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Sequencing of Autonomous Network functions using eXplainable AI Methods
No full textAutonomous network functions (ANFs) are activated to achieve a specific objective. (e.g.: Load balancing, coverage and capacity optimization, energy saving across the network). Many times, activating the ANFs does not meet the specific objective predominantly due to external factors [1]. This paper introduces how explainable AI (xAI) methods such as feature impact analysis, dependency plot and other interpretable machine learning algorithms can be used for identifying such external factors and in turn sequencing the ANFs for meeting the objective. The paper concludes by introducing counterfactual and recourse algorithms as further research possibilities that goes beyond xAI for getting favorable outcome from ANFs
An investigation of determinants of outsourcing in two Chinese hospitals: the intrinsic impacts and influence of cultural factors towards outsourcing
No full textIt is acknowledged in the literature that most understanding and knowledge on healthcare outsourcing are not derived from the healthcare sector but from other industries. Previous research on outsourcing in China mainly focus on studying China as an outsourcing destination. It is in this context that this research has explored the conceptual validity of the factors affecting outsourcing identified in the Western outsourcing literature in a public and a private hospital in China. A theoretical framework was developed from the literature whereby management at both hospitals were interviewed to identify the factors affecting outsourcing in the two Chinese hospitals. In the absence of guidance from the existing literature in making cultural adaptions and adjustments in implementing outsourcing in China, this research provides valuable and empirical insights into how Guanxi and Mianzi has guided and shaped the social behaviour on the basis of reciprocal obligations in building a highly trusted and committed outsourcing partnership. This original finding demonstrates how Guanxi and Mianzi contribute to enhance the loyalty and commitment of suppliers and employees, in lieu of contracts in Western outsourcing context, which has provided profound understanding on the impacts of informal controls in implementing a Western developed model in Hospital A and Hospital B. The development of two revised conceptual frameworks has clearly contributed to fill the literature gap and provided insights into the decision-making process in a non-Western context of implementing outsourcing in the Chinese healthcare sector
A novel computer assisted genomic test method to detect breast cancer in reduced cost and time using ensemble technique
No full textBreast cancer is the leading cause of death among women around the world. It is a primary malignancy for which genetic markers have revealed the ability for clinical decision making. It is a genetic disease that generates due to gene mutations, but the cost of a genetic test is relatively high for a number of patients in developing nations like India. The results of a genetic test can take a few weeks to determine cancer. This time duration influences the prognosis of genes since certain patients suffer from a high rate of malignant cell proliferation. Therefore, a computer-assisted genetic test method (CAGT) is proposed to detect breast cancer. This test method will predict the gene expressions and convert these expressions in the state of mutation (under-expression (-1), transition (0) overexpression (1)) and afterwards perform the classification to get the benign and malignant class in reduced time and cost. In the research work, machine learning techniques are applied to identify the most responsive genes of breast cancer on the premises of the clinical report of a patient and generated a CAGT. In the research work, the hard voting ensemble approach is applied to detect breast cancer on the basis of most responsive genes by CAGT which leads to improving 3.5% accuracy in cancer classification
Positive psychology pioneers: Ryan Niemiec's power and potential to influence mental health nursing
No full textThis article is the fourth in a series that celebrates the work of positive psychologists and how their work has the power and potential to influence mental health nursing practice. This article discusses Professor Ryan Niemiec and his work on character strengths. The practical activities provided will help the reader increase their own awareness of character strengths to develop their use and transferability within their own life
Perceptions and current practice vs evidence-based effects of whole-body cryotherapy on fatigue and recovery in elite rugby players.
No full textThe primary aim of this thesis was to advance the current field of knowledge regarding whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) and its influence on fatigue and recovery in elite rugby players. The secondary aim of this thesis was to explore the perceptions and current use of WBC in an elite contact sport population.A systematic review analysed fifteen studies specific to the use of WBC following fatiguing physical activity. Despite the body of evidence reflecting low-to-moderate quality, WBC appears to result in perceived and symptomatic benefits, with some indications of positive change to recovery via physiological and inflammatory measures. Endocrinological responses were shown to be vastly under-researched and required clarification.A qualitative survey formed the basis of exploring the beliefs and perceptions of fatigue, recovery and current practice of WBC within elite contact sport environments.The key findings highlighted that (i) recovery from evening match or training activity was frequently impacted due to reduced perceived sleep quality; (ii) the perceived benefits of WBC enhanced sleep quality for those who had experienced WBC; (iii) the beliefs of those who had not experienced WBC was that they would highly likely adopt its use on the basis that sleep quality and psychological wellbeing would be enhanced in order to benefit recovery; (iv) the adoption of WBC as a regular practice-based modality for recovery is low mainly due to cost, logistics and lack of evidence-based information supporting parameters of implementation.Two experimental, field-based studies were conducted using an elite Rugby League team from the European Super League. The first was an observational study and had the purpose of analysing the endocrinological (cortisol and testosterone) responses to a nine-day period of competition involving match and training activity and regular WBC exposures. These have been shown to be reliable indicators of catabolic and anabolic basal control in response to high intensity physical activity. The use of WBC post-training appeared to attenuate anabolic status, whereas following matches, anabolic signaling was enhanced following WBC. The second study was a participant controlled design comparing post-match recovery inclusive of WBC to regular recovery processes without WBC. Two, three-minute exposures to WBC showed significant alteration to the endocrine profile of players at 60 h post-match in that greater concentrations of testosterone were found without concurrent change in cortisol. A significant effect was shown after one exposure to WBC, albeit to a lesser degree. Without