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Employees’ perceptions of work engagement: a study of Nigeria’s private and public universities
No full textFederated learning for medical imaging radiology
Get PDFFederated learning (FL) is gaining wide acceptance across the medical AI domains. FL promises to provide a fairly acceptable clinical-grade accuracy, privacy, and generalisability of machine learning models across multiple institutions. However, the research on FL for medical imaging AI is still in its early stages. This paper presents a review of recent research to outline the difference between state-of-the-art [SOTA] (published literature) and state-of-the-practice [SOTP] (applied research in realistic clinical environments). Furthermore, the review outlines the future research directions considering various factors such as data, learning models, system design, governance, and human-in-loop to translate the SOTA into SOTP and effectively collaborate across multiple institutions.<br/
Quantum mechanism-based convolution model for the classification of pathogenic bacteria
Get PDFWater, especially drinking water, should be clean and free of disease-causing bacteria because of its critical role in life. However, it isn’t easy to identify and classify them rapidly at an early stage. Primarily, the examination of water is performed manually to check the contamination level. Some researchers have proposed techniques to detect and classify bacteria images, but this field still needs more attention. In this research work, a robust Quantum Convolutional Neural Network (QCNN) classification model is proposed to classify the six major categories of pathogenic bacteria. For the acquisition of pathogen images, different slides are created through the gram-staining process, and then images are captured from those slides. DIBaS is the publicly available dataset that provides these slides captured through gram-staining, which is used to evaluate the proposed methodology. So, in the first step, database preprocessing, small patches are extracted from slide images. However, the extracted patches were not clear and very useful, so the Enhanced Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Network Model (ESRGAN) was applied to images to improve the image quality of extracted patches. The third step is to extract the deep features and classify bacterial images using the QCNN model, in which the Quantum Convolutional layer is added, and classical data is converted into quantum data to perform classification. Based on the results of classification experiments using the QCNN model, the accuracy is 96.54%.<br/
Analysis of the economic effects of defence spending in Spain: a re-examination through dynamic ARDL simulations and kernel-based regularized least squares
No full textSpain’s economic growth over the last few decades constitutes a rather distinctive case in post-World War II Europe, which has attracted international academic interest. This paper examines the relationship between Spain’s military expenditure and economic growth during the period 1954-2021 to shed further light. Using the recently developed method of Dynamic Autoregressive Distributive Lag (DARDL) simulation proposed by Jordan and Philips (2018) and the Kernel-Based Regularized Least Squares (KRLS) technique which accounts for potential non-linearities, interactions, and heterogeneous effects, this paper tests the short and long–run equilibrium relationship between military expenditure and economic growth in Spain. Furthermore, with the cumulative sum (CUSUM) and cumulative sum of squares (CUSUMSQ) tests, we examine the stability of the above relationship. The results show that there is a positive short and long–run relationship between military expenditure and economic growth in Spain during the period under study. However, when we stratify our sample (before and after Spain’s democratization), the positive relationship is sustained only during the years of the non–democratic regime. This has further policy implications as policymakers in Spain need to carefully balance national security concerns with the need for sustained economic growth.</p
Understanding healthcare professionals’ responses to patient complaints in secondary and tertiary care in the UK: a systematic review and behavioural analysis:[preprint]
No full textBackground.The path of a complaint and patient satisfaction with complaint resolution is often dependent on healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) first response. It is therefore important to understand the influences shaping HCP behaviour. This systematic review aimed to (1) identify the key actors, behaviours and factors influencing HCPs’ responses to complaints, and (2) apply behavioural science frameworks to classify these influences and provide recommendations for more effective complaints management.Methods.A systematic literature review of UK published and unpublished (“grey literature”) studies was conducted (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022301980). Five electronic databases (Scopus, Medline/Ovid, Embase, CINAHL, HMIC) were searched up to September 2021. Eligibility criteria included: studies reporting primary data, conducted in secondary and tertiary care, written in English and published between 2001–2021 (studies from primary care, mental health, forensic, paediatric, or dental care services were excluded). Extracted data included: participant quotations from qualitative studies, results from questionnaire and survey studies, case studies reported in commentaries, and descriptions and summaries of results from reports. Data were synthesised narratively using inductive thematic analysis, followed by deductive mapping to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF).Results.22 articles and 3 reports meeting the inclusion criteria were included. A total of 8 actors, 22 behaviours and 24 influences on behaviour were found. Key factors influencing effective management of complaints included HCPs’ beliefs about the value of complaints, knowledge of procedures and available time and resources, and organisational culture and leadership. Defensive practices and high stress levels among HCPs were linked to lack of managerial support, role conflict and a blaming culture within the organisation. Themes mapped predominantly onto the TDF domains of social influences (categorised both as barrier and enabler), beliefs about consequences (barrier) and social/professional role and identity (barrier). Recommendations were generated using the BCW approach.Conclusions.Through the application of behavioural science, we identified a wide range of individual, social/organisational and environmental influences on complaints management in secondary and tertiary care. Our behavioural analysis informed recommendations for intervention content, with particular emphasis on reframing and building on the positive aspects of complaints as an underutilised source of feedback at an individual and organisational level
