Academic Conferences Research Articles

Robotic process automation – research impulses from the BPM 2023 panel discussion

AbstractRobotic Process Automation is an established technology in organizations. In the last years, it has also received considerable attention in scholarly research with publications, special issues, and academic conferences dedicated to the topic. Given that Robotic Process Automation has now moved beyond the initial hype, we can ask what research should focus on in the future. To address this question, we conducted a panel discussion to discuss its current state and future development. This panel, which took place at the Robotic Process Automation forum at the Business Process Management Conference 2023, included experts from academia and industry, covering strategy consultants, implementers, and tool providers. In this report, we present insights from the panel discussions. We especially focus on three future research directions on Robotic Process Automation that emerged from the panel.

Development of the continuous ambulatory vestibular assessment (CAVA) system to provide an automatic diagnosis for vestibular conditions: protocol for a multicentre, single-arm, non-randomised clinical trial

IntroductionDizziness is a common symptom that can occur in an unpredictable and episodic manner leading to the imprecise reporting of symptoms. Patients will often see many specialists before receiving a...

Microwave imaging for breast cancer screening: protocol for an open, multicentric, interventional, prospective, non-randomised clinical investigation to evaluate cancer detection capabilities of MammoWave system on an asymptomatic population across multiple European countries.

Microwave imaging presents several potential advantages including its non-ionising and harmless nature. This open, multicentric, interventional, prospective, non-randomised trial aims to validate MammoWave's artificial intelligence (AI)-based classification algorithm, leveraging microwave imaging, to achieve a sensitivity exceeding 75% and a specificity exceeding 90% in breast screening. 10 000 volunteers undergoing regular mammographic breast cancer screening will be recruited across 9 European centres and invited to participate in the clinical study, involving MammoWave testing on both breasts. MammoWave results will be checked against the reference standard, to be intended as the output of conventional breast examination path (with histological confirmation of cancer cases) with 2 years follow-up. Anonymised clinical and MammoWave's results, including microwave images, associated features and a label provided by the AI-based classification algorithm, will be collected and stored in a dedicated electronic case report form. The prospective study will involve a comparative analysis between the output of the conventional breast examination path (control intervention) and the labels provided by MammoWave's AI system (experimental intervention). These labels will categorise breasts into two groups: breast With Suspicious Finding, indicating the presence of a suspicious lesion or No Suspicious Finding, indicating the absence of a lesion or the presence of a low-suspicion lesion. This trial aims to provide evidence regarding the novel MammoWave's AI system for detecting breast cancer in asymptomatic populations during screening. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Liguria Region (CET), Italy (CET-Liguria: 524/2023-DB id 13399), the Research Ethics Committee of Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo (CEIC), Spain (CEIC-1094), the National Ethics Committee for Clinical Research (CEIC), Portugal (CEIC-2311KC814), the Bioethical Committee of Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland (KB-006/23/2024) and the Zurich Cantonal Ethics Commission, Switzerland (BASEC 2023-D0101). The findings of this study will be disseminated through academic and scientific conferences as well as peer-reviewed journals. NCT06291896.

Assessing if motives-based vignettes influence plans for drinking and alcohol cues: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionIn Sweden and the UK, there is a high prevalence of risky drinking, a pattern of drinking associated with adverse consequences. Drinking motives are a proximal predictor of risky drinking...

Impact of virtual consultations on quality of care in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and narrative synthesis protocol.

Around 463 million people globally have diabetes, of which over 90% have type 2 diabetes (T2D). Projections indicate an expected increase to 700 million by 2045. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital health uptake, establishing virtual consultations as a feasible alternative to traditional in-person care. Despite promising preliminary evidence, a comprehensive review is needed to fully assess the impact of virtual consultations on diabetes care. This review aims to systematically evaluate the impact of remote consultations on the quality of care provided to persons with T2D, by mapping impacts against the six quality domains outlined by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) (ie, patient-centeredness, effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness, equity and safety). PubMed/MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), COCHRANE Library, EMBASE (Excerpta Medica Database), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) and Web of Science will be searched for studies published between 2010 and 2024. Primary outcomes will include any quality measures pertaining to the NAM domains for adult patients accessing virtual consultations. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool will be used to assess the quality of the randomised studies, and the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions will be used for non-randomised studies. The findings will be summarised as a narrative synthesis. This systematic review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews on 15 November 2023 (registration number: CRD42023474219). This review will not include primary data and therefore does not require ethical approval. This protocol complies with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines. Findings will be disseminated as academic publications and conference presentations and summarised into patient-led lay summaries.

