This article reviews a decade of research, published in the journal Asiascape: Digital Asia (DIAS), that explored the question of how digital technologies and their usage have shaped – and have... Show moreThis article reviews a decade of research, published in the journal Asiascape: Digital Asia (DIAS), that explored the question of how digital technologies and their usage have shaped – and have been shaped by – societies, politics, and economies across the Asian region. It discusses the kind of scholarship that DIAS has published, and on which topics, before giving an overview of the contributions that form this anniversary issue. The article concludes by offering thoughts on the future of digital Asia research. Show less
This article explores what conflicts over information and meaning-making in digital Asia can tell us about politics in advanced networked societies, using examples from East Asia. It interprets the... Show moreThis article explores what conflicts over information and meaning-making in digital Asia can tell us about politics in advanced networked societies, using examples from East Asia. It interprets the construction and spread of unverified information as part of near-ubiquitous political practices that threaten to lead to a decoupling of realities. The article makes the case that digital Asia is a crucial site for researching such practices: Asian societies are characterized by a long-standing engagement with rumours, and they also maintain highly developed digital infrastructures across diverse socio-political and economic environments. To explore the relevance of rumours and conspiracy theories in such contexts, the article suggests a three-step research agenda that analyzes the anatomy of rumours, traces their genealogy across complex socio-technical systems, and assesses their pathology – that is, the way in which they are products of, and in turn produce, power in translocal networks. Show less
Metabolomics, proteomics, and genomics analyses provide profound insight into human biology and disease pathophysiology. In this thesis, we explored the methodological challenges facing these OMICs... Show moreMetabolomics, proteomics, and genomics analyses provide profound insight into human biology and disease pathophysiology. In this thesis, we explored the methodological challenges facing these OMICs technologies and illustrated their applications in epidemiological studies. In part one, we focused on some of the methodological challenges facing OMICs research. These challenges included handling missing data in metabolomics, measurement agreement between high throughput proteomic measurements with standard clinical measurements, and challenges in developing prediction models using metabolomic data. The second part of this thesis addressed various epidemiological research questions by utilizing genomic data and metabolomics measurements (Metabolon and Nightingale platforms) and using advanced data analysis methods. These studies provided important insights into the associations between metabolites and hepatic triglyceride content, the associations of between the size of cytosine-adenine-guanine nucleotide repeats in the huntingtin gene with metabolomic profile, and the associations of the man-made per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with metabolite levels. Show less
Through a correspondence between two scholars, this paper explores and critiques various ways in which scholars working in ethnography and cultural analysis frame and construct their methodology... Show moreThrough a correspondence between two scholars, this paper explores and critiques various ways in which scholars working in ethnography and cultural analysis frame and construct their methodology and object of study. Through the close reading of theoretical accounts of methodology in ethnography and cultural analysis, we examine how these accounts construct the relationship between the scholar and her object of study. We read these scholarly practices as protocols, referring to the ways in which accounts of methodology may be understood as rules/guidelines by which scholars in these fields conduct research. Protocol etymologically refers to protos (first) and kolla (glue). Through the figure of the protocol, we delineate how scholars in ethnography and cultural analysis themselves become implicated in giving accounts of their research methodologies. Show less
Background: In ultra-rare sarcomas (URS) the conduction of prospective, randomized trials is challenging. Data from retrospective observational studies (ROS) may represent the best evidence... Show moreBackground: In ultra-rare sarcomas (URS) the conduction of prospective, randomized trials is challenging. Data from retrospective observational studies (ROS) may represent the best evidence available. ROS implicit limitations led to poor acceptance by the scientific community and regulatory authorities. In this context, an expert panel from the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS), agreed on the need to establish a set of minimum requirements for conducting high-quality ROS on the activity of systemic therapies in URS. Methods: Representatives from > 25 worldwide sarcoma reference centres met in November 2020 and identified a list of topics summarizing the main issues encountered in ROS on URS. An online survey on these topics was distributed to the panel; results were summarized by descriptive