Determining Research Priorities for Astronomy Using Machine Learning

We summarize the first exploratory investigation into whether Machine Learning techniques can augment science strategic planning. We find that an approach based on Latent Dirichlet Allocation using abstracts drawn from high-impact astronomy journals may provide a leading indicator of future interest in a research topic. We show two topic metrics that correlate well with the high-priority research areas identified by the 2010 National Academies’ Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey. One metric is based on a sum of the fractional contribution to each topic by all scientific papers (“counts”) while the other is the Compound Annual Growth Rate of counts. These same metrics also show the same degree of correlation with the whitepapers submitted to the same Decadal Survey. Our results suggest that the Decadal Survey may under-emphasize fast growing research. A preliminary version of our work was presented by Thronson et al.

Les Soixante-quinze Feuillets de Marcel Proust ou la fabrique du masque

Les Soixante-quinze Feuillets by Marcel Proust or the production of the mask In Search of Lost Time, the narrator is not the writer, and we can find out several models behind one character. In other words, Proust created a mask he put on reality to avoid criticism and problems with his family, but also to look for the essence of beings and things by focusing the truth. Pseudonyms are not a game but a real poetic of the Name. The recent publication of his Soixante-quinze Feuillets (Gallimard, 2021) shows how Proust transformed his autobiography into a fictional world. That preliminary version exposes the methods he used to hide himself and the way he was experimenting the powers of the imagination and composition. It is the writer’s laboratory, an important source for genetic study of Proust’s masterpiece.

Methodological Principles for the Development of a Questionnaire “Quality of Life” in Patients with Computer Visual Syndrome

Purpose: scientific substantiation and development of methodological principles of the “quality of life” (QOL) assessment questionnaire in patients with symptoms of computer visual syndrome (CVS).Material and мethods. As part of the first stage of the study, an individual interview was carried out (according to the standard developed methodology) with 100 patients with visually strenuous labor, according to the results of which the entire spectrum of complaints arising during prolonged work with a computer was determined (44 complaints in total). As part of the second stage, a special questionnaire was developed, in which the identified complaints were transformed into questions. The study involved 96 ophthalmologists aged 32 to 62 years with an average of 17.3 ± 1.4 years. The task of an expert ophthalmologist was to assess the relevance each of the questions in terms of the influence degree on the patient’s QOL, as well as the “severity” of the complaint in terms the of occurrence frequency.Results. The development of the questionnaire was based on the sequential implementation of five stages (development of a conceptual framework; development of a preliminary version and confirmation of validity content; additional modification; scaling procedure development; psychometric properties determination). The results obtained made it possible to form the questionnaire (22 questions) the final version, which (according to the analysis) meets the requirements of meaningful and constructive validity (specificity, reflection of questions and scales of significance for the patient, the results of an expert assessment by ophthalmologists of the psychometric response scale) with the weight coefficients development, the required values correlation coefficients (according to Pearson) between the relevance assessment of the question from the points according to the symptom severity, as well as the high level of consistency according to the “Cronbach-α” indicator.Conclusion. The main direction of the assessment QOL improving of a patient with GLC is active participation in the ophthalmologist’s questionnaire development. Our results determine that the expert assessment provides a mathematically confirmed choice of the most significant (in terms on QoL impact) subjective manifestations, which (in conjunction with the development of each patient’s possible responses expert assessments, in points) provides the required level of the questionnaire meaningful and constructive validity. The developed questionnaire can be recommended for further clinical testing.

Instrumento para mensuração do conhecimento tático declarativo no basquetebol feminino: validade de conteúdo da versão preliminar (Instrument for measurement of declarative tactical knowledge in women's basketball: validity of preliminary version content

