1,721,180 research outputs found
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
The Liverpool Baby Breathing Study- The Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Assessment of Respiratory Symptoms and the Impact on Quality of Life in the First 22 Months of Life
No full textIntroduction. The Liverpool Baby Breathing Study (LBBS) is a longitudinal birth cohort study that investigates natural history of respiratory disease in preschool children in Merseyside. Merseyside has a high prevalence of risk factors for preschool respiratory disease. Preschool children in Liverpool have high rates of hospitalisation for asthma and bronchiolitis. Respiratory disease impacts on the quality of life (QoL) of infants and their families. The LBBS also assesses QoL impact on infants and their families, which makes the LBBS a novel study.
Study Aims. The aims of this thesis are: 1. To create a profile of the infants and mothers enrolled in the LBBS and compare this to the eligible population. 2. To describe respiratory symptoms in the cohort using the Liverpool Respiratory Symptom Questionnaire (LRSQ) from birth until 22 months of age. 3. To determine the differences in LRSQ scores in infants exposed to various risk factors. 4. To determine the change in the LRSQ score over time and the variability in this change with exposure. 5. To validate the LRSQ in a longitudinal study.
Methods. The LBBS uses the Liverpool Respiratory Symptom Questionnaire (LRSQ). Recruitment for the study was performed in the Liverpool Women’s Hospital (LWH). Eligible births were those infants who lived in Liverpool postcodes L1-38, spoke sufficient English and were cared for by their parents. Questionnaires were sent to participants by post or through an automated online emailing system. Recruitment rates and response rates were described using descriptive statistics. Sensitivity analysis was performed, comparing the drop out population’s exposure variables to the remaining cohort. The profile of the cohort was compared to the profile of eligible births in the LWH by χ2 analysis. Cross-sectional analysis compared those exposed to risk factors using χ2, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis analysis and Fisher’s Exact Test. The cross-sectional analysis of the LBBS was weighted to ensure the index of multiple deprivations (IMD) decile distribution of the cohort was comparable to the eligible births in the LWH. The longitudinal analysis of the LBBS was done using multi-level mixed effects models. The internal consistency of the LRSQ was assessed using Cronbach alpha coefficients.
Results. 694 of the interested mothers (5.57% of all eligible births) consented to the study and completed the initial questionnaire. Attrition in the study was 44.0%, 60.4% and 63.0% at 10, 16 and 22 months. Mothers participating and retained in the LBBS were older, less deprived, more highly educated, breastfed more and smoked less in pregnancy than mothers of all eligible births. Infants were more likely to be of white or mixed ethnicity and born preterm than the eligible births. Cross-sectional analysis showed nursery attendance, being male, decreasing maternal age, decreasing maternal education, preterm birth, low birth weight, a family history of atopy and presence of other household children increased respiratory symptoms in the first 22 months of life. Breastfeeding and sharing a bedroom decreased respiratory symptoms. Longitudinally analysis found nursery attendance, being male, preterm birth, low birth weight, a family history of atopy and other household children increased respiratory symptoms over time. Breastfeeding, increasing gestational age and sharing a bedroom decreased respiratory symptoms over the first 22 months of life. Respiratory symptoms had a major impact on the QoL of both the infant and their families. There were unexpected and mixed results regarding the effect of smoke exposure on respiratory health in the LBBS. The LRSQ had acceptable to good internal consistency.