statistics and discussed during a second meeting (November 2021). Results: Topics identified by the panel included the use of ROS results as external control data, the criteria for contributing centers selection, modalities for ensuring a correct pathological diagnosis and radiologic assessment, consistency of surveillance policies across centers, study end-points, risk of data duplication, results publication. Based on the answers to the survey (55 of 62 invited experts) and discussion the panel agreed on 18 statements summarizing principles of recommended practice. Conclusions: These recommendations will be disseminated by CTOS across the sarcoma community and incorporated in future ROS on URS, to maximize their quality and favor their use as control data when results from prospective studies are unavailable. These recommendations could help the optimal conduction of ROS also in other rare tumors. Show less
This dissertation takes ambiguity as its main theoretical focal point. It illustrates how ambiguity is used strategically from many sides. Further it presents novel approaches to conceptualizing... Show moreThis dissertation takes ambiguity as its main theoretical focal point. It illustrates how ambiguity is used strategically from many sides. Further it presents novel approaches to conceptualizing ambiguous content and ambiguous relationships. In addition it is concerned with potentiality and temporality.The deliberate ambiguity of viral stories and the chaos surrounding them, elaborates on how to create an account while accounting for positioning in time as well as space. It elaborates on the way both ethnographer and informants simultaneously create accounts that are specific to their positions, and that these specificities must be considered as the ethnographer shifts between different modes of ordering while in the field, while analyzing, and while retrospectively accounting for past events. The dissertation takes a methodological stance towards embracing conflicts, discontinuity, and messy data as the source of understanding. Deliberately looking for temporalities, potentiality, and ambiguity encourages a focus on uncertainty, open ends, and multiple possible versions. Doing so is crucial when attending to matters that are both sudden, intensive, highly digitally mediated, and subject to massive attention.The dissertation provides methodological as well as practical concerns, valuable to researchers whose object of study is brief but intense, including the retrospective representation of it. Show less
Background Structured, systematic methods to formulate consensus recommendations, such as the Delphi process or nominal group technique, among others, provide the opportunity to harness the... Show moreBackground Structured, systematic methods to formulate consensus recommendations, such as the Delphi process or nominal group technique, among others, provide the opportunity to harness the knowledge of experts to support clinical decision making in areas of uncertainty. They are widely used in biomedical research, in particular where disease characteristics or resource limitations mean that high-quality evidence generation is difficult. However, poor reporting of methods used to reach a consensus - for example, not clearly explaining the definition of consensus, or not stating how consensus group panellists were selected - can potentially undermine confidence in this type of research and hinder reproducibility. Our objective is therefore to systematically develop a reporting guideline to help the biomedical research and clinical practice community describe the methods or techniques used to reach consensus in a complete, transparent, and consistent manner. Methods The ACCORD (ACcurate COnsensus Reporting Document) project will take place in five stages and follow the EQUATOR Network guidance for the development of reporting guidelines. In Stage 1, a multidisciplinary Steering Committee has been established to lead and coordinate the guideline development process. In Stage 2, a systematic literature review will identify evidence on the quality of the reporting of consensus methodology, to obtain potential items for a reporting checklist. In Stage 3, Delphi methodology will be used to reach consensus regarding the checklist items, first among the Steering Committee, and then among a broader Delphi panel comprising participants with a range of expertise, including patient representatives. In Stage 4, the reporting guideline will be finalised in a consensus meeting, along with the production of an Explanation and Elaboration (E&E) document. In Stage 5, we plan to publish the reporting guideline and E&E document in open-access journals, supported by presentations at appropriate events. Dissemination of the reporting guideline, including a website linked to social media channels, is crucial for the document to be implemented in practice. Discussion The ACCORD reporting guideline will provide a set of minimum items that should be reported about methods used to achieve consensus, including approaches ranging from simple unstructured opinion gatherings to highly structured processes. Show less
