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Firms’ influence on the evolution of published knowledge when a science-related technology emerges: The case of artificial intelligence
Get PDFYesFirms with the assets complementary to Artificial Intelligence (AI) have actively conducted AI research and selectively published their results since AI has resurged around 2006. Focusing on the recent AI development, we investigate how and to what extent firms’ deep engagement in the publication of emerging science-related technology can influence the evolution of published knowledge. Using bibliometric analyses applied to the papers in major AI conferences and journals, we find that papers with at least one author affiliated to a firm, and particularly papers with only firm-affiliated author(s), have had higher influence on the formation of published knowledge trajectory than other papers. In addition, papers from firm and non-firm (university and public research institution) collaborations show higher novelty and conventionality than other papers. These findings deepen our understanding of the role of firms in the evolution of emerging science-related technology.This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (2020R1A2C2005026)
"Once you get cancer you die. There is no way to get saved from cancer." A qualitative exploration of patients' perceptions towards cancer in Fiji
Get PDFYesUnderstanding patients' perspective to get an insight into cancer, and how best the public health systems can battle with this disease is the way forward in this current world. This study aimed to explore patients' knowledge about common cancers, barriers to assessing cancer information and cancer preventative approaches in Fiji.
The study used a qualitative method approach that was conducted among patients who attended Special Outpatients (SOPD) at the four selected health centres in Lautoka Subdivision, Fiji from 1st March to 30th April 2021. A semi-structured open-ended questionnaire was used to guide in-depth interviews. These audio recordings were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. All interview transcripts were read and similar words and phrases were assigned numbers which were grouped together to identify themes and sub themes.
Twenty-eight patients took part in the in-depth interview and the responses were grouped into four themes including; cancer knowledge, diagnosis of cancer in a close friend/family, barriers of communication and optimizing cancer awareness. Patients' awareness about common cancers and cancer risk factors was low. Many barriers for cancer screening were highlighted including stigmatization, fear, worry, death, lack of information, herbal medicine use, lack of resources and delay in diagnosis. Awareness strategies highlighted by participants included community outreach programs, house to house visits, opportunistic screening, engagement of community health care workers and the concept of a cancer hub centre.
It is evident that there is a range of views from patients towards cancer and it is important to understand these perceptions to better guide public health interventions concerning cancer. This puts more focus on the need to invest more in information, education, and communication material for public campaigns that target a variety of people for a wider reach
Development and validation of the Psychological Food Involvement Scale (PFIS)
Get PDFYesFood Involvement reflects the bond between consumer and food, and serves as a means of expression, identity and social recognition. Yet no existing scales are able to assess the complex psychological nature of Food Involvement. To fill this gap, this study developed and validated a Psychological Food Involvement Scale (PFIS). Data were collected by an online self-report questionnaire, involving 476 Italians aged 20-72 years (M = 48.13, SD = 13.18). The structure and psychometric properties of PFIS were examined through an exploratory and a confirmatory factor analysis, and construct validity was assessed by correlating it with Food Involvement Scale, Food Variety Seeking Scale and the General Health Interest Scale. As a behavioural indicator of validity, food and drink consumption was assessed using the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire. Factor analysis indicated that the PFIS comprised 19 items grouped in four stable dimensions: Emotional Balance; Self-Realization; Social Affirmation; Social Bonding. People more psychologically involved in food were more interested in healthy eating and more likely to vary their diet. The PFIS discriminated between dietary patterns. Higher PFIS scores were associated with frequent consumption of meat/fish and wholegrains/legumes. Frequent intake of meat/fish and snacks was associated with Social Bonding and meat/fish with Emotional Balance. The PFIS also explained consumption of vegetable drinks and lactose-free milk indicating the symbolic value ascribed to them related to self-expression, acceptance by others, and emotions. This implies potential for the PFIS for use in research to understand food choice and promote healthy eating.This work was supported by the Fondazione Cariplo and Regione Lombardia within the CRAFT (Cremona Agri-Food Technologies) project ID 2018/2757
Review of Immunotherapy Classification: Application Domains, Datasets, Algorithms and Software Tools from Machine Learning Perspective
Get PDFYesImmunotherapy treatments can be essential sometimes and a waste of valuable resources in other cases, depending on the diagnosis results. Therefore, researchers in
immunotherapy need to be updated on the current status of
research by exploring: application domains e.g. warts, datasets
e.g. immunotherapy, classifiers or algorithms e.g. kNN and
software tools. The research objectives were: 1) to study the
immunotherapy-related published literature from a supervised
machine learning perspective. In addition, to reproduce immunotherapy classifiers reported in research papers. 2) To find
gaps and challenges both in publications and practical work,
which may be the basis for further research. Immunotherapy,
diabetes, cryotherapy, exasens data and ”one unbalanced dataset”
are explored. The results are compared with published literature.
