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Benchmarking Advanced Text Anonymisation Methods: A Comparative Study on Novel and Traditional Approaches
No full textIn the realm of data privacy, the ability to effectively anonymise text is paramount. With the proliferation of deep learning and, in particular, transformer architectures, there is a burgeoning interest in leveraging these advanced models for text anonymisation tasks. This paper presents a comprehensive benchmarking study comparing the performance of transformer-based models and Large Language Models(LLM) against traditional architectures for text anonymisation. Utilising the CoNLL-2003 dataset, known for its robustness and diversity, we evaluate several models. Our results showcase the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, offering a clear perspective on the efficacy of modern versus traditional methods. Notably, while modern models exhibit advanced capabilities in capturing contextual nuances, certain traditional architectures still keep high performance. This work aims to guide researchers in selecting the most suitable model for their anonymisation needs, while also shedding light on potential paths for future advancements in the field.162024 13th International Conference on Modern Circuits and Systems Technologies (MOCAST
Beauty is in the explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) of the "agnostic" beholder
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Esports as playful consumption experiences: Examining the antecedents and consequences of game engagement
No full textThis study aims to propose and test a conceptual model identifying playful-consumption experiences (i.e., role-projection, fantasy, escapism, enjoyment, sensory experiences, emotional involvement, and arousal) as potential drivers of consumer esports videogame engagement as well as continuance intentions, electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), and online reviews as possible outcomes. Using the esports games' context and analyzing data from 290 gamers, the study utilized PLS-SEM using SmartPLS 3.3.9 to test the structural model. The results showed that the proposed playful-consumption experiences such as enjoyment, sensory experiences, emotional involvement, and arousal positively affect consumers’ esports game engagement. Furthermore, the results indicate the positive influence of esports game engagement on continuance intentions to play esports, eWOM and post online reviews. This study extends the esports gaming literature by examining both the antecedents and consequences of esports game engagement and provides valuable theoretical and practical implications.7710193
Identification of causal relationships in non-stationary time series with an information measure: Evidence for simulated and financial data
No full textThe standard linear Granger causality test, based on the vector autoregressive model (VAR), requires stationarity of the time series. A VAR model is fitted to the first-differences of the time series, when they exhibit trends and are not co-integrated. In the case of co-integration, the vector error-correction model (VECM) is used instead. Alternatively, a nonlinear information causality measure is suggested, called partial transfer entropy on rank vectors (PTERV), which uses locally ranked observations. It is model-free and of a more general purpose, as it can be directly applied to the original time series without pre-testing for stationarity or co-integration. The significance test of the PTERV detects effectively the connectivity structure of complex multivariate systems. In particular, the size and power of this test are comparable to that of the standard linear Granger causality approach (VAR or VECM) when applied to systems with only linear causal effects, while the PTERV test outperforms the linear causality test when nonlinear causal effects exist, as long as the sample size is large enough. The application of PTERV to stock market data and interest rates illustrates that it can be a useful tool in the causality analysis of financial time series.641399142
Investigating the impact of social media images’ value, consumer engagement, and involvement on eWOM of a tourism destination: A transmittal mediation approach
No full textTourism organizations use social media to promote their destinations and attract new customers. However, there is a challenge in how tourism organizations can choose or create social media images to successfully attract consumers' attention, induce their engagement with the destination, and motivate their eWOM behavior. This study aims to identify and test the direct and indirect factors related to social media images of tourism destinations that could predict eWOM. Using the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S–O-R) as an umbrella framework, we integrated Ducoffe's model and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), to study the role of social media destination images' features (entertainment, informativeness, irritation, credibility, personalization, and incentives) on consumer's perceived value and eWOM through consumer engagement and involvement. Using a survey research method, we collected data from 307 individuals and tested the proposed structural model using the PLS-SEM-based transmittal mediation approach. The findings supported the proposed relationships providing valuable theoretical and practical implications.7110323
Mixed reality and the Internet of Things: Bridging the virtual with the real
