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Systematic Social Observation provides supplementary information about the micro-scale neighborhood environment. This study explored the feasibility of neighborhood audits for the first time in the city of Limassol, Cyprus (population size, 2021 census: 258.900). The prevalence and variability of audited features were investigated using the 126-item CyNOTes inventory, organised along a typology of 17 domains. Two independent audits, with a repeat in two weeks, were performed across 30 randomly selected street segments, stratified in three groups of neighborhoods according to the educational attainment of residents. Associations with census indicators and survey data on SF-36 Quality of Life among residents aged 45–64 (N = 150) were explored. More adverse conditions were recorded in low educational attainment neighborhoods, with differences apparent in domains with generally high as well as low scores. Neighborhood scores correlated with census indicators of the built environment, while negative correlations where observed with sociodemographic indicators, such as population aged over 65 and non-Cypriot population, suggesting social inequities. In neighborhoods with more adverse features, lower physical and mental health-related quality of life were reported. Overall, the study documented environmental inequity. CyNOTes offers the potential for further development and scaling-up for public health research, policy, and advocacy.

The development of automated driving is an ongoing process; nonetheless, certain problems remain unresolved. One of them is the question when the automated vehicle control system should hand over the control to a human driver and whether this can be done in a safe way. What happens if a driver is not ready to take over? Can the system somehow estimate the status of the driver? The WACHsens simulator study was designed with the aim to gain more knowledge about when and how drivers are getting sleepy with special focus on automated driving.The overall goal of the project was to merge data from vegetative vigilance, camera observation and driving behaviour. This article describes the process of the driving behaviour observation and the evaluation of the data collected during the observation. An enhanced observation scheme made it possible to determine, at any point in time of the 30 minutes drives, in which posture the test person is and in what degree of drowsiness the test person is. It is based on the variables and scales which have been used in other studies such as ORD (Observer Rating of Drowsiness) and ORS (Observer Rated Sleepiness). They were linked to the observation method of the Vienna driving test to allow continuous observation. 197 simulator test drives from 50 test persons were analyzed by the observers. Four different scenarios were evaluated for all test subjects: tired/manual, tired/automatic, rested/manual, and rested/automatic. The aim of the observation analysis was to investigate differences in body movements and activities according to personal characteristics (age, gender, driving experience, experience with assistance systems) and regarding the different scenarios. The categorization of the drowsiness level of the test persons by the observers corresponds very well with the subjective assessment of the test subjects (measured by the Karolinska sleepiness scale KSS). A comparison of the different scenarios shows that most of the signs of sleepiness or situations in which the test subjects fell asleep were observed during the tired/automated trips. But even during the rested/automated drive over 40% of the test persons showed signs of tiredness, roughly the same number actually fell asleep as in the tired/manual drive. No significant differences between the personal characteristics (gender, age, and experience with assistance systems) regarding the number of body movements (change of position and activities) or sleepiness levels could be found. A significant difference was found between the different scenarios and the comparisons between the tired/rested trips and the manual/automated trips regarding the moment in which the test persons showed first signs of tiredness. During the automated trips and/or if the test subjects showed signs of progressing weariness, the first signs of tiredness were registered significantly earlier than during the trips in which the test subjects drove manually and/or were rested. The results show that the mode of operation - manual or automated driving - impacts the time course and level of sleepiness while driving. This sheds light on the importance to carefully evaluate driving automation systems that assume a driver as emergency fallback. Further research is recommended to investigate safe modes of control hand over in automated driving.

Objective: This study aimed to develop an observer-rated measure of Insight into Conflictual Relationship Patterns (ICR) applicable to audio- or videotapes of psychotherapy sessions and conduct a f...

