scholarly journals Inoculating against the spread of Islamophobic and radical-Islamist disinformation

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Lewandowsky ◽  
Muhsin Yesilada
Keyword(s):  
Entry Point ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Video Content ◽  
Neutral Context ◽  
Experimental Inoculation ◽  
Level Of Agreement

AbstractWe report the results of a preregistered study that tested the effectiveness of inoculating participants against Islamophobic and radical-Islamist disinformation. Participants in the experimental (inoculation) condition watched a video that explained common rhetorical markers of radical-Islamist and Islamophobic disinformation that had been identified in an analysis of YouTube content. The information was presented in a neutral context not involving Islam and focused on analysis of the misleading argumentation. The control group watched a video about an unrelated topic. Participants were then exposed to target videos with “gateway” content that constituted an entry point to potential Islamist or Islamophobic radicalization. Both videos contained numerous items of disinformation. Participants then answered a variety of questions such as how likely they were to share the video, their level of agreement, and their perceived accuracy of the video. Participants who had received the inoculation displayed less agreement with the video content, perceived the video as less reliable, and were less likely to share it in comparison with participants in the control group. The study provides support for the use of argument-based inoculation in combatting extremist messages.

scholarly journals Are anti-ganglioside antibodies associated with proventricular dilatation disease in birds?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeann Leal de Araujo ◽  
Ian Tizard ◽  
Jianhua Guo ◽  
J Jill Heatley ◽  
Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Brain Extract ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Myiopsitta Monachus ◽  
Ganglioside Antibodies ◽  
Experimental Inoculation ◽  
Gross Lesions ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Proventricular Dilatation Disease ◽  
Phosphate Buffered Saline

The identification of Parrot bornaviruses in psittacine birds with proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) has not been sufficient to explain the pathogenesis of this fatal disease since not all infected birds develop clinical signs. One hypothesis suggests that PaBV could trigger the production of autoantibodies targeting neuronal gangliosides. These are major neuronal antigens, and PDD might therefore resemble Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in its pathogenesis. Experimental inoculation of pure gangliosides and brain-derived ganglioside extracts were used in two different immunization studies. A preliminary study on seven healthy chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) was performed using a group of four chickens inoculated with a brain ganglioside extract in Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) and a control group comprised by three chickens inoculated only with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). A second study with five healthy quaker parrots (Myiopsitta monachus) was comprised of three groups. Two quaker parrots received purified gangliosides in FCA, two received a crude brain extract in FCA, and one control quaker parrot received FCA alone. In the preliminary study, one chicken developed ataxia and weakness. None of the quaker parrots had any clinical signs that could resemble PDD or GBS. None of the chickens or quaker parrots presented any gross lesions. The chicken with clinical signs had a perivascular and perineural lymphocytic infiltrate in the proventriculus. Two of the quaker parrots (one from each treatment group) developed mild lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis and myelitis. Our results suggest that autoantibodies against gangliosides in birds are not associated with a condition resembling PDD.

scholarly journals Self-Reported Versus Observed Measures: Validation of Child Caregiver Food Hygiene Practices in Rural Malawi

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kondwani Chidziwisano ◽  
Elizabeth Tilley ◽  
Tracy Morse
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Food Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Intervention ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Child Caregivers ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Level Of Agreement

Few studies have attempted to measure the differences between self-reported and observed food hygiene practices in a household setting. We conducted a study to measure the level of agreement between self-reported and observed food hygiene practices among child caregivers with children under the age of five years in rural Malawi. Fifty-eight child caregivers from an intervention and 29 from a control group were recruited into the study. At the end of a nine-month food hygiene intervention, household observations were conducted followed by self-reported surveys. Overall, practices were found to be more frequently reported than observed in both groups. However, the difference between self-reports and observed practices was minimal in the intervention compared to the control group. The odds ratio results confirm that more desirable practices were observed in the intervention group compared to the control group. Despite the effects of reactivity during observations, the study results imply that the intervention group did not just improve their knowledge, but also translated the messaging into better practice. Researchers and implementing agencies in water, sanitation and hygiene and food hygiene sector should ensure that interventions are context-appropriate, and that effective methods of observation are used to confirm any reported effects of an intervention.

scholarly journals Are anti-ganglioside antibodies associated with proventricular dilatation disease in birds?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeann Leal de Araujo ◽  
Ian Tizard ◽  
Jianhua Guo ◽  
J Jill Heatley ◽  
Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Brain Extract ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Myiopsitta Monachus ◽  
Ganglioside Antibodies ◽  
Experimental Inoculation ◽  
Gross Lesions ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Proventricular Dilatation Disease ◽  
Phosphate Buffered Saline

