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Consolidating the evidence on the effectiveness of strategies to promote vegetable intake in priority settings: An overview of systematic reviews
Get PDFBackground: Effective interventions to increase vegetable intake are urgently needed. This systematic rapid review aimed to summarise the effectiveness of interventions targeting increased vegetable intakes across diverse settings. Methodology: The review was guided by the conduct of rapid reviews from the Cochrane Handbook. The literature was searched in February 2024 across PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Central for systematic review articles published since 2014. The Risk of Bias In Systematic Reviews tool was used and characteristics of reviews synthesised narratively with intervention effectiveness results were summarised. Results: A total of 20 systematic reviews met the eligibility criteria. Most targeted school-based settings (n = 7) or community/home-based settings (n = 4). Early childhood education and workplaces had one review each, with none in retail, secondary or tertiary education, food service, food relief or aged care. The mean change in vegetable consumption was +0.12 serves per day, with increases of up to +0.42 serves reported (range −0.09 to +0.42). By setting, the largest increases were reported for interventions in school settings (+0.42 serves/day), followed by home (+0.38 serves/day). Almost half the studies reporting effect sizes suggested no effect on intake (46%), 41% suggested a small effect and 13% suggested a medium effect. Greater effect sizes were achieved in interventions implemented across multiple settings. Conclusions: Review findings indicate that the average increase in vegetable intake following interventions is about one-eighth of a serve but up to almost half a serve in some settings. An increase of this magnitude could have a substantial population impact, particularly in population groups with persistently low intakes
Simultaneous detection and quantification of ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and levofloxacin in municipal lake water via deep learning analysis of complex Raman spectra
Get PDFIn recent years, the misuse of antibiotics has led to severe pollution in water environments, with excessive residues in lake water damaging ecosystems and promoting the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, rapid detection of antibiotic residues in the environment is crucial. This study introduces a novel method for the simultaneous quantification of mixed antibiotics in lake water using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) combined with deep learning methods. To demonstrate the accuracy of our experiments, we tested four lake water samples collected from four distinct sampling points of an artificial lake in a municipal city in China. We independently analyzed each sample mixed with commonly used antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and levofloxacin. A non-negative elastic network was then employed to predict concentration ratios of mixed antibiotics in the lake water samples. The results showed that the established method can accurately quantify the ratios of individual antibiotics in mixed solutions at all four lake water sampling points. This approach facilitates the identification and quantification of antibiotics in lake water with simplicity and rapidity, exhibiting potential application for real-world monitoring of fluctuations of antibiotic residues in natural water systems
Understanding the role qualitative methods can play in next generation impact assessment
Get PDFSince its inception, impact assessment (IA) has been perceived by many to be a largely technical, quantitative exercise. However, as jurisdictions shift towards a more sustainability-oriented IA that accounts for a wider range of social, cultural, economic, health and well-being, and equity implications of proposed projects and strategic initiatives, values and subjectivity come more to the fore. Making predictions now needs innovative, and rigorous applications of qualitative methods that enable meaningful inclusion of diverse knowledges, values, and information sources, whilst at the same time giving confidence to decision makers and other stakeholders about the evidence base. Adopting such qualitative methods in practice is hindered by a lack of clarity of the role of qualitative methods in the delivery of sustainability-oriented IA. Guided by findings from a thematic analysis of primary data gathered through an international survey supplemented by semi-structured interviews and a workshop, the novel contribution of this paper is to clarify how and why qualitative methods can best contribute to the effective delivery of next generation IA
A survey on energy efficient medium access control for acoustic wireless communication networks in underwater environments