No full textAs Mixed Reality applications penetrate people's daily activities, strong synergies with Geospatial technologies and the Internet of Things are revealed. The first is due to the significance of the spatial reference of all involved actors of a Mixed Reality environment: the end-user, the real and the virtual objects. The second is due to the ever-increasing participation of sensors controlling devices and machines always and everywhere. This paper highlights these synergies and proposes a case proving they crucially empower a Mixed Reality experience. Through this synergy, a novel interaction method for Mixed Reality Environments emerges, the "physical task execution" interaction method. An open-source application prototype was developed to support the case study where we assign a physical task to a virtual man to execute, utilising the Internet of Things in a Mixed Reality Environment.18510352
On VEA, production trade-offs and weights restrictions
No full textIn this article we explore the relationship between Value Efficiency Analysis (VEA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models including production trade-offs or weights restrictions. In particular, we show that the VEA model is equivalent to a DEA model including production trade-offs for which the trade-off coefficient vectors are equal to either (i) the negative of the input and output quantities of the Decision Making Units (DMUs) chosen as the Most Preferred Solution (MPS) in VEA, under constant returns to scale, or (ii) the deviations of all evaluated DMUs’ input and output quantities from those of the DMUs chosen as the MPS, irrespectively of the returns-to-scale assumption. These trade-offs are the dual forms of type II Assurance Region weight restrictions. We then show that a similar equivalence holds between pure output or input VEA and DEA models including trade-offs, if the above trade-offs are respectively considered only for outputs or only for inputs. In this case the trade-offs are the dual forms of type I Assurance Region weight restrictions.74102081209
Rewards for Rehabilitation and Special Education Staff and Their Importance in Employee Motivation
No full textThis study examined the rewards for 21 (3 males and 18 females) Greekemployees, from different specialties who work with people with special needseither in two rehabilitation centers, a public (n= 9) and a private (n= 5), and or indifferent public school structures (n=7). For the purpose of this study, three focusgroups were set up to determine employees’ perceptions and feelings aboutrewards and their importance in motivating staff. The conceptual researchframework was based on the Total Rewards Model of Towers Perrin. From thefocus groups we drew conclusions regarding the rewards that were applied andidentified those that were important for motivation. Without exception, all theparticipants were primarily intrinsically motivated. The findings support the notionthat the rewards connected to work environment and learning and developmentwere the most important for their motivation, while the rewards connected to payand benefits did not seem of great importance for their motivation. The TotalRewards Framework proved to be appropriate and useful in understanding theperspectives of rehabilitation and special education staff on rewards. Theusefulness of the results lies in the holistic study of the rewards, which can providefeedback for employers, trade unions, and lifelong learning. The study can, also,provide a perspective for future research into the long-term exploitation of the totalrewards model.16
Designing and Evaluating a Serious Game for Learning Artificial Intelligence Algorithms: SpAI War as a Case Study
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) nowadays is the technology of the future, as its applications are constantly expanding in every aspect of human life. The spread of the internet has given a great impetus to technologies that apply AI algorithms and make their presence more and more intense in everyday life. However, despite the ubiquitous presence of AI, few people can comprehend its true meaning and the reason for its existence, especially the way it is applied. The purpose of this work is to present the design and pilot evaluation of SpAI War, which is a serious game that aims to introduce the user–student to the field of AI and its algorithms. Specifically, the paper presents the design of SpAI War in the context of the Educational Games (EG) design framework. This is followed by the results of the pilot evaluation of the game by 58 undergraduates and graduates of Informatics. The study utilized a survey based on the MEEGA+ model, and positive results were recorded in terms of player experience, game scenario, and perceived short-term learning.1310582
The Post-Keynesian Perspective and Policy Recommendations for the Greek Financial Crisis
No full textThe purpose of this article is to develop a post-Keynesian interpretation and viewpoint of the required policies associated with the Greek financial crisis. The Troika, inspired by the book After the Washington Consensus, and with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) acting in a leading role, embraced austerity in their disbursement of funds. The imposed conditionalities induced a deep recession, created an unfathomable challenge for Greece to meet the conditionalities year after year, and resulted in a sequence of failed adjustment programs, one after the other. Scholars, students, and policymakers of the global financial crisis and international development will benefit from these findings because the subject is of current interest and uses Greece as a case study to speak to the ongoing debates about the imposed recession as an antidote to the global financial crisis. JEL Classification: B5, E60, E6555342344