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Revisiting the Delphi Technique - Research Thinking and Practice: A Discussion Paper
Get PDFThe Delphi technique is a research methodology which has traditionally been used to gain consensus among experts on complex issues characterised by uncertainty. Pioneered by the Rand Corporation in the 1950s for military applications, it has since been widely adopted across various fields, including nursing, health and social sciences and information systems on an array of multifaceted real-world issues. However, since its inception, the Delphi technique has undergone substantial methodological development and its use has now gone beyond its initial rationale. In the last two decades there has been a growing body of work illustrating an increasing methodological diversity of the method. While such diversity presents possibilities, it also challenges traditional application and methodological rigour. In an attempt to preserve the integrity of the method, generic and discipline specific guidelines have emerged providing general principles and standards. The aim of this paper is to present a much-needed critical reflection on the current application of the Delphi technique and its methodological development and to build on our paper from 2001 (Keeney et al., 2001). While the development of the Delphi method and its evolution are well recognised and reported in the literature, some controversies surrounding the approach remain and it is timely to revisit the method with a critical eye. Ultimately, the Delphi technique's flexibility is its significant strength, enabling the exploration of novel lines of inquiry, but it also presents a challenge. Striking the right balance between flexibility and rigour can lead to more meaningful insights and actionable outcomes from a Delphi study. Yet to achieve this, some level of consensus may need to be reached on the Delphi technique itself.</p
Inactivation of Histone Chaperone HIRA Unmasks a Link Between Normal Embryonic Development of Melanoblasts and Maintenance of Adult Melanocyte Stem Cells
Get PDFEvidence indicates that the integrity of in utero development influences late life healthy or unhealthy aging; however, specific links between them are unclear. Histone chaperone HIRA is thought to play a role in both life stages, and here, we explore this role using the murine pigmentary system by investigating and comparing the effects of its lineage‐specific knockout, either conditionally during embryogenesis or postnatally. Embryonic knockout of Hira in tyrosinase+ neural crest‐derived lineages, including melanoblasts, led to reduced melanoblast numbers during embryogenesis, with single‐cell RNA sequencing analysis indicating evidence of lineage‐specificity defects. This was supported in an in vitro model using melb‐a melanoblasts in which Hira knockdown affected lineage identity and melanoblast differentiation potential, with ATAC‐seq data indicating a role of HIRA in orchestrating chromatin accessibility. Interestingly, however, newborn Hira knockout mice had wild type numbers of differentiated melanocytes, albeit functionally defective, as demonstrated by very mild hypopigmentation of the first hair coat, increased melanocyte telomere‐associated DNA damage foci, and impaired response to proliferative challenge. Moreover, as they aged, mice with embryonic melanoblast Hira knockout displayed marked defects in melanocyte stem cell maintenance and premature hair graying. Importantly, this phenotype was not observed after postnatal inducible knockout, indicating an essential role for HIRA at embryonic stages that is transmitted to adulthood, rather than a direct postnatal requirement within the pigmentary system. This genetic model shows that HIRA function during early development lays a foundation for maintaining lineage identity and subsequent maintenance of adult tissue‐specific stem cells during aging
Bacterivorous Ciliate <i>Tetrahymena pyriformis</i> Facilitates <i>vanA </i>Antibiotic Resistance Gene Transfer in <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>
Get PDFBackground: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are hotspots for the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In activated sludge treatment systems, bacterivorous protozoa play a crucial role in biological processes, yet their impact on the horizontal gene transfer in Gram-positive enteric bacteria remains largely unexplored. This study investigated whether the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis facilitates the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between Enterococcus faecalis strains. Methods: Conjugation assays were conducted under laboratory conditions using a vanA-carrying donor and a rifampicin-resistant recipient at an initial bacterial concentration of 109 CFU/mL and ciliate density of 105N/mL. Results: Transconjugant numbers peaked at 2 h when experiments started with recipient bacteria harvested in the exponential growth phase, and at 24 h when bacteria were in the stationary phase. In both cases, vanA gene transfer frequency was highest at 24 h (10−4–10−5 CFU/mL), and the presence of energy sources increased gene transfer frequency by one order of magnitude. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ciliate grazing may contribute to vanA gene transfer in WWTP effluents, potentially facilitating its dissemination among permissive bacteria. Given the ecological and public health risks associated with vanA gene persistence in wastewater systems, understanding protozoan-mediated gene transfer is crucial for mitigating the spread of antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments
