Experts In Different Domains Research Articles

Information Retrieval and Machine Learning Methods for Academic Expert Finding

In the context of academic expert finding, this paper investigates and compares the performance of information retrieval (IR) and machine learning (ML) methods, including deep learning, to approach the problem of identifying academic figures who are experts in different domains when a potential user requests their expertise. IR-based methods construct multifaceted textual profiles for each expert by clustering information from their scientific publications. Several methods fully tailored for this problem are presented in this paper. In contrast, ML-based methods treat expert finding as a classification task, training automatic text classifiers using publications authored by experts. By comparing these approaches, we contribute to a deeper understanding of academic-expert-finding techniques and their applicability in knowledge discovery. These methods are tested with two large datasets from the biomedical field: PMSC-UGR and CORD-19. The results show how IR techniques were, in general, more robust with both datasets and more suitable than the ML-based ones, with some exceptions showing good performance.

Focus on Text Producers: Plain and Easy Language in the Swiss Multilingual Institutional Context

This paper was carried out as part of the MACSI project (Multilingual Accessible Communication in Swiss Institutions) and focuses on a case study carried out with the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). The broad aim of this cooperation with the FSO is to evaluate ways of implementing multilingual accessible expert-lay communication on statistics. Switzerland boasts a long-established tradition of clear writing at institutional level. Being a multilingual country, accessible communication is institutionally mandatory in all its official languages.
 While most of the research on accessible communication is text and recipient-based, in this study we focused primarily on drafters, who are specialized experts in different domains, as well as on translators, who have to face the challenges of interlinguistic transfer of both specialized and plain communication. This paper presents the results from a questionnaire on accessibility submitted to drafters and translators within the FSO. The answers show that drafters address several target groups with the same text and or they produce different texts for different target groups. Moreover, both drafters and translators have little knowledge and experience with plain and easy language, although most of them are interested in putting more effort into writing lay-friendly texts. Thus, there is a need for sensitising and training drafters and translators so that they are able to adapt content, level of technicality and language to the different levels of expertise when producing different multilingual accessible texts.

KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION OF BUILT HERITAGE MAPPING AN AD HOC DATA MODEL IN OGC STANDARDS: THE CASE STUDY OF PITTI PALACE IN FLORENCE, ITALY

Abstract. The description of a historic building can be made by considering many different aspects: stylistic, technological, formal, function-related, etc. In Architecture, as in any artistic form, intangible elements also play an essential role and are closely related to individual interpretation; therefore, achieving an objective description is challenging, and several efforts have been undertaken over time to reach the goal.Nested hierarchical or complex multi-dimensional relationship structures can be defined to represent various interrelationships between a huge variety of elements and their properties. Categorisation, standards definitions and adoptions, data modelling, etc., should come after the data collection phase to adequately support the sharing of disparate datasets and thus facilitate communication between experts in different domains and improve knowledge dissemination.The paper considers different approaches in the built heritage representation, then presents the ad hoc data model initially adopted in the Pitti Palace documentation project, where a comprehensive and highly detailed 3D digitisation project was recently carried out, and finally proposes to map it into widely adopted standard, such are CityGML and IndoorGML.

Enabling End-Users in Designing and Executing of Complex, Collaborative Robotic Processes

Over the last years, capabilities of robotic systems have quantitatively and qualitatively improved. But going beyond isolated robotic systems, the integration and interoperability of robotic capabilities in complex work processes remains a major challenge. This lack of tools to integrate robots needs to be addressed on technical, semantic and organizational level. In the ROBxTASK research project, we developed an approach to support cooperation between different types of users in order to enable domain experts, with no robotic know-how, to work with robot-assisted workflows. By engineering robotic skills at a useful and usable level of abstraction for experts in different domains, we aim to increase re-usability of these skills on two different levels, (robotic) device level, and on level of application specific workflows. The researched prototype consists of a web platform, which allows (a) engineers to register (robotic) devices and the implemented skills of the devices, (b) domain experts to use a graphical task design environment to create workflows across multiple robotic devices and lastly (c) robot co-workers to download and execute the workflow code in a local environment with digital twins or real robots. Additionally skills and workflows can be shared across organisations. Initial user studies have shown that the visual programming environment is accessible and the defined skill-set is easy to understand even for domain experts that are inexperienced in the field of robotics.