Current approaches and future trends in integrating digital education methods in Chinese traditional art education

Introduction. The modern information society has had a significant impact on the education systems of many countries around the world. It enables openness, accessibility, mobility and lifelong education. In recent years, arts institutions and educators have grappled with finding the right balance between traditional and digital arts education. Traditional art techniques have long been the foundation of art education in colleges and universities. Aim. This study aims to investigate the integration of digital education methods in Chinese traditional art education and examine future trends and directions in this field. Focusing on exploring current approaches and anticipating future developments, the research seeks to provide insights into the evolving landscape of digital integration within the context of Chinese traditional art education. Research methods. To achieve the research objectives a systematic review involved to conducting a comprehensive search of relevant literature, including academic journals and conference proceedings. Studies discussing various methods, technologies, and pedagogical approaches for incorporating digital education in traditional art education settings would be identified and synthesized. A systematic review would involve searching and analyzing literature to explore methods of integrating digital education into Chinese traditional art education. Results. This study sheds light on the current approaches to integrating digital education methods in Chinese traditional art education while also offering insights into future trends and directions in this field. Based on Google Scholar search results using the keywords "digital education" and "traditional arts education" resulted in 19,800 publications. Multiple indexes were used leaving 13,600 publications. After filtering the types of literature into articles and review articles, 65 publications remained. Additionally, we removed duplicates, poorly indexed documents, and documents inconsistent with digital arts education research, reducing the number of publications to 10. Each bibliography entry includes author, institution, abstract, Google Scholar category, research topic, year of publication, publications (volumes), and references. In conclusion this study highlights the need for ongoing research and adaptation to effectively navigate the complexities of integrating digital education into traditional Chinese arts education while preserving its rich cultural heritage for future generations.

Academic Air Travel: Debates, Tensions and the Need for a Sociology of Science Perspective

ABSTRACTTraveling to conferences is a central feature of academic life. Yet recently, academic air travel has been called into question in the context of climate change, and the digital transformation has facilitated the spread of virtual alternatives to face‐to‐face meetings. The near‐total halt in air travel associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic has solidified the use of technologies of virtual meetings. However, the return to in‐person conferences after the pandemic suggests that these are not as easily replaced by virtual alternatives as is sometimes assumed. While this is increasingly coming into focus in the behavioral sciences, the sociology of science is largely absent in this debate. As a first step toward bringing this debate into conversation with the sociology of science, this review article examines the literature on academic air travel for key tensions, current debates and politicizations. It concludes that academic conference travel is an emerging, timely and relevant, yet under‐studied area of interest for sociologists of science, and suggests some avenues for future inquiry.

Development and validation of a clinical prediction tool to estimate survival in community-dwelling adults living with dementia: a protocol

IntroductionA clinical prediction tool to estimate life expectancy in community-dwelling individuals living with dementia could inform healthcare decision-making and prompt future planning. An existing Ontario-based tool for community-dwelling elderly individuals does not perform well in people living with dementia specifically. This study seeks to develop and validate a clinical prediction tool to estimate survival in community-dwelling individuals living with dementia receiving home care in Ontario, Canada.Methods and analysisThis will be a population-level retrospective cohort study that will use data in linked healthcare administrative databases at ICES. Specifically, data that are routinely collected from regularly administered assessments for home care will be used. Community-dwelling individuals living with dementia receiving home care at any point between April 2010 and March 2020 will be included (N≈200 000). The model will be developed in the derivation cohort (N≈140 000), which includes individuals with a randomly selected home care assessment between 2010 and 2017. The outcome variable will be survival time from index assessment. The selection of predictor variables will be fully prespecified and literature/expert-informed. The model will be estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model. The model’s performance will be assessed in a temporally distinct validation cohort (N≈60 000), which includes individuals with an assessment between 2018 and 2020. Overall performance will be assessed using Nagelkerke’s R2, discrimination using the concordance statistic and calibration using the calibration curve. Overfitting will be assessed visually and statistically. Model performance will be assessed in the validation cohort and in prespecified subgroups.Ethics and disseminationThe study received research ethics board approval from the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (SUN-6138). Abstracts of the project will be submitted to academic conferences, and a manuscript thereof will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. The model will be disseminated on a publicly accessible website (www.projectbiglife.com).Trial registration numberNCT06266325(clinicaltrials.gov).