Background, Dementia in people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) is difficult to detect because of preexisting cognitive deficits. An effective screening method is required. The Dementia Screening Questionnaire for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (DSQIID) was developed as an observer rating tool to screen dementia in people with ID. The aim of this study was to verify the screening accuracy of the DSQIID for Japanese people with ID. Methods Four‐hundred ninety‐three subjects with ID participated in this study. Caregivers who had observed the participants for more than 2 years scored the Japanese version of the DSQIID (DSQIID‐J) of the participants. Three doctors examined participants directly and diagnosed dementia using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria. To identify the key screening items that predict dementia, the specificities of a single and pairs of items with 100% sensitivity were evaluated relative to the dementia diagnosis. Results Of 493 participants, 34 were people with Down syndrome (DS), and 459 were people without DS. Seventeen participants were diagnosed with dementia. The suitable cut‐off score of the DSQIID‐J was 10/11 (sensitivity 100% and specificity 96.8%) for screening dementia. The inter‐rater reliability, test–retest reliability and internal consistency of the DSQIID‐J were excellent. Regarding key items, there was no single item with 100% sensitivity, and the best two‐item combination was the pair of ‘Cannot dress without help’ and ‘Walks slower’ (sensitivity 100% and specificity 93.5%). Conclusions We identified several important question items of the DSQIID‐J related to the diagnosis of dementia in people with ID. The DSQIID‐J is a useful screening tool for dementia in adults with ID.

A culture of engagement may help to build and sustain young children's motivation to learn a new language. In this study, we sought to investigate the link between engagement and motivation over the course of a semester in a naturally occurring Japanese elementary school classroom environment. Four-hundred and twenty-three fifth-year students in public elementary schools in western Japan agreed to participate in the research. Students completed surveys at two time points, first at the beginning of the semester regarding their in-class engagement, and again at the end of the semester regarding their motivation. A structural equation model was constructed using engagement and gender as predictors and motivational regulations as outcome variables. Observer rating of each class was used to triangulate. Engagement strongly predicted more adaptive intrinsically regulated motives and negatively predicted more extrinsic motives. Male students showed a tendency toward lower engagement, lower internally regulated motives, and higher externally regulated motives. Observer rating showed that students' reported engagement was visible to outside observers. Findings indicate that students' in-class engagement may be an important variable when investigating the long-term dynamics of foreign language learning in a classroom setting. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Background:. Soft-tissue loss is expected after resection of large vascular lesions. Autologous fat transfer improves asymmetries; however, systematic outcomes are not previously described for vascular anomaly reconstruction. Methods:. Retrospective chart review from 2012 to 2015 included patients receiving autologous fat transfers for soft-tissue defects during or following vascular anomaly surgery at a tertiary care center. Patients received dermal en bloc fat grafts, lipoaspirates, or both. Pre- and postoperative photographs were blindly reviewed by 3 facial plastic surgeons using a 5-point scale. Dermal abdominal en bloc fat grafts were placed immediately after excision of a vascular anomaly. Lipoaspirate fat grafting was performed using liposuction (modified Coleman technique) and centrifugation. The effectiveness of fat transfers was assessed using patients’ photographs. Final follow-up was 6 months to 5 years. Results:. There were 35 autologous fat transfer surgeries in 27 patients. Fourteen patients received en bloc dermal fat grafts (14 total), 13 lipoaspirate transfers (21 total), and 3 both. Ages ranged from 2 to 69 years (mean = 25 years). Majority of patients (81%) had head and neck lesions. Average volume of fat injected was 16.5 mL (range 0.8–100 mL). The average observer rating score was 2.45 [1–5 (5-point scale)] in the en bloc fat graft group versus 3.83 in the lipoaspirate group (P < 0.0001) with acceptable inter-rater reliability between 3 observers (coefficient of concordance = 0.76). Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 5 years. There were 2 complications in the dermal fat graft group and none in the lipoaspirate group. Conclusions:. Autologous fat transfer improves symmetry and scarring after surgical treatment of vascular anomalies. Fat grafting is permanent and reliable and creates a more symmetric soft-tissue contour compared with dermal fat grafts.

