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Leveraging web-scraped data to examine alcohol pricing: an Australian feasibility study with retail data
Get PDFIntroduction
Although price is critical in determining alcohol purchase and subsequent harms, researchers rarely have access to comprehensive alcohol price data. Web scraping is an advanced data collection technique that uses automated computer scripts to efficiently gather extensive website data. The aims of this paper are to demonstrate web scraping’s capacity to generate alcohol policy relevant data, and to assess the method’s consistency by comparing datasets collected by a commercial provider with those produced by a university-developed scraper.
Methods
Price and product data from the entire online catalogues of major retailers representing the majority of the Australian market were scraped daily by the commercial provider since 2020, with data collected from all jurisdictions, and products sold by multiple retailers matched. A university-developed web scraper collected a single-day’s catalogue data from the country’s largest alcohol retailer to compare with the commercial dataset as a reliability cross-check.
Results
Of the 16,409 products identified in both the commercial and university databases, there was an excellent match on the product prices (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.997 [95 %CI: 0.9972–0.9973]). A visualisation from the three largest Australian retailers demonstrated how daily prices varied over a 12-month period, for example with more frequent price changes for Australia’s largest retailer compared to the second and third, and across jurisdictions, such as some deeper discounting in Victoria.
Discussion
This study presented an independently cross-checked large-scale and longitudinal web scraping approach to collect alcohol price data, and demonstrated that the adapted data could aid understanding of the alcohol retail market. Web scraping is a feasible method to collect price data to support the development of evidence-based alcohol price policy
A Good Society (and how we make it)
Get PDFWhat is a good society and how might we build one? This essay, an edited version of the Cochrane lecture delivered at the Society for Social Medicine and Population Health in Bradford 2025, sets out my personal vision of what we should be aspiring to and how we might achieve it. I open with evidence connecting socioeconomic inequalities to well-being and highlight that component parts of a utopian place exist, but not all in the same place. Building upon public health lessons around prevention and upstream intervention, I then introduce what I believe are the two most promising policies we can implement: a universal basic income and a wealth tax, underpinned by citizen's assemblies, participatory budgeting and institutional structures to support evidence-based social policymaking. I make the case that we have the evidence and tools needed to collectively create a good society and that it is possible to change course and bequeath a better world on future generations. A good society is one where everyone's physical and mental health is as good as it could be, because prevention is prioritised, and health inequalities are levelled out by addressing the wider determinants of health. It is one where those who need care-whether children, those with disabilities or the elderly-are looked after without incurring financial stress, in settings where their emotional and social well-being are as important as their physical needs. Our children and young people should flourish in an education system that engages their imaginations, inspires their creativity, equips them with skills for life and leaves no one behind
Dry season feeding profiles of a Characiformes assemblage in a Brazilian tropical stream
No full textTrophic interactions between fish and their resources depends on resource availability and interspecific competition. To understand dry season trophic profiles of a speciose Characiformes assemblage we performed stomach content analysis to describe diet and determine levels of niche partitioning and morphological adaptations among eight Characiformes species in the dry season in Mata de Itamacaoca, Chapadinha Municipality, State of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. Insectivory dominated most diets, with Astyanax cf. bimaculatus and Characidium cf. bimaculatum exhibiting the broadest niches. Specialization occurred in Curimatopsis cf. cryptica (85.07% plant material) and there was significant dietary segregation with indicator species analysis linking Astyanax cf. bimaculatus to piscivory and Knodus guajajara to vermivory. Pianka index showed extreme niche overlap variations, with the highest overlap between Bario oligolepis and Characidium cf. bimaculatum (1.68), and between Astyanax cf. bimaculatus and Nannostomus beckfordi (1.64). Morphological PCA associated traits with feeding strategies: caudal fin length (Astyanax cf. bimaculatus), body depth (Curimatopsis cf. cryptica), and oral gape width (Bario oligolepis). Mixed models confirmed insects and plant material with a marginally significant effect as key drivers of dietary variation. Therefore, the assemblage shows high niche overlap combined with diverse trophic profiles. Results presented here demonstrate how dry season resource scarcity promotes trophic divergence via morphological specialization, with generalists (Astyanax cf. bimaculatus) coexisting with specialists through niche partitioning, which is critical for conservation in this threatened urban-protected area
A liquid thickener presentation format for the therapeutic management of dysphagia—a promising step forward in addressing the challenges associated with thickened fluids in swallowing disorders?
