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Research has demonstrated girls to outperform boys on conventional literacy tests. The present studies concern gender differences on computerised educational tests. Seventy-one children were tested using LASS Secondary and a set of seven conventional measures. No significant gender differences were found on any of the LASS Secondary modules, although females did outperform males on a conventional spelling test. A further 126 pupils were tested on computerised and paper versions of the LASS Secondary reading, spelling and reasoning modules. No gender differences were found on the computerised versions, but there were significant differences on the paper versions of the reading and spelling modules favouring females. In a third study, 45 children were administered computerised and paper versions of the LASS Junior reading and spelling modules. There were no significant differences on the computerised modules, but girls performed significantly higher than boys on the paper version of the spelling module. It is possible that computerised assessment does not detect the established gender effect due to differences between males and females in motivation, computer experience and competitiveness. Further large-scale studies are necessary to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: In deep learning, a major difficulty in identifying suicidality and its risk factors in clinical notes is the lack of training samples given the small number of true positive instances among the number of patients screened. This paper describes a novel methodology that identifies suicidality in clinical notes by addressing this data sparsity issue through zero‐shot learning. Our general aim was to develop a tool that leveraged zero‐shot learning to effectively identify suicidality documentation in all types of clinical notes. Methods: US Veterans Affairs clinical notes served as data. The training data set label was determined using diagnostic codes of suicide attempt and self‐harm. We used a base string associated with the target label of suicidality to provide auxiliary information by narrowing the positive training cases to those containing the base string. We trained a deep neural network by mapping the training documents' contents to a semantic space. For comparison, we trained another deep neural network using the identical training data set labels, and bag‐of‐words features. Results: The zero‐shot learning model outperformed the baseline model in terms of area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value at multiple probability thresholds. In applying a 0.90 probability threshold, the methodology identified notes documenting suicidality but not associated with a relevant ICD‐10‐CM code, with 94% accuracy. Conclusion: This method can effectively identify suicidality without manual annotation. Key points: Due to data sparsity, suicidality documentation is difficult to identify in clinical notes. Zero‐shot learning addresses the data sparsity issue. Zero‐shot learning enables identification of suicidality and its risks in clinical notes, and associated patients, where no diagnostic code relevant to suicide or self‐harm has been recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workplace digitalisation is a pervasive phenomenon associated to an increase in wage differentials between occupations. This paper analyses the relationship between computer use and pay for performance, whose incidence has also followed a positive growth pattern. More concretely, we examined three pay‐for‐performance schemes: productivity/piece rate, team and firm pay for performance. We also investigated the mediating role of job design in this relationship. The complementarity framework perspective and the economic theory of incentives were the theoretical approaches applied in the development of hypotheses. Data from four waves of the European Working Conditions Survey were used in the empirical analyses. A positive association was found between computer use and the three pay for performance schemes considered, particularly team and firm pay for performance. The results also indicated that this relationship was partially explained by changes in job design due to computerisation, such as higher job complexity, on‐the‐job training and teamwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The performance of backhaul networks is the major concern for internet service providers, cloud service providers, and data centers for redundancy and reliability. With the integration of new data communication technologies, the system should be more smart and intelligent to handle data traffic coming from new networks like 5G. This new 5G standard provides connectivity among devices where all the traffic is handled by backbone and backhaul networks. The devices and nodes need multiple interfaces, but the TCP/IP standard uses a single path per connection for data communication. This limitation leads to the degradation of network performance and communication failures. There is a need to enhance data throughput and performance by using available paths and interfaces. Multipath Transport Control Protocol (MTCP) is one of the advanced extension of the TCP/IP standard for using available interfaces. This paper proposed an MTCP based infrastructure for 5G networks to handle all the coming data from these networks and provide fast reliable data handling. The proposed infrastructure is evaluated in simulation to check its performance with existing standards. The results indicate that the proposed infrastructure is minimizing the convergence time in case of any failure in the main path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues Serious educational games ( SEG) have been shown to be effective in educating young people about a range of topics, including languages and maths. This paper identifies the use of computerised SEGs in education about alcohol and other drugs and reviews their impact on the prevention of alcohol and drug use. Approach The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, ERIC, Scopus, psychINFO, pubMED and DRUG databases were searched in February 2013. Additional publications were obtained from the reference lists of the relevant papers. Studies were included if they described an evaluation of a computerised SEG that targeted alcohol and/or other drugs and had been trialled with adolescents. Key Findings Eight SEGs were identified targeting tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, methamphetamine, ecstasy, inhalants, cocaine and opioids. Six reported positive outcomes in terms of increased content knowledge and two reported increased negative attitudes towards the targeted drugs. Only one reported a decrease in the frequency of drug use. Implications and Conclusion This is the first review of the efficacy of computerised SEGs for alcohol and other drugs for adolescents. Results suggest that SEGs can increase content knowledge of alcohol and other drugs. Evidence concerning impacts on negative