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Polyethylene glycol-based isolation of urinary extracellular vesicles, an easily adoptable protocol.MethodsX Dec 2023Urine is a highly advantageous biological specimen for biomarker research and is a non-invasive source. Most of the urinary biomarkers are non-specific, volatile and...
Urine is a highly advantageous biological specimen for biomarker research and is a non-invasive source. Most of the urinary biomarkers are non-specific, volatile and need extensive validation before clinical adoption. Extracellular vesicles are secreted by almost all cells and are involved in homoeostasis, intercellular communication, and cellular processes in healthy and pathophysiological states. Urinary extracellular vesicles (UEVs) are released from the urogenital system and mirror the molecular processes of physiological and pathological states of their source cells. Therefore, UEVs serve as a valuable source of biomarkers for the non-invasive diagnosis of various pathologies. They hold a promising source of multiplex biomarkers suitable for prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy monitoring. UEVs are easily accessible, non-invasive, and suited for longitudinal sampling. Although various techniques are available for isolating UEVs, there is yet to be a consensus on a standard and ideal protocol. We have optimized an efficient, reliable, and easily adoptable polyethylene glycol (PEG) based UEV isolation technique following MISEV guidelines. The method is suitable for various downstream applications of UEVs. This could be a cost-effective, consistent, and accessible procedure for many clinical labs and is most suited for longitudinal analysis. Adopting the protocol will pave the way for establishing UEVs as the ideal biomarker source. •Urine can be collected non-invasively and repeatedly, hence a very useful specimen for biomarker discovery. Urinary EVs (UEVs), derived from urine, offer a stable diagnostic tool, but standardised isolation and analysis approaches are warranted.•To have enough UEVs for any study, large volumes of urine sample are necessary, which limits different isolation methods by cost, yield, and time.•The protocol developed could help researchers by offering a cost-effective and dependable UEV isolation method and may lay the foundation for UEVs adoption in clinical space.
PubMed: 37608961
DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102310 -
Heliyon May 2022Rice production in Bangladesh is vulnerable to climate-related risk such as drought, which contributes to food insecurity. Adoption of drought-tolerant rice varieties...
Rice production in Bangladesh is vulnerable to climate-related risk such as drought, which contributes to food insecurity. Adoption of drought-tolerant rice varieties can play an important role in increasing productivity, food grain supply, and income. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have measured the welfare impacts of drought-tolerant rice varieties in the South Asian and Bangladeshi context. Therefore, this study identifies the factors that influence the intensity of adoption and welfare impacts of drought-tolerant rice varieties in Bangladesh. To accomplish these objectives, 300 rice growers from three drought-prone districts of Bangladesh were surveyed. To analyze the impacts, the entire sample was divided into three groups depending on their share of land under drought-tolerant rice variety cultivation: full adopters, partial adopters, and non-adopters. The descriptive statistics, two-limit Tobit model and multivalued treatment effect models were used to analyze the data. According to the findings, training as well as technology-related factors play a major role in boosting the intensity of adoption. Full adopters of drought-tolerant varieties receive 1222-1473 kg higher yield per hectare compared to non-adopters. Based on several treatment effect models, the impact on income ranges from 3.46% to 4.22%. When compared to non-adopters, full adopters can consume 1.02-1.29 months more rice from their own production in a year. Shows about climate change and other relevant topics should be broadcast on the television on a regular basis to raise awareness. Modifying the extension method with modern communication technologies will aid in widespread adoption of new technologies. Drought-tolerant rice varieties can help to mitigate the harmful effects of drought and alleviate poverty in drought-prone areas.
PubMed: 35620624
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09490 -
JMIR Formative Research Sep 2022The adoption of contact tracing apps worldwide has been low. Although considerable research has been conducted on technology acceptance, little has been done to show the...
BACKGROUND
The adoption of contact tracing apps worldwide has been low. Although considerable research has been conducted on technology acceptance, little has been done to show the benefit of incorporating persuasive principles.
OBJECTIVE
This research aimed to investigate the effect of persuasive features in the COVID Alert app, created by Health Canada, by focusing on the no-exposure status, exposure status, and diagnosis report interfaces.
METHODS
We conducted a study among 181 Canadian residents, including 65 adopters and 116 nonadopters. This study was based on screenshots of the 3 interfaces, of which each comprised a persuasive design and a control design. The persuasive versions of the first two interfaces supported self-monitoring (of exposure levels), and that of the third interface supported social learning (about how many other users have reported their diagnosis). The 6 screenshots were randomly assigned to 6 groups of participants to provide feedback on perceived persuasiveness and adoption willingness.
