Recognition of nonmanual markers in American Sign Language (ASL) using non-parametric adaptive 2D-3D face tracking

This paper addresses the problem of automatically recognizing linguistically significant nonmanual expressions in American Sign Language from video. We develop a fully automatic system that is able to track facial expressions and head movements, and detect and recognize facial events continuously from video. The main contributions of the proposed framework are the following: (1) We have built a stochastic and adaptive ensemble of face trackers to address factors resulting in lost face track; (2) We combine 2D and 3D deformable face models to warp input frames, thus correcting for any variation in facial appearance resulting from changes in 3D head pose; (3) We use a combination of geometric features and texture features extracted from a canonical frontal representation. The proposed new framework makes it possible to detect grammatically significant nonmanual expressions from continuous signing and to differentiate successfully among linguistically significant expressions that involve subtle differences in appearance. We present results that are based on the use of a dataset containing 330 sentences from videos that were collected and linguistically annotated at Boston University

Alone and ‘left behind’: a case study of ‘left-behind children’ in rural China

China has been experiencing rapid economic growth over the past few decades accompanied by an overwhelmingly large number of rural habitants out-migrating to urban areas for work and better earnings. However, children of migrants are not entitled to free schooling provisions in these urban destinations and so millions of school-aged rural children have to be ‘left behind’ by their migrating parent(s) in their home place. This study investigates the educational aspirations of Chinese ‘left-behind children’. Via an ethnographic, qualitative case study approach it captures the impact of ‘left-behind-ness’ on aspirations Findings indicate that whilst educational aspirations are embedded in left-behind children’s disadvantaged social background, they are also shaped by the consequences of being ‘left-behind’. By doing so, it seeks to highlight an important area as well illustrating the value – or not – of using Western theories of social inequalities with an Eastern context

The Power Of Networks And Information Flows--In Circuits Of Power Perspective On Online Religion

This paper examines the tension between ICT users and legitimate authority in a network society. To explore this tension, this study reports a case study in the setting of a Taiwanese Christian church, particularly how the church authority was affected by the adoption of new technology. Drawing from a circuits of power perspective, the result of this study reveals that the intertwined relationship among information technology, social structure and users during the process of technology adoption and assimilation. The findings indicate that the implementation of Internet technologies in the church has challenged the traditional role of authority and distorted the power of information flow among stakeholders in the church. Our work shed light on how Internet technologies shape, and are shaped by the membership and belief in the context of religion

Achieving Online Relationship Marketing via Tourism Blogs: A Social Network Perspective

Drawing upon the literature on social network analysis, this research examines how part-time marketers use tourism blogs to conduct relationship marketing with their customers. The findings from an interpretive case study indicate that the network pictures of part-time blog marketers can be categorized into three distinct models: the “fan club,” the “compliance,” and the “creative outlet” models. Our findings also suggest that different network pictures lead to different network management strategies for blogs. Moreover, providing instrumental support and especially material support by blog marketers play significant roles in aggrandizing this transitivity, which helps to attract more visitors to blog sites. We believe that the innovation and the potential connections derived from the individualistic styles of some bloggers and the hedonic emotional support given to tourism blogs should not be overlooked. Our findings also indicate that more incentives and freedom should be provided to tourism business bloggers in order to prosper in their grassroots use of technology. Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/pajais/vol5/iss4/2

Reading in English and in Chinese: Case Study of Retrospective Miscue Analysis with Two Adult ELLs

Retrospective Miscue Analysis (RMA) has proved to be a useful instructional tool in language arts classrooms and for English learners from various cultures. However, it has not been used with native Mandarin-speaking English learners. This qualitative case study explored the reading process of two adult Mandarin-speaking ELs through RMA. They read two pieces in simplified Chinese and two in English respectively. This study demonstrates that RMA supports adult ELs to become more metacognitive about their reading process, uncover reading strategies they use, build their confidence to read, acquire more agency, and learn more about the English language. RMA is a powerful instructional strategy for adult ELs. This qualitative case study explored the reading process of two adult Mandarin-speaking ELs through Retrospective Miscue Analysis. It demonstrates that RMA supports adult ELs to become more metacognitive about their reading process, uncover reading strategies they use, build their confidence to read, acquire more agency, and learn more about the English language

Investigating the Impact of Recommendation Agents on E-commerce Ecosystem

The influence of recommendation agents on e-commerce ecosystem is profound. Technological impact of predictive intelligence could be explained more reasonably by taking a collective perspective. However, the ecosystem perspective has only served as a prologue for discussion regarding technological influence. The lack of research development associated with the technological influence on business in the ecological lens has constrained our understanding of the penetration and the role of technology in business ecosystem evolution. This paper therefore focuses on the impact of recommendation agents for online shopping environment on e-commerce ecosystem. Moreover, this paper observes and explains the phenomena that most participants in the e-commerce ecosystem are taking recommendation agents as one of the strategic technological investments towards further development as a common goal

Examining online discourse using the knowledge connection analyzer framework and collaborative tools in knowledge building

This study examines the problem of the fragmentation of asynchronous online discourse by using the Knowledge Connection Analyzer (KCA) framework and tools and explores how students could use the KCA data in classroom reflections to deepen their knowledge building (KB) inquiry. We applied the KCA to nine Knowledge Forum® (KF) databases to examine the framework, identify issues with online discourse that may inform further development, and provide data on how the tools work. Our comparisons of the KCA data showed that the databases with more sophisticated teacher–researcher co-design had higher KCA indices than those with regular KF use, validating the framework. Analysis of KF discourse using the KCA helped identify several issues including limited collaboration among peers, underdeveloped practices of synthesizing and rising above of collective ideas, less analysis of conceptual development of discussion threads, and limited collaborative reflection on individual contribution and promising inquiry direction. These issues that open opportunities for further development cannot be identified by other present analytics tools. The exploratory use of the KCA in real classroom revealed that the KCA can support students’ productive reflective assessment and KB. This study discusses the implications for examining and scaffolding online discussions using the KCA assessment framework, with a focus on collective perspectives regarding community knowledge, synthesis, idea improvement, and contribution to community understanding

Differences in receipt of opioid agonist treatment and time to enter treatment for opioid use disorder among specialty addiction programs in the United States, 2014-17.

BACKGROUND: Access to adequate treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) has been a high priority among American policymakers. Elucidation of the sociodemographic and institutional differences associated with the use, or lack thereof, of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) provides greater clarity on who receives OAT. Timely access to care is a further consideration and bears scrutiny as well. METHODS: We draw upon data from the Treatment Episode Data Set-Admissions (TEDS-A) to analyse the relationship between sociodemographic and institutional characteristics and the receipt of opioid agonist treatments and time waiting to enter treatment. RESULTS: Estimates from logistic regression models highlight certain groups which show lower odds of receipt of OAT, including those in precarious housing arrangements, those unemployed or not otherwise in the labor force, and those referred by drug abuse care providers, educational institutions, employers, and the criminal justice system. Groups which showed higher odds of waiting over a week to enter treatment included those who were separated, divorced, or widowed, those working part-time, and those referred by drug abuse care providers, employers, and the criminal justice system. CONCLUSION: Given the efficacy of OAT and the adverse outcomes associated with long waiting times, coordinated effort is needed to understand why these differences persist and how they may be addressed through appropriate policy responses