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You Are What You Write: Author re-identification privacy attacks in the era of pre-trained language models
Get PDFThe widespread use of pre-trained language models has revolutionised knowledge transfer in natural language processing tasks. However, there is a concern regarding potential breaches of user trust due to the risk of re-identification attacks, where malicious users could extract Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from other datasets. To assess the extent of extractable personal information on popular pre-trained models, we conduct the first wide coverage evaluation and comparison of state-of-the-art privacy-preserving algorithms on a large multi-lingual dataset for sentiment analysis annotated with demographic information (including location, age, and gender). Our results suggest a link between model complexity, pre-training data volume, and the efficacy of privacy-preserving embeddings. We found that privacy-preserving methods demonstrate greater effectiveness when applied to larger and more complex models, with improvements exceeding over non-private baselines. Additionally, we observe that local differential privacy imposes serious performance penalties of in our test setting, which can be mitigated using hybrid or metric-DP techniques
Developing modern construction professionals with a focus on timber – a UK case study
Get PDFThe Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) was established in 2021 at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) in Hereford, UK, to be a catalyst for expanding the use of sustainable timber in modern construction and changing the way built environment professionals are educated. The educational approach of NMITE is to apply a student-centric learning methodology with a curriculum fuelled by real-world challenges and taught by way of a partnership approach working with external stakeholders, industry practitioners, and academic collaborators. The focus of CATT is to increase the use of timber as an environmentally sound biogenic and ecological construction material based on a holistic value proposition (productivity, environmental and social impact, plus cost and building performance over time). In developing educational offerings that respond to these aims, CATT widens access to the construction industry while fostering development of the twenty-first century skills necessary for professionals to design and deliver a sustainable built environment. This case study describes lessons learned from the development of this award-winning educational programme and its innovative delivery mode
The Acoustic Index User's Guide: A practical manual for defining, generating and understanding current and future acoustic indices
Get PDFEcoacoustics, the study of environmental sound, is a rapidly growing discipline offering ecological insights at scales ranging from individual organisms to whole ecosystems. Substantial methodological developments over the last 15 years have streamlined extraction of ecological information from audio recordings. One widely used set of methods are acoustic indices, which offer numerical summaries of the spectral, temporal and amplitude patterns in audio recordings. Currently, the specifics of each index's background, methodology and the soundscape patterns they are designed to summarise, are spread across multiple sources. Critically, details of index calculation are sometimes scarce, making it challenging for users to understand how index values are generated. Discrepancies in understanding can lead to misuse of acoustic indices or reporting of spurious results. This hinders ecological inference, replicability and discourages adoption of these tools for conservation and ecosystem monitoring, where they might otherwise provide useful insight. Here we present the Acoustic Index User's Guide—an interactive RShiny web app that defines and deconstructs eight of the most commonly used acoustic indices to facilitate consistent application across the discipline. We break the acoustic indices calculations down into easy‐to‐follow steps to better enable practical application and critical interpretation of acoustic indices. We demonstrate typical soundscape patterns using a suite of 91 example audio recordings: 66 real‐world soundscapes from terrestrial, aquatic and subterranean systems around the world, and 25 synthetic files demonstrating archetypal soundscape patterns. Our interpretation figures signpost specific soundscape patterns likely to be reflected in acoustic indices' values. This RShiny app is a living resource; additional acoustic indices will be added in the future through collaboration with authors of pre‐existing and new indices. The app also serves as a best‐practice template for the information required when publishing new acoustic indices, so that authors can facilitate the widest possible understanding and uptake of their indices. In turn, improved understanding of acoustic indices will aid effective hypothesis generation, application and interpretation in ecological research, ecosystem monitoring and conservation management
Denial of reproductive potential: a predictor of unperceived pregnancy in an Austrian neonaticide sample
