1,178 research outputs found
Multidisciplinary perspectives on Artificial Intelligence and the law
This open access book presents an interdisciplinary, multi-authored, edited collection of chapters on Artificial Intelligence (‘AI’) and the Law. AI technology has come to play a central role in the modern data economy. Through a combination of increased computing power, the growing availability of data and the advancement of algorithms, AI has now become an umbrella term for some of the most transformational technological breakthroughs of this age. The importance of AI stems from both the opportunities that it offers and the challenges that it entails. While AI applications hold the promise of economic growth and efficiency gains, they also create significant risks and uncertainty. The potential and perils of AI have thus come to dominate modern discussions of technology and ethics – and although AI was initially allowed to largely develop without guidelines or rules, few would deny that the law is set to play a fundamental role in shaping the future of AI. As the debate over AI is far from over, the need for rigorous analysis has never been greater. This book thus brings together contributors from different fields and backgrounds to explore how the law might provide answers to some of the most pressing questions raised by AI. An outcome of the Católica Research Centre for the Future of Law and its interdisciplinary working group on Law and Artificial Intelligence, it includes contributions by leading scholars in the fields of technology, ethics and the law.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Le potentiel invasif d'arbres exotiques introduits en forêts tempérées européennes: vers un syndrome d'invasion forestier ?
Many exotic tree species have been introduced worldwide for ornamental or wood production purposes, and some have become invasive in the introduction area, representing a substantial threat to native biodiversity. Forestry is a major pathway of introduction of non-native trees (NNT), and this trend is increasing in Europe due to current afforestation programs promoting the use of NNTs to diversify and improve resilience of planted forests in the face of climate change. However, species selected for wood production are often fast-growing species massively planted on suitable sites, with silvicultural practices enhancing survival rates. These factors increase the probability of these species escaping from cultivation and invading natural habitats. We can therefore assume that an invasion debt exists in Europe regarding NNTs, concealed by the long lag-phase needed by trees to go through the introduction-invasion continuum.
Time since introduction and propagule pressure have been proven to increase the probability of naturalization of an NNT. Functional traits and dispersal capacities play a role in later stages of the invasion process. The process of invasion by NNTs has been extensively studied in the Southern hemisphere and with pioneer, light-demanding species such as pines, eucalyptus or acacias, yet there is a lack of understanding of the invasion process of NNTs in dense temperate forests. If these ecosystems have long been considered more resistant to invasions, there is an increasing number of records of shade-tolerant species invading native natural or semi-natural forests. It is therefore crucial to unveil the mechanisms underlying forest invasion by NNTs and to identify potentially invasive species before they become widely planted.
I used a network of eight old forest arboreta in Southern Belgium as sentinel sites to detect potentially invasive tree species. A systematic monitoring of the sites allowed me to gather data on the density, distance and size structure of the natural regeneration of NNTs. Abiotic characteristics of the habitat were also measured. Several NNTs displayed an abundant natural regeneration in the arboreta, which was further enhanced by planting intensity. Some of these species were already known to be invasive, such as Quercus rubra, Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia. Maple species were also found in dense regeneration patches, especially Acer rufinerve, which is already listed as invasive in Belgium. Most importantly, almost 20% of the frequently planted conifers displayed important regeneration and dispersal potential, and tolerated a wide range of environmental conditions, including shaded understorey, which could lead to the invasion of mature forests. Tsuga heterophylla was particularly prolific, and created dense, impenetrable stands. These maple and conifer species could be part of the invasion debt threatening European forests.
To further investigate the dispersal potential of exotic conifers, the realized dispersal of Tsuga heterophylla, Abies grandis and Thuja plicata was quantified from isolated forest trials. The monitoring of recruitment curves of three of these conifer species confirmed the high invasive potential of Tsuga heterophylla and Abies grandis if planted in favorable sites, especially under coniferous cover. However, Thuja plicata encountered more dispersal and regeneration limitations.
