Qualitative Assessment Research Articles

Human-augmented large language model-driven selection of glutathione peroxidase 4 as a candidate blood transcriptional biomarker for circulating erythroid cells

The identification of optimal candidate genes from large-scale blood transcriptomic data is crucial for developing targeted assays to monitor immune responses. Here, we introduce a novel, optimized large language model (LLM)-based approach for prioritizing candidate biomarkers from blood transcriptional modules. Focusing on module M14.51 from the BloodGen3 repertoire, we implemented a multi-step LLM-driven workflow. Initial high-throughput screening used GPT-4, Claude 3, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet to score and rank the module’s constituent genes across six criteria. Top candidates then underwent high-resolution scoring using Consensus GPT, with concurrent manual fact-checking and, when needed, iterative refinement of the scores based on user feedback. Qualitative assessment of literature-based narratives and analysis of reference transcriptome data further refined the selection process. This novel multi-tiered approach consistently identified Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) as the top candidate gene for module M14.51. GPX4’s role in oxidative stress regulation, its potential as a future drug target, and its expression pattern across diverse cell types supported its selection. The incorporation of reference transcriptome data further validated GPX4 as the most suitable candidate for this module. This study presents an advanced LLM-driven workflow with a novel optimized scoring strategy for candidate gene prioritization, incorporating human-in-the-loop augmentation. The approach identified GPX4 as a key gene in the erythroid cell-associated module M14.51, suggesting its potential utility for biomarker discovery and targeted assay development. By combining AI-driven literature analysis with iterative human expert validation, this method leverages the strengths of both artificial and human intelligence, potentially contributing to the development of biologically relevant and clinically informative targeted assays. Further validation studies are needed to confirm the broader applicability of this human-augmented AI approach.

Unveiling A Century of Research on Retirement Schemes: A State-of-the-Art Bibliometric Review

This bibliometric study investigates research on retirement schemes from 1985 to 2023, using data from the Scopus database. It comprises a qualitative assessment of influence using citation measures including citation counts, h-index, and g-index, as well as a quantitative assessment of publication output among authors and journals. The study offers a thorough overview of the field by identifying significant works and important contributors. Co-word occurrence analysis also identifies important study themes and emphasizes understudied topics in the literature on retirement plans. This method lessens the subjectivity present in conventional literature evaluations while providing insights into research trends, significant writers, and hot themes. The study also fills gaps in the literature and makes recommendations for future research directions to guide future investigations and support the creation of retirement plan policy.

”I am now on ‘speaking terms’ with my migraine monster” – patient experiences in acceptance-based cognitive behavioral therapy delivered via the internet for migraine: a randomized controlled pilot study using a mixed-method approach

ABSTRACT Migraine is a common neurological disorder globally. Migraines, with or without aura, are episodic and recurring with symptom-free periods. Frequent and prolonged attacks can lead to chronic migraine. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate feasibility of therapist-guided, acceptance-based internet cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) as an adjunct to standard medical care for migraine patients in Swedish primary healthcare settings using a mixed methods approach. Participants (treatment n = 15, control n = 14) underwent qualitative and quantitative assessments to evaluate feasibility, acceptance, and initial treatment effects. Interviews with participants (n = 7) indicate that most participants had struggled with migraines for decades and expressed dissatisfaction with the limited medical care. They found the flexible, digital format particularly helpful, praising its accessibility and structured learning. While they appreciated the comprehensive content, some faced challenges with the psychological language and the program pace. Post-treatment, participants reported emotional and behavioral changes, and better migraine management. Seventy-two percent of the 29 participants completed both baseline and 3-month follow-up measures. On average, participants completed 7.7 modules, with 60% completing all 10 modules. Promising effect size indicated a reduction in migraine days during the three-month follow-up. Both qualitative and quantitative data support the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in primary care settings.

