The impact of illustrations on on-line narrative comprehension processing

The article presents the results of research on psychosocial condition among Polish and Ukrainian students during the quarantine. The aim of the research was to verify the impact of the pandemic and its accompanying phenomena on the well-being of youth. In order to achieve this goal, the CAWI on-line survey method with double measurement was used. The first measurement carried out at the beginning of the quarantine resulted in 3659 filled out surveys in Poland and 739 in Ukraine. The second measurement conducted at the end of distance learning brought 1978 filled out surveys in Poland and 411 in Ukraine. The results of research indicate that the quarantine had a negative impact on the psychosocial condition of youth. The deterioration of emotional condition and the increase in mental disorders has been observed. Due to the pandemic and distance learning, the mental health of youth deteriorated significantly. Polish youth were negatively influenced by the pandemic to a greater extent than young Ukrainians.

Download Full-text

Designing a CRM Framework for online & offline sports footwear retailers

"Carácter" Revista Cientifica de la Universidad Del Pacifico ISSN 2602-8476 ◽

10.35936/caracter.v3i1.41 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rodrigo Cueva ◽

Guillem Rufian ◽

Maria Gabriela Valdes

Keyword(s):

Environmental Changes ◽

Customer Relationship ◽

Business Strategies ◽

Economic Sectors ◽

Running Shoes ◽

Brick And Mortar ◽

Key Factor ◽

On Line ◽

The Impact

The use of Customer Relationship Managers to foster customers loyalty has become one of the most common business strategies in the past years. However, CRM solutions do not fill the abundance of happily ever-after relationships that business needs, and each client’s perception is different in the buying process. Therefore, the experience must be precise, in order to extend the loyalty period of a customer as much as possible. One of the economic sectors in which CRM’s have improved this experience is retailing, where the personalized attention to the customer is a key factor. However, brick and mortar experiences are not enough to be aware in how environmental changes could affect the industry trends in the long term. A base unified theoretical framework must be taken into consideration, in order to develop an adaptable model for constructing or implementing CRMs into companies. Thanks to this approximation, the information is complemented, and the outcome will increment the quality in any Marketing/Sales initiative. The goal of this article is to explore the different factors grouped by three main domains within the impact of service quality, from a consumer’s perspective, in both on-line and off-line retailing sector. Secondly, we plan to go a step further and extract base guidelines about previous analysis for designing CRM’s solutions focused on the loyalty of the customers for a specific retailing sector and its product: Sports Running Shoes.

Download Full-text

Environmental Sensitivity and Awareness as Differentiating Factors in the Purchase Decision-Making Process in the Smartphone Industry—Case of Polish Consumers

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13010348 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 348

Author(s):

Lukasz Skowron ◽

Monika Sak-Skowron

Keyword(s):

Expectation Maximization ◽

Cross Validation ◽

Expectation Maximization Algorithm ◽

Decision Making Process ◽

Environmental Sensitivity ◽

Significance Level ◽

On Line ◽

Purchase Process ◽

The Impact ◽

Fold Cross Validation

The first of the research objectives discussed in this article was to analyze the differences related to the valuation of particular factors influencing the purchase process in the smartphone industry, expressed by respondents with different sensitivity and environmental awareness, as well as the assessment of their knowledge about the impact of smartphones on the natural environment. The second objective of the research was to determine whether the level of environmental sensitivity, awareness and knowledge about the impact of smartphones on the environment has a statistically significant influence on the respondents’ choice of smartphone brand. The survey was conducted using an on-line questionnaire, distributed by a specialized research agency on a representative sample of over 1000 Polish residents. In order to identify the various customers clusters, the expectation-maximization algorithm and the v-fold cross-validation were used. Additionally, in order to analyze the significance level of differences between clusters the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test was carried out. The results show unequivocally that people with a different approach to ecological issues demonstrate statistically significant differences in their purchasing behaviors in the smartphone industry. Furthermore, it was noticed that in the case of comparing some smartphones brands, there is a statistically confirmed difference in the environmental sensitivity and awareness of the customers who use them. Moreover, the research has shown that in Polish customers’ consciousness smartphones are mistakenly considered to be relatively safe and environmentally friendly products.

