Statistical Dialog Management for Health Interventions

Research endeavors on spoken dialogue systems in the 1990s and 2000s have led to the deployment of commercial spoken dialogue systems (SDS) in microdomains such as customer service automation, reservation/booking and question answering systems. Recent research in SDS has been focused on the development of applications in different domains (e.g. virtual counseling, personal coaches, social companions) which requires more sophistication than the previous generation of commercial SDS. The focus of this research project is the delivery of behavior change interventions based on the brief intervention counseling style via spoken dialogue systems. Brief interventions (BI) are evidence-based, short, well structured, one-on-one counseling sessions. Many challenges are involved in delivering BIs to people in need, such as finding the time to administer them in busy doctors' offices, obtaining the extra training that helps staff become comfortable providing these interventions, and managing the cost of delivering the interventions. Fortunately, recent developments in spoken dialogue systems make the development of systems that can deliver brief interventions possible. The overall objective of this research is to develop a data-driven, adaptable dialogue system for brief interventions for problematic drinking behavior, based on reinforcement learning methods. The implications of this research project includes, but are not limited to, assessing the feasibility of delivering structured brief health interventions with a data-driven spoken dialogue system. Furthermore, while the experimental system focuses on harmful alcohol drinking as a target behavior in this project, the produced knowledge and experience may also lead to implementation of similarly structured health interventions and assessments other than the alcohol domain (e.g. obesity, drug use, lack of exercise), using statistical machine learning approaches. In addition to designing a dialog system, the semantic and emotional meanings of user utterances have high impact on interaction. To perform domain specific reasoning and recognize concepts in user utterances, a named-entity recognizer and an ontology are designed and evaluated. To understand affective information conveyed through text, lexicons and sentiment analysis module are developed and tested.

Spatial structures of manufacturing clusters in Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Thailand

Examining the spatial structure of clusters is essential for deriving regional development policy implications. In this study, we identify the manufacturing clusters in Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and Thailand, using two indices—global extent (GE) and local density (LD)—as proposed by Mori and Smith (2013). We also analyze four different combinations of these indices to highlight the spatial structures of industrial agglomerations. Since industrial clusters often spread over administrative boundaries, the GE and LD indices—along with cluster mapping—display how the detected clusters fit into specific spatial structures.

Utilizing ICT to prevent loneliness and social isolation of the elderly. A literature review

Ageing of the population is a worldwide phenomenon. Numerous ICT-based solutions have been developed for elderly care but mainly connected to the physiological and nursing aspects in services for the elderly. Social work is a profession that should pay attention to the comprehensive wellbeing and social needs of the elderly. Many people experience loneliness and depression in their old age, either as a result of living alone or due to a lack of close family ties and reduced connections with their culture of origin, which results in an inability to participate actively in community activities (Singh & Misra, 2009). Participation in society would enhance the quality of life. With the development of information technology, the use of technology in social work practice has risen dramatically. The aim of this literature review is to map out the state of the art of knowledge about the usage of ICT in elderly care and to figure out research-based knowledge about the usability of ICT for the prevention of loneliness and social isolation of elderly people. The data for the current research comes from the core collection of the Web of Science and the data searching was performed using Boolean? The searching resulted in 216 published English articles. After going through the topics and abstracts, 34 articles were selected for the data analysis that is based on a multi approach framework. The analysis of the research approach is categorized according to some aspects of using ICT by older adults from the adoption of ICT to the impact of usage, and the social services for them. This literature review focused on the function of communication by excluding the applications that mainly relate to physical nursing. The results show that the so-called ‘digital divide’ still exists, but the older adults have the willingness to learn and utilise ICT in daily life, especially for communication. The data shows that the usage of ICT can prevent the loneliness and social isolation of older adults, and they are eager for technical support in using ICT. The results of data analysis on theoretical frames and concepts show that this research field applies different theoretical frames from various scientific fields, while a social work approach is lacking. However, a synergic frame of applied theories will be suggested from the perspective of social work.

