6277 research outputs found
Sort by
Saliency guided Siamese attention network for infrared ship target tracking
No full textDue to the lack of discriminative features in infrared images, most of existing trackers cannot separate a target from its background. There are some studies on generating discriminative features where feature fusion and attention are applied to enhance targets. However, the saliency information and information interaction which assist in locating the targets is ignored. To improve the accuracy of infrared ship target tracking, we propose a saliency guided Siamese attention network (SGSiamAttn). The main contribution is to design a saliency prediction network that obtains the saliency map of a search region and followed by a saliency enhancement network to highlight the target. With the saliency information, our network is able to perceive the entire target, which improves the discriminative ability and the tracking accuracy. Meanwhile, a local-to-global correlation module is applied before the saliency prediction network, aiming to refine the correlation map while suppressing non-target interferences. We also impose a shared cross-correlation module on the region proposal network. By sharing the correlation map in the classification and regression branches, it enhances information interaction between the two tasks and reduces the computational cost. As there are limited number of infrared ship tracking datasets publicly available, we construct a new infrared ship dataset (ISD) which includes 16 different types of ships and 7,872 video frames with manual annotations. The experimental results on ISD and other three public datasets, namely VOT-TIR2015, PTB-TIR, and LSOTB-TIR, demonstrate that our tracker achieves superior performance in terms of accuracy, expected average overlap, success, and precision
Breaking barriers: empowering non-STEM students in data skills through inquiry-based and collaborative learning
No full textNon-STEM students frequently undervalue vital data skills such as reading, analysing, arguing with data, and numerical proficiency. Many in non-STEM courses perceive barriers, mistakenly thinking these skills are exclusive to STEM disciplines. To overcome this misconception, tailored teaching approaches are crucial for breaking down barriers, integrating non-STEM students into the learning process, and enhancing their data skills.This study implemented an inquiry-based and collaborative-based learning in the Data Analysis, Tools, and Applications module in the academic year 2021-2022 which consisted of 140 students (23 computing, 117 business). The 50-minute online session used Mentimeter for engagement through questioning, quizzes, and polls, integrating real-world case scenarios. A 2-hour on-campus practical session implemented collaborative learning, wherein student groups collaboratively tackled problems or tasks related to the weekly topic. This involved brainstorming and collective problem-solving efforts. Evaluation comprised a self-directed questionnaire adapted from the National Research Council of the United States National Academies of Sciences, covering various aspects. The post-teaching formative test assessed different learning levels using multiple styles (MCQ, Drop-in answer, Fill-in-the-blank) based on Bloom’s Taxonomy—recalling information, summarising ideas, and applying knowledge to new problems.Of the 117 business students, 35% (41 students) responded to the questionnaire. Notably, 59% found lectures satisfactory, 47% commended the inquiry-based approach, and 48% praised visual aids. Instruction and online materials were considered fine by 55%, and 62% rated assessments as fine. Overall, students expressed strong positive opinions. Regarding the learning experience, 55% found the pace suitable, and 55% felt the content difficulty was manageable. 52% of Students expressed they learned in a fair amount. In the formative assessment with 76 participants (63 business, 13 computing), the average score was 20.64 out of 35 (SD = 5.32). An independent-samples t-test comparing average formative test scores in STEM and non-STEM students showed no significant difference, t(74) = -1.66, p = .10, despite slightly higher scores for STEM students (M=22.85, SD=6.22) compared to non-STEM students (M=20.19, SD=5.06). The results suggest no significant difference in data skills between the two groups. Importantly, the findings indicate a reduced skill gap by the end of the sessions, demonstrating that non-STEM students can achieve knowledge and data skills similar to STEM students.The study reveals that inquiry and collaborative learning positively impact students in non-STEM courses, enabling them to acquire data skills traditionally associated with those in STEM domains. Effective teaching of foundational data skills to non-STEM students is achievable with appropriate methods. The 'learning by doing' approach proves instrumental in breaking down disciplinary barriers, fostering a seamless transfer of knowledge and skills. These findings emphasise the need for further exploration and implementation of inquiry and collaborative-based methodologies in education across diverse settings, aiming to broaden the scope of student learning
Precariousness and vulnerability: Seafarers in the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the world and work in particular, but its effects on the labor market were not evenly distributed. Seafarers, who are essential workers engaging in international maritime transport, encountered exacerbated challenges to labor conditions at sea during the pandemic. Notably, the inability to conduct crew changes violated their right to rest, increasing the risk of fatigue-related safety accidents at sea. Additionally, the precarious nature of maritime employment relationships delayed seafarers waiting to enlist on the vessels, creating extended financial hardship ashore. Socio-legal analysis revealed how the pandemic, related public health measures and precarious employment heightened the vulnerability of seafarers during the pandemic. Applying the Pressure, Disorganization and Regulatory Failure model and supported by qualitative data collected through a policy review, media coverage analysis and semi-structured interviews, we identified how seafarers’ health and safety rights were significantly compromised during the pandemic. Even though various initiatives were raised by international governmental and non-governmental organizations to address the “humanitarian crisis” at sea, maritime labor regulatory failures were not effectively addressed throughout the multiple waves of the pandemic