A strategy of fast resource acquisition through high relative growth rate (RGR) and specific leaf area (SLA) has been highlighted in numerous studies comparing native to invasive species, or non-invasive to invasive species. However, this hypothesis has almost always been tested on light-demanding species. The relationship between seedlings developmental traits and invasiveness was tested for the two groups of emerging invasive trees identified in the old arboreta, i.e. Acer and conifer species. To allow a finer analysis, invasiveness was quantified on continuous gradient instead of the usual non-invasive/invasive dichotomy. Global invasiveness was calculated based on proxies extracted from the GBIF Database (number of regions and countries invaded) and the Global Compendium of Weeds (number of citations and risk score). Local invasiveness combined values of regeneration densities and dispersal distances measured in the eight forest arboreta. For maples, invasiveness was positively correlated to growth rates in biomass and height, SLA and number of leaves. For conifers, more invasive species displayed faster height increment, presumably in a strategy of fast light acquisition. A strategy of fast resource acquisition is therefore a key component of the invasion process, even in shaded forest ecosystems.
The results of this PhD indicate that temperate forests are not immune to invasion by non-native trees, and that several tree species might still be in a lag-phase preceding invasion. Combining the results from the monitoring of forest arboreta and the growth experiments, a “forest invasion syndrome” emerges, combining shade-tolerance, high growth rate enhancing competitiveness in canopy gaps and long-distance dispersal ability. High planting intensity and enhanced habitat invasibility through frequent disturbance or silvicultural practices (e.g. abundant coniferous cover) may amplify this syndrome. This is consistent with recent studies indicating invasive tree species in forest adopt a “sit-and-wait” strategy, combining shade tolerance and high response to light after disturbances allowing them to outcompete native trees. Non-native trees, especially those alien to continental Europe, should not be promoted in afforestation program without a thorough risk assessment. Old forest trials and arboreta can act as sentinel sites and provide useful information for a wiser species selection and smarter management practices of temperate forests.15. Life on lan
30th European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2023)
This is the abstract book of 30th European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2023
A web-based platform promoting family communication and cascade genetic testing for families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (DIALOGUE study)
The overall aim of this dissertation is to develop an eHealth intervention to promote family communication and cascade genetic testing among families concerned with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome. Within this context an international, multi-centre scientific project entitled "DIALOGUE" was designed that aims to develop (Phase A), and test the feasibility (Phase B) of an intervention within various genetic clinics across Switzerland and South Korea. This dissertation describes only the Phase A, the adaptation of an intervention, a web-based platform designed for families with HBOC to share genetic test results, including usability testing in a sample from Switzerland.
Chapter 1 provides a general introduction to the current field of hereditary cancer and cascade genetic testing, including the current state of eHealth technologies in science. The chapter also includes a short introduction to the prototype developed in the U.S.—as well as a description of the DIALOGUE study. In addition, the chapter summarises the main conceptual models, i.e. the Ottawa Decision Support Framework (ODSF) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework. These models are commonly implemented in the development and evaluation of complex interventions. The rational of this dissertation is guided by all of these elements.
