Content Adaptation Research Articles

Cognitive load management in mobile learning systems: principles and theories

With the widespread adoption of mobile technologies, mobile-assisted learning is gaining lots of momentum. This new learning paradigm promotes education across different contexts, which is a key factor that contributes to enhancing learning irrespective of the conditions and location of the learner. Therefore, it creates an authentic learning setting whereby students can make meaningful connections to the real world while learning takes place. Previous research works in the field of mobile learning showed that improper design of learning elements is still present in mobile systems and consequently results in poor dynamic content adaptation. Some attempts to adapt learning contents with appropriate instructional design principles are conducted, but with moderate exploitation of smart technological assets in mobile learning systems and limited pedagogical reflections and cognitive factors. In this paper, a learning efficiency model chart is derived using important learning factors that can be considered to enhance mobile learning experiences. Some popular learning theories are analysed and compared with the proposed learning efficiency model chart. This investigation is considered to significantly reduce complexities that exist in mobile learning platforms and promote an enhanced mobile learning experience.

Compression-Robust and Fuzzy-Based Feature-Fusion Model for Optimizing the Iris Recognition

Iris Recognition is gaining popularity in various online and offline authentication and multi-model biometric systems. The non-altering and non-obscuring nature of Iris have increased its reliability in authentication systems. The iris images captured in an uncontrolled environment and situation is the challenging issue of the iris recognition. In this paper, a compression robust and KPCA-Gabor fused model is presented to recognize the iris image accurately under these complexities. The illumination and noise robustness is included in this pre-processing stage for gaining the robustness and reliability against complex capturing. The effective compression features are generated as a phase pre-treatment vector using the Logarithmic quantization method. (Kernel Principal Component Analysis) KPCA and Gabor filters are applied to the rectified image for generating the textural features. The compression is also applied to Gabor and KPCA filtered images. The fuzzy adaptive content level fusion is applied to the compression image, KPCA-Compression, and Gabor-Compression iris-image. (K-Nearest Neighbors) KNN based mapping is used to this composite-fused and reduced feature set to recognize the individual. The proposed compression and fusion-feature based model is applied to CASIA-Iris, UBIRIS, and IITD datasets. The comparative evaluations against earlier approaches identify that the proposed model has improved the recognition accuracy and the reduction in error-rate is also achieved.

Adaptation of an Evidence-Based Intervention for Disability Prevention, Implemented by Community Health Workers Serving Ethnic Minority Elders

Changing demographics have created substantial unmet needs for mental health and physical disability services for immigrant and racial/ethnic minority elders. Workforce shortages can be reduced by task-shifting to community health workers (CHWs) who speak the same language and share the culture of these elders. Yet, implementation of interventions offered by CHWs requires adaptations of content and delivery, ideally under clinical supervision. To culturally adapt two evidence-based interventions, offered in community settings, to address mental health and physical disability prevention for diverse minority elders. We followed the Castro-Barrera stepped model for cultural adaptation of two evidence-based interventions into one combined program of disability management and prevention delivered by CHWs. We used feedback from key stakeholders, including four clinical supervisors, 16 CHWs, 17 exercise trainers, and 153 participants, collected at three time points to further adapt the intervention to a diverse population of elders. Adaptations for administration by CHWs/exercise trainers included: systematization of supervision process, increased flexibility in sessions offered per participants' needs, inclusion of self-care content, modification of materials to better reflect elders' daily life experiences, and greater focus on patient engagement in care. Areas for additional adaptation included enhancing examples with culturally relevant metaphors, incorporating visual aids, and training CHWs in the importance of building trust. This study identifies key aspects of the cultural adaptation process that facilitates broader cultural sensitivity of service delivery by CHWs to diverse elders in community settings.

An adaptive content based closer proximity pixel replacement algorithm for high density salt and pepper noise removal in images

An Adaptive Content based Closer Proximity Pixel Replacement algorithm for the removal of high density salt and pepper noise in images is proposed. The algorithm uses decision tree to identify and correct the pixels of the image is noisy or not. The algorithm finds Euclidean distance between the processed pixel and the number of non-noisy pixels inside the current processing kernel. The algorithm requires only two non-noisy pixels to be present in kernel for the algorithm to operate. The faulty pixels are replaced only by the median of pixels that occurs more frequently in the current processing kernel based on the Euclidean distance. The algorithm increases the window size by two when there are no non-noisy pixels in the current processing kernel. The proposed algorithm was compared with 16 standard and existing algorithms derived from recent literatures. Exhaustive experiments on standard database images suggest that the algorithm exhibit excellent noise suppression and good information preservation characteristics even at very high noise densities.

