558 research outputs found
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"The accordionist's very own examining-system": The British College of Accordionists
Full text linkThe aim of this research is to chart the promotion of the classical accordion through academic
enquiry into its development in Britain during the 20th century. This is primarily achieved by
documenting the history of the British College of Accordionists (BCA), an examining board
and educational institution dedicated specifically to institutionalizing, promoting, and
standardizing the accordion on a national and international scale. Founded in 1935, the BCA
leaders played a significant role in promoting and validating the accordion throughout the 20th
century. This historiographical project incorporates archival research, interviews with key
accordionists, analysis of primary and secondary data, descriptive analysis, thematic analysis,
and source triangulation. This study contextualizes how the accordion was promoted through
the three key themes of institutionalization, promotion, and standardization.
Institutionalization as a theme is examined from the 18th to the 20th century with specific
focus on Britain; this will provide a socio-political contextualization for understanding the
BCA’s emergence and institutional formation from 1935 onwards. Through the theme of
promotion, the various marketing attempts made by the BCA leaders during the 20th century
are considered. Furthermore, the BCA’s standardization of accordion pedagogy and
performance through examination, and the formation of additional syllabi and educational
courses are reviewed. Overall, this research provides a template for considering the role of
under-researched instruments in music standardization and institutionalization
Data Security Challenges in AI-Enabled Medical Device Software
Full text linkThe potential of AI to develop innovative applications that can benefit healthcare professionals and patients has created interest, especially in Medical Device Software (MDS) domain. However, the adoption of AI in MDS domain has created several challenges which include: making AI transparent; gaps in clarifying accountability; risk
associated with the adaptive nature of AI algorithms; mitigating bias in data; lack of regulatory guidelines specific for AI; and assuring data security. Assuring data security is crucial for AI-enabled MDS, as compromising sensitive personal health data can create privacy and ethical concerns and sometimes lead to life threatening issues. In this paper, we discuss the importance of adopting AI in the healthcare domain, the importance of data security in AI-enabled MDS, and the data security challenges that AI has brought to the healthcare industry. Additionally, we
consider the reasons for the existence of these challenges. The challenges discussed in this paper are in relation to (1) preventing data breaches; (2) preventing adversarial attacks; (3) preventing cyberattacks; (4) preventing insider threats; (5) lack of skilled and trained staff in data security; and (6) complexity of existing standards and lack of security control implementation details
A review of applications of artificial intelligence in cardiorespiratory rehabilitation
Full text linkImplementations of artificial intelligence and machine learning are becoming commonplace in multiple application domains. This is in part due to advancements in computing hardware that have helped outsource the computation of resource-intensive mathematics related to artificial intelligence and machine learning to the chips of multi-core and parallel computing architectures. Partly it is due to the widespread appeal of machine learning as a suite of handy tools to fix practical issues. Many fields have become beneficiaries of artificial intelligence and machine learning and cardiorespiratory rehabilitation is no exception. The aim of this paper is to review the current state of the art of the applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in cardiorespiratory rehabilitation. We have taken a multidimensional view to addressing the needs and utility of artificial intelligence and machine learning in cardiorespiratory rehabilitation. We start with the most primitive applications of machine learning reported in existing literature in making medical devices for analyzing heartbeats and respiratory functions. We then discuss more recent approaches including deep learning to analyze performance or suggest alternative choices for food or exercise. Applications and utility of most recent feats such as explainable artificial intelligence are also discussed and conclusions around the current state of the art and possible future directions are proposed
Identifying Agile Practices to Reduce Defects in Medical Device Software Development
Full text linkMedical Device Software (MDS) defects have caused death of patients and continue to be the major cause of recalls of medical devices in the US and Europe. Despite various approaches proposed to address defects, dealing with defects in MDS is an increasingly difficult task as MDS has become more complex to support a growing number of functions. To increase quality in any software development project, it is essential that defects are identified and addressed quickly in the early stages of the software development life cycle. Agile methods have been advocated to increase software quality by minimising defects through their agile practices. However, agile methods on their own are deficient in satisfying the regulatory requirements for the MDS domain. Instead, the common approach is to integrate agile practices into the plan driven methods. Consequently, frameworks have been developed to help developers in the MDS domain to accrue the benefits of agile development while fulfilling regulatory requirements. Despite the adoption of agile practices in MDS development, it is still unclear as to which agile practice(s) is effective and how it is applied to address MDS defects. The purpose of this research is to identify agile practices that can assist in addressing defects in MDS development. This will help MDS developers to select the appropriate agile practice(s) to address defects
Editorial: Women in language and computation 2022
Full text linkWomen make up <30% of researchers worldwide. Such under-representation of women are generally most prevalent in technical disciplines such as AI and computer science. Hence, we were delighted to be part of the team to curate this collection of articles in a special edition of Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence to promote female-led, cutting-edge work in the area of Women in Language and Computation
Water Governance and Management Practices in the Republic of Ireland: Past, Present and the Future