BackgroundStructured, systematic methods to formulate consensus recommendations, such as the Delphi process or nominal group technique, among others, provide the opportunity to harness the... Show moreBackgroundStructured, systematic methods to formulate consensus recommendations, such as the Delphi process or nominal group technique, among others, provide the opportunity to harness the knowledge of experts to support clinical decision making in areas of uncertainty. They are widely used in biomedical research, in particular where disease characteristics or resource limitations mean that high-quality evidence generation is difficult. However, poor reporting of methods used to reach a consensus – for example, not clearly explaining the definition of consensus, or not stating how consensus group panellists were selected – can potentially undermine confidence in this type of research and hinder reproducibility. Our objective is therefore to systematically develop a reporting guideline to help the biomedical research and clinical practice community describe the methods or techniques used to reach consensus in a complete, transparent, and consistent manner.MethodsThe ACCORD (ACcurate COnsensus Reporting Document) project will take place in five stages and follow the EQUATOR Network guidance for the development of reporting guidelines. In Stage 1, a multidisciplinary Steering Committee has been established to lead and coordinate the guideline development process. In Stage 2, a systematic literature review will identify evidence on the quality of the reporting of consensus methodology, to obtain potential items for a reporting checklist. In Stage 3, Delphi methodology will be used to reach consensus regarding the checklist items, first among the Steering Committee, and then among a broader Delphi panel comprising participants with a range of expertise, including patient representatives. In Stage 4, the reporting guideline will be finalised in a consensus meeting, along with the production of an Explanation and Elaboration (E&E) document. In Stage 5, we plan to publish the reporting guideline and E&E document in open-access journals, supported by presentations at appropriate events. Dissemination of the reporting guideline, including a website linked to social media channels, is crucial for the document to be implemented in practice.DiscussionThe ACCORD reporting guideline will provide a set of minimum items that should be reported about methods used to achieve consensus, including approaches ranging from simple unstructured opinion gatherings to highly structured processes. Show less
BACKGROUND: Investigating neurosurgical interventions for traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves complex methodological and practical challenges. In the present report, we have provided an overview... Show moreBACKGROUND: Investigating neurosurgical interventions for traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves complex methodological and practical challenges. In the present report, we have provided an overview of the current state of neurosurgical TBI research and discussed the key challenges and possible solutions. METHODS: The content of our report was based on an extensive literature review and personal knowledge and expert opinions of senior neurosurgeon researchers and epidemiologists. RESULTS: Current best practice research strategies include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative effectiveness research. The performance of RCTs has been complicated by the heterogeneity of TBI patient populations with the associated sample size requirements, the traditional eminence-based neurosurgical culture, inadequate research budgets, and the often acutely life-threatening setting of severe TBI. Statistical corrections can mitigate the effects of heterogeneity, and increasing awareness of clinical equipoise and informed consent alternatives can improve trial efficiency. The substantial confounding by indication, which limits the interpretability of observational research, can be circumvented by using an instrumental variable analysis. Traditional TBI outcome measures remain relevant but do not adequately capture the subtleties of well-being, suggesting a need for multidimensional approaches to outcome assessments. CONCLUSIONS: In settings in which traditional RCTs are difficult to conduct and substantial confounding by indication can be present, observational studies using an instrumental variable analysis and "pragmatic" RCTs are promising alternatives. Embedding TBI research into standard clinical practice should be more frequently considered but will require fundamental modifications to the current health care system. Finally, multimodality outcome assessment will be key to improving future surgical and nonsurgical TBI research. Show less
A direct comparison of two methods for estimating the treated incidence of schizophrenia: the first-contact design (current standard) vs. an electronic psychiatric case-register (new method). The... Show moreA direct comparison of two methods for estimating the treated incidence of schizophrenia: the first-contact design (current standard) vs. an electronic psychiatric case-register (new method). The assumptions underlying the first-contact design are tested. The causes of 2 to 4-fold difference in estimates are conceptualized in a 3-dimensional model. The model is tested on the Norther European incidence literature. Show less