Global prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in the elderly population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundSeveral preliminary studies have been conducted in the field of the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in the elderly population. These studies have examined the prevalence in limited geographic areas with small sample sizes. Also, there are many limitations in the meta-analysis studies. The objective of the present study was to synthesize the global prevalence statistics of depression, anxiety, and stress in the elderly population through a systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsThe present systematic review included retrieval of primary studies from the oldest relevant study up to 2023. To find the relevant studies, international databases such as Scopus, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science (WoS) were systematically searched. Also, a manual search was performed through the Google Scholar search engine and a review of the sources of related articles. The qualitative assessment of the studies was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Due to a high heterogeneity among the study results, a Random Effects model was chosen.ResultsA total of 42 articles on depression, 47 articles on anxiety and 13 articles on stress were included in the meta-analysis. The overall estimates for prevalence based on a random-effects model were as follows: depression, 19.2% (95% CI: 13.0 − 27.5%); anxiety, 16.5% (95% CI: 11.1 − 22.8%); and stress, 13.9% (95% CI: 5.5 − 30.9%). The highest prevalence of depression and anxiety was recorded in Africa. The prevalence of depression was higher in nursing homes, and stress was more prevalent in individuals with COVID-19 compared to other populations.ConclusionThe findings revealed a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in the elderly population. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare professionals and policymakers pay more attention to the prevention and management of these disorders in the elderly population.

Strengthening nutrition policy and service delivery: Lessons learned from a six-country assessment of Alive and Thrive's technical assistance.

Alive & Thrive (A&T) provides strategic technical assistance (TA) to develop effective policies; improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) programme design and implementationand enhance system capacity to sustain quality MIYCN service delivery at scale. A qualitative assessment was conducted using document review and stakeholder interviews (n = 79) to describe a selection of A&T's TA in six countries and systematically assess the contextual and TA process-related factors that influenced the results achieved and document the lessons learned about MIYCN TA design and implementation. To facilitate the selection of different types of TA, we classified TA into two levels of stakeholder engagement and intensity. Under the Technical Advisor TA category, we assessed A&T's support to strengthen national policy formulation, monitoring, and implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. For Capacity Development TA, we assessed A&T support to scale-up maternal nutrition services and to increase strategic use of data. Factors important for TA provision included identifying and engaging with the right people, using evidence to support advocacy and decision-making, using multiple ways to strengthen capacity, developing packages of tools to support programme scale-up, and reinforcing feedback mechanisms to improve service provision and data quality. Challenges included shifts in the political context, poorly functioning health systems, and limited resources to replicate or sustain the progress made. Continued investment in evidence-based and practical TA that strengthens the institutionalization of nutrition across all stakeholders-including government, medical associations, civil societyand development partners-is essential. Future TA must support governments to strengthen system capacity for nutrition, including financial and human resource gaps that hamper full scale-up.

Оценка обеспеченности человеческим капиталом аграрного сектора экономики

Abstract. The formation and use of human capital in the agricultural economy must meet modern economic requirements and the level of development of agricultural production. The assessment of the efficiency of the use of human resources and the quality of products plays a key role in adapting to changing market conditions. Therefore, it is important to constantly strengthen human resources to ensure a prompt response to market challenges. At the same time, agricultural production is currently undergoing changes in all key areas. This article analyzes the availability and efficiency of the use of agricultural enterprises' labor resources, based on statistical data for the Russian Federation. In this regard, the purpose of this scientific study is to analyze the availability of human capital in agriculture. The objectives of the study include carrying out a qualitative and quantitative assessment of labor resources. Methods. The methodological basis is based on the general scientific principles of a systematic approach. The analysis uses logical, factorial, comparative and strategic methods, as well as methods of qualitative research of the main trends in the presence and use of human capital in agriculture. Results. The analysis of the formation and use of human capital in agriculture in its quantitative and qualitative assessment in the Russian Federation is carried out: the dynamics of rural population density and the number of workers, the growth rate of wages of agricultural workers, the grouping of those employed in agriculture by level of education, gender and age is given. Scientific novelty. As a result of the research, new theoretical and practical conclusions were obtained, including: 1) identification and classification of socio-economic conditions that promote or, conversely, hinder the effective use and preservation of human capital in the agricultural sector; 2) comprehensive schemes for the formation of human capital in the agricultural sector are proposed, taking into account internal and external factors; 3) the need for the formation of a comfortable socio-economic environment in rural areas is justified; 4) confirmed the need to provide special support measures to attract highly qualified specialists to rural areas.