A Systematic Review of Dynamic Wireless Charging System for Electric Transportation

Green electricity and green transportation are the primary requirements for smart cities. Maximizing the EV utilization is the key requirement in the development of green transportation. However, the EV technology faces challenges due to the long battery recharging time and heavy batteries to achieve extended driving ranges. Different approaches are investigated to charge the EV by battery swapping, plugin or wireless. Recently the wireless charging approach is gaining popularity because of safety, extended driving range, dynamic charging and human intervention free recharging. However, multiple factors need to considered in the design of WPT system and requires expertise in different domains. This paper discusses a systematic approach on the various parameters involved in a dynamic wireless charging system design. The major functional units in WPT such as charging couplers, compensation network, and power inverters topologies are addressed. Additionally, this paper discusses the issues involved in grid-tied and renewable integrated dynamic charging systems. Moreover, the step by step procesdure is described to understand the process involved in the dynamic charging system design. Finally, various case studies at different power levels are presented to get more insights into practical design.

Conferința Națională de Asistență Socială Penitenciară cu participare internațională – ediția Ia, Iași, 14-16 martie 2019

The context or pretext of this Conference was a challenge for the experts of different domains to identify some solutions in order to build a safer society for us and our children by studying: the aspects regarding the origins and typologies of criminal behaviors, the elements of the theory and practice of social services towards inmates and the mechanism and importance of institutional collaboration for relapse prevention. The penitentiary as “a total institution”, tight, with its own organization, is just like any other community, governed by written and unwritten rules. Besides solitude, depression, rage, indignation, in this world one can feel positivism, power of rehabilitation and desire for affirmation. This is the context where the penitentiary social worker has to, on the short term, demonstrate the capacity of fast decision making. On the other hand, on the long term, he/she must intervene one step at the time using high-fidelity techniques, scientifically approved for the targeted population; all of this representing an assurance of professional success. The complexity of the detention imposes an integrated and complete approach; thus the actual approaches must be completed with new techniques that regard the human as a whole in a shifting dynamic.

The Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille’s Biobank

The biobank of the Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM) works as a multi-site biobank around one Quality Management System. The biobank works on the collection, preparation, storage and release of biological resources and their associated data. It receives tissue samples for neoplasms, DNA and cells for rare genetic diseases and blood samples for hematological and cardiovascular diseases. These samples are provided and classified by experts of different domains; the samples are under strict technical protocols with appropriate clinical data. This wide range of sample types, diseases and services allows collaborations with public or private laboratories to customize research projects or therapeutic trials. <strong><br /></strong> <strong>Funding statement:</strong> The AP-HM biobank is supported by the French government’s MIG grant, intended to cover part of its annual cost based on its annual activity, valorization of released samples and funds from the AP-HM.

Dataset of Search Results Organized as Learning Paths Recommended by Experts to Support Search as Learning

In this article, we introduce a dataset of curated learning paths (LPs) to support search as learning. LPs were obtained through an online survey delivered to experts in different domains. Data were then analyzed and described in terms of a set of variables. The resulting dataset comprised 83 LPs, each containing three web pages, for an overall collection consisting of 249 documents. The dataset is intended to provide information scientists, education researchers, and industry professionals, who provide information services in educational contexts, a valuable resource to (i) investigate patterns in the order of LPs, (ii) improve ranking models and/or re-ranking methods, (iii) explain the structure of the recommended LPs, and (iv) investigate alternative approaches to display search results based on the features of LPs.

Main Events List/Main Incidents List Development Process for Computer Assisted Exercises

Abstract In order to train commanders in the decision making process we cannot rely only on simulation systems. It takes more than war-gaming to be able to train higher-headquarters and a proven solution to achieve that is by using computer assisted exercises (CAX). The higher the headquarters that needs to be trained, the more complicated the systems’ architecture becomes, for both functional area services and simulation systems together with their auxiliary tools. It takes subject matter experts in different domains and up to 18 months to plan a computer assisted exercise. Every stage of the exercise planning process involves using different systems and building their databases. In order for the commanders to be successfully trained in the decision making process, they need to face operational dilemmas. The Main Events List/Main Incidents List (MEL/MIL) planning team’s job during the exercise planning phase is to develop the major events, incidents and injects which will trigger the operational dilemmas and will force the commanders to make decisions in dynamic and fast-paced environments. The MEL/MIL plays a key role in ensuring a successful execution phase of an exercise and this study explains in detail the complex 8 month process of building the MEL/MIL database.