Get PDFUnderwater communication plays a crucial role in monitoring the aquatic environment on Earth. Due to their unique characteristics, underwater acoustic channels present unique challenges including lengthy signal transmission delays, limited data transfer bandwidth, variable signal quality, and fluctuating channel conditions. Furthermore, the reliance on battery power for most Underwater Wireless Acoustic Networks (UWAN) devices, coupled with the challenges associated with battery replacement or recharging, intensifies the challenges. Underwater acoustic communications are heavily constrained by available resources (e.g., very limited bandwidth, and limited energy storage). Consequently, the role of medium access control (MAC) protocol which distributes available resources among nodes is critical in maintaining a reliable underwater communication system. This study presents an extensive review of current research in MAC for UWAN. This study presents an extensive review of current research in MAC for UWAN. The paper explores the unique challenges and characteristics of UWAN, which are critical for the MAC protocol design. Subsequently, a diverse range of energy-efficient MAC techniques are categorized and reviewed. Potential future research avenues in energy-efficient MAC protocols are discussed, with a particular emphasis on the challenges to enable the broader implementation of the Green Internet of Underwater Things (GIoUT)
Intervention accuracy and perception of fatigue in state-level Australian football umpires
Get PDFThis investigation examined intervention accuracy and perception of fatigue associated with umpiring state-level Australian Rules football (AF). 39 field umpires (Age: 25.2 ± 6.8 y, Body Mass: 74.6 ± 7.9 kg, Height: 178.9 ± 7.4 cm) employed by the Western Australian Football Commission, were recruited. Intervention accuracy (whether given free kicks were correct) was analysed post-event by the lead investigator using footage of the matches, with two umpire coaches being used for reliability. Perception of fatigue was assessed pre- and post-match using a questionnaire. Data was collected in 22 Western Australian Football League matches in the 2023 season. 384 free kicks were recorded, with 343 correct and 41 incorrect decisions. Each umpire awarded 9.8 ± 3.8 free-kicks, with a distribution of correct-to-incorrect being 8.8 ± 3.2 to 1.1 ± 1.1 free-kicks per match. Intervention accuracy was 89.3 ± 10.4% correct. Significant decline in intervention accuracy between first and second half (W = .931, p = .021) was found. No significant declines in intervention accuracy between quarters were observed. Perception of fatigue was unchanged across matches (p = .074). Our results demonstrate that umpires are generally accurate when adjudicating free kicks but said accuracy declines across a match. The results of this study, provide important insight on free-kick accuracy and perception of fatigue in state-level AF umpires, and may help regulatory bodies designing strategies to improve umpiring outcomes
Deep learning for medical image interpretation
No full textCardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are among the leading causes of death worldwide, with Abdominal Aortic Calcification (AAC) as a stable marker of CVDs. AAC appears in the walls of the abdominal aorta near the lumbar region of the spine and can be detected through different imaging modalities like Computed Tomography (CT), Digital X-ray imaging, or Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Although CT is the gold standard, DXA imaging is the preferred modality due to its comparatively lesser radiation exposure, and cost-effectiveness. Conventionally, it is performed for Bone Mineral Density (BMD) measurement, osteoporosis analysis, and vertebral fracture assessment; however, it can also be used for AAC detection and quantification. Although this imaging modality has low radiation exposure and cost, DXA image analysis for AAC detection brings challenges due to low contrast, vague vertebral boundaries, and artifacts. The research mentioned in this thesis addresses various challenges associated with AAC detection and vertebral landmark localization using lateral spine DXA images. First, it introduces a deep learning-based framework, ‘GuideNet,’ which localizes the vertebral corners of the lumbar region and generates Intervertebral Guides (IVGs), showing encouraging results as an assistive tool for image readers. Next, this thesis presents ‘AACLiteNet,’ a deep learning model that predicts granular AAC scores from lateral spine DXA images, with hazard ratios for Major Acute Cardiovascular Event (MACE) outcome predictions aligning closely with those from trained human assessors. Next, a novel architecture, ‘Hybrid-FPN-AACNet,’ is introduced, achieving SOTA performance in granular AAC score prediction from lateral spine DXA images. An extension of Hybrid-FPN-AACNet termed ‘VerteNet’, is also presented, showing improved performance and the ability to handle DXA images from various sources for IVGs generation and abdominal aorta crop detection. Lastly, this thesis presents ’GLMHA,’ a lightweight and efficient Channel-wise Self-Attention (CSA) mechanism that can be effortlessly incorporated into advanced hybrid CNN-Transformer models for image restoration and spectral reconstruction. It offers a substantial reduction in computational cost with minimal performance impact when replacing conventional attention mechanisms
A multi-method approach to exploring the role of genetics in explaining cognitive decline heterogeneity across the Alzheimer\u27s disease spectrum
No full textCognitive decline is a fundamental measure of Alzheimer’s disease progression. However, individual variation in rates of change is widely reported. Genetics may contribute to this, but prior studies have struggled to replicate findings, possibly due to inconsistent cognitive measures as well as methodological limitations. To address this, traditional and novel modelling approaches were compared in exploring how genetic factors may affect rates of decline in five cognitive domains. Results show that accounting for non-linear effects of impairment improves detection of genetic signals in cognitive decline. These findings propose new methodological approaches and highlight potentially important genetic variants for further investigation