RESULTS
A multivariate repeated-measure ANOVA showed that there is an interaction among interface, app design, and adoption status regarding the perceived persuasiveness of the interfaces. This resulted in a 2-way ANOVA for each interface. For the no-exposure interface, there was an interaction between adoption status and app design. Among adopters, there was no significant difference P=.31 between the persuasive design (mean 5.36, SD 1.63) and the control design (mean 5.87, SD 1.20). However, among nonadopters, there was an effect of app design (P<.001), with participants being more motivated by the persuasive design (mean 5.37, SD 1.30) than by the control design (mean 4.57, SD 1.19). For the exposure interface, adoption status had a main effect (P<.001), with adopters (mean 5.91, SD 1.01) being more motivated by the designs than nonadopters (mean 4.96, SD 1.43). For the diagnosis report interface, there was an interaction between adoption status and app design. Among nonadopters, there was no significant difference P=.99 between the persuasive design (mean 4.61, SD 1.84) and the control design (mean 4.77, SD 1.21). However, among adopters, there was an effect of app design (P=.006), with participants being more likely to report their diagnosis using the persuasive design (mean 6.00, SD 0.97) than using the control design (mean 5.03, SD 1.22). Finally, with regard to willingness to download the app, pairwise comparisons showed that nonadopters were more likely to adopt the app after viewing the persuasive version of the no-exposure interface (13/21, 62% said yes) and the diagnosis report interface (12/17, 71% said yes) than after viewing the control versions (3/17, 18% and 7/16, 44%, respectively, said yes).
CONCLUSIONS
Exposure notification apps are more likely to be effective if equipped with persuasive features. Incorporating self-monitoring into the no-exposure status interface and social learning into the diagnosis report interface can increase adoption by >30%.
PubMed: 35580138
DOI: 10.2196/34212 -
International Journal of Medical... Sep 2021Prior to COVID-19, levels of adoption of telehealth were low in the U.S., though they exploded during the pandemic. Following the pandemic, it will be critical to...
OBJECTIVES
Prior to COVID-19, levels of adoption of telehealth were low in the U.S., though they exploded during the pandemic. Following the pandemic, it will be critical to identify the characteristics that were associated with adoption of telehealth prior to the pandemic as key drivers of adoption and outside of a public health emergency.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We examined three data sources: The American Telemedicine Association's 2019 state telehealth analysis, the American Hospital Association's 2018 annual survey of acute care hospitals and its Information Technology Supplement. Telehealth adoption was measured through five telehealth categories. Independent variables included seven hospital characteristics and five reimbursement policies. After bivariate comparisons, we developed a multivariable model using logistic regression to assess characteristics associated with telehealth adoption.
RESULTS
Among 2923 US hospitals, 73% had at least one telehealth capability. More than half of these hospitals invested in telehealth consultation services and stroke care. Non-profit hospitals, affiliated hospitals, major teaching hospitals, and hospitals located in micropolitan areas (those with 10-50,000 people) were more likely to adopt telehealth. In contrast, hospitals that lacked electronic clinical documentation, were unaffiliated with a hospital system, or were investor-owned had lower odds of adopting telehealth. None of the statewide policies were associated with adoption of telehealth.
CONCLUSIONS
Telehealth policy requires major revisions soon, and we suggest that these policies should be national rather than at the state level. Further steps as incentivizing rural hospitals for adopting interoperable systems and expanding RPM billing opportunities will help drive adoption, and promote equity.
Topics: COVID-19; Hospitals; Humans; Policy; SARS-CoV-2; Telemedicine; United States
PubMed: 34332467
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104540 -
Environmental Health Perspectives Oct 2020Some 20 y ago, scientific and regulatory communities identified the potential of omics sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) to improve chemical...
BACKGROUND
Some 20 y ago, scientific and regulatory communities identified the potential of omics sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) to improve chemical risk assessment through development of toxicogenomics. Recognizing that regulators adopt new scientific methods cautiously given accountability to diverse stakeholders, the scope and pace of adoption of toxicogenomics tools and data have nonetheless not met the ambitious, early expectations of omics proponents.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was, therefore, to inventory, investigate, and derive insights into drivers of and obstacles to adoption of toxicogenomics in chemical risk assessment. By invoking established social science frameworks conceptualizing innovation adoption, we also aimed to develop recommendations for proponents of toxicogenomics and other new approach methodologies (NAMs).
METHODS
We report findings from an analysis of 56 scientific and regulatory publications from 1998 through 2017 that address the adoption of toxicogenomics for chemical risk assessment. From this purposeful sample of toxicogenomics discourse, we identified major categories of drivers of and obstacles to adoption of toxicogenomics tools and data sets. We then mapped these categories onto social science frameworks for conceptualizing innovation adoption to generate actionable insights for proponents of toxicogenomics.
