Open research Europe最新文献

{"title":"Advancing research on Blastocystis through a One Health approach","authors":"Anastasios D. Tsaousis, Eleni Gentekaki, C. R. Stensvold","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.18046.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.18046.1","url":null,"abstract":"Blastocystis is the most prevalent intestinal eukaryotic microorganism with significant impacts on both human and animal health. Despite extensive research, its pathogenicity remains controversial. The COST Action CA21105, \"Blastocystis under One Health\" (OneHealthBlastocystis), aims to bridge gaps in our understanding by fostering a multidisciplinary network. This initiative focuses on developing standardised diagnostic methodologies, establishing a comprehensive subtype and microbiome databank, and promoting capacity building through education and collaboration. The Action is structured into five working groups, each targeting specific aspects of Blastocystis research, including epidemiology, diagnostics, 'omics technologies, in vivo and in vitro investigations, and data dissemination. By integrating advances across medical, veterinary, public, and environmental health, this initiative seeks to harmonise diagnostics, improve public health policies, and foster innovative research, ultimately enhancing our understanding of Blastocystis and its role in health and disease. This collaborative effort is expected to lead to significant advancements and practical applications, benefiting the scientific community and public health.","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"28 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141654927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Promoting physical activity and healthy diets by modifying the social and/or physical environment at local level: a scoping review of evidence-based policy actions.","authors":"Elisa Chilet Rosell, Marta Puig García, Blanca Lumbreras, María Pastor Valero, Ildefonso Hernández Aguado, L. A. Parker","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.17770.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.17770.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background We aimed to map evidenced-based policy actions proposed by public health institutes or organizations to promote physical activity and healthy diets by modifying the social and/or physical environment at the local level. Methods We conducted a scoping review to identify relevant evidence-based policy actions proposed by public health institutions. We used a two-step strategy to identify government-supported public health institutes or organizations that generate evidence-based recommendations for policy actions. We included policy actions if they 1) aimed at increasing physical activity or improving diet; 2) focused on modifying the physical or social environments; 3) were implemented at the local or community level; 4) were expressed as a concrete action rather than a general aim; and 5) were described explicitly as being based on evidence. Results Starting from 121 public health institutes, we identified 8 relevant organizations and reviewed 63 guidelines or reports that included actions to promote healthy diets and physical activity. Of the 540 proposed actions on diet and 358 on physical activity, 118 met the inclusion criteria. Given that many of the actions were recommended by multiple institutes, we synthesized the information in the infographics to provide recommendations on diet and physical activity in outdoor and indoor settings and schools. Conclusions Public health institutes have generated a wide range of evidence-based recommendations for the promotion of healthy diets and physical activity by modifying the physical and social environment that can be implemented in local settings. Future actions should address barriers to implementing these recommendations and analyze the determinants of local policy decisions.","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"14 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141654258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"On the Billefjorden fault zone in Garmdalen, central Spitsbergen: implications for the mapping of major fault zones during geological fieldwork and for the tectonic history of Svalbard","authors":"Jean-Baptiste P. Koehl, Eirik M. B. Stokmo, Jhon M. Muñoz‐Barrera","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.17826.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.17826.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background The present contribution reexamines the geometry of a segment of a presumably long-lived fault in Svalbard, the Balliolbreen Fault segment of the Billefjorden Fault Zone, along which presumably two basement terranes of Svalbard accreted in the early–mid Paleozoic after thousands of kilometers strike-slip displacement. Methods We performed structural fieldwork to Billefjorden in central Spitsbergen and interpreted satellite images. Results Field observations demonstrate that the Balliolbreen Fault formed as a top-west thrust fault in the early Cenozoic and that weak sedimentary units such as shales of the Lower Devonian Wood Bay Formation and coals of the uppermost Devonian–Mississippian Billefjorden Group partitioned deformation, resulting in significant contrast in deformation intensity between stratigraphic units. For example, tight early Cenozoic folds are localized in shales of the Wood Bay Formation and contemporaneous top-west brittle–ductile thrusts within coals of the Billefjorden Group, whereas Pennsylvanian deposits of the Hultberget (and/or Ebbadalen?) Formation are simply folded into gentle open folds. Rheological contrasts also resulted in the development of décollements locally, e.g., between tightly folded strata of the Wood Bay Formation and Billefjorden