Chapter 2 provides a detailed description of the dissertation’s specific aims, including the three studies conducted. The articles presented in Chapter 3 describe the methodology and findings of the dissertation. Study I comprises a systematic literature review of previous studies, with a particular focus on HBOC and Lynch syndromes. The literature review identified and synthesised evidence from psychoeducational interventions designed to facilitate family communication of genetic testing results and/or cancer predisposition and to promote cascade genetic testing. A meta-analysis was also conducted to assess intervention efficacy in relation to these two research aims. Our findings highlight the need to develop new interventions and approaches to family communication and cascade testing for cancer susceptibility. Study II describes the state-of-the-art text mining techniques used to detect and classify valuable information from interviews with study participants concerning determinants of open intrafamilial communication regarding genetic cancer risk. This study had two major aims: 1) to quantify openness of communication about HBOC cancer risk, and 2) to examine the role of sentiment in predicting openness of communication. Our findings showed that the overall expressed sentiment was associated with the communication of genetic risk among HBOC families. This analysis identified additional factors that affect openness to communicate genetic risk. These were defined as “high-risk” factors and integrated into the design and development of the intervention. Study III describes the development of the intervention, a web-based platform designed for families with HBOC to share genetic test results. The platform was developed in line with the quality criteria set by the MRC framework. Being web-based, the platform could be accessed via a laptop, smartphone or tablet. Usability testing was applied to evaluate the prototype intervention which received high ratings on a satisfaction scale. Chapter 4 synthesises and discusses the key findings of all the studies presented in the previous chapter, and addresses study limitations and implications for future research
Doing Diversity in Museums and Heritage
The museum and heritage sector has been shaken by debates over how to address colonialism, migration, Islamophobia, LGBTI+ and multiple other forms of difference. This major multi-researcher ethnography of museums and heritage in Berlin provides new insight into how ›diversity‹ is understood and put into action in museums and heritage. Exploring new initiatives and approaches, the book shows how these work - or do not - in practice. By doing so, it highlights ways forward - for research and action - for the future. The fieldwork locations on which this book is based include the Humboldt Forum, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Museum für Naturkunde, and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, as well as Berlin streets and protests
Musiktheorie als interdisziplinäres Fach: 8. Kongress der Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie Graz 2008
Im Oktober 2008 fand an der Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz (KUG) der 8. Kongress der Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie (GMTH) zum Thema »Musiktheorie als interdisziplinäres Fach« statt. Die hier vorgelegten gesammelten Beiträge akzentuieren Musiktheorie als multiperspektivische wissenschaftliche Disziplin in den Spannungsfeldern Theorie/Praxis, Kunst/Wissenschaft und Historik/Systematik. Die sechs Kapitel ergründen dabei die Grenzbereiche zur Musikgeschichte, Musikästhetik, zur Praxis musikalischer Interpretation, zur kompositorischen Praxis im 20. und 21. Jahrhundert, zur Ethnomusikologie sowie zur Systematischen Musikwissenschaft. Insgesamt 45 Aufsätze, davon 28 in deutscher, 17 in englischer Sprache, sowie die Dokumentation einer Podiumsdiskussion zeichnen in ihrer Gesamtheit einen höchst lebendigen und gegenwartsbezogenen Diskurs, der eine einzigartige Standortbestimmung des Fachs Musiktheorie bietet.The 8th congress of the Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie (GMTH) took place in October 2008 at the University for Music and Dramatic Arts Graz (KUG) on the topic »Music Theory and Interdisciplinarity«. The collected contributions characterize music theory as a multi-faceted scholarly discipline at the intersection of theory/practice, art/science and history/system. The six chapters explore commonalties with music history, music aesthetics, musical performance, compositional practice in twentieth- and twenty-first-century music, ethnomusicology and systematic musicology. A total of 45 essays (28 in German, 17 in English) and the documentation of a panel discussion form a vital discourse informed by contemporaneous issues of research in a broad number of fields, providing a unique overview of music theory today. A comprehensive English summary appears at the beginning of all contributions
Data ethics : building trust : how digital technologies can serve humanity
Data is the magic word of the 21st century. As oil in the 20th century and electricity in the 19th century:
For citizens, data means support in daily life in almost all activities, from watch to laptop, from kitchen to car,
from mobile phone to politics. For business and politics, data means power, dominance, winning the race. Data can be used for good and bad,
for services and hacking, for medicine and arms race. How can we build trust in this complex and ambiguous data world?
How can digital technologies serve humanity? The 45 articles in this book represent a broad range of ethical reflections and recommendations
in eight sections: a) Values, Trust and Law, b) AI, Robots and Humans, c) Health and Neuroscience, d) Religions for Digital Justice, e) Farming, Business, Finance, f) Security, War, Peace, g) Data Governance, Geopolitics, h) Media, Education, Communication.
The authors and institutions come from all continents.
The book serves as reading material for teachers, students, policy makers, politicians, business, hospitals, NGOs and religious organisations alike. It is an invitation for dialogue, debate and building trust!
The book is a continuation of the volume “Cyber Ethics 4.0” published in 2018 by the same editors
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