scholarly journals Understanding User Involvement in Research in Aging and Health

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 233372141989778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Iwarsson ◽  
Anna-Karin Edberg ◽  
Synneve Dahlin Ivanoff ◽  
Elizabeth Hanson ◽  
Håkan Jönson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
International Scientific Community ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Aging And Health ◽  
The Impact

User involvement in research is advocated as an avenue for efficient societal developments. In this article, we identify potentials, problems, and challenges related to research on aging and health, and identify and illustrate research priorities using an evolving research program as an example. Involving user representatives in the development phase, the UserAge program engages researchers at four universities in Sweden. The program builds upon previous and ongoing research with user involvement. The goals are to maximize the impact of user involvement, enhance the execution of high-quality research, increase the knowledge about what difference user involvement can make, and evaluate the impact of research about and with user involvement. Taken together and communicated in the international scientific community as well as in a wide range of public arenas, the empirical results, capacity-building, and modeling efforts of UserAge will have an impact not only on the present situation but also on the future.

scholarly journals The mutational landscape of human olfactory G protein-coupled receptors

BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón Cierco Jimenez ◽  
Nil Casajuana-Martin ◽  
Adrián García-Recio ◽  
Lidia Alcántara ◽  
Leonardo Pardo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
G Protein ◽  
Olfactory Receptors ◽  
Activation Mechanism ◽  
Gene Repertoire ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Natural Variants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
G Protein Coupled

Abstract Background Olfactory receptors (ORs) constitute a large family of sensory proteins that enable us to recognize a wide range of chemical volatiles in the environment. By contrast to the extensive information about human olfactory thresholds for thousands of odorants, studies of the genetic influence on olfaction are limited to a few examples. To annotate on a broad scale the impact of mutations at the structural level, here we analyzed a compendium of 119,069 natural variants in human ORs collected from the public domain. Results OR mutations were categorized depending on their genomic and protein contexts, as well as their frequency of occurrence in several human populations. Functional interpretation of the natural changes was estimated from the increasing knowledge of the structure and function of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, to which ORs belong. Our analysis reveals an extraordinary diversity of natural variations in the olfactory gene repertoire between individuals and populations, with a significant number of changes occurring at the structurally conserved regions. A particular attention is paid to mutations in positions linked to the conserved GPCR activation mechanism that could imply phenotypic variation in the olfactory perception. An interactive web application (hORMdb, Human Olfactory Receptor Mutation Database) was developed for the management and visualization of this mutational dataset. Conclusion We performed topological annotations and population analysis of natural variants of human olfactory receptors and provide an interactive application to explore human OR mutation data. We envisage that the utility of this information will increase as the amount of available pharmacological data for these receptors grow. This effort, together with ongoing research in the study of genetic changes in other sensory receptors could shape an emerging sensegenomics field of knowledge, which should be considered by food and cosmetic consumer product manufacturers for the benefit of the general population.

scholarly journals Should we expect bilingualism to confer cognitive benefits in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael Davis ◽  
Lewis Montgomery ◽  
Hugh Rabagliati ◽  
Antonella Sorace ◽  
Sue Fletcher-Watson
Keyword(s):  
Research Priorities ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Cognitive Benefits ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
The Impact

This article examines the ways in which bilingualism influences social and cognitive development and identifies intersections between corresponding aspects of autism, to inform future research directions. Three key domains are identified: social cognition; executive functions; and social-cultural factors. In each case we describe the evidence for the impact of bilingualism in typical development and map this onto what is known about the domain in autism. We examine the methodological quality of the existing literature to make recommendations for future approaches. Results suggest a dearth of high-quality research and lack of consensus. Research priorities include the need for innovative designs to explore potential impacts of bilingualism in order to increase the validity of the evidence base for caregivers and professionals.

scholarly journals ETHICAL EXAMINATION OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS IN MEDICINE: FOREIGN EXPERIENCE AND RUSSIAN PRACTICE

Bioethics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-38
Author(s):  
Natalia A. Alshuk ◽  
◽  
Svetlana A. Kostenko ◽  
Olga Yu. Golitsyna ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Hirsch Index ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Ethical Assessment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Digital Processes ◽  
The Impact