Community Matters: Student–Instructor Relationships Foster Student Motivation and Engagement in an Emergency Remote Teaching Environment

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted face-to-face instruction in educational institutions all over the world. As instructors we had to scramble to completely change courses to emergency remote delivery, sometimes with only a few days’ notice. Herein, we present reflections on the successes and challenges we encountered following the sudden and unexpected transition to remote delivery. We also address ways that we managed the obstacles faced, from overcoming technological issues posed by remote delivery to adaptation of laboratory content for emergency remote delivery. In addition, we discuss successful strategies for assessment of student learning and student engagement in the online environment. Overall, we found that students’ motivation was high, as indicated by online class attendance and engagement with course activities. We believe that the existing strong student–instructor relationships at our small liberal arts and sciences campus contributed to the unexpectedly high level of student engagement.

Explanatory style in youth self-harm: an Indian qualitative study to inform intervention design

BackgroundThere are very few studies that have examined the effectiveness of psychological interventions (PIs) that have been developed and tested in high-income countries to reduce self-harm in low and middle-income...

Roundness-Preserving Warping for Aesthetic Enhancement-Based Stereoscopic Image Editing

Image editing is an effective solution to adapt contents for different applications. In this paper, we present a roundness-preserving warping model for stereoscopic image editing, in which energy constraints from image quality energy, aesthetics energy and depth adaptation energy are involved in the framework to solve the optimization. Specifically, to preserve object roundness during warping, the relationship between object's shape and disparity is established and is applied for depth adaptation. Different from the existing stereoscopic image editing methods, the main innovations of our method are to achieve a tradeoff in balancing information loss and reducing semantic distortion while providing a novel death adaptation model for recomposition and retargeting applications. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in enhancing the aesthetics of stereoscopic images.

DEVELOPING ADAPTIVE LEARNING MANAGEMENT APPLICATION FOR PROJECT TEAM IN IT-INDUSTRY

Keeping employees aligned with modern trends and developments in their professional areas is the main focus of a lifelong lea rning approach. That becomes even more important for such dynamic industries like Information Technology. Therefore, it’s crucial to extend existing e-learning management system with an adaptive training component that enables the effective study of on-demand skills, leading to a broader range of candidates available for project management to select from and consequently improving the overall performance of an IT company. To improve the existing learning process according to company's and employee's needs the overview of a typical learning management system functionality is given in this paper. The main benefits from the adoption of a learning management system in small and medium-sized IT-companies were discussed, analysis of their features and problems was given. The adjustment plan for the typical learning management system to be suitable for the information technology domain including module of the adaptive learning content selection using the basic principles of graph theory was proposed to reduce the time of the learning process. LMS OpenOLAT was reworked according to the adjustment plan which is reflected by the number of diagrams such as sequence diagram, IDEF0 business process description, activity diagram that shows search algorithm steps and application component diagram. Also, GUI was adjusted to provide user with a good look and feel. The benefits of the proposed approach in business processes of IT-company are shown using “Academy – Smart”. To prove the efficiency of the proposed algorithm, real courses were used. Based on the learning material, provided by “Coursera”, a number of test cases was formed and analyzed. After applying adaptive content selection algorithm according to the models of “Academy – Smart” employees, learning time was reduced and optimized. This investigation has shown significant improvement in the resource management process and acceleration of the learning process for employees.

The Cultural Adaptation of Step-by-Step: An Intervention to Address Depression Among Chinese Young Adults.

BackgroundDigital mental health interventions leverage digital communication technology to address the mental health needs of populations. Culturally adapting interventions can lead to a successful, scalable mental health intervention implementation, and cultural adaptation of digital mental health interventions is a critical component to implementing interventions at scale within contexts where mental health services are not well supported.ObjectiveThe study aims to describe the cultural adaptation of a digital mental health intervention Step-by-Step in order to address depression among Chinese young adults.MethodsCultural adaptation was carried out in four phases following Ecological Validity Model: (1) stage setting and expert consultation; (2) preliminary content adaptation; (3) iterative content adaptation with community members; (4) finalized adaptation with community feedback meetings. Cognitive interviewing was applied to probe for relevance, acceptability, comprehensibility, and completeness of illustrations and text. Six mental health experts and 34 Chinese young adults were recruited for key informant interviews and focus group discussions.ResultsWe adapted the text and illustrations to fit the culture among Chinese young adults. Eight elements of the intervention were chosen as the targets of cultural adaptation (e.g., language, metaphors, content). Samples of major adaptations included: adding scenarios related to university life (relevance), changing leading characters from a physician to a peer and a cartoon (acceptability), incorporating two language versions (traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese) in the intervention (comprehensibility), and maintaining fundamental therapeutic components (completeness).ConclusionThis study showed the utility of using Ecological Validity Model and a four-point procedure framework for cultural adaptation and achieved a culturally appropriate version of the Step-by-Step program for Chinese young adults.