Robust Evidence in Integrative Medicine: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Directions

Integrative Medicine (IM), which includes therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, yoga, and meditation, is gaining attention for managing chronic pain conditions. However, concerns about the quality of evidence supporting the use of these interventions persist. The 5th Annual Jaseng Academic conference 2024, in Seoul, South Korea, themed "Robust Evidence in Integrative Medicine: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Directions," addressed these concerns by focusing on advancements in study design, evidence synthesis, and open science practices. This conference proceeding summarizes key insights from the conference, emphasizing the role of pragmatic randomized controlled trials (pRCTs) in evaluating real-world effectiveness, and addressing the complexities involved in IM research such as sham controls. The integration of IM therapies into comprehensive pain management strategies (particularly in Korea), supported by government-backed research and policy initiatives was also discussed. Advancements in methodologies were addressed, such as bibliometric analysis, evidence mapping, and the development of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for integrative therapies. These methodologies offer valuable insights but face challenges due to the heterogeneity of IM interventions, and potential synergistic or antagonistic effects when combined with conventional medicine. Finally, the potential of open science to enhance transparency, reporting, and reproducibility in IM was explored, emphasizing the increased role of adherence to reporting guidelines (CONSORT and PRISMA). The future of IM research is built upon the continued efforts of refined study designs, rigorous evidence synthesis, and the integration of open science principles, for a robust and more credible evidence base.

Awareness and knowledge about Female Genital Schistosomiasis among European healthcare workers

Abstract Background Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is a gynaecological manifestation of persistent infection with Schistosoma haematobium, which can lead to severe consequences, such as miscarriage and infertility. It is estimated to affect 56 million women globally, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Most migrants in Europe are female, often from SSA and therefore at risk of FGS, hence healthcare workers (HCWs) knowledge of FGS is essential for the provision of adequate care. This study aims to assess awareness and knowledge of FGS among European HCWs to inform strategies to improve the management of migrant health. Methods In June 2023 - January 2024 we conducted a cross-sectional online survey targeting medical doctors (MDs), nurses and midwives (NMs) working in fields of infectiology, gynaecology, urology, family, travel, internal or occupational medicine. The prevalence of FGS awareness and knowledge was estimated, Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with MDs’ awareness of FGS. Results Among 922 surveyed HCWs, 43.7% (CI95%: 39.6-47.9) of MDs and 12.0% (CI95%: 8.8-16.0) NMs have heard about FGS. FGS awareness among MDs was associated with work in clinics for migrants (prevalence ratio (PR)=1.33, CI95%: 1.10-1.59) and specialization, being lower for gynaecology (PR = 0.67; CI95%:0.51-0.88), and family medicine (PR = 0.42, CI95%:0.30-0.59). Among MDs, 7.1% (CI95%: 5.1- 9.5) had medium knowledge, while 25.3% (CI95%: 21.8-29.0) had low, and 67.6% (CI95%: 63.7-71.4) no knowledge on symptoms, complications or diagnostic tools for FGS. FGS knowledge was mostly acquired through academic curricula (34.7%), scientific literature (28.4%) and conferences (25.6%). Conclusions The study shows limited awareness of FGS among European MDs and NMs, and highlights that European HCWs may not be adequately prepared to deal with diseases that are gaining relevance on the European continent due to the global connectivity and the dynamic nature of our societies. Key messages • In Europe, the health specialities that are the first point of patient access to the health system show a low level of awareness and knowledge of Female Genital Schistosomiasis. • Rising knowledge of FGS among European HCWs through academic curricula and continuous medical education is important to ensure adequate diagnosis and management of disease in migrant populations.

