134125 research outputs found
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Progress on theory of planned behavior research: advances in research synthesis and agenda for future research
No full textThe theory of planned behavior is a social cognition theory that has been widely applied to identify the psychological determinants of intentions and behavior in health contexts. Our 2015 meta-analysis of theory applications in chronic illness contributed to a burgeoning evidence base comprising syntheses supporting theory predictions in health behavior. In this review, we identify limitations of prior meta-analyses of theory applications in health behavior and highlight salient evidence gaps, summarize how recent meta-analyses of the theory have addressed some of the limitations, outline outstanding research questions, and suggest future research syntheses, including those currently in progress, to resolve them. We point to recent and ongoing meta-analyses addressing theory hypotheses and assumptions not tested in previous syntheses, such as perceived behavioral control moderating effects and indirect effects of environmental (e.g., sociostructural variables) and intrapersonal (e.g., personality traits) determinants on health behavior mediated by theory constructs. We also highlight meta-analyses examining behavioral effects of constructs representing extended processes (e.g., habit, implicit cognition) in the context of the theory. Further, we summarize recent meta-analyses addressing directional and causal inferences in theory effects, including meta-analyses of longitudinal studies and experimental and intervention research. We also highlight attempts to test the mechanisms of action of interventions based on the theory including the change meta-analysis method and mediation analyses. We conclude by summarizing the advances that recent meta-analyses of the theory have made to the evidence base of health behavior determinants and interventions and highlighting suggestions for meta-analyses that will further progress the evidence base.Full Tex
Approximate Nearest Neighbour Search on Dynamic Datasets: An Investigation
No full textApproximate k-Nearest Neighbour (ANN) methods are often used for mining information and aiding machine learning on large scale high-dimensional datasets. ANN methods typically differ in the index structure used for accelerating searches, resulting in various recall/runtime trade-off points. For applications with static datasets, runtime constraints and dataset properties can be used to empirically select an ANN method with suitable operating characteristics. However, for applications with dynamic datasets, which are subject to frequent online changes (like addition of new samples), there is currently no consensus as to which ANN methods are most suitable. Traditional evaluation approaches do not consider the computational costs of updating the index structure, as well as the rate and size of index updates. To address this, we empirically evaluate 5 popular ANN methods on two main applications (online data collection and online feature learning) while taking into account these considerations. Two dynamic datasets are used, derived from the SIFT1M dataset with 1 million samples and the DEEP1B dataset with 1 billion samples. The results indicate that the often used k-d trees method is not suitable on dynamic datasets as it is slower than a straightforward baseline exhaustive search method. For online data collection, the Hierarchical Navigable Small World Graphs method achieves a consistent speedup over baseline across a wide range of recall rates. For online feature learning, the Scalable Nearest Neighbours method is faster than baseline for recall rates below 75%.Full Tex
Community pharmacy’s role in dispensing androgens and supporting harm reduction amid current policy dilemmas
No full textBackground
Legitimate androgen use, such as testosterone replacement therapy, requires a legal prescription. Off-label use for reasons like wellness and aesthetics continues to grow. Recent regulatory changes in Australia aim to curb non-prescribed androgen use, potentially intensifying stigma, however seeking prescriptions through legal channels persists. This study aimed to explore community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding individuals who use androgens.
Methods
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 community pharmacists, to explore knowledge and experiences related to the dispensing of androgens. The data analysis followed an iterative process, developing a codebook for thematic analysis and aligning findings with relevant literature.
Results
Pharmacists face challenges when meeting the needs of individuals using androgens. They often made judgments based on appearance, leading to stigmatisation and potential refusal of prescription supply. However, this is tempered by the complex environment that pharmacists work in with respect to professional and legal requirements. Limited knowledge about androgens and varying exposure to people who use androgens were evident, prompting a unanimous desire for tailored training, especially in communication skills and interaction strategies.