Resistance training upregulates skeletal muscle Na+, K+-ATPase content, with elevations in both α1 and α2, but not β isoforms.

The Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) is important in regulating trans-membrane ion gradients, cellular excitability and muscle function. We investigated the effects of resistance training in healthy young adults on the adaptability of NKA content and of the specific α and β isoforms in human skeletal muscle. Twenty-one healthy young males (22.9 ± 4.6 year; 1.80 ± 0.70 m, 85.1 ± 17.8 kg, mean ± SD) underwent 7 weeks of resistance training, training three times per week (RT, n = 16) or control (CON, n = 5). The training program was effective with a 39% gain in leg press muscle strength (p = 0.001). A resting vastus lateralis muscle biopsy was taken before and following RT or CON and assayed for NKA content ([3H]ouabain binding site content) and NKA isoform (α1, α2, β1, β2) abundances. After RT, each of NKA content (12%, 311 ± 76 vs 349 ± 76 pmol g wet weight-1, p = 0.01), NKA α1 (32%, p = 0.01) and α2 (10%, p < 0.01) isoforms were increased, whereas β1 (p = 0.18) and β2 (p = 0.22) isoforms were unchanged. NKA content and isoform abundances were unchanged during CON. Resistance training increased muscle NKA content through upregulation of both α1 and α2 isoforms, which were independent of β isoform changes. In animal models, modulations in α1 and α2 isoform abundances in skeletal muscle may affect fatigue resistance during exercise, muscle hypertrophy and strength. Whether similar in-vivo functional benefits of these NKA isoform adaptations occurs in human muscle with resistance training remains to be determined.

On Using Multiple Disabilities Profiles to Adapt Multimedia Documents

Currently, advanced technological hardware can offer mobile devices which fits in the hand with a capacity to consult documents at anytime and anywhere. Multiple user context constraints as well as mobile device capabilities may involve the adaptation of multimedia content. In this article, the authors propose a new graph-based method for adapting multimedia documents in complex situations. Each contextual situation could correspond to a physical handicap and therefore triggers an adaptation action using ontological reasoning. Consequently, when several contextual situations are identified, this leads to multiple disabilities and may give rise to inconsistency between triggered actions. Their method allows modeling relations between adaptation-actions to select the compatible triggerable ones. In order to evaluate the feasibility and the performance of their proposal, an experimental study has been made on some real scenarios. When tested and compared with some existing approaches, their proposal showed improvements according to various criteria.

Five Learning Design Principles to Create Active Learning for Engaging with Research in a MOOC

Abstract Creating a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) based on analysis from research requires the adaptation of MOOC pedagogies. For example, course designers need to follow certain design principles and adapt learning content to the pedagogies and constraints of a MOOC platform. That said, this paper outlines five different learning design principles that create active learning in a MOOC. These emerged when adapting knowledge from a research case study. To exemplify the adaptation, this paper examines how research from a sociological, qualitative classroom study about a teacher who used digital technologies in foreign-language training at a Norwegian high school was adapted for a MOOC that ran on FutureLearn.

A Web Based System Design for Creating Content in Adaptive Educational Hypermedia and Its Usability

Adaptive educational hypermedia is an environment that offers an individualized learning environment according to the characteristics, knowledge and purpose of the students. In general, adaptive educational hypermedia, a user model is created based on user characteristics and adaptations are made in terms of text, content or presentation according to the created user model. Different contents according to the user model are shown as much as user model creation in adaptive educational hypermedia. The development of applications that allow the creation of adaptive content according to the features specified in the user model has great importance in ensuring the use of adaptive educational hypermedia in different contexts. The purpose of this research is to develop a web-based application for creating content in adaptive educational hypermedia and to examine the usability of the developed application. In order to examine the usability of the application developed in the scope of the study, a field expert opinion form was developed and opinions were asked about the usability of the application from 7 different field experts. As the result of the opinions, it has been seen that the application developed has a high usability level. In addition, based on domain expert recommendations, system revisions were made and the system was published at www.adaptivecontentdevelopment.com.