This essay departs from my search to understand how (new/digital) media interact with society and vice versa, especially in relation to political communication and political change. These ‘effects’... Show moreThis essay departs from my search to understand how (new/digital) media interact with society and vice versa, especially in relation to political communication and political change. These ‘effects’ of changing media technology, however, not only touch the societies that we try to understand but also our own practice of ‘doing’ research. Especially in area studies, the ethnographic method, the relations with the field, with people is at the center of ‘knowing’. Hence changes in these relationships, such as caused by (digital/new) Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), will also influence the ‘data’ gathering, the insights, in short, the knowledge production processes and outcomes. In this essay I compare my own presence as a researcher in the Sahel in the 1990s and now, and I reinterpret this presence in relation to the changing communication ecology in the Sahel. My lens to analyze this is the concept of mediatization and mediation. It offers an interpretation of the changing relations in the field that has expanded with the use of digital media. Hence, I try to understand changes in knowledge ‘construction’ in ethnographic practice in the digital age. Show less
Today, Computed Tomography (CT) is a widely established technique to visualize pathological changes in archaeological human remains. The high definition of the current scanners allow for even small... Show moreToday, Computed Tomography (CT) is a widely established technique to visualize pathological changes in archaeological human remains. The high definition of the current scanners allow for even small lesions to be visualized, therefore giving osteoarchaeologists a powerful tool to investigate disease in the past.The study of chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) has received significant attention in the past years as the presence of CMS is generally considered indicative or air quality. We discuss here the methodological implications of using CT scans for diagnosing CMS in contrast to classical endoscopical observation. A total of 32 crania from the Dutch post-medieval rural village of Middenbeemster (AD 1829-1866) were examined both endoscopically and through CT scans. Criteria for identifying CMS included presence of bone spicules and pitting on the sinus walls. 12 cases of CMS were identified endoscopically, and 19 through CT scanning. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in scoring CMS endoscopically or through radiographic imaging (τb=0.246, p=0.170). When investigating differences among features, no statistical difference was found between spicules observed through macroscopical analysis and computed tomography respectively (τb=0.246, p=0.170). The same analysis, however, revealed a statistically significant difference in endoscopically-assessed and CT-observed pitting (τb=0.374, p=0.037). Our results suggest that diagnosis of CMS on human skeletal remains can be confidently performed both through endoscopical and radiological analysis, albeit delivering better performances in scoring bone formation in contrast to bone resorption. Further research is being considered to fully explore the role of computed tomography in the study of CMS. Show less
Background Reviews of qualitative studies allow for deeper understanding of concepts and findings beyond the single qualitative studies. Concerns on study reporting quality led to the publication... Show moreBackground Reviews of qualitative studies allow for deeper understanding of concepts and findings beyond the single qualitative studies. Concerns on study reporting quality led to the publication of the COREQ-guidelines for qualitative studies in 2007, followed by the ENTREQ-guidelines for qualitative reviews in 2012. The aim of this meta-review is to: 1) investigate the uptake of the COREQ- and ENTREQ- checklists in qualitative reviews; and 2) compare the quality of reporting of the primary qualitative studies included within these reviews prior- and post COREQ-publication. Methods Reviews were searched on 02-Sept-2020 and categorized as (1) COREQ- or (2) ENTREQ-using, (3) using both, or (4) non-COREQ/ENTREQ. Proportions of usage were calculated over time. COREQ-scores of the primary studies included in these reviews were compared prior- and post COREQ-publication using T-test with Bonferroni correction. Results 1.695 qualitative reviews were included (222 COREQ, 369 ENTREQ, 62 both COREQ/ENTREQ and 1.042 non-COREQ/ENTREQ), spanning 12 years (2007-2019) demonstrating an exponential publication rate. The uptake of the ENTREQ in reviews is higher than the COREQ (respectively 28% and 17%), and increases over time. COREQ-scores could be extracted from 139 reviews (including 2.775 appraisals). Reporting quality improved following the COREQ-publication with 13 of the 32 signalling questions showing improvement; the average total score increased from 15.15 to 17.74 (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion The number of qualitative reviews increased exponentially, but the uptake of the COREQ and ENTREQ was modest overall. Primary qualitative studies show a positive trend in reporting quality, which may have been facilitated by the publication of the COREQ. Show less
Ramspek, C.L.; Steyerberg, E.W.; Riley, R.D.; Rosendaal, F.R.; Dekkers, O.M.; Dekker, F.W.; Diepen, M. van 2021