The identification of Parrot bornaviruses in psittacine birds with proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) has not been sufficient to explain the pathogenesis of this fatal disease since not all infected birds develop clinical signs. One hypothesis suggests that PaBV could trigger the production of autoantibodies targeting neuronal gangliosides. These are major neuronal antigens, and PDD might therefore resemble Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in its pathogenesis. Experimental inoculation of pure gangliosides and brain-derived ganglioside extracts were used in two different immunization studies. A preliminary study on seven healthy chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) was performed using a group of four chickens inoculated with a brain ganglioside extract in Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) and a control group comprised by three chickens inoculated only with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). A second study with five healthy quaker parrots (Myiopsitta monachus) was comprised of three groups. Two quaker parrots received purified gangliosides in FCA, two received a crude brain extract in FCA, and one control quaker parrot received FCA alone. In the preliminary study, one chicken developed ataxia and weakness. None of the quaker parrots had any clinical signs that could resemble PDD or GBS. None of the chickens or quaker parrots presented any gross lesions. The chicken with clinical signs had a perivascular and perineural lymphocytic infiltrate in the proventriculus. Two of the quaker parrots (one from each treatment group) developed mild lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis and myelitis. Our results suggest that autoantibodies against gangliosides in birds are not associated with a condition resembling PDD.

scholarly journals Thyroid dysfunction in patients of depression and anxiety and response to therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2994
Author(s):  
Harsha . ◽  
Amandeep . ◽  
Jitendra Jeenger ◽  
R.S Ahlawat ◽  
Manju Subberwal
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Clinical Diagnosis ◽  
Thyroid Dysfunction ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Entry Point ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Thyroid Profile ◽  
Experimental Group

Background: Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric presentation in thyroid dysfunction. Aim of the study was to determine the thyroid profile in patients with depressive and anxiety symptoms and to determine the change in symptoms with correction of thyroid profile.Methods: This longitudinal observational study was conducted in patients presented with depressive or anxiety symptoms who visited the psychiatry out patient department (OPD) first time. Two groups were made based on the serum thyroid profile. First group, (n=27) was patients with depression and anxiety with hypothyroidism (experimental group) and second was (n=123) without hypothyroidism (control group). Experimental group, (n=27) was then exposed to thyroxine, 15 patients came for first follow up and 11 patients came for second follow up.Results: The 63% of patients in the experimental group and 62.6% of patients in the control group were of female gender, 66.7% and 33.3% of patients in the experimental group had depressive disorder and anxiety disorder respectively. TSH level of 11 patients of experimental group had significantly less value in first follow up compared to entry point (p=0.002). Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) 7 scores were significantly lower in first and second follow up than that of the entry point in 11 patients of experimental group (p=0.008, 0.016 respectively).Conclusions: Many patients of the clinical diagnosis of depression (17.6%) and clinical diagnosis of anxiety (18.75%) had hypothyroidism during the first visit to the psychiatry OPD. There was significant reduction in the hypothyroid patients of the serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) value and anxiety scores during the follow up after treatment with levothyroxine.

scholarly journals Salmonella Enteritidis detection and immunological cellular response to experimental inoculation in day-old turkeys

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Eliete Souza Santana ◽  
Thiago Souza Azeredo Bastos ◽  
José Henrique Stringhini ◽  
Regiane Nascimento Gagno Porto ◽  
Robson Rodrigues Santana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymphocyte Count ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Salmonella Enteritidis ◽  
Bursa Of Fabricius ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Inoculation ◽  
Gradual Reduction ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Experimental Inoculation ◽  
Almost All

The purpose of this research is to clarify aspects of the pathogenesis of Salmonella Enteritidis in experimentally inoculated day-old turkeys. Three treatments were conducted among a total of 120 turkeys; one control group and two treatment groups in which 6 x 102 CFU mL-1 and 7 x 105 CFU mL-1, respectively, of Salmonella Enteritidis was inoculated in the crops. Two birds from each treatment were sacrificed and necropsied at 1, 3, 4, 12, 18, and 24 hours, and 3, 4, 38, and 49 days post-inoculation. We re-isolated Salmonella, measured lymphocytes, and conducted immunohistochemical tests. Six hours post-inoculation, Salmonella was found in the investigated organs (yolk sac, cecum, fragments of spleen, and bursa of Fabricius) with conventional bacteriology and immunohistochemistry, and was continuously detected in almost all analyzed organs until turkeys were four-days old. Further, Salmonella was detected after 38 days in cecum, when the concentration 7 x 105 CFU mL-1 was given. At both inoculation concentrations, the number of lymphocytes was similar; larger quantities were found in the first hour post-inoculation, followed by a gradual reduction, reaching the lowest levels at 24 hours after inoculation. Afterwards, lymphocytes increased discreetly, remaining at the same level until 49 days after inoculation. In conclusion, inoculation concentration influences mitigation, dissemination, elimination, and persistence of this pathogen in turkeys. Lower concentrations promote less invasion as well as lower cell stain and lower lymphocyte count.

