50716 research outputs found
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A Bayesian analysis of diagnostic timelines across Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and other neurodegenerative conditions
No full textINTRODUCTION: Timely diagnosis is crucial for managing neurodegenerative conditions. This study investigated whether time from symptom onset to diagnosis differs by clinical syndrome and sex.METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 591 participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) subtypes (behavioral variant FTD [bvFTD], semantic dementia [SD], and progressive non-fluent aphasia), logopenic progressive aphasia (LPA), and syndromes associated with movement disorders (corticobasal syndrome, FTD with motor neuron disease [FTD-MND], and progressive supranuclear palsy). Bayesian regression models were used to compute diagnostic timelines.RESULTS: Compared to AD (3.35 years; 95% credible interval [CrI]: 3.03-3.72), SD and bvFTD had additional delays of 9.7 (95% CrI: 1.96-20.64) and 14.82 months (95% CrI: 6.94-25.42), respectively, while FTD-MND was shorter by 11.62 months (95% CrI: -15.7 to -4.68). Men with bvFTD had 23.64 month longer delays than women (95% CrI: 10.35-44.33).DISCUSSION: Diagnostic delays may reflect syndrome-specific clinical features, diagnostic complexity, and sociocultural factors. Findings highlight the need for improved diagnostic pathways and pre-clinical biomarkers to facilitate earlier identification.HIGHLIGHTS: Bayesian analyses revealed that diagnostic delays differ by syndrome and sex.Alzheimer's disease (AD) was diagnosed on average 3.35 years after symptom onset.Diagnoses were delayed in semantic and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) compared to AD.Men with bvFTD had longer delays than women.Findings support need for improved diagnostic pathways and pre-clinical biomarkers.</p
Digital Mammography: Physics and Instrumentation
No full textAn authoritative and up-to-date discussion of digital mammography fundamentalsThe newly revised second edition of Digital Mammography: Physics and Instrumentation delivers an expert discussion of all things digital mammography. From an explanation of how mammography plays an important role in cancer detection and treatment to practical discussions of mammography image formation, you’ll find analysis of the most recent advances in digital breast tomosynthesis and photon counting mammography.Readers will also discover:Complete treatments of mammographic instrumentation and physicsA thorough introduction to image quality optimization techniquesComprehensive explorations of new artificial intelligence applications in mammographyValuable information about how radiation dose is relevant to patient safety and diagnosticsPerfect for mammography radiologic technologists and diagnostic radiographers, Digital Mammography: Physics and Instrumentation will also benefit breast clinicians, trainee radiologists, and students of medical imaging and radiography
Quantum Enhanced Transformer Network for Learning Transactive Energy During Physical Human-Robot Interaction
No full textOptimizing energy transfer during physical human–robot interactions is important for enhancing neurotherapeutic outcomes and ensuring patient safety. Energy transfer dynamics are particularly complex, involving a delicate balance between kinetic and potential energies as the robot assists or resists movement, adapting to the patient’s needs in real time. Traditional methods, which often rely on predefined robot control strategies, often struggle in dynamic environments where the interplay of forces and motions becomes unpredictable. Therefore, this work integrates the computational intelligence of quantum computing with transformer models to estimate the dynamics of energy transfer between human and gait rehabilitation robot, specifically designed based on the Stephenson III six-bar linkage mechanism. The principles of quantum computing, such as superposition and entanglement, combined with the attention mechanisms of transformer models, explore a much larger solution space. It provides accurate predictions of the complex, nonlinear interactions of energy flows between the robot and the human lower limb. The quantum transformer network was trained on the experimental data obtained from the interaction of seven male and one female healthy human subjects with the gait rehabilitation robot operated at low and high impedance control modes.</p
Associations between diet quality, food insecurity, physical activity, social connectedness and depressive symptomology in Australian university students:a cross-sectional study
No full textOBJECTIVE: Rising prevalence of depression demands focus on modifiable factors to improve mental health outcomes. An inverse relationship has been identified between diet quality and depressive symptomology. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine how food insecurity, physical activity and social connectedness contribute to the relationship between diet quality and depressive symptomology.METHODS: Data was collected from adult university students ( n = 145, age = 26.9 ± 9.9 years) between July and October 2024 using an electronic survey. Included scales were the Diet Screening Tool, the US Adult Food Security Module, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Social Connectedness Scale and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. Pearson's correlation analyses and linear regression were performed exploring the associations for variables of interest. RESULTS: The university student cohort was characterized by mild-severe depression (70%) and severe food insecurity (25%). The results showed increased food insecurity and physical activity (Metabolic Equivalent Task minutes/week) account for 11% and 9% of the variation seen in DASS-21 depression scores, respectively. Diet quality and social connections were not found to have a significant association with depressive symptomology.CONCLUSION: It appears that food insecurity could be a contributing factor impacting depressive symptomology, and if addressed effectively could improve mood disorder treatments. The relationship between physical activity and depression is counterintuitive and warrants further investigation. Implementing evidence-based holistic interventions that address food insecurity should be considered to support the mental health of university students.</p
Revisiting the Factor Structure of the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF):Evidence for a General Wellbeing Factor?
