Open Science Research Articles

The structure and development of explore-exploit decision making

A critical component of human learning reflects the balance people must achieve between focusing on the utility of what they know versus openness to what they have yet to experience. How individuals decide whether to explore new options versus exploit known options has garnered growing interest in recent years. Yet, the component processes underlying decisions to explore and whether these processes change across development remain poorly understood. By contrasting a variety of tasks that measure exploration in slightly different ways, we found that decisions about whether to explore reflect (a) random exploration that is not explicitly goal-directed and (b) directed exploration to purposefully reduce uncertainty. While these components similarly characterized the decision-making of both youth and adults, younger participants made decisions that were less strategic, but more exploratory and flexible, than those of adults. These findings are discussed in terms of how people adapt to and learn from changing environments over time.Data has been made available in the Open Science Foundation platform (osf.io).

Virtual Reality Distraction for Needle-Related Pain and Distress in Children: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

This international multicenter randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) distraction with an identical non-VR game in reducing needle-related pain and anxiety in children undergoing venous blood draw. The study involved 304 children aged 5-9 years undergoing a blood draw procedure, randomly allocated to one of three groups: VR distraction, non-VR distraction, and control group (usual care). The distraction task was based on the Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) paradigm, and the game was identical in design and gameplay for both VR and non-VR distraction groups. The primary outcome was self-reported pain intensity using the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R). Secondary outcomes included child distress, attention/distraction to the blood draw, and parent and medical staff satisfaction with procedure. Analyses were conducted using analysis of variance and multivariable linear regression models. The results showed that VR distraction and non-VR distraction performed similarly, showing large effect sizes compared with standard care. There was no significant difference between the two types of distraction. The study's findings suggest that VR and non-VR distraction are similarly effective in reducing needle-related pain and anxiety in children undergoing venous blood draw. This is the first well-powered study comparing modern VR distraction with an identical task displayed on a smartphone or monitor screen. The study's results have important implications for using VR in clinical settings and suggest that investing in expensive VR equipment for acute pain management may not be necessary. The study protocol was pre-registered on Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/frsyc.

Preprints to foster open Science

At ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierias, we care deeply about open science. After all, we are an open access journal that does not charge an article processing charge, and all editors are volunteers who support open science practices. Our hosting and administrative costs are funded by Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
 In a new effort to strengthen our open science practices, we have launched a Preprints server, named Preprints ACI. Authors who send an article to ACI Avances en Ciencias e Ingenierias are encouraged to deposit their article as a preprint on the server. Authors from within and outside the community of Universidad San Francisco de Quito are also welcome to use our preprint server.

­Questionable Research Practices and Open Science in Quantitative Criminology

­Questionable Research Practices and Open Science in Quantitative Criminology

Exploring Freely Available Data Tools to Support Open Data and Open Science

ABSTRACT Librarians support researchers by promoting open science and open data practices. This article explores five freely available tools that support and facilitate open science practices. Open Science Framework provides a platform for project management, data sharing, and data storage. OpenRefine cleans and formats data. DMPTool has templates for data management and sharing plans that comply with funder mandates. The NIH Common Data Elements is a repository for standardized data elements, and finally, the NLM Scrubber is a tool for de-identifying clinical text data. Information professionals can add these tools to their repertoire and share them with researchers at their institution.

Acupuncture for insomnia: a scoping review of clinical studies

The use of complementary medicine in the treatment of sleep disorders has been increasing and the insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in modern society. The aim of this scoping review was to map the literature on the use of acupuncture for insomnia treatment. This scope review was prepared according to the 5 steps of the methodology proposed by Arksey and O'Malley (2015) and was registered in the Open Science Framework. The following databases were searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Studies that evaluated the use of acupuncture in insomnia treatment, published in peer-reviewed journals, were included. The bibliographic survey was carried out between November and December 2023 and 21 studies were selected for inclusion in the analysis. The review demonstrated that acupuncture is a safe and effective alternative for treating insomnia, with fewer side effects compared to pharmaceutical methods.

‘Stopping the start’: support for proposed tobacco control policies – a population-based survey in Great Britain 2021–2023

ObjectivesThis study assessed public support for four proposed tobacco control policies in Great Britain: (1) Raising the sales age of tobacco by 1 year every year (Smokefree Generation); (2) Raising...

Point-of-choice kilocalorie labelling practices in large, out-of-home food businesses: a preobservational versus post observational study of labelling practices following implementation of The Calorie Labelling (Out of Home Sector) (England) Regulations 2021

Background and objectivesOn 6 April 2022, the UK government implemented mandatory kilocalorie (kcal) labelling regulations for food and drink products sold in the out-of-home food sector (OHFS) in England. Previous...

