27227 research outputs found
Sort by
Reframing Pattern: a Comprehensive Approach to a Composite Visual Variable
Get PDFWe present a new comprehensive theory for explaining, exploring, and using pattern as a visual variable in visualization. Although patterns have long been used for data encoding and continue to be valuable today, their conceptual foundations are precarious: the concepts and terminology used across the research literature and in practice are inconsistent, making it challenging to use patterns effectively and to conduct research to inform their use. To address this problem, we conduct a comprehensive cross-disciplinary literature review that clarifies ambiguities around the use of “pattern” and “texture”. As a result, we offer a new consistent treatment of pattern as a composite visual variable composed of structured groups of graphic primitives that can serve as marks for encoding data individually and collectively. This new and widely applicable formulation opens a sizable design space for the visual variable pattern, which we formalize as a new system comprising three sets of variables: the spatial arrangement of primitives, the appearance relationships among primitives, and the retinal visual variables that characterize individual primitives. We show how our pattern system relates to existing visualization theory and highlight opportunities for visualization design. We further explore patterns based on complex spatial arrangements, demonstrating explanatory power and connecting our conceptualization to broader theory on maps and cartography. An author version and additional materials are available on OSF: osf.io/z7ae2
Psychometric Performance of a New Condition-Specific Preference-Weighted Measure, Vision Impairment in Low Luminance-Utility Index, and EQ-5D-5L in Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A MACUSTAR Study Report
Get PDFAims
The Vision Impairment in Low Luminance-Utility Index (VILL-UI) is a novel preference-weighted measure for use in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). No evidence exists on its psychometric performance, nor its performance in comparison to generic preference-weighted measure, EQ-5D-5L commonly used in economic evaluation. This study compares the psychometric performance of VILL-UI and EQ-5D-5L in patients with AMD.
Methods
Assessments of feasibility, convergent/divergent validity and known-group validity of VILL-UI and EQ-5D-5L are undertaken using MACUSTAR data at baseline, 12, 24 and 36 months. Analyses are undertaken separately using UK and German preference weights for both measures.
Results
The sample with complete responses (n=586) had mean age 71.9 years (standard deviation 6.9), 65.2% women, with predominantly intermediate AMD (87.2%). VILL-UI and EQ-5D-5L are feasible for completion, though VILL-UI has fewer usable responses due to its response options (baseline 89% vs 100%). EQ-5D-5L has high ceiling effects, with around one third of participants reporting the best health state compared to under 8% for VILL-UI. Convergent validity between EQ-5D-5L and VILL-UI utilities and dimensions where a relationship is expected is low, with divergent validity demonstrated where expected. VILL-UI detected statistically significant differences in known-groups for visual acuity, visual function and AMD stage across most timepoints, with little evidence of known-group validity for EQ-5D-5L.
Conclusions
VILL-UI is appropriate for use in future AMD studies to inform economic evaluation. VILL-UI has superior performance to EQ-5D-5L for known-group validity and has fewer ceiling effects, but has fewer usable responses
Podcast-driven insights into Charles Bonnet Syndrome: Impact on self-management strategies and communication
Get PDFPurpose
This study compared the effectiveness of two educational podcasts on behavioural responses to Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) hallucinations. One podcast provided general information and management strategies, while the other included the same content but also encouraged participants to actively interact with their hallucinations (e.g. by touching them).
Methods
In this double-masked, two-arm randomised comparative study, participants were recruited through charities and social media. All participants completed a baseline survey assessing hallucination frequency and severity. They were then randomised to receive either the education podcast or the interaction podcast. Approximately three weeks after listening, participants completed a follow-up survey. The primary outcome asked, ‘Have you made any changes to how you respond to your hallucinations since listening to the podcast?’ Secondary outcomes included which strategies participants had tried and their perceived helpfulness, whether they were inspired to try them, changes in hallucination characteristics, perceptions of the podcast's usefulness and enjoyability, and whether they had disclosed their symptoms to new people.