Challenges and opportunities in developing decision support systems for risk assessment and management of forest invasive alien species

Biological invasions represent an increasing threat to ecosystems worldwide, with negative ecological and socio-economic impacts, whereas risk assessment and management remain challenging. The development of decision support systems (DSS) has the potential to help decision-makers and managers mitigate invasive species, but few DSS exist for forest invasive alien species (FIAS). The use of DSS in forestry is not new but they represent an asset in decision making in times of increasing complexity of issues foresters face and factors to consider. Yet, few forest DSS address the problem of FIAS. In this review, we identify key elements of the FIAS risk-assessment and management decision-making process, discuss these elements with a model-based DSS development perspective, and summarize outstanding challenges and opportunities for FIAS DSS development. FIAS DSS should not only estimate the probability of FIAS invasion but also consider forest vulnerability and quantify exposure (i.e., value at risk), while allowing different threat scenarios and possible solutions to be compared. Such a complete risk assessment and management calls for integrative modelling approaches that explicitly link different components of FIAS invasion, management, and impact assessment into a DSS. Such integrative modelling is challenging and may require collaboration among experts of different domains. International collaboration is also needed to facilitate data exchange, as the lack of data is one of the main challenges. In many cases, data and ecological knowledge of invasive species are too limited (in quantity or quality) to constitute useful input to DSS or their components (e.g., species distribution model). Another challenge is to better consider the multiple sources of uncertainties inherent to modelling invasions (e.g., host preferences and behavior, forest vulnerability, potential impacts, and cost and benefits of mitigation actions) when assessing FIAS risk and communicating results from risk assessment. Communication with stakeholders and DSS end-users, in fact, appears as one of the keys to successful DSS development and appropriation, not only to ensure that they correspond to end-users’ needs but also to ensure ease of use, functionality, and good visualization of DSS outputs.

First Summer Course in Animal Law in Scandinavia hosted by Aarhus University

Last July the first summer course in Animal Law took place at Aarhus University, Scandinavia, one of Europe’s most renowned universities. The course was created and lectured by Sacha Lucassen (MA Animal Law and Society, UAB - 5th Edition) and welcomed students not only from all over Europe, but even from Vietnam, Kenya, China and Australia. It revolved around the main question “How and to what extend are – or should - animals be protected by the law?” Experts in different domains within the scope of Animal Law delivered valuable contributions to the course during several guest lecturers. The course put Animal Law on the academic program in Denmark and will take place again next summer.

Design and standardization of tools for assessing the perceived heart risk and heart health literacy in Iran.

Objectives:The aim is to achieve the standard tools for heart health, the present study aimed to design, develop, and standardize the two questionnaires of perceived heart risk scale (PHRS) and heart health literacy scale (HHLS).Methods:The present study was a methodological research conducted on the residents of Kermanshah Province, Iran, using the multi-stage cluster sampling. Further, considering the scientific methods in the psychometric field, the design of the research questionnaires was conducted. In addition, the viewpoints of experts in different domains were qualitatively and quantitatively included to assess the validity of the questionnaires. To assess the reliability of the questionnaires, a sample including 31 subjects was first selected and studied within a fortnight's interval. Then, the reliability and validity of the scales were assessed using factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha in a sample of 771 subjects.Results:After reviewing the viewpoints of experts, the items were adjusted and implemented in the first sample at two stages. The results were indicative of the stability and acceptability of the Cronbach's alpha. In addition, the validity and reliability of the questionnaires were confirmed in the second sample too.Conclusion:According to the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the two questionnaires of PHRS and HHLS had acceptable reliability and validity.

