179566 research outputs found
Sort by
Unveiling the impact of health star ratings:Subjective nutrition knowledge as a moderator of consumer responses to unhealthy foods
Get PDFThe present research demonstrates that a Health Star Rating (HSR), one type of interpretive label, can enhance consumer responses among individuals with low subjective nutrition knowledge (SNK). Across three experiments, including a qualitative follow-up, we show that voluntarily adopted HSRs increase preference and purchase intention—even for products with low health ratings—by fostering favorable brand inferences rooted in perceived transparency, particularly among individuals with lower SNK. This work contributes to the food labeling literature by identifying which consumers are most likely to benefit from HSRs on unhealthy items and extends attribution theory by illustrating how voluntary disclosure can enhance brand evaluations. Practically, our findings suggest that, when paired with consumer education, voluntary interpretive labeling—such as the HSR—can support informed decision-making, guide policymakers in promoting non-mandatory labeling systems, and enhance brand perceptions for food companies.</p
Accelerating the development of a psychological intervention to restore treatment decision-making capacity in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder:An umbrella trial
Get PDFIntroduction: Many individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (‘psychosis’) lack capacity to make decisions about psychiatric treatment (‘incapacity’), however we lack robust evidence from clinical trials on interventions to improve it. To accelerate their development, we tested whether an ‘umbrella’ trial was feasible. This involved running multiple randomised controlled ‘interventionist-causal’ trials (IC-RCTs) concurrently. Each tested the effect on incapacity of targeting an individual psychological mechanism. Methods: We did 3 assessor-blind, multi-site, pilot IC-RCTs. Each compared 6 sessions of psychological therapy for either self-stigma (SS), low self-esteem (SE) or the jumping-to-conclusions (JTC) bias, to 6 sessions of collaborative assessment of the causes of incapacity (control). Adults with psychosis, incapacity and ≥1 target mechanism could participate. Primary outcomes were recruitment feasibility, and data retention on the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool-Treatment (MacCAT-T). Results: We recruited 57 participants and performed 60 randomisations (3 patients participated in 2 trials); 82 % provided post-treatment data. Standardised mean differences (Hedges' g) for MacCAT-T ‘understanding’ were g = 0.35 (SS; 95 % CI −0.51, 1.22), g = 0.41 (JTC; −0.55, 1.38) and g = 0.74 (SE; −0.73, 2.21), with positive values favouring treatment. For ‘reasoning’, they were −0.20 (SS; −1.05, 0.66), 0.79 (JTC; −0.20, 1.79) and 0.79 (SE −0.69, 2.27). For ‘appreciation’ they were −0.39 (SS; −1.25, 0.48), 1.76 (JTC; 0.62, 2.90) and 0.57 (SE; −0.87, 2.02). Four control participants had 9 serious adverse events between randomisation and post-treatment; two intervention participants had 2. Discussion: An umbrella trial of psychological interventions to improve capacity in psychosis is feasible. A definitive trial is warranted. Trial pre-registration: NCT04309435.</p
Increasing book-talk and extending reading experiences among children with reading difficulties:The role of augmented reality books
Get PDFShared reading and book talk are common activities used to engage elementary school readers, yet can be anxiety provoking for those with reading difficulties. Identifying whether, and how, new technologies can foster more positive reading experiences for children with reading difficulties is therefore essential. This study compared children’s book-talk and reading experiences with an Augmented Reality (AR) and non-AR (matched in content) book. In total, 32 COUNTRY children (aged 8–10) with reading difficulties participated in dyads in two shared book reading sessions (AR/non-AR book, counterbalanced), with book-talk after each session, followed by a general discussion to learn of the similarities and differences in their AR/non-AR reading experiences. AR books significantly increased the quantity of children’s book talk (number of words spoken and sentence length) and many similarities and differences found in children’s experiences with the AR and non-AR book. Results are discussed in full, in addition to educational implications.</p
Constructing the Lie Algebra of Smooth Vector Fields on a Lie Group in Isabelle/HOL
Get PDFThis paper describes a formal theory of smooth vector fields, Lie groups and the Lie algebra of a Lie group in the theorem prover Isabelle. Lie groups are abstract structures that are composable, invertible and differentiable; they are useful in the study of continuous transformations in fields such as particle physics and robotics. The formalisation of this theory in an interactive theorem prover poses challenges beyond those encountered in textbook developments. We comment on representational choices we made to integrate involved concepts, such as smoothness of vector fields, with the simple type theory of higher-order logic (HOL) and existing material in Isabelle/HOL
