19683 research outputs found
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New Oldowan locality Sare-Abururu (ca. 1.7 Ma) provides evidence of diverse hominin behaviors on the Homa Peninsula, Kenya
No full textThe Homa Peninsula, in southwestern Kenya, continues to yield insights into Oldowan hominin landscape behaviors. The Late Pliocene locality of Nyayanga (∼3–2.6 Ma) preserves some of the oldest Oldowan tools. At the Early Pleistocene locality of Kanjera South (∼2 Ma) toolmakers procured a diversity of raw materials from over 10 km away and strategically reduced them in a grassland-dominated ecosystem. Here, we report findings from Sare-Abururu, a younger (∼1.7 Ma) Oldowan locality approximately 12 km southeast of Kanjera South and 18 km east of Nyayanga. Sare-Abururu has yielded 1754 artifacts in relatively undisturbed low-energy silts and sands. Stable isotopic analysis of pedogenic carbonates suggests that hominin activities were carried out in a grassland-dominated setting with similar vegetation structure as documented at Kanjera South. The composition of a nearby paleo-conglomerate indicates that high-quality stone raw materials were locally abundant. Toolmakers at Sare-Abururu produced angular fragments from quartz pebbles, representing a considerable contrast to the strategies used to reduce high quality raw materials at Kanjera South. Although lithic reduction at Sare-Abururu was technologically simple, toolmakers proficiently produced cutting edges, made few mistakes and exhibited a mastery of platform management, demonstrating that expedient technical strategies do not necessarily indicate a lack of skill or suitable raw materials. Lithic procurement and reduction patterns on the Homa Peninsula appear to reflect variation in local resource contexts rather than large-scale evolutionary changes in mobility, energy budget, or toolmaker cognition
Public trust in general practitioners and its association with primary care contracts: a cross-sectional study of community residents in China
No full textObjectives: This study aimed to assess the level of public trust in general practitioners (GPs) and its association with primary care contract services (PCCS) in China. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Between September and December 2021, 4158 residents across eastern, central, and western China completed a structured self-administered questionnaire. Trust was assessed using the Chinese version of Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale. Multivariable linear regression models were established to identify predictors of trust. The effect size of PCCS on trust was estimated by the average treatment effect for the treated (ATT) through propensity score matching. Results: The study participants had a mean Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale score of 36.82 (standard deviation = 5.45). Enrollment with PCCS (β = 0.14, P < 0.01), Han ethnicity (β = 0.03, P < 0.05), lower educational attainment (β = −0.06, P < 0.01), higher individual monthly income (β = 0.03, P < 0.05), better self-rated health (β = 0.04, P < 0.05), chronic conditions (β = 0.07, P < 0.01), and higher familiarity with primary care services (β = 0.12, P < 0.01) and PCCS (β = 0.21, P < 0.01) were associated with higher trust in GPs. The ATT of PCCS exceeded 1 (P < 0.05). Conclusions: PCCS are associated with higher levels of trust in GPs. PCCS may become an effective tool to attract public trust in GPs, although the relationship between the two may be bi-directional
The Effectiveness of Electronic Screening and Brief Intervention for Alcohol-Related Maxillofacial Trauma: A Randomized Controlled Trial
No full textObjectives: This study aims to deliver a novel web-app-based electronic Screening and Brief Intervention to patients with alcohol-related facial trauma and assess changes in at-risk drinking behaviors and attitudes toward their drinking and alcohol-related trauma. Study design, setting, and sample: This was a 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. Participants who had sustained alcohol-related facial injuries were recruited from 3 Australian hospitals. Results: Fifty-six participants were enrolled and randomized initially with 45 participants completing the questionnaire at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Most of the participants were male (71.1%), aged between 18 and 29 (40%), and presented to the ED for the first time (68.9%). The study revealed that the intervention group participants found the information provided via the e-SBI helpful in changing their drinking habits and seek help. The e-SBI intervention had a moderate effect on ASSIST Scores (d = −.59; 95% CI, −.03, 1.18). The effect sizes of the e-SBI on the secondary outcomes also ranged between small and moderate. Conclusions: The novel app-based e-SBI can effectively deliver information on harmful drinking and provide brief intervention and other venues for help and subsequently improve awareness and willingness to seek help and reduce the risk of injury recurrence
Looking for negativity! How review sentiment and review subjectivity form review helpfulness across cultures
No full textNowadays, many consumers rely heavily on product reviews before making decisions; however, not all reviews are similar in terms of sentiment and helpfulness. Moreover, reviewers' linguistic styles vary according to their culture. Although various multinational companies such as eBay and Amazon operate worldwide, little research has been devoted to understanding how review sentiment influences the subjectivity and helpfulness of product reviews in a multicultural marketplace. Therefore, the present research identifies how review subjectivity explains the relationship between review sentiment and review helpfulness in individualistic (i.e., the U.S.) and collectivistic (i.e., India) cultures. By means of two studies, the first using secondary data collected from Amazon.com and the second a controlled experiment setting, we find that review subjectivity mediates the influence of review sentiments only in individualistic cultures such as the U.S., but not in collectivistic cultures like India. Furthermore, we find that the moderated mediation is evident only when comparing positive and negative sentiments. This research has implications for academic and industry practitioners in terms of incorporating culture in decisions on review helpfulness
High Risk or Risky Highs: Understanding the Links Between Alcohol and Cannabis Use on the Transition From Suicidal Ideation to Attempts in Australian Men