Currently, much attention is paid to the correct presentation of the results of. This is not surprising, since international standards used for assessing the effectiveness of scientific clinical and pre-clinical studies in scientific publications activities are based on citation rates and the number of publications in peer-reviewed journals. This tradition originated in the UK and is the result of a struggle for grants in the scientific community. The Hirsch index (individual authors) type of assessment and the impact factor (journals) made it possible to quantitatively compare papers without referring to their content. The assessment of the latter was accomplished by editors of the journals, and it was assumed that it was objective. This method was consistent with the digitalization process, but it has not yet received an ethical assessment. This is happening not only because there is a fairly wide range of opinions on this issue in the scientific community [1], but also because moral plots are generally not referred to digital processes.

scholarly journals Nutrition of Children With Cancer in Brazil: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 242-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Viani ◽  
Luiza Albuquerque ◽  
Ronald D. Barr ◽  
Elena J. Ladas
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
The North ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Impact

PURPOSE The objective of this systematic review was to describe nutrition-related publications on children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in Brazil. METHODS The methodology followed that of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Medline, LILACS (the Latin American & Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), and Embase were searched in April 2019, and data extraction and rating of methodologic study quality (according to the National Institutes of Health quality score assessment) were performed independently by reviewers. RESULTS Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 3,509 patients from 1994 to 2018. Most of the studies (74%) were of poor quality in methodology and reporting. Different cancer diagnoses were included in 52% of studies, whereas acute leukemia was the exclusive focus in 41%. The majority of the articles (70%) were from institutions in the Southeast Region of Brazil, mainly the state of São Paulo (74%); no publications were from the North Region of the country. Twelve studies addressed nutritional status and body composition, reporting an abundance of malnourished patients in the Brazilian population of children and adolescents with cancer. Six studies on micronutrients pointed to possible deficiencies in this population, with a yet unclear but promising role for supplementation during treatment. CONCLUSION Evidence indicates that there is great interest in the impact of nutrition on childhood cancer treatment and clinical outcomes in Brazil. However, there is a need to focus on high-quality research, particularly with multicentric/national studies. This will help establish research priorities and better planned clinical interventions, adapted to each region of the country.

scholarly journals Priorities for Research into the Impact of Canine Surgical Sterilisation Programmes for Free-Roaming Dogs: An International Priority Setting Partnership

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2250
Author(s):  
Abi Collinson ◽  
Marnie L. Brennan ◽  
Rachel S. Dean ◽  
Jenny Stavisky
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Delphi Consensus ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
James Lind Alliance ◽  
Essential Resource ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact

Surgical sterilisation is a core activity of free-roaming dog population management (DPM) programmes globally. However, there is limited published evidence on its impact at the population level. To support evidence-based decision making in this field, it is important that research conducted is relevant to those involved in working with free-roaming dogs and implementing such programmes. The aim of this study was to adapt the James Lind Alliance (JLA) user involvement approach to systematically identify the top 10 research priorities regarding the impact of canine sterilisation. International stakeholders with experience working in DPM were asked in an online survey what unanswered questions they had regarding the impact of sterilisation programmes. Thematic analysis of survey responses was used to develop a long list of collated indicative research questions (CIRQs). A literature review was performed to identify questions that were ‘true uncertainties’ (had not been answered by evidence review). These questions were reduced to a shortlist via an online interim prioritisation survey, and a Delphi consensus process determined the top 10 priorities. The top 10 questions related to dog population size and turnover, dog bite incidents, rabies control, implementation in the field and human behaviour change. These priorities were identified and shaped by people with direct experience of canine surgical sterilisation programmes, and as such are an essential resource for directing future funding and research. Addressing these priorities will generate evidence that is directly applicable to policy makers and practitioners who make decisions regarding the management of free-roaming dogs (FRDs) worldwide.

scholarly journals Anniversary of the USSR Academy of Sciences in the Victorious 1945: Idea, Celebration Scenario, International Response

2021 ◽  
pp. 22-36
Author(s):  
Valentina Korzun ◽  
Mihail Kovalev ◽  
Viktoriya Gruzdinskaya
Keyword(s):  
International Cooperation ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Ussr Academy ◽  
Soviet Science ◽  
International Scientific Community ◽  
Science Field ◽  
International Response ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Academic Elite ◽  
Academy Of Sciences