scholarly journals Experimental Inoculation of BFDV-Positive Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with TwoMycobacterium aviumsubsp.aviumIsolates

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Ledwoń ◽  
Rafał Sapierzyński ◽  
Ewa Augustynowicz-Kopeć ◽  
Piotr Szeleszczuk ◽  
Marcin Kozak
Keyword(s):  
Disease Virus ◽  
Mycobacterium Avium ◽  
Infected Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Melopsittacus Undulatus ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Pavo Cristatus ◽  
Experimental Inoculation ◽  
Feather Disease Virus

Beak and feather disease virus- (BFDV-) positive (naturally infected) but clinically healthy budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) were inoculated with two isolates ofMycobacterium aviumsubsp.aviumisolated from naturally infected golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) and peafowl (Pavo cristatus). During a period of more than two months after inoculation, samples of cloacal and crop swabs, faeces, and blood were obtained for BFDV andMycobacterium aviumtesting with PCR. Birds were euthanized nine weeks after inoculation. All infected budgerigars developed signs typical of mycobacteriosis, but more advanced clinical and pathological changes were visible in the group infected with the pheasant isolate. Only a few cloacal and crop swab samples were positive forMycobacterium aviumsubsp.aviumdespite advanced pathological changes in the internal organs. In the groups infected with mycobacterium isolates the frequency of BFDV-positive samples was higher than in the control group. In the infected groups the frequency of BFDV was substantially higher in the cloacal swabs of birds inoculated with the pheasant isolate than in the peafowl-isolate-infected group.

Toward a Cognitive Conceptualization of Dysthymia: Cognitive Behavioral Identification and Treatment of Patients with Dysthymia

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-296
Author(s):  
Sara Finn Kriger
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory ◽  
Depression Group ◽  
And Control ◽  
Level Of Agreement

Archival records of three groups of outpatients, seen in a U.S. behavioral health clinic during 2009 and 2010, were examined. All had taken a battery of tests and measures at admission, including both the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III) and a questionnaire representing beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, believed to be prototypical of dysthymia. The groups, identified on the basis of their MCMI-III profiles, were Dysthymia (n = 84), nonchronic Depression (n = 58), and Control (n = 120). Significant differences were found among the groups, in that the Dysthymia group had the highest level of agreement on 25 items of the questionnaire; the nonchronic Depression group had the second highest; and the Control group had the lowest level of agreement. Conceptual and therapeutic implications are discussed, as are various modalities considered to be effective in the treatment of patients with dysthymia.

Surgical outcome of motor deficits and neurological status in brainstem cavernous malformations based on preoperative diffusion tensor imaging: a prospective randomized clinical trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 286-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Da Li ◽  
Yu-Ming Jiao ◽  
Liang Wang ◽  
Fu-Xin Lin ◽  
Jun Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Surgical Approach ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Entry Point ◽  
Motor Deficits ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cavernous Malformations ◽  
Randomized Controlled

