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Verbal, visual and musical memory in children with and without Developmental Language Disorder
No full textWhile there is a large body of evidence linking Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) with impairments in verbal short-term memory (STM), very little research has investigated the impact on auditory processing outside the language domain. Shared cognitive mechanisms may be involved in the maintenance of verbal and musical information in STM, and we hypothesized that impairments in verbal STM would impact musical STM in children with DLD. Children with DLD and two groups of typically developing (TD) children matched for chronological (CA) and verbal mental age (VMA) completed two tasks: one measuring pitch direction discrimination in two-tone sequences, and another measuring memory for pairs of melodies that differed in global contour shape and local intervals within the melodies. All participants were able to discriminate the direction of pitch intervals in two-tone sequences with above-chance accuracy with the CA group showing better discrimination accuracy than the VMA or DLD groups. Melody discrimination was significantly better for melodies that differed at global than local levels in all three groups and the CA group showed better discrimination than the DLD or VMA groups. Correlational analyses revealed that performance on the melody discrimination task was associated with auditory STM in TD children but not children with DLD. Conversely, visual STM was associated with melody discrimination in children with DLD but not TD children. These findings may indicate that visual properties of the musical input could be used to support musical STM in children with DLD
Eye believe you: gaze direction affects the perceived believability of facial expressions displayed by computer-generated people
No full textUnderstanding what features influence the believability of expressions in computer-generated (CG) faces is key to predicting how humans will respond to them. In human faces, eye-gaze has been shown to influence the interpretation of expressions. The present study advances understanding by testing whether eye-gaze affects the believability of CG people’s expressions–how much they appear to come from genuinely-felt emotion. First, participant (N = 70) ratings of believability and emotion clarity were used to identify a set of angry, fearful, happy and sad facial expressions for use in Study 1. Study 1 (N = 150) then measured believability for these CG expressions paired with one of six increasingly sideways (anger, fear) or downcast (happy, sad) gaze aversions. Happiness and anger were most believable with direct rather than averted gaze, while sadness became increasingly believable as gaze turned downward. Fear showed no effect of gaze. Study 2 (N = 64) replicated the increased believability of sadness with downcast gaze but showed decreased believability with sideways aversion. Overall, our results highlight the theoretical importance of alignment between the signalled meaning of co-occurring facial cues in driving perceptions of believability and provide practical guidance on how gaze can optimise the believability of CG facial expressions
Separation of Powers and Deliberative Democracy
No full textThis chapter maps the state of play in the area of deliberative democratic innovations and the separation of powers concerns they attempt to address and at times give rise to themselves. It focuses primarily on deliberative mini-publics such as citizens’ assemblies, deliberative polls, and constitutional conventions in an effort to narrow down the scope of analysis, as well as in recognition of the interest in these mechanisms in the comparative constitutional literature. The chapter investigates the interplay between mini-publics and the separation of powers under three scenarios: (1) deliberative innovations as ad hoc supplements to representative institutions, performing an advisory role; (2) deliberative innovations as permanent supplements to traditional institutions in constitutional democracies; and (3) deliberative innovations empowered with decision-making functions. The chapter examines the promise of mini-publics to contribute to both the negative function of the separation of powers, by performing a democratic accountability role in the system, and to its positive function, via their epistemic and representative legitimacy. The chapter calls for a more sobering assessment of mini-publics’ ability to deliver on these promises, in particular where their role is sidelined by political elites but also, paradoxically, where their empowerment may produce unintended systemic effects
Doing ethics without a ‘Map’: How Chinese researchers develop ethical awareness in research with children
No full textThis paper explores how researchers working with children in China navigate ethical challenges in the contexts of limited institutional guidance and the tension between global ethical principles and local moral expectations. Drawing on dialogic focus groups with 30 Chinese participants who have experience doing research with children, we conceptualise ethics not as compliance with rules but as an interplay of ethical awareness and practice shaped by affective, relational, and institutional conditions. Ethical awareness is theorised as a situated and relational capacity to recognise and respond to morally important moments under uncertainty. It develops through hesitation, discomfort and negotiation, particularly within ethical double binds between procedural frameworks and relational obligations. Rather than advancing a culturalist model, our paper offers a practice-based perspective that foregrounds ambiguity, moral complexity and the emotional labour of ethical decision-making. We argue for moving beyond universalist paradigms towards dialogic and context-sensitive approaches to research ethics. The paper concludes with implications for researchers, ethics committees and institutions seeking to foster reflexive and decolonising practices in cross-cultural qualitative inquiry