Non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD): trauma and life events, context and meaning
Get PDFThis paper makes the case for a re-consideration of the role of trauma and life events – and crucially, their social and political context – in relation to non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD). Trauma and adverse life events have well established links with many health conditions and whilst they are acknowledged to play a part in NEAD, more recent research suggests that such events are not ubiquitous. Currently, when events are seen as salient this is most commonly interpreted in relation to properties of the individual and their agency. Context – social and political factors - are seldom integrated or considered.This paper presents findings from a study which examined how trauma and life events were understood by participants, how frequently trauma and life events were present in participants’ accounts and in what ways they may be salient as predisposing, precipitating or perpetuating factors in NEAD. Employing a validated a life history questionnaire to purposively sample participants with high and low levels of self-reported trauma, we deployed a narrative interview approach which elicited rich descriptions of life experiences.We found that descriptions of trauma or adverse life events were present in all our participants and that these events were shaped by social contexts of their lives. We propose that the method used to collect trauma data is central to what is found and that a recognition of the social and political context, and their meanings, results in a more nuanced understanding of the place of trauma and life events
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to hypertension among Sri Lankans: an online cross-sectional survey
Get PDFBackgroundHypertension (HTN) is a major public health issue in Sri Lanka, influenced by genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors. Despite high general literacy, gaps in health literacy and suboptimal HTN management persist. Understanding knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in HTN is crucial for developing targeted public health interventions to improve awareness and management.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Sri Lankan adults from February to September 2024. Participants were recruited via social media, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of HTN, attitudes toward prevention and treatment, and health-related practices. Knowledge scores were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and regression models.ResultsA total of 2,013 participants were included, with 47% diagnosed with HTN. The mean knowledge score was 57 ± 20%, with 36% of respondents scoring below 50%. Awareness of risk factors varied—while 78% recognized excessive salt intake, only 40% identified alcohol consumption as a risk factor. Knowledge of HTN consequences was uneven; 87% identified heart disease, but only 31% recognized eye disease as a complication. Urban residents and those with higher education and income had significantly better knowledge scores, while misconceptions about HTN, such as water intake being a risk factor (21%), were prevalent. Attitudes toward HTN management were generally positive, with 81% recognizing the importance of treatment adherence, though only 48% acknowledged weight loss as a preventive measure. Regular blood pressure monitoring was reported by 81%, with individuals diagnosed with HTN being 7.3 times more likely to check their BP regularly (OR: 7.28, 95% CI: 4.67–11.35, p < 0.001). Salt reduction practices were influenced by socioeconomic factors, with urban residents being 2.2 times more likely to add salt (OR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.56–3.12, p < 0.001).ConclusionDespite Sri Lanka’s high general literacy, significant gaps exist in HTN knowledge and practices. Public health strategies should focus on improving health literacy, addressing misconceptions, and promoting behavioural change through targeted interventions, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations
It’s not just climate:Rethinking ‘climate emotions’ in the age of burnout capitalism
Get PDFJust as political ecologists have critiqued narratives of ‘climate migration’ and ‘climate conflict’ for their implicit climate determinism, this article argues that scholars should move beyond climate-centric accounts of ‘climate emotions.’ To do so, I will critically analyze climate emotions scholarship through the lens of Feminist Marxist analyses of the ‘care crisis’ of neoliberal capitalism. By bringing these literatures together, this paper will demonstrate how emotional responses to ecological crises are conditioned and constrained by neoliberal capitalism’s exploitation of the emotional and caring capacities of workers (particularly women and racialized workers), which leads to the systemic production of burnout, apathy, and various mental health challenges. By deepening our analysis of the links between these crises and their shared capitalist roots, we will be in better position to develop strategies of socio-ecological transformation that can address what I call the ‘polycrisis’ of ecology, care, and mental health
Capitalism, complexity, and polycrisis:Toward neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis
