1,151 research outputs found

    Governing ageing in Chile: from neoliberal hegemony to more hopeful demographic futures?

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    In this thesis, I explore how demographic ageing is regulated in Chile through the governing of older populations, with particularly close attention to how the ‘actually existing’ neoliberal context in Chile permeates and conditions diverse political projects and strategies implemented by central and local governments. I approach this shaping as a historical and conjunctural process realised through multiple central and local governing projects, as well as a legacy thrown into particularly sharp relief and retrospective political questioning by the unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-neoliberal social uprising of 2019. These intertwined conjunctural moments have unearthed the limitations of neoliberal strategies in addressing the needs of older people. To explore the governing of older populations in Chile, I undertook a hybrid on-site and online ethnography exploring a wide range of national and local policies and governing projects. In investigating local governing projects, I analysed –with different depths– the case of seven contrasting municipalities in the capital city of Santiago, Chile. With demographic ageing positioned as a risk to economic development, I suggest that the main rationale guiding Chilean policies and programs has been to avert the central state’s welfare and caregiving responsibilities toward a growing number of potentially dependent populations; economically, physically and cognitively. I argue that governing strategies directed to older populations are deeply neoliberal –sometimes deliberately and sometimes inadvertently– in that they pervasively have been designed to shift and devolve welfare and caregiving responsibilities to different (non-central state) scales such as families and charitable institutions, local governments, communities and older people themselves. In these explorations, I also consider more closely alternative governing projects that have contested, to differing extents, the central state's neoliberal neglect. Unpacking how progressive governing projects at central and local levels have sought to imprint a different common sense on state responsibility, I also consider how these alternative projects have themselves been reshaped by neoliberal ideas and strategies. In this case, I argue that neoliberal ideas and strategies, together with the material effects of Chile’s neoliberal context, are holding back the advances of progressive governing projects. Nonetheless, as hegemony is never final, I also consider how the intertwined moments of the COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-neoliberal social uprising of October 2019 also shed light on how the history of neoliberal policies directed at older populations in Chile continues to be contested. Scholarly understandings of neoliberalism as a political hegemonic project are central to this thesis’ argument. I draw on Gramsci’s notion of hegemony as a position of ‘leadership’ continuously constructed through the intertwined articulation of coercion and consent (Hall 1986, p.15), to unpack how neoliberal ideas and strategies have reached a position of leadership in the governing of demographic ageing amid opposition from alternative governing ideas and projects. Three crosscutting findings emerge from this research: 1) through a marked politics of devolution within Chilean governance, access to welfare and caregiving has been rendered deeply unequal with old age; 2) the hegemonising capacity of neoliberal ideas and strategies is revealed in the persistence of the central state’s politics of scalar devolution and ways in which would-be progressive local governing projects end up complying with neoliberal aims; 3) though neoliberal hegemony has been secured thus far in this case through multiple strategies, it continues to be subject to contestation. Such findings offer insights for building more hopeful demographic ageing futures

    Literary Reading on Paper and Screens: Associations Between Reading Habits and Preferences and Experiencing Meaningfulness

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    The increasing use of digital technologies has implications for reading. Online and on-screen reading often consist of engaging with multiple, short, multimedia snippets of information, whereas longform reading is in decline. Meta-analyses have identified a screen inferiority when reading informational texts, but not narrative texts. The mode effect is explained by reference to the Shallowing Hypothesis, postulating that increased screen reading leads to a propensity to skim and scan rather than carefully read, since digital reading material is typically composed of short, decontextualized snippets of multimedia content rather than long, linear, texts. Experiments have found support for the Shallowing Hypothesis when reading expository/informational texts, but the impact of increased habituation to screens on, specifically, literary reading, is largely unknown. It is plausible that shallow modes of reading, prompted by increased screen use, may compromise one's capacity to engage deeply with literary texts and, in turn, negatively affect readers’ motivation and inclination to engage in slower, more reflective, and more effortful reading. This article presents the results from three experiments exploring associations between reading behavior, medium preferences, and the reading of a short literary text on paper versus screen. Although mixed, the results revealed an overall pattern for the role of medium: more frequent reading of short texts on screen predicted less inclination to muster the cognitive persistence required for reading a longer text, and engage in contemplation on the deeper and personally relevant meaning of the literary text. Educational implications of these findings are discussed.publishedVersio