Etiological research aims to uncover causal effects, whilst prediction research aims to forecast an outcome with the best accuracy. Causal and prediction research usually require different methods,... Show moreEtiological research aims to uncover causal effects, whilst prediction research aims to forecast an outcome with the best accuracy. Causal and prediction research usually require different methods, and yet their findings may get conflated when reported and interpreted. The aim of the current study is to quantify the frequency of conflation between etiological and prediction research, to discuss common underlying mistakes and provide recommendations on how to avoid these. Observational cohort studies published in January 2018 in the top-ranked journals of six distinct medical fields (Cardiology, Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Neurology, General and Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Surgery) were included for the current scoping review. Data on conflation was extracted through signaling questions. In total, 180 studies were included. Overall, 26% (n = 46) contained conflation between etiology and prediction. The frequency of conflation varied across medical field and journal impact factor. From the causal studies 22% was conflated, mainly due to the selection of covariates based on their ability to predict without taking the causal structure into account. Within prediction studies 38% was conflated, the most frequent reason was a causal interpretation of covariates included in a prediction model. Conflation of etiology and prediction is a common methodological error in observational medical research and more frequent in prediction studies. As this may lead to biased estimations and erroneous conclusions, researchers must be careful when designing, interpreting and disseminating their research to ensure this conflation is avoided. Show less
Wagner, M.A.; Huisman, J.; Lovik, A.N.; Habib, H.; Mahlitz, P.; Voet, E. van der 2021
Raw Materials are crucial in the development, production, and improvement of modern-day technology. Reliable access to critical, scarce, and valuable materials used in electronics is becoming a... Show moreRaw Materials are crucial in the development, production, and improvement of modern-day technology. Reliable access to critical, scarce, and valuable materials used in electronics is becoming a worldwide concern. Therefore, the quantification of material recovery from the urban mine is currently pursued worldwide. Commonly, data on (Waste) Electrical and Electronic Equipment is scattered, not harmo-nized, and uses different types of classifications and terminology. This provides a big challenge of a structured mapping of secondary raw materials in the urban mine. To address these issues, a state-of -the-art methodology has been developed and is presented by analyzing and tracking printed circuit boards in different key Electrical and Electronic Equipment over time. A total of 4051 composition data records where analyzed to extract the concentration of 19 elements in printed circuit boards between 1990 until 2020. The methodology harmonizes urban mine data, provides structured information that can be used to analyze and monitor the impact of product trends on their components and concentration of the elements in electronics. The resulting database and harmonization protocols are made freely available at the urban mine platform. (c) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Show less
Renewed calls for decolonizing anthropology in the 21st century raise the question of what work earlier waves of decolonization since the 1960s have left undone. Some of this work should focus on... Show moreRenewed calls for decolonizing anthropology in the 21st century raise the question of what work earlier waves of decolonization since the 1960s have left undone. Some of this work should focus on the classification of human differences, which figured prominently in all phases of the discipline’s history: as a methodology in its racist phases, as an object of study during its late colonial phase of professionalization, as self-critical reflexivity in the 1980s and 1990s, and as a renewed critique in the 21st century. Can a universal methodology of studying classifications of human kinds arise from the discipline’s past of colonial stereotyping? I argue affirmatively, through an approach that recognizes time as the epistemic condition that connects past and present positions to present and future methodologies. Firstly, my analysis distinguishes the parochial embedding in colonial culture of Durkheim and Mauss’ ideas about classification from their more universal intentions. This is then developed into a threefold reflexive and timeful methodology of studying classification’s nominal-descriptive, constructive, and interventionist dimensions—a process of adding temporality to the study of classification. Subsequently, Antenor Firmin’s 19th-century critique of racial classifications, and W. E. B. Du Bois’s theory of double consciousness help to show how this threefold methodology addresses the insufficiently theorized process of being classified and discriminated against through racial categories wielded by the powers that be. These arguments radicalize the essay’s timeful perspective by concluding that we need to avoid modernist uses of time as classification and adopt the aforementioned threefold methodology in order to put time in classifications of human kinds. This reverses modern positivism’s subordination to methodological rules of the epistemic conditions posed by contingent history and shows instead that the universal goals of methodology should be understood as a future ideal. Show less