The Effects of a School-Based Mindfulness Programme (Paws b) on Empathy and Prosocial Behaviour: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a school-based mindfulness programme (SBMP), “Paws b”, on empathy and prosocial behaviour among children aged 7 to 10 years in a school setting. Method This multi-informant design, randomised controlled trial compared an intervention group to a wait-list control group, involving 133 children aged 7- to 10 years from 10 classrooms. Outcome measures were taken at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up and included self-reports of mindfulness and empathy, a sharing task, teacher and peer reports of prosocial behaviours, and sociometry measures. Results Children in the intervention group were voted as significantly more (a) prosocial by teachers F(1, 127) = 7.35, p = 0.008, η2 = 0.055, (b) helpful by peers, F(1, 127) = 9.369, p < 0.003, η2 = 0.069, (c) popular by peers, F(1, 127) = 4.90, p = 0.028, η2 = 0.037, and (d) showed more reciprocal relationships, t(8) = 2.518, p = 0.036, compared to the wait-list control group. The intervention did not have an effect on mindfulness scores, empathy scores (affective, cognitive, or intention to comfort), or sharing task scores. Conclusions Findings suggest that, for 7–10-year-olds, the SBMP, Paws b, delivered by a mindfulness teacher, can increase some aspects of prosociality, as judged by peers and teachers, but has no effect on self-assessed empathy. Preregistration This study was preregistered on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/vm6tp/) on 31.10.2022.

Application of ‘Readiness for Change’ concept within implementation of evidence-based mental health interventions globally: protocol for a scoping review

Background Concerning the growing burden of mental illnesses globally, there has been an increased investment into the implementation of evidence-based mental health interventions (EBmhIs) in routine care settings. However, the uptake and implementation of these EBmhIs has faced challenges in the real-world context. Among the many barriers and facilitators of implementation of EBmhIs identified by implementation science frameworks, evidence on the role of readiness for change (RFC) remains sparse. RFC constitutes the willingness and perceived capacity of stakeholders across an organization to implement a new practice. Theoretically, RFC has been defined at organizational, group, and individual levels, however, its conceptualization and operationalization across all these levels have differed in studies on the implementation of EBmhIs. By conducting a scoping review, we aim to examine the literature on RFC within the implementation of EBmhIs. Methods This scoping review will be conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Iterative review stages will include a systematic and comprehensive search through four electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO), selecting studies, charting data, and synthesizing the results. English-language studies meeting the inclusion criteria will be screened independently by two reviewers. Discussion This review will synthesize knowledge on the conceptualization of RFC across organizational, group, and individual levels within the implementation of EBmhIs. In addition, it will identify how RFC has been measured in these studies and summarize the reported evidence on its impact on the implementation of EBmhIs. Conclusions This review will assist mental health researchers, implementation scientists, and mental health care providers to gain a better understanding of the state of research on RFC within the implementation of EBmhIs. Registration The final protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework on October 21, 2022 (https://osf.io/rs5n7).

Early rehabilitation after spinal cord injury: a scoping review protocol.

The objective of this scoping review is to identify the timings and types of early rehabilitation after spinal cord injuries (SCI) that are documented in the literature, as well as identify possible research gaps in this field. Preclinical and clinical studies support the idea that early rehabilitation may be beneficial for patients with acute SCI. However, the timing and types of rehabilitation that should and could be used in the acute stage are still unclear. The first step towards such knowledge is to extensively review what is documented in the literature. This review will consider all papers focusing on early rehabilitation after SCI in adult humans or animals (<3 months post-SCI for humans and other primates and <3 weeks post-SCI for other animals). Interventions in the included papers must aim at sensorimotor or functional improvement and take place in a hospital or a rehabilitation center if they target human subjects. MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Embase (Embase.com), PEDro, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane CENTRAL, PROSPERO, ClinicalTrials.gov, and gray literature sources will be searched for eligible articles. This review will include published and unpublished experimental and observational studies, research protocols, conference abstracts, systematic reviews, and guidelines. No language or date limits will be applied. Two independent reviewers will perform study selection and data extraction, and the results will be presented according to the SCI type and severity. Open Science Framework https://osf.io/q45er.

Three Persistent Myths about Open Science

Knowledge and implementation of open science principles and behaviors remains uneven across the sciences, despite over 10 years of intensive education and advocacy. One reason for the slow and uneven progress of the open science movement is a set of closely held myths about the implications of open science practices, bolstered by recurring objections and arguments that have long been addressed. This paper covers three of these major recurring myths: 1) that open science conflicts with prioritizing diversity, 2) that “open data” is a binary choice between fully open and accessible and completely closed off, and 3) that preregistration is only appropriate for certain types of research designs. Putting these myths to rest is necessary as we work towards improving our scientific practice.