Simplified Graphical Domain-Specific Languages as Communication Tools in the Process of Developing Mobile Systems for Reporting Life-Threatening Situations – the Perspective of Technical Persons

AbstractReporting systems based on mobile technologies and feedback from regular citizens are becoming increasingly popular, especially as far as protection of environmental and cultural heritage is concerned. Reporting life-threatening situations, such as sudden natural disasters or traffic accidents, belongs to the same class of problems and could be aided by IT systems of a similar architecture. Designing and developing systems for reporting life-threatening situations is not a trivial task, requiring close cooperation between software developers and experts in different domains, who could possibly find industrially recognized languages and notations difficult. Thus, the question is whether using simplified graphical domain-specific languages (SGDSLs) could help in creating a common communication platform. It has been revealed that domain experts have a preference for such languages as they offer good learnability, readability and ability to focus on the idea of application. The perspective of developers (technical persons) is introduced on the basis of feedback obtained from 84 students of Computer Science at the Lublin University of Technology, who attended comprehensive workshops followed by an anonymous survey. All participants received theoretical and practical training in modeling mobile software using the same set of languages as domain experts. An analysis of the results revealed that opinions expressed by technical and nontechnical persons concerning SGDSLs oriented on defining a flow of actions is consistent. Most respondents claimed that such languages might be valuable as tools for creating a common communication platform.

Perspectives of Simplified Graphical Domain-Specific Languages as Communication Tools in Developing Mobile Systems for Reporting Life-Threatening Situations

Abstract Reporting systems, based on mobile technologies and feedback from regular citizens, are constantly gaining popularity, especially when it comes to environmental and cultural heritage protection. Reporting life-threatening situations, such as sudden natural disasters or traffic accidents, constitutes the same class of problems and could be aided by IT systems of similar architecture. Emergency services also could benefit from such kinds of solutions, e.g., by getting an accurate location of the place where help is needed as well as fast exchange of information. Designing and developing systems for reporting life-threatening situations is not a trivial task, requiring tight cooperation among software developers and experts of different domains, who most likely would have trouble with industrially recognized languages and notations. Thus, the question is whether using simplified graphical domain-specific languages (SGDSLs) could help in creating a common communication platform. In order to answer that question, short workshops were conducted at the University of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic and in Lublin, Poland. They involved people trained during their studies to work in administration and emergency services, among others, as policy makers, medicine specialists, environmentalists, or managers. All participants received brief training in graphical modeling languages in the context of modeling mobile applications and were asked to voluntarily fill in an anonymous survey in order to check their knowledge about and attitude toward the presented technologies. Most respondents claimed that SGDSLs oriented on defining a flow of actions might be valuable as tools for creating a common communication platform.

Standardization of English Navigation Terminology in Railway Traffic Domain

The technical progress and the globalization accelerate rapidly the development of new disciplines and sub-disciplines. Consequently, new and specific terminology is necessary. In addition, the interdisciplinarity contributes as well to the development of communication problems between non-professionals and experts of a special domain or between experts of different domains—as well at international level. Usually, technical terms are defined differently according to their domains. Therefore, a new terminological approach will avoid semantic vagueness as synonymy, antonymy, risk of confusion, hypernymy-hyponymy relations and polysemy, homonymy, etc.. For example, the terms “localization” and “positioning” are prototypes for this semantic vagueness. The objective of the iglos (“intelligent glossary”) terminology work of the Institute of Traffic Safety and Automation Engineering of the Technische Universitat Braunschweig is to clarify the multilingual and multidisciplinary misunderstanding between special languages of different domains by standardizing the definitions of technical terms. The focus of this paper lies on semantic problems of English navigation terminology in railway traffic domain and the clarification of the semantic vagueness between its terms with a modeling process and a linguistic method with different criteria. Finally, the result of these approaches should be a consistent navigation terminology in the railway domain.

Post-approval regulatory writing – How different is it from writing pre-approval documents?

Regulatory writing has various facets to it with good writing skills as a preliminary requirement. Well written reports form the basis of all regulatory submissions for marketing approval and its success largely depends on the research information presented to the regulators. Submission package should comply with the required guidelines and report structure. In addition, they should be written in a style that allows regulators easy access to the safety and efficacy information needed for making a decision on marketing the drug. Post-approval writing can present some interesting situations and challenges to the sponsor and the medical writer. It is important for a medical writer to be aware of these situations and make the necessary plans to surpass them, working with experts in different domains to ensure timely availability of the right drug to the right patients. The article describes in detail some of these situations.

