2821 research outputs found
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The impact of COVID-19 on SMEs economic and entrepreneurial outcomes and expectations. Case of Romania and United Kingdom.
No full textIn the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, all countries are facing an inevitable economic
recession where SMEs have been severely affected. This paper focuses on the impact of
COVID-19 on SMEs economic outcomes and expectations based on the context of
Romania and United Kingdom. Firstly, the paper will present economic strategies and
model in recession times from the perspective of the literature. The second objective, based
on descriptive analysis methodology, is to analyze the status of small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) in Romania and United Kingdom
A systematic review of social maintenance behavior outcomes of interactive social interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Get PDFA large and varied evidence base supporting the efficacy of social therapies to improve the social behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) does not permit a clear understanding of which specific types of social behavior are improved by specific social therapies. Social maintenance behaviors function to form and sustain relationships, which has been associated with a reduction in negative social experiences in children with ASD. The present systematic review investigates the effectiveness of interactive social therapy in increasing these specific behaviors in this population. A systematic search of PsycArticles, Medline, Education Resources Information Centre, Child Development and Adolescent Studies, and Scopus databases identified 18 articles as relevant for inclusion. The extant evidence suggests that interactive social therapies are effective in increasing social maintenance behaviors in children with ASD. Explicit targeting of these behaviors and inclusion of reinforcement are highlighted as potentially active components in this regard
Tackling pandemics in smart cities using machine learning architecture.
Get PDFWith the recent advancement in analytic techniques and the increasing generation of healthcare data, artificial intelligence (AI) is reinventing the healthcare system for tackling pandemics securely in smart cities. AI tools continue register numerous successes in major disease areas such as cancer, neurology and now in new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) detection. Covid-19 patients often experience several symptoms which include breathlessness, fever, cough, nausea, sore throat, blocked nose, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, and joint pains. This paper proposes an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that predicts the rate of likely survivals of Covid-19 suspected patients based on good immune system, exercises and age quantiles securely. Four algorithms (Naïve Bayes, Logistic Regression, Decision Tree and k-Nearest Neighbours (kNN)) were compared. We performed True Positive (TP) rate and False Positive (FP) rate analysis on both positive and negative covid patients data. The experimental results show that kNN, and Decision Tree both obtained a score of 99.30% while Naïve Bayes and Logistic Regression obtained 91.70% and 99.20%, respectively on TP rate for negative patients. For positive covid patients, Naïve Bayes outperformed other models with a score of 10.90%. On the other hand, Naïve Bayes obtained a score of 89.10% for FP rate for negative patients while Logistic Regression, kNN, and Decision Tree obtained scores of 93.90%, 93.90%, and 94.50%, respectively
Barriers to integrating lean construction and integrated project delivery (IPD) on construction megaprojects towards the global integrated delivery (GID) in multinational organisations: lean IPD&GID transformative initiatives
Get PDFPurpose.
The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry encounter substantial risks and challenges in its evolution towards sustainable development. International businesses, multinational AEC organisations, technical professionals, project and portfolio management organisations face global connectivity challenges between business units, especially during the outbreak of novel coronavirus pandemic, to manage construction megaprojects (CMPs). That raises the need to manage global connectivity as a main strategic goal of global organisations. This paper aims to investigate barriers to integrating lean construction (LC) practices and integrated project delivery (IPD) on CMPs towards the global integrated delivery (GID) transformative initiatives and develop future of work (FOW) global initiatives in contemporary multinational AEC organisations.
Design/methodology/approach.
A two-stage quantitative and qualitative research approach is adopted. The qualitative research methodology consists of a literature review to appraise barriers to integrating LeanIPD&GID on CMPs. Barriers are arranged into six-factor clusters (FCs), with a conceptualisation of LeanIPD&GID, GID strategy placements and FOW global initiatives with multiple validations. This analysis also involved semi-structured interviews and focus group techniques. Stage two consisted of an empirical questionnaire survey that shaped the foundation of analysis and findings of 230 respondents from 23 countries with extensive cosmopolitan experience in the construction of megaprojects. The survey examined a set of 28 barriers to integrating LeanIPD&GID on CMPs resulting from a detailed analysis of extant literature after validation. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were exploited for data analysis, percentage scoring analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and eigenvalues were used to elaborate on clustered factors.
Findings.
The research conceptualised LeanIPD&GID principles and proposed GID strategy placements for LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives and FOW global initiatives. It concluded that the most significant barriers to integration of LeanIPD&GID on CMPs are “lack of mandatory building information modelling (BIM) and LC industry standards and regulations by governments”, “lack of involvement and support of governments”, “high costs of BIM software licenses”, “resistance of industry to change from traditional working practices” and “high initial investment in staff training costs of BIM”. PCA revealed the most significant FCs are “education and knowledge-related barriers”, “project objectives-related barriers” and “attitude-related barriers”. Awareness of BIM in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is higher than LC and LC awareness is higher than IPD knowledge. Whilst BIM adoption in the MENA region is higher than LC; the second is still taking its first steps, whilst IPD has little implementation. LeanBIM is slightly integrated, whilst LeanIPD integration is almost not present.
Originality/value.