Effectiveness of sustainability communication on stakeholder engagement: A multi‐method qualitative assessment of sustainable development

AbstractThe present era is witnessing a growing importance of sustainability communication. There is a need to understand stakeholders' perspectives regarding sustainability communication by different corporates. Additionally, it is also important to understand the positive (happiness and surprise) and negative (anger, fear, and sadness) aspects that affect the effectiveness of sustainability communication. The present research used a multi‐method multi‐study qualitative approach. In Study 1, the perspectives of 29 mid‐level managers and 16 top‐level senior managers involved in the sustainability domain in their organizations from India were captured via qualitative semi‐structured interviews. In Study 2, sustainability reports of 50 leading companies involved in sustainability activities were analyzed using textual analysis, emotional analysis, and topic modeling. Results indicate that corporate sustainability communications can have varying impacts on the stakeholders. The results of the qualitative analysis showed positive impact of sustainability communications on employee engagement, employee involvement, transformational and inclusive leadership and training and development opportunities. Positive emotions, like happiness or surprise, indicate positive brand image and engagement related to sustainability activities. Negative emotions like fear, anger, and sadness, show stakeholders' concern regarding the environmental damages. Thus, organizations need to target the positive aspects in their sustainability communication for improved results and must avoid the negative aspects while planning to develop effective sustainability communication. Subsequently, the present study contributes to the existing literature by proposing a conceptual framework based on signaling theory and stakeholder theory. This study fills the gap in terms of examining the stakeholders' and end‐users' perspectives regarding sustainability communication, the major emotional aspects that are revealed from the sustainability reports and an overall view on individual's pro‐environmental behavior.

B-079 Characterization of an isoelectric focusing method for detection of IgG oligoclonal banding in paired cerebrospinal fluid and serum specimens

Abstract Background Qualitative assessment of IgG-specific oligoclonal banding (OCB) in paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples is useful for evaluating inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis. Here we characterized the performance of an IgG-specific method using isoelectric focusing on agarose gel matrix for the detection of OCB in paired serum and CSF samples. Methods Specimens of 20 paired, simultaneously collected CSF and serum patient samples were tested on Sebia (Hydrasys 2 System) provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Diagnostic Laboratories. We tested these paired samples using the Helena IgG IFE-20 kit (SPIFE® Touch) method and the results were read by two independent individuals blinded to each other’s assessments. The results were compared to the NIH results for agreement. Positive Percent Agreement (PPA) and Negative Percent Agreement (NPA) were calculated. Analytical sensitivity of the Helena assay was assessed via serial dilutions of a CSF OCB positive sample (total IgG 4.5 mg/dL). Results Figure 1 shows serum and CSF pairs for the control (A), two example positive OCB patients (B & D) and a negative OCB patient (C). The Helena assay was concordant with Sebia for 11/12 positive OCB patients (PPA 91.6%) and 8/8 negative subjects (NPA 100%). 20-fold was the highest dilution that remained positive. Conclusions OCB detection using paired serum and CSF samples and isoelectric focusing electrophoresis is considered the preferred method. The Helena IgG IFE-20 assay is such a method and showed high PPA and NPA concordance with the Sebia System. Thus, the Helena OCB assay can be considered an accurate and analytically sensitive method for assessing OCB in serum and CSF.