Opportunity lost: addressing DEI in academic conference design practices

PurposeAttending academic conferences is important for career progression. However, conferences can be experienced as exclusionary by historically marginalised groups. Non-attendance through exclusionary event design thus has far-reaching consequences, which is a social and structural justice issue. This research therefore aims to shine a light on event design in academic conferences, and its relationship to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).Design/methodology/approachThrough empirical study, we address the question “Are academic conferences communicating a commitment to DEI for delegates from historically marginalised groups, and if so, how?”. Using a content protocol (Loh et al., 2022) and signalling theory (Bradley et al., 2023), we analyse the publicly available conference materials of 70 tourism, leisure, events and hospitality academic conferences planned or convened between 2023 and 2025 to assess DEI discourses and practices for evidence of conference design that fosters inclusivity, belongingness and therefore addresses justice.FindingsReferences to one or more elements of DEI were found in the discourses of around one quarter of the conferences. However, for BIPOC [1], precarious academics, those from the LGBTQIA+ or disability communities, those with caring responsibilities, those on low or no incomes or with visa requirements, and to a large degree still for women, there were few signs within conference design practices that could be construed as conveying a welcoming culture. We therefore argue that academic conferences within the fields of tourism, leisure, events and hospitality are perpetuating inequity, exclusion and injustice through failing to give full consideration to whom their event design practices are inviting to participate. This is an opportunity lost, and we provide a checklist for conference organisers to help them communicate that historically marginalised academics are welcome and belong at their event.Originality/valueWe believe this is the first study to take a DEI lens to an examination of academic conferences, and apply a content protocol and signalling theory as analytic tools in the process.

The Inquiry Initiative and “Opportunity Gaps”: Collaborative Research Structures and Challenging Inequities in Teacher Education

ABSTRACT While academic conferences and professional associations were amongst those societal structures that were immediately (and arguably forever) changed by the pandemic , many – including this article’s authors and this special issue’s editors – would argue that long before the pandemic, the static structure of professional conferences had made them decidedly less relevant to their members and their fields. In response, in 2022 the Association of Teacher Educators launched the Inquiry Initiative, aiming to develop a novel form of collaborative research structure, uniting teacher education scholars and practitioners to examine and address “opportunity gaps” in education. In this introductory article to this special issue, we explore these professional association contexts and teacher education research circumstances in an effort to help readers understand the unique set of factors that have resulted in this edition of The New Educator. We share a concise history of academic conferences in the US; we situate this history in a brief literature review on collaborative research structures. We outline the elements of the Initiative as it has been implemented over the course of the last three years, concisely detailing the nature of the “opportunity gaps” focus of the first Initiative, and offering short summaries of the articles in this special issue, considering their connections to the “opportunity gaps” topic. We conclude with a reflection on the nature of academic scholarship in the US and the need for and place of such alternative collaborative structures in the service of these research endeavors.

Earth science for all? The economic barrier to European geoscience conferences

Abstract. Scientific meetings are vital for research development and networking. However, these events often reflect unconscious biases and barriers to diversity, particularly affecting marginalized groups. The future success of the geosciences depends on diversity, which enhances problem-solving and innovation through varied perspectives. This study examines the attendance diversity at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly from 2005 to 2024, focusing on the impact of economic factors, distance, and population size on participation. Using publicly available data from the World Bank and the EGU, this study finds that gross national income (GNI) is the primary determinant of attendance, especially post-COVID. Distance also influences attendance but to a lesser extent, while population size shows a weak correlation. To improve diversity in academic conferences, we suggest facilitating donations, offering affordable accommodations, establishing additional travel funds, and rotating the conference location. Our actions must go beyond the EGU General Assembly and other geoscience conferences, as these actions can also help dismantle barriers to inclusivity in other areas of our community. By addressing these financial and systemic barriers, geoscience conferences can become more inclusive, benefiting the entire scientific community.

