Developing an Automated Assessment of In-session Patient Activation for Psychological Therapy: Codevelopment Approach

Background: Patient activation is defined as a patient’s confidence and perceived ability to manage their own health. Patient activation has been a consistent predictor of long-term health and care costs, particularly for people with multiple long-term health conditions. However, there is currently no means of measuring patient activation from what is said in health care consultations. This may be particularly important for psychological therapy because most current methods for evaluating therapy content cannot be used routinely due to time and cost restraints. Natural language processing (NLP) has been used increasingly to classify and evaluate the contents of psychological therapy. This aims to make the routine, systematic evaluation of psychological therapy contents more accessible in terms of time and cost restraints. However, comparatively little attention has been paid to algorithmic trust and interpretability, with few studies in the field involving end users or stakeholders in algorithm development. Objective: This study applied a responsible design to use NLP in the development of an artificial intelligence model to automate the ratings assigned by a psychological therapy process measure: the consultation interactions coding scheme (CICS). The CICS assesses the level of patient activation observable from turn-by-turn psychological therapy interactions. Methods: With consent, 128 sessions of remotely delivered cognitive behavioral therapy from 53 participants experiencing multiple physical and mental health problems were anonymously transcribed and rated by trained human CICS coders. Using participatory methodology, a multidisciplinary team proposed candidate language features that they thought would discriminate between high and low patient activation. The team included service-user researchers, psychological therapists, applied linguists, digital research experts, artificial intelligence ethics researchers, and NLP researchers. Identified language features were extracted from the transcripts alongside demographic features, and machine learning was applied using k-nearest neighbors and bagged trees algorithms to assess whether in-session patient activation and interaction types could be accurately classified. Results: The k-nearest neighbors classifier obtained 73% accuracy (82% precision and 80% recall) in a test data set. The bagged trees classifier obtained 81% accuracy for test data (87% precision and 75% recall) in differentiating between interactions rated high in patient activation and those rated low or neutral. Conclusions: Coproduced language features identified through a multidisciplinary collaboration can be used to discriminate among psychological therapy session contents based on patient activation among patients experiencing multiple long-term physical and mental health conditions

Investigation on scale formation in aluminium industry by means of a cold-finger

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05864-7_87A cylindrical fouling probe or “cold-finger” has been used to investigate fouling from aluminium production off-gas. The probe was located upstream from the off-gas cleaning system. Surface deposits have been collected for further analysis by EPMA and XRD, and compared with off-gas dust and old scale samples collected in the same experimental site. Cross-section micrographs of the deposit surfaces have been obtained to highlight the differences in surface structures formed on the upstream and downstream faces of the cold-finger. Strongly adhered hard scale formed after only two days in the upstream face of the probe. Loosely attached deposits accumulated downstream, which consisted of distinguishable particles of Al 2 O 3 , spherical Cryolitic bath condensates and Ni-S phases. The hard scale was rich in small bath condensates (NaAlF 4 ) that form a tight network keeping together the larger particles. The deposition of those particles is suggested to be a key in scale formation. © 2019, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.acceptedVersio