B-083 Sensitivity of the Sebia Hydragel 6 electrophoresis/immunofixation assay for detection of beta-2 transferrin in dilute cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): assessment by image analysis

Abstract Background Beta-2 transferrin (asialo transferrin) greater than 2-sialo transferrin is characteristic of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Our neurosurgery department recently requested availability of an in-house assay to evaluate post-surgical drainage fluids for presence of CSF. The Sebia Hydragel 6 beta-2 transferrin electrophoresis/immunofixation profile can be used as a qualitative (positive/negative) assay for this purpose. As a starting point for evaluation of the assay, we examined the sensitivity of the assay for detection of the beta-2 transferrin band in dilute CSF. This was performed by quantitative image analysis. Methods Assays were conducted according to manufacturer's instructions. Our proband sample was pooled CSF. Successive dilutions were by factors of 2 (1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32). Electrophoresis/ immunofixation was performed simultaneously for these samples across lanes in 6-lane gels. We performed quantitative assessment of the electrophoretic bands for beta-2 transferrin by image analysis. The gel image was scanned to an electronic file (600 dpi png) using a desktop scanner. Grayscale pixel data were obtained using Python and the Python Image Library (PIL). Total grayscale integrals for staining of beta-2 transferrin bands were computed and compared across dilutions of the proband sample. Results For CSF dilutions, the assay was invariably visually positive down to dilutions of 1/16. By image analysis, this cutoff had signal/noise ratio (S/N) of 3.5. Across dilutions, band integrals were dependent on dilutions according to a simple hyperbola (representative example: see Figure). Conclusions The Sebia Hydragel 6 electrophoresis/immunofixation assay for qualitative assessment of presence of beta-2 transferrin was found to be suitable for unambiguous detection of beta-2 transferrin in CSF down to 1/16 dilution of CSF. By image analysis, the dose vs. response curve (density of staining for beta-2 transferrin across dilutions of CSF) was non-linear.

Disclosure of medical errors to patients by medical professionals: a protocol for a qualitative systematic review

IntroductionAlthough the disclosure of medical errors is an integral component of medical ethics, it remains inconsistent in practice worldwide. Despite various explanations of why healthcare professionals reveal their mistakes to...

Self-realization as a Driver of Sustainable Social Development: Balancing Individual Goals and Collective Values

Self-realization is integral to the social aspect of sustainable development, as it enables individuals to boost mental health and personal well-being by achieving and enhancing their potential and life goals. This study explores how self-realization functions as a driver for sustainable social development in the face of adversity. The research, which involved 122 adult Ukrainians, utilized written surveys, statistical analysis, qualitative assessment, and ranking to collect data. Despite the persistent threats and crises, Ukrainians exhibit significant motivation and engagement in self-realization across various domains, including professional endeavors, family interactions, and parenting. The wartime environment has introduced new dimensions to self-realization, such as involvement in volunteering and charitable activities. Key areas of self-realization include professional and family roles, which highlight the effectiveness of personal fulfillment. Nonetheless, respondents encounter common challenges, such as procrastination, laziness, and emotional strain. The majority acknowledge the connection between their self-realization and sustainable social development, particularly its social dimensions. While self-actualization is essential for life fulfillment during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, it necessitates targeted psychological support to tackle individual-specific challenges. Self-actualization remains a vital process for life fulfillment in wartime Ukraine, yet it requires targeted psychological support to address individual challenges. Keywords: self-realization, personality, development, societal sustainable development, social component of societal sustainable development, adult personality, communication

Motion priority optimization framework towards automated and teleoperated robot cooperation in industrial recovery scenarios

In this study, we introduce an optimization framework to enhance the efficiency of motion priority design in scenarios involving automated and teleoperated robots within an industrial recovery context. The increasing utilization of industrial robots at manufacturing sites has been instrumental in reducing human workload. Nevertheless, achieving effective human–robot collaboration/cooperation (HRC) remains a challenge, especially when human workers and robots share a workspace for collaborative tasks. For instance, when an industrial robot encounters a failure, such as dropping an assembling part, it triggers the suspension of the corresponding factory cell for safe recovery. Given the limited capacity of pre-programmed robots to rectify such failures, human intervention becomes imperative, requiring entry into the robot workspace to address the dropped object while the robot system is halted. This discontinuous manufacturing process results in productivity loss. Robotic teleoperation has emerged as a promising technology enabling human workers to undertake high-risk tasks remotely and safely. Our study advocates for the incorporation of robotic teleoperation in the recovery process during manufacturing failure scenarios, which is referred to as “Cooperative Tele-Recovery”. Our proposed approach involves formulating priority rules designed to facilitate collision avoidance between manufacturing and recovery robots. This, in turn, ensures a continuous manufacturing process with minimal production loss within a configurable risk limitation. We present a comprehensive motion priority optimization framework composed of an HRC simulator and a cooperative multi-robot controller to identify optimal parameters for the priority function. The framework dynamically adjusts the allocation of motion priorities for manufacturing and recovery robots while adhering to predefined risk limitations. Through quantitative and qualitative assessments, we validate the novelty of our concept and demonstrate its feasibility.