    Improving Prediction Performance and Model Interpretability through Attention Mechanisms from Basic and Applied Research Perspectives

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    With the dramatic advances in deep learning technology, machine learning research is focusing on improving the interpretability of model predictions as well as prediction performance in both basic and applied research. While deep learning models have much higher prediction performance than conventional machine learning models, the specific prediction process is still difficult to interpret and/or explain. This is known as the black-boxing of machine learning models and is recognized as a particularly important problem in a wide range of research fields, including manufacturing, commerce, robotics, and other industries where the use of such technology has become commonplace, as well as the medical field, where mistakes are not tolerated.Focusing on natural language processing tasks, we consider interpretability as the presentation of the contribution of a prediction to an input word in a recurrent neural network. In interpreting predictions from deep learning models, much work has been done mainly on visualization of importance mainly based on attention weights and gradients for the inference results. However, it has become clear in recent years that there are not negligible problems with these mechanisms of attention mechanisms and gradients-based techniques. The first is that the attention weight learns which parts to focus on, but depending on the task or problem setting, the relationship with the importance of the gradient may be strong or weak, and these may not always be strongly related. Furthermore, it is often unclear how to integrate both interpretations. From another perspective, there are several unclear aspects regarding the appropriate application of the effects of attention mechanisms to real-world problems with large datasets, as well as the properties and characteristics of the applied effects. This dissertation discusses both basic and applied research on how attention mechanisms improve the performance and interpretability of machine learning models.From the basic research perspective, we proposed a new learning method that focuses on the vulnerability of the attention mechanism to perturbations, which contributes significantly to prediction performance and interpretability. Deep learning models are known to respond to small perturbations that humans cannot perceive and may exhibit unintended behaviors and predictions. Attention mechanisms used to interpret predictions are no exception. This is a very serious problem because current deep learning models rely heavily on this mechanism. We focused on training techniques using adversarial perturbations, i.e., perturbations that dares to deceive the attention mechanism. We demonstrated that such an adversarial training technique makes the perturbation-sensitive attention mechanism robust and enables the presentation of highly interpretable predictive evidence. By further extending the proposed technique to semi-supervised learning, a general-purpose learning model with a more robust and interpretable attention mechanism was achieved.From the applied research perspective, we investigated the effectiveness of the deep learning models with attention mechanisms validated in the basic research, are in real-world applications. Since deep learning models with attention mechanisms have mainly been evaluated using basic tasks in natural language processing and computer vision, their performance when used as core components of applications and services has often been unclear. We confirm the effectiveness of the proposed framework with an attention mechanism by focusing on the real world of applications, particularly in the field of computational advertising, where the amount of data is large, and the interpretation of predictions is necessary. The proposed frameworks are new attempts to support operations by predicting the nature of digital advertisements with high serving effectiveness, and their effectiveness has been confirmed using large-scale ad-serving data.In light of the above, the research summarized in this dissertation focuses on the attention mechanism, which has been the focus of much attention in recent years, and discusses its potential for both basic research in terms of improving prediction performance and interpretability, and applied research in terms of evaluating it for real-world applications using large data sets beyond the laboratory environment. The dissertation also concludes with a summary of the implications of these findings for subsequent research and future prospects in the field.博士(工学)法政大学 (Hosei University

    A usability evaluation model for accessible mobile e-book applications for the visually impaired

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    Evaluation plays a critical role in assessing the usability of e-book applications in terms of their accessibility which allows the visually impaired to get the same benefits as ordinary people. However, current e-book usability evaluation models are not for evaluating accessible mobile e-book applications for the visually impaired as they did not sufficiently consider the accessibility issues of these applications. This study aims to develop a model that evaluates the usability of accessible mobile e-book applications for the visually impaired. Literature review and requirement-gathering methods were used to generate usability evaluation factors and metrics and later constructed as a usability evaluation model. This model was verified with 11 domain experts, and the data were analysed using the Fuzzy Delphi Method. Besides, the model was reviewed for consistency, ease of use, understandability, verifiability, and overall impression. Further, a series of online usability tests and interview sessions were conducted with 12 visually impaired participants to validate on data collection ability of the model. The descriptive analysis method was used to analyse objective metrics, and deductive thematic analysis was performed to analyse subjective metrics from interviews. This study initially proposed five evaluation factors: satisfaction, accessibility, efficiency, effectiveness, and learnability, with 35 metrics which were refined to 31 metrics after being verified. Besides, the model was validated, and the findings showed the ability to collect data and the reliability of this model in the actual context of use. The proposed model contributes to the knowledge of accessibility design, evaluation methods and human-computer interaction. Mobile application developers or usability researchers can use this model as one of the references for developing excellent and usable accessible mobile e-book applications for the visually impaired. By having a usable and satisfying accessible mobile e-book application, visually impaired learning and reading routines could be more accessible