attitudes and alcohol and drug use is limited, with few studies examining these outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed whether data-collection formats, computerized versus paper-and-pencil, affect response patterns and descriptive statistics for adolescent health assessment surveys. Youth were assessed as part of a health risk reduction program. Methods: Baseline data from 1131 youth were analyzed. Participants completed the questionnaire either by computer (n = 390) or by paper-and-pencil (n = 741). Results: The rate of returned surveys meeting inclusion requirements was 90.6% and did not differ by methods. However, the computerized method resulted in significantly less incompleteness but more identical responses. Multiple regression indicated that the survey methods did not contribute to problematic responses. The two survey methods yielded similar scale internal reliability and descriptive statistics for behavioral and psychological outcomes, although the computerized method elicited higher reports of some risk items such as carrying a knife, beating up a person, selling drugs, and delivering drugs. Conclusions: Overall, the survey method did not produce a significant difference in outcomes. This provides support for program personnel selecting survey methods based on study goals with confidence that the method of administration will not have a significant impact on the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether computerized dynamic testing by utilizing a robot would lead to different patterns in children's (aged 6–9 years) potential for learning and strategy use when solving series‐completion tasks. The robot, in a "Wizard of Oz" setting, provided instructions and prompts during dynamic testing. It was found that a dynamic training resulted in greater accuracy and more correctly placed pieces at the post‐test than repeated testing only. Moreover, children who were dynamically trained appeared to use more heuristic strategies at the post‐test than their peers who were not trained. In general, observations showed that children were excited to work with the robot. All in all, the study revealed that computerized dynamic testing by means of a robot has much potential in tapping into children's potential for learning and strategy use. The implications of using a robot in educational assessment were stressed further in the discussion. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: ○Computerized dynamic testing provides information on children's potential for learning.○Computerized testing can be of help in the fine‐tuning of assessment outcomes.What this paper adds: ○Dynamic testing with a peer/table robot provides information on children's potential for learning.○Dynamic testing and training by a peer robot results in greater accuracy in solving an inductive reasoning task than repeated testing only.○Dynamically trained children show a more advanced use of analytic task solving than their peers who were not trained by a peer robot.○Dynamic testing with a peer/table robot provides detailed, step‐by‐step information regarding children's need for instruction during assessment.○Children were very eager to work with the peer/table robot. Implications for practice and/or policy: ○Detailed assessment information derived from dynamic testing may be more suitable to inform education.○Computerized testing with a peer/table provides a motivating testing environment for children who can work independently, in their own tempo, on a task.○In future, a peer/table robot may be of help in teaching/assessment situations in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: With the rapid development of computer software and hardware technology and network technology, aiming at the limitations of the traditional image compression standards and the deficiencies of the existing computer desktop image compression methods. By analyzing the characteristics of computer desktop image, according to the characteristics of desktop compression, a compression scheme based on high efficiency video coding (HEVC) and color clustering is proposed, which divides blocks into text/graphics blocks, natural image blocks and mixed blocks based on the features of histogram information and texture information of blocks. In block division and classification, an adaptive dynamic block classification algorithm is proposed which is different from the traditional block partitioning. Compared with the traditional method, the new block classification algorithm can save the code stream and improve the classification accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern information technology offers efficiencies in medical practice, with a reduction in secretarial time in maintaining, filing and retrieving the paper medical record. Electronic requesting of investigations allows tracking of outstanding results. Less storage space is required and telephone calls from pharmacies, pathology and medical imaging service providers to clarify the hand-written request are abolished. Voice recognition software reduces secretarial typing time per letter. These combined benefits can lead to significantly reduced costs and improved patient care. The paperless office is possible, but requires commitment and training of all staff; it is preferable but not absolutely essential that at least one member of the practice has an interest and some expertise in computers. More importantly, back-up from information technology providers and back-up of the electronic data are absolutely crucial and a paperless environment should not be considered without them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Concept mapping has been applied in a variety of fields, including instruction, learning, curriculum development, and assessment. Because many empirical studies have proven the validity of concept mapping, a computer-based concept mapping system has been developed. The system provides two learning environments. In the ‘construct-by-self’ environment, the system provides students with the evaluation results and corresponding hints for feedback. The students construct concept maps by themselves with only the assistance of the feedback. In the ‘construct-on-scaffold’ environment, in addition to the feedback, the students receive an incomplete concept map, within which some nodes and links were set as blanks for the scaffold. A study comparing the effectiveness of the ‘construct-by-self’, ‘construct-on-scaffold’, and ‘construct by paper-and-pencil’ concept mapping showed that the ‘construct-on-scaffold’ had better effect for learning on biology. Both of the two computer-based procedures are helpful for students in completing their concept maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental trauma in children and adolescents is a common problem, and the prevalence of these injuries has increased in the last 10-20 years. A dental injury should always be considered an emergency and, thus, be treated immediately to relieve pain, facilitate reduction of displaced teeth, reconstruct