Download Full-text

Novel Features and PRPD Image Denoising Method for Improved Single-Source Partial Discharges Classification in On-Line Hydro-Generators

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14113267 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 3267

Author(s):

Ramon C. F. Araújo ◽

Rodrigo M. S. de Oliveira ◽

Fernando S. Brasil ◽

Fabrício J. B. Barros

Keyword(s):

Image Denoising ◽

Recognition Performance ◽

Partial Discharge ◽

Classification Performance ◽

Partial Discharges ◽

Denoising Method ◽

Internal Parameters ◽

On Line ◽

Automatic Removal ◽

The Impact

In this paper, a novel image denoising algorithm and novel input features are proposed. The algorithm is applied to phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) diagrams with a single dominant partial discharge (PD) source, preparing them for automatic artificial-intelligence-based classification. It was designed to mitigate several sources of distortions often observed in PRPDs obtained from fully operational hydroelectric generators. The capabilities of the denoising algorithm are the automatic removal of sparse noise and the suppression of non-dominant discharges, including those due to crosstalk. The input features are functions of PD distributions along amplitude and phase, which are calculated in a novel way to mitigate random effects inherent to PD measurements. The impact of the proposed contributions was statistically evaluated and compared to classification performance obtained using formerly published approaches. Higher recognition rates and reduced variances were obtained using the proposed methods, statistically outperforming autonomous classification techniques seen in earlier works. The values of the algorithm’s internal parameters are also validated by comparing the recognition performance obtained with different parameter combinations. All typical PD sources described in hydro-generators PD standards are considered and can be automatically detected.

Download Full-text

The influence of physical parameters on the in-situ metal carbonyl complex formation studied with the Fast On-line Reaction Apparatus (FORA)

Radiochimica Acta ◽

10.1515/ract-2020-0035 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 109 (4) ◽

pp. 261-281

Author(s):

Yves Wittwer ◽

Robert Eichler ◽

Dominik Herrmann ◽

Andreas Türler

Keyword(s):

Gas Flow ◽

Metal Carbonyl ◽

Fission Products ◽

Reaction Chamber ◽

Single Atom ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Carbonyl Complex ◽

Reaction Conditions ◽

On Line ◽

The Impact

Abstract The Fast On-line Reaction Apparatus (FORA) was used to investigate the influence of various reaction parameters onto the formation and transport of metal carbonyl complexes (MCCs) under single-atom chemistry conditions. FORA is based on a 252Cf-source producing short-lived Mo, Tc, Ru and Rh isotopes. Those are recoiling from the spontaneous fission source into a reaction chamber flushed with a gas-mixture containing CO. Upon contact with CO, fission products form volatile MCCs which are further transported by the gas stream to the detection setup, consisting of a charcoal trap mounted in front of a HPGe γ-detector. Depending on the reaction conditions, MCCs are formed and transported with different efficiencies. Using this setup, the impact of varying physical parameters like gas flow, gas pressure, kinetic energy of fission products upon entering the reaction chamber and temperature of the reaction chamber on the formation and transport yields of MCCs was investigated. Using a setup similar to FORA called Miss Piggy, various gas mixtures of CO with a selection of noble gases, as well as N2 and H2, were investigated with respect to their effect onto MCC formation and transport. Based on this measurements, optimized reaction conditions to maximize the synthesis and transport of MCCs are suggested. Explanations for the observed results supported by simulations are suggested as well.

Download Full-text

Cooperative activation in cardiac muscle: impact of sarcomere length

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00667.2001 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 282 (3) ◽

pp. H1055-H1062 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

David P. Dobesh ◽

John P. Konhilas ◽

Pieter P. de Tombe

Keyword(s):

Sarcomere Length ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Significant Function ◽

Cardiac Myofilament ◽

Data Points ◽

On Line ◽

The Impact ◽

Cooperative Activation ◽

Force Relationship

This study was undertaken to determine the impact of sarcomere length (SL) on the level of cooperative activation of the cardiac myofilament at physiological [Mg2+]. Active force development was measured in skinned rat cardiac trabeculae as a function of free [Ca2+] at five SLs (1.85–2.25 μm; 1 mM free [Mg2+]; 15°C). Only muscle preparations with minimal force rundown during the entire protocol were included in the analysis (average 7.2 ± 1.7%). Median SL was measured by on-line computer video micrometry and controlled within 0.01 μm. Care was taken to ensure a sufficient number of data points in the steep portion of the [Ca2+]-force relationship at every SL to allow for accurate fit of the data to a modified Hill equation. Multiple linear regression analysis of the fit parameters revealed that both maximum, Ca2+-saturated force and Ca2+sensitivity were a significant function of SL ( P < 0.001), whereas the level of cooperativity did not depend on SL ( P = 0.2). Further analysis of the [Ca2+]-force relationships revealed a marked asymmetry that, also, was not affected by SL ( P = 0.2–0.6). Finally, we found that the level of cooperativity in isolated skinned myocardium was comparable to that reported for intact, nonskinned myocardium. Our results suggest that an increase in SL induces an increase in the Ca2+ responsiveness of the cardiac sarcomere without affecting the level of cooperativity.

