scholarly journals Development and Proof-of-Concept Evaluation of a Sensory Science-Based Model for Product Development of Vegetable-Based Products for Children

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Astrid A. M. Poelman ◽  
Jessica E. Heffernan ◽  
Maeva Cochet-Broch ◽  
Janne Beelen
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Sensory Science ◽  
Good Taste ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
Concept Evaluation ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
Key Barrier ◽  
Eating Experience

Children’s vegetable intake is too low, and a key barrier to the inadequate intake is low acceptance. To facilitate successful development of new vegetable-based products for children, a sensory science approach to product development has been taken. A new theoretical model is proposed, the CAMPOV model: Children’s Acceptance Model for Product development of Vegetables. The model is informed by scientific literature and considers biological, psychological, and situational, and intrinsic and extrinsic product factors relevant to children’s acceptance of vegetables, with a focus on modifiable factors at the product level. Simultaneously, 14 new vegetable-based product concepts for children were developed and evaluated through focus groups with 5–8-year-olds (n = 36) as a proof-of-concept evaluation of the model. Children had high interest in six of the concepts. Factors identified from the literature that positively associated with the children’s interest in the concepts included bright colours, bite-sized pieces, good taste, fun eating experience, and familiarity. The CAMPOV model and proof-of-concept evaluation results can guide further sensory and consumer research to increase children’s acceptance of food products containing vegetables, which will in turn provide further insights into the validity of the model. The food industry can use the model as a framework for development of new products for children with high sensory appeal.

scholarly journals Laparoscopic augmented reality registration for oncological resection site repair

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Joeres ◽  
Tonia Mielke ◽  
Christian Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Tumour Resection ◽  
Anatomical Landmarks ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Registration Accuracy ◽  
Target Registration Error ◽  
Concept Evaluation ◽  
Navigation Support ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

Abstract Purpose Resection site repair during laparoscopic oncological surgery (e.g. laparoscopic partial nephrectomy) poses some unique challenges and opportunities for augmented reality (AR) navigation support. This work introduces an AR registration workflow that addresses the time pressure that is present during resection site repair. Methods We propose a two-step registration process: the AR content is registered as accurately as possible prior to the tumour resection (the primary registration). This accurate registration is used to apply artificial fiducials to the physical organ and the virtual model. After the resection, these fiducials can be used for rapid re-registration (the secondary registration). We tested this pipeline in a simulated-use study with $$N=18$$ N = 18 participants. We compared the registration accuracy and speed for our method and for landmark-based registration as a reference. Results Acquisition of and, thereby, registration with the artificial fiducials were significantly faster than the initial use of anatomical landmarks. Our method also had a trend to be more accurate in cases in which the primary registration was successful. The accuracy loss between the elaborate primary registration and the rapid secondary registration could be quantified with a mean target registration error increase of 2.35 mm. Conclusion This work introduces a registration pipeline for AR navigation support during laparoscopic resection site repair and provides a successful proof-of-concept evaluation thereof. Our results indicate that the concept is better suited than landmark-based registration during this phase, but further work is required to demonstrate clinical suitability and applicability.

The relation between head circumference and mid pelvic circumference: A simple index for cephalo-pelvic disproportion evaluation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gad Liberty ◽  
Ofer Gemer ◽  
Irena Siyanov ◽  
Eyal Y. Anteby ◽  
Alona Apter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head Circumference ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Fetal Head ◽  
Simple Index ◽  
Bony Pelvis ◽  
Cesarean Deliveries ◽  
Simple Tool ◽  
Vaginal Deliveries ◽  
Concept Evaluation

