Ariel University

About: Ariel University is a education organization based out in Ariel, Israel. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 1965 authors who have published 5848 publications receiving 66643 citations.

Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science

Abstract: Reproducibility is a defining feature of science, but the extent to which it characterizes current research is unknown. We conducted replications of 100 experimental and correlational studies published in three psychology journals using high-powered designs and original materials when available. Replication effects were half the magnitude of original effects, representing a substantial decline. Ninety-seven percent of original studies had statistically significant results. Thirty-six percent of replications had statistically significant results; 47% of original effect sizes were in the 95% confidence interval of the replication effect size; 39% of effects were subjectively rated to have replicated the original result; and if no bias in original results is assumed, combining original and replication results left 68% with statistically significant effects. Correlational tests suggest that replication success was better predicted by the strength of original evidence than by characteristics of the original and replication teams.

Klebsiella pneumoniae: a major worldwide source and shuttle for antibiotic resistance

Abstract: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen affecting humans and a major source for hospital infections associated with high morbidity and mortality due to limited treatment options We summarize the wide resistome of this pathogen, which encompasses plentiful chromosomal and plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) Under antibiotic selective pressure, K pneumoniae continuously accumulates ARGs, by de novo mutations, and via acquisition of plasmids and transferable genetic elements, leading to extremely drug resistant (XDR) strains harboring a 'super resistome' In the last two decades, numerous high-risk (HiR) MDR and XDR K pneumoniae sequence types have emerged showing superior ability to cause multicontinent outbreaks, and continuous global dissemination The data highlight the complex evolution of MDR and XDR K pneumoniae, involving transfer and spread of ARGs, and epidemic plasmids in highly disseminating successful clones With the worldwide catastrophe of antibiotic resistance and the urgent need to identify the main pathogens that pose a threat on the future of infectious diseases, further studies are warranted to determine the epidemic traits and plasmid acquisition in K pneumoniae There is a need for future genomic and translational studies to decipher specific targets in HiR clones to design targeted prevention and treatment

Fear of COVID-19 scale: Psychometric characteristics, reliability and validity in the Israeli population.

Abstract: Mental health clinicians worldwide have been expressing concerns regarding the broad psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, only a few studies have thus far evaluated the degree of fear of COVID-19, partially due to the lack of validated measures. In this study we evaluated the psychometric properties of the Hebrew version of the Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), recently developed to assess different aspects of the fear of the pandemic, in a normative population of participants in Israel. Participants (n = 639) were asked to complete the FCV-19S scale, as well as to report anxiety, depression, and stress levels using validated scales. The results a unidimensional factor structure of the FCV-19S which explained 53.71% of the variance. When forcing a two-factor structure model, the analysis revealed two factors pertaining to emotional fear reactions and symptomatic expressions of fear. Gender, sociodemographic status, chronic illness, being in an at-risk group, and having a family member dying of COVID-19 were positively associated with fear of COVID-19. The measure was associated with anxiety, stress and depression. These results suggest that the FCV-19S has good psychometric properties, and can be utilized in studies assessing the effects of the pandemic on the population's mental health.