lost hard tissue, and improve prognosis. Rational therapy depends upon a correct diagnosis, which can be achieved with the aid of various examination techniques. It must be understood that an incomplete examination can lead to inaccurate diagnosis and less successful treatment. Good knowledge of traumatology and models of treatments can also reduce stress and anxiety for both the patient and the dental team. Knowledge-based Systems (KBS) are a practical implementation of Artificial Intelligence. In complex domains which humans find difficult to understand, KBS can assist in making decisions and can also add knowledge. The aim of this paper is to describe the structure of a knowledge-based system for structured examination, diagnosis and therapy for traumatised primary and permanent teeth. A commercially available program was used as developmental tool for the programming (XpertRule, Attar, London, UK). The paper presents a model for a computerised decision support system for traumatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike most other health conditions, the treatment of mental illness relies on subjective measurement. In addition, the criteria for diagnosing mental illnesses are based on broad categories of symptoms that do not account for individual deviations from these criteria. The increasing availability of personal digital devices, such as smartphones that are equipped with sensors, offers a new opportunity to continuously and passively measure human behavior in situ. This promises to lead to more precise assessment of human behavior and ultimately individual mental health. More refined modeling of individual mental health and a consideration of individual context, assessed through continuous monitoring, opens the way for more precise and personalized digital interventions that may help increase the number of positive clinical outcomes in mental healthcare. In this paper, we provide a conceptual review of such techniques for measuring, modeling, and treating mental illness and maintaining mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual cells migrate toward the direction of the cell polarity generated by interior or exterior factors. Under situations without guides such as chemoattractants, they migrate randomly. On the other hand, it has been observed that cell groups lead to systematic collective cell migrations. For example, Dictyostelium discoideum and Madin-Darby canine kidney (epithelial) cells exhibit typical collective cell migration patterns such as uniformly directional migration and rotational migration. In particular, it has been suggested from experimental investigations that rotational migrations are intimately related to morphogenesis of organs and tissues in several species. Thus, it is conjectured that collective cell migrations are controlled by universal mechanisms of cells. In this paper, we review actual experimental data related to collective cell migrations on dishes and show that our self-propelled particle model based on the cell polarity can accurately represent actual migration behaviors. Furthermore, we show that collective cell migration modes observed in our model are robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a system designed to enable comprehensive geriatric assessment to be performed at distant locations. A structured assessment incorporating the interRAI Acute Care assessment tool is administered by a specifically trained nurse assessor onsite. Data are entered and processed by web-based software that incorporates a clinical decision support system. It enables a geriatrician to review and report the assessment online. The assessment and report can be viewed by authorised clinicians inside and outside the hospital via the Internet. The system can also be used to support in person geriatric consultation and whole of episode ward-based geriatric care. Preliminary evaluation suggests the system to be reliable, safe, efficient and appealing to clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Person-to-person psychosocial interventions (e.g., psychological, social) enhance the well-being of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients. Computerized care, though, represents an opportunity to further capitalize on techniques that have already been deemed effective. This includes the provision of tailored, effective patient education; reducing device-specific anxiety; and enhancing social support networks. The aim of this paper is to identify the ways in which computerized psychosocial care could potentially enhance the well-being of ICD recipients. For example, computers may be particularly adept at providing patient education due to the ease in which content can be adapted to meet patient needs. Further, evidenced-based treatments for anxiety and depression (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy) have demonstrated good applicability to computerized formats. Social support can also be provided online in the form of bulletin boards, email list-servs, or structured online support groups. Despite the existence of some limitations, the use of computers in affecting psychosocial outcomes in implantable defibrillator recipients warrants greater attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the views of initial teacher trainees on various components of their training in the use of new technology to teach their subject. The research focused on trainees' reflections on their experiences of trying to ‘get better’ at information and communication technology (ICT) in the course of their training. Data collection involved baseline and follow-up questionnaire surveys of trainees' attitudes to the use of ICT in subject teaching and the factors that they felt had hindered or promoted their development in the use of ICT, and focus group interviews with small groups of trainees. In spite of the importance attached to this facet of initial training, and significant investment in terms of time and training materials and resources, there is evidence to suggest that much of this investment is not found to be helpful by trainees. In particular, there appears to be a danger that they have simply been overwhelmed with information about the use of ICT to such an extent that they do not feel that they can realistically be expected to engage with many of the materials that have been produced. In addition to ascertaining trainees' views on strategies and interventions that they did not find helpful, the data identify some key factors and moments that trainees felt had a major impact on their progress in the use of ICT. The outcomes of the enquiry reveal clear preferences among trainees for modes of working with ICT, and in terms of the experiences that they felt had impacted on their ability to use ICT in their subject teaching. The concluding section of the paper considers the ways in which trainees' induction into the use of new technology might be made more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Increasing use of computers by children has raised concerns over the potential impact on their cognitive, social, educational, visual and physical development. Despite this concern, there are no large-scale studies relating the use of computers to specific health indicators in children as they reach school age. