158 research outputs found
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
Northeastern Illinois University, Academic Catalog 2023-2024
https://neiudc.neiu.edu/catalogs/1064/thumbnail.jp
Metaverse. Old urban issues in new virtual cities
Recent years have seen the arise of some early attempts to build virtual cities,
utopias or affective dystopias in an embodied Internet, which in some respects appear to
be the ultimate expression of the neoliberal city paradigma (even if virtual). Although
there is an extensive disciplinary literature on the relationship between planning and
virtual or augmented reality linked mainly to the gaming industry, this often avoids design
and value issues. The observation of some of these early experiences - Decentraland,
Minecraft, Liberland Metaverse, to name a few - poses important questions and problems
that are gradually becoming inescapable for designers and urban planners, and allows
us to make some partial considerations on the risks and potentialities of these early virtual
cities
Scholarly Communication Librarianship and Open Knowledge
The intersection of scholarly communication librarianship and open education offers a unique opportunity to expand knowledge of scholarly communication topics in both education and practice. Open resources can address the gap in teaching timely and critical scholarly communication topics—copyright in teaching and research environments, academic publishing, emerging modes of scholarship, impact measurement—while increasing access to resources and equitable participation in education and scholarly communication.
Scholarly Communication Librarianship and Open Knowledge is an open textbook and practitioner’s guide that collects theory, practice, and case studies from nearly 80 experts in scholarly communication and open education. Divided into three parts:
*What is Scholarly Communication?
*Scholarly Communication and Open Culture
*Voices from the Field: Perspectives, Intersections, and Case Studies
The book delves into the economic, social, policy, and legal aspects of scholarly communication as well as open access, open data, open education, and open science and infrastructure. Practitioners provide insight into the relationship between university presses and academic libraries, defining collection development as operational scholarly communication, and promotion and tenure and the challenge for open access.
Scholarly Communication Librarianship and Open Knowledge is a thorough guide meant to increase instruction on scholarly communication and open education issues and practices so library workers can continue to meet the changing needs of students and faculty. It is also a political statement about the future to which we aspire and a challenge to the industrial, commercial, capitalistic tendencies encroaching on higher education. Students, readers, educators, and adaptors of this resource can find and embrace these themes throughout the text and embody them in their work
Atmospheric Science at NASA
Honorable Mention, 2008 ASLI Choice Awards. Atmospheric Science Librarians InternationalThis book offers an informed and revealing account of NASA’s involvement in the scientific understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere. Since the nineteenth century, scientists have attempted to understand the complex processes of the Earth’s atmosphere and the weather created within it. This effort has evolved with the development of new technologies—from the first instrument-equipped weather balloons to multibillion-dollar meteorological satellite and planetary science programs. Erik M. Conway chronicles the history of atmospheric science at NASA, tracing the story from its beginnings in 1958, the International Geophysical Year, through to the present, focusing on NASA’s programs and research in meteorology, stratospheric ozone depletion, and planetary climates and global warming. But the story is not only a scientific one. NASA’s researchers operated within an often politically contentious environment. Although environmental issues garnered strong public and political support in the 1970s, the following decades saw increased opposition to environmentalism as a threat to free market capitalism. Atmospheric Science at NASA critically examines this politically controversial science, dissecting the often convoluted roles, motives, and relationships of the various institutional actors involved—among them NASA, congressional appropriation committees, government weather and climate bureaus, and the military
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Authentication technology methods for E-Commerce applications in Nigeria — a case for biometric digital security contactless palm vein authentication
E-Commerce has become one of the most interesting and beneficial Internet-enabled systems for humanity. E-Commerce has served as an economic enabler and driver for developed countries because of the total adoption by their citizens. However, in Nigeria citizens have rejected E-Commerce due to a lack of trust and inadequate security.
This research identifies several factors that lead to distrust of E-Commerce systems in Nigeria. These factors: perceived fear, security, perceived risk, trust, usability, perceived advantage, and use of web assurance seal services are very important for intention to adopt E-Commerce as an online transaction technology.
This thesis uses a novel Design Fiction and E-Commerce website simulation methodology to show citizens how new and improved security in E-Commerce could increase those citizens' trust and thus increase their intention to adopt E-Commerce. The research surveys a broad demographic sample of citizens from Nigeria who completed a set of tasks associated with the novel Design Fiction and E-Commerce website simulation followed by a detailed questionnaire. The questionnaire, with associated items, was designed to answer the research questions and hypothesis based on the E-Commerce Adoption Model proposed in the thesis.
