RFs associated with Ab-associated PJI, multivariate analyses with a level of significance of p < 0.05 were performed. To evaluate treatment failure, Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank test were performed.ResultsOverall, 98 PJI cases were assessed, including 33 with Ab-associated PJI and 65 with PJI involving other microorganisms (non–Ab-associated PJI). Independent RFs associated with Ab-associated PJI were revision arthroplasty [odds ratio (OR) = 3.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15–7.90; p = 0.025] and nonelective arthroplasty (OR = 2.65; 95% CI = 1.01–7.01; p = 0.049). Ab-associated PJI was also more likely than non–Ab-associated PJI to be classified as a chronic late infection (OR = 5.81; 95% CI = 2.1–16.07; p = 0.001). Ab-associated PJI was not associated with treatment failure (p = 0.557).ConclusionsLate chronic infections, surgical revision and nonelective arthroplasty are well-known predictors of PJI but were also independently associated with Ab-associated PJI. Infections caused by Ab and surgical treatment with debridement, antibiotics and implant retention were not associated with PJI treatment failure.Trial registrationStudy data supporting our results were registered with the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (https://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-6ft5yb/), an open-access virtual platform for the registration of studies on humans performed in Brazil.Registration no.RBR-6ft5yb.

Characterization of an Open-Access Medical News Platform's Readership During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Observational Study.

BackgroundThere are many alternatives to direct journal access, such as podcasts, blogs, and news sites, that allow physicians and the general public to stay up to date with medical literature. However, there is a scarcity of literature that investigates the readership characteristics of open-access medical news sites and how these characteristics may have shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess readership and survey data to characterize open-access medical news readership trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic and overall readership trends regarding pandemic-related information delivery.MethodsAnonymous, aggregate readership data were obtained from 2 Minute Medicine, an open-access, physician-run medical news organization that has published over 8000 original, physician-written texts and visual summaries of new medical research since 2013. In this retrospective observational study, the average number of article views, number of actions (defined as the sum of the number of views, shares, and outbound link clicks), read times, and bounce rates (probability of leaving a page in <30 s) were compared between COVID-19 articles published from January 1 to May 31, 2020 (n=40) and non–COVID-19 articles (n=145) published in the same time period. A voluntary survey was also sent to subscribed 2 Minute Medicine readers to further characterize readership demographics and preferences, which were scored on a Likert scale.ResultsCOVID-19 articles had a significantly higher median number of views than non–COVID-19 articles (296 vs 110; U=748.5; P<.001). There were no significant differences in average read times (P=.12) or bounce rates (P=.12). Non–COVID-19 articles had a higher median number of actions than COVID-19 articles (2.9 vs 2.5; U=2070.5; P=.02). On a Likert scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), our survey data revealed that 65.5% (78/119) of readers agreed or strongly agreed that they preferred staying up to date with emerging literature about COVID-19 by using sources such as 2 Minute Medicine instead of journals. A greater proportion of survey respondents also indicated that open-access news sources were one of their primary sources for staying informed (86/120, 71.7%) compared to the proportion who preferred direct journal article access (61/120, 50.8%). The proportion of readers indicating they were reading one or less full-length medical studies a month were lower following introduction to 2 Minute Medicine compared to prior (21/120, 17.5% vs 38/120, 31.6%; P=.005).ConclusionsThe readership significantly increased for one open-access medical literature platform during the pandemic. This reinforces the idea that open-access, physician-written sources of medical news represent an important alternative to direct journal access for readers who want to stay up to date with medical literature.

Patient and caregiver experience with an online, open-access, standardized, evidence-based, cancer drug and supportive care educational platform.

