Future Directions. While the main findings of this thesis are an important first step in understanding the relationship between syntactic annotation quality and machine translation performance, the results presented here raise some additional questions that bear further investigation. One slightly curious finding has to do with the disparity between tuning and test perfor- xxxxx. As we predicted, the new syntactic annotations resulted in higher BLEU scores on both the tuning and test data. However, in general, the tuning set improvements were quite a bit higher than those on the test set. This in itself is a relatively banal finding – optimizer overfitting is hardly an uncommon phenonomenon – but Table 4.3 shows a different xxx- xxxx of results from experiments where we improved the word alignments and held the trees constant. In these word alignment experiments, which are otherwise identical to the other MT experiments in this thesis, we saw tuning and test set improvements that were much closer together in magnitude, suggesting that the overfitting effect is stronger when parses are improved than when word alignments are improved. These results alone are probably not enough to be conclusive, but given the large recent interest in methods for overcoming MT optimizer instability (see for example Xxxxxx et al., 2008; Xxxxxxxx et al., 2008; Xxxxx et al., 2009; Xxxxx et al., 2011) , it seems to be worth investigating the interaction between parameter optimization and syntactic MT specifically. The final result of this thesis was the somewhat disappointing finding that the two basic approaches presented (statistical modeling to improve parser performance and tree trans- formations to improve agreement with alignements) do not automatically stack together to achieve even stronger MT performance. One possibility for this result is that the agree- ment score metric we defined is designed specifically for isolating problems that appear in monolingual parses. When the starting point is parses that were generated from a joint model, the initial agreement is already much higher, so perhaps the remaining disagree- ments that are relevant to MT performance are not adequately captured by continuing to optimize agreement score. However, we do see in Table 5.7 that the annotations with the highest agreement score (Joint PA + Transformation) also yield the highest BLEU score on the tuning set,1 so another possibility is that we’re just running up against the limits of the parameter optimiz...
Future Directions. The results of this study suggest that inter- and intraobserver agreement on the presence of the NAPH pattern on CT scans is good. We also found that in approximately 22% of cases, there was disagreement as to whether the SAH matched the NAPH pattern. This implies that agreement may not be strong enough to suggest that the presence or absence of this pattern is reliable enough for a single observer’s opinion to be taken into account when deciding on the future management of the patient. If there is a low index of suspicion for the presence of an intracranial aneurysm, follow-up CT angiography, rather than DSA, can be used to accurately exclude aneurysms.8,9 In this study, we also found that in a most of cases, nonan- eurysmal SAH does not match the NAPH pattern. Given that such cases have not been as well characterized as NAPHs, it seems necessary to study these cases extensively so as to deter- mine whether one can develop an algorithm that could be used to reliably determine the best way to manage these cases.
Future Directions. Work in progress is aimed at extending MVNE (i) to cope with dynamic update of graphs e.g., using asynchronous stochastic gradient descent (SGD) to update the latent space with the only newly added or deleted edges or nodes; and (ii) work with multi-modal networks that include richly structured digital objects (text, images, videos, etc).
Future Directions. Cross-validation of arduous physical tasks and aerobic fitness In order to fully understand whether the tasks implemented during the physical demands analysis can be used for occupational readiness and fitness testing, a cross-validation study would be required. This would involve a group of individuals with varied fitness, both above and below the assigned fitness standard, completing the tasks. Similarly, the tasks themselves could be used to predict performance in an aerobic capacity test. These procedures would then allow any error associated with the predictive ability of the tasks to be quantified, and the sensitivity of the tests themselves. Although all precautions can be taken to minimise error, every predictive test will produce false positives and false negatives. If these can be quantified on a large sample, then a fitness standard can be amended accordingly to reduce this error, and even more accurately reflect occupational ability.
Future Directions. PRECIOUS will review tools available for monitoring food intake and assess their recording accuracy, as well as gathering user feedback. The data collected will help to develop a user-friendly food intake tool for PRECIOUS, which will be enhanced by links to the virtual individual model, motivational tools and monitoring of other lifestyle aspects.
