Distance Metric Learning using Graph Convolutional Networks: Application to Functional Brain Networks

Evaluating similarity between graphs is of major importance in several computer vision and pattern recognition problems, where graph representations are often used to model objects or interactions between elements. The choice of a distance or similarity metric is, however, not trivial and can be highly dependent on the application at hand. In this work, we propose a novel metric learning method to evaluate distance between graphs that leverages the power of convolutional neural networks, while exploiting concepts from spectral graph theory to allow these operations on irregular graphs. We demonstrate the potential of our method in the field of connectomics, where neuronal pathways or functional connections between brain regions are commonly modelled as graphs. In this problem, the definition of an appropriate graph similarity function is critical to unveil patterns of disruptions associated with certain brain disorders. Experimental results on the ABIDE dataset show that our method can learn a graph similarity metric tailored for a clinical application, improving the performance of a simple k-nn classifier by 11.9% compared to a traditional distance metric.Comment: International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Interventions (MICCAI) 201

The Effect of Varied Gender Groupings on Argumentation Skills among Middle School Students in Different Cultures

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore the effect of varied gender groupings on argumentation skills among middle school students in Taiwan and the United States in a project-based learning environment that incorporated a graph-oriented computer-assisted application (GOCAA). A total of 43 students comprised the treatment condition and were engaged in the collaborative argumentation process in same-gender groupings. Of these 43 students, 20 were located in the U.S. and 23 were located in Taiwan. A total of 40 students comprised the control condition and were engaged in the collaborative argumentation process in mixed-gender groupings. Of these 40 students, 19 were in the U.S. and 21 were in Taiwan. In each country, verbal collaborative argumentation was recorded and the students’ post essays were collected. Among females in Taiwan, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that statistically a significant gender-grouping effect was evident on the total argumentation skills outcome, while MANOVA indicated no significant gender-grouping effect on the combined set of skill outcomes. Among females in the U.S., MANOVA indicated statistically significant gender-grouping effect on the combined set of argumentation skills outcomes Specifically, U.S. female students in mixed-gender groupings (the control condition) significantly outperformed female students in single-gender groupings (the treatment condition) in the counterargument and rebuttal skills. No significant group differences were observed among males. A qualitative analysis was conducted to examine how the graph-oriented computer-assisted application supported students’ development of argumentation skills in different gender groupings in both countries. In each country, all teams in both conditions demonstrated a similar pattern of collaborative argumentation with the exception of three female teams in the U.S. Female teams, male teams, (the treatment condition) and mixed-gender teams (the control condition) demonstrated metacognition regulation skills in different degrees and with different scaffolding

Algorithm for rigorous integration of Delay Differential Equations and the computer-assisted proof of periodic orbits in the Mackey-Glass equation

We present an algorithm for the rigorous integration of Delay Differential Equations (DDEs) of the form $x'(t)=f(x(t-\tau),x(t))$. As an application, we give a computer assisted proof of the existence of two attracting periodic orbits (before and after the first period-doubling bifurcation) in the Mackey-Glass equation

Introducing realist ontology for the representation of adverse events

The goal of the REMINE project is to build a high performance prediction, detection and monitoring platform for managing Risks against Patient Safety (RAPS). Part of the work involves developing in ontology enabling computer-assisted RAPS decision support on the basis of the disease history of a patient as documented in a hospital information system. A requirement of the ontology is to contain a representation for what is commonly referred to by the term 'adverse event', one challenge being that distinct authoritative sources define this term in different and context-dependent ways. The presence of some common ground in all definitions is, however, obvious. Using the analytical principles underlying Basic Formal Ontology and Referent Tracking, both developed in the tradition of philosophical realism, we propose a formal representation of this common ground which combines a reference ontology consisting exclusively of representations of universals and an application ontology which consists representations of defined classes. We argue that what in most cases is referred to by means of the term 'adverse event' - when used generically - is a defined class rather than a universal. In favour of the conception of adverse events as forming a defined class are the arguments that (1) there is no definition for 'adverse event' that carves out a collection of particulars which constitutes the extension of a universal, and (2) the majority of definitions require adverse events to be (variably) the result of some observation, assessment or (absence of) expectation, thereby giving these entities a nominal or epistemological flavour

Recent trends, technical concepts and components of computer-assisted orthopedic surgery systems: A comprehensive review

Computer-assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS) systems have become one of the most important and challenging types of system in clinical orthopedics, as they enable precise treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, employing modern clinical navigation systems and surgical tools. This paper brings a comprehensive review of recent trends and possibilities of CAOS systems. There are three types of the surgical planning systems, including: systems based on the volumetric images (computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound images), further systems utilize either 2D or 3D fluoroscopic images, and the last one utilizes the kinetic information about the joints and morphological information about the target bones. This complex review is focused on three fundamental aspects of CAOS systems: their essential components, types of CAOS systems, and mechanical tools used in CAOS systems. In this review, we also outline the possibilities for using ultrasound computer-assisted orthopedic surgery (UCAOS) systems as an alternative to conventionally used CAOS systems.Web of Science1923art. no. 519

Формування інформаційної компетенції майбутнього вчителя іноземної мови

Розглядається питання формування інформаційної компетенції майбутніх вчителів іноземної мови. Освітлено актуальність проблеми; уточнено визначення інформаційної компетенції вчителя іноземної мови та подано її компонентний склад; розроблено номенклатуру умінь, що розвиваються на основі навчальних Інтернет-ресурсів; окреслено основні положення формування інформаційної компетенції вчителя іноземної мови. (The article is devoted to the problem of formation of informative competence of future foreign language teachers. This paper addresses the issue of the development of informational competence in teaching foreign languages. The author discusses the importance of the problem of formation of informative competence and its urgency, analyses scientific sources, gives definition of «informational competence of future foreign language teachers», develops taxonomy of communicative skills of future foreign language teachers developed via new computer technologies, and describes the main principles in the formation of informational competence of future foreign language teachers. Didactic foundations of the formation and development of the information competence of the future foreign language teachers in order to effectively prepare them for the usage of informative technologies in professional activity have been investigated in the article.Main components of informative competence of future foreign language teachers are observed and described.Namely, definite groups of conditions for such preparation have been defined to which the author has suggested to include normative, organizational, psychological and pedagogical conditions. They have been given proper reasoning in the article. It is expected, that mastering of offered skills of informative competence independently will allow the future teacher of the foreign language to develop and use resources of informative communicative technologies (e.g. computer-assisted language learning) in learning process. It is provided also, that the skills and informative competence obtained by them will be developed and be improved, and application of multimedia technologies and computer-assisted language learning will not be incidental in teaching foreign languages.