A Computer Vision-based Architecture for Remote Physical Rehabilitation

The use of computer vision in healthcare is constantly growing and the application of these techniques in the context of physical rehabilitation can bring great benefits. In this work, a software architecture was proposed which, with the use of computer vision techniques, aims to assist in the treatment and remote diagnosis of patients undergoing physical rehabilitation. The architecture was developed to allow the system to be used on computers and mobile devices. In the proposed system, the user with a professional profile can register and prescribe exercises for their patients according to the treatment. Users with a patient profile can view and perform the exercises that were prescribed for them in the application, relying on the application’s help to visually assist them with proper execution. A field research and a qualitative assessment were carried out in order to verify the usability and effectiveness of the application from the users’ point of view, with a positive reception.

BGFlow: Brightness-guided normalizing flow for low-light image enhancement

Low-light image enhancement poses significant challenges due to its ill-posed nature. Recently, deep learning-based methods have attempted to establish a unified mapping relationship between normal-light images and their low-light versions but frequently struggle to capture the intricate variations in brightness conditions. As a result, these methods often suffer from overexposure, underexposure, amplified noise, and distorted colors. To tackle these issues, we propose a brightness-guided normalizing flow framework, dubbed BGFlow, for low-light image enhancement. Specifically, we recognize that low-frequency sub-bands in the wavelet domain carry significant brightness information. To effectively capture the intricate variations in brightness within an image, we design a transformer-based multi-scale wavelet-domain encoder to extract brightness information from the multi-scale features of the low-frequency sub-bands. The extracted brightness feature maps, at different scales, are then injected into the brightness-guided affine coupling layer to guide the training of the conditional normalizing flow module. Extensive experimental evaluations demonstrate the superiority of BGFlow over existing deep learning-based approaches in both qualitative and quantitative assessments. Moreover, we also showcase the exceptional performance of BGFlow on the underwater image enhancement task.

Safety and Efficacy of Rechallenge With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced Solid Tumor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have drastically shifted the current landscape toward a wide variety of malignancies. However, ICIs are interrupted owing immune-related adverse events (irAEs), therapy completion, and disease progression. The risk-benefit of rechallenged ICIs remains inconclusive. Herein, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ICI rechallenge in the treatment of advanced solid tumor. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched to analyze the efficacy and safety of ICI rechallenge. The study protocol was approved by the PROSPERO International Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022372222). The last updated search date was March 2, 2024. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and incidence rates of all- and high-grade irAEs were evaluated. A total of 41 retrospective studies comprising 2343 patients were ultimately enrolled for qualitative and quantitative assessments. A total of 1200 (51.2%) individuals were male and the median age was 66 years (range 18-97 years). The majority of the tumors was lung cancer (n = 898, 38.3%). The occurrence rates of all-grade and high-grade (grade 3 or 4) irAEs between initial and readministration ICIs were not significantly different (all-grade: OR, 0.75, 95% CI: 0.39-1.45, p = 0.40; I2 = 87%; high-grade: OR, 0.96, 95% CI: 0.62-1.49, p = 0.87, I2 = 65%). ICIs restart presented a decreased ORR and DCR compared to initial ICI administration (ORR: OR, 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23-0.56, p < 0.00001; I2 = 67%; DCR: OR, 0.62, 95% CI: 0.43-0.89, p = 0.010; I2 = 53%). Seven studies with 513 patients for survival analysis revealed a nonsignificant difference in OS between the ICIs rechallenge and discontinuation cohorts (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35 to 1.35, p = 0.27). Rechallenging immunotherapy is feasible, and patients should be carefully evaluated by a multidisciplinary team prior to initial therapy for close monitoring and assessment of the risk-benefit ratio. Therefore, prospective trials are essential to guide clinicians in the decision-making process. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42022372222.