A Literature Review: Which, How and What for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Gamification

Artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into educational methods through game-like elements, including gamification and serious games, offering tools and approaches to enhance teaching and learning experiences. A comprehensive review was adopted in this study to generate an overall trend or effect on AI in gamification. The paper selection was based on the three databases. Related 22 articles were collected by searching through academic journals or conference proceedings that were published in English from 2019 to 2024. The findings present that machine learning is utilised in serious games, favouring AI that might support gamification and improve results such as enhanced learning outcomes. Some included studies discuss the direct and indirect connection between technologies and gamification, including personalisation, adaptive difficulty, feedback and motivation, predictive analytics, and data-driven Insights. Overall, those interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and gamification, including researchers, practitioners, developers, educators, and policymakers, can benefit from the literature review.

Minutes of the 15th academic conference on basic science and applied technology for prevention and control of infectious diseases

Minutes of the 15th academic conference on basic science and applied technology for prevention and control of infectious diseases

Preface

Abstract As an academic conference, IPPTC aims to provide an ideal opportunity for industry experts, leading engineers, researchers and technical managers as well as university scholars to share ideas and research achievements related to petroleum & petrochemical technology and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted. IPPTC is held annually since 2017, it becomes a platform to bridge the knowledge gap covering the whole stream in oil and gas between China and the world. Following the success of IPPTC in previous years, this multi-disciplined conference will be taken place at the same time with China International Petroleum and Petrochemical Equipment Exhibition (CIPPE). This academic conference aims to provide an ideal opportunity for industry experts, leading engineers, researchers and technical managers as well as university scholars to share ideas and research achievements related to petroleum & petrochemical technology and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted. It will create a platform to bridge the knowledge gap between China and the world. List of committee is available in this Pdf.

Impact of financial incentives introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing staff: a mixed-method protocol

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on nursing staff, resulting in alarming turnover rates. As part of the Quebec (Canada) government’s response to the pandemic, nurses have been...

Cryptosporidiosis in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionCryptosporidiosis is a leading cause of moderate-to-severe diarrhoea globally, and, while it is often self-limited, in immunocompromised individuals, the infection can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis might...

Predictive factors associated with Bile culture positivity And phenotypiCal antIbiogram resistance patterns in patients taken to LaparOscopic cholecystectomy (BACILO): protocol for a prospective observational cohort study and development of a prognostic prediction model.

Bile fluid is aseptic under normal conditions; however, in the presence of cholecystitis, its susceptibility to bacterial colonisation varies, with reported rates of 20%-70% of cases. This process is referred to as bactibilia and/or bacteriobilia and can be considered a secondary complication of biliary stasis and cholecystitis in general. In the management of acute cholecystitis, the antibiotic regimen should be prescribed based on the presumed pathogens involved, taking into consideration the risk factors for resistance patterns according to demographics and local exposure. The aim of this study is to determine the predictive factors for bile culture positivity and antibiotic resistance in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the Méderi Hospital Network. We hope to develop a predictive model that allows us to better guide antibiotic therapy. This is a prospective observational cohort study with prognostic prediction model. Patients who will undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy and have bile cultures taken in the Méderi Hospital Network during the study period will be included. The dependent variables will be positive bile culture and antibiotic resistance, and the predictive variables will be age, presence of diabetes, diagnosis of choledocholithiasis, diagnosis of cholecystitis and severity of cholecystitis according to the Tokyo criteria. The minimum sample size has been calculated at 703 patients. Follow-up will continue until a control appointment 15 days after the procedure. The primary outcomes are bile culture positivity and phenotypical antibiogram resistance. For each outcome, a multivariate logistic regression will be performed using frequentist and Bayesian prediction techniques. This study was approved by the Méderi network research department committee (CIMED) and by Universidad del Rosario's Research Ethics Committee (CEI-UR; DVO005 2555-CV1837). Written informed consent is required for participation. The results will be disseminated through the submission of an academic article to a high-impact scientific journal, presentations at academic conferences, and sharing with our institution's faculty to inform antimicrobial therapy management based on local epidemiological data. NCT06314399.

Piloting a PREMs and PROMs longitudinal survey on the integration of healthcare services for patients living with hepatitis C in Tuscany region: study protocol

IntroductionPatient-reported measures are an invaluable resource for health systems to improve the quality of healthcare services. Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are an under-represented group within the stream of...