Get PDFPurpose: This study aims to describe the phenomenon of unperceived pregnancy followed by neonaticide with a focus on the lack of awareness of reproductive potential in an Austrian sample.Methods: An explorative comparative study of neonaticide cases with single and repeat perpetrators was conducted using nationwide register-based data from 1995 to 2017. A total number of 55 cases out of 66 were included in the analysis. A standardized coding sheet was used and calculations were performed.Results: 48 women gave birth to 101 children, of which 55 were killed, 23 children lived out of home care and 23 lived with the perpetrator We found a higher fertility rate in both neonaticide perpetrators in the single (1,9) and the repeat group (4,25) in comparison to the general population (1,4). The use of contraception was only 31% among neonaticide perpetrators, deviating substantially from the general Austrian population age group (16-29yrs) which used contraception in 91%. The neonaticide perpetrators used an effective contraception method (pearl-index<4) in only 2%, whereas 20% of the general population did so. The number of unperceived pregnancies was high in both groups (50/55) 91%.Conclusion: Future case reports and forensic evaluations should take reproductive behavior into account, as it may offer valuable insights into the events leading up to neonaticide. Our findings suggest that denial of reproductive potential often precedes unperceived pregnancies. In the Austrian cohort, women who experienced unperceived pregnancies resulting in unassisted births and subsequent neonaticide showed a low prevalence of contraceptive use. This is particularly noteworthy given that the primary motive for neonaticide is unwanted pregnancy
An Assessment of Demersal Elasmobranch Occurrence and Associated Habitats Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
Get PDFTo implement effective management and conservation strategies, an understanding of the spatial ecology, habitat preferences and movement of demersal elasmobranchs is required. This study combines a photographic survey obtained from an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with existing bathymetric data to help understand elasmobranch ecology within the Firth of Lorn, western Scotland. This area is within the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area (MPA) and designated for the protection of the critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius). Two areas of seabed were surveyed using an AUV in water depths of 110–165 m southwest of the Isle of Kerrera. Eight surveys were conducted in total, four in each area. Each area was surveyed twice over 2 days in October 2020 and twice in 2 days in May June 2021. One day used bait on the seabed (October) whilst all the others had no bait. For each survey, the AUV travelled 17 km at a height of 2 m above the seabed in a lawnmower pattern providing 0.5 km2 photographic coverage for ~2 h per survey. Five elasmobranch species, two scyliorhinids (Scyliohinus canicula and Galeus melastomus) and three rajiformes (D. intermedius, Raja clavata and Leucoraja naevus), were identified from a total of 43 k seabed photographs. In total 42 individual animals and 7 egg cases were observed. Although the AUV had short survey times and small study areas the results are encouraging for AUVs being a useful tool in understanding elasmobranch ecology
The Usability and Acceptability of Ambulatory Monitoring in Undiagnosed Syncope: Insights from the ASPIRED-Q Qualitative Study
Get PDFObjectives: The aim of this study, which was embedded into the ASPIRED randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN10278811), was to explore patient and healthcare professional usability and acceptability of an enhanced (14-day) ambulatory ECG monitoring patch to manage and facilitate discharge of emergency department patients with unexplained syncope.Design: A qualitative study using semi structured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and mapped using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Participants: A sample of 20 syncope patients recruited to ASPIRED RCT and 10 healthcare professionals who had a direct care provider and clinical decision role for syncope patients (e.g. consultants, junior doctors, advanced nurse practitioners, advanced care practitioners, emergency nurse practitioners and physician associates) were recruited from four hospitals (two in England and two in Scotland) between February 2023 and January 2024.Results: Three overarching themes developed that mapped to six of the seven constructs within the theoretical framework of acceptability. The themes were: 1) Efficacy. Patients and healthcare professionals felt that the remote intervention would increase patient reassurance. Healthcare professionals perceived the intervention would improve clinical care pathways by overcoming delays for Holter monitors but that a standard protocol would be required to ensure appropriate intervention use. 2) Burden. Patients considered that the device was non- obstructive and easy to use. However, healthcare professionals noted that although attaching the device was simple there would be associated time and resource costs (e.g. documentation). 3) Communication and education. Comprehensive verbal and written information were considered necessary to ensure that the intervention was usable by, and acceptable to, patients. Healthcare professionals suggested additional training would be required. Additionally, they considered that feedback from patient monitoring would reinforce their decision making and improve healthcare professionals’ self-efficacy to use the device appropriately.Conclusions: An immediate, enhanced (14-day) ambulatory ECG monitoring patch was positively received by patients and offered healthcare professionals an acceptable route for monitoring emergency department patients with unexplained syncope. However future use should be controlled using standardised pathways to prevent inappropriate use
