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Leading with Algorithms: Empathetic Leadership for Hybrid Work
No full textThis paper examines the impact of algorithmic management (AM) tools in the increasingly popular hybrid workplace and the emergence of novel leadership practices in hybrid work settings. Particularly, we explore the use of an Employee Experience Management (EXM) platform – Microsoft Viva – that has AM features in enabling emerging leadership practices influenced by algorithms. Using a qualitative approach with a case study design of a multinational organisation that adopted an EXM platform, the study findings reveal that AM tools contribute to emerging leadership practices that reflect inclusive, humanised, and multimodal modes of leadership – all of which are underpinned by analytics-enabled leadership. The combination of these modes of leadership and associated practices is believed to respond to the challenges in employees’ work environment and enhance the employee experience in a hybrid workplace
The Effects of Refractive Imbalance on Binocular Vision Status, Reading Performance, and Vision-Related Reading Difficulty Symptoms in Expert Readers
No full textPURPOSE: To investigate how refractive imbalance affects binocular vision parameters, reading performance, and vision-related reading difficulty symptomatology after short periods of reading with different simulated ophthalmic lens power conditions in expert adult readers.METHODS: Eighteen adult participants (18-35 years of age) were recruited. They were expert readers, defined as currently studying, or previously studied to, at least a bachelor's degree tertiary education level. Refractive imbalance conditions were simulated by placing -2.00, -1.00, 0.00, +1.00, and +2.00 diopters (D) ophthalmic lenses in front of the dominant eye over their full refractive error correction. For each condition, participants were required to read sets of three paragraphs from the background section of an academic journal paper, after which reading comprehension, reading speed, symptomatology, visual acuity, and binocular vision status were assessed for each set through refractive imbalance conditions.RESULTS: A significant reduction of binocular visual acuity was observed for distance (+2.00 D condition) and near (±2.00 D conditions) viewing distances. The greater the refractive imbalance stimulus provided to the dominant eye monocularly, the more underfocused the binocular accommodative response. Simulated refractive imbalance did not affect reading speed and comprehension. Stereoacuity and subjective vision-related reading difficulty symptoms worsened with increased absolute refractive imbalance.CONCLUSIONS: Simulated refractive imbalance did not affect reading performance for the short reading task but resulted in statistically significant reductions in clarity, increased binocular difficulties, and visual discomfort. During reading, full correction of refractive imbalance is beneficial and recommended.</p
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and risk of syphilis among blood donors in Thailand
Get PDFDespite rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Thailand, including syphilis, data on its prevalence and associated risk factors among blood donors remain scarce. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of syphilis and identify the key risk factors among blood donors in Thailand to inform targeted interventions for enhanced blood safety.The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024560215) and conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive searches were performed across major databases, including ProQuest, Journals@Ovid, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, and MEDLINE, to identify relevant studies. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) for syphilis risk factors. Heterogeneity was quantified using the I² statistic, and meta-regression and subgroup analyses were employed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's regression test. A total of 23 studies involving 1,142,910 blood donors were included. The pooled prevalence of syphilis among blood donors in Thailand was 0.42% (95% CI 0.27-0.66%, I²: 99.3%, number of infections: 6,173), with a decreasing trend over time. Male donors were significantly more likely to have syphilis (P < 0.0001; pooled OR: 1.76; 95% CI 1.53-2.03; I²: 34.2%, 651,019 participants). First-time donors also had an elevated risk of syphilis (P = 0.02; pooled OR: 2.02; 95% CI 1.10-3.70; I²: 94.0%, 215,245 participants). Additionally, the analysis revealed a significant association between increasing age and higher syphilis risk among blood donors. The systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that syphilis prevalence among blood donors in Thailand is declining; however, male and first-time donors, as well as older age groups, remain at higher risk. To enhance blood safety, targeted interventions are needed, including refining donor screening questionnaires, expanding educational campaigns for high-risk groups, and incorporating advanced screening technologies. Strengthening and regularly updating national screening policies will ensure the effective mitigation of syphilis transmission among blood donors in Thailand.</p
Modelling the impact on a local mental health system of previously implemented care programs:The experience of assertive outreach teams in Bizkaia (Spain)