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 1600 5-year-old Western Australian children participating in a longitudinal cohort study was conducted to ascertain their computer use, other activities (watching television and videos, playing electronic games, reading and looking at books, drawing on paper and moderate to vigorous physical activity), and specific health indicators. Results More than half (56%) of the children used computers each week. Computer use was significantly related to TV viewing (OR 1.97 weekday) and electronic game use (console games OR 2.48 weekday, 1.81 weekend; hand-held games OR 1.88 weekend) and negatively associated with vigorous physical activity on weekends (OR 0.72). Computer use was also significantly related to socio-economic indicators such as the mother being older (40+ years, OR 1.70 weekend, 1.73 weekday), tertiary educated (OR 1.63 weekend) and studying (OR 1.52 weekend, 1.41 weekday). Almost 1% children were reported to have complained of tired or sore muscles, and 2.2% had complained of tired or sore eyes, after watching television or using a computer. Conclusion A substantial proportion of 5-year-old Western Australian children are using computers. Computer use was related to other sedentary activities and less vigorous activity. While musculoskeletal and vision problems are not widespread, their presence and the sedentary nature of computer use is of public health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are widely used in nutritional epidemiology but no papers detail the development of the supporting programs and nutritional databases. The principles involved in data collection, processing and treatment of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer Study (EPIC)-Norfolk Study FFQ and development of the structure and content of the Compositional Analyses from Frequency Estimates (CAFE) program for calculating nutrient intakes are described. Extreme nutrient values and derivation of cut-points for data exclusion are also discussed.The FFQ was sent to 25 637 participants. To exclude extreme (nonphysiological) outliers of nutrient intakes, the extreme top and bottom 0.5% of the ratio of energy intake to estimated basal metabolic rate was used.The CAFE computer program modifies nutrient intake according to specific fats used in food preparation and the amount of visible fat on meat. It incorporates different breakfast cereals and distinguishes between text for brands and types. After exclusion of outliers of nutrient intake some extreme values remained for energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat and alcohol, because of high reported frequencies of certain foods.The features of CAFE include flexible, updateable, databases and a novel method for matching text. The effect of extreme nutrient values on the accuracy of the FFQ in estimating diet in nutritional epidemiology should be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To understand the use, functionality and interoperability of laboratory information management systems (LIMS) in UK transfusion laboratories. Background: LIMS are widely used to support safe transfusion practice. LIMS have the potential to reduce the risk of laboratory error using algorithms, flags and alerts that support compliance with best practice guidelines and regulatory standards. Reporting to Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT), the United Kingdom (UK) haemovigilance scheme, has identified cases where the LIMS could have prevented errors but did not. Shared care of patients across different organisations and the development of pathology networks has raised challenges relating to interoperability of IT systems both within, and between, organisations. Methods and Materials: A survey was distributed to all SHOT‐reporting organisations to understand the current state of LIMS in the UK, prevalence of expertise in transfusion IT, and barriers to progress. Survey questions covered LIMS interoperability with other IT systems used in the healthcare setting. Results: A variety of LIMS and version numbers are in use in transfusion laboratories, LIMS are not always updated due to resource constraints. Respondents identified interoperability and improved functionality as the main requirements for transfusion safety. Conclusion: A nationally agreed set of minimum standards for transfusion LIMS is required for safe practice. Adequate resources, training and expertise should be provided to support the effective use and timely updates of LIMS. A single LIMS solution should be in place for transfusion laboratories working within a network and interoperability with other systems should be explored to further improve practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A version of the Geriatric Mental State Schedule developed for the microcomputer is described and compared to the usual paper version of the questionnaire. The advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques are discussed. A feasibility study of the microcomputer-administered questionnaire is described. A shortened version of the Geriatric Mental State Schedule (version A) is administered to a number of geriatric patients attending psychogeriatric day hospitals. The study compares the microcomputer-administered with the pencil-and-paper questionnaire. Two raters administer the questionnaire using the two techniques to a group of patients and the reliability is evaluated by comparing the correlation coefficients for the scores obtained on the questionnaire, as well as by evaluating Cohen's kappa statistic. The correlation results show that there is significant positive correlation between the paper and the microcomputer-administered questionnaire. However, the kappa values comparing diagnoses obtained with the AGECAT program are not high and reasons for this are discussed. Further developments of the system, including an authoring program (QUESTLAN) for such questionnaires and the use of portable microcomputers in the community, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a computer model of periodontal breakdown based on 1/f noise. The model is multifactorial and simulates the disease advancing with age in bursts and remissions, as seen in previous epidemiologic studies. Changing the weight of some parameters changed the simulated periodontal breakdown dramatically, disclosing antagonistic and synergistic effects between the causal factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased dependence on computers in safety critical industries means increased dependence on a smaller number of people-both the users of computer systems, and those responsible for their design and production. Reliability and integrity of such systems can be enhanced without large overall increases in costs by