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Pastorale II
No full text'Pastorale [pastoral]. A literary, dramatic or musical genre that depicts the characters and scenes of rural life or is expressive of its atmosphere.' (New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians)
This piece aims to critique and subvert the genre by contrasting lyricism with a more violently assertive element.
For clarinet, violin, viola and cell
Development of a Java-based informatics software for generating house setups and water-holding breeding containers for predictive computational models of disease-transmitting vectors
No full textDisease transmitting vectors aid the transmission of diseases such as malaria, which in turn negatively affects public health. Software engineering principles can be adopted to develop software that can be used to generate house setup environments that have breeding sites and individual water- holding containers where such vectors can develop and complete their lifecycle and migration. It is also to detail the way such vectors transmit different diseases, thereby assisting to model the most efficient methods to combat such vectors and diseases. In our work, we utilized Java programming language to develop Java-based Informatics software (henceforth, Malaria Analysis GUI software). Our Malaria Analysis GUI software was able to generate house setup files with corresponding breeding containers for Anopheles mosquitoes on a small scale and on a large scale. The files were tested with two different computational models (ANOSPEX computational model and JASPEX computational model), and the results were good. Furthermore, results revealed that as house dimensions increase, the sizes of house setups and breeding container files increase linearly, with time, which portends an asymptotic upper bound notation of O(n).O(n) is a gold standard for algorithm comparison. High-Performance Computing (HPC) machines can be explored to handle very large house setup and water-holding breeding container files for future work
Kernel methods in the age of deep learning: from multimodal fusion to quantum machine learning
No full textIn this keynote I will explore the potential that kernel-based machine learning offers in the age of deep machine learning, in which Neural Tangent Kernels & Deep Kernel Learning have opened doors to new avenues for understanding deep neural networks. I begin with an introduction to key kernel concepts before exploring developments undertaken by my group and collaborators. I will explore the potential for kernel methods to address issues of multimodal data fusion such as heterogeny and missing data (including an exploration of the neutral point method and the tomographic kernel combination methods).
I will end with an exploration of how Quantum Machine Learning in a NISQ-based setting can be seen as a form of Kernel Machine Learning, with a look at my recent work with Verona University in developing path kernels for quantum machine learning to replicate deep neural network capabilities in the quantum setting
Countdown to Chișinău: the risk of politicising the ECHR over migration
No full textIt is ironic that Ministers of Justice of the 46 Council of Europe member states convened on International Human Rights Day (December 10 2025) to discuss how they might reduce the scope of their obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. Rather than a much-needed discussion about the effectiveness of the system, for the first time in the history of the CoE, a group of 27 states issued a Joint Statement proposing to diminish the rights of a particular cohort of the population – migrants, broadly conceived – framed as a matter of safeguarding national security and protecting democracy.
The meeting launched an intergovernmental process which will culminate in a ministerial meeting in May 2026, but for some capitals the outcome seems predetermined: to restrict certain migrants’ rights and empower states to pursue even more restrictive measures. Whether states will approach the coming months in the inclusive and evidence-based manner as has been advised (also here and here) remains to be seen, but there are significant risks which require immediate attention to avoid a slippery slope.
