scholarly journals Development of a fixed list of descriptors for the qualitative behavioural assessment of shelter dogs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Arena ◽  
Françoise Wemelsfelder ◽  
Stefano Messori ◽  
Nicola Ferri ◽  
Shanis Barnard
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Video Clips ◽  
Observer Reliability ◽  
Shelter Dogs ◽  
Scoring Tool ◽  
First Time ◽  
Expert Opinion Survey

ABSTRACTThe shelter environment may have a severe impact on the quality of life of dogs, and there is thus a need to develop valid tools to assess their welfare. These tools should be sensitive not only to the animals’ physical health but also to their mental health, including the assessment of positive and negative emotions. Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is an integrative ‘whole animal’ measure that captures the expressive quality of an animal’s demeanour, using descriptors such as ‘relaxed’, ‘anxious’, and ‘playful’. In this study, for the first time, we developed and tested a fixed-list of qualitative QBA descriptors for application to dogs living in kennels. A list of 20 QBA descriptors was developed based on literature search and an expert opinion survey. Inter-observer reliability was investigated by asking 11 observers to use these descriptors to score 13 video clips of kennelled dogs. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to extract four main dimensions together explaining 70.9% of the total variation between clips. PC1 characterised curious/playful/excitable, sociable demeanour, PC2 ranged from comfortable/relaxed to anxious/nervous/stressed expression, PC3 described fearful demeanour, and PC4 characterized bored/depressed demeanour. Observers’ agreement on the ranking of video clips on these four expressive dimensions was good (Kendall’s W: 0.60-0.80). ANOVA showed a significant effect of observer on mean clip score on all PCs (p<0.05) due to a few observers scoring differently from the rest of the group. These results indicate the potential of the proposed list of QBA terms for sheltered dogs to serve as a non-invasive, easy-to-use assessment tool. However, the observers’ effect on mean scores points towards the need for adequate observer training. The QBA scoring tool can be integrated with existing welfare assessment protocols for shelter dogs and strengthen the power of those protocols to assess and evaluate the animals’ experience in shelters.

scholarly journals Qualitative Behavioral Assessment in Juvenile Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar): Potential for On-Farm Welfare Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Jarvis ◽  
Maureen A. Ellis ◽  
James F. Turnbull ◽  
Sonia Rey Planellas ◽  
Francoise Wemelsfelder
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Behavioral Assessment ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Farmed Fish ◽  
Welfare Assessment ◽  
Farmed Salmon ◽  
Video Clips ◽  
Observer Reliability

There is a growing scientific and legislative consensus that fish are sentient, and therefore have the capacity to experience pain and suffering. The assessment of the welfare of farmed fish is challenging due to the aquatic environment and the number of animals housed together. However, with increasing global production and intensification of aquaculture comes greater impetus for developing effective tools which are suitable for the aquatic environment to assess the emotional experience and welfare of farmed fish. This study therefore aimed to investigate the use of Qualitative Behavioral Assessment (QBA), originally developed for terrestrial farmed animals, in farmed salmon and evaluate its potential for use as a welfare monitoring tool. QBA is a “whole animal” approach based on the description and quantification of the expressive qualities of an animal's dynamic style of behaving, using descriptors such as relaxed, agitated, lethargic, or confident. A list of 20 qualitative descriptors was generated by fish farmers after viewing video-footage showing behavior expressions representative of the full repertoire of salmon in this context. A separate, non-experienced group of 10 observers subsequently watched 25 video clips of farmed salmon, and scored the 20 descriptors for each clip using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). To assess intra-observer reliability each observer viewed the same 25 video clips twice, in two sessions 10 days apart, with the second clip set presented in a different order. The observers were unaware that the two sets of video clips were identical. Data were analyzed using Principal Component (PC) Analysis (correlation matrix, no rotation), revealing four dimensions that together explained 79% of the variation between video clips, with PC1 (Tense/anxious/skittish—Calm/mellow/relaxed) explaining the greatest percentage of variation (56%). PC1 was the only dimension to show acceptable inter- and intra-observer reliability, and mean PC1 scores correlated significantly to durations of slow and erratic physical movements measured for the same 25 video clips. Further refinements to the methodology may be necessary, but this study is the first to provide evidence for the potential of Qualitative Behavioral Assessment to serve as a time-efficient welfare assessment tool for juvenile salmon under farmed conditions.

scholarly journals Assessment of health and economic benefits of walking in the Republic of North Macedonia using Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jansun Bukovetz ◽  
Kristina Shuntova ◽  
Igor Spiroski ◽  
Shaban Memeti
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Total Economic Value ◽  
The Republic ◽  
First Time

