Preliminary Assessment of the Impact of Culture on Understanding Cartographic Representations

When users read a topographic map, they have to decode the represented information. This decoding passes through various processes in order to perceive, interpret, and understand the reported information. This set of processes is intrinsically a question that is influenced by culture. In particular, when one thinks of maps distributed across the internet or representations of audiences from different origins, the chance of efficient communication is reduced or at least influenced. Therefore, there should be some degree of common visual communication, which the symbology of maps can be applied in order to assure the adequate communication of phenomenon being represented on it. In this context, the present work aims at testing which evaluation factors influence the reading of maps, the understanding of space and reasoning of the map user, in particular national topographic maps. The assessment was through internet considering official map representation from Brazil and Poland and questionnaires. The results shown that conventional topographic maps on the same scale are not capable of producing the correct interpretation of the user from another culture. This means that formal training has a direct influence on the quality of the interpretation and spatial reasoning. Those results indicate that high levels of formal training positively influence the reading and interpretation results of the map and that there is no evidence that the specialists with the symbology of their own country have significantly positive results, when compared to those used maps with systematic mapping from another country.

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GENERATIVE ADVERSARIAL NETWORKS TO GENERALISE URBAN AREAS IN TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ◽

10.5194/isprs-archives-xliii-b4-2021-15-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol XLIII-B4-2021 ◽

pp. 15-22

Author(s):

A. Courtial ◽

G. Touya ◽

X. Zhang

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Topographic Maps ◽

Generative Adversarial Networks ◽

Topographic Map ◽

Generative Adversarial Network ◽

Inner Cities ◽

Adversarial Network ◽

Adversarial Networks ◽

The Impact

Abstract. This article presents how a generative adversarial network (GAN) can be employed to produce a generalised map that combines several cartographic themes in the dense context of urban areas. We use as input detailed buildings, roads, and rivers from topographic datasets produced by the French national mapping agency (IGN), and we expect as output of the GAN a legible map of these elements at a target scale of 1:50,000. This level of detail requires to reduce the amount of information while preserving patterns; covering dense inner cities block by a unique polygon is also necessary because these blocks cannot be represented with enlarged individual buildings. The target map has a style similar to the topographic map produced by IGN. This experiment succeeded in producing image tiles that look like legible maps. It also highlights the impact of data and representation choices on the quality of predicted images, and the challenge of learning geographic relationships.

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The Impact of Oral and Written Feedback on EFL Writers With the Use of Screencasts

PROFILE Issues in Teachers Professional Development ◽

10.15446/profile.v18n2.53397 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 79 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Roberto Alvira

Keyword(s):

Foreign Language ◽

Language Learners ◽

Private University ◽

Written Feedback ◽

Oral Feedback ◽

Foreign Language Learners ◽

Promising Strategy ◽

The Impact ◽

Positive Results

<p>This article, based on an action research study performed at a Colombian middle-sized private university, proposes specific strategies to provide feedback to English as a foreign language learners and uses a Web 2.0 tool called screencasting. The findings of the study suggest that the use of coded, written, and oral feedback is widely accepted by students and yields positive results in the improvement of their writing skills at the paragraph level, and that the use of screencasting is a promising strategy that is motivational to students and increases the quality of their uptake.</p>

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The Impact of a Digital Speaker on a Teacher's Interaction with a Child with Limited Functional Speech

South African Journal of Communication Disorders ◽

10.4102/sajcd.v46i1.730 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 73-82

Author(s):

Elsa Popich ◽

Erna Alant

Keyword(s):

Teacher Training ◽

Classroom Teacher ◽

Formal Training ◽

Training Phase ◽

Implementation Phase ◽

Story Time ◽

Communication Partners ◽

The Impact ◽

Withdrawal Phase

This paper describes the impact of the implementation of a digital speaker and teacher training on the quality of a teacher's interaction with an AAC user. The data was obtained by recording and analysing classroom story time interactions. The types of utterances directed at each child in the class, the types of questions used as well as the messages recorded onto the digital speaker were determined for each research phase. There were four major phases in the research, namely, a pre-implementation phase, a post-implementation phase, a post-training phase and a post-withdrawal phase. The results indicated that the implementation of the digital speaker and the training of the teacher resulted in certain changes in the way that the teacher interacted with the AAC user. Utterance types such as answering and imitating were used more frequently after the implementation of the device. There was also a much greater variety in the teacher's use of questions as well as in the messages that were recorded onto the digital speaker after the five training sessions were completed. This study highlighted the importance of formal training for the communication partners of the AAC user. One of the most important communication partners of the school-aged AAC user is the classroom teacher.