Academics’ Training for International Communication and Collaboration

The article deals with the problem of academics acquisition of practical skills in international communication and collaboration. The authors investigate the Russian and overseas experience of academics teaching for international pedagogical integration in terms of its possible educational outcomes. The paper proves that academics should be oriented towards the comprehensive assessment of the modern overseas pedagogical approaches and professional development principles and their comparison with the approaches in the Russian Federation. The authors apply modeling, content analysis of the university educational programs, and theoretical overview of the research papers which are related to this article. The authors conclude that interactive learning contributes to academics international integration. The results of the paper can be used in the system of higher education to develop academic programs and assessment tools. The research is recommended for the university lecturers and specialists dealing with optimization and adaptation of training content and teaching methodology to labour market needs.

Low-delay single holoscopic 3D computer-generated image to multiview images

Due to the nature of holoscopic 3D (H3D) imaging technology, H3D cameras can capture more angular information than their conventional 2D counterparts. This is mainly attributed to the macrolens array which captures the 3D scene with slightly different viewing angles and generates holoscopic elemental images based on fly’s eyes imaging concept. However, this advantage comes at the cost of decreasing the spatial resolution in the reconstructed images. On the other hand, the consumer market is looking to find an efficient multiview capturing solution for the commercially available autostereoscopic displays. The autostereoscopic display provides multiple viewers with the ability to simultaneously enjoy a 3D viewing experience without the need for wearing 3D display glasses. This paper proposes a low-delay content adaptation framework for converting a single holoscopic 3D computer-generated image into multiple viewpoint images. Furthermore, it investigates the effects of varying interpolation step sizes on the converted multiview images using the nearest neighbour and bicubic sampling interpolation techniques. In addition, it evaluates the effects of changing the macrolens array size, using the proposed framework, on the perceived visual quality both objectively and subjectively. The experimental work is conducted on computer-generated H3D images with different macrolens sizes. The experimental results show that the proposed content adaptation framework can be used to capture multiple viewpoint images to be visualised on autostereoscopic displays.

How far do parenting programmes help change norms underpinning violence against adolescents? Evidence from low and middle-income countries

ABSTRACT Recent years have seen an upsurge in parent education programmes in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) that aim to help reduce violence against children. This article draws on a narrative review that examined the impact of 42 programmes working with parents of adolescents in LMICs. Here we focus on 17 initiatives that aimed to reduce neglect of, or physical, emotional or sexual violence against adolescents, or to reduce child marriage. Programmes aiming to prevent sexual violence or child marriage generally focused more strongly on understanding and challenging prevailing norms, while those oriented to preventing physical and emotional violence emphasised sharing information and practising new communication skills. We argue that key elements of programme design (group-based participatory sessions, formative research that enabled sensitive framing and adaptation of content) have strong potential to help shift norms that underpin violence against adolescents. To fulfil their potential to change norms underpinning violence against adolescents, programmes should expand their reach, with a particular focus on embedding initiatives within institutions that can take them to scale, promoting male engagement, and support participants to maintain changes over the long-term.

Genome and sequence determinants governing the expression of horizontally acquired DNA in bacteria.

While horizontal gene transfer is prevalent across the biosphere, the regulatory features that enable expression and functionalization of foreign DNA remain poorly understood. Here, we combine high-throughput promoter activity measurements and large-scale genomic analysis of regulatory regions to investigate the cross-compatibility of regulatory elements (REs) in bacteria. Functional characterization of thousands of natural REs in three distinct bacterial species revealed distinct expression patterns according to RE and recipient phylogeny. Host capacity to activate foreign promoters was proportional to their genomic GC content, while many low GC regulatory elements were both broadly active and had more transcription start sites across hosts. The difference in expression capabilities could be explained by the influence of the host GC content on the stringency of the AT-rich canonical σ70 motif necessary for transcription initiation. We further confirm the generalizability of this model and find widespread GC content adaptation of the σ70 motif in a set of 1,545 genomes from all major bacterial phyla. Our analysis identifies a key mechanism by which the strength of the AT-rich σ70 motif relative to a host’s genomic GC content governs the capacity for expression of acquired DNA. These findings shed light on regulatory adaptation in the context of evolving genomic composition.