Wet expansion steam cycles for offshore industry

Urokinazni plazminogenski aktivator izvanstanična je proteaza koja sudjeluje u procesima razgradnje izvanstaničnog matriksa te može biti regulirana sustavom koji upravlja procesima epitelno-mezenhimske tranzicije. Procesi tranzicije često su regulirani putem TGFβ koji potiče ekspresiju gena tipičnih za mezenhimski fenotip, kao i migraciju. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi ulogu signalnog puta TGFβ u regulaciji sustava urokinaznog plazminogenskog aktivatora (uPA) i u mehanizmu djelovanja natrijevog salicilata na promjenu aktivnosti uPA kod nekoliko staničnih linija tumora. Uzgojene su stanice glioblastoma transficirane plazmidom sa sekvencom za TGFβ koje su imale veću aktivnost urokinaze u odnosu na roditeljske, brže su migrirale, ali su im stopa proliferacije i morfologija bile nepromijenjene. Analizom proteina nije detektirano povećanje ekspresije urokinaze, ali jest njenog inhibitora. Inhibicija receptora TGFβ smanjila je bazalnu aktivnost urokinaze glioblastomskih stanica, kao i aktivnost induciranu obradom natrijevim salicilatom. Kod drugih dviju staničnih linija inhibicija puta TGFβ nije smanjila aktivnost urokinaze. Zaključeno je da TGFβ može sudjelovati u regulaciji sustava urokinaze, na stanično specifičan način.Urokinase plasminogen activator is an extracellular protease involved in the processes of extracellular matrix remodelling which is supposed to be regulated by mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These processes can be regulated by TGFβ which induce expression of genes typical for mesenchymal phenotype, as well as migration. The aim of this investigation was to establish the role of TGFβ signalling pathway in urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system regulation and in the mechanism of uPA activity changes caused by sodium salicylate in several tumour cell lines. We analysed glioblastoma cells transfected with plasmid containing TGFβ sequence and found higher urokinase activity and increased migration in comparison with parental cells, but proliferation rate and morphology were unchanged. Protein analysis did not reveal increase in urokinase expression but plasminogen inhibitor expression was upregulated. TGFβ receptor inhibition decreased the basal urokinase activity in glioblastoma cells, as well as activity induced by sodium salicylate treatment. In two other cell lines TGFβ signalling inhibition did not decrease urokinase activity. It was concluded that TGFβ can participate in urokinase system regulation, but in a cell specific way

Enabling Efficient Heat Recovery from Aluminium Pot Gas

This is the peer-reviewed manuscript. The published article is available at SpringerLink: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-51541-0_95acceptedVersio

Particle deposition characteristics in the formation of Hard Grey Scale (HGS) on cold surfaces exposed to aluminium production off-gas

Hard Grey Scale (HGS) is a hard and strongly adhering fouling material that forms on solid surfaces impinged by the off-gas generated in the pot cells of aluminium production plants. Different theories on HGS formation mechanisms have been suggested, involving particle re-crystallization or formation of a binder phase between the deposited particles. However, no conclusive proofs have yet been presented. This study focuses on statistical quantification of HGS growth rates and particle deposition characteristics from analysis of fouling experiments in a primary aluminium production plant. The experiments were performed with a cylindrical cold-finger inserted in a duct upstream of the Gas Treatment Center (GTC) with durations ranging from a few hours to several months. Detailed characterization of cold-finger deposits and off-gas particle size distributions was performed using image analysis (IA) and a Particle Diffraction Sizer (PDS) to investigate particle capture efficiencies on both sides of the cold-finger. In addition, an old HGS sample from a secondary alumina transport pipe, with different appearance than cold-finger HGS, was analyzed. Results show that HGS particles have a log-normal size distribution centered at 1.2 μm with 35% of the particles below 1 μm. A similar granular structure and size distribution was found for the HGS sample from the secondary alumina transport pipe, suggesting that a similar formation mechanism exists for the two types of HGS. Particle capture efficiency results for cold-finger HGS at low Stokes numbers are in good agreement with numerical studies considering inertial impaction efficiencies. At larger Stokes numbers, i.e. larger particle sizes, rebounding and re-entrainment effects result in lower capture efficiencies than those predicted by the impaction models. The present results suggest that HGS formation is due to inertial deposition of small particles, with the submicron-sized fraction generating a closely packed structure responsible for the HGS bulk properties

Particle deposition characteristics in the formation of Hard Grey Scale (HGS) on cold surfaces exposed to aluminium production off-gas

