Africans came to Jamaica during the Spanish Conquest, and in a loosely arranged slave system on the island, many lived as herders, roamed the hinterland and were intimate with the surviving Taíno. After the British captured Jamaica, they expanded the slave trade and brought thousands of Africans with their diverse heritages to Jamaica. The majority of Africans who came were from West Africa, mainly from the Ashanti and Yoruba tribes and were forced to work under inhumane conditions on sugar plantations established by the English.  Despite the efforts of the plantocracy to wipe out the culture of the enslaved Africans, they resisted and kept many aspects of their culture alive. Our language, music, food, dance and religious practices continue to be testaments to the legacy of our African ancestors.

Akan women performing a traditional African Dance. Many Jamaicans are descendants of the  Akan or Ashanti people of West Africa.

Egungun festival takes place in Nigeria and originates from the Yoruba people. This festival involves the Egungun Masquerade dance, where dancers wear masks to commemorate the ancestors of the Yoruba people.

East Indians and Chinese

The East Indians and Chinese came to Jamaica in the post Emancipation period to work on the sugar plantations as indentured labourers. The first group of East Indian indentured labourers arrived in 1845, their ships docked in Old Harbour, St. Catherine and the first group of Chinese arrived in 1854 from Hong Kong. Both groups came to Jamaica to escape poverty, famine and diseases and they believed Jamaica was their golden ticket to a better life. Many of them left the sugar plantations as soon as they landed in Jamaica and became farmers and shopkeepers and they have contributed significantly to the beautiful tapestry that is the Jamaican way of life.

Chinese Immigrants. Courtesy of the National Library
Photograph of Chinese indentured labourers at rest on the side of a road, circa 1900. Courtesy of Adrienne Duperly

Indians preparing rice, circa 1900. The cultivation of rice started in Asia and was brought to Jamaica by East Indian indentured labourers

The Syrians and Lebanese

Syrians and Lebanese immigrants to Jamaica started arriving in the latter half of the 19th century. Many came to Jamaica after fleeing religious and political persecution in the Levant region of the Middle East seeking new opportunities to gain a better life for their families. They became prominent members of the business the community in Jamaica and are very influential in the spheres tourism, construction, politics and community development.

Photograph of members of the Lebanese community come out to the Palisadoes airport to meet George Shoucair, who has just arrived from Lebanon. He is the gentleman in the middle with a hat in his hand. Courtesy of Dr. Rebecca Tortello and the Jamaica Gleaner.

The Indigenous Jamaicans

Over the several hundred years of Jamaica’s recorded history, several groups of people have been acknowledged as having their origins in our island. The Taíno are regarded to have emerged as a distinct ethnic group in the Greater Antilles, firstly in Española and Puerto Rico, then Cuba, Jamaica and the Bahamas. While Taíno language and way of life may have been similar to the Arawak’s, the artefact the Taínos left, their beliefs and mythic tales as recorded, define theirs as a distinct and unique island culture.

Depiction of Taíno playing their ball game called Batu.

The Maroon People arose from enslaved groups that escaped to Jamaica’s rugged interior highlands. Taíno and many Africans taken as slaves established several enclaves that for years harassed attempts by the Spanish and English to settle the island. The Maroons were formidable adversaries, unshakable guerrilla warriors. After decades of virtually continuous warfare, in 1728 and 1729 the British Army sought terms for a peace pact with the Windward and Leeward Maroons.

Leonard Parkinson one of the leaders of the Trelawney Town Maroons  in the 2nd Maroon War.

Rastafari is a Jamaican religious and socio-political movement, inspired by the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1938. Based on their Afrocentric understanding of the Bible and Marcus Garvey’s philosophy, Rastafari brought Africans a new vision of themselves as world leaders. After years of struggle and oppression, Rastafari emerged from the ghettos of Kingston to become a political force. And from Jamaica, largely influenced by their word-sound and culture, Rastafari has had immeasurable global impact.

Rastafari dressed in their regalia, playing drums which is a central part of their religious rituals.

The Europeans

The arrival of the Europeans to Jamaica started in 1494 on Christopher Columbus’ second voyage to the Caribbean. The Spanish established formal control of  the island from 1508 up to 1660 which had far reaching and devastating consequences, such as the destruction of the indigenous Taino population, enslavement of Africans and the introduction of sugar cultivation and other crops and animals that changed the landscape of Jamaica.

After failing to secure the valuable Spanish possession of Hispaniola, the English attacked Jamaica and successfully took control of the island from the Spanish in 1655. Through piracy and later the expansion of the sugar cultivation using enslaved labour, Jamaica became England’s most prosperous colony. The English, later the British,  ruled Jamaica for over 300 years until August 6, 1962 with an enduring impact that is reflected in our system of  government, laws and economy.

Jamaica became a refuge for Jews escaping religious persecution in Europe from as early as the 16th century during Spanish occupation of the island. Under English rule, Jews enjoyed religious freedom and a small Jewish population thrived in the colony. Although a very small group they have had a big impact on the island. Many prominent businesses are owned by Jewish families in Jamaica but more importantly their  presence  reflect the rich diversity of the Jamaican society.