Design, development and usability testing of Essential Coaching for Every Mother: A postnatal text message educational intervention

BackgroundThe transition to motherhood is an exciting yet challenging period that requires physical, emotional, and social adjustment. During the postpartum period, mothers require support and information to ensure a smooth transition and adjustment to motherhood. One innovative strategy to provide mothers with this information is mobile health (mHealth), and specifically, text messaging. ObjectiveTo describe the design, development and usability testing of a postnatal text message intervention called Essential Coaching for Every Mother. MethodsFirst time mothers (n=11) and postpartum healthcare providers (n=18) were involved in iterative interviewing in Halifax, Canada. Adaption of content occurred through three rounds of user testing using semi-structured interviews. The Information Assessment Method (IAM) Parents survey was also completed by mothers. ResultsThree cycles of iterative testing were conducted with eight participants (3 mothers, 5 healthcare providers), thirteen participants (8 mothers, 5 healthcare providers) and 8 participants (8 healthcare providers), respectively. Messages evolved from risk-focused to prevention and education focused. Mothers felt the messages addressed their needs and healthcare providers ensured the content was consistent with the messaging currently provided to postpartum mothers. ConclusionEssential Coaching for Every Mother is the first postnatal educational text message intervention developed for mothers in Halifax, Canada. We sought to involve first time mothers (end-users) and postpartum healthcare providers (experts) in the development and usability evaluation to ensure the intervention adequately met needs and was consistent with current practices related to postpartum education.

Auditing News Curation Systems: A Case Study Examining Algorithmic and Editorial Logic in Apple News

This work presents an audit study of Apple News as a sociotechnical news curation system that exercises gatekeeping power in the media. We examine the mechanisms behind Apple News as well as the content presented in the app, outlining the social, political, and economic implications of both aspects. We focus on the Trending Stories section, which is algorithmically curated, and the Top Stories section, which is human-curated. Results from a crowdsourced audit showed minimal content personalization in the Trending Stories section, and a sock-puppet audit showed no location-based content adaptation. Finally, we perform an extended two-month data collection to compare the human-curated Top Stories section with the algorithmically-curated Trending Stories section. Within these two sections, human curation outperformed algorithmic curation in several measures of source diversity, concentration, and evenness. Furthermore, algorithmic curation featured more “soft news” about celebrities and entertainment, while editorial curation featured more news about policy and international events. To our knowledge, this study provides the first data-backed characterization of Apple News in the United States.

Adaptations in GLUT4 Expression in Response to Exercise Detraining Linked to Downregulation of Insulin-Dependent Pathways in Cardiac but not in Skeletal Muscle Tissue.

Insulin resistance is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, and exercise training can improve insulin-mediated glucose uptake. However, few studies have demonstrated the reversibility of exercise-induced benefits. Thus, the authors examine the time-response effects of exercise training and detraining on glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) content, insulin-dependent and insulin-independent pathways in cardiac and gastrocnemius muscle tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Thirty-two male spontaneously hypertensive rats, 4 months old, were assigned to (n = 8/group): T (exercise training: 10-week treadmill exercise, 50-70% maximum effort capacity, 1hr/day, 5days/week); D2 (exercise training + 2-day detraining), D4 (exercise training + 4-day detraining); and S (no exercise). The authors evaluated insulin resistance, maximum effort capacity, GLUT4 content, p-IRS-1Tyr1179, p-AS160Ser588, p-AMPKα1Thr172, and p-CaMKIIThr286 in cardiac and gastrocnemius muscle tissues (Western blot). In response to exercise training, there were improvements in insulin resistance (15.4%; p = .010), increased GLUT4 content (microsomal, 29.4%; p = .012; plasma membrane, 27.1%; p < .001), p-IRS-1 (42.2%; p < .001), p-AS160 (60.0%; p < .001) in cardiac tissue, and increased GLUT4 content (microsomal, 29.4%; p = .009; plasma membrane, 55.5%; p < .001), p-IRS-1 (28.1%; p = .018), p-AS160 (76.0%; p < .001), p-AMPK-α1 (37.5%; p = .026), and p-CaMKII (30.0%; p = .040) in the gastrocnemius tissue. In D4 group, the exercise-induced increase in GLUT4 was reversed (plasma membrane, -21.3%; p = .027), p-IRS1 (-37.1%; p = .008), and p-AS160 (-82.6%; p < .001) in the cardiac tissue; p-AS160 expression (-35.7%; p = .034) was reduced in the gastrocnemius. In conclusion, the cardiac tissue is more susceptible to exercise adaptations in the GLUT4 content and signaling pathways than the gastrocnemius muscle. This finding may be explained by particular characteristics of insulin-dependent and insulin-independent pathways in the muscle tissues studied.