Blood-brain barrier water exchange in relation to amyloid, cognition and cerebrovascular burden
No full textBlood-brain barrier (BBB) water exchange may serve as a sensitive early biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. This study applied a non-invasive multi-echo arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique to measure BBB water exchange time (Tex), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and arterial transit time (ATT) in 160 adults aged 50 years and older. Participants were classified as cognitively normal (CN), having subjective cognitive decline (SCD), or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). They were assessed for amyloid status and cerebrovascular burden. Compared to CN participants, Tex was significantly lower in both SCD (−9.5 %) and MCI (−14.5 %) groups, suggesting that reductions in BBB water exchange emerge early in the course of cognitive decline. In contrast, CBF was reduced only in MCI participants (−20.8 % compared to CN), and ATT was significantly increased only in individuals with severe cerebrovascular burden (Fazekas score 3). Notably, Tex showed a stepwise decrease with increasing Fazekas scores (1–2), supporting its sensitivity to moderate small vessel disease. No associations were found between Tex and amyloid positivity after adjusting for age and sex. These findings indicate that Tex alterations may precede changes in traditional perfusion markers and are more closely related to vascular and early cognitive changes than to amyloid pathology. BBB water exchange mapping may therefore provide a promising, non-invasive tool to detect early neurovascular dysfunction that contributes to cognitive decline in aging populations, potentially offering a useful biomarker for early intervention trials targeting vascular contributions to dementia
A Macro-to-Micro Layout Optimization Scheme for Functional Interwoven Areas of Commercial Complex
No full textIn commercial complexes, the functional interwoven
areas (FIA) with multiple attributes shops accommodate diverse
population of pedestrians with heterogeneous travel purposes.
A well-designed layout scheme of FIA can effectively increase
the revenue while reduce the pedestrian congestion. However,
existing layout schemes are more developed from the operator’s perspective, focusing on maximizing rents while neglecting
shop attributes and pedestrians heterogeneity, which results in
excessive corridor congestion and suboptimal store visit rates.
To address these issues, this article proposes a novel macro-tomicro layout optimization framework that enhances pedestrian
in-store rate while mitigating internal congestion. The proposed
framework consists of two stages: 1) a macrolevel optimization model which generates multiple feasible layout schemes
by using shop attributes based attractiveness algorithm; and
2) a microlevel simulation model which evaluates pedestrian
movement dynamics and corridor density under different layouts
by integrating an attractive potential based social force model
(AP-SFM). Based on parameters calibrated from real collected
data, we conduct extensive numerical and simulation experiments
across two distinct commercial complexes: 1) China World Mall
(CWM); and 2) Shin Kong Place (SKP). The results demonstrate
that the optimized layouts significantly increase pedestrian instore rates while effectively reducing average corridor density
and alleviating local congestion, without altering the total pedestrian volume. Furthermore, the successful application in two
distinct commercial complexes proves the validity, rationality, and
generality of the proposed framework. Our research effectively
integrates shop diversity and pedestrian heterogeneity into shop
layout optimization, providing a practical and scalable decisionsupport tool for layout design and management
An unobtrusive approach to modelling team cohesion and collaboration in ecological classroom settings
No full textBackground: Cohesion and collaboration, particularly in K-12 settings, emerge as emergent phenomena, yet due to challenges in conducting classroom analytics studies in ecological settings, existing research mainly focuses on surveys. This calls for investigating cohesion in ecological settings to obtain insights directly applicable to students. Aims: To derive ecologically valid insights into the emergent processes of cohesion and collaboration, this study analyses engagement, turn-taking, member influence and participation imbalance (using weighted eigenvector centrality) exhibited in audio of student conversations at both individual and group levels, which allows for inter-group and intra-group comparisons. Sample: Participants were 16 school (K-12) students. Methods: Participants were randomly divided into four groups. High-frequency communication exchanges were recorded for each group using an analog audio recorder. The audio was transcribed and analysed using an adaptation of Social Network Analysis with segmented nodes. Results: Consistent with findings in educational and organisational psychology literature on teamwork, the results indicate that task cohesion relates to group performance in terms of task completion. We find that social cohesion patterns are dynamic and reflect evolving group dynamics through variations in turn-taking, influence, engagement and disengagement. Conclusion: The study offers a conceptualisation of cohesion in ecological settings and demonstrates an approach to analysing cohesion and collaboration using audio data in authentic classrooms
Antibiotic knowledge among ethnic minority groups in high-income countries: a mixed–methods systematic review
No full textObjectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health concern. Although low-income countries are disproportionately affected by AMR, certain underserved groups in high-income countries (HICs), such as migrants and ethnic minorities, disproportionately bear the burden of AMR. This may be driven by socio-cultural factors including differences in health literacy. This review aimed to investigate the level of antibiotic knowledge amongst different ethnic minority groups in HICs.