Efficacy of neuromuscular exercises to promote movement quality and reduce musculoskeletal injury during initial military training in Royal Navy recruits
No full textIntroduction Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are a significant problem in the Royal Navy, contributing to 48% of all medical discharges from service between 2019 and 2020. The objective of the study was to assess efficacy of implementing a neuromuscular training intervention to improve movement quality and reduce MSKIs in Royal Navy recruits undertaking initial military training.Methods Neuromuscular training (pre-activation exercises, focusing on hip control) was integrated into the warm-up exercise regimen preceding physical training during the 10-week initial naval training (recruits) programme (January–March 2020) at HMS Raleigh (intervention group; n=162). A control group comprised (n=90) of recruits entering training from January 2019, who completed the standard warm-up programme prior to physical training. Movement control of the intervention group (intervention) was assessed before and after the 10-week programme using the Hip and Lower-Limb Movement Screen (HLLMS). Injury incidence proportion for both groups was determined retrospectively by review of medical notes.Results The control group’s MSKI incidence proportion was 31%, which was higher (p<0.05) than the 8% reported in the intervention group. The majority of MSKIs were of the lower limb, and were reported in weeks 1, 2 and 5 of the 10-week training programme. Movement control, as assessed by the HLLMS score, improved (pretraining (week 1) and post-training (week 10) HLLMS score (mean (SD) pre: 11.2 (5.6); post: 8.4 (3.9); t=5.829, p<0.001) following the neuromuscular training in the intervention group but was not assessed in the control group.Conclusion A neuromuscular control intervention was successfully implemented during the initial military training in the Royal Navy. The cohort undertaking the intervention demonstrated lower injury incidence compared with an equivalent cohort of recruits who undertook standard training. Movement control improved following the intervention, indicating better movement quality. Continued use of the programme may reduce military training attrition in the Royal Navy
Hybrid improved brain storm optimization with support vector machine for cardiovascular diseases classification
No full textMost existing classification algorithms for cardiovascular disease are limited to specific diseases and cannot categorize the severity of the diseases. These algorithms still need to be improved in terms of accuracy and generalizability. Therefore, a hybrid Improved Brain Storm Optimization with Support Vector Machine (IBSO-SVM) for cardiovascular disease classification is proposed. In this study, a knowledge-driven intelligent initialization method is proposed to enhance the optimization capability of IBSO and the accuracy of IBSOSVM. Experimental evaluations are conducted on multiple real-world datasets, and the results demonstrate the superior performance of IBSO-SVM in cardiac disease datasets. The accuracy of BSO-SVM reached 100% on the Heart Failure and Heart Disease datasets, and the accuracy of IBSO-SVM reached 99% on the Stroke dataset and 88% on the Cardiovascular disease dataset
Leadership as a situated practice: Critical connections and liberated networks
No full textLearning Development is founded on multidisciplinary partnerships and collaboration, which can make it difficult for practitioners to recognise leadership in themselves and have it recognised by others, stymieing progression and confidence. This study aims to explore what leadership looks like in a collaborative, community-driven, third space field of practice, and how Learning Development practitioners might recognise leadership in themselves and enact it in practice. Based on based on semi-structured interviews, a phenomenological approach is taken to explore the perceptions and experiences of 20 participants who self-identify as Learning Developers with an interest in leadership. Four key themes emerged from the analysis: Being in the role; Being part of a team; Being part of a community; and Taking a wider view. Each indicates how leadership in Learning Development is values-driven, social, networked, critical, and operates on the three levels of team, community, and field. The interrelationships between these are expressed as a model for strategic influence driven by collaborative connections, and findings suggest that practitioners act as a hub through which knowledge and connections can flow. Given the challenges currently facing the higher education sector, it is vital that institutions are able to harness these crucial roles to remain flexible, responsive, and effective. This study provides a means for recognition and advancement in fields that lack the clear progression routes of academic and professional services colleagues
A comprehensive analysis of alcohol-attributed mortality in the United States