Results
Fifty-four people with CBS (76% female; 70% aged >65 years) participated. Twenty-eight received the education podcast and 26 received the interaction podcast. Across the whole cohort, 80% reported no change in how they responded to hallucinations, with no statistically significant difference between the two podcast groups (p = 0.8). However, 52% felt inspired to try the strategies. Forty-eight percent found familiarising themselves with hallucinations helpful, while 33% found improving sleep ineffective. Sixty-four percent found the podcast useful, though only 42% found it enjoyable. Following the podcast, 63% told new people about their symptoms.
Conclusions
No significant difference was found between the two podcast in altering behavioural responses. However, both encouraged uptake of self-management strategies, suggesting that podcasts may be a useful support tool for individuals with CBS. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term impact
Residual mechanical properties of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete with volcanic scoria sand after freeze–thaw cycles using machine learning
Get PDFIn cold regions, using steel fibres (SF) and manufactured volcanic scoria sand (MVSS) for fibre-reinforced concrete formulation can mitigate the problem of deterioration of mechanical properties due to freeze–thaw (F–T) cycles and effectively reduces the consumption of natural sand. To better predict the residual mechanical properties of concrete after freeze–thaw (F–T) cycles, this study develops four machine learning models: back-propagation neural network, convolutional neural network, decision tree and CatBoost. The input variables were water/cement ratio, manufactured volcanic scoria sand replacement rate, steel fibre volume content and F–T cycles. The output values were compressive strength (CS) and splitting tensile strength (STS). Key indicators showed all models exhibited acceptable accuracy. CatBoost outperformed the other methods with root mean squared error of 0.391 and 0.037, mean absolute error of 0.273 and 0.026, mean absolute percentage error of 0.009 and 0.011, scatter index of 0.011 and 0.014, and index of agreement of 0.999 and 0.999 for CS and STS, respectively. The coefficients of determination (R2) are all as high as 0.99. CatBoost shows the highest prediction accuracy. Sensitivity testing of the strength of steel-fibre-reinforced manufactured volcanic scoria sand concrete using CatBoost and it showed F–T cycles were an essential parameter. Finally, scanning electron microscopy shows SF and MVSS can improve the frost resistance of concrete
Process evaluation of a randomised controlled trial aimed at improving health behaviours and vitamin D status during pregnancy: Implementation of the SPRING trial
Get PDFBackground
The Southampton PRegnancy Intervention for the Next Generation (SPRING) aimed to assess the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation and the behaviour change intervention ‘Healthy Conversation Skills’ (HCS) in improving the nutritional status of pregnant women. This paper describes the implementation of these interventions. Efficacy of HCS in improving diet quality and physical activity was evaluated in subgroups of women who discussed ways to improve these behaviours.
Methods
In total, 717 pregnant women were recruited from a maternity hospital in Southampton, England. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaires, case report forms, and audio recordings. Following Medical Research Council guidance, fidelity, dose, and reach were evaluated descriptively. Multiple linear regression models were produced for subgroup analyses.
Results
Research nurses demonstrated high competence in using HCS. Compliance with intervention protocols for delivering and receiving both interventions was high. Participants took a median of 96% of the supplements and most women (85%) attended all four Healthy Conversations sessions. Women of lower socioeconomic status and from ethnic minorities were under-represented amongst participants. Findings were not sufficient to suggest an effect of HCS on diet quality among those who discussed diet but indicated a marginally beneficial effect on physical activity among those who discussed physical activity. Results suggested a weak dose-dependent effect, with the most pronounced difference in physical activity between the control group and the intervention sub-group with the highest exposure (adjusted difference 0.16 SD (95%-CI −0.03; 0.34)).
