124 research outputs found
The effects of a lean transition on process times, patients and employees
No full textPurpose - Treatment delays must be avoided, especially in oncology, to assure sustainable high-quality health care and increase the odds of survival. The purpose of this paper is to hypothesize that waiting times would decrease and patients and employees would benefit, when specific lean interventions are incorporated in an organizational improvement approach. Design/methodology/approach - In 2013, 15 lean interventions were initiated to improve flow in a single radiotherapy institute. Process/waiting times, patient satisfaction, safety, employee satisfaction, and absenteeism were evaluated using a mixed methods methodology (2010-2014). Data from databases, surveys, and interviews were analyzed by time series analysis, chi(2), multi-level regression, and t-tests. Findings - Median waiting/process times improved from 20.2 days in 2012 to 16.3 days in 2014 (p Originality/value - Combining specific lean interventions with an organizational improvement approach improved waiting times, patient safety, employee satisfaction, and absenteeism on the short term. Continuing evaluation of effects should study the improvements sustainability
The Impact of Name-Matching and Blocking on Author Disambiguation
No full textIn this work, we address the problem of blocking in the context of author name disambiguation. We describe a framework that formalizes different ways of name-matching to determine which names could potentially refer to the same author. We focus on name variations that follow from specifying a name with different completeness (i.e. full first name or only initial). We extend this framework by a simple way to define traditional, new and custom blocking schemes. Then, we evaluate different old and new schemes in the Web of Science. In this context we define and compare a new type of blocking schemes. Based on these results, we discuss the question whether name-matching can be used in blocking evaluation as a replacement of annotated author identifiers. Finally, we argue that blocking can have a strong impact on the application and evaluation of author disambiguation
‘Born to Shop’: Malls, Dream-Worlds and Capitalism
No full textIt has been twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and a new generation, untouched by the previous communist regimes, has come to adulthood throughout the post-communist world. The Iulius Group’s logo – ‘Born to shop!’ – suggests that these are born shoppers: the capitalist babies of Central and Eastern Europe who are sustaining the largest growth in retail and shopping malls in Europe. With no living memory of shortages, queuing, or government restrictions, they know only the limit of their own – or their parents’ – pocket/credit. Their world could not be more different from the one that their parents and grandparents experienced: both the abundance of goods and services, as well as the opulent settings under which they are now sold, offer striking visual contrasts to the not-so-distant past. In addition, the very experience of consumption is directly connected to the way in which the current social fabric – and new social divisions within it – is interwoven with the physical and architectural changes taking place in the urban setting
A construção do conhecimento pedagógico do conteúdo na docência em fisioterapia : um estudo de caso
No full textTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Florianópolis, 2015Este estudo de caso compõe parte da investigação da prática do docente fisioterapeuta experimentado (mais de 15 anos de atuação docente) que atua na formação do fisioterapeuta para a Atenção Primária à Saúde. O referencial teórico norteador escolhido foi o de Lee Shulman. Este autor coloca que o bom docente domina tanto o conhecimento do conteúdo quanto o conhecimento pedagógico, que unidos compõe o Conhecimento Pedagógico do Conteúdo que é expresso na prática do bom docente, comum a docentes experimentados. Nesta perspectiva esta investigação apresenta os resultados obtidos por meio de Entrevista Autobiográfica realizada no ano letivo de 2014 em Instituição de Ensino Superior Federal Pública. O objetivo foi conhecer os momentos que constituem a formação profissional do docente fisioterapeuta que atua na formação para a Atenção Primária à Saúde e sua relação com as Fontes do Conhecimento Pedagógico do Conteúdo. Com base na narrativa da participante do estudo de caso, os resultados foram organizados nas categorias: A prática que outorga a sabedoria, A formação para a prática docente, Formação no conteúdo da Atenção Primária à Saúde, Implicações da vida pessoal e familiar à vida profissional na docência, Reflexões sobre sua formação docente, modificações e enfrentamentos no percurso. A análise confirmou a presença da maioria das Fontes do Conhecimento Pedagógico do Conteúdo. Porém, foi identificada a ausência da fonte Formação acadêmica na disciplina a ensinar, o que revelou outras fontes como o autodidatismo e o compartilhamento de saberes com outros colegas docentes. Além destes resultados pode-se observar que essa metodologia e referencial teórico contribuem para a formação do próprio participante da pesquisa (re)significando sua experiência e prática.Abstract: This case study consists of the research of experienced physiotherapist teaching practice (over 15 years of teaching practice) that acts in the formation of the physiotherapist for Primary Care. The chosen guiding theoretical framework was to Lee Shulman. This author states that the good teacher dominates both knowledge of the content and pedagogical knowledge, which together make up the Pedagogical Content Knowledge that is expressed in the practice of teaching85good, common to experienced teachers. In this perspective this research presents the results obtained by Autobiographical Interview conducted in academic year 2014 Institution of Public Federal Higher Education. The objective was to know the moments that make up the professional education of physiotherapists teacher engaged in training for primary health care and its relationship to the Pedagogical Content Knowledge Sources. Based on the narrative of the case study participants, the results were organized in categories: Practice which gives wisdom, Training for teaching, training in the content of Primary Care Implications of personal and family life to professional life teaching, reflections on their teaching training, modifications and confrontations along the way. The analysis confirmed the presence of most of the Pedagogical Content Knowledge Sources. However, we identified the absence of Education source in the subject to be taught, which revealed other sources such as self-learning and sharing knowledge with other teacher's colleagues. In addition to these results, we note that this methodology and theoretical framework contribute to the formation of own research participant (re) meaning your experience and practice