Future Directions. There are many avenues of research remaining on the relationships between TGP constructs and condom use among African American female adolescents. The sexual division of labor can be explored in greater depth; although these factors are structural, identification of salient influences within this structure for adolescents on condom use from and other domains of the TGP can help interventionists tailor approaches and highlight modifiable mediators through which these more distal factors act. Source of income must be indentified with care, acknowledging that for disparity to be gender based, the source of income for the adolescent must be the adolescent’s female caregiver. Within the structure of affective attachments and social norms, the impact of religious affiliation needs to be defined beyond the level of religiosity and family influences not supportive of HIV can be elaborated upon to include adolescent-centric measures such as communication about condoms and parental monitoring. Research to explore potential mediating pathways is needed to further explore mechanisms within the TGP predicting condom use among African American young women. Some work has already begun in this direction. Sales and colleagues [157]G tested partner disapproval and self efficacy to avoid HIV as mediators of the impact of sexual violence on condom use and found the inclusion of these variables significantly reduced the impact of abuse on the outcome. More analyses like these that cross TGP structures can enhance the understanding of how these constructs operate in their effect on condom use to better explicate the impact of the structural and social factors described by the TGP on HIV risk behaviors.
Future Directions. The results of this study provide early indications that care management strategies influence hospital value-based performance. The ongoing debate as to whether current value-based performance measures are meaningful to patients, and whether these measures correlate with clinically significant outcomes, suggests that future research should evaluate the effect of CMPs on additional, intermediate-level quality metrics. This is especially true for outcomes such as patient satisfaction that are often independent of hospital observance of processes that influence the clinical aspects of care delivery (Jha, Orav, Zheng, & Xxxxxxx, 2008; Lyu, Wick, Housman, Freischlag, & Makary, 2013). In other words, hospital performance on patient satisfaction metrics may have more to do with the “bells and whistles” of the hospital facility that promote an appealing patient experience. This phenomenon may explain why CMPs can reduce patient satisfaction scores, since they don’t necessarily enhance the more tangible aspects of a patient’s hospital stay. Additional research may consider differentiating effects of care management practices by condition (e.g. chronic condition vs. surgical) and differentiating by specific care settings (e.g., ambulatory vs. inpatient). Additional data is needed to gain more specificity around the technical components and organizational features supporting implementation of care management practices. For example, rather than evaluating whether the hospital has a chronic care management program, rigorous evaluations of specific interventions (e.g., diet regimens) within these programs should be considered. Further examination of human capital factors (e.g., physician characteristics) and organizational factors supporting implementation of CMPs will be essential to facilitating effective adoption of value-based payment programs.
Future Directions. Further research is required to understand the impact of potential confounding or modifying factors to PPIUD use. The quantitative portion of this study was a case-control study with a relatively small sample size. Performing the study among a larger cohort may allow for some variables to reach statistical significance. Expanding the sample size to include clients from the other health facilities involved in the intervention will better exemplify the overall impact of the intervention. An increased sample size may reveal service trends and barriers to PPIUD use that are specific to service delivering institutions to allow sufficient data for comparison. Future studies should aim to describe male partners’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators to PPIUD utilization as this study’s findings suggest that family planning decisions are often made jointly. Lastly, incorporating a prospective cohort study design among women with PPIUD users to evaluate the risk of anticipated complications would be informative for characterizing standard PPIUD service practices. REFERENCES Xx-Xxxxx, X. (2007). Current state of intrauterine contraceptive devices. Middle East Fertility Society Journal, 12. Retrieved from xxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx.xx/pdf?mf07002. Xxxxxxxxx, X., Xxxxxxxx, X., & Xxxxxxx, T. (2012). Factors Associated with Utilization of Long Acting and Permanent Contraceptive Methods among Married Women of Reproductive Age in Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Ethiopia. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth., 12(6). Xxxxx, S., Xxxxxxxxxx, A., Xxxxxx, V., Xxxxxxx, S., Van de Perre, P., Xxxxxx, M., & Xxxxxx, X. X. (1993). Pregnancy and contraception use among urban Rwandan women after HIV testing and counseling. Am J Public Health, 83(5), 705-710. Xxxxxxx, X., Xxxxxx, X., Xxxxxxxxx, X., Xxxxxxxx, X., Guiloff, X., Xxxx, X., & Xxxxxxxxxxx, A. M. (1988). New insights on the mode of action of intrauterine contraceptive devices in women. Fertil Steril, 49, 768-773. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [ACOG]. (2016). Committee Opinion No. 670: Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraception. Obstet Gynecol, 128(2), e32-37. Retrieved from xxxxx://xxx.xxxx.xxx/- /media/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric- Practice/co670.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20190324T2156370021.