The Germans arrived in Jamaica in the 1830s as indentured labourers to work on sugar plantations but the harsh working conditions  and tropical climate drove many of them to leave the island for better opportunities in the United States. The few that remained in Jamaica had established communities in the mountainous interior of the island. The last remaining enclave where descendants of the Germans settled is Seaford Town in Westmoreland. Seaford Town was named after Lord Seaford, a prominent plantation owner who donated the land where the community was established.

Henry Morgan, the English Pirate who became Governor of Jamaica in the 17th century.

Print showing sugar being made by the Spanish in the 16th century. The Spanish established the first sugar plantations in Jamaica


Asking this question back-to-front about NotePerformer

• Feb 20, 2022 - 02:20

So, I just purchased a subscription to NotePerformer, which in AUD is going to come to $15 a month for 12 months, at the end of which I will have a full working copy. Questions:

1) what is your current workflow from Musescore 3.62 to NotePerformer?

2) I understand that currently NotePerformer only supports Finale, Sibelius and Dorico. The first two are out of my budget: does anyone use Dorico?

3) Dorico users: which version (3.5 or 4) and which edition (Pro / Elements / SE) and how does that work for you?

Adding a bit of my own exploration, here. Downloaded and installed Dorico SE 4, which is the free version, limited to "2 players"... which means two sets of instrument, I suppose. I created a 1st and 2nd violin version of a little piece I wrote recently and it imported just fine into the SE version of Dorico, whereas adding just the violas made it spit the dummy: would only open Read-Only and wouldn't save. So, no free orchestral pathway from MS to NotePerformer via Dorico SE 4... have to shell out AUD$150.00 for Elements... and then, you have access to "24 players".


How To Store A Leather Sofa In A Garage

You may not have a lot of extra space in your home to store furniture pieces when they're not in use. That's why you might store their leather sofas in their garage. But is this really the best option? We've researched this question to see the best way to store your leather sofa.

Feel free to store your leather couch in the garage. It is easy and quick. Here are the following tips to store them properly:

  1. Ensure the couch is clean and dry before you store it.
  2. Apply a leather conditioner.
  3. Get a couch cover to protect the leather from dust and dirt
  4. Place the sofa on a piece of plywood to keep it off the ground.
  5. Store any extra pillows, blankets, or other accessories in boxes or bins.
  6. Make sure the garage is clean and free of any clutter before storing the sofa.
  7. If possible, use a dehumidifier to prevent moisture damage.

Keep reading as we explore some pros and cons of storing a leather sofa in a garage. We'll also provide some tips on how to do it safely and effectively.

dark living room interior background, farmhouse style. How To Store A Leather Sofa In A Garage

Can you store a leather sofa in a garage?

A garage is a great place to store a leather sofa. The temperature is usually cool and the air is dry, which helps to prevent mold and mildew from growing on the sofa. In addition, the garage protects the sofa from sunlight, wind, and dirt.

But then, there are a few things to keep in mind when storing a sofa in a garage. So, follow along with this article to find out the key ways of stacking a sofa in your garage.

How Do You Store A Leather Sofa In A Garage?

modern and simple living room with sofa and table

Ensure the Sofa is Clean and Dry

When it comes time to store your leather sofa in the garage, you will need to make sure that it is clean and dry. Any dirt or moisture can quickly spoil and damage the delicate leather, rendering your sofa useless.

So before you place your couch in storage, be sure to give it a thorough cleaning with a gentle cleanser or sponge. You should also let it air dry for several hours.

Apply Leather Conditioner

The key to keeping your leather sofa looking its best is to apply a leather conditioner. This will help to prevent the leather from drying out and cracking, and it will also give it a softer, more supple feel.

When applying conditioner, be sure to test it on an inconspicuous area first, as some conditioners can darken the leather. And always follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid damaging your sofa. With just a little care, your leather sofa will stay in great shape for years to come.

Order leather conditioner on Amazon.

Use a Sofa Cover to Protect from Dust and Dirt

Leather is a delicate material, prone to dust, dirt, and extreme changes in temperature. Also, the garage is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, which can cause the leather to crack and fade.

If you must store your leather sofa in the garage, be sure to protect it with a couch cover. This will help keep the dust and dirt off the leather, and it will also help to regulate the temperature around the sofa, preventing any damage from extreme changes in temperature.

These types of sofas are susceptible to bugs or other pests, so it's important to make sure that your garage is well-sealed and free from such infestations before storing the sofa there.

Get couch cover on Amazon.

Elevate the Sofa Off the Ground on Plywood

Put your sofa on a piece of plywood. That way, it won't get dirty or wet from being on the ground. This will also keep the sofa off the ground and make it easier to slide in and out of the garage.

Besides that, it will prevent any moisture or pests that might lurk in the garage. Plus, it will make it easier to move around when you need to access something else in the garage.