Study Design: This was a mixed-methods systematic literature review.
Methods: We searched four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane library, CINAHL) to 5th May 2023, for primary studies on knowledge of antibiotics in different ethnic groups in HICs. We included studies in English using qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed-methods approaches and reporting on antibiotic knowledge by ethnicity. We used the convergent integrated approach for data synthesis and the Mixed-Methods Appraisal tool for quality assessment.
Results: 3935 articles were screened and 24 studies (17 quantitative, 5 qualitative, and 2 mixed-methods) were included, comprising 52778 participants from 8 countries (USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Greece, Sweden, Germany). Overall, participants from ethnic minority groups were able to identify common names of antibiotics and were aware of risks of antibiotics and side effects. However, participants thought antibiotics would treat viral-type illnesses. Ethnic minority groups generally had lower levels of knowledge compared to ethnic majority groups.
Conclusions: Although ethnic minority communities possessed good levels of knowledge on certain aspects of antibiotics (e.g. being able to identify names of antibiotics), there were gaps in other areas (e.g. misperception that antibiotics are used for viral infections). The lower level of knowledge in ethnic minority groups compared to majority groups may be a contributing factor to health inequalities, which calls for co-designed, culturally competent, educational interventions
Patient and clinician perspectives on the management of obesity in kidney failure prior to kidney transplantation: a mixed-methods systematic review
No full textBACKGROUND:
Obesity increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease and progression to kidney failure (KF) and precludes kidney transplantation (KT). Challenges exist in people with KF losing weight to access KT, therefore understanding patients' and clinicians lived experiences of obesity management is crucial to improving equitable access to KT. This review aimed to synthesise qualitative and quantitative evidence to better understand patients' and clinicians’ experiences of obesity management in KF prior to transplantation.
METHODS:
This mixed-methods systematic review followed the integrated methodological framework by the Joanna Briggs Institute. MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Sciences were searched from 1st January 1980 to 16th April 2025 for studies investigating patients' and clinicians' perspectives on obesity management in KF. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies published in English in which patients or clinicians reported on their experiences of obesity management in kidney failure were included. Two investigators independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. Summary data were extracted from published reports and quantitative data underwent transformation into ‘qualitised’ data, Qualitative findings and qualitised survey results were analysed inductively using thematic synthesis. The study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42024510237. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool version 2018 was used to evaluate the quality of selected studies.
FINDINGS:
Of 6525 records identified, 5203 remained after de-duplication and 7 studies met inclusion criteria with a total of 738 participants The overall quality of the studies was low and only one study scored highly on the quality assessment. Four main themes were constructed 1) Hungry and exhausted: The impact of dialysis on eating behaviour and activity (six studies [n = 339]) 2) Weight stigma–lack of support, trust and open communication (five studies [n = 212]) 3) Lack of resources as a barrier for weight loss (six studies [n = 339]) 4) Who gets a transplant? Moving beyond BMI to improve equity in transplantation (four studies [n = 631]).
INTERPRETATION:
Significant barriers to accessing and delivering obesity management were identified. When interpreting the results it should be appreciated that the overall quality of the studies was low. and clinician perspectives were limited to dietitians, nephrologists and transplant surgeons. To address these barriers, targeted strategies are recommended, such as enhanced training for health professional on obesity and communication about weight and weight stigma. There is an urgent paradigm shift needed to ensure equitable access to obesity management for people with obesity and KF.
FUNDING:
National Institute for Health and Care Research