DISCUSSION
We identify the most salient drivers and obstacles. From 1998 through 2017, adoption of toxicogenomics was understood to be helped by drivers such as those we labeled , , and but hindered by obstacles such as those we labeled , , and . Leveraging social science frameworks, we find that arguments for adoption that draw on the most salient drivers, which emphasize superior and novel functionality of omics as rationales, overlook potential adopters' key concerns: simplicity of use and compatibility with existing practices. We also identify two perspectives-innovation-centric and adopter-centric-on omics adoption and explain how overreliance on the former may be undermining efforts to promote toxicogenomics. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6500.
Topics: Computational Biology; Environmental Policy; Genomics; Humans; Metabolomics; Risk Assessment; Social Sciences; Toxicogenetics
PubMed: 33112659
DOI: 10.1289/EHP6500 -
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing Oct 2017As adoptive parents create a new family, they face myriad changes both pre-and post-placement of their child. The aim of this study was to describe parent perceptions...
As adoptive parents create a new family, they face myriad changes both pre-and post-placement of their child. The aim of this study was to describe parent perceptions and depressive symptoms during this transition via reports collected with an online survey. Using content analysis, we analyzed a total of 110 responses from 64 parents at three time points: 4-6weeks pre-placement, and 4-6weeks and 5-6months post-placement. Five main themes were revealed: Transition from uncertainty to a new normal; unique experiences related to adoption; rest/fatigue: out of balance; life stressors; and faith/spirituality. Two subthemes were also identified: previous losses (pre-placement) and joy and love (post-placement). During the transition from pre-to post-placement, adoptive parents experience a unique passage, with both challenges and strengths exclusive to this group of parents. While acknowledging the commonalities of some parenting experiences, healthcare and adoption professionals should recognize the unique dynamics that adoption brings to families.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adoption; Adult; Child, Preschool; Depression; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Parenting; Parents; Spirituality; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 28927513
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2017.06.007 -
Implementation Science : IS Aug 2017Theories, models, and frameworks used by implementation science, including Diffusion of Innovations, tend to focus on the adoption of one innovation, when often...
BACKGROUND
Theories, models, and frameworks used by implementation science, including Diffusion of Innovations, tend to focus on the adoption of one innovation, when often organizations may be facing multiple simultaneous adoption decisions. For instance, despite evidence that care management practices (CMPs) are helpful in managing chronic illness, there is still uneven adoption by physician organizations. This exploratory paper leverages this natural variation in uptake to describe inter-organizational patterns in adoption of CMPs and to better understand how adoption choices may be related to one another.
METHODS
We assessed a cross section of national survey data from physician organizations reporting on the use of 20 CMPs (5 each for asthma, congestive heart failure, depression, and diabetes). Item response theory was used to explore patterns in adoption, first considering all 20 CMPs together and then by subsets according to disease focus or CMP type (e.g., registries, patient reminders). Mokken scale analysis explored whether adoption choices were linked by disease focus or CMP type and whether a consistent ordering of adoption choices was present.
RESULTS
The Mokken scale for all 20 CMPs demonstrated medium scalability (H = 0.43), but no consistent ordering. Scales for subsets of CMPs sharing a disease focus had medium scalability (0.4 < H < 0.5), while subsets sharing a CMP type had strong scalability (H > 0.5). Scales for CMP type consistently ranked diabetes CMPs as most adoptable and depression CMPs as least adoptable. Within disease focus scales, patient reminders were ranked as the most adoptable CMP, while clinician feedback and patient education were ranked the least adoptable.
CONCLUSIONS
Patterns of adoption indicate that innovation characteristics may influence adoption. CMP dissemination efforts may be strengthened by encouraging traditionally non-adopting organizations to focus on more adoptable practices first and then describing a pathway for the adoption of subsequent CMPs. Clarifying why certain CMPs are "less adoptable" may also provide insights into how to overcome CMP adoption constraints.
Topics: Chronic Disease; Diffusion of Innovation; Disease Management; Group Practice; Health Care Surveys; Health Plan Implementation; Humans; Organizational Innovation; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; United States
PubMed: 28836996
DOI: 10.1186/s13012-017-0639-z -
Scientifica 2020Despite hybrids being grown on 30-40 percent of the maize area in Pakistan, the retail price of hybrid maize seed is high in Pakistan compared with its neighbors in...