Walking as a form of physical activity has immense health benefits, but it also has economic benefits. Walking is a very efficient activity that prevents certain diseases and enables better quality of life of people who already have some disease.A considerable contribution of walking is detected in cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity and chronic pulmonary diseases.The aim of this study was to make a health and economic assessment of the benefits of walking in the Republic of North Macedonia by using the Health and Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT).Materials and methods:Health Economic Assessment Tool is a relatively new tool, developed by WHO experts whose expertise is in the field of Public health and is able to calculate the health effects of regular walking and/or cycling. This study was based on using this tool for walking mode for the first time in the Republic of North Macedonia in a population group of 191 participants between the age of 20 to 73 years, with the average age of 35 years.Results:Besides the aforementioned health benefits, HEAT calculates the economic benefits of walking. The tool applied to 191 participants resulted in a total economic value of 108 808.8€ for one yearas well as reduction in mortality rate. Conclusion: We found that less than one fifth of our assessed population spends time in walking according to the WHO, CDC and AHA recommendations. The rest of them, more than four fifths are not following these recommendations. Our assessed population was relatively young, the average age being 35 years old, and the population was healthy, but still the results from this survey were not satisfying.

Effect of soybean roasting on soymilk sensory properties

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (12) ◽  
pp. 2832-2842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willard Navicha ◽  
Yufei Hua ◽  
Kingsley George Masamba ◽  
Xiangzhen Kong ◽  
Caimeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Analysis ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Sweet Taste ◽  
Sensory Properties ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Consumer Acceptability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Time ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the changes in descriptive sensory properties and overall consumer acceptability of soymilk prepared from roasted soybeans.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 12 purposively selected post graduate students majoring in Food Science conducted descriptive sensory analysis after being trained for 18 h in sensory analysis, while 75 untrained students conducted consumer acceptability test of soymilk prepared by roasting soybeans at a temperature of 110°C for 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 min and at 120°C for 20 min.FindingsResults have revealed that roasting soybeans improved sensory properties by significantly (p<0.05) decreasing the objectionable green, beany flavours and increasing sweet taste, viscosity and roasted flavour. Furthermore, results from the principal component analysis revealed that aroma and sweet taste were the most critical sensory attributes. In addition, it was found out that soymilk samples prepared by roasting soybeans at 110°C for 40 and 60 min and at 120°C for 20 min were significantly more acceptable than the control soymilk.Research limitations/implicationsThe participants in this study were from one locality and predominantly soybean consuming community and therefore there is need to conduct the study in a different locality in order to validate the study findings.Practical implicationsThe study can assist small scale processors that might not have access to lipoxygenase-free soybeans and other technologies for improving the quality of soymilk.Social implicationsThe study can be used as a guide for connecting the food processers with the external world of consumption.Originality/valueFor the first time, the study findings have demonstrated that controlled soybean roasting can be a useful strategy for improving soymilk sensory properties and consumer acceptability. The findings in this study can be usefully used in the quality control of soy bean-based products.

scholarly journals Examining the reliability of Adaptive Comparative Judgement (ACJ) as an assessment tool in educational settings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kimbell
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Comparative Judgment ◽  
Research Report ◽  
International Conference ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Comparative Judgement ◽  
Original Innovation ◽  
Method Of Assessment ◽  
First Time

AbstractConventional approaches to assessment involve teachers and examiners judging the quality of learners work by reference to lists of criteria or other ‘outcome’ statements. This paper explores a quite different method of assessment using ‘Adaptive Comparative Judgement’ (ACJ) that was developed within a research project at Goldsmiths University of London between 2004 and 2010. The method was developed into a tool that enabled judges to distinguish better/worse performances not by allocating numbers through mark schemes, but rather by direct, holistic, judgement. The tool was successfully deployed through a series of national and international research and development exercises. But game-changing innovations are never flaw-less first time out (Golley, Jet: Frank Whittle and the Invention of the Jet Engine, Datum Publishing, Liphook Hampshire, 2009; Dyson, Against the odds: an autobiography, Texere Publishing, Knutsford Cheshire, 2001) and a series of careful investigations resulted in a problem being identified within the workings of ACJ (Bramley, Investigating the reliability of Adaptive Comparative Judgment, Cambridge Assessment Research Report, UK, Cambridge, 2015). The issue was with the ‘adaptive’ component of the algorithm that, under certain conditions, appeared to exaggerate the reliability statistic. The problem was ‘worked’ by the software company running ACJ and a solution found. This paper reports the whole sequence of events—from the original innovation, through deployment, the emergent problem, and the resulting solution that was published at an international conference (Rangel Smith and Lynch in: PATT36 International Conference. Research & Practice in Technology Education: Perspectives on Human Capacity and Development, 2018) and subsequently deployed within a modified ACJ algorithm.