Get PDFIntroduction
Thickening fluids in routine care of patients with Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) can improve swallow safety but may be counteracted by reduced palatability, enjoyment, embarrassment, and isolation related to drinking thickened fluids (TFs). TFs are also associated with increased caregiver burden and significant lifestyle alterations. Thus, there persists a need to overcome these disadvantages. Precise Thick∼N INSTANT (PTI) is an innovative thickener product in viscosity-inhibited liquid form that presents a promising step forward in addressing the challenges. This prospective multi-centre single-arm feasibility study of acceptability (derived from measured variables gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance, palatability, compliance and user experience) compared PTI to usual mode of care (powder) in a cohort of patients with OD.
Methods
Oral fluids were thickened with PTI, adhering to standardised requirements, and were tested for palatability (primary outcome), ease of use, GI symptoms and compliance by medically diagnosed patients with OD for 14 days, following 7days under usual mode of care and a 5-day washout period. Data was analysed descriptively, presenting effect sizes with associated precision and indicative significance testing of key variables.
Results
Twenty-four participants provided usable data. Mean overall palatability ratings revealed significantly higher palatability perceptions (p < 0.001) in uncorrected paired-samples t-testing for PTI-TFs (difference in means 3.83 [95% CI 2.60 to 5.05]) on 10-point visual analogue scale, favouring beverages thickened with PTI over usual mode of care. Compared with usual mode of care, PTI thickener showed substantive improvements in all individual palatability and satisfaction/ease of use attributes, equivalent or improved symptoms of GI and excellent levels of GI tolerance and compliance. GI side effects (e.g., nausea, bloating) were mild and of short duration.
Conclusion
PTI-TFs were more palatable, acceptable, and well tolerated in patients with OD and strongly preferred over powder thickened TFs, with improved compliance and reduced wastage. PTI is a palatable, acceptable and well-tolerated way to support optimal hydration in adults with OD.
WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS
What is already known on this subject
Thickening fluids in routine care of patients with OD can improve swallow safety but can be counteracted by reduced palatability and enjoyment, embarrassment, and isolation related to drinking thickened fluids (TFs). TFs are also associated with increased caregiver burden and significant lifestyle alterations. OD concomitant with aphasia is common in some OD subpopulations; however, these patients are typically excluded from research due to the lack of aphasia friendly survey tools. There persists a need to overcome these disadvantages.
What this paper adds to existing knowledge
The current investigation is the first study to directly compare acceptability (derived from the measured variables palatability, tolerance, ease of use and preference) for TFs thickened using different thickener presentation formats in the same patient cohort. The liquid thickener intervention is a palatable, acceptable, and well-tolerated way to support optimal hydration in adults with OD. In addition, aphasia-accessible study materials have been developed to facilitate future recruitment and data collection from this underserved subgroup.
What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?
PTI thickened beverages are recommended for consumption by patients suffering from OD as an alternative to powdered thickened TFs. PTI is a palatable, acceptable, and well-tolerated way to support optimal hydration in adults with OD prescribed TFs. This study also highlights an important methodological advancement in OD research related to inclusion of participants with language impairment
Global assessment of health utilities associated with pneumococcal disease in adults: targeted literature reviews
Get PDFBackground: Pneumococcal disease can significantly reduce quality of life (QoL). Health utilities are commonly used to assess QoL burden and calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), which are critical inputs in cost-utility analyses (CUAs) to evaluate the economic value of pneumococcal vaccines. Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize utility values used in CUAs of pneumococcal vaccines in adult populations in North America and Europe and to summarize global utility studies on pneumococcal disease and post-meningitis sequelae (PMS) in adults. Methods: Two targeted literature reviews were conducted in June 2024 using MEDLINE to identify CUAs of pneumococcal vaccines and original studies on health utilities for pneumococcal disease and PMS in adults. References from existing literature reviews on QoL associated with pneumococcal disease and CUAs of pneumococcal vaccines were also screened to identify additional original utility studies. Health utility input values applied in the CUAs were summarized, and the original source studies were reviewed. Utility and disutility inputs were converted to QALY decrements using disease durations reported in the CUAs. Methods and utility estimates from original utility studies were summarized for each health state. Results: Sixty-five CUAs focusing on adults in North America and Europe were identified. These CUAs frequently reported utility values and QALY decrements. The ranges of reported and derived QALY decrements were 0.006–0.8 for unspecified invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), 