looking critically at the human-computer interaction early in the design phase. In this paper, a selection of human factors principles are applied to safety critical system design. This includes making systems easier to learn to use, reducing alarm overload, matching the design of menus to the task, consistency and modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In communicating information about geometric figures, one drawing may be worth many hundreds of words and, therefore, visualisation aids for complicated three-dimensional (3-D) solid objects are very helpful for both teacher and students. This paper describes the use of the Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) to visualise 3-D objects for middle school geometry classes in a networked environment and shows its usefulness for both teacher and students. In class, the teachers use VRML objects retrieved from their server and students are allowed to explore these objects accessing the teachers' server via the world-wide web. A comparison of the test results from VRML-based geometry classes and traditional classes, that solely depend on verbal explanation with paper and pencil, show that the application of VRML-based 3-D objects has a positive affect on students' learning of geometric topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Because the etiology and outcomes of birth defects may differ by the presence vs. absence of co‐occurring anomalies, epidemiologic studies often attempt to classify cases into isolated versus non‐isolated groupings. This report describes a computer algorithm for such classification and presents results using data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR). Methods: Each of the 1,041 birth defects coded by the TBDR was classified as chromosomal, syndromic, minor, or "needs review" by a group of three clinical geneticists. A SAS program applied those classifications to each birth defect in a case (child/fetus), and then hierarchically combined them to obtain one summary classification for each case, adding isolated and multiple defect categories. The program was applied to 136,121 cases delivered in 2012–2017. Results: Of total cases, 49% were classified by the platform as isolated (having only one major birth defect). This varied widely by birth defect; of those examined, the highest proportion classified as isolated was found in pyloric stenosis (87.6%), whereas several cardiovascular malformations had low proportions, including tricuspid valve atresia/stenosis (2.3%). Discussion: This is one of the first and largest attempts to identify the proportion of isolated cases across a broad spectrum of birth defects, which can inform future epidemiologic and genomic studies of these phenotypes. Our approach is designed for easy modification for use with any birth defects coding system and category definitions, allowing scalability for different studies or birth defects registries, which often do not have resources for individual clinical review of all case records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent researchers have shown that deep neural networks (DNNs) are vulnerable to adversarial exemplars, making them unsuitable for security‐critical applications. Transferability of adversarial examples is crucial for attacking black‐box models, which facilitates adversarial attacks in more practical scenarios. We propose a novel adversarial attack with high transferability. Unlike existing attacks that directly modify the input pixels, our attack is executed in the feature space. More specifically, we corrupt the abstract features by maximizing the feature distance between the adversarial example and clean images with a perceptual similarity network, inducing model misclassification. In addition, we apply a spectral transformation to the input, thus narrowing the search space in the frequency domain to enhance the transferability of adversarial examples. The disruption of crucial features in a specific frequency component achieves greater transferability. Extensive evaluations illustrate that our approach is easily compatible with many existing frameworks for transfer attacks and can significantly improve the baseline performance of black‐box attacks. Moreover, we can obtain a higher fooling rate even if the model has a defense technique. We achieve a maximum black‐box fooling rate of 61.70% on the defense model. Our work indicates that existing pixel space defense techniques are difficult to guarantee the robustness of the feature space, and the feature space from a frequency perspective is promising for developing more robust models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weight‐for‐age (WFA) growth faltering often precedes severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children, yet it is often missed during routine growth monitoring. Automated interpretation of WFA growth within electronic health records could expedite the identification of children at risk of SAM. This study aimed to develop an automated screening tool to predict SAM risk from WFA growth, and to determine its predictive ability compared with simple changes in weight or WFA z‐score. To develop the screening tool, South African child growth experts (n = 30) rated SAM risk on 100 WFA growth curves, which were then used to train an artificial neural network (ANN) to assess SAM risk from consecutive WFA z‐scores. The ANN was validated in 185 children under five (63 SAM cases; 122 controls) using diagnostic accuracy methodology. The ANN's performance was compared with that of changes in weight or WFA z‐score. Even though experts' SAM risk ratings of the WFA growth curves differed considerably, the ANN achieved a sensitivity of 73.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 60.3; 83.4), specificity of 86.1% (95% CI: 78.6; 91.7) and receiver‐operating characteristic curve area of 0.795 (95% CI: 0.732; 0.859) during validation with real cases, outperforming changes in weight or WFA z‐scores. The ANN, as an automated screening tool, could markedly improve the identification of children at risk of SAM using routinely collected WFA growth information. Key messages: Growth faltering preceding severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is poorly identified during routine growth monitoring, and opportunities for preventative interventions are missed.Consistently identifying growth faltering is challenging, even for experts in child growth. Digitized growth monitoring tools incorporating automated pattern recognition by an artificial neural network (ANN) can assist clinicians in identifying growth faltering.In this study, an ANN was trained to identify children at risk of SAM based on weight‐for‐age growth curves, with promising results. With further refinement, the ANN could greatly improve the identification of children with growth faltering and facilitate earlier interventions to prevent SAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Second Instructional Technology in Education Study: Module 2 (SITES M2) is a series