scholarly journals Uniform Random Generation and Dominance Testing for CP-Nets

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 771-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Allen ◽  
Judy Goldsmith ◽  
Hayden Elizabeth Justice ◽  
Nicholas Mattei ◽  
Kayla Raines

The generation of preferences represented as CP-nets for experiments and empirical testing has typically been done in an ad hoc manner that may have introduced a large statistical bias in previous experimental work. We present novel polynomial-time algorithms for generating CP-nets with n nodes and maximum in-degree c uniformly at random. We extend this result to several statistical cultures commonly used in the social choice and preference reasoning literature. A CP-net is composed of both a graph and underlying cp-statements; our algorithm is the first to provably generate both the graph structure and cp-statements, and hence the underlying preference orders themselves, uniformly at random. We have released this code as a free and open source project. We use the uniform generation algorithm to investigate the maximum and expected flipping lengths, i.e., the maximum length over all outcomes o and o', of a minimal proof that o is preferred to o'. Using our new statistical evidence, we conjecture that, for CP-nets with binary variables and complete conditional preference tables, the expected flipping length is polynomial in the number of preference variables. This has positive implications for the usability of CP-nets as compact preference models.

Sexes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
Andrea Sansone ◽  
Angelo Cignarelli ◽  
Daniele Mollaioli ◽  
Giacomo Ciocca ◽  
Erika Limoncin ◽  
...  

Sentiment analysis (SA) is a technique aimed at extracting opinions and sentiments through the analysis of text, often used in healthcare research to understand patients’ needs and interests. Data from social networks, such as Twitter, can provide useful insights on sexual behavior. We aimed to assess the perception of Valentine’s Day by performing SA on tweets we collected between 28 January and 13 February 2019. Analysis was done using ad hoc software. A total of 883,615 unique tweets containing the word “valentine” in their text were collected. Geo-localization was available for 48,918 tweets; most the tweets came from the US (36,889, 75.41%), the UK (2605, 5.33%) and Canada (1661, 3.4%). The number of tweets increased approaching February 14. “Love” was the most recurring word, appearing in 111,981 tweets, followed by “gift” (55,136), “special” (34,518) and “happy” (33,913). Overall, 7318 tweets mentioned “sex”: among these tweets, the most recurring words were “sexy” (2317 tweets), “love” (1394) and “gift” (679); words pertaining to intimacy and sexual activity, such as “lingerie”, “porn”, and “date” were less common. In conclusion, tweets about Valentine’s Day mostly focus on the emotions, or on the material aspect of the celebration, and the sexual aspect of Valentine’s Day is rarely mentioned.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Barchielli ◽  
Cristina Marullo ◽  
Manila Bonciani ◽  
Milena Vainieri

Abstract Background Several technological innovations have been introduced in healthcare over the years, and their implementation proved crucial in addressing challenges of modern health. Healthcare workers have frequently been called upon to become familiar with technological innovations that pervade every aspect of their profession, changing their working schedule, habits, and daily actions. Purpose An in-depth analysis of the paths towards the acceptance and use of technology may facilitate the crafting and adoption of specific personnel policies taking into consideration definite levers, which appear to be different in relation to the age of nurses. Approach The strength of this study is the application of UTAUT model to analyse the acceptance of innovations by nurses in technology-intensive healthcare contexts. Multidimensional Item Response Theory is applied to identify the main dimensions characterizing the UTAUT model. Paths are tested through two stage regression models and validated using a SEM covariance analysis. Results The age is a moderator for the social influence: social influence, or peer opinion, matters more for young nurse. Conclusion The use of MIRT to identify the most important items for each construct of UTAUT model and an in-depth path analysis helps to identify which factors should be considered a leverage to foster nurses’ acceptance and intention to use new technologies (o technology-intensive devices). Practical implications Young nurses may benefit from the structuring of shifts with the most passionate colleagues (thus exploiting the social influence), the participation in ad hoc training courses (thus exploiting the facilitating conditions), while other nurses could benefit from policies that rely on the stressing of the perception of their expectations or the downsizing of their expectancy of the effort in using new technologies.


1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-44
Author(s):  
Tom A. B. Snijders

Social capital has become quite a popular concept in the sociological and economic literature, and even in the general press. Scientific investigations using this concept have measured it, however, usually in rather ad hoc fashions. In this paper I discuss possible approaches that could be followed to measure the social capital of individuals. What kind of questions should be posed to the individual, and how should these questions be aggregated to a measure of his or her social capital? The discussion in this paper is of a conceptual nature and does not go up to the concrete questions to be asked.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaetano A. Russo ◽  
Serena Oliveri ◽  
Clizia Cincidda ◽  
Paolo Guiddi ◽  
Gabriella Pravettoni