0.0013–0.1759 for meningitis, 0.0010–0.1759 for non-meningitis IPD, 0.0002–0.13 for inpatient pneumonia, and 0.0001–0.0115 for outpatient pneumonia. The ranges of reported utility values for PMS were 0.319–0.83 for neurological deficits and 0.635–0.91 for hearing loss. Twenty-five original utility studies in adults were identified, published between 1993 and 2022. Utility estimates from these studies showed considerable variability, with ranges of − 0.330 to 0.39 for meningitis, − 0.331 to 0.93 for non-meningitis IPD, − 0.054 to 0.71 for inpatient pneumonia, 0.35–0.825 for outpatient pneumonia, 0.217–0.89 for neurological deficits, and 0.433–0.89 for hearing loss. This variability was primarily attributable to differences in case definitions, preference weights, and geographical locations. Conclusions: This review identified substantial QoL burden associated with pneumococcal disease and PMS in adults; however, considerable variability in utility estimates exists. Utility inputs in CUAs of pneumococcal vaccines in adults often rely upon assumptions, pediatric studies, or utilities from other diseases, and there is relatively little data on the health utilities of IPD and neurological deficits in adults. Given the importance of health utilities in economic evaluations, CUAs should carefully select utility values by considering methodological robustness, the representativeness of health states, and the time frame over which health utilities are assessed and evaluate alternative sources and assumptions in sensitivity analyses
Determinants of L-band backscatter in dry tropical ecosystems: implications for biomass mapping
Get PDFAccurate characterization of the role of the dry tropics in the global carbon cycle requires precise estimation of woody biomass changes due to ecological and anthropogenic change, including deforestation, forest degradation, regrowth, mortality and enhanced tree growth due to climate change. L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) backscatter observations offer a reliable option to consistently map these processes as they are (i) available globally since 2007 (JAXA ALOS-1, ALOS-2 and ALOS-4), and (ii) sensitive to woody structure, such as aboveground biomass density (AGBD) up to ~100 t ha 1 . However, we lack multi-site empirical understanding of the scattering processes that determine the relationship between L-band SAR and woody vegetation structure in the dry tropics, and how this is mediated by soil properties. This study used observations from ground plots in Africa (n = 171), Australia (n = 6), and South America (n = 44) to understand the impact of vegetation structure and soil properties on spatially and temporally coincident fully-polarimetric L-band SAR data. Fully-polarimetric L-band SAR single-look complex data were converted to scattering mechanisms/parameters using van Zyl, Cloude-Pottier, and Freeman-Durden polarimetric decompositions to elucidate the physical mechanisms involved. Multivariate SAR-vegetation-soil relationships were analysed using a theory-informed structural equation modelling approach. The strongest positive effects on volume scattering come from stem density (stems ha 1 ) and mean stem biomass of trees, and soil water and sand content (standardized regression coefficients of 0.3, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.1, respectively). The only significant effect on surface scattering is from stem density (0.1). Significant effects on double bounce scattering are from stem density (0.3) and soil sand content ( 0.2). Since AGBD is the product of stem density and mean stem biomass, this modelling framework points to a stronger effect from the number of trees rather than their size/biomass. Therefore, AGBD maps relying solely on radar intensity may not reflect significant changes when AGBD is increasing due to the growth of existing stems. Additionally, such maps might overestimate changes in AGBD when driven by the recruitment of new stems or loss of existing stems. Full-polarimetric observations allow the decomposition of the radar signal into volume scattering, surface scattering, and double bounce, enabling the inversion of structural equation models to retrieve both stem density and mean stem biomass. This provides a more comprehensive description of forest structure compared to retrieving only AGBD. As this approach depends on full-polarimetric data, its effectiveness is closely tied to the availability of such observations. Our findings underscore the value of recent and upcoming missions such as ALOS-4 PALSAR-3, BIOMASS and ROSE-L, and highlight the need to prioritise the acquisition of quad-pol SAR data to support future large-scale retrieval of vegetation structure attributes
Electron and gas temperature-driven chemistry during microdischarges formed in water vapour bubbles
