| 1. |
- Chan, William W., et al.
(författare)
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The Challenges in Designing a Prevention Chatbot for Eating Disorders : Observational Study
- 2022
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Ingår i: JMIR Formative Research. - : JMIR Publications Inc. - 2561-326X. ; 6:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Chatbots have the potential to provide cost-effective mental health prevention programs at scale and increase interactivity, ease of use, and accessibility of intervention programs. Objective: The development of chatbot prevention for eating disorders (EDs) is still in its infancy. Our aim is to present examples of and solutions to challenges in designing and refining a rule-based prevention chatbot program for EDs, targeted at adult women at risk for developing an ED. Methods: Participants were 2409 individuals who at least began to use an EDs prevention chatbot in response to social media advertising. Over 6 months, the research team reviewed up to 52,129 comments from these users to identify inappropriate responses that negatively impacted users experience and technical glitches. Problems identified by reviewers were then presented to the entire research team, who then generated possible solutions and implemented new responses. Results: The most common problem with the chatbot was a general limitation in understanding and responding appropriately to unanticipated user responses. We developed several workarounds to limit these problems while retaining some interactivity. Conclusions: Rule-based chatbots have the potential to reach large populations at low cost but are limited in understanding and responding appropriately to unanticipated user responses. They can be most effective in providing information and simple conversations. Workarounds can reduce conversation errors.
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| 2. |
- deWeert, Michael J., et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of spatial variability in hyperspectral imagery of the uterine cervix in vivo
- 2003
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Ingår i: Proceedings of SPIE. - : SPIE. ; 4959, s. 67-76
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy in the analysis of cervical histopathology is a growing field of research. The majority of this research is performed with point-like probes. Typically, clinicians select probe sites visually, collecting a handful of spectral samples. An exception to this methodology is the Hyperspectral Diagnostic Imaging (HSDI®) instrument developed by Science and Technology International. This non-invasive device collects contiguous hyperspectral images across the entire cervical portio. The high spatial and spectral resolution of the HSDI instruments make them uniquely well suited for addressing the issues of coupled spatial and spectral variability of tissues in vivo. Analysis of HSDI data indicates that tissue spectra vary from point to point, even within histopathologically homogeneous regions. This spectral variability exhibits both random and patterned components, implying that point monitoring may be susceptible to significant sources of noise and clutter inherent in the tissue. We have analyzed HSDI images from clinical CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) patients to quantify the spatial variability of fluorescence and reflectance spectra. This analysis shows the spatial structure of images to be fractal in nature, in both intensity and spectrum. These fractal tissue textures will limit the performance of any point-monitoring technology.
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| 3. |
- Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E., et al.
(författare)
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Effectiveness of a chatbot for eating disorders prevention: A randomized clinical trial
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Eating Disorders. - : WILEY. - 0276-3478 .- 1098-108X. ; 55:3, s. 343-353
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Prevention of eating disorders (EDs) is of high importance. However, digital programs with human moderation are unlikely to be disseminated widely. The aim of this study was to test whether a chatbot (i.e., computer program simulating human conversation) would significantly reduce ED risk factors (i.e., weight/shape concerns, thin-ideal internalization) in women at high risk for an ED, compared to waitlist control, as well as whether it would significantly reduce overall ED psychopathology, depression, and anxiety and prevent ED onset. Method Women who screened as high risk for an ED were randomized (N = 700) to (1) chatbot based on the StudentBodies (c) program; or (2) waitlist control. Participants were followed for 6 months. Results For weight/shape concerns, there was a significantly greater reduction in intervention versus control at 3- (d = -0.20; p = .03) and 6-m-follow-up (d = -0.19; p = .04). There were no differences in change in thin-ideal internalization. The intervention was associated with significantly greater reductions than control in overall ED psychopathology at 3- (d = -0.29; p = .003) but not 6-month follow-up. There were no differences in change in depression or anxiety. The odds of remaining nonclinical for EDs were significantly higher in intervention versus control at both 3- (OR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.37, 4.11]) and 6-month follow-ups (OR = 2.13, 95% CI [1.26, 3.59]). Discussion Findings provide support for the use of a chatbot-based EDs prevention program in reducing weight/shape concerns through 6-month follow-up, as well as in reducing overall ED psychopathology, at least in the shorter-term. Results also suggest the intervention may reduce ED onset. Public Significance We found that a chatbot, or a computer program simulating human conversation, based on an established, cognitive-behavioral therapy-based eating disorders prevention program, was successful in reducing womens concerns about weight and shape through 6-month follow-up and that it may actually reduce eating disorder onset. These findings are important because this intervention, which uses a rather simple text-based approach, can easily be disseminated in order to prevent these deadly illnesses. Trial registration: OSF Registries;
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| 4. |
- Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E., et al.