The authors focus on the celebration of the 220th anniversary of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1945. The festive events hosted both due to the anniversary, joyful victory and cease of warfare in Europe were attended by 124 delegates from 17 countries, as well as by nearly 1,000 Soviet academics. The situation was unique in its concept and inspired people with hope for world reconstruction. The occasion was widely publicized, eliciting an extensive response. The anniversary served an occasion to organize the forum where academics discussed their perception of science field in the victorious year of 1945. Based on a wide range of sources, including foreign archives first introduced to the academia, the paper presents the scenarios of the celebration of the 220th anniversary of the USSR Academy of Sciences, as well as the images of the Russian and Soviet science represented by the academic elite, and their perception by the international scientific community. The authors reveal the factors that influence the establishment and functioning of the communicative field of global science. It is concluded that in a contextual way the anniversary events featured the overestima­ted expectations of new forms of international cooperation, with various forms of collaboration being discussed. However, the triumph over the “unified science” and the establishment of the universal communicative field was temporary.

scholarly journals The importance of mentorship and collaboration for scientific capacity-building and capacity-sharing: perspectives of African scientists

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Heather E. Burgess ◽  
Joanna Chataway
Keyword(s):  
Capacity Building ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Capacity Sharing ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Modes Of Interaction ◽  
The Impact

Long-term goals for capacity-building in Africa centres around building a self-sufficient scientific community, however there is a lack of research on the interactions that are needed to make up a thriving academic community or the steps needed to realise such a goal. Through interviews with researchers supported by a capacity-building initiative, we have characterised their interactions with other scientists and the impact that these have on capacity-building. This has revealed a wide range of interactions that have not been captured by traditional bibliometric studies of collaboration and shown that a substantial amount of intra-African collaboration is taking place. This collaboration allowed the researchers to share capacity with their colleagues and this could provide an alternative to, or supplement, traditional North-South capacity-building. We have shown that this capacity-sharing can enable capacity to spill over from capacity-building programmes to the broader scientific community. Furthermore, researchers are deliberately hastening this capacity-sharing through training or mentoring others outside of their capacity-building initiative, including those from more resource-poor groups. To understand how capacity-building initiatives can harness the power of these interactions, we investigated how interactions between researchers originated, and found that collaborations tended to be formed around pre-existing networks, with researchers collaborating with previous colleagues, or contacts formed through their mentors or consortium activities. Capacity-building organisations could capitalise on this through actions such as expanding mentorship schemes but should also ensure that researchers are not limited to pre-established networks but have exposure to a changing and growing pool of expertise. As interactions continue to move online since the appearance of COVID-19 this will present opportunities for new interaction patterns to develop. This study highlights the need to develop new metrics for collaboration that will take into account these new modes of interaction and the full range of interactions that make up a scientific community.

Construction process technologies: a meta-analysis of Canadian research

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 480-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Froese
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Development Activity ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Research Initiatives ◽  
Incremental Step

As one component of a broader initiative to develop a roadmap for innovation in process technologies throughout the Canadian construction industry, a survey and meta-analysis of current research and developmental activity was conducted. Twenty-two researchers were surveyed, resulting in an inventory of more than 100 research project descriptions. This dataset was used to develop a series of roadmaps of the current research and development activity. The results show a number of high-quality research initiatives underway spanning a wide range of application areas, technologies, and innovation process phases. The recommendations focus primarily on the need to continue the roadmapping process. The study has identified some of the issues that should be addressed and provided elements of the framework for ongoing strategic planning — yet it provides only a modest incremental step toward establishing overall mechanisms to harness the ongoing research activity to drive effectively the innovation process throughout the Canadian construction industry.

scholarly journals The 4D Nucleome Data Portal: a resource for searching and visualizing curated nucleomics data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah B Reiff ◽  
Andrew J Schroeder ◽  
Koray Kirli ◽  
Andrea Cosolo ◽  
Clara Bakker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Nuclear Architecture ◽  
Chromosome Conformation ◽  
Chromosome Architecture ◽  
Multiple Datasets ◽  
Disease Biology ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Data Portal ◽  
The Impact

The 4D Nucleome (4DN) Network aims to elucidate the complex structure and organization of chromosomes in the nucleus and the impact of their disruption in disease biology. We present the 4DN Data Portal (https://data.4dnucleome.org/), a repository for datasets generated in the 4DN network and relevant external datasets. Datasets were generated with a wide range of experiments, including chromosome conformation capture assays such as Hi-C and other innovative sequencing and microscopy-based assays probing chromosome architecture. All together, the 4DN data portal hosts more than 1800 experiment sets and 34000 files. Results of sequencing-based assays from different laboratories are uniformly processed and quality-controlled. The portal interface allows easy browsing, filtering, and bulk downloads, and the integrated HiGlass genome browser allows interactive visualization and comparison of multiple datasets. The 4DN data portal represents a primary resource for chromosome contact and other nuclear architecture data for the scientific community.

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