No full textThe Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF) scale is widely used to assess individuals’ Subjective (SWB), Psychological (PWB) and Social (SoWB) Wellbeing. The items appear to have excellent face validity and better model fit is generally reported for a correlated three-factor model or a Bi-Factor model with a g factor and three s factors that reflect three wellbeing domains. However, item-level misspecification is common, with items either loading poorly on their primary factor or loading comparatively on a non-primary factor. Data from six studies (N = 13166) systematically assessed the factor structure of the MHC-SF. Parallel Analysis supported only 1 factor be extracted. Model fit increased for the more complex models but item misspecification was also reported. Comparative good model fit was reported for the unidimensional when substantive covariance parameters between residuals, consistently identified in all studies, were included in the estimation. In conclusion, the MHC-SF items reflect a general factor of wellbeing. The purported better model fit of the more complex models can be explained by the inclusion of seven covariance paths identified in each study. While the MHC-SF items reflect different wellbeing domains, they should not be used to derive differential scores of SWB, PWB and SoWB.</p
Rethinking Culture in Disaster Risk Reduction: The Conceptualisation of an Iceberg-Informed Input-Process-Output(IPO) Model.
No full textThis study addresses the critical yet often overlooked role of culture in disaster risk reduction (DRR) by developing a novel Input-Process-Output (IPO) conceptual model. Grounded in a conceptual development methodology that emphasises theory synthesis and model building, the research integrates the Iceberg Model of Culture, the Protective Action Decision Model (PADM), the Theory of PlannedBehaviour (TPB), the emic–etic approach, and Cultural Schema Theory (CST) to capture the complex, reciprocal interaction between culture and disasters. The model frames culture not as a static background variable but as a dynamic factor that both shapes and is shaped by disaster. Moving beyond traditional one-size-fits-all approaches, the IPO model offers a structured framework for integrating and harnessing cultural heterogeneity into DRR strategies, and emphasising the ongoing co-creation and co-refinement of community-driven resilience and adaptive, context-specific interventions. The model incorporates iterative feedback loops, allowing continuous refinement of disaster strategies respondingto dynamically changing cultural contexts. This conceptual model lays the groundwork for empirical validation and practical application in diverse socio-cultural settings. Future research employing participatory and mixed methods is proposed to enhance the model’s robustness and usability, aiming to transform it into a practical decision-making tool for culturally sensitive disaster governance
Pearl in the Shell: Exploring Leader Humility's Role in Follower Knowledge Hiding and Sharing Dynamics
No full textWhile existing studies suggest that leader humility mitigates knowledge-hiding behavior, our study challenges this notion by revealing that leader humility fosters knowledge hiding through inclusion, while simultaneously promoting knowledge sharing. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study demonstrates that leader humility indirectly influences both knowledge hiding and sharing through the mechanism of inclusion. These findings contribute to the literature by shedding light on the complex interplay between leader humility and its contextual effects on knowledge management behaviors within organizations
The Earth Teaches
No full textFROM THE BUSH TO THE FOREST: DESIGNING CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR MUSEUMS IN FINLANDThis is a multi-disciplinary project delivered by academic staff and students across the Faculties of Education and Arts & Design at the University of Canberra, Australia. The culmination of this project is a study tour to Finland that includes an exhibition and pop-up art-making event for children and families at the Jyväskylä Art Museum.University of Canberra students (working collaboratively across the disciplines of education, visual communication, architecture, interior design, industrial design and creative writing) will create an exhibition of artwork emergent from artist-led and place-based workshops in Canberra, Australia’s capital city. The exhibition will be installed in the Jyväskylä Art Museum. This exhibition focuses on the process of making art in response to the natural environment of Australia. Whilst in Finland, the University of Canberra staff and students will collaborate in further hands-on workshops at multiple locations, co-led by Finnish academics. These will allow Finnish children and families to connect with an exhibition of Australian art, flora and fauna at the Jyväskylä Art Museum, on the 30th of May, from 9 to 11am
Nurse or Allied Health-Led Models of Transitional Dementia Care in Australia:A Scoping Review
No full textIt is important to understand the range of transitional care models that support people with dementia who have complex health needs. This is to avoid unnecessary hospitalisations, to maximise any benefits in care transfers and, may increase access to higher quality care and reduce the incidence of low value care. A scoping review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted to investigate and summarise nurse or allied health-led models of transitional dementia care in Australia. Nurse and allied health-led transitional care models for older people and people with dementia included models that emphasised community services, hospital avoidance, out-reach to residential care, emergency department streamlining, intensive dementia support, or a combination (n = 14). Health outcomes reported included decreased presentations, length of stay and costs in emergency departments; reduction in hospital admissions and in medication use and increase in non-pharmacological interventions. Future models of nurse or allied health-led care should emphasise the need for localised relational approaches by the transitional staff to support continuity of care as crucial aspects for behavioural and gerontological transitional care.</p