Background: Biofeedback is increasingly used in the clinical area and in daily health monitoring through wearable devices (e.g. smart watches). Nevertheless, it remains rather unknown. This study aimed to assess, in a sample of Italian citizens, the level of knowledge, attitudes, perceived efficacy and personality tendencies which could affect the uptake of biofeedback technologies. Design and Methods: Participants were recruited by advertising the survey on the social networks, from March to May 2019. 160 subjects filled in an ad hoc online questionnaire assessing socio-demographic variables, clinical status, physical activity, knowledge and attitude towards biofeedback, psychological tendencies toward health.Results: Data showed a good level of interest in biofeedback training in spite of poor knowledge about such technologies. Sport and chronic diseases were not correlated to a greater use of biofeedback. People informed about biofeedback technologies were more interested in undergoing biofeedback training and had higher scores in the Health Locus of Control. Finally, people who showed a positive perception of their own health (Health Esteem) did not rely on these technologies.Discussion: Despite the huge spread of biofeedback technologies, our results disconfirmed the expectation that people having an active lifestyle or a disease were more familiar with biofeedback systems. The attitude toward such technologies seems to depend on individual tendencies.Conclusions: This study suggests the importance to improve general public literacy on biofeedback technologies, tailor tools on their needs and characteristics, empower people’s sense of internal health control for promoting a valid use and a proper knowledge of biofeedback.


2005 ◽  
pp. 194-214
Author(s):  
Jonny Holmstrom

This chapter explores the social consequences of mobile IT. Even though the need for better theorizing on the topic has been highlighted recently, most attempts to date have failed not only to properly explore the social consequences of mobile IT, but also in being specific about the technology itself in any detail. A promising approach with which to explore mobile IT and its social consequences may be found in actor network theory (ANT). ANT’s rich methodology embraces scientific realism in its central concept of hybrids that are simultaneously technological and social. The advantages of conceiving mobile IT applications immersed in and a part of a network of hybrids are explored by drawing from a project concerned with mobile IT use in the context of the mobile bank terminal (MBT). It was found that the users were less than enthusiastic over the MBT, and two key problems were identified. First, the poor design of MBT hampered the possibilities for ad-hoc activities. Second, the users felt that ad-hoc activities could be seen as somewhat irresponsible in the context of banking business. To this end, the problems related to the MBT use were both social and technical. We conclude by identifying and elaborating on some aspects of the social consequences of mobile IT use in order to shed new light on the possibilities and challenges that mobile IT use conveys.


1973 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Claessens

AbstractAnthropology today consists of statements about the evolution of the mammals resulting in man; it could provide the counterpoint to mans plasticity (GEHLEN) and implies the assumption that man is not capable of unlimited educational moulding.The subsistence of life in general requires a complementary and affine environment. With the evolution of (bi- parental) care of young, the development of „existing“ - that is, biologically possible - dispositions and competences becomes more highly contingent; personality development in each individual depends on the timeley offer of appropriate external stimuli for the inner mechanisms.COUNT’s concept of the biogram points the correspondence between the constitution of an organism (as a product of its evolution) and its behavior. However, his emphasis on the continuity of evolutionary prerequisites of human culture with the tendencies of mammal and primate evolution fails to grasp the particular complexity of the human biogram. The realization of man’s social, sexual and linguistic competence entangles him necessarily in cultural and social networks, thus the extent to which such competences exist even as possibilities depends on the opportunities for such participation. Precondition for their realization is the isolation from selective pressures through the group (H. MILLER). This relieves the individual from specialization towards the environment and at the same time requires that he specializes in aiding the survival of the group as such. The (social and sexual) tendencies which lead to building a group are thereafter modified by the genesis of principally new social relationships and new real needs. Constitutive for the specifically human development is „work“, which may be defined as the consequence of intending or wanting something which one cannot do alone. Language is a necessary product and prerequisite of planned (not merely ad hoc) work. This may be seen as the threshold which defines the evolving species as „man“.If human nature is then the necessity incessantly to come to terms with the consequences of realizing competence, it has in historical fact developed as inequality of adaptive pressure within the society and towards the environment. It is thus not possible to speak of a general human social, sexual or linguistics competence, as the lack of developmental opportunity deforms or destroys the competence. The anthropological concept of competence must therefore be historically specified. Socialization theory must begin by analyzing the (social) sources of impediments to the development and the realization of competence before it can describe abstractly the conditions for the chance of realization.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-47
Author(s):  
Daniel Lapresa Ajamil ◽  
Javier Pascual Laguna ◽  
Javier Arana ◽  
M. Teresa Anguera