Full text linkRobust water governance and management practices are critical in safeguarding water resources against threats such as drought, water pollution, infrastructure deficits, population growth, and policy implementation challenges. Despite being susceptible to these challenges, the Republic of Ireland (RoI) has implemented reforms aimed at facilitating a more integrated national approach to water resource protection. Following a descriptive, concurrent mixed method approach and research lens, this study examines three key research questions, providing the first comprehensive evaluation of changes in water governance and practices in the water-rich RoI. The research highlights significant events and measures taken to prepare for future challenges
‘They must know me’: Embodied Intertextuality and the Reworking of Local Irish Dance Traditions by Siamsa Tíre
Full text linkFocusing on elements and motifs in ‘The Blackbird’ set dance performed by Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland, and their reoccurrence in subsequent choreography, this article critically considers the continued embodiment of local identity as it transfers from a community of older dancers to professional staged adaptations involving international collaborators and newly composed music. Through an analysis of archival footage and dance steps, I present comparisons with the choreography for ‘The Seville Suite’, first performed in 1992, which juxtaposes traditional Irish and Flamenco dance. I reflect on my own dance practice and seek to translate embodied knowledge that demonstrates the resilience of cultural practices Retraditionalization is evident as artists return to an exploration of the archives and interact with culture bearers to develop the narratives of tradition that have implications for understandings of authenticity
Advancing Music in Ireland as Religious and Social Practice: The Experience of Pat Ahern
Full text linkProbably best known for his work that led to the development of Siamsa Tíre, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, Monsignor Pat Ahern has helped shape musical culture across a range of genres through the latter half of the 20th century with a notable impact on liturgical music. By focusing on his role in the establishment of a choir in St. John’s Church, Tralee, in 1957; his production of pageants on religious themes that incorporated choral music; and his two masses, published in 1984 and 2014, this article places Ahern’s music in the context of time and place by examining his legacy in the soundscape and musical culture of Ireland
Tourism, Touring and Staged Folklore
Full text linkSiamsa Tíre is one of the leading tourist attractions in Tralee, Co. Kerry with the National Folk Theatre presenting a series of summer performances throughout the season. Beginning in the 1960s, the developing group then known as Siamsóirí na Ríochta received considerable support from stakeholders in the tourism sector, leading to a summer season of performances. These performances were amongst a range of successful initiatives in the Shannon region at that time that resulted in a surge of tourism to the area. In the 1972 plan for the development of folk theatre, founding Artistic Director Pat Ahern recognised the potential for tourism to support the growth of the company but emphasised the need for a focus beyond tourism, concentrating on the presentation of folk culture on the stage. Nevertheless, financial support from initiatives related to tourism has underpinned many of the developments and audiences for the company during the summer months comprise primarily of tourists. In this chapter, I critically examine the construction of identity for Siamsa Tíre within a broader national tourism narrative and constructions of ‘Irishness’ for a tourist market that focus on the rural sphere. I present a brief analysis of how Siamsa Tíre markets itself to tourists and the physical spaces that the tourists encounter when attending performances. Furthermore, the performances by Siamsa Tíre ‘at home’ are supplemented through touring and the early success of tours to Germany and America are important in gaining critical acclaim that was used in subsequent marketing campaigns. Through touring, Siamsa Tíre established themselves as cultural ambassadors for Ireland, while simultaneously achieving their goal of preserving and presenting the cultural heritage of Kerry on the theatre stage
Inward currents in mouse corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells
Full text linkTonic contraction of CCSM is a pivotal component of the erectile dysfunction mechanism.
Numerous studies have suggested that the penile contractile tone is regulated by its
membrane potential. However, the precise expression and functional contributions of ion
channels in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle of the mouse species have yet to be fully
ascertained.
Whole cell ruptured patch and perforated patch technique revealed the presence of 1)
voltage-gated sodium channels and 2) Ca2+
-activated Cl- channels, respectively, in freshly
dispersed mouse CCSM cells. Pharmacology studies revealed 2 populations of sodium
currents, where TTX-insensitive current was mediated by NaV1.5, and TTX-sensitive
current was mediated by a mixture of subtypes. Immunocytochemistry studies confirmed
the presence of NaV1.4, NaV1.5, and TMEM16A. Steady-state activation and inactivation
curves revealed a small NaV window current at the resting membrane potential.
Veratridine, a NaV activator, reduced time-dependent inactivation of the current and
increased the duration of evoked action potentials. In CCSM tissue, veratridine-induced
phasic contractions were a result of direct membrane depolarisation by sustained Na2+
-
influx, hence activating L-type Ca2+ current to cause contractions. Phenylephrine induced
phasic contractions of intact corpus cavernosum muscle strips were inhibited by NaV and
CaCC antagonists, highlighting the importance of these ion channels in the regulation of
contractility by the sympathetic nerves. CCSM cells exhibited spontaneous transient
inward currents and spontaneous transient depolarisations when voltage-clamped at -60
mV, and in current clamp mode, respectively. STICs were carried by Cl- ions. Both STICs
and STDs involved Ca2+
-activated Cl- channels. They were dependent on Ca2+ release
from intracellular Ca2+ stores involving RyR and IP3R and were also reliant on store-
operated calcium entry. L-type Ca2+ currents contributed to the plateau of STDs.
This study suggests that contraction of CCSM is regulated by activation of NaV channels
and TMEM16A channels and therefore inhibition of these channels could lead to penile
erection