A Software Architecture for Simulation Support in Building Automation

Building automation integrates the active components in a building and, thus, has to connect components of different industries. The goal is to provide reliable and efficient operation. This paper describes how simulation can support building automation and how the deployment process of simulation assisted building control systems can be structured. We look at the process as a whole and map it to a set of formally described workflows that can partly be automated. A workbench environment supports the process execution by means of improved planning, collaboration and deployment. This framework allows integration of existing tools, as well as manual tasks, and is, therefore, many more intricate than regular software deployment tools. The complex environment of building commissioning requires expertise in different domains, especially lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, measurement and control technology, as well as energy efficiency; therefore, we present a framework for building commissioning and describe a deployment process that is capable of supporting the various phases of this approach.

N2A: a computational tool for modeling from neurons to algorithms

The exponential increase in available neural data has combined with the exponential growth in computing (“Moore's law”) to create new opportunities to understand neural systems at large scale and high detail. The ability to produce large and sophisticated simulations has introduced unique challenges to neuroscientists. Computational models in neuroscience are increasingly broad efforts, often involving the collaboration of experts in different domains. Furthermore, the size and detail of models have grown to levels for which understanding the implications of variability and assumptions is no longer trivial. Here, we introduce the model design platform N2A which aims to facilitate the design and validation of biologically realistic models. N2A uses a hierarchical representation of neural information to enable the integration of models from different users. N2A streamlines computational validation of a model by natively implementing standard tools in sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification. The part-relationship representation allows both network-level analysis and dynamical simulations. We will demonstrate how N2A can be used in a range of examples, including a simple Hodgkin-Huxley cable model, basic parameter sensitivity of an 80/20 network, and the expression of the structural plasticity of a growing dendrite and stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

An international Delphi study to assess the need for multiaxial criteria in diagnosis and management of functional gastrointestinal disorders

PurposeTo assess agreement, consensus, and disagreement between experts in different domains in the evaluation of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). MethodsWe conducted a modified Delphi study using 90 purposively sampled experts using an online survey tool to develop, distribute and analyse the Delphi rounds. Experts were sent 132 items generated from a literature review examining present and proposed future FGID evaluation. The survey items examined contributory factors and were divided into four sections examining risk and contributing factors, the therapeutic relationship, domains of measurement and the pros and cons of multiaxial assessment. The consensus level was set at 75%. Key results36 of 68 eligible participants (52%) replied to round one and 96 items gained consensus. Using expert feedback, we used thematic analysis to generate 33 additional items for round two. 31 of 36 participants (86%) replied to rounds two and three. In round two, 19 items gained consensus, and in round three, nine items gained consensus. Agreement was high concerning systematic approaches for both physiological and psychosocial components of FGIDs (91%) using laboratory and self-reporting findings (83%). Opinion was divided regarding physical risk factors such as previous surgery (53%) and genetic association (71%). Overall, 124 of the 167 items gained consensus. Conclusion and inferencesWe have identified expert consensus and disagreement on domains of information relevant to the evaluation of FGIDs. Experts agreed there is an immediate need for multi-axial assessment. Physiological and genetic risk factors are not fully accepted and require further study.

Holistic processing as a hallmark of perceptual expertise for nonface categories including Chinese characters

Holistic processing has been associated with perceptual expertise in different domains involving faces, cars, fingerprints, musical notes, English words, etc. Curiously Chinese characters are regarded as an exception, as indicated by reduced holistic processing found for experts with the Chinese writing system as compared with novices. We revisit the issue and examine one type of holistic processing, the obligatory attention to all parts of an object, using the composite paradigm from face perception literature. Chinese readers (experts) and non-Chinese readers (novices) matched the target halves of two characters while ignoring the irrelevant halves. We introduced differential response deadlines for experts and novices in order to match their performance level and to avoid ceiling performance for experts. Both experts and novices showed holistic processing, irrespective of the character structure (left-right or top-bottom) or presentation sequence (sequential or simultaneous matching). Experts' holistic processing also showed some sensitivity to the amount of experience with the characters, as it was larger for characters than noncharacters in some situations. Novices, however, did not show a systematic difference, suggesting that their effects were more related to their inefficient decomposition of a novel, complex pattern into parts. The current results, together with other recent findings of holistic processing for English words and musical notes, indicate that the development of holistic processing is not restricted to faces and objects. Instead it may be a general marker of expertise across a wider domain of visual discrimination than previously thought, including alphabetic and nonalphabetic writing systems.