Safer radiation therapy treatment resulting from an equipment transition: A mixed-methods study
No full textTo realize individualized safe radiation therapy, reliable treatment equipment is essential in combination with a system-level improvement approach. We hypothesized that implementation of a system that integrated all required treatment equipment would result in improved safety and stability of the irradiation treatment process.Seven accelerators, portal imaging, and the treatment planning software were replaced by an integrated system that included 6 accelerators. The number of reported safety incidents and root causes were recorded between 2010 and 2014. Time series analysis was performed, and quantitative results were explored by structured interviews. Additionally, downtime was recorded.From January 2010 to July 2014, 5085 incidents were reported. Reports related to the accelerators decreased from 33% (2010) to 20% (2013-2014) of total reports, whereas the number of delivered fractions per accelerator increased by 20% (2010: 643 per month; 2013: 795 per month). Reports related to portal imaging decreased from 16.5 reports per month (2010) to 3.1 (2013-2014). Of these portal imaging reports, 316 had at least 1 technical cause in 2010, which decreased to 13 in 2013-2014. Interviewees attributed the decreased reporting to the equipment transition, not to decreased safety awareness. Downtime decreased by 46%, from 5.4% in 2010 to 2.9% in 2013.The number of reported accelerator- and portal imaging-related incidents decreased significantly, whereas safety awareness remained stable. In addition, accelerator downtime decreased, possibly resulting in less rescheduling of patients and fewer disruptions of work processes. Therefore, we conclude that the risk for serious safety incidents and patient harm decreased after implementation of the new integrated system
Tutoria em um curso de educação a distância: contribuições à formação stricto sensu em enfermagem
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Florianópolis, 2014.A educação a distância é uma modalidade tecnológica e inovadora, a qual vem sendo intensamente utilizada nos cursos de atualização, graduação e pós-graduação, porém ainda são poucos os estudos sobre essa realidade na Enfermagem brasileira. Esse estudo teve como objetivo compreender como a atividade de tutoria de um curso em Educação a Distância contribui à formação profissional de enfermeiros estudantes de pós-graduação stricto sensu. O referencial teórico utilizado foi o autor Paulo Freire. Pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, caracterizada como um estudo de caso único. A coleta de dados ocorreu em dezembro de 2013, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, realizadas com 17 (dezessete) enfermeiros, que eram tutores de um curso de especialização a distância e alunos de pós-graduação stricto sensu de uma universidade do Sul do Brasil. Após a análise dos dados emergiram três categorias, sendo estas: 1)A prática tutorial, que engloba três subcategorias: Papel do tutor e as atividades desenvolvidas, Abordagens e metodologias utilizadas pelo tutor, Avaliação dos estudantes realizada pelo tutor; 2) Conhecimentos e habilidades necessários ao tutor; e a categoria 3) Contribuições da prática tutorial para a formação stricto sensu, que engloba quatro subcategorias: Reflexão crítica sobre a prática como tutor, Exercício da tutoria no desenvolvimento do Pós-graduando, Tutoria como auxílio para a construção docente, A prática dialógica tutor-aluno no ambiente virtual de aprendizagem. São poucos os estudos, que trazem a realidade da educação a distância na área da enfermagem, sendo necessárias pesquisas, que possam aprimorar metodologias pedagógicas específicas para o processo de ensino e aprendizagem em cursos para formação e qualificação nessa modalidade. Foi possível observar que as atividades tutoriais trouxeram contribuições para o processo de formação de mestres e doutores. Seria interessante que os programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu em enfermagem oferecessem instrumentalização sobre as especificidades desse processo de ensino e aprendizagem aos seus estudantes.Abstract : Distance education is a technological and innovative modality, which has been extensively used in refresher courses, undergraduate and graduate, but there are few studies about the reality of Brazilian Nursing. This study aimed to understand how the activity of tutoring a course in Distance Education contributes to the professional development of student nurses graduate stricto sensu. The theoretical framework used was the author Paulo Freire. Qualitative research approach characterized as a single case study. Data collection occurred in December 2013, through semi-structured interviews with 17 nurses, which are tutors of a specialization course and distance students graduate of stricto sensu in university in southern Brazil. After analyzing the data emerged three categories, which are: 1) A practical tutorial, which includes three subcategories: The role of the tutor and developed activities, Approaches and methodologies used by the tutor, Student Assessment conducted by the tutor; 2) knowledge and skills needed to tutor; and category 3) Contributions of practical tutorial for training stricto sensu, which includes four subcategories: Critical reflection on practice as a tutor, Exercise tutoring in the development of post -graduate student, tutoring aid for teaching construction, dialogic practice tutor -student in the virtual learning environment. Few studies that bring the reality of distance education in nursing, being necessary research that can improve specific teaching methods in the process of teaching and learning in courses for training and qualification in this modality. It was observed that the tutorial activities brought contributions to the process of training masters and doctors. It would be interesting programs for post- graduate studies in nursing offered instrumentation on the specifics of the teaching and learning process for their students