Conclusion
This process evaluation confirms that the intervention components were delivered with high fidelity and rates of compliance. Altering dietary behaviours proved more challenging than altering physical activity behaviours. Research is needed to explore barriers to healthy eating faced by women during pregnancy and how these can be overcome. This paper also highlights the difficulty of engaging people from ethnic minorities and disadvantaged backgrounds in research
Understanding professional boundaries and social media
Get PDFSocial media has the power to enable healthcare professionals to share their research findings, develop their knowledge and skills, and network with colleagues in an inclusive environment. However, this comes with risks and limitations. For community nurses, where the boundaries between their personal and professional lives can be challenged, awareness of policy and regulation is even more imperative. The author explores the benefits of networking on social media platforms in conjunction with regulatory body guidance and cautions to be considered
Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/4
Get PDFThe Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) series provides data on the prevalence of treated and non-treated mental health conditions in England's adult population (age 16 and over).
The 2023/4 survey is the fifth in the series, with previous surveys conducted in 1993, 2000, 2007 and 2014. The surveys all used a robust probability sample of adults living in residential households.
The aims of the series are to:
- Estimate the prevalence of a range of mental health conditions according to diagnostic category, including common mental health conditions, psychosis, autism, eating disorder, and substance dependence.
- Screen for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, gambling behaviour, personality disorder, and suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm.
- Examine trends over time in mental health conditions.
- Identify the nature and extent of inequalities in mental health conditions.
- Gauge the level and nature of treatment and service use in relation to mental health conditions
The Emergence of FRAND Interim Licences
No full textThis article analyes the emergence of FRAND interim licences in UK law, a judicial innovation addressing disputes over standard-essential patents ( SEPs) during protracted negotiations or litigation. Reviewing landmark cases, i.e. Panasonic v Xiaomi , Alcatel Lucent v Amazon , Lenovo v Ericsson , and Samsung v ZTE , it explains how interim licences balance the interests of SEP holders and implementers by enabling continued technology use with provisional royalties, subject to retroactive adjustment. The study highlights the mechanism’s grounding in good faith obligations, its distinction from anti-suit injunctions, analogies in other legal fields, and its potential to influence global FRAND policy and standard-setting practices
Demarcation of anxiety and fear: Evidence from behavioral genetics
No full textAnxiety and fear are emotions often intertwined in response to aversive stimuli, complicating efforts to differentiate them and understand their distinct consequences. This study explores the common genetic and environmental factors contributing to the co-occurrence of anxiety disorders and dimensions of the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (rRST). A sample of 356 monozygotic (22.5 % males; M = 25.73, SD = 8.3) and 386 dizygotic (33.9 % males; M = 24.21, SD = 8.33) twins from the Serbian Twin Advanced Registry was analyzed. The Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ) provided scales for panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), while the Reinforcement Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ) measured the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS), Behavioral Activation System (BAS), and Fight/Flight/Freeze System (FFFS). Common additive genetic effects accounted for most of the variance in BIS, Fight, and panic, agoraphobia, and social phobia, while specific additive genetic effects were highest for Flight. Shared environmental effects were most pronounced for Fight across all models, with additional shared influences on BAS and BIS for panic, and BAS and Freeze for agoraphobia and social phobia. Nonshared environmental effects were the highest specific contributors across variables. Genetic overlap between anxiety disorders and rRST dimensions suggests pleiotropy, with unique environmental factors playing an important role in disorder development. While anxiety and fear may stem from distinct etiologies, their shared symptomatology complicates differentiation, highlighting the importance of considering both genetic and environmental influences in anxiety disorders
ETF adoption and equity market macroefficiency
No full textWe analyze the impact that ETFs have had on equity market macro-efficiency around the globe. We find evidence to suggest that the introduction of ETFs, which enable investors to trade on macro information, has improved this aspect of market efficiency. We also find that equity market macro-efficiency tends to rise in more volatile market environments. Our results show that these improvements are more pronounced in developed equity markets where ETF growth has been more significant
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage City Research Online? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!