Comparison of Spatial Perception Regarding the Re-functionalized Industrial Buildings: Abdullah Gül University Sümer Campus

Industrial buildings that conserve their authentic identities and provide cultural sustainability also appeal to the spatial perceptions of users through their old and new usage forms. It is thought that every generation will have different timeframes and experiencing forms in the spaces they are in, based on their own needs, and this is believed to reflect on their spatial perceptions. Accordingly, this study aims to reveal the effect of different generations’ characteristics on their perception of educational buildings converted from industrial buildings and to reflect users’ reactions to the relevant spaces. In this study, the evolving spatial perceptions regarding Abdullah Gül University Sümer Campus, which has been converted as an educational facility from Sümerbank Fabric Factory, were evaluated through the members of the Generation X and Z. This study which employed qualitative data collection and assessment methods was conducted as a particular case study. Furthermore, this study contained the holistic assessment of the physical, functional and psychological aspects of the re-functionalized campus considering the fact that these spaces whose functions were converted to be educational would include differences based on spatial perceptions. The results of this study indicated that Sümer Campus was considered by the Generation X as a location combining the old texture with the new, while the Generation Z assessed the campus as an esthetic formation where the old and new coexisted with contrasts.

Death, Flies and Environments: Towards a qualitative assessment of insect (Diptera) colonization of human cadavers retrieved from sites of death in Brazil

Death, Flies and Environments: Towards a qualitative assessment of insect (Diptera) colonization of human cadavers retrieved from sites of death in Brazil

265 Qualitative Assessment of a Pilot Trauma Training Program for Community Health Responders in Rural Nepal

265 Qualitative Assessment of a Pilot Trauma Training Program for Community Health Responders in Rural Nepal

Development and Content Validation of the Patient's Qualitative Assessment of Treatment - Real-World (PQAT-RW): An Instrument to Evaluate Benefits and Disadvantages of Treatments in Real-World Settings.

Quantifying patient-perceived benefits and disadvantages of treatments in a real-world setting is increasingly important in healthcare decision-making. The Patient's Qualitative Assessment of Treatment (PQAT) assesses patient-perceived benefits and disadvantages of treatment, and associated trade-offs potentially influencing patients' willingness to continue treatment. It has then been modified to capture patients' perceived magnitude of benefits and disadvantages of treatment quantitatively, as well as qualitatively (PQATv2). However, the PQAT and the PQATv2 were designed for use and validated in a clinical trial setting. The objective of this study was to adapt and test the content validity of a version of the PQATv2 for use in real-world settings (PQAT-RW). The PQATv2 was adapted for use in real-world settings (PQAT-RW), and its content was validated in 16 patients with varied chronic medical conditions and medication regimens via semi-structured qualitative interviews. All participants reported that the PQAT-RW was "easy to understand". The majority (n = 11/16) reported that the items covered all important aspects of their treatment experience, and that no items needed to be removed or added to the instrument. Analysis of free-text responses identified eight global concepts considered by participants when evaluating the benefits and disadvantages of treatment: treatment effectiveness, side effects and method of administration were most frequently considered (as both benefits and disadvantages), followed by frequency of administration, financial considerations, storage, packaging and drug preparation. The results of this study support the content validity of the PQAT-RW. They also demonstrate that using qualitative responses to contextualize quantitative responses provides unique insight into diverse and individualized patient-perceived benefits and disadvantages, and their relative importance, in real-world settings.

Qualitative Assessment Of The Perceptions Of Academic Dishonesty Among Exercise Physiology Freshmen

Qualitative Assessment Of The Perceptions Of Academic Dishonesty Among Exercise Physiology Freshmen