The research findings, conclusion and recommendation and proposed GID strategy placements for LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives to integrating LeanIPD&GID on CMPs. This will allow project key stakeholders to place emphasis on tackling LeanIPD&GID barriers identified in this research and commence GID strategies. The study has provided effective practical strategies for enhancing the integration of LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives on CMPs
A systematic review exploring the reflective accounts of applied sport psychology practitioners
Get PDFThis systematic review explores the reflective accounts of applied sport psychology practitioners. The aim of this review was to synthesize the reflective accounts of applied sport psychology practitioners and highlight common themes that provide focus to their reflective practice. The insight into current progress on reflective content in applied sport psychology provides a foundation to build on as we continue to understand this topic. Following a systematic search of the literature, a total of 73 studies were included within the review, which were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Analysis of the reflective accounts resulted in the creation of nine higher-order themes: Process and Purpose of Reflective Practice; Ethical Practice; Supporting Person and Performer; Practitioner Individuation; Relationships with Clients; Cultural Awareness; Competence-Related Angst; Support of Practitioner Development; and Evaluating Practitioner Effectiveness. The review includes recommendations for future research, such as the use of narrative analysis to provide further insight into applied practitioners’ experiences. We also provide practical implications, which are tailored to match the specific demands of practitioners at different stages of development and include increased engagement in critical reflection for trainee practitioners and engaging with ‘critical friends’ to facilitate the process of meta-reflection for newly qualified practitioners
AI-empowered, blockchain and SDN integrated security architecture for IoT network of cyber physical systems
Get PDFInternet of things (IoT) is one of the most emerging technologies nowadays
and it is one of the key enablers of industrial cyber physical system (CPSs).
It has started to participate in almost every aspect of our social life, ranging
from financial transactions to the healthcare system, communication to national
security, battlefield to smart homes, and so on. However, the wide deployment of IoT suffers certain issues as well, such as interoperability, compatibility, heterogeneity, large amount of data, processing of heterogeneous data
etc. Among others, energy efficiency and security are the utmost prominent
issues. Scarce computing resources of IoT devices put hindrances on information sharing across edge or IoT network. Indeed, unintentional or malicious
interference with IoT data may lead to severe concerns. In this study, the researcher exploits the potential benefits of a blockchain system and integrates
it with software-defined networking (SDN) while justifying energy and security
issues. More in detail, the researcher proposed a new routing protocol with
the cluster structure for IoT networks using blockchain-based architecture for
SDN controller. The proposed architecture obviates proof-of-work (PoW) with
private and public blockchains for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication between
SDN controllers and IoT devices. In addition to this, distributed trust-based
authentication mechanism makes blockchain even more adoptive for IoT devices with limited resources. The experimental results show that the proposed cluster structure based routing protocol outperforms the state-of-the-art Ad-hoc
On-demand Distance Vector (AODV), Destination-Sequenced Distance Vector
(DSDV), Secure Mobile Sensor Network (SMSN), Energy efficient secured cluster based distributed fault diagnosis (EESCFD), and Ad-hoc On-demand Multipath Distance Vector (AOMDV), in terms of energy consumption, network
throughput, and packet latency. Proposed protocol help overcome the issues
especially, energy management and security of the next generation industrial
cyber physical system
Artificial intelligence in mental health: the novel use of chatbots to support trainee counsellors and recovering addicts
No full textChatbots are programmed conversational agents that emulate communication systematically using natural language processing. They can be programmed to assume a range of roles where regular human interaction occurs. Within mental health services, they are not as well represented as in other areas of healthcare, with research suggesting that uptake has been hindered by concerns over the accuracy of the information they provide, undeveloped technology, lack of adherence to an ethical framework, and the unconvincing portrayal of human authenticity. Technological improvements have addressed some of these concerns, and as the resultant solution choice increases, the potential for chatbots within mental health is receiving greater attention. In this chapter, two novel uses for chatbots are showcased. Foxbot, a recovery friend, accessible at the point of need to help mitigate some of the common risk factors to sustaining addiction recovery; and ERIC, a counselling client who allows trainee counsellors to practise their counselling skills without having to enlist an actual client
Young people’s employability and life chances: enhancement using social entrepreneurship and skill development within the tertiary curriculum
No full textInnovation for African Universities, Network Partner Interim Report, British Council
Bridging the skills gap: Apprentice Assistant Practitioners (AAP) having an impact in Mental Health Care Services. Part 3: The Mentor experience
Get PDFUnderstanding the relevance of the AAP role in mental health is important for future developments within mental health services. This third article in a series exploring the potential impact of AAPs in bridging the gap in mental health services, focuses on the experiences of the mentor role. Mentorship in the development of health service workers is crucial to ensure competent, confident and skilled staff at all levels. This small-scale study looks at the experiences the mentor in general and more specifically, the experiences of a small group of mentors supporting AAPs in mental health services.
A questionnaire was sent to mentors at different stages of the AAPs journey and asked them to consider three broad themes; supporting the AAP, helpfulness of the AAP standards in mentoring and the impact of the AAP in mental health services. The results show a positive response in general from the mentors and the use of apprenticeship standards to focus the mentorship of the AAP as well as the potential benefits the Assistant Practitioner (AP) role has in both supporting services users and the service as a whole
Perfectionism and attitudes towards sport psychology support and mental health support in athletes
Get PDFAttitudes towards help-seeking will contribute to whether athletes ask for support for performance and mental health issues when needed. While research outside of sport has found perfectionism is related to negative attitudes towards help-seeking, no studies have examined the relationship in sport. We provided the first test of whether perfectionism predicted attitudes towards both sport psychology support and mental health support. One hundred and sixty-six collegiate athletes completed measures of perfectionism and attitudes towards sport psychology support and mental health support. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perfectionistic concerns positively predicted closedness and stigma to sport psychology support and mental health support, and negatively predicted help-seeking towards mental health support. However, perfectionistic strivings negatively predicted stigma to sport psychology support and mental health support, and positively predicted confidence in sport psychology support and help-seeking towards mental health support. Athletes higher in perfectionistic concerns are less likely to seek support when required