Se ha diseñado un instrumento de observación ad hoc, combinación de formato de campo y sistemas de categorías, que permite analizar la interacción social -conductas prosociales y antisociales- que tiene lugar en la competición por equipos en el juego de boccia. El registro y codificación de los datos se ha desarrollado mediante el software Lince. La validez de contenido del instrumento de observación ha quedado avalada por el equipo técnico de la Selección Española de boccia. Los resultados relativos a la concordancia entre los registros generados por tres observadores diferentes, calculada mediante el coeficiente Kappa de Cohen, indican una elevada fiabilidad de los datos obtenidos mediante el sistema de observación. En el seno de la teoría de la Generalizabilidad, mediante el software SAGT, se ha desarrollado el plan de medida [Jugador] [Categoría] / [Parcial], que ha permitido asegurar que, con el número de parciales analizados, se consigue una elevada fiabilidad de precisión de generalización. Además, se ha procedido a la optimización del plan de medida [Parciales] [Categorías] / [Jugador]. La operatividad del sistema de observación desarrollado ha quedado patente en los T-patterns detectados mediante el software Theme, versión 6. Edu. De los resultados obtenidos se desprende que el juego de boccia constituye un entorno favorable de elevado valor formativo para el colectivo de la discapacidad. The observation instrument was purpose-built and combines a field format with systems of categories. The observation instrument allows to analyze the social interaction -prosocial and antisocial behaviors- that takes place in team boccia competition. The content validity of the observation instrument has been guaranteed by the coaching staff of the Boccia Spanish Team. The data were coded with the Lince software programme. Cohen's Kappa coefficient obtained by comparing the data sets generated by three observers indicates a high reliability of the data. We also performed a generalizability study, [Player][Category]/[End], demonstrating the consistency of the data based on the Ends observed. The application of the optimization module for [End][Category]/[Player] facets showed us how many players would constitute an optimal sample in future studies. The practical application of the observation system was demonstrated by performing T-pattern analysis using Theme software programme. The results obtained show that boccia is a very favorable educational environment for the disability group. O instrumento de observação foi construído ad hoc e combina um formato de campo com sistemas de categorias. O instrumento de observação permite analisar a interação social - comportamentos anti-sociais e anti-sociais - que ocorre na competição de bocha em equipe. A validade de conteúdo do instrumento de observação foi garantida pela equipe técnica da Equipe Espanhola de Boccia. Os dados foram codificados com o programa de software Lince. Coeficiente Kappa de Cohen obtido pela comparação dos conjuntos de dados gerados por três observadores indica alta confiabilidade dos dados. Também realizamos um estudo de generalização [Jogador] [Categoria] / [Parcial], demonstrando a consistência dos dados com base nas extremidades observadas. A aplicação do módulo de otimização para as facetas [Parciales] [Categorias] / [Jogador] nos mostrou quantos jogadores seriam uma ótima amostra em estudos futuros. A aplicação prática do sistema de observação foi demonstrada através da análise do padrão T usando o programa de software Theme. Os resultados obtidos são desprezíveis que o jogo de bocha é constituído por um formulário de valor favorável para o colectivo da discapacidade.


2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (02) ◽  
pp. 501-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARCIN SEREDYNSKI ◽  
PASCAL BOUVRY

A distributed nature of a wireless mobile ad hoc network, lack of a single authority, and limited battery resources of participating devices may lead its users to be reluctant to packet relaying duties. This paper investigates potential networking conditions that could lead to a direct reciprocity-based cooperation on packet relaying. Simulation of behaviour of the network is carried out using an evolutionary game-theoretical approach. A game-based model of nodes' interactions coupled with a genetic algorithm is used to find successful relaying strategies for various networking conditions. Computational experiments demonstrate that the reciprocity-based packet relaying is an efficient way to overcome the social dilemma present in such a network. However, in the presence of a large number of unconditionally cooperatives nodes a selfish permanent defection strategy is more efficient than a reciprocal tit-for-tat strategy. Nevertheless the switch from cooperative to selfish behaviour among some users does not change significantly the overall performance of the network as the negative consequences of the switch are compensated by the generous packet relaying contribution of unconditionally cooperative nodes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 237428952093401
Author(s):  
Yonah C. Ziemba ◽  
Dana Razzano ◽  
Timothy C. Allen ◽  
Adam L. Booth ◽  
Scott R. Anderson ◽  
...  

The use of social media at academic conferences is expanding, and platforms such as Twitter are used to share meeting content with the world. Pathology conferences are no exception, and recently, pathology organizations have promoted social media as a way to enhance meeting exposure. A social media committee was formed ad hoc to implement strategies to enhance social media involvement and coverage at the 2018 and 2019 annual meetings of the Association of Pathology Chairs. This organized approach resulted in an 11-fold increase in social media engagement compared to the year prior to committee formation (2017). In this article, the social media committee reviews the strategies that were employed and the resultant outcome data. In addition, we categorize tweets by topic to identify the topics of greatest interest to meeting participants, and we discuss the differences between Twitter and other social media platforms. Lastly, we review the existing literature on this topic from 23 medical specialties and health care fields.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick O'Farrell ◽  
Pippin Anderson ◽  
Christina Culwick ◽  
Paul Currie ◽  
Jessica Kavonic ◽  
...  

Non-technical summary There are significant challenges to retaining indigenous biodiversity and ecological infrastructure in African cities. These include a lack of formal protection and status for remnant ecologically functional patches rendering them open to ad hoc human settlement, which is in part linked to weak governance and management emerging from complex histories, and competing crisis-ridden demands. Persistent gaps in knowledge and practice mean that the social, economic, development and well-being benefits of ecological infrastructure are not understood or demonstrated. Addressing these challenges requires the adoption of multiple top-down government interventions and bottom-up community and neighbourhood actions. The development of detailed case studies that engage with knowledge generation and sharing at multiple scales through co-learning practices will also help create a much-needed deeper understanding of development options within this context.


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