Get PDFMicrodischarges formed in bubbles immersed in liquids are of interest for materials synthesis and chemical conversion applications in the frame of plasma-driven electrochemistry. A key challenge associated with controlling such processes is the limited understanding of the gas-phase chemical kinetics in these microdischarges. Due to their large electron densities, and high gas temperatures, both electron and gas temperature driven chemistry are likely to be important. Here, a 0-D modelling approach, informed by experimental measurements, is used to study the chemical kinetics in these systems. A new reaction scheme is developed for microdischarges in water vapour, including reactions for both high electron density, and high gas temperature regimes. Microdischarges formed during plasma electrolytic oxidation are used as a test case, however, the key results are expected to be transferable to other plasma electrolysis systems with similar properties. Experimentally measured power densities are used as input to the 0-D model, together with estimates of temperatures and gas pressures within the gas bubble. Comparison of measured and simulated electron densities shows good agreement, given the limitations of both model and experiment. In the base case microdischarge, HO is found to be highly dissociated during the period of peak power density, with H and O making up the majority of the neutral gas in the bubble. The maximum ionization degree is around 0.31, and the electronegativity during the period of peak electron density is found to be low. Species formation and reaction pathways are analysed under variation of the neutral gas temperature from 2000K to 6000K. At all temperatures, electron, ion, and neutral reactions with high threshold energies are found to be important for the overall chemical kinetics
Impacts of 1.5°C and 2.0°C Global Warming on the Onset, Cessation, and Length of the Rainy Season in Global Land Monsoon Regions
Get PDFThe onset, cessation, and length of the rainy season are crucial for global water resources, agricultural practices, and food security. However, the response of precipitation seasonality to global warming remains uncertain. In this study, we analyze how global warming levels (GWLs) of 1.5°C and 2°C could affect the timing of rainfall onset (RODs), rainfall cessation (RCDs), and the overall duration of the rainy season (LRS) over global land monsoon (GLM) regions using simulations from CMIP6 under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. With high model consensus, our results reveal that RODs are projected to occur later over Southern Africa, North Africa, and South America, but earlier over South Asia and Australia, in a warmer climate. The projected early RODs in Australia are more pronounced at the 2°C GWL under SSP5-8.5. On the other hand, early RCDs are projected over South America and East Asia, while late RCDs are projected over North Africa, with high inter-model agreement. These changes are associated with a future decrease in LRS in most GLM regions. Additionally, we found that continuous warming over 1.5°C will further reduce the length of the rainy season, especially over the South America, North Africa, and Southern Africa monsoon regions. The findings underscore the urgent need to mitigate global warming
Design Principles for Fluid Molecular Ferroelectrics
Get PDFFluid molecular ferroelectrics are a new class of organic materials where ferroelectricity is found in conjunction with 3D fluidity whilst still retaining spontaneous polarization values comparable to their traditional solid state counterparts. One of the major challenges for soft condensed matter physics is predicting whether a fluid molecular material will form ferroelectric phase with nematic or smectic order. Through the synthesis of forty five systematically varied molecules, and by analogy to solid molecular ferroelectrics, is it shown that subtle hydrogen fluorine substitution allows for tuneable syn-parallel pairing motifs resulting in either specific pairings leading too geometrically constrained lamellar order or diversified pairings stabilising nematic ordering. Large-scale, fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations reveal that smectic ferroelectricity emerges from discrete lateral pairing modes, whereas nematic phases arise from a multiplicity of equivalent polar configurations. Together, these findings establish experimentally validated design principles for fluid molecular ferroelectrics and provide a predictive framework for engineering functional polar fluids
What makes e-participation in urban governance effective? Evidence from the government online message board in China, 2011–2021
Get PDFGlobally, the importance of public participation in urban development is increasingly being emphasised, with technological advancement driving a transition from offline engagement to electronic participation (e-participation). However, achieving effective e-participation, particularly within specific governance contexts, remains a critical policy and practical challenge. Existing research into the factors influencing e-participation effectiveness often lacks a comprehensive analytical framework. Building on persuasion theory, the present research develops a novel framework integrating information, context and actor factors to test participation effectiveness, conceptualised through the lens of government responsiveness and encompassing both the presence and quality of the response. Leveraging a dataset of approximately 1,200,000 public opinions and governmental responses sourced from China's Government Online Message Board (2011−2021), the research investigates the status quo in public e-participation in urban governance across different provincial-level administrative divisions in China, as well as the key factors that impact effective e-participation. The results show that information (time, length, type, and topic), context (built, economic, institutional, and media environment), and actor (administrative level and geographic location) are key factors that contribute to whether and when governments respond. The research provides both a comprehensive assessment tool for e-participation effectiveness and actionable policy insights for optimising e-participation platforms, enhancing governmental accountability and promoting responsive urban governance
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