Although there has been an increase in reports regarding the association between perinatal risk factors and mother-infant bonding, the results have been inconsistent.This is an ongoing cohort designed study to measure the effect of environmental factors on children's health with the use of data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study. We investigated mother-infant bonding at 1 year old according to parity and mode of delivery.A total of 82,540 participants, including 36,662 primipara mothers and 45,878 multipara mothers, were analyzed in the present study. Exclusive breastfeeding, marriage, and non-working factors were higher in multipara mothers than in primipara mothers. The total Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale Japanese version (MIBS-J) score was higher (worse) in primipara than multipara (mean total: 1.129 vs. 0.897, p 0.001). Primipara mothers also had higher anger and rejection scores than multipara mothers. When we analyzed only multipara mothers without any history of previous Cesarean section (CS), MIBS-J scores were higher in Cesarean delivery mothers than vaginal delivery mothers (p = 0.038).We used a self-reported bonding measure. Although a self-report measure is convenient and important, an observer rating may be less susceptible to bias in perception. We did not distinguish elective CS from emergency CS, which may have different influences on mother-infant bonding.Primipara mothers showed worse mother-infant bonding than multipara mothers, regardless of mode of delivery. Caesarian delivery itself appears to have little effect on mother-infant bonding.

International audience; Not just detecting but also predicting impairment of a car driver's operational state is a challenge. This study aims to determine whether the standard sources of information used to detect drowsiness can also be used to predict when a given drowsiness level will be reached. Moreover, we explore whether adding data such as driving time and participant information improves the accuracy of detection and prediction of drowsiness. Twenty-one participants drove a car simulator for 110 min under conditions optimized to induce drowsiness. We measured physiological and behavioral indicators such as heart rate and variability, respiration rate, head and eyelid movements (blink duration, frequency and PERCLOS) and recorded driving behavior such as time-to-lane-crossing, speed, steering wheel angle, position on the lane. Different combinations of this information were tested against the real state of the driver, namely the ground truth, as defined from video recordings via the Trained Observer Rating. Two models using artificial neural networks were developed, one to detect the degree of drowsiness every minute, and the other to predict every minute the time required to reach a particular drowsiness level (moderately drowsy). The best performance in both detection and prediction is obtained with behavioral indicators and additional information. The model can detect the drowsiness level with a mean square error of 0.22 and can predict when a given drowsiness level will be reached with a mean square error of 4.18 min. This study shows that, on a controlled and very monotonous environment conducive to drowsiness in a driving simulator, the dynamics of driver impairment can be predicted.

BioMed research international 2019, 8382160 (2019). doi:10.1155/2019/8382160, Published by Hindawi, New York [u.a.]

Objective: Up to 29% of the working population suffer from (chronic) mental disorders and work disability. As different professions pose different psychological capacity demands, one core aspect for describing work disability is psychological capacity limitations. The distribution of capacity limitations in patients with chronic mental disorders (CMD) from different professional fields is unknown, as well as their relation with sick leave. Objective: Are there different work ability limitations in CMD patients working in different professions? Methods: 263 CMD patients from different professions were investigated cross-sectionally in a thorough medical and psychological assessment by a trained psychosomatic study physician. Besides CMD diagnostic (MINI) and subjective work ability limitations (IMET), an observer rating on capacity limitations was conducted with Mini-ICF-APP. Results: No relevant differences in perceived work ability limitations were found between the professions. Differences of capacity limitations were better explained by psychopathology than by profession. But capacity limitations were differently related with sick leave in different professions and there are differences in sick leave duration. Conclusions: The variance of capacity limitations was explained by psychopathology. The variance of sick leave duration was explained by profession. Similar capacity limitations are associated differently with sick leave in different professions. Different professional fields may have different tolerances towards the same capacity limitations. Therefore, similar capacity limitations are more or less strongly associated with sick leave in different professions.