Adaptación del sector turístico al cambio climático en España. La importancia de las acciones a escala local y en empresas turísticas

El 5º Informe del IPCC (Panel Intergubernamental de Cambio Climático, 2014) señala que el turismo será una de las actividades económicas que mayores efectos negativos experimentará en las próximas décadas debido al calentamiento térmico del planeta. En España, el turismo es una fuente principal de ingresos y de creación de puestos de trabajo en su economía. De ahí que sea necesaria la puesta en marcha de medidas de adaptación a la nueva realidad climática que, en nuestro país, va a suponer cambios en el confort climático de los destinos e incremento de extremos atmosféricos. Frente a los planes de adaptación al cambio climático en la actividad turística, elaborados por los gobiernos estatal y regional, que apenas se han desarrollado en España, la escala local muestra interesantes ejemplos de acciones de adaptación al cambio climático, desarrolladas tanto por los municipios (energía, transporte, vivienda, planificación urbanística) como por la propia empresa turística (hoteles, campings, apartamentos). Medidas de ahorro de agua y luz, fomento del transporte público y de las energías limpias, creación de zonas verdes urbanas y adaptación a los extremos atmosféricos destacan como acciones de mitigación del cambio climático en los destinos turísticos principales de nuestro país.

College Lifestyle and Attitudinal National (CLAN) Survey.

The aims of the CLAN survey were to establish a national student profile of lifestyle habits. The survey was undertaken by the Department of Health and Children among undergraduate full-time students during the academic year 2002/2003 in 21 third level colleges in Ireland. The results of the study showed that cannabis was the most common illegal drugs used by students, with 37% reporting that they had used in the past 12 months, and 20% during the past 30 days. Drug use in the student population was much higher than in the 2003 NACD drug prevalence survey. The survey also measured alocohol related harm, such as effects on study and financial probles.

Growth and Public Transportation Investments: Growth Management Strategies to Reduce Transportation Capital Costs In and Near Midwestern Urban Areas, 1995

Transportation and land-use are independent, inter-active systems. Land-use patterns shape local transportation demand, but transportation systems in turn influence land-use patterns. In attempting to satisfy transportation demand created by existing land-use patterns, transportation planners directly, if not always consciously or intentionally, influence future land-use patterns. This study examines that complex relationship. The purpose of the study was threefold: to compile the body of knowledge already existing; to apply this body of knowledge to the context of midsize cities in the Midwest; and, to make the knowledge accessible both to transportation planners and to public officials who make key decisions about land use.

Creating value, not wasting resources: sustainable innovation strategies

It is well-accepted in academic and public debate that society has overused natural resources. Business managers in consequence face a normative framework where products need to become more ‘sustainable’. The paper characterises the mechanisms and logic that make ‘[environmentally] sustainable innovation strategies’. Those mechanisms highlight multiple value creation and sustaining value beyond the original new product lifecycle. They yield as much utility as possible from the embedded natural resources. And they avoid creating waste. ‘Multiple value creation’ asks managers to revaluate the attrite product or to make customers change their use patterns. The paper then demonstrates how to extend the ‘old’ logic of innovation with a phase of revaluation: a phase promoting further use of the product and/or material. Our concept is empirically illustrated by two industry case examples. Namely, the copier industry and the emerging automotive lithium-ion batteries industry. We provide a patent analysis in order to demonstrate the assessment of extended life cycles, for the case of ‘recovery of raw materials from disposed products’.