e18811 Background: An open-access, web-based platform was developed to provide standardized, evidence-based information, that is cancer regimen-specific and supportive care focused. Online content was provided in the English language only for more than 200 anti-neoplastic regimens. A survey was conducted to determine reasons adult patients and their caregivers seek internet-based cancer drug information, and to evaluate if there is an unmet need for improved oncology therapy education. Methods: Between February 2020 and January 2021, patients and caregivers completed an online anonymous, English language survey deployed on the website www.chemoexperts.com. Results: A total of 1,021 website users responded. The majority of users were from North America (75%). Female respondents comprised 65% of the population and users self-identified as being a patient (67%), or family member/caregiver (33%). The mean age of respondents was 60.7 years (+ 16.2). Roughly two-thirds (66.4%) had a college degree. The majority of respondents reported they were either currently receiving (59.6%), or planning to receive (27.4%) treatment, however patients of all education levels, and in all phases of treatment (before, during, and after) sought online drug information. Clinical drug information education was reportedly provided by a doctor (68.9%), nurse (40.9%), physician assistant or nurse practitioner (23.8%), or pharmacist (15%), while 23% did not receive any education from clinical staff. Modes of education received by participants included printed material (73.9%), teaching in person (52.3%), and/or other internet sites (27.5%). Reasons for visiting the website were reported as follows: seeking additional information (92%), did not know what questions to ask (12%), looking at treatment alternatives (10%), forgot to ask questions (5%), not enough information given (11%), not enough time to ask questions (5%), and afraid to ask questions (2%). Respondents could mark all reasons. Among content sections, the percentage of users reported the side effect section as being the most useful. However, section usefulness varied based upon age, phase of treatment, and baseline education level. Overall, 86% reported finding the information they were looking for on the website. Conclusions: The majority of respondents received education from a health care provider, but not all. It is possible that the current pandemic prevented some patients from receiving education when in-person teaching was not available. However, many patients and caregivers still use the internet to seek additional drug information. These data highlight a continued unmet need for patients using online sources when searching for cancer drug and supportive care information. Further work is required to determine whether supplemental online, education can improve outcomes while reducing adverse effects.

Learning pains: practical considerations in migrating exercise physiology labs to a virtual environment during the COVID‐19 pandemic

The COVID‐19 pandemic provided an unprecedented challenge for physiology instructors as previously in‐person course offerings were required to migrate to a virtual environment. In particular, the migration of exercise physiology labs, which included anaerobic and aerobic exercise tests, posed a considerable hurdle in attempting to provide a practical and engaging lab environment fully online. Using a qualitative case‐study design, this presentation will highlight the experience of migrating exercise physiology labs into a virtual post‐secondary course context. In Fall 2020, approximately 200 Kinesiology students attended a virtual second‐year exercise physiology course, which included four previously in‐person, bi‐weekly labs. Labs were rapidly migrated onto an open access platform for integration into the existing institutional learning management system. Students completed bi‐weekly labs in lab groups of 20‐25 students, led by a Teaching Assistant (TA), with students working in small breakout groups of 4‐5 students to complete the virtual lab as a group using a collaborative workspace. Following the breakouts, students would rejoin their peers in the main group for a post‐lab discussion period to discuss lab report questions with the TA. After the lab, students completed a content quiz which included a responsive question: “What did you like about the lab? What do you feel could be improved about the lab?” Given the importance of considering students as partners in course development, responses from students were considered in refinement of future virtual labs throughout the term. Responses were analyzed using qualitative coding for positive/neutral/negative responses, and general themes emerged for each lab. Briefly, main themes for improvement included: increased organization and instruction for navigating the virtual lab, more contact with the TA in breakout rooms, improving engagement between members of breakout groups, and enhancements to the virtual lab components. Positive themes included: students enjoying breakout room opportunities to connect with peers, TA support especially in the post‐lab discussion period, and additional cues added to the virtual lab. Finally, student responses became increasingly positive from the first lab to fourth lab, with students noting their appreciation for being a part of the refinement process. Overall, this presentation, detailing the practical considerations of migrating labs to a virtual environment, will benefit future exercise physiology instructors in pursuing successful virtual lab delivery.

Luox: novel validated open-access and open-source web platform for calculating and sharing physiologically relevant quantities for light and lighting

Light exposure has a profound impact on human physiology and behaviour. For example, light exposure at the wrong time can disrupt our circadian rhythms and acutely suppress the production of melatonin. In turn, appropriately timed light exposure can support circadian photoentrainment. Beginning with the discovery that melatonin production is acutely suppressed by bright light more than 40 years ago, understanding which aspects of light drive the 'non-visual' responses to light remains a highly active research area, with an important translational dimension and implications for "human-centric" or physiologically inspired architectural lighting design. In 2018, the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) standardised the spectral sensitivities for predicting the non-visual effects of a given spectrum of light with respect to the activation of the five photoreceptor classes in the human retina: the L, M and S cones, the rods, and the melanopsin-containing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). Here, we described a novel, lean, user-friendly, open-access and open-source platform for calculating quantities related to light. The platform, called luox, enables researchers and research users in chronobiology, sleep research and adjacent field to turn spectral measurements into reportable quantities. The luox code base, released under the GPL-3.0 License, is modular and therefore extendable to other spectrum-derived quantities. luox has been endorsed by the CIE following black-box validation.