Despite hybrids being grown on 30-40 percent of the maize area in Pakistan, the retail price of hybrid maize seed is high in Pakistan compared with its neighbors in South Asia and beyond. Hence, this paper analyzes the adoption and impact of hybrid maize on livelihoods using a cross-sectional dataset collected from 822 maize growers in Pakistan. The data were collected from two types of farmers: adopters and nonadopters of hybrid maize, from four major provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Balochistan). We use the bivariate probit to analyze the factors influencing the adoption of hybrid maize and the propensity score-matching (PSM) approach to analyze the impact of hybrid maize adoption on livelihood of maize growers, as PSM helps correct sample selection biasedness. The empirical result shows that farm size, farm and household assets, the level of education of farmers, access to market, and social networks positively influence the adoption of hybrid maize in Pakistan. The results from PSM revealed that hybrid maize adopters had higher grain yields in the range of 94-124 kgs per hectare as compared with nonadopters. Similarly household income levels were more in the range of Pakistani rupees 2,176-3,518, while the poverty levels were lower in the range of 2-3 percent for hybrid maize adopters. As hybrid maize adoption has had a positive impact on the livelihood of farmers, policies should aim to scale up the adoption of hybrid maize through enhancing the supply and lowering the seed cost through research and subsidy programs, thereby enabling poor farmers in remote areas to adopt hybrid maize varieties.
PubMed: 32089951
DOI: 10.1155/2020/5959868 -
Transportation Research. Part A, Policy... Dec 2021A significant growth in demand for online shopping in light of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID) crisis has received attention from transportation practitioners,...
A significant growth in demand for online shopping in light of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID) crisis has received attention from transportation practitioners, policy-makers, and researchers. However, an important question arises in this increase in online shopping and resulting deliveries: How long will this last? Very little is known whether this popularity would last a long time. To address this question, the authors conducted a survey of 915 individuals residing in the U.S. and classified them into the four distinctive consumer types (i.e., the prior adopter, temporary adopter and permanent new adopter, and non-adopter) depending on their usage of delivery services before, during, and after (expected) the COVID crisis. This research aims to gain behavioral insight by exploring the differences between the four consumer types and investigating factors affecting the initial adoption and continuance intention of using delivery services. The descriptive analysis revealed that there are clear differences not only between the four types of consumers but also between the four product types (i.e., grocery, food, home goods, and other packages) considered in the survey. The models found that factors affecting the initial adoption and continuance intention are different from the previous studies conducted before the COVID pandemic. Implications for planning and policymaking are also discussed.
PubMed: 34744329
DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2021.10.012 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Apr 2018The internet offers major opportunities in supporting mental health care, and a variety of technology-mediated mental and behavioral health services have been developed....
BACKGROUND
The internet offers major opportunities in supporting mental health care, and a variety of technology-mediated mental and behavioral health services have been developed. Yet, despite growing evidence for the effectiveness of these services, their acceptance and use in clinical practice remains low. So far, the current literature still lacks a structured insight into the experienced drivers and barriers to the adoption of electronic mental health (eMental health) from the perspective of clinical psychologists.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the drivers and barriers for psychologists in adopting eMental health tools, adding to previous work by also assessing drivers and analyzing relationships among these factors, and subsequently by developing a structured representation of the obtained findings.
METHODS
The study adopted a qualitative descriptive approach consisting of in-depth semistructured interviews with clinical psychologists working in the Netherlands (N=12). On the basis of the findings, a model was constructed that was then examined through a communicative validation.
RESULTS
In general, a key driver for psychologists to adopt eMental health is the belief and experience that it can be beneficial to them or their clients. Perceived advantages that are novel to literature include the acceleration of the treatment process, increased intimacy of the therapeutic relationship, and new treatment possibilities due to eMental health. More importantly, a relation was found between the extent to which psychologists have adopted eMental health and the particular drivers and barriers they experience. This differentiation is incorporated in the Levels of Adoption of eMental Health (LAMH) model that was developed during this study to provide a structured representation of the factors that influence the adoption of eMental health.
CONCLUSIONS
The study identified both barriers and drivers, several of which are new to the literature and found a relationship between the nature and importance of the various drivers and barriers perceived by psychologists and the extent to which they have adopted eMental health. These findings were structured in a conceptual model to further enhance the current understanding. The LAMH model facilitates further research on the process of adopting eMental health, which will subsequently enable targeted recommendations with respect to technology, training, and clinical practice to ensure that mental health care professionals as well as their clients will benefit optimally from the current (and future) range of available eMental health options.
Topics: Humans; Internet; Models, Theoretical; Perception; Psychology; Telemedicine
PubMed: 29691215
DOI: 10.2196/jmir.9485