Qualitative methods of behavioural assessment use observer rating scales to score the overall demeanour or body language of animals. Establishing the reliability of such holistic approaches requires test and validation of the methods used. Here, we compare two methodologies used in Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA): Fixed-Lists (FL) and Free-Choice Profiling (FCP). A laboratory class of 27 students was separated into two groups of 17 and 10 students (FL and FCP respectively). The FL group were given a list of 20 descriptive terms (used by the European Union's Welfare Quality ® program), shown videos of group-housed sows, and as a group discussed how they would apply the descriptive terms in an assessment. The FCP group were shown the same footage but individually generated their own descriptive terms to describe body language of the animals. Both groups were then shown 18 video clips of group-housed sows and scored each clip using a visual analogue scale (VAS) system. We analysed the VAS scores using Generalised Procrustes Analysis (GPA) for each observer group separately, which indicated high inter-observer reliability for both groups (FL: 71.1% of scoring variation explained, and FCP: 63.5%). There were significant correlations between FL and FCP scores (GPA dimension 1: r 16 =0.946, P 0.7 is usually accepted to show strong agreement). This study demonstrates that, regardless of whether they are given their terms or are allowed to generate their own, observers score sow body language in a similar way. Strengths and weaknesses within the two methods were identified, which highlight the importance of providing thorough and consistent training of observers, including providing good quality training footage so that the full repertoire of demeanours can be identified

To ensure the efficiency of people's work while working long hours, an initiative service method with regard to degree of sleepiness for drinking service robot is proposed. It can recognize the degree of sleepiness and provide initiative service to increase the efficiency of people's work. Degree of sleepiness is defined as three levels by observer rating, which is supposed to be associated with human actions, environmental factors, and individual factors. In addition, a model of degree of sleepiness based on Finite State Machines (FSM) is introduced. The relationship between human demands and degree of sleepiness is established through demand analysis model by which the initiative service with regard to degree of sleepiness for drinking service robot is achieved. Experiments on real initiative drinking service are performed in a multimodal emotional communication based on human-robot interaction (MEC-HRI) system, from which the experimental results show that the time of initiative service is 8 minutes earlier than that without initiative service. In prospect, the proposal could be applied to other kinds of services such as health care, safety driving assistance, and other safety work assistance.

Although conceptually conscientiousness should be positively associated with intelligence, existing empirical data do not support this hypothesis. Several recent investigations reported a negative association of the two variables. In the present paper we examine the national data on personality and intelligence. We used the NEO-PI-R data on national personality. We were interested how the analysis conducted at national level may shed new light on the relationship between conscientiousness and cognitive ability. The most important finding concerned the differences in correlations between self-report and observer-rating conscientiousness scores with IQ. The former was negatively associated with cognitive ability, while the latter positively. The analyses of the conscientiousness facets revealed, that in regression models three components of conscientiousness predicted national intelligence. Specifically, achievement striving and deliberation were negatively associated with IQ, while dutifulness was in a positive relationship with cognitive ability. Interestingly, this pattern was the same in self and observer rating scores.

Aim Research findings on the correlations between self-rating and observer-rating of schizophrenic psychopathology are inconsistent and have rarely considered first-episode psychosis (FEP) and at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis patients. This study investigates these correlations in ARMS and FEP patients and how they are moderated by disease stage and gender. Methods In the Basel Fruherkennung von Psychosen (FePsy) study, positive and negative psychotic and affective symptoms were rated in 126 ARMS and 94 FEP patients using two observer- and three self-rating scales. The agreement between self-rating and observer-rating and the moderating influence of disease stage and gender was quantified using Pearson correlation and multiple regression models. Results Correlations between self- and observer-rated subscales covering the same symptom dimension were low and mostly non-significant except for one correlation of positive and one of negative symptoms. There was no moderating influence of disease stage and gender on the correlations between self-rating and observer-rating except for one higher association in positive symptoms in FEP compared to ARMS and in women compared to men. However, these significant interaction effects did not withstand correction for multiple testing. Conclusions This study suggests that the agreement between self-rating and observer-rating in FEP and ARMS patients is rather low, similar across symptom dimensions, and only partially dependent on disease stage and gender. However, low correlations between self-rating and observer-rating do not necessarily indicate that these patients have difficulties reporting their symptoms. They could also have occurred because the scales did not exactly cover the same symptom dimensions.