of qualitative studies that identify and describe innovative pedagogical practices in 28 participating countries that use technology. The project resulted in 174 case study reports of innovative practice that are currently being analysed. This paper describes the goals, research questions, and methodology for this study and provides a context for the other papers that are published in this issue. Given the large number of case studies, a combined qualitative and quantitative approach to the research is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper presents information about the case studies carried out in three primary and three secondary schools in England, during the school year 2000–2001. Data were collected as part of the qualitative phase of a major international research project: the Second Information Technology in Education Study (SITES). The research focused on innovative pedagogical practices involving ICT. Interviews with Headteachers and other administrators, teachers, students and parents; observations of lessons; analysis of school documents and surveys of Headteachers and ICT coordinators provided rich sources. Themes common to the case studies in England are identified and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract How does ICT integration in learning processes depend on the support or lack of support from local authorities? Data from the SITES M2 case studies sheds light on how Danish schools attempted to meet the ‘Act on the Folkeskole’ regarding the integration of ICT in all subjects. This paper draws on the school's perspective based on interviews with the Principals, teachers and ICT coordinators, and the schools' ICT plans and strategies. The schools' perspective is then seen in relationship to the respective municipalities, ICT strategies and national ICT policy in a discussion of the implications of ICT integration on the decentralised Danish folkeskole system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are on the rise, but access to care remains a challenge. Immigrants and racialized communities including Chinese Canadians experience high level of access barriers including communication with clinicians. With the aim to facilitate mental health communications, we tested an Interactive Computer‐assisted Client Assessment Survey (iCCAS) in Cantonese/Mandarin and English at a nurse practitioner‐led primary care clinic in Toronto. The iCCAS offers a touch‐screen, pre‐consultation survey with questions on depression, anxiety, post‐traumatic stress, alcohol abuse, and social context. The program generates point‐of‐care reports for the clinician and patient. Methods: A pilot randomized controlled trial examined the intervention impact on mental health discussion and symptom detection, compared with the usual care, followed by clinicians' qualitative interviews. Results: Fifty self‐identified Chinese adult patients participated (iCCAS = 26, Usual Care = 24), response rate 79.4%. Participant mean age was 44.8 years and 92% were immigrants. There was an increase of 19% and 15% in the mental health discussion and detection of symptoms in the iCCAS group compared with the usual care. More participants in the iCCAS group were referred to a social worker or psychiatrist. Patients found the use of iCCAS easy and clinicians identified its benefits for themselves (eg, early identification and comfort) and patients (eg, self‐awareness and anonymity) and proposed practice‐integration. Discussion: The studied tool holds promise for enhancing clinician‐patient mental health communications in primary care settings for overseas Chinese. Implications are discussed for in‐person and virtual healthcare which could also inform responses to mental health crisis related to COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literacy underpins education. There is now very widespread concern over standards of literacy for children from multi-cultural backgrounds, who are learning English as a second or subsequent language, and who may have special educational needs. Research evidence suggests that the earlier children's difficulties can be identified, the more effective (and cost-effective) intervention will be, provided that the intervention is tailored to the child's abilities and skills. Nicolson and Fawcett have developed systematic procedures for identifying children at risk for reading difficulty, together with systematic teaching strategies to overcome reading difficulty. In this paper we present case studies of children with EAL (English as an additional language) drawn from a controlled study using computer interventions with secondary school children. Our findings indicate that children with EAL may be more resistant to remediation than some children with learning difficulties. The prognosis is more problematic for children with both EAL and dyslexia. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer‐aided synthesis planning (CASP) integrates intuition of chemists and reliability of computers. As an in‐between of unique creativities of human beings and unparalleled calculational capability of computers, CASP has become an important tool used in academic and industrial research. With explosion of novel chemical reactions, increasing of computer performance, and revolution of algorithms, CASP will play more significant roles in the synthetic chemistry field, inspiring novel and highly efficient syntheses of natural products and drug candidates. In this article, we review the progress in computational analysis of synthetic planning from rule‐based programs (e.g., LHASA and SECS) in the early stage to machine learning (e.g., neural networks and seq2seq methods) in more recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cardiac stimulator is described which combines the ease of operation required in clinical investigations, particularly endocavitary studies of cardiac arrhythmias, and the versatility needed in a research context. This instrument uses a microcomputer to control two independent optically-isolated stimulation ports which can be addressed either independently or jointly to stimulate at two different sites. The main software module operates as a cascade of ten real time pulse generators with individually presettable parameters: amplitude, duration, period, initial delay, periodic and cyclic modifiers, triggering mode, etc. A simple interactive procedure allows the operator to define a stimulation protocol either by accessing the generator structure directly, or by calling any of five preprogrammed stimulation protocols. With this combination, the instrument can provide a large variety of pulse patterns. The operator can intervene at any lime during stimulation to change parameter values or modify the pulse pattern. Concurrently with stimulation, the instrument generates time-codes to help relate cardiac responses recorded on paper chart and magnetic tape, and reference them to specific events. The instrument can be readily expanded by the addition of parallel microprocessor modules; other real time