Motivations, Expectations and experiences of International Students studying at Ulster University
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Grouping Digital Health Apps Based on Their Quality and User Ratings Using K-Medoids Clustering:Cross-sectional Study
Get PDFBackground:Digital health apps allow for proactive rather than reactive health care and have the potential to take the pressure off health care providers. With over 350,000 digital health apps available on the app stores today, those apps need to be of sufficient quality to be safe to use. Discovering the typology of digital health apps regarding professional and clinical assurance (PCA), user experience (UX), data privacy (DP), and user ratings may help in determining the areas where digital health apps can improve.Objective:This study has two objectives: (1) discover the types (clusters) of digital health apps with regards to their quality (scores) across 3 domains (their PCA, UX, and DP) and user ratings and (2) determine whether the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Evidence Standard Framework’s (ESF’s) tier, target users of the digital health apps, categories, or features have any association with this typology.Methods:Data were obtained from 1402 digital health app assessments conducted using the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps Baseline Review (OBR), evaluating PCA, UX, and DP. K-medoids clustering identified app typologies, with the optimal number of clusters determined using the elbow method. The Shapiro-Wilk test assessed normality of user ratings and OBR scores. Nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum tests compared cluster differences in these metrics. Post hoc analysis examined the distribution of NICE ESF tiers, target users, categories, and features across clusters, using Fisher exact test with Bonferroni correction. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen w.Results:A total of four distinct app clusters emerged: (1) apps with poor user ratings (220/1402, 15.7%), (2) apps with poor PCA and DP scores (252/1402, 18%), (3) apps with poor PCA scores (415/1402, 29.6%), and (4) higher quality apps with high user ratings and OBR scores (515/1402, 36.7%). While some statistically significant associations were found between clusters and NICE ESF tiers (2/3), target users (0/14), categories (4/33), and features (6/19), all had small effect sizes (Cohen w<0.3). The strongest associations were for the “Service Signposting” feature (Cohen w=0.24) and NICE ESF tier B (Cohen w=0.19).Conclusions:The largest cluster comprised high-quality apps with strong user ratings and OBR scores (515/1402, 36.7%). A significant proportion (415/1402, 29.6%) performed poorly in PCA despite performing well in other domains. Notably, user ratings did not consistently align with PCA scores; some apps scored highly with users but poorly in PCA and DP. The 4-cluster typology underscores areas needing improvement, particularly PCA. Findings suggest limited association between the examined app characteristics and quality clusters, indicating a need for further investigation into what factors truly influence app quality
Translational computerized clinical decision support systems for Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review
Get PDFBackground Alzheimer's disease (AD), marked by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline, poses diagnostic challenges due to its multifactorial nature. Therefore, researchers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence and data-driven approaches to develop computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSS), aiming to enhance early detection, improve treatment, and slow disease progression. Objective This study seeks to conduct a systematic review of the most recently developed AD-CCDSS, delving into their progress and the challenges to guide future development and implementation of CCDSS for AD-related decision-making and intervention strategies. Methods We follow the PRISMA 2020 guideline to search for articles published within the past seven years across PubMed, ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, Web of Science, and Scopus, with Google Scholar as a supplementary source. Key components are then extracted from the selected studies for qualitative analysis, including data modalities, computational modeling approaches, system explainability and interpretability, research priorities, and graphical user interfaces designed for non-technical stakeholders. Results After searching and removing duplicates, we meticulously selected 55 studies. After reviewing key components of CCDSS, we highlight advancements and potential clinical applications, demonstrating their promise in enhancing decision support. However, despite growing attention to explainability in AD-CCDSS, its clinical applicability remains limited. Moreover, challenges such as multi-center system interoperability and data security remain underexplored, hindering real-world implementation. Conclusions This study analyzes recent translational AD-CCDSS, identifying key challenges in advancing CCDSS for clinical applications. It offers insights for researchers to enhance CCDSS development and facilitate their integration into clinical practice