scholarly journals Inter- and Intra-observer Reliability of the “assessment of Motor Repertoire- 3 to 5 Months” Based on Video Recordings of Infants With PWS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Wang ◽  
Xiushu Shen ◽  
Hong Yang ◽  
Wei Shi ◽  
Xiaoyun Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Observer Agreement ◽  
Complete Agreement ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Observer Reliability ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Movement Assessment ◽  
General Movement

Abstract BackgroundThe “Assessment of Motor Repertoire - 3 to 5 Months”, which is part of Prechtl's General Movement Assessment (GMA), has been gradually applied to infants with genetic metabolic disorders. However, there still have been no studies on the application of GMA for infants with Prader-Williams Syndrome (PWS).Aimsthe purpose of this study was to determine inter- and intra-observer reliability of the assessment tool in PWS population.Study designReliability and agreement study.SubjectsThis was a cross-sectional study of 15 infants with PWS born at average gestational age 38 weeks.Outcome measuresStandardized video recordings of 15 infants with PWS (corrected ages 3 to 5 months) were independently assessed by three observers. Kappa and ICC statistics were applied in inter- and intra-observer reliability analysis.ResultsThe overall reliability ICCs values of “Motor Optimality Score” (MOS) ranged from 0.84 to 0.98 and the regarding pairwise agreement ranged between 0.86 and 0.95 in inter- observe reliability. In addition, ICC values for MOS ranged between 0.95 and 0.98 for respectively testers agreement in intra-observer reliability.The complete agreement reliability (100%) was achieved in subcategories of “Fidgety Movements” and “Movement Character” for the inter- and intra-observer. Moderate to high inter- and intra-observer reliability were found in subcategories of “Repertoire of Co-Existent Other Movements”, “Quality of Other Movements” and “Posture”, with kappa values ranging between 0.63 and 1.00. Conclusionhere were high levels of inter-and intra-observer agreement in the “Assessment of Motor Repertoire - 3 to 5 Months” for infants with PWS. It will be possible to carry out standardized quantitative assessment on the motor performance infants with PWS.

scholarly journals Non-destructive analysis of a pre-hispanic basketry collection from La Paz, Bolivia

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 195
Author(s):  
Fábio Luiz Melquiades ◽  
Juan Villanueva ◽  
Fábio Lopes ◽  
Jorge Lisme ◽  
Eduardo Inocente Jussiani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Analytical Investigation ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
Middle Horizon ◽  
La Paz ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Portable Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
First Time ◽  
Non Destructive

Pre-Hispanic basketry is scarce and at present, there are few analytical studies on these objects. This study presents an analytical investigation of a collection of ancient baskets from Museo Nacional de Etnografía y Folklore (MUSEF), La Paz, Bolivia employing portable X-ray Fluorescence and portable Raman Spectroscopy. The analyses were performed in situ with non-invasive and non-destructive methods. The chemical elements K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Sr were identified in all the samples. The principal component analysis tends to separate the basket pieces in two groups: one of them is related to stylistic shape of the Middle Horizon, Titicaca Lake basin, and the other was inconclusive. This was the first time that tinctures used in Andean pre-Hispanic basketry from the MUSEF collection were chemically evaluated and the results added historical and archaeological context to the objects.

scholarly journals Deep Learning Analysis of In Vivo Hyperspectral Images for Automated Intraoperative Nerve Detection

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1508
Author(s):  
Manuel Barberio ◽  
Toby Collins ◽  
Valentin Bencteux ◽  
Richard Nkusi ◽  
Eric Felli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Hyperspectral Images ◽  
Invasive Technique ◽  
Average Sensitivity ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
First Time ◽  
Learning Analysis

Nerves are critical structures that may be difficult to recognize during surgery. Inadvertent nerve injuries can have catastrophic consequences for the patient and lead to life-long pain and a reduced quality of life. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a non-invasive technique combining photography with spectroscopy, allowing non-invasive intraoperative biological tissue property quantification. We show, for the first time, that HSI combined with deep learning allows nerves and other tissue types to be automatically recognized in in vivo hyperspectral images. An animal model was used, and eight anesthetized pigs underwent neck midline incisions, exposing several structures (nerve, artery, vein, muscle, fat, skin). State-of-the-art machine learning models were trained to recognize these tissue types in HSI data. The best model was a convolutional neural network (CNN), achieving an overall average sensitivity of 0.91 and a specificity of 1.0, validated with leave-one-patient-out cross-validation. For the nerve, the CNN achieved an average sensitivity of 0.76 and a specificity of 0.99. In conclusion, HSI combined with a CNN model is suitable for in vivo nerve recognition.