Get PDFNon-technical summaryAdvocates of the concept of polycrisis show that our world faces many interconnected risks that can compound and reinforce each other. Marxist critics, on the contrary, argue that polycrisis advocates have not yet given sufficient attention to the role of capitalism as a root cause of these intersecting crises. This paper agrees with these critics. But I also argue that it is possible to develop an alternative approach to polycrisis analysis rooted in the traditions of Marxism and neo-Gramscian theory. The paper applies this approach to analyze the European Union’s ongoing polycrisis and sketch out its possible futures. Technical summaryAdvocates of the term polycrisis often claim that contemporary crises cannot be reduced to a single driver or dominant contradiction, forming instead a complex multiplicity of inter-systemic shocks. Marxist critics, on the contrary, claim that this approach, by framing contemporary crises as disparate and merely contingently connected, obscures the capitalist roots of contemporary crises. I agree with these critics to a point, though I argue that polycrisis thinking is needed to deepen Marxist analyses of the inter-systemic dynamics of contemporary crises and their possible futures. Polycrisis thinking needs Marxism to deepen its analysis of the political economy of polycrisis, whereas Marxism needs polycrisis thinking to enrich its understanding of the political opportunities and constraints that these intersecting crises may create for counter-hegemonic movements. To synthesize the insights of Marxism and polycrisis analysis, I develop an approach rooted in complexity theory and neo-Gramscian political economy. Using the European Union’s (EU) ongoing polycrisis as an illustrative example, I show how neo-Gramscian polycrisis analysis can highlight the constraints that neoliberal hegemony places on the EU’s efforts to manage its intersecting crises, while also informing counter-hegemonic struggles aiming to navigate toward more desirable futures in Europe’s political possibility space. Social media summaryThis paper combines polycrisis thinking and Marxism to analyze the current polycrisis and possible futures of the European Union.</p
Toward a unified approach to torsion-shear constraints in convex limit analysis of masonry
Get PDFLimit analysis of discrete masonry assemblies, developed from Hyman’s theorem, has proven to be an effective and computationally efficient approach for analyzing masonry structures. The convex method builds on this by abstracting the interface between two rigid blocks to a single point—typically the centroid—where internal forces and moments are computed to equilibrate external loads applied to the blocks. These internal actions are constrained to prevent different types of failure, including torsion-shear failure, which defines the maximum combined tangential force and torsional moment an interface can resist. Several studies based on the convex method have formulated torsion-shear constraints, though all are limited to rectangular interfaces. Those formulations address both dry frictional contacts between blocks and cohesive interfaces within blocks, where failure can occur due to finite tensile and shear strength. In both cases, the torsion-shear constraint is highly sensitive to the geometry of the interface. To overcome this, researchers have proposed general approximation methods for torsion-shear constraints that apply across rectangular interfaces with varying aspect ratios. This paper, for the first time, explores the extension of the convex method—specifically its torsion-shear constraints—to arbitrary planar interfaces bounded by convex closed polylines. It investigates whether a single approximate constraint can be established to cover diverse geometries. The proposed formulation includes both zero-tension frictional interfaces and internal discontinuities with finite shear and tensile strength. Given the proven accuracy and efficiency of the convex method, this work represents a key step toward its application in complex assemblies with diverse interface geometries
A chromosomal level genome assembly of Nguni Sheep, Ovis aries
Get PDFNguni sheep (Ovis aries) are indigenous to the Southern Africa region and common within the smallholder and poor resources farming systems. They are well adapted to different agroecological regions. However, limited genomic resources such as high-quality reference genomes have hindered our understanding of its adaptation and establishment of an effective breeding program. To address this, we assembled a chromosomal-level genome of Nguni sheep using a combination of PacBio HiFi reads and Omni-C reads. The genome size was estimated to be 2.9 Gb with a contig/scaffold N50 74 Mb and 99.6 Mb and a genome completeness of 96.1%, as estimated by the Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) program. The final genome encompassed a total of 25,926 protein-coding genes. The findings of this study provide a valuable genomic resource for understanding the adaptability of the Nguni sheep and the establishment of effective breeding programs.</p
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Edinburgh Research Explorer? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!