Transcriptome Profiling of Trabecular Meshwork Progenitor Cells
Get PDFThe loss and dysfunction of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells are implicated in aging and primary open-angle glaucoma. TM progenitor cells (TMPCs) contribute to the population and function of the TM, but their identity is not well elucidated. This study aimed to identify the expression profile of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in human TM cell cultures, TM-derived spheres, and their differentiated progeny. Primary normal human TM cells (PTM) from three donors were cultured, de-differentiated into spheres, and re-differentiated into TM cells (DTM). RNA-Seq was performed using Illumina NGS, and bioinformatics analysis was conducted with Tuxedo, Bowtie2, Tophat, Cufflinks, and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). DEGs were validated via Nanostring, RT-qPCR (in five independent donors), immunocytochemistry, and western blotting. RNA-seq identified significant DEGs in PTM, TM progenitor cells (TMPCs), and DTM cells. Gene expression in TMPCs differed significantly from PTM and DTM cells. Nanostring and RT-qPCR confirmed 70 DEGs upregulated in TMPCs (P < 0.05). Immunocytochemistry highlighted distinct markers in TMPCs (SOX2, NOTCH1, ANKG, MGP) versus PTM and DTM cells (TAGLN, TEM7, SPARC). Western blotting further analyzed MGP, TAGLN, and SPARC proteins, revealing significant upregulation of MGP in TMPCs and downregulation of TAGLN and SPARC in spheres compared to PTM cells. Pathway analysis revealed activation of cell cycle checkpoint regulation, SUMOylation, and STAT3 pathways in TMPCs, with HGF, MMP9, KDR, IGF1, and FOS as key node genes in TMPC development. RNA-Seq identified novel expression profile of potential TM markers and activated pathways in TMPCs, providing insights into TMPC behaviours in physiological and pathological conditions
From science management to innovation management: New forms of science-industry relations and knowledge transfer
Get PDFThere is a long tradition of research on university-industry collaboration, but recent developments—including expanded academic engagement, the rise of new intermediaries and platforms for science-industry engagement, the revitalization of corporate science, and the development of mission-oriented research policies—call for fresh investigation. These changes have raised new questions about ways to align diverse knowledge transfer practices, foster meaningful collaboration, and support evolving academic engagement and corporate science practices. The papers included in this Special Issue examine science-industry relations at three levels. At the micro level, they look at how individual motivations, identities, and engagement practices shape knowledge exchange and research productivity. At the meso level, they explore organizational structures, strategic intent, and governance mechanisms that enhance scientific development and innovation. And at the macro level, they investigate ecosystem-wide dynamics, including intermediaries, living labs, and broader policy landscapes that foster interdisciplinary co-creation and legitimacy-building. Together, these perspectives underscore the transformative potential of science-industry collaboration while illustrating the inherent complexities of the process. Reflecting on these insights, this Special Issue proposes an agenda for expanding methodological approaches, contextualizing research across diverse settings, developing novel theoretical anchors, and addressing Grand Challenges through more integrated and inclusive collaborations
Secrecy Performance of Backscatter Communication Networks with Multiple Reader and Tag Selection Schemes
Get PDFThis paper investigates the secrecy performance of optimal tag selection (OTS) and random tag selection (RTS) schemes of a passive backscatter communication network comprising multiple tags, multiple readers, and an eavesdropper with a practical non-linear energy harvesting model. The exhaustive search-based OTS scheme requires the complete channel state information (CSI) to provide the secrecy to the reader. In contrast, RTS schemes deploy the arbitrary search-based selection without any CSI. The secrecy outage probability (SOP) is evaluated as the secrecy performance metric for the BackCom network. The exact closed-form expressions for SOP are obtained for both selection schemes. We also derive the exact closed-form expressions for asymptotic SOP for OTS and RTS schemes, which gives a better understanding of the SOP concerning different parameters. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effect of the number of tags, number of readers, and path loss parameters on the SOP performance for the adapted BackCom network