To address the found gaps in further research: novel experiments,
unbalanced studies, focus on effectiveness and a new classifier
algorithm are suggested
Survey of clinical placements within pre-registration diagnostic radiography programmes in the UK and Ireland
Get PDFYesPlacement capacity is a challenge in supporting the clinical education of diagnostic radiography students within the UK at a time where growth in the workforce is required if service delivery needs are to be met. COVID-19 has been one of the catalysts in the growth of innovative and simulated clinical placement models. This survey seeks to understand the current picture of clinical education models and the drivers for it.
A short online MS Forms survey with mixed question types was distributed to higher education institutions (HEIs) delivering pre-registration diagnostic radiography programmes in the UK and Ireland. Descriptive and thematic analysis of data was undertaken to gain insight into the clinical placement models used.
Responses related to 24 programmes from 17 HEIs were collated. Capacity issues, increased student numbers and ability to achieve the learning outcomes were the drivers for the model and arrangement of clinical placements. Clinical practice hours varied widely across programmes as did the proportion of simulation-based education. Respondents felt an increase in the use of placements in modalities and other settings could further increase training capacity.
Opportunities to further change the clinical placement model have been identified which may alleviate some pressure points on capacity. Guidance around clinical practice hours may facilitate a sustainable approach to workforce training. Innovative placement models will require assessment strategies that align in order that students demonstrate relevant capabilities in a range of settings and value varied learning opportunities.
The collective engagement and innovation of higher education institutions and service providers will be needed to create sustainable quality models of clinical training and assessment to meet diagnostic radiography workforce requirements
A single short 'tone burst' results in optimal drug delivery to tumours using ultrasound-triggered therapeutic microbubbles
Get PDFYesAdvanced drug delivery systems, such as ultrasound-mediated drug delivery, show great promise for increasing the therapeutic index. Improvements in delivery by altering the ultrasound parameters have been studied heavily in vitro but relatively little in vivo. Here, the same therapeutic microbubble and tumour type are used to determine whether altering ultrasound parameters can improve drug delivery. Liposomes were loaded with SN38 and attached via avidin: biotin linkages to microbubbles. The whole structure was targeted to the tumour vasculature by the addition of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 antibodies. Tumour drug delivery and metabolism were quantified in SW480 xenografts after application of an ultrasound trigger to the tumour region. Increasing the trigger duration from 5 s to 2 min or increasing the number of 5 s triggers did not improve drug delivery, nor did changing to a chirp trigger designed to stimulate a greater proportion of the microbubble population, although this did show that the short tone trigger resulted in greater release of free SN38. Examination of ultrasound triggers in vivo to improve drug delivery is justified as there are multiple mechanisms at play that may not allow direct translation from in vitro findings. In this setting, a short tone burst gives the best ultrasound parameters for tumoural drug delivery.This research was funded by the EPSRC (EP/I000623/1, EP/L504993/1 and EP/P023266/1). S.D.E. is supported by the National Institute for Health Research infrastructure at Leeds. J.R.M. is supported by an EPSRC UKRI Innovation Fellowship (EP/S001069/1)
Should We Respect Rover's Remains? A Discussion on Ethics, or the Lack Thereof, in Zooarchaeology
Get PDFYesOver the past two decades, archaeology has been confronting an ethical crisis with regards to the past treatment of human remains by specialists and institutions. From the creation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in the United States (McManamon 2000), to further calls for the repatriation of remains and artefacts to colonised communities from European countries (Fforde 2003), the archaeological community has been actively attempting to become more respectful in their approach to the handling and curation of human remains. However, there has been less consideration to the ethics of handling and curating faunal remains. This is arguably due to the inherent anthropocentrism of archaeology as a discipline, which automatically "others" animals and, in some cases, literally "objectifies" them as "artefacts" rather than the remains of a once-living creature. This can be observed in the process of handling faunal remains post-excavation, the lack of legal procedures regarding the ethicality of remains, and even the emotional reaction to remains on display (Fitzpatrick 2018). This paper utilises recent work in social zooarchaeology and post-humanist studies (Russell 2012; Overton and Hamilakis 2013) to critically examine the role of ethics in zooarchaeology, specifically from a non-anthropocentric perspective. By drawing comparisons with ethical concerns for human remains, this paper will further explore the possible reasons that cause such a different ethical approach for animal remains, as well as propose alterations to the currently accepted form of ethics in zooarchaeology
Reproductive life histories: can incremental dentine isotope analysis identify pubertal growth, pregnancy and lactation?