Online ESOL, inclusion and accessibility in the UK
No full textThis chapter focuses on the inclusivity of online, adult ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) courses in the United Kingdom, accessed by learners from all over the world with different educational and cultural backgrounds. Those choosing to attend classes may be highly motivated, but their attendance can be affected be a range of external factors, such as caring responsibilities and employment. 2020 introduced an additional level of possible exclusion in the form of online learning. Utilising data collected through online interviews with ESOL teachers during emergency online teaching, four case studies are shared which detail how students and teachers responded to this change in delivery during the Covid-19 pandemic. The qualitative data analysis revealed the important role played by the teacher in designing online courses that promote learner autonomy and inclusion, in addition to understanding the barriers presented by technology and the students’ home lives. As we emerge into a post-pandemic world, this study calls for further research into online English teaching with similar groups of learners, in addition to the need for relevant teacher training and strategies to aid student access to online courses.</p
From behaviour-based to ecological:multi-agency partnership responses to extra-familial harm
Get PDFSummary: In the United Kingdom (UK), inquiries into the abuse of adolescents harmed in contexts beyond their families frequently document failures in multi-agency arrangements. Forms of extra-familial harm, such as criminal and sexual exploitation, often feature near-fatal violence and serious abuse. UK welfare policy has shifted towards place-based approaches to harm, leading to safeguarding partnerships forming between welfare agencies and neighbourhood crime reduction agencies. However, forming partnerships between those who have differing epistemological underpinnings raises challenges. This article explores these by drawing on a research project implementing contextual safeguarding theory and practice within five child welfare social care departments in England and Wales. Data is presented from 10 pilots (33 focus groups, 24 interviews, 59 meeting observations, 36 reviews of cases, review of 100 documents). Findings: Multi-agency partnerships prioritise safeguarding practice that targets behaviour, over addressing the social conditions of abuse. Assumptions that partnerships will automatically align means that there is little space for negotiating a shared conceptual/ideological approach. Particularly in high-risk situations, welfare agencies defer to policing methods that target individuals rather than environments. Where ecological approaches are utilised, this is experienced as ‘against the grain’ and requiring support. Applications: To advance contextual approaches to safeguarding young people, multi-agency partnerships must go beyond altering the behaviour of those who are harmed. Partnerships that engage in reflective discussion about their conceptual approach are more likely to build the awareness and trust required for ecological methods to succeed. Enhancing ecological social work leadership within partnerships responding to extra-familial harm is a key factor.</p
Interviewing mothers and daughters: reflecting on the role of the ‘insider’
Get PDFHaving arrived in the UK as a five-year-old immigrant child, and vividly remembering those early days when everything for me was very different and alienating, formed one of the inspirations for my study on the influence of immigration on families. The influence of my mother, the person central to my care and upbringing, was the core reason for my study on immigrant South Asian families and the way that mother and daughter roles evolve. Mothers are often key role models, as well as being a critical source of support and reassurance, for their children. The vastly differing experiences of my mother, an eighty-four-year-old first-generation immigrant, compared to my third-generation nineteen-year-old daughter, as well as my own intermediary position as both second-generation mother, and daughter, led me to reflect on how the categories and expectations of immigrant South Asian motherhood and daughterhood have shifted over this tripartite generational evolution. My research question attempts to explore the changes in the experiences and lives of mothers and daughters from South Asia over three generations. I have conducted the first set of interviews for my study. I will discuss reflections from these interviews, specifically examining my role as an ‘insider’. This reflection has allowed me to identify the benefits of an insider role in qualitative research interviews and how the lived experience of an insider can be a useful method for oral history interviews
‘One size does not fit all’ in organ donation and transplantation:targeting and tailoring communication for migrant and ethnic minority populations
No full textWith increasing immigration to Europe, migrants and ethnic minorities (MEMs) are progressively represented on transplant waiting lists. However, they remain underrepresented among the pools of both deceased and living donors (LD). Further, studies report inferior knowledge and/or understanding of organ donation and transplantation among these populations, with the potential for detrimental impacts on accessibility, quality and outcomes of care. The ethnic and cultural diversity characterising European societies poses additional challenges to the complexity inherent to communication in transplant settings. This study addresses the ethical, theoretical and practical implications of targeting/tailoring interventions for MEM populations in the transplant continuum. It puts forward a call for action on the emergent issue of how institutional actors and healthcare professionals should interact more effectively with MEM publics, potential donors and/or their families and MEM transplant candidates/recipients/LDs.<br/
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