Violência e consumo de drogas em adolescentes

A presente tese foca-se na violência e consumo de drogas nas escolas da cidade do Porto. O consumo de drogas, a violência e a delinquência juvenil, tem vindo a preocupar a sociedade, dai a necessidade de compreender que a influência têm estes comportamentos um nos outros. Mais concretamente, este estudo tem como objetivos a obtenção de um conhecimento mais aprofundado sobre o fenómeno do consumo de drogas e do comportamento violento em adolescentes na cidade do Porto. Este é um estudo de autorrelato, uma vez que utiliza o questionário International Self-Report Delinquency Study. No mesmo participam 560 estudantes, com idades compreendidas entre os 12 e os 18 anos. Quanto aos resultados da amostra, no que respeita as diferenças de género e consumo não há diferenças estatisticamente significativas, já no que se refere a idade nota-se um aumento gradual do consumo de drogas, atingindo o seu pico aos 17 anos e logo de seguida um decréscimo acentuado do mesmo. Uma vez comparado o comportamento impulsivo e o consumo de drogas obteve-se resultados estatisticamente significativos, assim como o consumo de drogas e a associação com um grupo de pares que pratica atos ilegais. Comprovando assim o que a literatura nos diz quanto aos fatores de risco.

Sociabilidades e hedonismos: etnografia entre jovens usuários de substâncias psicoativas sintéticas Fortaleza Ceará

This dissertation shows a comparison between practices related to the body, to identities and to the health of young drug takers of synthetic and manipulated psychoactive substances living in Fortaleza. Through ethnographic accompaniment of parties and two social nets of young people I was able to verify the differences and similarities that make these addicted singular and plural in their notion of ethos and world vision. Notions of being hippie/alternative and being punk are present between these nets. Because their use and circulation are developed in environments usually distinct, it is possible to trace singular aspects between the nets and its actions. In parallel, on the attempt to build a triangulated data, I had information related to youth and drugs in local media and in governmental institutions bound to health mental and city security policies. With this junction of data I present a perspective to questions evolving formal and informal important controls to the conduction of their lives and identities. I present this as a sequel to well developed studies in Brasil about youth in interface to drug use, although still not very explored in the state of Ceará.

Militância, organização e mobilização antiproibicionista da maconha: coletivos, eventos e marchas em Natal (RN)

Based on the proposal entitled anti-prohibitionist, contrary to prohibition and illegality of cannabis and its use, the anti-prohibitionist Collectives proposes to discuss the topic of drugs, especially marijuana, aiming decriminalization and legalization of this psychoactive. With this idea was articulated anti-prohibitionist movement in Natal, by organizing collectives that discuss issues related to drug use and conduct activities directed to this issue, such as Marijuana Marches and Cycles of Debates anti-prohibitionist. In this study we sought to understand the positioning in social and cultural terms, the marijuana users participating of the collectives, on the situation of illegality of their actions, in front of social, legal and moral question involved in the illicit psychoactive, through initiatives conferences, events and demonstrations for this purpose

Barracas de Praia, praia de barracas: configuração, tipo e usos na praia do futuro, Fortaleza CE

The purpose of this dissertation is to analyse the importance of the huts of Praia do Futuro to their users and to the city of Fortaleza in Ceará through the comprehension of relations between morphological categories - in urban and edified contexts - of the establishments and their use patterns. This place is one of the main recreation and leisure areas of the city, formed by six kilometres of waterfront, corresponding to a differentiated area through the coast. This space has beach huts with varied profiles: while some more simple huts persist, great complexes are being developed, building even water parks on the beach area. This study analyses relations between:i) spatial configuration (in geometric and mainly topological terms) based on the Social Logic of Space; ii) edified typology (analysing capacity, landscap treatment and program of the huts); and iii) use and environmental perception of the beach by its frequenters. There are consistent relations between the type of hut and their localization in the urban grid, of which were identified groups with different patterns: segregated (north, central and south) and integrated (north: more integrated. and south: less integrated). Such relations also reflect, in varied patterns of use and environmental perception. In spite of their strong economy, the beach huts find themselves in a fragile legal situation because they occupy the beach area, so that this study may come to assist the decision-making for the future of the region. For a sustainable development of the area by those responsible and managers it is necessary to evaluate the cultural importance of the huts at Praia do Futuro, understanding their occupation and uses.