Efficient Roof Selection in Rainwater Harvesting: Hybrid Multi-criteria and Experimental Approach
No full textThis study aimed to investigate the effects of different roof configurations on the quality of harvested rainwater (HRW) for sustainable irrigation in agriculture. Three roofing materials (i.e. shingle, galvanized metal, and clay tile) and three roof pitch angles (i.e. 5°, 30°, and 42°) were used at pilot-scale. HRW was characterized in order to determine the roof type and roof slope effect on the HRW quality. HRW from galvanized metal roofs was of higher quality in terms of turbidity and pathogen microorganisms. HRW from shingle and clay tile roofs was treated with a sequential ultrafiltration (UF) membrane and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system to meet the European Union (EU) water reuse standards for irrigation. The decision-making mechanism was used to select the most appropriate roof configuration. The results showed the significance of financial (21.89%) and environmental (19.75%) aspects. Also, the Escherichia coli (E.coli) content (7%) is the most determinant factor in HRW, followed by the operational cost (6.78%), and reduced runoff (5.73%). Among the roof configurations, galvanized metal roofs, specifically the metal roof with 5°, outperformed others due to their structural, technical, and environmental advances
'I feel persecuted. It's so distressing and upsetting, it is all too much.' A disablist hate crime typology: intimidation, exploitation, and brutalisation
Get PDFIn this article, we develop a typology of disablist hate crime that does justice to the lived experience of victims and highlights the differences between disablist hate crime and other forms of hate crime in England. This research consists of analyses of cases and semi-structured interviews with professionals. Based on interaction type, its duration, meaning, frequency, severity, and harm, we developed three categories: (1) intimidation, (2) exploitation and (3) brutalization. We argue that because of the specific symbolic nature of targeting disabled people, these acts should be considered as potential hate crimes
Influence Policing: domestic digital influence campaigns and algorithmic strategic communications in UK law enforcement and homeland security
Get PDFThis paper conceptualises an emerging model of algorithmic policing; ‘influence policing’. This harnesses the affordances of Internet platforms to conduct domestic digital influence campaigns for crime prevention. These campaigns use sophisticated targeted messaging to directly ‘nudge’ behaviour and shape the culture of specific groups. By targeting people using micro-level behavioural, personal-interest, and location-based data, influence campaigns aim to employ insights from behavioural psychology to prevent crime at a distance. We theorise this with an analysis of a dataset of more than 12,000 adverts and in-depth fieldwork with a dedicated police strategic communications team. Influence policing provides law enforcement with new capacities to craft and manicure hidden digital encounters with targeted publics, raising questions its democratic character and police accountability
Exploration of student nurses' perceptions towards individuals with opiod use disorders in Scotland: A mixed method investigation
Get PDFWorldwide, an opioid epidemic continues to escalate. While the scientific community has recognized substance use disorders as a biophysiological disease, society continues to view addiction as a social problem and not a medical one. Individuals with opioid use disorders have been stigmatized and negatively characterized as morally weak and defective. Previous studies reveal that these negative attitudes often prevail among nurses and that nurses report dissatisfaction and a lack of education preparation to care for this increasing worldwide population. While studies have been conducted in countries with high incidences of opioid deaths, Scotland, a country faced with significantly high opioid related deaths, has not investigated student nurses’ perceptions of individuals with opioid use disorders. Purpose and Design: This mixed-method explanatory sequential investigation sought to explore pre-registration nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes and stigma towards individuals with opioid use disorders in Scotland. The objectives of this study were to measure pre-registration nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes, and stigma towards individuals with opioid use disorders and explore relationships among any variables. Results/Conclusion: Study participants demonstrated the need for increased knowledge, and improved attitudes towards individuals with opioid use disorders. While stigma was evident, the qualitative findings showcased that participants were empathic, compassionate, non-judgmental and willing to care for individuals with opioid use disorders. Further inquiry should explore the role of empathy-based training and experience with individuals with opioid use disorders to reduce mortality and morbidity in this escalating population worldwide
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