Get PDFAims The study assessed the interactions and the impact of specialist mobile community care teams (assertive outreach teams or AOTs) implemented in the mental health (MH) system of Bizkaia (Spain) using a methodology derived from an ecosystem perspective. Methods First, the experts assessed the system's services and codified them according to an international classification system. Second, following an iterative methodology for expert-knowledge elicitation, a clients' flow diagram showing the inter-dependencies of the system's components was developed. It included variables and their relationships represented in a causal model. Third, the system elements where the AOTs had a major impact (stress nodes) were identified. Fourth, three scenarios (variable combinations representing the 'stress points' of the system) were modelled to assess its relative technical efficiency (technical performance indicator). Results The classification system identified the lack of fidelity of the AOTs to the original assertive community treatment model, categorizing them as non-acute low-intensity mobile care. The causal model identified the following elements of the system as 'stress nodes' in relation to AOT: users' families; social services (outside of the healthcare system); acute hospitals; non-acute residential facilities and, to a lesser extent, acute hospital day care services. When the stress nodes inside the healthcare system were modelled separately, acute and non-acute hospital care services resulted in a large deterioration in the system performance, while acute day hospital care had only a small impact. Conclusions The development of the expert-knowledge-based causal model from an ecosystem perspective was helpful in combining information from different levels, from nano to macro, to identify the components in the system likely to be most affected by a potential policy intervention, such as the closure of AOTs. It was also able to illustrate the interaction between the MH system components over time and the impact of the potential changes on the technical performance of the system. Such approaches have potential future application in assisting with service planning and decision-making in other health systems and socio-economic contexts.</p
Developing geospatial tools to identify refuges from alien trout invasion in Australia to assist freshwater conservation
No full textContext: Introduced fish have caused significant range reductions for many native fish, with many threatened species now found in headwater refuges, protected by in-stream barriers such as waterfalls, weirs and culverts. Owing to the remoteness of such refuges, distribution of many native species is poorly understood despite the urgency of determining their distribution because of threats posed by the spread of introduced fish into these refuges. Aims: We investigated the application of emerging remote-sensing technology (LiDAR) to improve our ability to locate potential invasion barriers and identify headwater refuges. Methods: We used LiDAR-derived digital elevation models to find likely barriers, and conducted fish surveys to determine introduced trout passability and distribution in tributary headwaters. Key results: Trout were rarely observed upstream of waterfalls with a gradient of >0.82, whereas native galaxiids were found only in the absence of trout. Of 17 trout barriers surveyed, 9 supported a population of galaxiids upstream, whereas 8 were fishless. Implications: LiDAR-based analysis is an effective tool for preliminary site selection and prioritisation for freshwater fish conservation. Discovery of three new populations of galaxiids in this study demonstrates the potential of this technique to locate additional trout-free headwater streams, important for threatened galaxiids and other trout-sensitive aquatic species.</p
Calibration and validation-based assessment of low-cost air quality sensors
Get PDFBackground: Air pollution poses a significant threat to public health. Low-cost air quality sensors (LCSs) can provide a data foundation for air quality monitoring, particularly supplementing the regulatory monitoring network and identifying local air quality issues. However, the performance varies considerably, and questions remain regarding reliability and accuracy of LCS data. Methods: We evaluated the accuracy, stability and precision of six LCSs over a three-month period of collocation with reference instruments at two locations. A mathematical workflow including calibration and validation was developed for accuracy and stability, incorporating a combination of environmental factors (e.g., temperature, relative humidity), linear and nonlinear regression, followed by precision evaluation by Bland-Altman plots. Results: For particulate matter, data from LCSs was found to be reliable after simple linear regression (R2 > 0.9 for both calibration and validation). For gas sensors including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and Ozone, nonlinear methods that met the validation requirements also performed well using simple linear regression models (R2 > 0.7 for both calibration and validation), whereas machine learning models, such as random forest, could not pass the validation, and require cautious application. In non-laboratory environments, incorporating environmental factors into the calibration function may lead to subsequent performance instability. Regarding precision between LCSs, unstable measurement biases among devices have been observed. Conclusions: Linear regression method is recommended as the preferred method for onsite calibration of LCSs, with caution advised when incorporating environmental factors due to increased uncertainty. Furthermore, when deploying LCSs, it is important to consider their varying responses to high or low pollutant concentrations.</p
The Effectiveness of Body Image Flexibility Interventions in Youth:A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Get PDFPrevention programs that focus on enhancing positive body image may improve health and well-being in young people. Body image flexibility is a promising prevention approach, although its application with youth has yet to be comprehensively investigated. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of body image flexibility interventions among adolescents and emerging adults. There were 23 eligible studies (N = 2764, 91.3% female) published between 2004 and 2024. Random effects meta-analyses indicated that body image flexibility interventions led to immediate, g = 0.52 (13 studies, n = 1,045), and sustained, g = 0.27 (8 studies, n = 608, 1-week to 24-month follow-up) improvements in health outcomes and protected against adverse effects of body image threats, g = 0.33 (7 studies, n = 480), relative to no/minimal intervention controls. Improvements were largely attributable to reductions in body image concerns. Comparison with other evidence-based interventions, including cognitive and dissonance-based programs, suggested comparable effects. Randomized trials and universal programs demonstrated smaller improvements, and there was evidence of potential publication bias. Conclusions are thus limited by the quantity and quality of existing studies, with most focusing on emerging adult females. Recommendations are provided to address these limitations in future research and strengthen the reliability and generalizability of results.</p