Future Directions. Provide a brief summary of plans and/or expected focus for the upcoming two years. Outline the main focus of the SBEC from the past and why this may change (if applicable). The NFSBEC will continue work and outreach towards existing businesses and assist in expansion, scaling and job retention. Success was seen with the ScaleUP Pilot program and consultation numbers have grown amongst existing businesses. The NFSBEC has worked very closely with the Niagara Falls Business Development Department and is currently very well entrenched with the operations of the department. The mixed-use incubation services / office space that we are offering has done well to assist new businesses in their start-up; and work has continued with them after they have moved into their own commercial locations. In early 2017 the City of Niagara Falls purchased the former Niagara Regional Police Service building adjacent to City Hall for $1.1 million. An additional $4 million will be spent to renovate the building and bring it up to modern standards. The investment was made to move the NFSBEC, the City’s IT department and another department into this City owned facility. This substantial investment shows the importance that the City of Niagara Falls places on the NFSBEC and a move is expected to take place in the Summer/Fall of 2018 when renovations are complete. Client financing will also continue to be addressed as it has been identified as an obstacle to clients’ start-up and expansion. We have worked towards solidifying relationships with funding partners locally; as well as our local CFDC and have worked together to host financing workshops at the SBEC. With the launch of Starter Company Plus we will be working towards ensuring more clients have access to various types of financing options; in addition to training and mentorship. Additional programs and partnerships will be investigated to ensure that clients are able to receive the best options available to them in a simple no wrong door approach. Regional Overview/Profile and Assessment
Future Directions. Agriculture production, particularly on a scale of this project can not generate scale and revenue streams even approaching projects associated with mining, oil or gas. It can however, encourage an environment of sustainability in terms of contributing to the food supply continuum and exerting a greater degree of knowledge and awareness of origin use and preparation of fresh food. The level of acceptance and interest which has been generated by the Small Scale Foods Program is nothing short of overwhelming. The project has accessed almost all communities of the NWT and indications are it will be requested to expand to even the most northerly communities. This will of course present its own unique challenges associated with continuous permafrost and extremely short growing season. Of the current 23 communities, six are serviced by road and developed through an equipment pool. Eight have been provided with base materials including, roto-tiller, small greenhouse, small seeder, water pump, fencing materials and small assorted tools. The remaining nine communities require similar equipment with an additional five small greenhouses. Above ground storage buildings are being designed which will utilize geothermal cooling/tempering and a solar pump to maintain a proper storage environment for produce. Trout Lake will be the pilot for this innovation. The Arctic Energy Alliance, Ecology North and Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be consulted to provide information and assistance in this regard. Communities have also requested composting systems. In some southern communities this will simply be a cage system, however in select communities composting drums will be placed which accelerate the process. All communities have requested assistance in the way of workshops on preparation of preserves, storage techniques, and diversification into growing other products such as herbs. Planning is in progress which would see an award system implemented to acknowledge community success relating to best site, highest production, innovation most avid participant and even expanding to include judging of preserves. Programming will continue to integrate into the school systems to the greatest degree possible as well as seeking partnerships with other GNWT departments such as Health and Social Services as well as NGO’s. Development of expertise and provision of advice will continue to be an issue over, at least, the shorter term as communities continue to expand ...