Group and flat-lying, brecciated limestone-dominated strata of the Wordiekammen Formation. Despite the limited quality and continuity of outcrops in the area, the eastward-thickening character (i.e., away from the fault) of Pennsylvanian deposits of the Hultberget, Ebbadalen, and Minkinfjellet formations suggests that the fault did not act as a normal fault in Pennsylvanian times. Conclusions The study suggests that strain partitioning of early Cenozoic Eurekan contraction alone may explain the deformation patterns in Paleozoic rock units in central Spitsbergen, i.e., that Late Devonian Svalbardian contraction is not required, and that a major segment of the Billefjorden Fault Zone formed in the early Cenozoic. The present work illustrates the crucial need for interdisciplinary approaches and composite educational backgrounds in science.","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"60 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141652522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing neutral linguistic resources for the implementation of an automatic transformational analyzer","authors":"Max Silberztein, Cristina Mota, Anabela Barreiro","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.17990.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.17990.1","url":null,"abstract":"Bakground The linguistic pursuit of describing natural languages stands as a commendable scientific endeavor, regardless of immediate software application prospects. It transcends mere documentation of possible sentences to establish connections between sentences derived from transformations. Methods Amid the dominance of Large Language Models (LLMs) in research and technology, which offer intriguing advancements in text generation, the approaches presented in this article confront challenges like opacity, limited human intervention, and adaptation difficulties inherent in LLMs. The alternative or complementary approaches highlighted here focus on the theoretical and methodological challenges of describing linguistic transformations and are firmly rooted in the field of linguistics, the science of language. We propose two solutions to address the problem of language transformations: (i) the procedural approach, which involves representing each transformation with a transducer, and (ii) the declarative method, which entails capturing all potential transformations in a single neutral grammar. Results These approaches simplify the generation of complex sentences from elementary ones and vice versa. Conclusion This work has benefited from research exchanges within the Multi3Generation COST Action (CA18231), and the resources produced can contribute to enhancing any language generation system.","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141653589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decision Support Systems adoption in pesticide management","authors":"Jotham Jea Akaka, Aurora García-Gallego, Nikolaos Georgantzis, Jean-Christian Tisserand, Efi Vasileiou, Mark Ramsden","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.17577.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.17577.1","url":null,"abstract":"This paper presents the findings from a survey on factors influencing the adoption of agricultural Decision Support Systems (DSS). Our study focuses on examining the influence of behavioural, socioeconomic and farm specific characteristics on DSS adoption. Using two structural equation models, we investigate how these factors influence the willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to adopt. Our analysis reveals nuanced insights into the user and farm-specific factors that influence the decision-making process of DSS adoption and WTP. Notably, farm size significantly influences both adoption and WTP, with larger farms more likely to adopt and exhibit higher WTP. To promote adoption, it is important to adapt promotion strategies, with a focus on productivity benefits for large-scale farms and addressing price barriers for smaller ones. Additionally, the main crop type grown impacts WTP and adoption, with arable crop farmers exhibit a lower WTP but more likely to adopt, especially in large-scale operations. Conversely, small-scale arable farmers exhibit higher WTP but lower adoption rates due to scale constraints. Farmer characteristics such as experience and attitudes also play a crucial role, with experienced users and those perceiving productivity improvements due to DSS showing higher WTP. In addition, adoption is also influenced by ease of use and pricing, underpinning the importance of user-friendly designs and clear cost justifications. DSSs with user-centric designs and clear cost justifications can enhance adoption rates.","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"29 39","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141659730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The  proportion and determinants of appropriate health seeking behavior for febrile illness among caregivers of children under-five years in Butula sub-county, Busia county, Kenya","authors":"Jean Louis Kananura, Betsy C.Rono, Kamija S.Phiri","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.18028.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.18028.