Brand loyalty and repurchase intention in the face of opportunistic recalls: The moderating role of perceived dialogical CSR communication
Get PDFProduct recalls, particularly when perceived as opportunistic, can trigger severe consumer backlash, undermining brand loyalty and escalating protest behaviors that threaten long-term consumer-brand relationships. This study integrates expectancy violation theory and situational crisis communication theory to understand the implications of opportunistic recalls for brand loyalty and repurchase intention. A survey with 425 responses from car owners in the United States was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). It found that opportunistic recalls significantly exacerbate negative brand personality and directly influence protest behavior and brand loyalty. A counterintuitive finding emerges with protest behavior positively impacting brand loyalty, an insight that expectancy violation theory may help elucidate, indicating that protest actions may sometimes strengthen loyalty. The study also highlights the moderating role of perceived dialogical corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication in attenuating the negative impact of opportunistic recalls on negative brand personality, aligning with the precepts of crisis communication theory. However, its influence on protest behavior is found to be minimal. This interplay highlights the significance of adept perceived dialogical CSR communication in mitigating the adverse effects of product recalls on brand perception. By integrating these theoretical lenses, the research contributes to crisis management, CSR, and consumer-brand relationships literature, providing practical implications for effectively employing CSR strategies in managing product recall crises, thereby sustaining brand loyalty and influencing future buying behavior
Diverged populations admixture bolsters genetic diversity of a New Island dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) population, but does not prevent subsequent loss of genetic variation
Get PDFTranslocating individuals from multiple source populations is one way to bolster genetic variation and avoid inbreeding in newly established populations. However, mixing isolated populations, especially from islands, can potentially lead to outbreeding depression and/or assortative mating, which may limit interbreeding between source populations. Here, we investigated genetic consequences of mixing individuals from two island populations of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) in an island translocation. Despite a high level of genetic divergence between the source populations (FST ranges 0.33–0.64), and significant differences in body size, individuals with different ancestries were able to successfully interbreed in captivity and in the wild. However, the genetic contributions from each source population were unequal initially despite each of the source populations contributing an equal number of founders. Mating success of captive animals based on the pedigree suggests that this bias toward one source population was due to founder mortality and the mating success of younger and heavier animals. Nevertheless, genetic contributions in the translocated population became equal over time with no parental purebreds, suggesting an extreme excess of hybrids across multiple years. While genetic variation in the translocated population was comparable or higher than the source populations, the increase was short-lived. Genetic composition of captive animals may not reflect what happens in the wild. These changes post-translocation highlight the need for continued genetic monitoring
Do anxiety, depression, fear of Movement and Fear of Achilles Rupture Correlate with Achilles Tendinopathy Pain, Symptoms or Physical Function?
Get PDFObjectives: To determine if psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, fear of movement and fear of rupture are associated with increased tendon-related disability, quantified by the Tendinopathy Severity Assessment-Achilles (TENDINS-A). Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Online Qualtrics survey. Participants: Sixty-eight participants (54% female) with Achilles tendinopathy and a mean (standard deviation) age of 40.1 (12.6) years. Main Outcome Measures: The TENDINS-A (including subscales of pain; symptoms such as stiffness; physical function), Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and fear of tendon rupture. Associations were evaluated using generalised linear models (adjusting for age and sex), with significance accepted when p \u3c 0.05. Results: Anxiety symptoms were positively associated with Achilles pain (p = 0.035), symptoms (p = 0.045) and physical function (p = 0.019). Depressive symptoms were negatively associated with symptoms (p = 0.045) but not pain (p = 0.078) or physical function (p = 0.429). Fear of movement was not associated with pain (p = 0.479), symptoms (p = 0.915) or physical function (p = 0.064). Fear of rupture was associated with pain (p = 0.042), but not symptoms (p = 0.797) or physical function (p = 0.509). Conclusions: Our research demonstrated anxiety symptoms and fear of rupture, not fear of movement or depressive symptoms, are positively associated with the severity of tendon-related disability. Therefore, clinicians should include an assessment anxiety symptoms and fear of rupture in their practice