Percepções de adolescentes usuários de drogas acerca da dependência química

Este estudo objetivou conhecer a percepção de adolescentes usuários de drogas atendidos no CAPS ad no município do Rio Grande acerca da dependência química.Tratou-se de uma pesquisa com abordagem qualitativa realizada no primeiro semestre de 2012 no CAPS ad do município do Rio Grande/ RS, com oito adolescentes usuários de drogas. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas semiestruturadas e analisados pelo método de Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Os dados do estudo mostraram que as principais causas apontadas pelos adolescentes para o início do uso de drogas foram à curiosidade, a imaturidade e a ingenuidade; a influência dos amigos e a vontade de pertencer a um grupo, de não ser diferente de seus pares; acharem que se muitos às utilizam estas devem ser boas; conviver com usuários de drogas no seu ambiente de consumo e a dificuldade de enfrentar perdas e a desestruturação familiar. Evidenciou-se que a droga apresenta-se como fonte de alívio para a tristeza e o desamparo sentido. As principais consequências do uso de drogas foram desgraça, tristeza e muitas coisas ruins; alguns se sentem fortes, poderosos e rebeldes, desestruturação familiar, interrupção do processo de escolarização e marginalização. Os principais fatores de risco para o uso de drogas na adolescência são a falta de informações, o não acreditar nos malefícios das drogas e nas consequências negativas destas em suas vidas, ver outro usuário falando ou consumindo a droga e conviver com usuários de drogas no seu ambiente de consumo, ser assediado por traficantes que lhes oferecem a droga e insistem para que a consumam, morar com uma família em que o uso de drogas está naturalizado, perceber a droga como uma coisa boa e fonte de alívio e vivenciar situações de raiva extrema e de perda de controle. Verificou-se como fatores de proteção a vontade de parar de usar drogas, a busca de ajuda por parte dos familiares, a existência dos Serviços de Atenção aos usuários, do Conselho Tutelar e do Juizado da Infância e da Adolescência. Verificou-se como Influência do vínculo familiar para o uso de drogas na adolescência a falta de atitude dos pais ao saberem do uso de drogas de seus filhos. Os familiares percebem que o adolescente está fazendo uso de drogas por seu aspecto físico e diante de suas atitudes agressivas. Muitos adolescentes convivem com o uso de drogas por seus familiares desde a infância. Possuem como expectativas e projetos de vida: retomar os estudos, arrumar um emprego e ter uma profissão, construir uma família, tornar-se motivo de orgulho para seus pais, mudar sua história de vida, realizar um tratamento e parar de usar drogas, se desintoxicar e se reinserir na sociedade, reconquistando a confiança e respeito das pessoas com quem convive, viver pelo menos até passar dos 18 anos de idade. concluiu-se que adolescência é uma etapa vulnerável, em que o jovem enfrenta mudanças pessoais, familiares e sociais. Dessa forma a família, professores e profissionais da saúde precisam saber como lidar com os conflitos vividos pelos adolescentes de forma a fornecer suporte com vistas a minimizá-los. O conhecimento construído com este estudo poderá nos possibilitar um novo olhar para os transtornos relacionados ao uso de drogas na adolescência, auxiliando na elaboração de estratégias de prevenção e tratamento mais efetivo.

Plan d'aménagement et de développement de la municipalité de Saint-Basile au Nouveau-Brunswick

Résumé : L'organisation de l'espace basilien est le reflet culturel de ses habitants. Le paysage humanisé actuel est la résultante de divers artefacts culturels. Pour mieux comprendre l'occupation du sol basilien, il convient de percevoir le milieu physique et humain dans son ensemble, d'examiner à fond les séquences de l'établissement humain et d'identifier les déséquilibres spatiaux temporels qui compromettent l'évolution rationnelle du territoire. L'identification des contraintes et des potentiels du territoire favorise l'élaboration et la conceptualisation d'un plan d'aménagement du territoire équilibré, qui met en valeur l'intégrité de la composante culturelle basilienne. En outre, cette recherche tente d'élucider et de corriger certaines lacunes perceptibles dans le territoire de la municipalité de Saint-Basile.||Abstract : The built up area of Saint-Basile represents the cultural iconography of his inhabitants. Apparently, the cultural landscape is set up from former man made modifications. For a better understanding of the Saint-Basile urban land use, it is a must to perceive and recognize distincly the physical and the human factors abroad; to scrutinize the human settlements sequences since the colonization and to identify the internal land use patterns components who jeopardize the rational developpment of the community. The establishement and the identification of the restreints and the potentiels within the town of Saint-Basile will lead to a design and a better urban land use planning which will preserved the cultural identity of his inhabitants. Therefore, the research tends to light up and rectify some visibles linkages of the Saint-Basile urban land use.