Conclusion. The LBBS deployed the LRSQ using contemporary technology, and has been accessible to mothers in Liverpool across all deciles between 2012 through 2017. LBBS has validated use of the LRSQ in a longitudinal birth cohort. Breastfeeding had the greatest protective effect with a positive duration dependent dose-effect on respiratory symptoms and QoL. Nursery school attendance had the greatest deleterious effect on respiratory symptoms and QoL
Attitudinal and demographic predictors of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) uptake during the UK catch-up campaign 2008-09: cross-sectional survey
Full text linkBackground and Objective Continued suboptimal measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine uptake has re-established measles epidemic risk, prompting a UK catch-up campaign in 2008–09 for children who missed MMR doses at scheduled age. Predictors of vaccine uptake during catch-ups are poorly understood, however evidence from routine schedule uptake suggests demographics and attitudes may be central. This work explored this hypothesis using a robust evidence-based measure. Design Cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire with objective behavioural outcome. Setting and Participants 365 UK parents, whose children were aged 5–18 years and had received <2 MMR doses before the 2008–09 UK catch-up started. Main Outcome Measures Parents' attitudes and demographics, parent-reported receipt of invitation to receive catch-up MMR dose(s), and catch-up MMR uptake according to child's medical record (receipt of MMR doses during year 1 of the catch-up). Results Perceived social desirability/benefit of MMR uptake (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.09–2.87) and younger child age (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68–0.89) were the only independent predictors of catch-up MMR uptake in the sample overall. Uptake predictors differed by whether the child had received 0 MMR doses or 1 MMR dose before the catch-up. Receipt of catch-up invitation predicted uptake only in the 0 dose group (OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.18–10.05), whilst perceived social desirability/benefit of MMR uptake predicted uptake only in the 1 dose group (OR = 9.61, 95% CI = 2.57–35.97). Attitudes and demographics explained only 28% of MMR uptake in the 0 dose group compared with 61% in the 1 dose group. Conclusions Catch-up MMR invitations may effectively move children from 0 to 1 MMR doses (unimmunised to partially immunised), whilst attitudinal interventions highlighting social benefits of MMR may effectively move children from 1 to 2 MMR doses (partially to fully immunised). Older children may be best targeted through school-based programmes. A formal evaluation element should be incorporated into future catch-up campaigns to inform their continuing improvement
Viral pneumonitis is increased in obese patients during the first wave of pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 virus.
Full text linkINTRODUCTION: There is conflicting data as to whether obesity is an independent risk factor for mortality in severe pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza (A(H1N1)pdm09). It is postulated that excess inflammation and cytokine production in obese patients following severe influenza infection leads to viral pneumonitis and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome. METHODS: Demographic, laboratory and clinical data prospectively collected from obese and non-obese patients admitted to nine adult Australian intensive care units (ICU) during the first A(H1N1)pdm09 wave, supplemented with retrospectively collected data, were compared. RESULTS: Of 173 patients, 100 (57.8%), 73 (42.2%) and 23 (13.3%) had body mass index (BMI) <30 kg/m(2), ≥30 kg/m(2) (obese) and ≥40 kg/m(2) (morbidly obese) respectively. Compared to non-obese patients, obese patients were younger (mean age 43.4 vs. 48.4 years, p = 0.035) and more likely to develop pneumonitis (61% vs. 44%, p = 0.029). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use was greater in morbidly obese compared to non-obese patients (17.4% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.04). Higher mortality rates were observed in non-obese compared to obese patients, but not after adjusting for severity of disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and hospital length of stay (LOS) were similar. Amongst ICU survivors, obese patients had longer ICU LOS (median 11.9 vs. 6.8 days, p = 0.017). Similar trends were observed when only patients infected with A(H1N1)pdm09 were examined. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients admitted to ICU during the first wave of A(H1N1)pdm09, obese and morbidly obese patients with severe infection were more likely to develop pneumonitis compared to non-obese patients, but mortality rates were not increased. CRP is not an accurate marker of pneumonitis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist
No full textWe have done our best to complete the author checklist relating to the use of animals in the hut study. Note that the objective for the hut study was to evaluate the IRS treatment applications for residual efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes, including the local An. coluzzii mosquito population. Cows were only used to attract mosquitoes into the huts and no tests were carried out directly on the cows. The author checklist is intended for use with studies where experiments are carried out on animals, which is why we have had such difficulty in completing this for the hut study, as many of the questions do not relate to how the cows were used
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