Comparison of stable load, unstable load and variable resistance training interventions
Get PDFTwo alternate loading strategies that are increasingly prevalent within athletic, rehabilitation and general settings are unstable load and variable resistance training. However, the relative effectiveness of these strategies compared with conventional stable load training is unclear. We compared three different 4-week resistance training interventions using unstable loads, variable resistance, or traditional stable loads (i.e., barbells, dumbbells), on measures of strength, power, endurance and stability, as well as acceleration and change of direction performance. Twenty-seven recreationally trained males (age 23.4 ± 2.9 years; resistance training experience 4.1 ± 2.8 years, mean ± SD) participated in this study. A single leg quiet stand; single leg land-and-hold; countermovement jump; 10-metre sprint; modified 5-0-5 change of direction test; the athletic shoulder test; isometric mid-thigh pull; 30° isometric hamstring test; and the 60° trunk flexion test were measured before and after each of the three interventions. There were significant improvements in shoulder strength for all three groups, and improvements in other measures: isometric hamstring strength (stable, variable training) stability (stable and unstable), core endurance (unstable, variable), 10 m sprint (unstable) but not in countermovement jumping, or change of direction running. It appears that training with an unstable load can yield substantial improvements in core endurance, whereas the use of variable resistance loads showed improvements in isometric shoulder strength across a range of positions. All three forms of resistance training loads (stable, unstable, variable) offer athletes and coaches the opportunity to target discrete strength, power, endurance and stability qualities.</p
A B-Spline Function Based 3D Point Cloud Unwrapping Scheme for 3D Fingerprint Recognition and Identification
No full textA three-dimensional (3D) fingerprint recognition and identification system offers several advantages: in addition to sharing the hygiene property of a 2D contactless fingerprint system in reducing the risk of contamination, it offers an exceptional anti-proofing attack capability over the traditional two-dimensional (2D) fingerprint, including 2D contactless fingerprint, recognition and identification systems. This is because capturing a 3D fingerprint sample will require a synchronized operation of multiple 3D-spaced cameras. It is infeasible to construct a quality 3D fingerprint sample based on a set of random 2D fingerprint images. In addition to capturing surface ridge and valley patterns similar to a 2D fingerprint system, 3D fingerprints capture depth, curvature, and shape information, enabling the development of more precise and robust authentication systems. Despite recent advancements, significant challenges remain. The topological height of fingerprint pixels complicates the extraction of ridge and valley patterns. Furthermore, registration issues limit the acquisition process, requiring consistent direction and orientation across all samples. To address these challenges, this article introduces a method that unwraps 3D fingerprints, represented as 3D point clouds, using B-spline curve fitting to mitigate height variation and reduce registration limitations. The unwrapped point cloud is then converted into a grayscale image by mapping the relative heights of the points. This grayscale image is subsequently used for recognition through conventional 2D fingerprint identification methods. The proposed approach demonstrated superior performance in 3D fingerprint recognition, achieving Equal Error Rates (EERs) of 0.2072%, 0.26%, and 0.22% across three experiments, outperforming existing methods. Additionally, the method surpassed 3D fingerprint flattening technique in both recognition and identification during cross-session experiments, achieving an EER of 1.50% when fingerprints with varying registrations were included.</p
Snowpatch nomenclature and definitions for a changing climate
No full textLong-lying snow (snowpatches) has come under increased scrutiny for its role in alpine and high latitude environments, and as a marker of climate change. Multiple disciplines researching different aspects over many decades has led to an inconsistent and conflicting nomenclature and definitions, impeding cross-disciplinary collaboration and understanding. Scientific endeavour increasingly involves researcher collaboration, success relying on an agreed shared terminology and ontology. We present a rationalisation and simplification of the existing nomenclature and terminology, advocating wider cross-disciplinary adoption of the word snowpatch, defining a snowpatch from residual snowpack by its effect on its local environment. We advocate longevity as the most effective means to discriminate snowpatches of different types, proposing novel limits for the established qualifiers seasonal, semi-perennial and perennial, providing a clearer discrimination between them, permitting better quantification and tracking over time, and enabling greater insights into climate driven changes in snowpatch dependent vegetation communities, nivation processes and local hydrology.</p