Get PDFYesThere are few reliable osteological indicators to detect parity or infer puberty in skeletal remains. Nitrogen (δ15N) and stable carbon (δ13C) isotope ratios in human tissues can be affected by metabolically unbalanced states engendered by pregnancy or rapid growth, offering potential biomarkers.
This pilot study explores the potential of incremental dentine-collagen isotope ratio analysis to identify puberty and gestation.
Methodology: Incremental dentine δ15N and δ13C profiles were produced by analysing third molars extracted as part of dental treatment of 10 individuals living in Sudan. Demographic and anthropometric data at the time of tooth extraction was available. Medical histories were unknown.
Results: Isotopic signatures potentially related to pubertal growth, with an average δ15N reduction of 0.78±0.29‰, are indicated. Six isotopic signals suggestive of pregnancy, with an average δ15N decrease of 0.48±0.22‰, are also observed. The timing, speed and amplitude of post-partum δ15N patterns seemingly infer infant feeding practices and maternal nutritional status.
Conclusion: This pilot study highlights the potential of incremental dentine isotope analysis for the reconstruction of early reproductive histories in skeletal remains. However, controlled studies with larger human cohort are needed to validate these findings, establish isotopic signals linked to puberty and lactation, and improve chronology accuracy
Improving bond of fiber-reinforced polymer bars with concrete through incorporating nanomaterials
Get PDFYesThe bond between FRP bars and concrete, the foremost performance for implementation of such reinforcements to corrosion-free concrete structures, is still unsatisfied due to the weak nature of duplex film in the interface. The existing approaches show low efficiency in improving the microstructures and bond between FRP bars and concrete. To address these issues, this paper provided a new approach for improving the bond between FRP bars and concrete by incorporating nanomaterials, as well as explored the modifying mechanisms and established the bond-slip models. For these purposes, the pull-out test, scanning electron microscope observation, as well as energy dispersive spectrometry analysis were performed. The experimental results demonstrated that the presence of nanomaterials increased the ultimate bond strengths between glass/carbon FRP bars and concrete by up to 16.2% and 37.8%, while the corresponding slips decreased by 28.7% and 35.4%, respectively. Such modification effects can be attributed to the optimized intrinsic composition and the reduced pore content of hydration products in the interface, especially in the duplex film, through the nanomaterial enrichment and nano-core effects. The bond-slip relationship between FRP bars and concrete with nanomaterials can be accurately predicted by the mBPE model.The authors would like to thank the funding offered by the National Science Foundation of China (51978127 and 51908103), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (DUT21RC(3) 039)
"It's a waste of time coming here, better go to private clinics with wider options for treatment":�patient's perception on dental services provided in Fiji
Get PDFYesOral health can influence the quality of an individual's life. Patient's perception of the service plays a vital role in understanding the reasons as to why a patient may be satisfied or dissatisfied with the service that they accessed at a dental setting. As no studies have been done in Fiji until now, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of patients on services provided by the largest dental clinic in the Central/Eastern division in Fiji.
A qualitative study was used to collect data from patients who visited the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) dental clinic in Suva Fiji from 5th August to 31st October, 2020. All patients above the age of 18 of both genders and from any ethnicity who visited the CWMH dental clinic during the period of data collection were included the study. A total of 25 participants were interviewed for this study using the in-depth interview method till data saturation occurred. A semi-structured open-ended questionnaire was used to collect data using face-to-face in-depth interviews. The data were transcribed and analyzed using manual thematic analysis process to gather the themes and sub-themes for the results.
A total of 25 patients were interviewed, with a majority (n = 14) being men and 15 were of I-Taukei . Five themes emerging from data analysis include: Waiting time before treatment, Cost of Treatment, Accessibility of services, Privacy and confidentiality and Range of treatment options. The patients had an expectation to get the best treatment but face many hurdles while trying to get the treatment that they expect. The shortfalls on the part of this dental clinic caused an onset of negative perception among its users.
This study shows an overall dissatisfaction with regards to services delivery among the patients who use the CWMH dental clinic for dental care purposes. The decision makers need to look into the genuine concerns that have been raised by patients in order to create improvements in services delivery and create an array of satisfaction for its patients