No full textAlcohol related mortality remains an important public health challenge in the United States (US), with patterns that vary substantially by demographics and geography. The objective of this study is to provide a thorough analysis using state-of-the-art data mining and machine learning techniques on alcohol attributable deaths in the U.S. from 2015–2019. Driven by the urgent need for specific interventions, we used regression models followed with ensemble techniques (XGBoost) to forecast mortality rates utilizing parameters such as age, geographic region of residence, manner of death and consumption patterns. Results in accordance with empirical CDC mortality data, XGBoost outperformed all other models in predicting age-based (R2 = 0.98) and cause-specific (R2 = 0.96). Geographic patterns show that California, Texas and Florida were particularly hot spots for alcohol versus suicide related deaths. The study also found demographic disparities, with older adults being more at risk. Major research contributions are the good predictability of news on general mortality and due to age, selected causes of death as well identification these regional patterns. These findings are invaluable in shaping targeted public health initiatives and policies to address alcohol-related harm. The adoption of sophisticated predictive modelling methodology in this study contributes significantly to the field by providing an empirically driven process for investigating and confronting alcohol-attributable death burden within the U.S
Factors influencing strength development in young individuals
No full textStrength has been gaining special prominence among the conditioning capacities, given its determining influence on motor performance, being present in all movements. In growing youth, the development of strength has gained significant importance, departing from old beliefs that it should not be trained during the childhood and adolescent period. However, in physical education classes, this capacity, along with others, occupies a secondary place in the scheduling of teachers' educational activities. A deficit in strength can lead to multiple demands of school sports activities not being properly met, or their performance not eliciting the desired motivation for the continuation of regular practice. Therefore, the physical education teacher, being privileged in daily contact with young people, should promote a set of stimuli during class that allows all students, regardless of their initial state, to develop the conditional capacity for strength so that they can perform their daily activities more efficiently and with less effort. This increase in strength parameters subsequently allows for a higher success rate in performing different technical movements in various sports, increasing students' motivation for practice, and consequently, their preference for regular physical exercise outside the school context. Thus, the objective of this article is to conduct a review of the contents on the theme of strength development in youth, researched and studied to date by the scientific community
Physiological and performance adaptations to interval training in endurance-trained cyclists: an exploratory systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFBackground: In endurance cycling, both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) have become popular training modalities due to their ability to elicit improvements in performance. Studies have attempted to ascertain which form of interval training might be more beneficial for maximising cycling performance as well as a range of physiological parameters, but an amalgamation of results which explores the influence of different interval training programming variables in trained cyclists has not yet been conducted.Objective: The aims of this study were to: (1) systematically investigate training interventions to determine which training modality, HIIT, SIT or low- to moderate-intensity continuous training (LIT/MICT), leads to greater physiological and performance adaptations in trained cyclists; and (2) determine the moderating effects of interval work-bout duration and intervention length on the overall HIIT/SIT programme.Data Sources: Electronic database searches were conducted using SPORTDiscus and PubMed.Study Selection: Inclusion criteria were: (1) at least recreationally-trained cyclists aged 18–49 years (maximum/peak oxygen uptake [V̇O2max/V̇O2peak] ≥45 mL·kg-1·min-1); (2) training interventions that included a HIIT or SIT group and a control group (or two interval training groups for direct comparisons); (3) minimum intervention length of 2 weeks; (4) interventions that consisted of 2–3 weekly interval training sessions.Results: Interval training leads to small improvements in all outcome measures combined (overall main effects model, SMD: 0.33 [95%CI = 0.06 to 0.60]) when compared to LIT/MICT in trained cyclists. At the individual level, point estimates favouring HIIT/SIT were negligible (Wingate model: 0.01 [95%CI = -3.56 to 3.57]), trivial (relative V̇O2max/V̇O2peak: 0.10 [95%CI = -0.34 to 0.54]), small (absolute V̇O2max/V̇O2peak: 0.28 [95%CI = 0.15 to 0.40], absolute maximum aerobic power/peak power output: 0.38 [95%CI = 0.15 to 0.61], relative absolute maximum aerobic power/peak power output: 0.43 [95%CI = -0.09 to 0.95], physiological thresholds: 0.46 [95%CI = -0.24 to 1.17]), and large (time-trial/time-to-exhaustion: 0.96 [95%CI = -0.81 to 2.73]) improvements in physiological/performance variables compared to controls, with very imprecise interval estimates for most outcomes. In addition, intervention length did not contribute significantly to the improvements in outcome measures in this population, as the effect estimate was only trivial (βDuration: 0.04 [ 95%CI = -0.07 to 0.15]). Finally, the network meta-analysis did not reveal a clear superior effect of any HIIT/SIT types when directly comparing interval training differing in interval work-bout duration.Conclusion: The results of the meta-analysis indicate that both HIIT and SIT are effective training modalities to elicit physiological adaptations and performance improvements in trained cyclists. Our analyses highlight that the optimisation of interval training prescription in trained cyclists cannot be solely explained by interval type or interval work-bout duration and an individualised approach that takes into account the training/competitive needs of the athlete is warranted
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Solent University Research Portal? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!