tasks such as acquisition and processing of cardiac responses can thus be incorporated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines differences in home computer and internet access among Italian households between 2005 and 2016. The results indicate that while computer and internet penetration has increased across all educational levels and geographical areas, digital inequalities related to education still persist and are substantial, especially in the South. Additionally, the findings suggest that the digital gap at the bottom of the education distribution is widening over time. Access among households whose reference person has primary education or less lags behind that of households with lower secondary education. Policy measures to promote and support the adoption of digital technologies among the most educationally disadvantaged households may need to be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine if an automated vestibular schwannoma (VS) segmentation model has comparable performance to using the greatest linear dimension to detect growth.Study Design: Case-control Study.Methods: Patients were selected from an internal database who had an initial gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scan and a follow-up scan captured at least 5 months later. Two observers manually segmented the VS to compute volumes, and one observer's segmentations were used to train a convolutional neural network model to automatically segment the VS and determine the volume. The results of automatic segmentation were compared to the observer whose measurements were not used in model development to measure agreement. We then examined the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) to compare automated volumetric growth detection versus using the greatest linear dimension. Growth detection determined by the external observer's measurements served as the gold standard.Results: A total of 65 patients and 130 scans were studied. The automated method of segmentation demonstrated excellent agreement with the observer whose measurements were not used for model development for the initial scan (interclass correlational coefficient [ICC] = 0.995; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.991-0.997) and follow-up scan (ICC = 0.960; 95% CI: 0.935-0.975). The automated method of segmentation demonstrated increased sensitivity (72.2% vs. 63.9%), specificity (79.3% vs. 69.0%), and AUC (0.822 vs. 0.701) compared to using the greatest linear dimension for growth detection.Conclusions: In detecting VS growth, a convolutional neural network model outperformed using the greatest linear dimension, demonstrating a potential application of artificial intelligence methods to VS surveillance.Level Of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E619-E624, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are now widespread in Australian schools but with variation in how, where, when and how much they are used. Computers may be located in a computer laboratory, distributed throughout the school, or students may use their own laptop computers. IT may be a subject in its own right or ICT may be used across all areas of the curriculum. It is how ICT is used in the school setting that is important in providing students with the skills to be participate in a ‘knowledge society’. This paper examines the ways in which information and communication technologies influence teaching and learning in five Australian schools. Data were gathered through observation, interviews and document analysis in schools operating at the elementary and secondary grades in relatively technology rich environments. Each of the schools participated in the Australian component of the Second Information Technology in Education Study – Module 2 (SITES-M2) of innovative pedagogical practices. Several of the studies were of specific projects where ICT was the key enabler of the learning programme. Others focused on an entire school's approach to ICT as an agent for changed approaches to learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The paper analyses the data collected in 10 schools in Israel which have incorporated ICT in unique ways and have succeeded in devising innovative classroom pedagogies and changes in teachers and students roles and outcomes. The major research questions addressed are: What levels of innovation were observed in the participant schools, and in which domains? How did the level of innovation in the various domains vary among and within schools? What correlation patterns among levels of innovation in the various domains can be identified? The data were analysed by mean of the innovation analysis schema developed for characterising ICT-based educational innovations. The findings indicate that most schools were in a transition stage towards fully innovative pedagogical implementation; school activities were effected differentially by ICT, thus creating ‘islands of innovation’; these islands however, have the potential to pull forward other areas of activity and people in the school; the domains most affected by ICT were the school's digital space, the didactic solutions implemented and the students' roles and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Discussion about information and communication technologies in education are often conducted at a general level. To increase understanding about new technologies and learning it is necessary to be more specific about what kinds of tools are being used and how they are related to knowledge construction by students within specific subject domains. Three Norwegian cases studies are reported so that different school cultures on how the learning environments are implemented are exposed. One important conclusion from the cross-case analysis is the diversity among cases. What is the added value or changes that these technologies represent? Within a Norwegian context the paper shows how technology contributes to the design of new learning environments and how it might stimulate knowledge construction among students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Second Information Technology in Education Study — Module 2 (SITES-M2) in Germany investigated 12 cases of innovative pedagogical practice using technology (IPPUT) in primary, lower and upper secondary schools. One theme that emerged from the analysis of these cases was students' cooperation. It seems that the co-occurrence of ICT-use and students' cooperation and collaboration is not accidental. The focus of this paper is an analysis and classification of the students' cooperation identified in the IPPUTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper presents some of the results of the study of seven cases of innovative pedagogical practices using ICT. The study was performed in the framework of the application of SITES M2 in Chile. The results are divided in two sections. First is a summary of each case, highlighting its innovative characteristics that serve as models of ‘good practice’ for Chilean teachers. Second, the