WBC, the recovery of endocrine and biochemical profile was not reached by the end of the 60-h sample period.In summary, this thesis supports the use of WBC in that it appears to hold benefits for athletes in their recovery from elite level collision sport. Greater benefits appear more supported following matches, with a lesser extent, post-training sessions. Medical practitioners, coaches and sport scientists/conditioners should look to optimise the influence of WBC though applying two, 3-minute exposures as close to the cessation of high-fatiguing activity as possible. WBC has the potential to improve the wellbeing and recovery of collision sport athletes, however, the underlying mechanisms involved remain undetermined despite the observation of a desirable change in endocrinological profile.Further study should look to specifically investigate the effects of WBC relative to the time of day of activity given that indications in this study from a perceived perspective suggest that effects may be relative to activity and time of day. This area currently holds negligible supporting evidence and will assist to inform the implementation strategy of WBC in the team environment
Examine the impact of Technology and Industry 4.0 for Student Performance in Higher Education
No full textThis research study aims to evaluate the significance of Technology and Industry 4.0 for Student Performance in Higher Education. Industry 4.0 is part of digital revolution which amalgamates various technologies like AI, distributed computing, virtual reality (VR), Internet of Things (IoT) & Big Data to bring a fundamental transformation in the current industry. The integration of these technologies has benefited all domains of society including Education. Education 4.0 aims to use Industry Revolution 4.0 technologies to the benefit of education field by providing means to improve the education sector using techniques like Education Mining, Prediction and Prescription of student's performance during their learning duration at universities. This study tries to highlight some important literature in the area of Industrial Revolution 4.0, Education 4.0, Big Data, Machine Learning, Descriptive, Predictive and Prescriptive analysis as well as learning analytics tools to provide a guidance for the stakeholders of the Education Industry to enrich their process for getting improved student performances at risk
Social enterprise as a model for change: mapping a global cross-disciplinary framework
No full textSince the outbreak of COVID-19, social enterprise has experienced a renaissance. In public policy circles, entrepreneurship and innovation are perceived as economic development tools, and in many parts of the world, as catalysts for change that can have a real impact by increasing employment in communities as well as environmental challenges. At a local level, entrepreneurship and innovation enable communities to stay vibrant due to social enterprise organisations offering much-needed goods and services. Social enterprise has been acknowledged as a solution to social inequality and environmental issues in society as it develops new areas of empowerment in local communities. Central to the success of social enterprise is education, training, and the engagement of the higher education sector. Traditionally, entrepreneurship and innovation have fundamentally been entrenched within the business subject area, but have now emerged within other disciplines such as criminology, health and social care, geography, sociology, and politics. The aim of this paper is to map out a new, global, cross-disciplinary framework from a teaching and learning perspective. The authors of this paper call for global empowerment of entrepreneurship education in the higher education sector, using examples from different countries across the world, specifically Ghana, India, and the UK. This paper sets out the vital importance of entrepreneurship in teaching and learning, by showcasing what can be achieved. In this paper, the authors develop and propose a new pedagogical social enterprise model that incorporates and emphasises the ethos of ‘think globally, act locally’ in a sustainability context
Performance measurement and accountability: some reflections on the developments in teacher education in England
No full textThis chapter examines the processes of change that have been under way in teacher education in England. The trends that are revealed are consistent with a centrally controlled development of a marketised approach. There has been a diversification of provision with new entry routes which have little or no higher education input, as well as a growing emphasis on performance and ‘accountability’. The overall effect has been to create a fractured system with considerable instability especially for traditional providers of teacher education. This has been accompanied by a growing sense of constraint on the nature of teaching, based on a simplistic view of the profession which assumes that teaching can be encapsulated in a list of measurable standards or competences
Using semi-structured interviews to research entrepreneurial leadership
No full textChristian Harrison, PhD, reader, University of the West of Scotland, discusses a case study using semi-structured interviews to research entrepreneurial leadership, including data collection and analysis, and research findings
An investigation into the role of English language proficiency in a standardised approach to assessment.
No full textA report by the Office for Students (2021) into assessment practices relating to language proficiency sets out its expectation that students’ written English should not be ignored in assessment, with standard English assumed to be the benchmark against which proficiency is measured. At the same time, the number of international students at the university is rising markedly for certain degree programmes, posing significant challenges for academic staff. English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) research argues that as the process of internationalisation gathers pace in higher education, an insistence on native speaker language norms may not be justified. This study takes place in a modern university in northwest England and explores the marking practices of lecturers on a masters in research engineering programme. Using a mixed methods approach that prioritises qualitative data, the study uses comments from assessors from interviews and analysis of written assignments by international students, to explore the role of English language proficiency in the process of standardised marking.The findings show that there is a discrepancy between assessment policy and stipulations by the Office for students, and the marking practices of assessors. Despite their stated commitment to standard English, in reality the grading of written assessments is a much more pragmatic exercise with the local culture of the discipline informing an unofficial language policy that allows accommodation of non-standard English with limited impact on overall grades. These practices raise the concern that there could be a lack of consistency, equity and transparency in assessment practices across the institution. The study concludes that higher education institutions should put in place clearer language policies that are more easily understood and implemented by their assessors