Hard Grey Scale (HGS) is a hard and strongly adhering fouling material that forms on solid surfaces impinged by the off-gas generated in the pot cells of aluminium production plants. Different theories on HGS formation mechanisms have been suggested, involving particle re-crystallization or formation of a binder phase between the deposited particles. However, no conclusive proofs have yet been presented. This study focuses on statistical quantification of HGS growth rates and particle deposition characteristics from analysis of fouling experiments in a primary aluminium production plant. The experiments were performed with a cylindrical cold-finger inserted in a duct upstream of the Gas Treatment Center (GTC) with durations ranging from a few hours to several months. Detailed characterization of cold-finger deposits and off-gas particle size distributions was performed using image analysis (IA) and a Particle Diffraction Sizer (PDS) to investigate particle capture efficiencies on both sides of the cold-finger. In addition, an old HGS sample from a secondary alumina transport pipe, with different appearance than cold-finger HGS, was analyzed. Results show that HGS particles have a log-normal size distribution centered at 1.2 μm with 35% of the particles below 1 μm. A similar granular structure and size distribution was found for the HGS sample from the secondary alumina transport pipe, suggesting that a similar formation mechanism exists for the two types of HGS. Particle capture efficiency results for cold-finger HGS at low Stokes numbers are in good agreement with numerical studies considering inertial impaction efficiencies. At larger Stokes numbers, i.e. larger particle sizes, rebounding and re-entrainment effects result in lower capture efficiencies than those predicted by the impaction models. The present results suggest that HGS formation is due to inertial deposition of small particles, with the submicron-sized fraction generating a closely packed structure responsible for the HGS bulk properties

Composition and Structure Analysis of Hard Grey Scale (HGS) Formed on Cold Surfaces Exposed to Aluminium Production Off-gas

Hard grey scale (HGS) is a strongly adhering fouling material forming on solid surfaces impinged by off-gas generated in the pot cells of primary aluminium production plants. Even though associated maintenance costs have a significant economic impact, the mechanisms behind HGS formation are not well understood. In the present work, a cooled fouling probe or “cold finger” placed in the off-gas duct, upstream of the gas treatment centre (GTC), at a Norwegian aluminium production site was used to study the formation mechanisms of HGS. Fouling experiments were performed with durations ranging from a few hours to several months. HGS formed on the windward side of the probe, whereas dusty and loosely attached deposits accumulated on the leeward side. The chemical composition and crystal phase evolution of the different deposits and off-gas particle samples were analysed by electron probe micro-analyser equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EPMA-EDS), quantitative x-ray diffraction (Q-XRD), LECO-C and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, image analysis (IA) was used to investigate the particle size distribution and deposition properties of particles with different compositions. Inertial deposition of atmolite (NaAlF4) nanoparticles, produced by pot cell electrolyte vapour condensation, has been identified as the key mechanism in the formation of HGS

Particle deposition characteristics in the formation of Hard Grey Scale (HGS) on cold surfaces exposed to aluminium production off-gas

Hard Grey Scale (HGS) is a hard and strongly adhering fouling material that forms on solid surfaces impinged by the off-gas generated in the pot cells of aluminium production plants. Different theories on HGS formation mechanisms have been suggested, involving particle re-crystallization or formation of a binder phase between the deposited particles. However, no conclusive proofs have yet been presented. This study focuses on statistical quantification of HGS growth rates and particle deposition characteristics from analysis of fouling experiments in a primary aluminium production plant. The experiments were performed with a cylindrical cold-finger inserted in a duct upstream of the Gas Treatment Center (GTC) with durations ranging from a few hours to several months. Detailed characterization of cold-finger deposits and off-gas particle size distributions was performed using image analysis (IA) and a Particle Diffraction Sizer (PDS) to investigate particle capture efficiencies on both sides of the cold-finger. In addition, an old HGS sample from a secondary alumina transport pipe, with different appearance than cold-finger HGS, was analyzed. Results show that HGS particles have a log-normal size distribution centered at 1.2 μm with 35% of the particles below 1 μm. A similar granular structure and size distribution was found for the HGS sample from the secondary alumina transport pipe, suggesting that a similar formation mechanism exists for the two types of HGS. Particle capture efficiency results for cold-finger HGS at low Stokes numbers are in good agreement with numerical studies considering inertial impaction efficiencies. At larger Stokes numbers, i.e. larger particle sizes, rebounding and re-entrainment effects result in lower capture efficiencies than those predicted by the impaction models. The present results suggest that HGS formation is due to inertial deposition of small particles, with the submicron-sized fraction generating a closely packed structure responsible for the HGS bulk properties.publishedVersio

Enabling Efficient Heat Recovery from Aluminium Pot Gas

This is the peer-reviewed manuscript. The published article is available at SpringerLink: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-51541-0_95acceptedVersio