Making the Most of Slides and Lecture Captures for Better Performance: A Learning Analytics Case Study in Higher Education

The provision of educational material in higher education takes place through learning management systems (LMS) and other learning platforms. However, little is known yet about how and when the students access the educational materials provided to perform better. In this paper, we aim to answer the research question: ‘How do the high achievers use the educational material provided to get better grades?’. To answer this question, the data from two educational platforms were merged: a LMS, and a lecture capture platform. We based our analysis on a series of quizzes to understand the differences between high and non high achievers regarding the use of lecture recordings and slides at different moments: (1) before and (2) while solving the quizzes, and (3) after their submission. Our analysis shows significant differences between both groups and highlights the value of considering all the educational platforms instead of limiting the analyses to a single data source

Exploration of Sleep Events in the Latent Space of Variational Autoencoders on a Breath-by-Breath Basis

In this exploratory paper, we attempt to address a growing demand for unsupervised machine learning techniques on sleep data by applying a variational autoencoder on respiratory sleep data on a breath-by-breath basis. We transform respiratory signals into a latent representation and cluster them together using KMeans clustering. We calculate the cluster preference of scored events and attempt to explain their position in the latent space. We show that a variational autoencoder can accurately reconstruct three respiratory signals from individual breaths despite being sampled through a latent dimension 384 times smaller than the input data. Our results also indicate that respiratory events in particular show a tendency to cluster together in the latent space despite a purely unsupervised learning approach. Finally, we lay the groundwork for future work made possible in this paper

Towards a Deeper Understanding of Sleep Stages through their Representation in the Latent Space of Variational Autoencoders

Artificial neural networks show great success in sleep stage classification, with an accuracy comparable to human scoring. While their ability to learn from labelled electroencephalography (EEG) signals is widely researched, the underlying learning processes remain unexplored. Variational autoencoders can capture the underlying meaning of data by encoding it into a low-dimensional space. Regularizing this space furthermore enables the generation of realistic representations of data from latent space samples. We aimed to show that this model is able to generate realistic sleep EEG. In addition, the generated sequences from different areas of the latent space are shown to have inherent meaning. The current results show the potential of variational autoencoders in understanding sleep EEG data from the perspective of unsupervised machine learning

Prenatal Screening and Diagnostic Considerations for 22q11.2 Microdeletions

Diagnosis of a chromosome 22q11.2 microdeletion and its associated deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is optimally made early. We reviewed the available literature to provide contemporary guidance and recommendations related to the prenatal period. Indications for prenatal diagnostic testing include a parent or child with the 22q11.2 microdeletion or suggestive prenatal screening results. Definitive diagnosis by genetic testing of chorionic villi or amniocytes using a chromosomal microarray will detect clinically relevant microdeletions. Screening options include noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) and imaging. The potential benefits and limitations of each screening method should be clearly conveyed. NIPS, a genetic option available from 10 weeks gestational age, has a 70–83% detection rate and a 40–50% PPV for most associated 22q11.2 microdeletions. Prenatal imaging, usually by ultrasound, can detect several physical features associated with 22q11.2DS. Findings vary, related to detection methods, gestational age, and relative specificity. Conotruncal cardiac anomalies are more strongly associated than skeletal, urinary tract, or other congenital anomalies such as thymic hypoplasia or cavum septi pellucidi dilatation. Among others, intrauterine growth restriction and polyhydramnios are additional associated, prenatally detectable signs. Preconception genetic counselling should be offered to males and females with 22q11.2DS, as there is a 50% risk of transmission in each pregnancy. A previous history of a de novo 22q11.2 microdeletion conveys a low risk of recurrence. Prenatal genetic counselling includes an offer of screening or diagnostic testing and discussion of results. The goal is to facilitate optimal perinatal care

Updated clinical practice recommendations for managing adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

This review aimed to update the clinical practice guidelines for managing adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). The 22q11.2 Society recruited expert clinicians worldwide to revise the original clinical practice guidelines for adults in a stepwise process according to best practices: (1) a systematic literature search (1992-2021), (2) study selection and synthesis by clinical experts from 8 countries, covering 24 subspecialties, and (3) formulation of consensus recommendations based on the literature and further shaped by patient advocate survey results. Of 2441 22q11.2DS-relevant publications initially identified, 2344 received full-text review, with 2318 meeting inclusion criteria (clinical care relevance to 22q11.2DS) including 894 with potential relevance to adults. The evidence base remains limited. Thus multidisciplinary recommendations represent statements of current best practice for this evolving field, informed by the available literature. These recommendations provide guidance for the recognition, evaluation, surveillance, and management of the many emerging and chronic 22q11.2DS-associated multisystem morbidities relevant to adults. The recommendations also address key genetic counseling and psychosocial considerations for the increasing numbers of adults with this complex condition

Updated clinical practice recommendations for managing children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

This review aimed to update the clinical practice guidelines for managing children and adolescents with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). The 22q11.2 Society, the international scientific organization studying chromosome 22q11.2 differences and related conditions, recruited expert clinicians worldwide to revise the original 2011 pediatric clinical practice guidelines in a stepwise process: (1) a systematic literature search (1992-2021), (2) study selection and data extraction by clinical experts from 9 different countries, covering 24 subspecialties, and (3) creation of a draft consensus document based on the literature and expert opinion, which was further shaped by survey results from family support organizations regarding perceived needs. Of 2441 22q11.2DS-relevant publications initially identified, 2344 received full-text reviews, including 1545 meeting criteria for potential relevance to clinical care of children and adolescents. Informed by the available literature, recommendations were formulated. Given evidence base limitations, multidisciplinary recommendations represent consensus statements of good practice for this evolving field. These recommendations provide contemporary guidance for evaluation, surveillance, and management of the many 22q11.2DS-associated physical, cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric morbidities while addressing important genetic counseling and psychosocial issues