Global pharmaceutical care approaches to autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review protocol.

The aim of the review is to map the literary evidence on pharmaceutical care approaches and trends being seen globally in the treatment of the signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition synonymous with sliding-scale behavioral, communication, and social problems. Causes include genetic and environmental factors. Pharmaceuticals are prescribed to treat the behavioral patterns of ASD. This review will incorporate studies that report on the pharmaceutical care approaches used to treat the signs and symptoms of ASD as well as to identify the global trends related to their use. Studies not falling under the ASD umbrella will be excluded. All primary, secondary, and gray literature will be included. No language restrictions will be applied. Studies from January 1, 1984 will be included. This review will be conducted in line with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. A preliminary search of MEDLINE will be followed by searches of Emcare (Ovid), Nursing and Allied Health Premium (ProQuest), and Google Scholar. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts and extract data from selected sources. A third reviewer will adjudicate any conflicts until consensus is reached. The findings will be presented in a narrative summary with accompanying gap maps, figures, and tables. Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/C234M.

Language and Aging Research in Open Science platforms

Open Science is not just a rewarding endeavor for those involved in Language and Aging Research (LAR), but an important pursuit in its own right. The editorial presents two Open Science platforms and asks whether and how LAR topics are addressed. The transmission of academic knowledge to a wider public of practitioners, older adults and their environment could potentially improve the daily challenges of family life and care settings. Beyond this unidirectional transmission, the presence of a wider public and the awareness of channels to spread the knowledge can also inspire research and help to focus on relevant topics suitable for applications in real world scenarios.

The effectiveness of hypnoanalgesia using conventional and placebo hypnosis induction

The effectiveness of hypnosis-based pain management is well established. However, mechanisms of action and specific effective components are not well understood. The socio-cognitive theory of hypnosis proposes that the effectiveness of hypnosis for pain management is determined by the non-specific features of response expectancy and context. We tested this claim by contrasting the effectiveness of two hypnoanalgesia procedures in a within subjects design using the cold pressor task. The two procedures were identical, including analgesic suggestions, except for the hypnosis induction used. One condition involved a well-established hypnosis induction including suggestions for focused attention, relaxation, and deepening. The other condition included a sham induction procedure using only white noise. In our confirmatory analysis (N = 46) we found that pain tolerance increased compared to baseline equivalently in the conventional and sham induction conditions (mean increase 13.7 and 12.4 seconds respectively, average within subject difference -1.27 seconds, 90% CI = -8.46, 5.90). This finding supports the claim of the socio-cognitive theory considering that response expectancy for pain reduction was also equivalent between the conditions (average difference 2.30, 90% CI = -2.23, 6.84). However, self-reported hypnosis depth was greater in the conventional induction condition (average difference -0.78, 90% CI: -1.36, -0.07), which contradicts socio-cognitive predictions. Our findings indicate that conventional procedural elements of hypnosis inductions such as suggestions for focused attention, relaxation, and deepening, may not be necessary to achieve acute pain reduction in an experimental setting, when the hypnosis intervention includes analgesic suggestions. Trial registrationThis trial was registered on Open Science Framework with the registry number e96xk, available at https://osf.io/e96xk. PerspectiveThis study assessed the necessary effective components of hypnosis-based analgesia interventions. Our findings suggest that procedural features such as suggestions for focused attention, relaxation, and deepening, may not be necessary for hypnoanalgesia as long as pain relief suggestions are present, and the hypnosis context and response expectancy are established.

Open access and open licensing by Russian journals

In the circumstances of transforming institution of intellectual property, the journals have to find balance between the open science initiatives and legal regulations. The purpose of the study is to define whether Russian academic journals conform to open science initiatives and, in particular, to the open access principles and open licensing terms. The author discusses the findings of the study encompassing 450 journals in the Russian Science Citation Index database (as of December 1, 2022) using the following criteria: journal allocation site, archive depth, access principle, license terms and the website section on licensing terms. Based on the obtained data systematization and analysis, the trends for Russian academic journals are formulated: in general, they are ready for introducing open access principles. By choosing open licensing, most of the Russian academic journals are ready to offer maximum freedom in using their publications. The author developed several recommendations for the journals as the sites of scientific data exchange, and for the researchers as the users, generators and disseminators of these data.