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Mediterranean Diet as a Tool to Combat Inflammation and Chronic Diseases. An Overview

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines8070201 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 201 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Christina Tsigalou ◽

Theocharis Konstantinidis ◽

Afroditi Paraschaki ◽

Elisavet Stavropoulou ◽

Chrissoula Voidarou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Diseases ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Human Wellbeing ◽

Healthy Diets ◽

Ancient Times ◽

The Impact ◽

Positive Results ◽

Better Than

Since ancient times, the quality of nourishment is a milestone for the maintenance of health and as it is stated ‘prevention is better than cure’, amongst the so-called ‘healthy’ diets Mediterranean diet (MD) claims the lion’s share. It stands in good stead because of a variety of valuable macro- and micronutrients. So, adherence to a MD is associated with the reduction of inflammation and non-communicable (NCD) OR chronic diseases. Numerous studies try to scrutinize the role of MD components as regards reducing inflammation, lowering rate, and mortality for disorders and illnesses, and preventing NCD. MD regime of the inhabitants of the Mediterranean basin includes a variety of ethnic nutritional habits and regulates an array of effects and epigenetic changes that affect human wellbeing. The research is still ongoing and endeavors to elucidate every aspect of this issue. This review focuses on the impact of MD on inflammation highlights positive results regarding NCD and indicates the need for more high-quality experiments and trials in order to overcome any discrepancies.

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How Changes in Common Practice Can Improve the Quality of Biomedical Science

10.1101/218867 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Matthias Steinfath ◽

Silvia Vogl ◽

Norman Violet ◽

Franziska Schwarz ◽

Hans Mielke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Statistical Power ◽

Scientific Practice ◽

Research Process ◽

Biomedical Science ◽

Individual Study ◽

Negative Results ◽

Negative Findings ◽

The Impact ◽

Positive Results

AbstractAssessing the impact of recommendations rectifying the reproducibility crisis (publishing both positive and “negative” results and increasing statistical power) on competing objectives, such as discovering causal relationships, avoiding publishing false positive results, and reducing resource consumption, we developed a new probabilistic model. Our model quantifies the impact of each single suggestion for an individual study and their relation and consequences for the entire research process. We can prove that higher-powered experiments can save resources in the overall research process without generating excess false positives. The better the quality of the pre-study information and its exploitation, the more likely this beneficial effect is to occur. Additionally, we quantify the adverse effects of neglecting good practices in the design and conduct of hypotheses-based research, and the responsibility to publish “negative” findings. Our contribution is a plea for adherence to or reinforcement of the good scientific practice and publication of “negative” findings.

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Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology ◽

10.1044/2020_ajslp-20-00055 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 2097-2108

Author(s):

Robyn L. Croft ◽

Courtney T. Byrd

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

The Self ◽

Future Research ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Adults Who Stutter ◽

And Gender ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

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Surgery for Lung Cancer and the Consequences for the Swallow

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp1.sig13.162 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (13) ◽

pp. 162-168

Author(s):

Pippa Hales ◽

Corinne Mossey-Gaston

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Vocal Cord Palsy ◽

Subsequent Treatment ◽

Physiological Reserve ◽

Palliative Phase ◽

And Function ◽

The Impact ◽

Swallow Function

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers across Northern America and Europe. Treatment options offered are dependent on the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, the staging, and the overall health of the person. When surgery for lung cancer is offered, difficulty swallowing is a potential complication that can have several influencing factors. Surgical interaction with the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) can lead to unilateral vocal cord palsy, altering swallow function and safety. Understanding whether the RLN has been preserved, damaged, or sacrificed is integral to understanding the effect on the swallow and the subsequent treatment options available. There is also the risk of post-surgical reduction of physiological reserve, which can reduce the strength and function of the swallow in addition to any surgery specific complications. As lung cancer has a limited prognosis, the clinician must also factor in the palliative phase, as this can further increase the burden of an already compromised swallow. By understanding the surgery and the implications this may have for the swallow, there is the potential to reduce the impact of post-surgical complications and so improve quality of life (QOL) for people with lung cancer.

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