Below, we outline what happened on 10 December in Strasbourg, why it matters and what governments should consider as they embark on what could become a one-way journey with significant consequences far beyond the issue of migration
Bioimpedance-driven haptic feedback for human-computer interaction
No full textThis work presents a novel method for establishing a feedback loop in future human-computer interactions by using bioimpedance measurements to enhance the sense of physical engagement. The proposed system consists of a bioimpedance measurement unit, a vibration motor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a Bluetooth wireless communication module. By measuring the bioimpedance of flexor digitorum muscles, the system estimates the hand's grasping angle and applied force independently. To address the drift commonly observed in long-term bioimpedance measurements, the rate of change in bioimpedance is used instead of absolute values. The bioimpedance change rate-based method achieved a linear coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9845. Vibration motor rotational speed is then modulated in real time based on either the estimated hand grasping angle or force magnitude, depending on the application. The proposed haptic feedback bridges a key limitation of traditional vision-based interaction methods, which are unable to detect force, thereby enabling a more immersive interaction experience. The entire system is implemented as a wearable Bluetooth human interface device (HID), ensuring compatibility with a range of commercial consumer electronics
Characteristics of productive feedback encounters in online learning
Get PDFUnderstanding how students engage with feedback is often reduced to a study of feedback messages that sheds little light on effects. Using the emerging notion of feedback encounters as an analytical lens, this study examines what characterizes productive feedback encounters when learning online. Drawing from a cross-national digital ethnographic dataset, a qualitative analysis categorized feedback encounters within this dataset: While most encounters led to instrumental impacts without any significant reflections, students also engaged in encounters with more substantive impact on learning. The latter took place under two conditions. First, the encounter must challenge the student’s assumptions about their work, and they must be able and willing to accept this challenge. Second, the encounter must take place at a time which is appropriate in relation to whichever task the student is currently working on. This highlights design considerations, such as importance of social interactions, and the instrumental enactments of self-generated feedback
Understanding an old school information source: the role of books on mature Czech non-visitors’ images of London
No full textPurpose
Academic interest in books as image formation agents in general, and for the grey/mature market (aged over 50s) in particular, remains scarce, irrespective of books’ global popularity. This research note aims to explore the role of books on mature Czech non-visitors’ images of London as a tourist destination, which is of great importance for city marketing theory and practice.
Design/Methodology/approach
A pen and paper questionnaire with open-ended questions (qualitative) was used to collect data from 120 mature Czechs living in metropolitan (n = 39), urban (n = 40) and rural (n = 41) areas, who have never visited London in the past.
Findings
The findings of this research note revealed that books were the primary source of destination image formation, especially as they were among the few options available in this ex-communist country in the past. Books, and particularly novels, seem to reinforce imaginations, contributing to a specific, robust and complex image of London as a tourist destination, cultivating expectations and interest in the destination.
Originality
This study contributes to understanding an under-researched aspect of literary tourism, that is, the critical role books play in image formation for the grey non-visitor market of an ex-communist country (Czech Republic). The post-communist sub-region where the Czech Republic is located has been largely neglected in the tourism literature, despite this market segment’s significance for urban destinations. The findings offer ideas for innovative marketing and tourism product development, assisting in destination competitiveness
Proceedings of the MDX 2025 Health IT Workshop on Emerging Technologies in Healthcare: Legal, Ethical, Social & Governance Aspects
Get PDFEmerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, blockchain, mobile apps, social media, social robots, virtual reality) continue to play an integral role in the provision of healthcare spanning fields such as digital health, mHealth, telemedicine, telecare and telehealth. International institutions, like the European Commission and World Health Organization, have steadfastly promoted the use of technologies to transform the healthcare sector and to facilitate cross-border services. Healthcare technologies are useful in providing direct access to healthcare and in facilitating and supporting healthcare-related functions. Examples include medical data storage (electronic health or medical records, cloud computing), data sharing (locally, nationally, and across borders), data analytics, and access to healthcare services. Policy makers and businesses continue to seek ways to use healthcare technologies to provide benefits to stakeholders including patients, healthcare professionals, clinics and hospitals, governments, research initiatives, and business ventures. These and other developments in healthcare technologies bring challenges that raise questions spanning legal, ethical, social, and governance concerns, particularly for the scale-up and implementation of health IT. This workshop primarily focuses on legal, ethical, social and governance aspects of new and emerging technologies in healthcare as well as developments regarding regulatory and ethical frameworks
Ushering the virtual age: a multi-theoretical and multi-stakeholder investigation of virtual reality shopping application adoption based on technical and usability features within an integrated UTAUT–TOE framework
Get PDFThis study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of Virtual Reality Shopping Applications (VRSA) in e-commerce, focusing on Gen Z consumers and the strategic preferences of e-businesses. While immersive technologies like AR are widely adopted, VR remains underutilised despite its potential for creating engaging, experiential shopping environments. Addressing this gap, the study explores how usability, immersion, and technological features shape VRSA adoption, while also analysing why businesses favour AR over VR.