Rhetorical Monstrosity and Female Agency in Adelaida García Morales’s El Sur
No full textThis article examines the role of Gothic monstrosity in the establishment of female agency in Adelaida García Morales\u27s 1985 novella El Sur, drawing connections between the post-Civil War setting of the text and García Morales\u27s perspective as a Transition-era author. Throughout the novella, the mother character uses rhetoric as a powerful tool to create and manipulate the monster image that she projects onto her husband, Rafael. El Sur ultimately speaks to feminist concerns of a loss of power in Franco\u27s patriarchal dictatorship: by allowing her protagonist and the other female characters to regain control through the use of the monstrous (and, in the protagonist\u27s case, through the acceptance of her own inner monster), García Morales represents the surge in feminism in Spain during the post-Franco period, at the same time expressing a certain amount of anxiety over the possibility of losing this newly found political voice
Privacy enhancing technologies : protocol verification, implementation and specification
No full textIn this thesis, we present novel methods for verifying, implementing and specifying protocols. In particular, we focus properties modeling data protection and the protection of privacy. In the first part of the thesis, the author introduces protocol verification and presents a model for verification that encompasses so-called Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs. These ZK proofs are a cryptographic primitive that is particularly suited for hiding information and hence serves the protection of privacy. The here presented model gives a list of criteria which allows the transfer of verification results from the model to the implementation if the criteria are met by the implementation. In particular, the criteria are less demanding than the ones of previous work regarding ZK proofs. The second part of the thesis contributes to the area of protocol implementations. Hereby, ZK proofs are used in order to improve multi-party computations. The third and last part of the thesis explains a novel approach for specifying data protection policies. Instead of relying on policies, this approach relies on actual legislation. The advantage of relying on legislation is that often a fair balancing is introduced which is typically not contained in regulations or policies.In dieser Arbeit werden neue Methoden zur Verifikation, Implementierung und Spezifikation im von Protokollen vorgestellt. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt dabei auf Datenschutz-Eigenschaften und dem Schutz der Privatsph¨are. Im ersten Teil dieser Arbeit geht der Author auf die Protokoll- Verifikation ein und stellt ein Modell zur Verifikation vor, dass sogenannte Zero-Knowledge (ZK) Beweise enth¨alt. Diese ZK Beweise sind ein kryptographisches primitiv, dass insbesondere zum Verstecken von Informationen geeignet ist und somit zum Schutz der Privatsph¨are dient. Das hier vorgestellte Modell gibt eine Liste von Kriterien, welche eine Implementierung der genutzten kryptographischen Primitive erf¨ullen muss, damit die verifikationen im Modell sich auf Implementierungen ¨ubertragen lassen. In Bezug auf ZK Beweise sind diese Kriterien sch¨acher als die vorangegangener Arbeiten. Der zweite Teil der Arbeit wendet sich der Implementierung von Protokollen zu. Hierbei werden dann ZK Beweise verwendet um sichere Mehrparteienberechnungen zu verbessern. Im dritten und letzten Teil der Arbeit wird eine neuartige Art der Spezifikation von Datenschutz-Richtlinien erl¨autert. Diese geht nicht von Richtlinien aus, sondern von der Rechtsprechung. Der Vorteil ist, dass in der Rechtsprechung konkrete Abw¨agungen getroffen werden, die Gesetze und Richtlinien nicht enthalten
On the Evolution of (Hateful) Memes by Means of Multimodal Contrastive Learning
No full textThe dissemination of hateful memes online has adverse effects on social media platforms and the real world. Detecting hateful memes is challenging, one of the reasons being the evolutionary nature of memes; new hateful memes can emerge by fusing hateful connotations with other cultural ideas or symbols. In this paper, we propose a framework that leverages multimodal contrastive learning models, in particular OpenAI's CLIP, to identify targets of hateful content and systematically investigate the evolution of hateful memes. We find that semantic regularities exist in CLIP-generated embeddings that describe semantic relationships within the same modality (images) or across modalities (images and text). Leveraging this property, we study how hateful memes are created by combining visual elements from multiple images or fusing textual information with a hateful image. We demonstrate the capabilities of our framework for analyzing the evolution of hateful memes by focusing on antisemitic memes, particularly the Happy Merchant meme. Using our framework on a dataset extracted from 4chan, we find 3.3K variants of the Happy Merchant meme, with some linked to specific countries, persons, or organizations. We envision that our framework can be used to aid human moderators by flagging new variants of hateful memes so that moderators can manually verify them and mitigate the problem of hateful content online.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Organisation & Governanc
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