No full textAlcohol and cannabis use are consistently associated with greater risk of suicide, particularly among men and in higher-income countries (e.g., Australia). Adult data (n = 7,464) from waves 1 and 2 of Ten to Men: The Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health were used to explore whether alcohol and/or cannabis use increased the longitudinal risk of a suicide attempt among suicidal ideators. Cannabis use was associated with increased risk of transitioning from suicidal ideation to making a suicide attempt; no association was found for alcohol. Broadly, these findings indicate that greater cannabis but not alcohol use may increase risk of transitioning to making a suicide attempt among those who are thinking about suicide
A southern range extension for Sminthopsis macroura in Western Australia, at Eucla
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Determining the geographic distribution and ecology of the Critically Endangered Kaputar rock skink (Egernia roomi)
No full textContext: Knowledge of species’ distribution and habitat associations is fundamental for conservation planning and management, especially in the context of range-restricted taxa. The Critically Endangered Kaputar rock skink (Egernia roomi) is a high elevation species that is restricted to the Nandewar Ranges (New South Wales, Australia). The species was not formally recognised until 2019, with its distribution, ecology, and threats poorly known. Aims: To determine the geographical distribution of the Kaputar rock skink and explore its ecology and threats. Methods: We performed surveys throughout high elevation regions of Mount Kaputar National Park, targeting suitable habitat for the Kaputar rock skink (rock outcrops and plateaux). Species distributional modelling (SDM) was used to identify potentially suitable habitat outside of our search areas. Key results: We detected the species at all historical record sites and at 15 new sites, increasing the species’ known area of occupancy (AOO) four-fold (from 8 km2 to 40 km2), and elevational range three-fold (from 1360–1480 m to 1147–1509 m). Conclusion: The AOO for the species now exceeds the IUCN Red List threshold for Critically Endangered, but falls within the range for Endangered under Criterion B. Our SDMs indicated that all predicted suitable habitat for the species falls within the region that we surveyed in this study. Implications: Our study provides valuable information on the geographic range of a threatened lizard species and evaluates the potential impact of large-scale fires on the persistence of the species.</p
Stories of social and emotional resilience among pregnant Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan migrant women during COVID-19 lockdowns in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative study using photo-elicitation
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted family and community support systems that typically nurture pregnancy and birth experiences of migrant Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan women in Australia. Very little is known about how COVID-19 lockdown measures impacted Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan pregnant women living in Australia during the pandemic. Using an intersectional and resilience thinking approach, we explored the social and emotional resilience of Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan pregnant women living in Victoria, Australia during COVID-19 lockdowns. Semi-structured photo-elicitation interviews were conducted in English, Tamil and Bangla and audio-recorded in-person and virtually. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the visual and oral qualitative data produced. Twenty-five Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan-born women were interviewed. Three key themes emerged from data analysis: challenges exacerbated by COVID-19, sources of social resilience, and sources of emotional resilience. Participants were negatively impacted by closed international borders, care for children, financial pressures of temporary residence and their physical and mental health was impacted. Primary sources of social resilience were derived from family, community and healthcare professional support. Photo data produced by participants depicted patterns of emotional resilience to overcome the challenges of social isolation during their pregnancy in lockdown. The visual and oral data highlighted that participants were significantly impacted by social isolation during COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia. Findings from this study can contribute to understanding how social support networks influence maternity during a pandemic and how culturally safe maternal health practices can be reinforced to support the motherhood of migrant women regardless of visa status.</p
Narrative review of the utility of magnetic resonance imaging in radiotherapy for cervical cancer
No full textBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In radiotherapy (RT) for locally advanced cervical cancer, high soft tissue contrast on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can ensure accurate delineation of target volumes (TVs) and optimal dose distribution to the RT target and organs at risk (OAR). MRI-guided adaptive RT (MRIgART) is a novel technology that revises RT plans according to anatomical changes occurring throughout the treatment to improve target coverage and minimise OAR toxicity. This review aims to assess the evidence and gaps of MRI use in RT planning and MRIgART in the treatment of cervical cancer, as well as challenges in its clinical implementation. METHODS: Ovid Medline and PubMed were searched using keywords for MRI in RT for cervical cancer. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the initial search was deduced to 32 studies. A total of 37 final studies were reviewed, including eight additional articles from references. KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS: In the primary studies, TVs and organ motion were assessed before, during, and after treatment. MRI was used to investigate dose distribution and therapeutic response to the treatment in association with its outcome. Lastly, rationales for MRIgART were evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that MRI enables accurate target delineation, assessment of organ motion and interfraction changes, and monitoring of treatment response through dynamic parameters. Enhanced target coverage and reduced OAR irradiation through MRIgART can improve local control and the overall outcome, although its rationales against the logistical challenges need to be evaluated on further research