    The Library & Generative AI

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    A demonstration of several AI tools, including ChatGPT, ChatPDF, Consensus, and more. The focus of the session is on potential student uses of the tools and related library initiatives, so we address the limits of ChatGPT as an information source. Librarians can help students learn how to use these tools responsibly and provide leadership on campus as AI is integrated into assignments

    A study on ways to strengthen the skills in media and information literacy education of librarians dispatched to developing countries through the Delphi method

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    Advances in technology and communication have brought various opportunities, conveniences, and benefits to human society. With the development of information and communication technology around the world, people can connect with each other in real time, regardless of location. Globalization is also accelerating the movement of people and goods. By making the flow of people, capital, information, and goods relatively free from border restrictions, globalization and informatization have fundamentally changed education. The educational paradigm is shifting in various directions. First, the role of non-formal education has become more prominent as education centered on knowledge acquisition, which was appropriate in the era of the Industrial Revolution, has transformed to a pattern in which learners mostly learn on their own. Second, governments and international organizations including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have been stressing that the acquisition and use of information and communication technology (ICT) is an essential condition for people to lead prosperous lives. Third, education policies and curricula developed by countries, which used to target only the domestic education system, are now beginning to address the effects of globalization on education, global citizenship, and digital citizenship. Along with this paradigm shift, the role of the library, which has traditionally been the center of education, society, and culture in the local community, is expanding. Libraries are representative non-formal educational institutions and local cultural venues that provide information, education, and culture services to their users. The composition and needs of libraries vary from country to country. Many developing countries has a history of colonial rule, and as their network infrastructure transforms in a leapfrogging manner directly into wireless internet, they suffer from the rapid widening of inequality in education and access to information. The purpose of this study is to understand the general impacts of this trend and to suggest ways to improve the media information literacy (MIL) competencies of residents in developing countries through the educational role that librarians can play, especially through librarians dispatched to developing countries. To this end, the relationship between library official development assistance (ODA), education in international development cooperation, and library MIL education were VI examined, and existing approaches for strengthening MIL education competency were analyzed through a literature review. In addition, the contents of current library MIL education were derived by analyzing government materials and summarizing the tasks requested for dispatched librarians to developing countries. After that, in-depth interviews were conducted with librarians dispatched to libraries in developing countries to understand the status of librarians’ work and library education programs in developing countries. In addition, through a Delphi survey with various experts, such as teachers who performed MILeducation, professors specializing in MIL, public officers, training experts in developing countries, and dispatched librarians, a few suggestions on ways to strengthen the competencies of librarians in developing countries for MIL were obtained. The study found that major factors hindering the strengthening of MIL education competencies in libraries in developing countries include the lack of professional human resources to carry out library ODA projects, understanding in ODA in the library field, and publicity for libraries’ role in sustainable education. There is also a need in developing MIL training materials and teaching methods. In conclusion, to build dispatched librarians’ MIL education knowledge and skills, it is necessary to conduct more research on the MIL education function of libraries and librarians and develop corresponding teaching methods and textbooks. In addition, various forms of MIL education training should be provided to dispatched librarians to enable them to work together consistently and continuously. Understanding the situation of recipient countries and organizations, their cultural environment, conditions, and customs, and their MIL environment are critical for the effective dispatch of librarians. To support smooth and sustainable education through libraries in the future, the need for building productive collaborative partnerships with various institutions is stressed. Among the functions that dispatched librarians perform in libraries in developing countries, improving users’ MIL competencies, providing information access rights, and supporting users’ non-formal learning are important roles that modern society requires libraries to perform. In addition, non-formal education is the most suitable form of education for MIL education, and MIL is a fundamental competency in modern society. If dispatched librarians and librarians in recipient countries can cooperate organically through activities in educational support, cultural program development, and MIL competency improvement, library ODA can head to a new direction that substantially contributes to the well-being of people in both donor and recipient countries