Objective: To compare ADHD patients who failed a symptom validity test with those who passed the test to explore whether there are signs of negative response bias on group level. Method: In our outpatient department, 196 adults were diagnosed with ADHD using a comprehensive diagnostic strategy featuring a detailed clinical history, clinical interview, observer rating, several self-rating scales, and neuropsychological attention tests. The Amsterdam Short Term Memory Test (AKGT) was applied as a symptom validity measure. Results: Sixty-three patients (32.1%) scored below the AKGT cutoff level. The two groups did not significantly differ regarding self-report and observer ratings. Those who failed the AKGT had higher reaction time variabilities in selective, auditory and visual divided attention, and higher omission errors in sustained attention. Conclusion: We found no strong indicators for negative response bias in ADHD patients who failed a symptom validity test. New measures and approaches to detect feigned ADHD should be developed.

This study examined whether children's representations of parenting (perceptions of authoritative discipline and empathy) moderated the association between harsh punishment—including corporal punishment (CP) and verbal punishment (VP)—and children's emotion regulation at the age of five years. Participants were 559 low-income mother-child dyads. Maternal self-reports and home observations were used to measure punishment. Children's representations were assessed using the MacArthur Story Stem Battery. Children's emotion regulation was assessed by observer rating via the Leiter International Performance Scale–Revised. Hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that children's authoritative disciplinary representations moderated the effects of both VP and CP on children's emotion regulation. Empathic representations moderated the effects of VP only on children's emotion regulation. The current findings highlight the role of children's internal representations as potential protective factors in the context of harsher forms of punishment.

Situation awareness (SA) refers to the conscious awareness of the current situation in relation to one’s environment. In nursing, loss or failure to achieve high levels of SA is linked with adverse patient outcomes. The purpose of this integrative review is to examine various instruments and techniques used to measure SA among nurses across academic and clinical settings. Computerized database and ancestry search strategies resulted in 40 empirical research reports. Of the reports included in the review, 24 measured SA among teams that included nurses and 16 measured SA solely in nurses. Methods used to evaluate SA included direct and indirect methods. Direct methods included the Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique and questionnaires. Indirect methods included observer rating instruments and performance outcome measures. To have a better understanding of how nurses’ make decisions in complex work environments, reliable and valid measures of SA is crucial.

Non-adherence to medication remains a major barrier to recovery from mental illnesses. Identification of those patients likely to experience adherence difficulties is best undertaken during inpatient treatment, prior to discharge into the community. More objective assessments of adherence behaviours might assist staff to more effectively target support to those patients most in need. This study investigated the interrater reliability of an inpatient behavioural observation scale of patient engagement with medication: the Observer Rating of Medication Taking (ORMT) scale. Eight mental health nurses working in a psychiatric hospital inpatient setting were trained in the use of the ORMT using video-based vignettes. Working in pairs, staff then independently rated adherence behaviours of 13 inpatients in a rehabilitation unit (total of 160 ratings) over a 1-week period. Concurrently, two expert raters also undertook independent ratings of patient medication-taking behaviour using the ORMT. Interrater reliability was assessed across both staff and expert raters. The results indicated that the ORMT has satisfactory interrater reliability, and can be appropriately used in an inpatient setting. The observational location of raters on the ward influenced the range of medication-taking behaviours observed, and thus the extent of concordance between raters. Further research to determine if the ORMT predicts adherence in the community is warranted.