results of the analysis of what teachers did are outlined; the impact on students and the type of teaching and learning activities in use. Results show that these projects did not provide evidence of having impact on students' learning as defined in the national curriculum. However, they show that students participating in these projects could learn other things, had the opportunity to develop abilities defined as cross-curricular and practised ICT related skills. The analysis of the teaching and learning activities highlights some deficiencies in the way that teachers implement new teaching strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In these six case study sites, the commitment to teachers' individual learning about technology as a support to instruction was very strong and was complemented by technology leadership, support staff and professional development programming dedicated towards this end. This paper describes some conclusions about how the presence of this need to learn and the supportive conditions to do so was reciprocal, or mutually supportive, of the development of professional community around technology use. The professional community deepened and refined the shared vision related to the purposes of instructional technology, and the technology support. The supposition is that effective use of technology and professional community are mutually supportive in that increases in one create conditions for increases in the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue addressed Sedentary behaviours, in particular sitting, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and poorer mental health status. In Australia, 70% of adults sit for more than 8h per day. The use of social media applications (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) is on the rise; however, no studies have explored the association of social media use with sitting time and body mass index (BMI). Methods Cross-sectional self-report data on demographics, BMI and sitting time were collected from 1140 participants in the 2013 Queensland Social Survey. Generalised linear models were used to estimate associations of a social media score calculated from social media use, perceived importance of social media, and number of social media contacts with sitting time and BMI. Results Participants with a high social media score had significantly greater sitting times while using a computer in leisure time and significantly greater total sitting time on non-workdays. However, no associations were found between social media score and sitting to view TV, use motorised transport, work or participate in other leisure activities; or total workday, total sitting time or BMI. Conclusions These results indicate that social media use is associated with increased sitting time while using a computer, and total sitting time on non-workdays. So what? The rise in social media use may have a negative impact on health by contributing to computer sitting and total sitting time on non-workdays. Future longitudinal research with a representative sample and objective sitting measures is needed to confirm findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To examine efficacy of drug brief interventions (BIs) among adults presenting to a low-income urban emergency department (ED). Design Randomized controlled trial on drug use outcomes at 3, 6 and 12 months. Participants were assigned to (1) computer-delivered BI (Computer BI), (2) therapist-delivered, computer-guided BI (Therapist BI) or (3) enhanced usual care (EUC-ED) for drug-using adults. Participants were re-randomized after the 3-month assessment to either adapted motivational enhancement therapy (AMET) booster or enhanced usual care booster (EUC-B). Setting Patients recruited from low-income urban emergency departments (ED) in Flint, Michigan, USA. Participants A total of 780 ED patients reporting recent drug use, 44% males, mean age = 31 years. Interventions Computer BI consisted of an interactive program guided by a virtual health counselor. Therapist BI included computer guidance. The EUC-ED conditions included review of community health and HIV prevention resources. The BIs and boosters were based on motivational interviewing, focusing on reduction of drug use and HIV risk behaviors. Measurements Primary outcome was past 90 days using drugs at 6 and 12 months and secondary outcomes were weighted drug-days and days of marijuana use. Findings Percentage changes in mean days used any drug from baseline to 12 months were: Computer BI + EUC-B: -10.9%, P = 0.0844; Therapist BI + EUC-B: -26.7%, P = 0.0041, for EUC-ED + EUC-B: -20.9, P = 0.0011. In adjusted analyses, there was no significant interaction between ED intervention and booster AMET for primary and secondary outcomes. Compared with EUC-ED, Therapist BI reduced number of days using any drug [95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.41, −0.07, P = 0.0422] and weighted drug-days (95% CI = -0.41, −0.08, P = 0.0283). Both Therapist and Computer BI had significantly fewer number of days using marijuana compared to EUC-ED (Therapist BI: 95% CI = -0.42, −0.06, P = 0.0104, Computer BI: 95% CI = -0.34, −0.01, P = 0.0406). Booster effects were not significant. Conclusions An emergency department-based motivational brief intervention, delivered by a therapist and guided by computer, appears to reduce drug use among adults seeking emergency department care compared with enhanced usual care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advances are increasing the complexity of products, especially those in the area of information and communication technologies. Complexity has increased in several aspects: An increased number of materials are used in products, small amounts of materials with key functions are included (i.e., rare earths in light-emitting diodes), and there are more combinations of diverse types of components and connections. The difficulty of separating parts of the products limits the development of circular economy strategies where repair, upgrade, and remanufacture prevent wasting valuable resources contained in those products. This article presents a method for analyzing the removal of battery packs in newer portable computer models, namely PC-tablets and subnotebooks, as an example on how the design of batteries can affect the life span and potential reuse of such computers. The study analyzes the difficulty of removing battery packs using the results from previous analyses of the design for disassembly of newer computer models together with audio-visual material available on the Internet. The disassembly tasks for removal of batteries are summarized by disassembly codes that could be used to help identify the design features that facilitate easier disassembly. The article goes on to discuss also how the results could be included in European Union (EU) product policies aimed to help meet some of the objectives of the European Commission's (EC) Circular Economy Package. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]