28 research outputs found
Understanding User Intent Modeling for Conversational Recommender Systems: A Systematic Literature Review
Context: User intent modeling is a crucial process in Natural Language
Processing that aims to identify the underlying purpose behind a user's
request, enabling personalized responses. With a vast array of approaches
introduced in the literature (over 13,000 papers in the last decade),
understanding the related concepts and commonly used models in AI-based systems
is essential. Method: We conducted a systematic literature review to gather
data on models typically employed in designing conversational recommender
systems. From the collected data, we developed a decision model to assist
researchers in selecting the most suitable models for their systems.
Additionally, we performed two case studies to evaluate the effectiveness of
our proposed decision model. Results: Our study analyzed 59 distinct models and
identified 74 commonly used features. We provided insights into potential model
combinations, trends in model selection, quality concerns, evaluation measures,
and frequently used datasets for training and evaluating these models.
Contribution: Our study contributes practical insights and a comprehensive
understanding of user intent modeling, empowering the development of more
effective and personalized conversational recommender systems. With the
Conversational Recommender System, researchers can perform a more systematic
and efficient assessment of fitting intent modeling frameworks
CN2F: A Cloud-Native Cellular Network Framework
Upcoming 5G and Beyond 5G (B5G) cellular networks aim to improve the
efficiency and flexibility of mobile networks by incorporating various
technologies, such as Software Defined Networking (SDN), Network Function
Virtualization (NFV), and Network Slicing (NS). In this paper, we share our
findings, accompanied by a comprehensive online codebase, about the best
practice of using different open-source projects in order to realize a flexible
testbed for academia and industrial Research and Development (R&D) activities
on the future generation of cellular networks. In particular, a Cloud-Native
Cellular Network Framework (CN2F) is presented which uses OpenAirInterface's
codebase to generate cellular Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) and deploys
Kubernetes to disperse and manage them among some worker nodes. Moreover, CN2F
leverages ONOS and Mininet to emulate the effect of the IP transport networks
in the fronthaul and backhaul of real cellular networks. In this paper, we also
showcase two use cases of CN2F to demonstrate the importance of Edge Computing
(EC) and the capability of Radio Access Network (RAN) slicing
Effect of total replacement of egg by soymilk and lecithin on physical properties of batter and cake
The baking industry is interested in finding costâeffective and healthful alternatives for eggs. Therefore, in this study the effects of total replacement of egg by soymilk (SM) in combination with 0â6% soy lecithin (SL) on batter (density, microstructure, viscosity, and texture) and cakes (height, volume, density, texture, color parameters, and sensory attributes) were determined and compared with cakes manufactured with eggs. The results showed that all batters had shear thinning behavior and provided a good fit for the power law model. The eggâfree cake in the absence of SL was downgraded because of high density and viscosity, small air bubbles, dark color, firm texture, low volume, and sensory scores. Inclusion of up to 4% SL to the SM was found to be significant in improving cake quality and led to cakes more similar to the control sample; however, higher levels of SL had negative effects on organoleptic properties of cakes
Trends of geographic distribution of general practitioners in the public health sector of Iran
Background: Proper distribution of general practitioners (GPs) is one of the challenges in all health systems. This study aimed to investigate geographical distribution of GPs in public health sector in Iran between 2010 and 2016.
Methods: The study is a descriptiveâcross-sectional study. The population of provinces was extracted from Iran's National Statistic Center, while information on GPs was gathered from deputy of statistic and information technology in Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics, Gini coefficient (GC), and by drawing geographical distribution map of GPs. Data analysis was performed by excel 2013, Stata V.14, and Arc GIS software.
Results: The results of calculating the number of GPs per 100,000 population in Iran showed that, in year 2010, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province had the highest (10.39) and Alborz Province had the lowest (0.66) number of per capita GPs. The highest number of GPs per 100,000 population among Iran's provinces belonged to Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari (8.97), while the lowest belonged to Tehran (0.28) in year 2016. The GC was 0.31 in year 2010 and 0.283 for 2011. The lowest GC belonged to year 2012 (GC = 0.272), while the largest coefficient belonged to year 2016 (0.356).