Download Full-text

GEMPROT: visualization of the impact on the protein of the genetic variants found on each haplotype

Bioinformatics ◽

10.1093/bioinformatics/bty993 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (14) ◽

pp. 2492-2494

Author(s):

Tania Cuppens ◽

Thomas E Ludwig ◽

Pascal Trouvé ◽

Emmanuelle Genin

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variants ◽

Protein Sequence ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Protein Sequences ◽

Supplementary Information ◽

Analysis Tool ◽

Functional Protein ◽

Key Players ◽

On Line ◽

The Impact

Abstract Summary When analyzing sequence data, genetic variants are considered one by one, taking no account of whether or not they are found in the same individual. However, variant combinations might be key players in some diseases as variants that are neutral on their own can become deleterious when associated together. GEMPROT is a new analysis tool that allows, from a phased vcf file, to visualize the consequences of the genetic variants on the protein. At the level of an individual, the program shows the variants on each of the two protein sequences and the Pfam functional protein domains. When data on several individuals are available, GEMPROT lists the haplotypes found in the sample and can compare the haplotype distributions between different sub-groups of individuals. By offering a global visualization of the gene with the genetic variants present, GEMPROT makes it possible to better understand the impact of combinations of genetic variants on the protein sequence. Availability and implementation GEMPROT is freely available at https://github.com/TaniaCuppens/GEMPROT. An on-line version is also available at http://med-laennec.univ-brest.fr/GEMPROT/. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Download Full-text

Humanizing intensive nursing care for people with COVID-19

Rev Rene ◽

10.15253/2175-6783.20212262584 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

pp. e62584

Author(s):

Sergio Vital da Silva Junior ◽

Aline Gomes Machado ◽

Anny Michelle Rodrigues da Silva Alves ◽

Katia Jaqueline da Silva Cordeiro ◽

Maíra Bonfim Barbosa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care ◽

Music Therapy ◽

Care Environment ◽

Intensive Care Nurses ◽

On Line ◽

The Moment ◽

The Impact ◽

Theoretical Saturation ◽

Hospital Sample ◽

Do So

Objective: to understand the impact of music on the intensive care for COVID-19 as an instrument to humanize assistance from the perspective of nurses who work on assistance. Methods: qualitative study carried out with seven intensive care nurses working in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit of a public state hospital. Sample reached through theoretical saturation. Data were collected using interviews through the on-line application WhatsApp, guided by a semi-structured guide. Results: the following discursive categories emerged: Feelings of health professionals and humanized actions in intensive care; Music therapy to provide integral care for people with COVID-19 in the score of intensive care; Living in the moment; Music therapy as an instrument for spirituality in the intensive care environment. Conclusion: the nursing intensive care did not only carry out a biological treatment, but considered all aspects of the human being, using to do so humanization by music.

Download Full-text

DANNP: an efficient artificial neural network pruning tool

PeerJ Computer Science ◽

10.7717/peerj-cs.137 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. e137 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mona Alshahrani ◽

Othman Soufan ◽

Arturo Magana-Mora ◽

Vladimir B. Bajic

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Model Performance ◽

Training Data ◽

Classification Problems ◽

Link Type ◽

On Line ◽

Pruning Algorithms ◽

Artificial Neural ◽

The Impact

Background Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are a robust class of machine learning models and are a frequent choice for solving classification problems. However, determining the structure of the ANNs is not trivial as a large number of weights (connection links) may lead to overfitting the training data. Although several ANN pruning algorithms have been proposed for the simplification of ANNs, these algorithms are not able to efficiently cope with intricate ANN structures required for complex classification problems. Methods We developed DANNP, a web-based tool, that implements parallelized versions of several ANN pruning algorithms. The DANNP tool uses a modified version of the Fast Compressed Neural Network software implemented in C++ to considerably enhance the running time of the ANN pruning algorithms we implemented. In addition to the performance evaluation of the pruned ANNs, we systematically compared the set of features that remained in the pruned ANN with those obtained by different state-of-the-art feature selection (FS) methods. Results Although the ANN pruning algorithms are not entirely parallelizable, DANNP was able to speed up the ANN pruning up to eight times on a 32-core machine, compared to the serial implementations. To assess the impact of the ANN pruning by DANNP tool, we used 16 datasets from different domains. In eight out of the 16 datasets, DANNP significantly reduced the number of weights by 70%–99%, while maintaining a competitive or better model performance compared to the unpruned ANN. Finally, we used a naïve Bayes classifier derived with the features selected as a byproduct of the ANN pruning and demonstrated that its accuracy is comparable to those obtained by the classifiers trained with the features selected by several state-of-the-art FS methods. The FS ranking methodology proposed in this study allows the users to identify the most discriminant features of the problem at hand. To the best of our knowledge, DANNP (publicly available at www.cbrc.kaust.edu.sa/dannp) is the only available and on-line accessible tool that provides multiple parallelized ANN pruning options. Datasets and DANNP code can be obtained at www.cbrc.kaust.edu.sa/dannp/data.php and https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1001086.

Download Full-text