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background Almost 10 million children under the age of five in Kenya, die due to fever-related diseases. In Busia, a county in Kenya, malaria accounts for 13% of all child fatalities under the age of five, a number higher than any other county. This study aimed to determine (a) proportion of appropriate health-seeking behavior and (b) determinants of health-seeking behaviors (HSBs) among their caregivers in Butula Sub-County, Busia County, as reported by the caregivers. Methods This cross-sectional mixed-method study included 271 caregivers, 11 community health volunteers, and health facility workers in Butula Sub-County. Systematic random sampling for participants and purposive sampling for key informants were used. A questionnaire collected the data that was analysed using frequency and percentages and logistic regression. Results 70.1% of caregivers reported seeking care for a child's fever within 24 hours. Individual factors that caregivers reported to influence appropriate health-seeking HSB were unemployment (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.217 – 0.593, p = 0.018), self-medication preference (aOR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.054 – 0.363, p < 0.001), had atleast two children (aOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.425 – 0.937, p = 0.042), and confidence in identifying fever (aOR = 7.0, 95% CI: 2.200 – 22.439, p = 0.001). Health-system factors reported to influence HSBs were facility too far (aOR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.526 – 0.914, p = 0.027), getting health education (aOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.201-4.122, p=0.015), and facility level (aOR = 4.4, 95% CI: 2.015 – 9.750, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings found health system factors related to HSB as stockouts, facility distance, and staff workload. Conclusions Policy and practice efforts should focus on significant individual and health system determinants for HSBs among caregivers of children under five with febrile illness.","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"30 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141662129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Scoping review and evidence mapping of interventions aimed at improving reproducible and replicable science: Protocol.","authors":"Leonie A Dudda, Magdalena Kozula, Tony Ross-Hellauer, Eva Kormann, René Spijker, Nicholas DeVito, Gowri Gopalakrishna, Veerle Van den Eynden, Patrick Onghena, Florian Naudet, Rita Banzi, Maddalena Fratelli, Monika Varga, Yuri Andrei Gelsleichter, Inge Stegeman, Mariska M Leeflang","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.16567.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/openreseurope.16567.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Many interventions, especially those linked to open science, have been proposed to improve reproducibility in science. To what extent these propositions are based on scientific evidence from empirical evaluations is not clear.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The primary objective is to identify Open Science interventions that have been formally investigated regarding their influence on reproducibility and replicability. A secondary objective is to list any facilitators or barriers reported and to identify gaps in the evidence.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We will search broadly by using electronic bibliographic databases, broad internet search, and contacting experts in the field of reproducibility, replicability, and open science. Any study investigating interventions for their influence on the reproducibility and replicability of research will be selected, including those studies additionally investigating drivers and barriers to the implementation and effectiveness of interventions. Studies will first be selected by title and abstract (if available) and then by reading the full text by at least two independent reviewers. We will analyze existing scientific evidence using scoping review and evidence gap mapping methodologies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results will be presented in interactive evidence maps, summarized in a narrative synthesis, and serve as input for subsequent research.</p><p><strong>Review registration: </strong>This protocol has been pre-registered on OSF under doi https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/D65YS.</p>","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"3 ","pages":"179"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11258544/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141735924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Initial development and validation of item banks to measure problematic hypersexuality.","authors":"Piet van Tuijl, Peter Verboon, Jacques van Lankveld","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.16131.2","DOIUrl":"10.12688/openreseurope.16131.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Problematic Hypersexuality (PH) is defined as a distress caused by hypersexuality, to the extent that seeking treatment is considered. PH was previously measured with instruments stemming from different perspectives on problems related to hypersexuality. These instruments might best be analyzed in unison to discover the most optimal set of characteristics to measure PH.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 58 items were investigated with Item Response Theory (IRT). We included 1211 participants (592 women, 618 men, 1 other) from a representative Dutch general population sample of 18 years or older. In addition, 371 participants (116 women, 253 men, 2 other) in a web-based survey who sought information on their current level of PH were included. This latter group was divided into those that did or did not consider treatment and group differences in item averages were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After item selection, 26 out of 58 items were retained and divided in two scales: Emotion Dysregulation-PH - 9 items representing the distressing emotional patterns coinciding with hypersexual preoccupation - and Negative Effects-PH - 17 items representing the negative consequences of patterns of hypersexual thoughts and behavior. Assumptions for IRT analyses were met (unidimensionality, local independence and monotonicity). After an IRT graded response model was fit, the scales showed sufficient reliability for the target population of hypersexual individuals. In the general population the scales showed large floor effects and were less reliable.