OAR@UM Collection:https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/380732024-03-28T10:39:05Z2024-03-28T10:39:05ZJunior College multi-disciplinary conference : research, practice and collaboration : Breaking Barriers : Conference Proceedingshttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/395962019-02-08T02:22:22Z2018-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Junior College multi-disciplinary conference : research, practice and collaboration : Breaking Barriers : Conference Proceedings
Editors: Borg Farrugia, Christine
Abstract: Proceedings of the second Multidisciplinary Conference organised by the University of Malta Junior College.2018-01-01T00:00:00ZDevelopment of an augmentative and alternative communication app for the Maltese languageAbela, SylvanCasha, OwenAgius, Mayhttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/386762019-05-16T11:54:42Z2018-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Development of an augmentative and alternative communication app for the Maltese language
Authors: Abela, Sylvan; Casha, Owen; Agius, May
Abstract: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) embodies all methods of communication, serving to augment or function as an alternative to speech. Maltese children having complex communication needs use various AAC devices on a daily basis. Their conversation skills are mainly limited by two key factors. The fact that AAC users communicate up to 20 times slower than those who use regular speech is the first of these two limiting factors. The second one is the unavailability of an AAC app for the Maltese language. This paper presents the development of an AAC app targeted for the Maltese language, which provides an intelligent word suggestion mechanism to improve AAC rates. The app is based on a trigram language model which is able to predict the subsequent word by considering the previous two. The model was trained by means of a specifically created corpus and uses the Interpolated Kneser-Ney Smoothing technique to correctly resolve contexts which were not observed during training. The app enables users to retrain and update the language model, such that it may provide additional personalised word suggestions. The app was evaluated by a number of clinicians and educators who regularly work with AAC users. They remarked that it will be potentially helpful in aiding Maltese children during intervention sessions in view of its effective features. The underlying language model features an average perplexity of 90.47 when tested with non-similar training and test data and an average perplexity of 3.61 when evaluated for highly similar training and test data. The low perplexity values suggest that the language model employed in this app is remarkably accurate and is effectively performing as other trigram language models reported in the literature.
Description: Also published in Symposium Melitensia Vol. 15 (2019) p. 1-162018-01-01T00:00:00ZBreaking the barriers between aesthetics and theory in literatureAttard, Josettehttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/386612019-01-19T02:55:17Z2018-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Breaking the barriers between aesthetics and theory in literature
Authors: Attard, Josette
Abstract: Up to few decades ago, aesthetics and theory were considered two separate disciplines in the realm of literature. More recent studies have indicated that the experience and also the study of literature are breaking these existing boundaries by revealing common factors present in both aesthetics and theory. Several literary theorists and aestheticians have emphasized this close relation which is woven within literature itself. John Gibson, Derek Attridge and Peter Lamarque are few of the theorists who argue in favour of such a relation. They contend that the perspectives of both aesthetics, as a branch of philosophy, and theory, do not exclude each other. Furthermore, they suggest that both aesthetics and theory can be complementary to each other and combine the philosophical concern with clarity, and the creativity which pertains to theory. The aim of this paper is to show how the study of literature can break the barriers between aesthetics and theory by combining them together in several ways, suggesting possible ties within the creation and the act of reading literature, with particular reference to fictitious narratives. In this paper I shall discuss firstly how ambiguity and imagination can have the potential to effect both literary aesthetics and literary theory offering different results. Secondly I shall focus on fictitious narratives from both the aesthetical and the theoretical points of view. I intend to emphasize the manner we view and discuss literature in the process of reading it. My literary discussion will include theories proposed by the literary philosophers Attridge, Lamarque and McGregor and how these theories can be combined through particular readings, thus breaking the barriers between aesthetics and theory in literature.2018-01-01T00:00:00ZQuantitative enhanced raman scattering of dye-labeled phosphorothioate oligonucleotideCassar, RichardGraham, DuncanFaulds, Karenhttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/386452019-01-19T02:55:13Z2018-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Quantitative enhanced raman scattering of dye-labeled phosphorothioate oligonucleotide
Authors: Cassar, Richard; Graham, Duncan; Faulds, Karen
Abstract: For the diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases and infections the detection of specific DNA sequences is important. New techniques are continually being designed to improve selectivity, sensitivity reliability and multiplexing of current DNA detection methodologies. One of these methods is surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) which has been used successfully as an ultrasensitive technique for the direct analysis of dye-labelled oligonucleotides using aggregated silver and gold nanoparticles. Key to the sensitivity and reproducibility is the affinity of the DNA towards the enhancing surface. This paper investigates the detection of phosphorothioate modified dye-labelled oligonucleotides whereby a non-bridging oxygen atom in the phosphodiester backbone is replaced by sulfur. TAMRA-labelled phosphorothioate oligonucleotides with the same base pair sequence but different number of modified phosphate units were compared to un-modified TAMRA-labelled oligonucleotides using silver nanoparticles as SERRS substrates using a 532 nm excitation wavelengths and different aggregation agents. This study demonstrates the importance of choosing the right experimental setup for DNA SERRS analysis to maximise sensitivity and reproducibility when oligonucleotides are modified for greater surface affinity.2018-01-01T00:00:00Z