Variation in composition of macro-benthic invertebrates as an indication of water quality status in three bays in Lake Victoria

Knowledge of how biota can be used to monitor ecosystem health and assess impacts by human alterations such as land use and management measures taken at different spatial scales is critical for improving the ecological quality of aquatic ecosystems. This knowledge in Uganda is very limited or unavailable yet it is needed to better understand the relationship between environmental factors at different spatial scales, assemblage structure and taxon richness of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, benthic invertebrate community patterns were sampled between June 2001 and April 2002 and analysed in relation to water quality and catchment land use patterns from three shallow near-shore bays characterized by three major land uses patterns: urban (Murchison Bay); semi-urban (Fielding Bay); rural (Hannington Bay). Variations in density and guild composition of benthic macro-invertebrates communities were evaluated using GIS techniques along an urban-rural gradient of land use and differences in community composition were related to dissolved oxygen and conductivity variation. Based on numerical abundance and tolerance values, Hilsenhoff's Biotic Index ofthe invertebrates was determined in order to evaluate the relative importance of water quality in the three bays. Murchison Bay supported a relatively taxa-poor invertebrate assemblage mainly comprising stenotopic and eurytopic populations of pollution-tolerant groups such as worms and Chironomus sp. with an overall depression in species diversity. On the contrary, the communities in Fielding and Hannington bays were quite similar and supported distinct and diverse assemblages including pollution-intolerant forms such as Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Odonata (dragonflies). The Hilsenhoff Biotic Index in Murchison Bay was 6.53. (indicating poor water quality) compared to 6.34 for Fielding Bay and 5.78 for Hannington Bay (both indicating fair water quality). The characterization of maximum taxa richness balanced among taxa groups with good representation of intolerant individuals in Hannington Bay relative to Fielding and Murchison bays concludes that the bay is the cleanest in terms of water quality. Contrary, the dominance of few taxa with many tolerant iqdividuals present in Murchison Bay indicates that the bay is degraded in terms of water quality. These result are ofimportance when planning conservation and management measures, implementing large-scale biomonitoring programs, and predicting how human alterations (e.g nutrient loading) affect water ecosystems. Therefore, analysis of water quality in relation to macro-invertebrate community composition patterns as bio-indicators can lead to further understanding of their responses to environmental manipulations and perturbations.

Spatial behavior of two coral reef fishes within a Caribbean Marine Protected Area

A better understanding of the key ecological processes of marine organisms is fundamental to improving design and effective implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) and marine biodiversity. The movement behavior of coral reef fish is a complex mechanism that is highly linked to species life-history traits, predation risk and food resources. We used passive acoustic telemetry to study monthly, daily and hourly movement patterns and space use in two species, Schoolmaster snapper (Lutjanus apodus) and Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride). We investigated the spatial overlap between the two species and compared intra-specific spatial overlap between day and night. Presence-absence models showed different diel presence and habitat use patterns between the two species. We constructed a spatial network of the movement patterns, which showed that for both species when fish were detected by the array of receivers most movements were made around the coral reef habitat while occasionally moving to silt habitats. Our results show that most individuals made predictable daily crepuscular migrations between different locations and habitat types, although individual behavioral changes were observed for some individuals across time. Our study also highlights the necessity to consider multiple species during MPA implementation and to take into account the specific biological and ecological traits of each species. The low number of fish detected within the receiver array, as well as the intraspecific variability observed in this study, highlight the need to compare results across species and individuals to be used for MPA management.