9,535 research outputs found

    Chronic swallowing ability in nasopharyngeal cancer survivors after radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy

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    In light of the lack of multidimensional data of long-term swallowing functions in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) survivors, the current study investigated NPC survivors’ long-term swallowing dysfunctions after radiotherapy or chemoradiation by a multidimensional protocol and explored their relationships with demographic and treatment-related variables. Twenty-seven participants were recruited and assessed through oromotor assessment, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and quality-of-life questionnaires. Nearly half of the participants had oromotor deficits (47.6%) and penetration in at least one of the swallowing trials (45.8%). All participants had pharyngeal residue in valleculae and most participants have residue in pyriform sinuses (81.8%) in at least one of the swallowing trials. Limitations in the activity and participation domains were prevalent though large variation in functioning was noted. Comparison between groups indicated that participants treated with concurrent chemotherapy have significantly less degree of penetration or aspiration and less residue in valleculae on oral trials for extra thick liquid than those treated with radiotherapy alone. Correlation analysis indicated that degree of penetration in thin liquid, mildly thick liquid and amount of residue residing on valleculae in extra thick liquid increase with the number of years since completion of radiotherapy. Functioning in the activity and participation domains also decreased with time since completion of radiotherapy. Regression analysis indicated that number of years since completion of radiotherapy was a significant predictor for pharyngeal residue. The deteriorating trend identified provided evidence to the need of continuous monitoring in swallowing functions in nasopharyngeal cancer survivors. Further research to identify risk factors for long-term swallowing problems and ways to minimize long-term swallowing problems are neededfor early identification and maximising swallowing functions for nasopharyngeal cancer survivors.published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science

    When feeling attractive matters too much to women: a process underpinning the relation between psychological need satisfaction and unhealthy weight control behaviors

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    This study examined a process model linking psychological need satisfaction to unhealthy weight control behaviors. Female University students (N = 220; M age = 20.47; SD = 5.07) completed questionnaires measuring need satisfaction, appearance-contingent self-worth, weight-related appearance anxiety and unhealthy weight control behaviors. Structural equation modeling revealed that need satisfaction indirectly related to engagement in unhealthy weight control behaviors through appearance-contingent self-worth and weight-related appearance anxiety. The results indicate that appearance-contingent self-worth might help to explain how low levels of psychological need satisfaction are related to maladaptive weight-related outcomes in young women

    A novel and validated agile Ontology Engineering methodology for the development of ontology-based applications

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    The goal of this Thesis is to investigate the status of Ontology Engineering, underlining the main key issues still characterizing this discipline. Among these issues, the problem of reconciling macro-level methodologies with authoring techniques is pivotal in supporting novel ontology engineers. The latest approach characterizing ontology engineering methodologies leverages the agile paradigm to support collaborative ontology development and deliver efficient ontologies. However, so far, the investigations in the current support provided by these methodologies and the delivery of efficient ontologies have not been investigated. Thus, this work proposes a novel framework for the investigation of agile methodologies, with the objective of identifying the strong point of each agile methodology and their limitations. Leveraging on the findings of this analysis, the Thesis introduces a novel agile methodology – AgiSCOnt – aimed at tackling some of the key issues characterizing Ontology Engineering and weaknesses identified in existing agile approaches. The novel methodology is then put to the test as it is adopted for the development of two new domain ontologies in the field of health: the first is dedicated to patients struggling with dysphagia, while the second addresses patients affected by Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.The goal of this Thesis is to investigate the status of Ontology Engineering, underlining the main key issues still characterizing this discipline. Among these issues, the problem of reconciling macro-level methodologies with authoring techniques is pivotal in supporting novel ontology engineers. The latest approach characterizing ontology engineering methodologies leverages the agile paradigm to support collaborative ontology development and deliver efficient ontologies. However, so far, the investigations in the current support provided by these methodologies and the delivery of efficient ontologies have not been investigated. Thus, this work proposes a novel framework for the investigation of agile methodologies, with the objective of identifying the strong point of each agile methodology and their limitations. Leveraging on the findings of this analysis, the Thesis introduces a novel agile methodology – AgiSCOnt – aimed at tackling some of the key issues characterizing Ontology Engineering and weaknesses identified in existing agile approaches. The novel methodology is then put to the test as it is adopted for the development of two new domain ontologies in the field of health: the first is dedicated to patients struggling with dysphagia, while the second addresses patients affected by Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

    Local consistency for extended CSPs

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    AbstractWe extend the framework of Constraint Satisfaction Problems to make it more suitable for/applicable to modern constraint programming languages where both constraint satisfaction and constraint solving have a role. Some rough principles for local consistency conditions in the extended framework are developed, appropriate notions of local consistency are formulated, and relationships between the various consistency conditions are established

    Dyadic meta-accuracy in leader-member exchanges: an examination of antecedents and relational outcomes

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    Work organizations are inherently social entities, dependent upon the social interactions between supervisors and subordinates. This study examined the role of interpersonal processes within organizational settings, focusing upon subordinates‟ accuracy in judging their supervisors‟ impressions of the subordinates‟ personality. This phenomenon, dyadic meta-accuracy, is examined within exchange relationships between supervisors and subordinates, drawing upon Leader Member Exchange (LMX) theory and the metaperception literature. A theoretical framework proposed potential antecedents of subordinate meta-accuracy, including: communication frequency, physical proximity, psychological closeness, and trait visibility. In addition, subordinate meta-accuracy was proposed as a determinant of the relational quality between subordinate and supervisor and the congruence between their perceptions of this quality. The study utilized a snowball sampling technique to collect survey data from 72 supervisor-subordinate dyads. MANCOVA and ANOVA were utilized in the testing of hypotheses. Results supported physical proximity and trait visibility as predictors of meta-accuracy. Meta-accuracy was also significantly associated with LMX quality and congruence in their perceptions of relational quality. Differential results were found across the five personality factors (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness, emotional stability), and conscientiousness held the greatest importance relative to other factors

    Internal and External Validity of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in Young Adolescents with ADHD

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    Adolescents with Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) show symptoms of slowness, mental confusion, excessive daydreaming, low motivation, and drowsiness/sleepiness. Although many symptoms of SCT reflect internalizing states, no study has evaluated the utility of self-report of SCT in an ADHD sample. Further, it remains unclear whether SCT is best conceptualized as a unidimensional or multidimensional construct. In a sample of 262 adolescents comprehensively diagnosed with ADHD, the present study evaluated the dimensionality of a SCT scale and compared CFA and bifactor model fits for parent- and self-report versions. Analyses revealed the three-factor bifactor model to be the best fitting model. In addition, SCT factors predicted social and academic impairment and internalizing symptoms. Therefore, SCT as a multidimensional construct appears to have clinical utility in predicting impairment. Also, multiple reporters should be used, as they predicted different areas of functioning and were not invariant, suggesting that each rater adds unique information
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