OBJECTIVESurgical management of brainstem lesions is challenging due to the highly compact, eloquent anatomy of the brainstem. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) in brainstem cavernous malformations (CMs).METHODSA prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was performed by using stratified blocked randomization. The primary eligibility criterion of the study was being a surgical candidate for brainstem CMs (with informed consent). The study enrolled 23 patients who underwent preoperative DTI/DTT and 24 patients who did not (the control group). The pre- and postoperative muscle strength of both limbs and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were evaluated. Muscle strength of any limb at 12 months after surgery at the clinic visit was the primary outcome; worsened muscle strength was considered to be a poor outcome. Outcome assessors were blinded to patient management. This study reports the preliminary results of the interim analysis.RESULTSThe cohort included 47 patients (22 women) with a mean age of 35.7 years. The clinical baselines between these 2 groups were not significantly different. In the DTI/DTT group, the corticospinal tract was affected in 17 patients (73.9%): it was displaced, deformed/partially interrupted, or completely interrupted in 6, 7, and 4 patients, respectively. The surgical approach and brainstem entry point were adjusted in 3 patients (13.0%) based on DTI/DTT data. The surgical morbidity of the DTI/DTT group (7/23, 30.4%) was significantly lower than that of the control group (19/24, 79.2%, p = 0.001). At 12 months, the mean mRS score (1.1, p = 0.034) and percentage of patients with worsened motor deficits (4.3%, p = 0.006) were significantly lower in the DTI/DTT group than in the control group (1.7% and 37.5%). Multivariate logistic regression identified the absence of preoperative DTI/DTT (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01–0.73, p = 0.028) and use of the 2-point method (OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.38–12.49, p = 0.011) as independent adverse factors for a worsened motor deficit. The multivariate model found a significant correlation between poor mRS score and both an increased preoperative mRS score (t = 3.559, p = 0.001) and absence of preoperative DTI/DTT (t = −2.747, p = 0.009).CONCLUSIONSDTI/DTT noninvasively allowed for visualization of the anatomical relationship between vital tracts and pathologies as well as facilitated the brainstem surgical approach and entry-point decision making. The technique was valuable for complex neurosurgical planning to reduce morbidity. Nonetheless, DTI/DTT data should be interpreted cautiously.■ CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE Type of question: therapeutic; study design: randomized controlled trial; evidence: class I.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT01758211 (ClinicalTrials.gov)

scholarly journals The Universal Entry Point with oblique screw is superior to fixation perpendicular to the physis in moderate slipped capital femoral epiphysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 358-363
Author(s):  
Jillian Lee ◽  
Jonathon A. Lillia ◽  
Jeremy M. Bellemore ◽  
David G. Little ◽  
Tegan L. Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Femoral Head ◽  
Screw Fixation ◽  
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis ◽  
Maximum Load ◽  
Entry Point ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Single Screw ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Load To Failure ◽  
Metaphyseal Bone

Purpose Stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is often treated with in situ pinning, with the current gold standard being stabilization with a screw perpendicular to the physis. However, this can lead to impingement and a potentially unstable construct. In this study we model the biomechanical effect of two screw positions used for SCFE fixation. We hypothesize that single screw fixation into the centre of the femoral head from the anterior intertrochanteric line (the Universal Entry Point or UEP) provides a more stable construct than single screw fixation perpendicular to the physis with an anterior starting point. Methods Sawbone models of moderate SCFE were used to mechanically test the two screw constructs and an unfixed control group. Models were loaded to failure with a shear load applied through the physis in an Instron mechanical tester. The primary outcomes were maximum load, stiffness and energy to failure. Results Screw fixation into the centre of the femoral head from the UEP resulted in a greater load to failure (+19%), stiffness (+13%) and energy to failure (+45%) than screw fixation perpendicular to the physis. Conclusions In this sawbone construct, screw fixation into the centre of the femoral head from the UEP provides greater biomechanical stability than screw fixation perpendicular to the physis. This approach may also benefit by avoiding an intracapsular entry point in soft metaphyseal bone and subsequent risk of impingement and loss of position.

scholarly journals A Tablet-Based Virtual Environment for Neurosurgery Training

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel W. John ◽  
Nicholas I. Phillips ◽  
Llyr ap Cenydd ◽  
David Coope ◽  
Nick Carleton-Bland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Entry Point ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Anatomical Landmarks ◽  
Training Tool ◽  
The Uk

The requirement for training surgical procedures without exposing the patient to additional risk is well accepted and is part of a national drive in the UK and internationally. Computer-based simulations are important in this context, including neurosurgical resident training. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a custom-built virtual environment in assisting training of a ventriculostomy procedure. The training tool (called VCath) has been developed as an app for a tablet platform to provide easy access and availability to trainees. The study was conducted at the first boot camp organized for all year-one trainees in neurosurgery in the UK. The attendees were randomly distributed between the VCath training group and the control group. Efficacy of performing ventriculostomy for both groups was assessed at the beginning and end of the study using a simulated insertion task. Statistically significant changes in performance of selecting the burr hole entry point, the trajectory length and duration metrics for the VCath group, together with a good indicator of improved normalized jerk (representing the speed and smoothness of arm motion), all suggest that there has been a higher-level cognitive benefit to using VCath. The app is successful as it is focused on the cognitive task of ventriculostomy, encouraging the trainee to rehearse the entry point and use anatomical landmarks to create a trajectory to the target. In straight-line trajectory procedures such as ventriculostomy, cognitive task-based education is a useful adjunct to traditional methods and may reduce the learning curve and ultimately improve patient safety.

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