Introduction: Cephalo-pelvic-disproportion (CPD) is one of the most common obstetric complications. Since CPD is the disproportion between the fetal head and maternal bony pelvis, evaluation of the head-circumference (HC) relative to maternal bony pelvis may be a useful adjunct to pre-labor CPD evaluation. The aim of the present study was a proof-of-concept evaluation of the ratio between HC to pelvic circumference (PC) as a predictor of CPD. Methods: Of 11,822 deliveries, 104 cases that underwent an abdomino-pelvic CT for any medical indication and who underwent normal vaginal deliveries (NVD) (n=84) or cesarean deliveries (CD) due to CPD (n=20) were included retrospectively. Maternal pelvis dimensions were reconstructed and neonatal HC, as a proxy for fetal HC, were measured. The correlation between cases of CPD and Cephalo-Pelvic Circumference Index (CPCI), which represents the ratio between the HC and PC in percent (HC/PC *100) was evaluated. Results: The mid-pelvis cephalo-pelvic circumference index (MP-CPCI) was larger in CD groups as compared to the NVD group: 103±11 vs. 97±8% respectively (p=0.0003). In logistic regression analysis, the MP-CPCI was found to be independently associated with CD due to CPD: each 1% increase in MP-CPCI increased the likelihood of CD for CPD by 11% (aOR 1.11, CI 95% 1.03-1.19, p=0.004). The adjusted odds ratio for CD due to CPD increased incrementally as the MP-CPCI increased, from 3.56 (95%CI, 1.01-12.6) at MP-CPCI of 100, to 5.6 (95%CI, 1.63-19.45) at 105, 21.44 (95%CI, 3.05-150.84) at 110, and 28.88 (95%CI, 2.3-362.27) at MP-CPCI of 115 Conclusions: The MP-CPCI, representing the relative dimensions of the fetal HC and maternal PC, is a simple tool that can potentially distinguish between parturients at lower and higher risk of CPD. Prospective randomized studies are required to evaluate the feasibility of prenatal pelvimetry and MP-CPCI to predict the risk of CPD during labor.

Concept evaluation in new product development

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 1139-1151
Author(s):  
Jørgen Blindheim ◽  
Christer W. Elverum ◽  
Torgeir Welo ◽  
Martin Steinert
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
New Product ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Concept Evaluation ◽  
Feedstock Material

Purpose This paper proposes the combination of rapid prototyping and physical modelling as a set-based concept evaluation method in the early stage of new product development. Design/methodology/approach The concept evaluation method is applied in a case study of a new metal additive manufacturing process for aluminium, where a set of four extruder concepts has been modelled and evaluated. Rapid prototyping was used to produce plastic models of the different designs, and plasticine feedstock material was used to physically model the metal flow during operation. Finally, the selected concept has been verified in full-scale for processing of aluminium feedstock material. Findings The proposed method led to several valuable insights on critical factors that were unknown at the outset of the development project. Overall, these insights enabled concept exploration and concept selection that led to a substantially better solution than the original design. Research limitations/implications This method can be applied for other projects where numerical approaches are not applicable or capable, and where the costs or time required for producing full-scale prototypes are high. Practical implications Employing this method can enable a more thorough exploration of the design space, allowing new solutions to be discovered. Originality/value The proposed method allows a design team to test and evaluate multiple concepts at lower cost and time than what is usually required to produce full-scale prototypes. It is, therefore, concluded to be a valuable design strategy for the early development stages of complex products or technologies.

Hollow Gold Nanoparticals as Biocompatible Radiosensitizer: An In Vitro Proof of Concept Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 106-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien Wen Huang ◽  
Vasant Kearney ◽  
Sina Moeendarbari ◽  
Rui Qian Jiang ◽  
Preston Christensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Animal ◽  
Intratumoral Injection ◽  
Culture Solution ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Normal Tissues ◽  
Concept Evaluation ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Clonogenic Cell ◽  
And Control

We report in vitro studies on radiotherapy enhancement of hollow gold nanoparticles (HAuNPs), which feature a 50 nm hollow core and a 30 nm thick polycrystalline shell. A clonogenic cell survival assay was used to assess radiation dose enhancement on breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Cells were cultured in a cell culture solution in which pegylated HAuNPs were added. No cytotoxicity of the HAuNPs was observed at the nanoparticle concentration up to 4.25×109 nanoparticles/ml (350 μM Au concentration). A small animal X-ray irradiator and a clinical linear accelerator were used to irradiate HAuNP-treated and control groups. It shows that the radiation damage to the cells is significantly enhanced when the cells are exposed to HAuNPs. This is the first time that AuNPs with diameter larger than 100 nm has been studied for their radiosensitizing effects. In clinical settings, we envision that HAuNPs could be intratumorally injected into tumors, which is more realistic for practical usage of AuNPs as radiosensitizer than passive accumulation in tumors using the enhanced permeability and retention effect or active targeting. Larger particles are favored for the intratumoral injection approach since larger particles tend to be retained in the injection sites, less likely diffusing into surrounding normal tissues. So, this proof-of-concept evaluation shows a promising potential to use HAuNPs as radiation therapy sensitizer for cancers.

scholarly journals Engagement and Effectiveness of a Healthy-Coping Intervention via Chatbot for University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mixed Methods Proof-of-Concept Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Gabrielli ◽  
Silvia Rizzi ◽  
Giulia Bassi ◽  
Sara Carbone ◽  
Rosa Maimone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Short Form ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire ◽  
Concept Study ◽  
Concept Evaluation