Self-reporting of psychoneurophysical (PNP) symptoms in adults with four chronic diseases: a protocol for a scoping review

BackgroundPatient self-reporting of health-specific information, including symptoms, allows healthcare providers to provide more timely, personalized, and patient-centered care to meet their needs. It is critical to acknowledge that symptom reporting draws from the individual’s unique sociocultural background influencing how one perceives health and illness. This scoping review will explore whether racial groups with 4 chronic diseases (cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, and diabetes) differ in self-reporting of psychoneurophysical (PNP) symptoms. The PNP symptoms of interest include depressive symptoms, fatigue, anxiety, pain, cognitive impairment, sleep impairment, mood impairment, irritability, and shortness of breath.MethodsFour databases will be searched by a biomedical librarian: CINAHL Plus (EBSCOhost), Embase (Elsevier), PubMed (NLM), Web of Science: Core Collection (Clarivate Analytics), and limited to publications written in the English language. Two independent reviewers will screen the records’ title, abstract, and then full text and extract the data from included articles using Covidence. A third reviewer will be used for resolving disagreements. Included articles must comprise adult patients with at least one of the specified chronic diseases who self-report at least one of the specified PNP symptoms. Studies that used clinician-administered questionnaires or obtained symptom responses from primary caregiver or patient designee will be excluded. Articles on patient-reported functionality or perceived quality of life will also be excluded from the review. Two reviewers will independently extract data (e.g., demographics, study design, racial group, chronic disease, measure/scale used for self-report) from each included article using Covidence and Microsoft Excel for data cleaning and analyses.DiscussionThis scoping review may potentially identify the relevant and practical implications related to clinical decision-making and health outcomes for patients experiencing the psychoneurophysical symptoms included in this study. The authors will present how the results can be utilized in clinical practice, health policy, and research planning.Systematic review registrationThe protocol was registered on Open Science Framework (OSF) at: https://osf.io/ps7aw

Towards building a trustworthy pipeline integrating Neuroscience Gateway and Open Science Chain.

When the scientific dataset evolves or is reused in workflows creating derived datasets, the integrity of the dataset with its metadata information, including provenance, needs to be securely preserved while providing assurances that they are not accidentally or maliciously altered during the process. Providing a secure method to efficiently share and verify the data as well as metadata is essential for the reuse of the scientific data. The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Open Science Chain (OSC) utilizes consortium blockchain to provide a cyberinfrastructure solution to maintain integrity of the provenance metadata for published datasets and provides a way to perform independent verification of the dataset while promoting reuse and reproducibility. The NSF- and National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Neuroscience Gateway (NSG) provides a freely available web portal that allows neuroscience researchers to execute computational data analysis pipeline on high performance computing resources. Combined, the OSC and NSG platforms form an efficient, integrated framework to automatically and securely preserve and verify the integrity of the artifacts used in research workflows while using the NSG platform. This paper presents the results of the first study that integrates OSC-NSG frameworks to track the provenance of neurophysiological signal data analysis to study brain network dynamics using the Neuro-Integrative Connectivity tool, which is deployed in the NSG platform. Database URL: https://www.opensciencechain.org.

Standardized Sampling for Systematic Literature Reviews (STAMP Method): Ensuring Reproducibility and Replicability

Systematic literature reviews (SLRs) are an effective way of mapping a research field and synthesizing research evidence. However, especially in communication research, SLRs often include diverse theories and methods, which come with a considerable downside in terms of reproducibility and replicability. As a response to this problem, the present article introduces the method of standardized sampling for systematic literature reviews (STAMP). The method is a structured, four-stage approach that is centered around score-based screening decisions. Originating from principles of standardized content analysis, a method common in communication research, and supplementing established guidelines like Cochrane or PRISMA, the STAMP method contributes to more transparent, reproducible, and replicable SLR sampling processes. As we illustrate throughout the article, the method is adaptable to various SLR types. The article also discusses the method’s limitations, such as potential coder effects and comparatively high resource intensity. To facilitate the application of STAMP, we provide a comprehensive guideline via the Open Science Framework that offers a succinct overview for quick reference and includes practical examples for different types of SLRs.

Variances in Smoking Expectancies Predict Moment-to-Moment Smoking Behaviors in Everyday Life.

Many policy decisions about tobacco control are predicated on rational choice models, which posit (1) that smokers are aware of the risks of cigarettes and (2) that perceived risks have a consistent influence on continued smoking behavior. However, research shows that beliefs about smoking may be vulnerable to changes in internal and external contexts. Using ecological momentary assessment, we tested this by measuring how smokers' (N = 52) beliefs about smoking varied over time. Four times per day over 1week, participants responded to measures of smoking intentions, risk perceptions, mood and social outcome expectancies, and internal and external contextual factors. We analyzed this data using multilevel modeling, finding that both smoking intentions, risk perceptions, and expectancies differed between participants as well as between moments. Risk perceptions and mood expectancies were a significant predictor of intentions to smoke in the next 30min, illustrating the importance of these beliefs in decisional processes. This study was preregistered at the Open Science Foundation: https://osf.io/wmv3s/?view_only=71ad66d3ce3845fcb3bf2b9860d820c9 . Our analytic plan was not preregistered.