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar as evidências de validade de conteúdo de cenas de vídeo extraídas de partidas oficiais de basquetebol para a construção da versão preliminar do Instrumento para Mensurar o Conhecimento Tático Declarativo para Basquetebol Feminino (IMCTD-BF). Editou-se, para o processo de validação de conteúdo, 70 cenas extraídas de jogos entre equipes que disputaram o LBF (Liga de Basquete Feminina). As cenas passaram pela análise de cinco peritos, treinadores (as) de basquetebol, nos quesitos: clareza da imagem, pertinência prática e representatividade do item. Calculou-se o Coeficiente de Validade do Conteúdo (CVC) para verificar a concordância entre os peritos, sendo o ponto de corte .80. Encontrou-se valores de CVC de .956 para clareza da imagem, .997 para pertinência prática e .960 para representatividade do item. Os procedimentos de validade ecológica e a concordância entre peritos, referentes à tomada de decisão e ao tipo de ataque, resultaram na seleção de 38 cenas. Conclui-se que foi possível construir a versão preliminar do IMCTD-BF a partir de 38 cenas que apresentaram evidências de validade de conteúdo. Abstract. The aim of the study was to verify the evidence of content validity of video scenes extracted from official basketball matches for the construction of the preliminary version of the Instrument to Measure Declarative Tactical Knowledge for Women's Basketball (IMCTD-BF). For the content validation process, 70 scenes extracted from games between teams that competed in the LBF (Women's Basketball League) were edited. The scenes were analyzed by five experts, basketball coaches, in the following items: clarity of the image, practical relevance and representativeness of the item. The Content Validity Coefficient (CVC) was calculated to verify the agreement between experts, with a cutoff point of .80. CVC values ​​of .956 were found for image clarity, .997 for practical relevance and .960 for item representativeness. The ecological validity procedures and the agreement between experts, regarding decision-making and the type of attack, resulted in the selection of 38 scenes. It is concluded that it was possible to build the preliminary version of the IMCTD-BF from 38 scenes that presented evidence of content validity. Resumem. El objetivo del estudio fue verificar la evidencia de validez de contenido de escenas de video extraídas de partidos oficiales de baloncesto para la construcción de la versión preliminar del Instrumento para Medir el Conocimiento Táctico Declarativo para el Baloncesto Femenino (IMCTD-BF). Para el proceso de validación de contenido se editaron 70 escenas extraídas de partidos entre equipos que compitieron en la LBF (Liga de Baloncesto Femenino). Las escenas fueron analizadas por cinco expertos, entrenadores de baloncesto, en los ítems: claridad de imagen, relevancia práctica y representatividad del ítem. Se calculó el Coeficiente de Validez de Contenido (CVC) para verificar la concordancia entre expertos, con un punto de corte de .80. Se encontraron valores CVC de .956 para claridad de imagen, .997 para relevancia práctica y .960 para representatividad de ítems. Los procedimientos de validez ecológica y el acuerdo entre expertos, en cuanto a la toma de decisiones y el tipo de atentado, dieron como resultado la selección de 38 escenas. Se concluye que fue posible construir la versión preliminar del IMCTD-BF a partir de 38 escenas que presentaban evidencia de validez de contenido.

Development of an instrument to assess self-management capacity of patients receiving peritoneal dialysis: CAPABLE

Background: Treatment of kidney failure with peritoneal dialysis (PD) at home implies that the patient and/or their caregiver develop a series of skills and basic knowledge about this therapy. There is not a specific inventory of the patient’s abilities to safely perform the PD procedure at home. The objective of this study was to describe the development of an instrument that allows measuring the self-management capacity of patients receiving PD, locating the performance areas that justify the need for intervention by a caregiver. Methods: This is a qualitative study developed in three phases: The first phase was the identification of performance areas through bibliographic search and validation of the results with focus groups of experts in PD. The second phase was the design of a system to measure self-management capacities. The third phase was a pilot test of the preliminary version of the instrument applied in 20 incident PD patients. Results: Three domains were identified to evaluate the fundamental components of self-management capacity: cognitive and sensory, each one evaluated with four items and motor domain evaluated with eight items. After applying the instrument, we found that 15 patients (75%) did not require support from the caregiver in any of the items. PD patients and nurses found the tool valuable, easy to understand and applicable in the early evaluation of a PD patient. Conclusions: We developed an easy-to-administer instrument to measure the self-management capacity of patients receiving PD. This inventory could locate areas that require specific support from a caregiver. Planning an individualised and focused education and training process could result in better health outcomes.

The SPICA Coarse-Grained Force Field for Proteins and Peptides

ABSTRACTA coarse-grained (CG) model for peptides and proteins was developed as an extension of the SPICA (Surface Property fItting Coarse grAined) force field (FF). The model was designed to examine membrane proteins that are fully compatible with the lipid membranes of the SPICA FF. A preliminary version of this protein model was created using thermodynamic properties, including the surface tension and density in the SPICA (formerly called SDK) FF. In this study, we improved the CG protein model to facilitate molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with a reproduction of multiple properties from both experiments and all-atom (AA) simulations. The side chain analogs reproduced the transfer free energy profiles across the lipid membrane and demonstrated reasonable dimerization free energies in water compared to those from AA-MD. A series of peptides/proteins adsorbed or penetrated into the membrane simulated by the CG-MD correctly predicted the penetration depths and tilt angles of peripheral and transmembrane peptides/proteins comparable to those in the orientation of protein in membrane (OPM) database. In addition, the dimerization free energies of several transmembrane helices within a lipid bilayer were comparable to those from experimental estimation. Application studies on a series of membrane protein assemblies, scramblases, and poliovirus capsids demonstrated a good performance of the SPICA FF.