This new E-Commerce Adoption model is based on the Technology Acceptance Model and uses to comparatively test Digital Signature, Finger Print Identification, and Contactless Palm Vein Authentication technologies in E-Commerce transactions. Results from the survey show that Contactless Palm Vein Authentication leads to greater trust in E-Commerce in Nigeria.
The thesis research findings also indicate that new improved security authentication techniques are overdue. The research indicates that poor E-Commerce adoption in Nigeria is mainly due to a key identified factor, which is security. The conceptual model and trust model are developed for E-Commerce adoption in Nigeria. Therefore, it shows that citizens are willing to accept Contactless Palm Vein Authentication as a solution. In particular, the research results also show that there are strong relationships between all the identified factors and citizens’ intention to adopt E-Commerce in Nigeria thus rejecting all null hypotheses
Bridging the gap and continuing to develop professionally: A pluralist mixed methods study exploring the impact of continuing professional development (CPD) activity on the practice of therapists working in higher education (HE) settings
To date, there is limited research relating to the continued professional development (CPD) of qualified counselling professionals employed within counselling services in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Drawing on five student counselling professionals thematically analysed interviews, and subsequent survey data collected from ninety student counselling respondents, this research elucidates practitioners’ experiences of CPD practice and provision in HEIs. Existing challenges and potential opportunities were identified by participants for continued learning practice in university counselling services (UCS), in line with evolving national CPD strategies for the counselling and allied health care professions. The notable lack of research attending to the experiences of UCS practitioners continues, despite the impact of ongoing context-specific changes such as growing student demand and increased presentations of risk, as well as wider cultural, political, and socio-economic factors.
The results from this two-stage sequential mixed methods exploratory design demonstrate participants’ strong commitment to and valuation of CPD activity, with learning needs guided by interest (81%, n=73) and reflection on practice (63%, n=57). 94% of the participants stipulated new knowledge and skills as the learning objective yet only 17% engaged in research-led CPD activity, despite a national directive for a research-led practice. The study further revealed that national recommendations for the use of a supervised personal development plan (27%, n=24), appraisal (18%, n=16) or performance review (2%), to ensure CPD is guided by learning gaps, remains underutilised. Qualitative thematic data showed that whilst therapists are committed to their professional development and engage in a range of learning forums, there remains some concern about the lack of accessible and relevant CPD to support the rising complexity of therapeutic work presenting to UCS. This data provides an opportunity to review existing CPD practices in the sector and develop a continuing education programme that promotes best clinical practice in line with national expectations for the healthcare professions.
These findings thereby contribute to an unattended area of clinical practice and provide a practice-based research context to highlight practitioner perspectives, to shape future policy, service delivery, and training provision. Recommendations are made for CPD practice to be the shared responsibility of investors, stakeholders, and partners to ensure that research informed CPD practice is developed and maintained in the sector
Streaming Automatic Speech Recognition with Hybrid Architectures and Deep Neural Network Models
Tesis por compendio[ES] Durante la última década, los medios de comunicación han experimentado una revolución, alejándose de la televisión convencional hacia las plataformas de contenido bajo demanda. Además, esta revolución no ha cambiado solamente la manera en la que nos entretenemos, si no también la manera en la que aprendemos. En este sentido, las plataformas de contenido educativo bajo demanda también han proliferado para proporcionar recursos educativos de diversos tipos. Estas nuevas vías de distribución de contenido han llegado con nuevos requisitos para mejorar la accesibilidad, en particular las relacionadas con las dificultades de audición y las barreras lingüísticas. Aquí radica la oportunidad para el reconocimiento automático del habla (RAH) para cumplir estos requisitos, proporcionando subtitulado automático de alta calidad. Este subtitulado proporciona una base sólida para reducir esta brecha de accesibilidad, especialmente para contenido en directo o streaming. Estos sistemas de streaming deben trabajar bajo estrictas condiciones de tiempo real, proporcionando la subtitulación tan rápido como sea posible, trabajando con un contexto limitado. Sin embargo, esta limitación puede conllevar una degradación de la calidad cuando se compara con los sistemas para contenido en diferido u offline.