scholarly journals Evaluation of YouTube Videos as a Source of Information on Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-186
Author(s):  
Cem Yener ◽  
Sinan Ates
Keyword(s):  
American Medical Association ◽  
Medical Association ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Prenatal Testing ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Global Quality ◽  
Quality Scale ◽  
Youtube Videos ◽  
The Mean

Aim: Non-invasive prenatal testing is a method that determines the risk of a fetus being born with certain genetic abnormalities. In this study, we aimed to examine the quality of information on YouTube for non-invasive prenatal testing. Methods: The term "Non-invasive prenatal testing" was entered in the YouTube search bar on May 1, 2021, and the top 50 YouTube videos of the non-invasive prenatal testing with the highest number of views were recorded after the exclusion of videos with a non-English language, videos repeated twice and irrelevant videos. Length of the videos, likes, and dislikes were recorded. Videos were evaluated by two obstetricians. A questionnaire consisting of 9 dichotomous questions was conducted to assess whether there was adequate information about non-invasive prenatal testing. In addition, video quality was evaluated with the Global Quality Scale, the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool and the Journal of the American Medical Association Benchmark Criteria. Results: The mean Global Quality Scale was 2.96±0.62. Most videos answered the question: ‘What is non-invasive prenatal testing?’ (94%), and ‘How is non-invasive prenatal testing done?’ (82%). However, there was a lack of information about the limitation of non-invasive prenatal testing in certain situations (only %16 of videos answered limitations of non-invasive prenatal testing). Three (6%) of the videos had misinformation. The mean Global Quality Scale was 2.96±0.62. The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool mean value was 72% and 58% in terms of understandability and actionability, respectively. The mean Journal of the American Medical Association Benchmark Criteria score was found as 1.4±0.8. Conclusion: The videos posted about non-invasive prenatal testing on YouTube were of poor-moderate quality. If the quality of the videos increases, patients can have sufficient and accurate information about non-invasive prenatal, especially during these pandemic days. Keywords: health information, prenatal diagnosis, online systems

scholarly journals Interrelation between Patient Satisfaction and Patient-Provider Communication in Diabetes Management

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayse Basak Cinar ◽  
Lone Schou
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Patient Communication ◽  
Medical Provider ◽  
Patient Provider Communication ◽  
Clinical Measures ◽  
First Time

The present study aims to assess how patient satisfaction with medical provider-patient communication can affect oral health, diabetes, and psychobehavioural measures among type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. It is part of a prospective intervention study among randomly selected T2DM patients, in Turkey. The data analyzed were Community Periodontal Need Index (CPI), HbA1c, patient satisfaction with communication, and psychobehavioural variables. Data was collected initially and at the end of the intervention. The participants were allocated to either health coaching (HC) or health education (HE). At baseline, there were no statistical differences between the HC and the HE groups on any of the measures (P>0.05). Patients in both the HC and the HE groups had low satisfaction with communication. At postintervention, the increase in patient satisfaction with communication in the HC group was significantly higher than that in the HE group (P=0.001). Principal component analysis revealed that patient satisfaction with communication shared the same cluster with clinical measures (CPI and HbA1c) and quality of life in the HC group. In conclusion, the present study showed, to our knowledge for the first time, that overall patient satisfaction with medical care provider-patient communication, empowered by HC approach, was interrelated with well-being of T2DM patients, in terms of psychobehavioural and clinical measures.

Communication Sciences and Disorders PhD Graduates' Perceptions of Their PhD Program

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 463-478
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Crais ◽  
Melody Harrison Savage
Keyword(s):  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Career Expectations ◽  
Doctoral Preparation ◽  
Creative Solutions ◽  
Phd Education ◽  
Doctor Of Philosophy ◽  
First Time ◽  
Students Success ◽  
Phd Program

Purpose The shortage of doctor of philosophy (PhD)–level applicants to fill academic and research positions in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) programs calls for a detailed examination of current CSD PhD educational practices and the generation of creative solutions. The intended purposes of the article are to encourage CSD faculty to examine their own PhD program practices and consider the perspectives of recent CSD PhD graduates in determining the need for possible modifications. Method The article describes the results of a survey of 240 CSD PhD graduates and their perceptions of the challenges and facilitators to completing a PhD degree; the quality of their preparation in research, teaching, and job readiness; and ways to improve PhD education. Results Two primary themes emerged from the data highlighting the need for “matchmaking.” The first time point of needed matchmaking is prior to entry among students, mentors, and expectations as well as between aspects of the program that can lead to students' success and graduation. The second important matchmaking need is between the actual PhD preparation and the realities of the graduates' career expectations, and those placed on graduates by their employers. Conclusions Within both themes, graduate's perspectives and suggestions to help guide future doctoral preparation are highlighted. The graduates' recommendations could be used by CSD PhD program faculty to enhance the quality of their program and the likelihood of student success and completion. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11991480

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