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>With this study a first step is taken in validating two complementary item banks to measure PH. Further development of the item banks should include the investigation of responsiveness. New items should be constructed to assess less-explored areas of PH and improve differentiating power of the scales. This study showed that diagnostic accuracy for PH is currently difficult to attain with a survey, even when using an extended item set representing the most unique characteristics of PH.</p>","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"3 ","pages":"129"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11306953/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141908542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Energy Transition in Northern Netherlands: seeking a balance between top-down and bottom-up initiatives","authors":"Bas Oldenbroek, I. Psarra, Tineke van der Schoor, Cyril Tjahja","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.17431.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.17431.1","url":null,"abstract":"This study focuses on top-down and bottom-up processes within the field of energy transition. It aims at gaining insights into the ways that a more balanced approach can be achieved, by taking into consideration the (mutual) interests, barriers and expectations of the municipality and local citizen initiatives. The theoretical framework of the study is the implementation analysis framework, distinguishing top-down and bottom-up approaches. Specifically, this qualitative (thematic analysis) research study investigates the mismatch in expectations between a number of local energy initiatives and the municipality of Groningen regarding their roles within the local energy transition context. To this end, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with members of the municipality of Groningen, Grunneger Power (a local energy intermediary), and four local energy initiatives. Need and expectation gaps have been identified and potential solutions have been explored. The main findings of the study illustrate the need of professional support for citizen initiatives, at both technical and organizational level, especially in the first phases of their development. Additionally, clear mutual communication on short and long-term planning and ambitions of the involved parties is of key importance for the alignment of the interests and the course of actions. Consequently, a clear context is needed, within which an exchange of feedback on the envisioned strategies, and the subsequent energy saving or generation interventions, can take place in an efficient and effective way. Additionally, such a context increases confidence and provides a clear understanding to the citizen initiatives regarding their role and the level and nature of support they can expect in their intended projects and activities. Based on these findings, policy implications have been drawn.","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"102 35","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141666433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Escalating frustration - A replication attempt and extension of Yu et al. (2014)","authors":"Charlotte Eben, Zhang Chen, Raquel E. London, F. Verbruggen","doi":"10.12688/openreseurope.17749.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.17749.1","url":null,"abstract":"Background Failures to obtain a desired reward, such as losing money in gambling, can lead to frustration. In gambling, this frustration has been shown to take the form of faster responses after losses compared with wins and non-gambling trials. In addition, reward omission or blockage can lead to more forceful responses. Yu and colleagues (2014) showed that the proximity to a reward and the effort already expended to acquire the reward increased participants’ response force and their retrospective self-reported frustration when the reward was blocked. Methods In this study, we attempted to replicate the findings of Yu and colleagues (2014) using the same experimental procedure. In each schedule, participants (N = 32) needed to complete an arrow direction task for varying numbers of times to win a reward but could be blocked at any stage. The response time (RT) and force of confirming the outcomes were used as indicators of ‘frustration’. In addition, to obtain a more real-time and objective measure of (negative) emotion, we measured facial electromyographic (EMG) activity over the corrugator supercilii (frowning muscle) and the zygomaticus (smiling muscle). Results Due to technical problems, our data on response force were invalid. In line with the original study, both goal proximity and exerted effort increased participants’ self-reported motivation in the task and frustration after being blocked. An exploratory analysis showed that participants were slower in confirming an outcome when they were blocked closer to the reward, while exerted effort did not influence confirm RT. These RT data were consistent with self-reported surprise ratings, suggesting an orienting response. In the facial EMG data, we observed no difference between wins and losses in activity over the corrugator or the zygomaticus. Conclusion Taken together, these data suggest that reward blockage does not necessarily lead to behavioral or psychophysiological expressions of negative emotions such as frustration.","PeriodicalId":74359,"journal":{"name":"Open research Europe","volume":"119 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141665430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}