(författare)
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Harnessing mobile technology to reduce mental health disorders in college populations : A randomized controlled trial study protocol
- 2021
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Ingår i: Contemporary Clinical Trials. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. - 1551-7144 .- 1559-2030. ; 103
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- About a third of college students struggle with anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder, and only 20?40% of college students with mental disorders receive treatment. Inadequacies in mental health care delivery result in prolonged illness, disease progression, poorer prognosis, and greater likelihood of relapse, highlighting the need for a new approach to detect mental health problems and engage college students in services. We have developed a transdiagnostic, low-cost mobile mental health targeted prevention and intervention platform that uses population-level screening to engage college students in tailored services that address common mental health problems. We will test the impact of this mobile mental health platform for service delivery in a large-scale trial across 20+ colleges. Students who screen positive or at high-risk for clinical anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder and who are not currently engaged in mental health services (N = 7884) will be randomly assigned to: 1) intervention via the mobile mental health platform; or 2) referral to usual care (i.e., campus health or counseling center). We will test whether the mobile mental health platform, compared to referral, is associated with improved uptake, reduced clinical cases, disorder-specific symptoms, and improved quality of life and functioning. We will also test mediators, predictors, and moderators of improved mental health outcomes, as well as stakeholder-relevant outcomes, including cost-effectiveness and academic performance. This population-level approach to service engagement has the potential to improve mental health outcomes for the millions of students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities.
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| 5. |
- Jacobson, Annica, et al.
(författare)
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Hyaluronan content in experimental carcinoma is not correlated to interstitial fluid pressure.
- 2003
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Ingår i: Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.. ; 305, s. 1017-1023
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mechanism(s) for generation of the high tumor interstitial fluid pressure (TIFP) that is characteristic of carcinoma is not known. We investigated the role of hyaluronan, the major water-binding polysaccharide of the extracellular matrix, for the generation of a high TIFP. A human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (KAT-4) xenografted to athymic mice and a syngeneic rat colon carcinoma (PROb) were used. Neither KAT-4 nor PROb cells produced hyaluronan (HA) in culture, however, both cell lines produced factors that stimulated HA-synthesis by cultured fibroblasts. Modulating hyaluronan levels by transfection of PROb carcinoma cells with hyaluronan synthase-2 revealed no correlation between hyaluronan content and TIFP. Furthermore, lowering of TIFP by treating KAT-4 tumors with a specific inhibitor of TGF-beta 1 and -beta 3 did not change the concentration of hyaluronan in the tumors. In summary, our results suggest that a modulation of hyaluronan content is not a major pathogenetic mechanism for the generation of the characteristically high TIFP in malignant carcinomas.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Sönnerfors, Pernilla, et al.
(författare)
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The challenges of recruiting never-smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from the large population-based Swedish CArdiopulmonary bioImage study (SCAPIS) cohort.
- 2024
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Ingår i: European Clinical Respiratory Journal. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2001-8525. ; 11:1, s. 2372903-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A substantial proportion of individuals with COPD have never smoked, and it is implied to be more common than previously anticipated but poorly studied.AIM: To describe the process of recruitment of never-smokers with COPD from a population-based cohort (n = 30 154).METHODS: We recruited never-smokers with COPD, aged 50-75 years, from six University Hospitals, based on: 1) post broncho-dilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) < 0.70 and 2) FEV1 50-100% of predicted value and 3) being never-smokers (self-reported). In total 862 SCAPIS participants were identified, of which 652 were reachable and agreed to a first screening by telephone. Altogether 128 (20%) were excluded due to previous smoking or declined participation. We also applied a lower limit of normal (LLN) of FEV1/FVC (z-score<-1.64) according to the Global Lung Initiative to ensure a stricter definition of airflow obstruction.RESULTS: Data on respiratory symptoms, health status, and medical history were collected from 492 individuals, since 32 were excluded at a second data review (declined or previous smoking), prior to the first visit. Due to not matching the required lung function criteria at a second spirometry, an additional 334 (68%) were excluded. These exclusions were by reason of: FEV1/FVC ≥0.7 (49%), FEV1 > 100% of predicted (26%) or z-score ≥ -1,64 (24%). Finally, 154 never-smokers with COPD were included: 56 (36%) women, (mean) age 60 years, FEV1 84% of predicted, FEV1/FVC: 0.6, z-score: -2.2, Oxygen saturation: 97% and BMI: 26.8 kg/m2.CONCLUSIONS: The challenges of a recruitment process of never-smokers with COPD were shown, including the importance of correct spirometry testing and strict inclusion criteria. Our findings highlight the importance of repeated spirometry assessments for improved accuracy in diagnosing COPD.
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| 8. |
- Weston, David J., et al.
(författare)
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The Sphagnome Project : enabling ecological and evolutionary insights through a genus-level sequencing project
- 2018
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Ingår i: New Phytologist. - : Wiley. - 0028-646X .- 1469-8137. ; 217:1, s. 16-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Considerable progress has been made in ecological and evolutionary genetics with studies demonstrating how genes underlying plant and microbial traits can influence adaptation and even 'extend' to influence community structure and ecosystem level processes. Progress in this area is limited to model systems with deep genetic and genomic resources that often have negligible ecological impact or interest. Thus, important linkages between genetic adaptations and their consequences at organismal and ecological scales are often lacking. Here we introduce the Sphagnome Project, which incorporates genomics into a long-running history of Sphagnum research that has documented unparalleled contributions to peatland ecology, carbon sequestration, biogeochemistry, microbiome research, niche construction, and ecosystem engineering. The Sphagnome Project encompasses a genus-level sequencing effort that represents a new type of model system driven not only by genetic tractability, but by ecologically relevant questions and hypotheses.
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