    Sociodemographic, nutritional and health status factors associated with adherence to Mediterranean diet in an agricultural Moroccan adult's population

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    Background. Numerous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) on many chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the adherence of a rural population to the Mediterranean diet, to identify the sociodemographic and lifestyle determinants and to analyze the association between adherence to MD and CKD. Material and Methods. In a cross-sectional study, data on sociodemographic, lifestyle factors, clinical, biochemical parameters and diet were collected on a sample of 154 subjects. Adherence to MD was assessed according to a simplified MD score based on the daily frequency of intake of eight food groups (vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereal or potatoes, fish, red meat, dairy products and MUFA/SFA), using the sex specific sample medians as cut-offs. A value of 0 or 1 was assigned to consumption of each component according to its presumed detrimental or beneficial effect on health. Results. According to the simplified MD score, the study data show that high adherence (44.2%) to MD was characterized by intakes high in vegetables, fruits, fish, cereals, olive oil, and low in meat and moderate in dairy. Furthermore, several factors such as age, marital status, education level, and hypertension status were associated with the adherence to MD in the study population. The majority of subjects with CKD have poor adherence to the MD compared to non-CKD with a statistically insignificant difference. Conclusions. In Morocco, maintaining the traditional MD pattern play crucial role for public health. More research is needed in this area to precisely measure this association

    Power, Poverty, and Knowledge – Reflecting on 50 Years of Learning with Robert Chambers

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    Robert Chambers is one of the most influential and prolific scholars to write about participation, poverty, and knowledge in development studies. His writing and thinking have revolutionised the discipline, inspiring both participatory processes and more inclusive practice. His work continues to inspire and provoke debate and discussion among development practitioners, activists, and academics from around the world. Here we present an Archive Collection of the IDS Bulletin in a celebration of Robert’s contribution to the journal over the last five decades. The eight articles included in this IDS Bulletin Archive Collection clearly show change – change in Robert’s evolving interests, change in the strategic focus of IDS as a research institute, change in the wider development studies field, as well as change in the world at large over the last 50 years. Robert’s earlier IDS Bulletin articles show a strong focus on local knowledge and rural development. Over time, this shifts to a concern with professional development management, and a focus on power and participatory methods. While each article stands alone, these themes re-occur and re-emerge. Bias or unfairness in the development sphere is a major concern which Robert highlights in his IDS Bulletin articles, whilst his advocacy for bottom-up, diverse, and process-led approaches to participation clearly emerges. As the editorial introduction explains and explores, the premise of this IDS Bulletin Archive Collection is to delve into Robert’s contribution to the journal, to resurface buried gems of development studies scholarship, and to reinvigorate debates about how we can do better – a question described by Robert as the eternal challenge of development

    Contextualising Title Pages by Material Culture: Typography & List of Rarities A Case Study Don Saltero’s Coffeehouse Catalogues, 1729 – 1795.

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    Using A Catalogue of the Rarities to Be Seen at Don Saltero’s Coffeehouse in Chelsea. To Which Is Added, a Compleat List of the Donors Thereof - published in London, England between 1729 and 1795, this case study contextualises the catalogue’s title pages through a change over time examination of the typography and then listed of rarities through strategies from material culture to understand better the intersecting identities floating around the public sphere. What was reflected were characteristics of religion, nationhood, and gender. Don Saltero’s rarities catalogues were a topic of discussion for patrons of Don Saltero’s coffeehouse in London. Catalogues analysed in this research existed in the coffee house environment, private homes, and wherever these catalogues ended up. The catalogues added legitimacy to the collections they accompanied and did so by placing objects within various Enlightenment discussions and tying the listed objects to contemporary cultural knowledge. Additionally, the object’s descriptions allowed spectators and readers to interact with the ‘science’ of the emerging field of natural history. They presented catalogues in a way that emulated emerging scientific works within the academic sphere of the natural world. The sources used here gained further fame and legitimacy through the connection to well-known naturalist Sir Hans Sloane, a physician to the royal family, president of the Royal Society, and founder of the British Museum. Owning rarity collections was often an elite enterprise, but a collection’s stories were deliberately pitched to a much broader audience offering access to the collections and the ideas they represented. Thus, these catalogues add significance to their collections by expanding public discourse on objects known as rarities
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