Penson, A.; Deuren, S. van; Bronkhorst, E.; Keizer, E.; Heskes, T.; Coenen, M.J.H.; ... ; Loonen, J. 2021
Background A debilitating late effect for childhood cancer survivors (CCS) is cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Little is known about the prevalence and risk factors of fatigue in this population. Here... Show moreBackground A debilitating late effect for childhood cancer survivors (CCS) is cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Little is known about the prevalence and risk factors of fatigue in this population. Here we describe the methodology of the Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Late Effect Study on fatigue (DCCSS LATER fatigue study). The aim of the DCCSS LATER fatigue study is to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with CRF, proposing a model which discerns predisposing, triggering, maintaining and moderating factors. Triggering factors are related to the cancer diagnosis and treatment during childhood and are thought to trigger fatigue symptoms. Maintaining factors are daily life- and psychosocial factors which may perpetuate fatigue once triggered. Moderating factors might influence the way fatigue symptoms express in individuals. Predisposing factors already existed before the diagnosis, such as genetic factors, and are thought to increase the vulnerability to develop fatigue. Methodology of the participant inclusion, data collection and planned analyses of the DCCSS LATER fatigue study are presented. Results Data of 1955 CCS and 455 siblings was collected. Analysis of the data is planned and we aim to start reporting the first results in 2022. Conclusion The DCCSS LATER fatigue study will provide information on the epidemiology of CRF and investigate the role of a broad range of associated factors in CCS. Insight in associated factors for fatigue in survivors experiencing severe and persistent fatigue may help identify individuals at risk for developing CRF and may aid in the development of interventions. Show less
The complexity of an intelligence problem determines to a great extent the certainty that can be provided by intelligence and security services. This article will argue this deductively and... Show moreThe complexity of an intelligence problem determines to a great extent the certainty that can be provided by intelligence and security services. This article will argue this deductively and validate this claim using a set of intelligence reports produced by the Dutch Intelligence & Security Service (AIVD). A better understanding of how the level of complexity affects intelligence analysis is helpful for the further (academic) study of analysis methodologies, as well as for managing expectations of intelligence clients, and for informing the debates over legislation that affects intelligence and security services. Show less
In the project ‘Bantu Syntax and Information Structure’ (BaSIS) we want to learn about the expression of information structure in Bantu languages. Which linguistic strategies do Bantu languages use... Show moreIn the project ‘Bantu Syntax and Information Structure’ (BaSIS) we want to learn about the expression of information structure in Bantu languages. Which linguistic strategies do Bantu languages use to mark the focus of a sentence, for example, or for shifting to another topic? This is important because information structure has a fundamental impact on the grammar of Bantu languages. It is therefore crucial to investigate information structure so that we can fully describe and understand these languages.For each individual language, we want to systematically discover which strategies are used for which functions in information structure. In order to do that, two things are required: on the one hand we need to gather the relevant data, and on the other hand we need to understand how we can draw the right conclusions from these data. This document aims to help in both the data gathering and the understanding. If you read and work your way through it, by the end you can explain the key concepts in information structure, you know which tests can be used to diagnose the meaning of a linguistic strategy, and you can draw conclusions about form/meaning mapping on the basis of the data that you gather from understudied languages. The document consists of three parts. Part I presents and explains various notions in information structure. This part is built up step by step, with exercises in between. These exercises are included to help you to reflect on the notions and diagnostics for yourself, and thereby better understand the material. It is recommended to do the exercises before reading on, because they stimulate you to think and therefore retain the knowledge better. The key to the exercises can be found at the end of Part I. Part II contains a series of diagnostics to be conducted in collaboration with a native speaker informant. This is the key methodology for the BaSIS project, and with its results we can draw well-motivated conclusions on the expression of information structure in each language. Part III provides diagnostics for abstract Case and nominal licensing. This is also of essence to the BaSIS project, because the hypothesis underlying the BaSIS project is that nominal licensing is fundamentally influenced by information structure in the Bantu languages. Show less