The research employs a mixed-method approach, integrating consumer surveys, direct observations, and interviews with business stakeholders. Sixty-four participants evaluated a VRSA prototype, designed to simulate a realistic virtual shopping experience, and ten business stakeholders provided insights into strategic decisions regarding immersive technologies. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, regression, and correlation techniques, while qualitative data was thematically analysed to identify recurring patterns and insights.
The findings indicate that practical usability factors, particularly comfort/discomfort, play a more significant role in influencing adoption intention compared to traditional immersive features like interactivity or visual quality. Contrary to expectations, immersion, interactivity, and other usability factors showed only weak relationships with adoption intention, challenging established technology adoption models such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). These results suggest that while immersive features contribute to user experience, they may not be the primary drivers of adoption decisions in VRSA. From a business perspective, AR is preferred for its cost-effectiveness, scalability, and alignment with consumer behaviours, while VR is viewed as a niche tool suitable for high involvement purchases and immersive marketing campaigns.
This study advances theoretical understanding by refining technology adoption frameworks to include VR-specific factors like discomfort and usability challenges. It also highlights the potential for adaptive VRSA designs tailored to personality traits, as demonstrated by the observed relationship between MBTI personality types and spatial behaviour in VR environments. Practical implications include recommendations for improving usability, integrating AR and VR in hybrid strategies, and addressing accessibility barriers to broaden VR adoption.
The study’s limitations include its focus on the consumer facet of VRSA, a relatively homogeneous participant pool, and the absence of longitudinal data to assess evolving adoption trends. Future research should expand the prototype to include administrator and store manager functionalities, explore cross-industry comparisons of AR and VR effectiveness, and conduct longitudinal studies to track changes in consumer perceptions over time.
By addressing these gaps, this research contributes to the emerging field of immersive e-commerce, offering actionable insights for developers and businesses. It emphasises the need for user-centric design, hybrid AR/VR strategies, and phased implementation approaches to maximise the potential of VRSA as a transformative tool in retail
Assessing the relationship between in-water kinetic asymmetries and performance in swimming
Get PDFThe present study aimed to investigate the relationship among force, impulse and their asymmetries with swimming performance across different distances, and to explore whether the correlations were dependent on the presence of “real” asymmetries (i.e., higher than metric variability). Thirty-five male swimmers (age: 19.5 years ± 5.0, body mass: 75.4 ± 11.5 kg, body height: 181.7 ± 7.6 cm) performed a 15-s tethered-swimming test, in which peak force, mean force and impulse of each body side were measured. The absolute and relative asymmetries were subsequently obtained. The coefficient of variation was calculated and used to identify the presence of “real” asymmetries (i.e., asymmetries greater than the CV). The official times for 50-, 100-, and 200-m front-crawl swimming were obtained. Pearson’s r correlations showed that peak and mean force presented moderate to strong associations (r = −0.51 to −0.84; p ≤ 0.001 to 0.013) with performance at all distances. Impulse only presented moderate associations with 50-m front crawl performance (r = −0.50 to −0.62; p ≤ 0.001 to 0.013). When considering the whole sample, no associations were seen between asymmetries and swimming performance, but when considering only athletes presenting “real” asymmetries, weak to moderate correlations were found between peak force asymmetries and 50/100-m performance (r = 0.47 and 0.59; p = 0.016 and 0.002). In conclusion, force and impulse are related to swimming performance, and individual asymmetries should be monitored in swimmers, as they might be present and related to performance depending on the approach adopted