Esta tesis propone un sistema de RAH en streaming con baja latencia, con una calidad similar a un sistema offline. Concretamente, este trabajo describe el camino seguido desde el sistema offline híbrido inicial hasta el eficiente sistema final de reconocimiento en streaming. El primer paso es la adaptación del sistema para efectuar una sola iteración de reconocimiento haciendo uso de modelos de lenguaje estado del arte basados en redes neuronales. En los sistemas basados en múltiples iteraciones estos modelos son relegados a una segunda (o posterior) iteración por su gran coste computacional. Tras adaptar el modelo de lenguaje, el modelo acústico basado en redes neuronales también tiene que adaptarse para trabajar con un contexto limitado. La integración y la adaptación de estos modelos es ampliamente descrita en esta tesis, evaluando el sistema RAH resultante, completamente adaptado para streaming, en conjuntos de datos académicos extensamente utilizados y desafiantes tareas basadas en contenidos audiovisuales reales. Como resultado, el sistema proporciona bajas tasas de error con un reducido tiempo de respuesta, comparables al sistema offline.[CA] Durant l'última dècada, els mitjans de comunicació han experimentat una revolució, allunyant-se de la televisió convencional cap a les plataformes de contingut sota demanda. A més a més, aquesta revolució no ha canviat només la manera en la que ens entretenim, si no també la manera en la que aprenem. En aquest sentit, les plataformes de contingut educatiu sota demanda també han proliferat pera proporcionar recursos educatius de diversos tipus. Aquestes noves vies de distribució de contingut han arribat amb nous requisits per a millorar l'accessibilitat, en particular les relacionades amb les dificultats d'audició i les barreres lingüístiques.
Aquí radica l'oportunitat per al reconeixement automàtic de la parla (RAH) per a complir aquests requisits, proporcionant subtitulat automàtic d'alta qualitat. Aquest subtitulat proporciona una base sòlida per a reduir aquesta bretxa d'accessibilitat, especialment per a contingut en directe o streaming. Aquests sistemes han de treballar sota estrictes condicions de temps real, proporcionant la subtitulació tan ràpid com sigui possible, treballant en un context limitat. Aquesta limitació, però, pot comportar una degradació de la qualitat quan es compara amb els sistemes per a contingut en diferit o offline.
Aquesta tesi proposa un sistema de RAH en streaming amb baixa latència, amb una qualitat similar a un sistema offline. Concretament, aquest treball descriu el camí seguit des del sistema offline híbrid inicial fins l'eficient sistema final de reconeixement en streaming. El primer pas és l'adaptació del sistema per a efectuar una sola iteració de reconeixement fent servir els models de llenguatge de l'estat de l'art basat en xarxes neuronals. En els sistemes basats en múltiples iteracions aquests models son relegades a una segona (o posterior) iteració pel seu gran cost computacional. Un cop el model de llenguatge s'ha adaptat, el model acústic basat en xarxes neuronals també s'ha d'adaptar per a treballar amb un context limitat. La integració i l'adaptació d'aquests models és àmpliament descrita en aquesta tesi, avaluant el sistema RAH resultant, completament adaptat per streaming, en conjunts de dades acadèmiques àmpliament utilitzades i desafiants tasques basades en continguts audiovisuals reals. Com a resultat, el sistema proporciona baixes taxes d'error amb un reduït temps de resposta, comparables al sistema offline.[EN] Over the last decade, the media have experienced a revolution, turning away from the conventional TV in favor of on-demand platforms. In addition, this media revolution not only changed the way entertainment is conceived but also how learning is conducted. Indeed, on-demand educational platforms have also proliferated and are now providing educational resources on diverse topics. These new ways to distribute content have come along with requirements to improve accessibility, particularly related to hearing difficulties and language barriers. Here is the opportunity for automatic speech recognition (ASR) to comply with these requirements by providing high-quality automatic captioning. Automatic captioning provides a sound basis for diminishing the accessibility gap, especially for live or streaming content. To this end, streaming ASR must work under strict real-time conditions, providing captions as fast as possible, and working with limited context. However, this limited context usually leads to a quality degradation as compared to the pre-recorded or offline content.
This thesis is aimed at developing low-latency streaming ASR with a quality similar to offline ASR. More precisely, it describes the path followed from an initial hybrid offline system to an efficient streaming-adapted system. The first step is to perform a single recognition pass using a state-of-the-art neural network-based language model. In conventional multi-pass systems, this model is often deferred to the second or later pass due to its computational complexity. As with the language model, the neural-based acoustic model is also properly adapted to
work with limited context. The adaptation and integration of these models is thoroughly described and assessed using fully-fledged streaming systems on well-known academic and challenging real-world benchmarks. In brief, it is shown that the proposed adaptation of the language and acoustic models allows the streaming-adapted system to reach the accuracy of the initial offline system with low latency.Jorge Cano, J. (2022). Streaming Automatic Speech Recognition with Hybrid Architectures and Deep Neural Network Models [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/191001Compendi
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