Conclusions
Facilitating androgen use within regulated healthcare settings, under professional medical supervision, is crucial to mitigating health risks. Varied pharmacist knowledge underscores the urgent need for targeted training, emphasising education initiatives to address structural stigma and inform healthcare policies globally.Full Tex
Cre-Lox miRNA-delivery technology optimized for inducible microRNA and gene-silencing studies in zebrafish
No full textWhile many genetic tools exist for zebrafish, this animal model still lacks robust gene-silencing and microRNA-delivery technologies enabling spatio-temporal control and traceability. We have recently demonstrated that engineered pri-miR backbones can trigger stable gene knockdown and/or express microRNA(s) of choice in this organism. However, this miRNA-expressing technology presents important limitations. First, to trigger potent knockdown(s), multiple synthetic-miRNAs must be expressed simultaneously, compromising the co-expression of fluorescent marker(s) and knockdown traceability. Second, when gene(s) knockdown triggers significant phenotypes, like homozygous mutants with severe early phenotypes, it is difficult, if not impossible, to maintain transgenic carriers. To solve these problems and provide a mature RNAi and microRNA-delivery technology, we have generated new RNAi reagents and an inducible delivery system based on the Cre/Lox technology. This system allows the creation of asymptomatic/silent carriers, easing the production of embryos with potent knockdowns that can be traced and spatiotemporally controlled. We further demonstrated the utility of this approach by establishing novel inducible and tissue-specific models of spinal muscular atrophy, opening new avenues for studying smn1-gene function and pathogenicity. All in all, these materials and techniques will be invaluable in studying microRNA biology and in modelling or tackling conditions in which gene dosage is key.Full Tex
Higher levels of autistic traits in the general population are associated with reduced visual field asymmetries in a dual-stream attentional blink task
No full textBackground
Spatial attention is typically right-hemisphere lateralized, resulting in a bias to preferentially process information in the left visual field (VF). As atypical hemispheric lateralization is considered a fundamental neurobiological feature of autism, we assessed whether it is also evident in people who display higher levels of autistic-type traits but do not meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of autism. In doing so, we used a dual-stream attentional blink task – a task with heavy processing demands and stimuli displayed simultaneously in both VFs – to elicit inter-hemispheric competition and assess visual field asymmetries.
Method
The participants were 82 university students, who had never been clinically diagnosed with autism, divided into two groups based on the level of autistic traits that they displayed on the Autism Quotient scale (AQ; Baron-Cohen et al., 2001). Two simultaneous streams of digit-distractors were displayed, one in each VF, and the participants’ task was to identify two letter-targets that were displayed unpredictably in the left or right stream.
Results
We found reduced VF asymmetries in higher autism-trait individuals, with the magnitude of the asymmetry correlating with AQ score.
Conclusions
We suggest that the reduced VF asymmetries in individuals with higher autism traits may be due to increased perceptual processing capacity (Remington et al., 2009), which reduces hemispheric competition and, thus, visual field asymmetries. The findings also highlight that even subtle differences in the degree of autistic traits in the general population may be associated with differences in visual attention.No Full Tex
Towards a comprehensive river barrier mapping solution to support environmental management
No full textThe environmental effects of large dams on river connectivity are well recognized and mapped globally. However, datasets describing the distribution and attributes of smaller barriers (such as weirs and culverts) are lacking or incomplete for many regions. This has hindered accurate impact assessments for water resource planning, biased understanding of restoration potential and limited research aiming to understand and mitigate river fragmentation effects. Developing an efficient method to accurately record river barriers, including small ones, has become a priority. We critically examine barrier mapping approaches, from field survey to automated detection, showcasing recent approaches to recording, counting and classifying river barriers. We demonstrate how incomplete barrier databases, particularly those lacking many small barriers, provide a flawed basis for water management and ecological restoration planning. We discuss the efficiency and accuracy of alternative barrier mapping approaches, highlight future priorities and emphasize harmonizing barrier assessment methods to generate reliable, freely available information for effective basin-level management.Full Tex
Does Scanner Choice Matter for the Design of Foot Orthosis?