BACKGROUND University students are increasingly reporting common mental health problems, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, and they frequently face barriers to seeking psychological support because of stigma, cost, and availability of mental health services. This issue is even more critical in the challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital mental health interventions, such as those delivered via chatbots on mobile devices, offer the potential to achieve scalability of healthy-coping interventions by lowering cost and supporting prevention. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to conduct a proof-of-concept evaluation measuring the engagement and effectiveness of Atena, a psychoeducational chatbot supporting healthy coping with stress and anxiety, among a population of university students. METHODS In a proof-of-concept study, 71 university students were recruited during the COVID-19 pandemic; 68% (48/71) were female, they were all in their first year of university, and their mean age was 20.6 years (SD 2.4). Enrolled students were asked to use the Atena psychoeducational chatbot for 4 weeks (eight sessions; two per week), which provided healthy-coping strategies based on cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology, and mindfulness techniques. The intervention program consisted of conversations combined with audiovisual clips delivered via the Atena chatbot. Participants were asked to complete web-based versions of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) at baseline and postintervention to assess effectiveness. They were also asked to complete the User Engagement Scale–Short Form at week 2 to assess engagement with the chatbot and to provide qualitative comments on their overall experience with Atena postintervention. RESULTS Participants engaged with the Atena chatbot an average of 78 (SD 24.8) times over the study period. A total of 61 out of 71 (86%) participants completed the first 2 weeks of the intervention and provided data on engagement (10/71, 14% attrition). A total of 41 participants out of 71 (58%) completed the full intervention and the postintervention questionnaires (30/71, 42% attrition). Results from the completer analysis showed a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms for participants in more extreme GAD-7 score ranges (<i>t</i><sub>39</sub>=0.94; <i>P</i>=.009) and a decrease in stress symptoms as measured by the PSS-10 (<i>t</i><sub>39</sub>=2.00; <i>P</i>=.05) for all participants postintervention. Participants also improved significantly in the <i>describing</i> and <i>nonjudging</i> facets, based on their FFMQ subscale scores, and asked for some improvements in the user experience with the chatbot. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the benefit of deploying a digital healthy-coping intervention via a chatbot to support university students experiencing higher levels of distress. While findings collected during the COVID-19 pandemic show promise, further research is required to confirm conclusions.

scholarly journals Admissions to a Low-Resource Neonatal Unit in Malawi Using a Mobile App: Digital Perinatal Outcome Audit (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Crehan ◽  
Erin Kesler ◽  
Indira Angela Chikomoni ◽  
Kristi Sun ◽  
Queen Dube ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Birth Asphyxia ◽  
Newborn Care ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Discharge Data ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Modifiable Factors

BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) is showing increasing potential to address health outcomes in underresourced settings as smartphone coverage increases. The NeoTree is an mHealth app codeveloped in Malawi to improve the quality of newborn care at the point of admission to neonatal units. When collecting vital demographic and clinical data, this interactive platform provides clinical decision support and training for the end users (health care professionals [HCPs]), according to evidence-based national and international guidelines. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine 1 month’s data collected using NeoTree in an outcome audit of babies admitted to a district-level neonatal nursery in Malawi and to demonstrate proof of concept of digital outcome audit data in this setting. METHODS Using a phased approach over 1 month (November 21-December 19, 2016), frontline HCPs were trained and supported to use NeoTree to admit newborns. Discharge data were collected by the research team using a discharge form within NeoTree, called <i>NeoDischarge</i>. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the exported pseudoanonymized data and presented it to the newborn care department as a digital outcome audit. RESULTS Of 191 total admissions, 134 (70.2%) admissions were completed using NeoTree, and 129 (67.5%) were exported and analyzed. Of 121 patients for whom outcome data were available, 102 (84.3%) were discharged alive. The overall case fatality rate was 93 per 1000 admitted babies. Prematurity with respiratory distress syndrome, birth asphyxia, and neonatal sepsis contributed to 25% (3/12), 58% (7/12), and 8% (1/12) of deaths, respectively. Data were more than 90% complete for all fields. Deaths may have been underreported because of phased implementation and some families of babies with imminent deaths self-discharging home. Detailed characterization of the data enabled departmental discussion of modifiable factors for quality improvement, for example, improved thermoregulation of infants. CONCLUSIONS This digital outcome audit demonstrates that data can be captured digitally at the bedside by HCPs in underresourced newborn facilities, and these data can contribute to a meaningful review of the quality of care, outcomes, and potential modifiable factors. Coverage may be improved during future implementation by streamlining the admission process to be solely via digital format. Our results present a new methodology for newborn audits in low-resource settings and are a proof of concept for a novel newborn data system in these settings.

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