720 research outputs found
A Brief Wellbeing Training Session Delivered by a Humanoid Social Robot: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Mental health and psychological distress are rising in adults, showing the
importance of wellbeing promotion, support, and technique practice that is
effective and accessible. Interactive social robots have been tested to deliver
health programs but have not been explored to deliver wellbeing technique
training in detail. A pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted to
explore the feasibility of an autonomous humanoid social robot to deliver a
brief mindful breathing technique to promote information around wellbeing. It
contained two conditions: brief technique training (Technique) and control
designed to represent a simple wait-list activity to represent a
relationship-building discussion (Simple Rapport). This trial also explored
willingness to discuss health-related topics with a robot. Recruitment uptake
rate through convenience sampling was high (53%). A total of 230 participants
took part (mean age = 29 years) with 71% being higher education students. There
were moderate ratings of technique enjoyment, perceived usefulness, and
likelihood to repeat the technique again. Interaction effects were found across
measures with scores varying across gender and distress levels. Males with high
distress and females with low distress who received the simple rapport activity
reported greater comfort to discuss non-health topics than males with low
distress and females with high distress. This trial marks a notable step
towards the design and deployment of an autonomous wellbeing intervention to
investigate the impact of a brief robot-delivered mindfulness training program
for a sub-clinical population
Validation of deep learning-based markerless 3D pose estimation
Deep learning-based approaches to markerless 3D pose estimation are being adopted by researchers in psychology and neuroscience at an unprecedented rate. Yet many of these tools remain unvalidated. Here, we report on the validation of one increasingly popular tool (DeepLabCut) against simultaneous measurements obtained from a reference measurement system (Fastrak) with well-known performance characteristics. Our results confirm close (mm range) agreement between the two, indicating that under specific circumstances deep learning-based approaches can match more traditional motion tracking methods. Although more work needs to be done to determine their specific performance characteristics and limitations, this study should help build confidence within the research community using these new tools
Imaginary relish and exquisite torture: The elaborated intrusion theory of desire
The authors argue that human desire involves conscious cognition that has
strong affective connotation and is potentially involved in the determination
of appetitive behavior rather than being epiphenomenal to it. Intrusive
thoughts about appetitive targets are triggered automatically by external or
physiological cues and by cognitive associates. When intrusions elicit
significant pleasure or relief, cognitive elaboration usually ensues.
Elaboration competes with concurrent cognitive tasks through retrieval of
target-related information and its retention in working memory. Sensory
images are especially important products of intrusion and elaboration because
they simulate the sensory and emotional qualities of target acquisition. Desire
images are momentarily rewarding but amplify awareness of somatic and
emotional deficits. Effects of desires on behavior are moderated by competing
incentives, target availability, and skills. The theory provides a coherent
account of existing data and suggests new directions for research and
treatment
TGFβ and CCN2/CTGF mediate actin related gene expression by differential E2F1/CREB activation
BACKGROUND: CCN2/CTGF is an established effector of TGFβ driven responses in diabetic nephropathy. We have identified an interaction between CCN2 and TGFβ leading to altered phenotypic differentiation and inhibited cellular migration. Here we determine the gene expression profile associated with this phenotype and define a transcriptional basis for differential actin related gene expression and cytoskeletal function. RESULTS: From a panel of genes regulated by TGFβ and CCN2, we used co-inertia analysis to identify and then experimentally verify a subset of transcription factors, E2F1 and CREB, that regulate an expression fingerprint implicated in altered actin dynamics and cell hypertrophy. Importantly, actin related genes containing E2F1 and CREB binding sites, stratified by expression profile within the dataset. Further analysis of actin and cytoskeletal related genes from patients with diabetic nephropathy suggests recapitulation of this programme during the development of renal disease. The Rho family member Cdc42 was also found uniquely to be activated in cells treated with TGFβ and CCN2; Cdc42 interacting genes were differentially regulated in diabetic nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: TGFβ and CCN2 attenuate CREB and augment E2F1 transcriptional activation with the likely effect of altering actin cytoskeletal and cell growth/hypertrophic gene activity with implications for cell dysfunction in diabetic kidney disease. The cytoskeletal regulator Cdc42 may play a role in this signalling response
Polls and the political process: the use of opinion polls by political parties and mass media organizations in European postâcommunist societies (1990â95)
Opinion polling occupies a significant role within the political process of most liberal-capitalist societies, where it is used by governments, parties and the mass media alike. This paper examines the extent to which polls are used for the same purposes in the post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and in particular, for bringing political elites and citizens together. It argues that these political elites are more concerned with using opinion polls for gaining competitive advantage over their rivals and for reaffirming their political power, than for devolving political power to citizens and improving the general processes of democratization
Development and validation of the user version of the mobile application rating scale (uMARS)
The Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) provides a reliable method to assess the quality of mobile health (mHealth) apps. However, training and expertise in mHealth and the relevant health field is required to administer it.This study describes the development and reliability testing of an end-user version of the MARS (uMARS).The MARS was simplified and piloted with 13 young people to create the uMARS. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the uMARS was then examined in a second sample of 164 young people participating in a randomized controlled trial of a mHealth app. App ratings were collected using the uMARS at 1-, 3,- and 6-month follow up.The uMARS had excellent internal consistency (alpha = .90), with high individual alphas for all subscales. The total score and subscales had good test-retest reliability over both 1-2 months and 3 months.The uMARS is a simple tool that can be reliably used by end-users to assess the quality of mHealth apps
Association Analysis of Canonical Wnt Signalling Genes in Diabetic Nephropathy
Several studies have provided compelling evidence implicating the Wnt signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Gene expression profiles associated with renal fibrosis have been attenuated through Wnt pathway modulation in model systems implicating Wnt pathway members as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. We assessed tag and potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; nâ=â31) in four key Wnt pathway genes (CTNNB1, AXIN2, LRP5 and LRP6) for association with diabetic nephropathy using a case-control design.SNPs were genotyped using Sequenom or Taqman technologies in 1351 individuals with type 1 diabetes (651 cases with nephropathy and 700 controls without nephropathy). Cases and controls were white and recruited from the UK and Ireland. Association analyses were performed using PLINK, to compare allele and haplotype frequencies in cases and controls. Adjustment for multiple testing was performed by permutation testing.Following logistic regression analysis adjusted by collection centre, duration of T1D, and average HbA1c as covariates, a single SNP in LRP6 (rs1337791) was significantly associated with DN (ORâ=â0.74; CI: 0.57-0.97; Pâ=â0.028), although this was not maintained following correction for multiple testing. Three additional SNPs (rs2075241 in LRP6; rs3736228 and rs491347 both in LRP5) were marginally associated with diabetic nephropathy, but none of the associations were replicated in an independent dataset. Haplotype and subgroup analysis (according to duration of diabetes, and end-stage renal disease) also failed to reveal an association with diabetic nephropathy.Our results suggest that analysed common variants in CTNNB1, AXIN2, LRP5 and LRP6 are not strongly associated with diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetes among white individuals. Our findings, however, cannot entirely exclude these genes or other members of the Wnt pathway, from involvement in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy as our study had limited power to detect variants with small effect size
Enhanced visible light absorption in layered Cs3Bi2Br9 through mixed-valence Sn(ii)/Sn(iv) doping
Funder: Cambridge TrustMixed valence Sn doping of Cs3Bi2Br9 leads to broad visible light absorption.</jats:p
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