No full textA variety of 3D volumetric scanners and smart-device applications are currently being used in podiatry for recording virtual foot data. The accuracy and reliability of these devices vary, resulting in a large variation in the quality of foot scans used for orthotic design. While it is widely believed that a higher quality scanner yields a better scan and thus is expected to produce a more accurate orthotic design, the direct impact of scanning quality on orthotic design has not yet been tested. Therefore, in this study, three commonly used industrial 3D scanners with varying output qualities were used to obtain foot scans of three participants in two weight-bearing conditions. A total of 54 foot scans were obtained, out of which 18 were used to design orthotic insoles using commercial software (FitFoot360). We found variation in the quality of foot scans produced by the different scanners (61.75 ± 2.23% similarity of the foot scans showing a deviation of less than ±1 mm). However, there were no significant differences in the designed foot orthoses within the same weight-bearing condition (83.59 ± 1.97% similarity of the orthotic designs showing a deviation of less than ±1 mm). The medial arch height and heel width differed significantly only when the weight-bearing condition was changed. The findings from this study suggest that the industrial design and production of an orthotic insole using current methods does not depend on the scanning quality of the scanner used but is dependent on the extent of weight bearing.Full Tex
Biochar-based fertilizer enhanced tobacco yield and quality by improving soil quality and soil microbial community
Get PDFBiochar-based fertilizers have the potential to improve soil quality by enhancing soil microbial communities, yet their direct effects on crop yield and quality are not well understood. To address this gap, we conducted a pot-based field study to evaluate the impact of traditional chemical fertilizers alone, traditional fertilizers supplemented with biochar, and biochar-based fertilizers on soil properties and bacterial communities. We also investigated how these treatments affected tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) yield and leaf aroma quality. Biochar-based fertilizers increased soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools compared to the control, leading to greater bacterial diversity and richness. Consequently, tobacco biomass increased from 449 g/pot to 517 g/pot, and leaf aroma content rose from 625 µg/g to 832 µg/g. Linear discriminant analysis and partial least squares path modeling identified 13 key bacterial phylotypes, including plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) such as Burkholderiaceae, Novosphingobium, Bacillus, Chitinophagaceae, Sphingomonas, Acidobacteriaceae, Acidobacteria, and Flavobacterium, that positively influenced tobacco leaf aroma constituents. Our findings suggest that biochar and biochar-based fertilizers enhance soil bacterial communities, which in turn improve crop yield and product quality. This study highlights the potential of biochar-based fertilizers as a sustainable agricultural practice to enhance soil health and crop quality through microbial community modulation.Full Tex
Hunter-gatherer sea voyages extended to remotest Mediterranean islands
Get PDFThe Maltese archipelago is a small island chain that is among the most remote in the Mediterranean. Humans were not thought to have reached and inhabited such small and isolated islands until the regional shift to Neolithic lifeways, around 7.5 thousand years ago (ka)1. In the standard view, the limited resources and ecological vulnerabilities of small islands, coupled with the technological challenges of long-distance seafaring, meant that hunter-gatherers were either unable or unwilling to make these journeys2-4. Here we describe chronological, archaeological, faunal and botanical data that support the presence of Holocene hunter-gatherers on the Maltese islands. At this time, Malta's geographical configuration and sea levels approximated those of the present day, necessitating seafaring distances of around 100 km from Sicily, the closest landmass. Occupations began at around 8.5 ka and are likely to have lasted until around 7.5 ka. These hunter-gatherers exploited land animals, but were also able to take advantage of marine resources and avifauna, helping to sustain these groups on a small island. Our discoveries document the longest yet-known hunter-gatherer sea crossings in the Mediterranean, raising the possibility of unknown, precocious connections across the wider region.Full Tex
The futures of tourism education: four scenarios for Brazil in 2032
No full textThis paper presents four possible scenarios for tourism education in Brazil for 2032, fostering reflection about the future of tourism higher education. Through a qualitative scenario analysis process, 15 experts were interviewed using a seven-question technique to support the definition of eight future driving forces of tourism education in Brazil (networks, curricula, hybrid education, cross-curricular skills, faculty, internationalisation, higher education structure, and neglected topics). The combination of the two most important and uncertain forces (networks and curricula) and their polar outcomes (network building, academic bubble, customised curricula, and generalised curricula) resulted in four scenarios for Brazilian undergraduate tourism degrees: (1) well-connected standardisation, highlighted academia’s external networks with the private and public sectors; (2) student protagonism in the business/academia relationship, proposed curriculum customisation; (3) stuck in the past, carried out the current curricular structure despite contextual changes; and (4) choices within the bubble, proposed tailor-made programmes with curricula designed mainly by the faculty. The four scenarios composed a knowledge-based foundation for what could be the future of tourism education. Regardless of the path of tourism education by 2032, this contribution reflects current tourism education, considering the global structural problems common to the tourism sector.Full Tex