Improving rational number knowledge using the NanoRoboMath digital game

Rational number knowledge is a crucial feature of primary school mathematics that predicts students’ later mathematics achievement. Many students struggle with the transition from natural number to rational number reasoning, so novel pedagogical approaches to support the development of rational number knowledge are valuable to mathematics educators worldwide. Digital game-based learning environments may support a wide range of mathematics skills. NanoRoboMath, a digital game-based learning environment, was developed to enhance students’ conceptual and adaptive rational number knowledge. In this paper, we tested the effectiveness of a preliminary version of the game with fifth and sixth grade primary school students (N = 195) using a quasi-experimental design. A small positive effect of playing the NanoRoboMath game on students’ rational number conceptual knowledge was observed. Students’ overall game performance was related to learning outcomes concerning their adaptive rational number knowledge and understanding of rational number representations and operations.

Development, Validation, and Reliability of the Teacher-Reported Pediatric Voice Handicap Index

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a novel teacher-reported pediatric voice outcome measure and to investigate its psychometric properties. Method: In the first stage, a new instrument, the Teacher-Reported Pediatric Voice Handicap Index (TRPVHI), was developed. After item generation, a panel of experts evaluated the items to assess the content validity. Subsequently, the final version of the preliminary instrument was applied to teachers of 306 children (57 dysphonic and 249 vocally healthy) between the ages of 4 and 11 years. Eventually, the construct validity, criterion-related validity, test–retest reliability, and internal consistency of the developed instrument were examined. Results: The items with a content validity ratio less than .8 were modified or removed, and accordingly, the preliminary version of the index was finalized. After the application of the preliminary version, item reduction was made based on the factor analysis. The index is composed of 27 questions and three subscales: Functional, Physical, and Emotional. A significant difference was observed between the dysphonic and vocally healthy children for the TRPVHI scores ( p < .001). A positive moderate correlation was determined between the Pediatric Voice Handicap Index and TRPVHI scores. Correlation coefficients between the test and retest scores of the TRPVHI were in the range of .92–.98. Cronbach's alpha values computed to assess the internal consistency were in the range of .94–.98. Conclusions: The TRPVHI is the only valid and reliable teacher-reported outcome measure of the effects of voice disorders on children. It is anticipated that the deployment of the TRPVHI in conjunction with other subjective tools, both in the initial evaluation and the follow-up of the treatment results, will allow a better understanding of the physical, functional, and emotional effects of voice disorders on children. Furthermore, it can potentially lead further research to enable the use of the TRPVHI for screening purposes.

Development and Pilot Use of a Questionnaire to Assess the Knowledge of Midwives and Pediatric Nurses on Maternal Use of Analgesics during Lactation

There is a need to assess the knowledge of healthcare providers on the use of maternal analgesics during lactation; however, valid instruments are not yet available. This study aimed to develop and test a valid questionnaire on the knowledge of analgesics (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, tramadol, codeine, oxycodone) during lactation, using a structured, stepwise approach. As a first step, literature was screened to generate a preliminary version consisting of a pool of item subgroups. This preliminary version was subsequently reviewed during two focus groups (midwives: n = 4; pediatric nurses: n = 6), followed by a two-round online Delphi with experts (n = 7) to confirm item and scale content validity. This resulted in an instrument consisting of 33 questions and 5 specific clinical case descriptions for both disciplines. Based on the assumption of an a priori difference in knowledge between midwives and pediatric nurses related to their curricula (known-groups validity), high construct validity was demonstrated in a pilot survey (midwives: n = 86; pediatric nurses: n = 73). We therefore conclude that a valid instrument to assess knowledge on lactation-related exposure to analgesics was generated, which could be further validated and used for research and educational purposes. As these pilot findings suggest suboptimal knowledge for both professions on this topic, adaptations to their curricula and postgraduate training might be warranted.