Conclusions: According to the results of this study, the distribution of GPs in public health sector of Iran in between 2010 and 2016 showed inequality. Therefore, along with increasing the number of GPs working in public health sector, it is necessary to pay attention to their distribution. Further studies are needed to investigate inequality of GPs within and between the provinces
Usability evaluation of obstetrics and gynecology information system using cognitive walkthrough method
Background and aim: Obstetrics and gynecology information system is a critical component of the HIS in social
security organization health centers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usability of this system using
the cognitive walkthrough method. Also, the present study provided a detailed formal description of how the
cognitive usability evaluation can be applied and reported for a health care information system.
Methods: This study was conducted at the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences' usability lab from March
2016 to June 2017. A two-phase approach was used to conduct the cognitive walkthrough evaluation: preparatory
and evaluation. The preparation was done in three stages: first, we investigated usersâ capabilities and
background knowledge through a semi-structured interview. Second, the evaluation scenario was developed
based on the most common tasks in routine workflow of users. Finally, each task was broken down into
sequences of actions. In the evaluation phase, three usability experts independently assessed each action using a
four-item checklist. Problems were categorized thematically and were reported from three different perspectives:
Question-based, Task-based, and Evaluator-based. The data were then analyzed to understand the contribution of
each task, along with its mean severity score.
Results: Evaluatorsâ responses were compared and any conflict was resolved in an expert panel. A total of 116
usability problems were identified based on the consensus of the evaluators. Inadequate system feedback was
found to be the main source of 43% of the problems, and resulted in users confusion.
Conclusion: Since the system was evaluated in its pilot implementation phase, there was an opportunity to
prevent future potential usability problems. The use of a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach in this
usability study provided a more comprehensive perspective of the system problems. This study provided a
detailed description of conducting CW usability evaluation which can be used as a practical guide for future
studie
Evaluation of Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate Preservative Concentrations in Different Sauce Samples in Urmia, Iran
Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are relatively common preservatives used in a wide range of foods including flavoring products like sauces. The potential health risks arising from these preservatives along with the high-consumption rate of these flavoring products worldwide highlight the importance of the quality and safety assurance of these products. So, this study aimed to evaluate the concentrations of these two common preservatives (i.e., sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate) in different sauce samples, including mayonnaise, salad dressings, Caesar sauce, Italian dressing, Ranch dressing, French dressing, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and to compare them with the acceptable level of Codex standard. For this purpose, 49 samples, including three to five samples of each type of different brands of sauce samples, were randomly collected from supermarkets in Urmia, Iran. Based on the results, the mean concentrations ± standard deviation of sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate in the collected samples were found to be 249.9 ± 157 and 158.0 ± 131 ppm, respectively, which were lower than the general standard of the Codex Alimentarius and the European legislation. Due to the importance of hazardous side effects of these preservatives for consumers, regular and accurate evaluation of these preservatives in sauces as highly consumed food products is still recommended for consumer safety
Usability testing of bed information management system: A think-Aloud method
Not considering the usability in designing clinical information systems causes problems in human-computer interaction and patient dissatisfaction. Therefore, in this study, the usability of the bed information management system (BIMS) was examined by think-Aloud method. This cross-sectional study was conducted on the BIMS in 50 noneducational hospitals. Participants consisted of three groups including users, facilitators, and technical support. To carry out the study, a scenario consisting of four tasks was designed. Three researchers analyzed the recorded files to identify the usability problems and their severity. The mean time of the evaluation process was 20:33 ± 4:47 s. The total number of the problems identifies by users was 80 cases. Data entry and layout problems with 38 (48%) and 33 (41%) cases were the most frequently found problems, respectively. About 61% and 55% of the data entry and layout problems had a minor severity (Severity 2), respectively. Furthermore, 43 (54%) cases of the problems were resolved by the users and 32 (40%) cases by the facilitator assistance. This study showed that a large number of the problems were due to the system poor design. Furthermore, by increasing the users' level of knowledge about the system, it is possible to enhance user-system interaction. It is recommended that before designing and implementing a system, the system should be evaluated for usability, and the users should be educated in clinical information systems