Store Extra Pillows, Blankets, or Other Accessories in Boxes or Bins

Storing these items is much easier to find what you're looking for when everything is neatly organized in one place. And secondly, it's a great way to prevent your stored items from getting dusty or damaged.

So if you're looking for a hassle-free way to store your extra decor or bedding, we recommend boxes or bins. Just be sure to label them clearly so you can find what you need when you need it.

Ensure a Clutter-free, Clean Garage

When it comes to storing your sofa, it's important to make sure that the garage is clean and free of any clutter. After all, you don't want a bunch of old boxes or paint cans stacked on top of your beautiful couch!

Ideally, purge the garage of any unnecessary items and carry out any necessary repairs before bringing in your sofa. Once the space is clean, sweep or vacuum it so that your sofa has a clean surface to sit on.

You should also check for gaps between the floor and walls or between other heavy furniture, as this will allow dust and dirt to accumulate underneath your sofa over time. By keeping these tips in mind, you can be sure that your sofa is safely stored away in a clean and organized garage.

If Possible, Use a Dehumidifier to Prevent Moisture Damage

A dehumidifier will help to remove moisture from the air, preventing the formation of mold and mildew. Plus, it will keep your sofa from smelling musty. So if you're looking for a way to keep your sofa in tip-top shape, a dehumidifier is worth considering.

If there is no dehumidifier, you can use alternatives like charcoal briquettes or cat litter. They are both helpful for absorbing moisture and odors too.

Check the dehumidifier on Amazon.

Modern House Insterior with Leather Sofa

What Are The Benefits Of Storing A Leather Sofa In A Garage?

Many people might not think twice about storing their leather sofa in the garage. After all, it's just a place to keep your car, right? But then, there are actually several benefits to storing a leather sofa in a garage.

  1. The temperature in the garage is usually cooler than in the house, which can help to prolong the life of the leather.
  2. The garage can provide protection from sunlight and other damaging elements.
  3. If you have small children or pets, storing the sofa in the garage can help to keep it clean and damage-free.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Storing A Leather Sofa In A Garage?

A garage is not typically the first choice for finding a home for a leather sofa. Also, there are a few things that can go wrong when storing a leather sofa in a garage.

  1. For one, the humidity can cause the leather to become dry and cracked.
  2. The lack of light can cause the leather to fade. And finally, if there are any leaks in the garage, water could damage the sofa.

So while a garage may provide some extra storage space, it is important to consider the potential risks before putting a leather sofa in one. But then, as you review the tips stated earlier, you can still keep them looking good after all.

Details of antique furniture at the exhibition, dark brown leather sofa close up

Is It Better To Store A Leather Sofa In Or Outside Of The House?

If you live in an area with frequent rain or snowfall, storing your leather sofa inside the house would be ideal. This way, you will not expose the sofa to weather extremes and can stay clean and protected year-round.

On the other hand, if you live in a relatively dry climate with mildly cool temperatures, it might be preferable to keep your leather sofa outdoors. But then, it is best to put other protection like a cover or apply waterproofing.

Yet still, what matters most is finding a balance between functionality and aesthetics – ensuring that your sofa is both safe and beautiful.

Are there any alternative storage options for furniture other than the garage or basement?

There are certainly several alternative storage options for furniture when your garage or basement is already full.

  • For instance, you could try renting out a small storage unit just for your furniture.
  • Alternatively, you could look into placing some items in long-term storage, whether it be with a self-storage facility or with a friend who has an extra space in their home.
  • And if you really want to get creative, you could even try building a deck specifically designed to hold large pieces of furniture and other heavy objects that are difficult to move around regularly.
  • Another possibility is to consider selling or donating certain pieces of furniture that you no longer need, freeing up valuable space in your home.

brown sofa cleaning using yellow cloth. How To Store A Leather Sofa In A Garage

Final Thoughts

Whatever storage option you choose, it's important to consider the needs and preferences of both you and your furniture. With the right planning, there's no reason you can't find the perfect storage for your sofa while keeping them safe from damage.

To get more tips for storing home items, see the following articles below:

Can You Store Books In A Garage

How To Keep Clothes Smelling Fresh In Storage Bins

Can You Store Potatoes In A Cardboard Box?


COVID-19 and God’s List: assessing personal risk from the novel coronavirus

How dangerous is the novel coronavirus, and how does that risk compare with other risks we face in our lives? A bit of number sense and a few simple calculations allow us to visualize, and hence compare, the risks.

Imagine God has a book with the names of all people living in America today. Against each name, he has entered the cause of their death. (He’s God, so he has the death entries now.) He won’t let you see your entry. You do, however, have a chance to look at the book. Not close enough to read the individual entries, but close enough to discern the separate entries as such. You ask him to re-order the list grouped by the listed causes of death. (It’s a digital book.)

The biggest group is labeled “heart disease”. Roughly 1 in 6 of the names on the list are in that group. As a decimal, approximately 0.167. [That’s a figure quoted regularly in the medical profession. For example, this article. The exact values are not important to get an overall picture of the risks.]

This year, God had to add a new category: COVID-19. Right now, you are worried about it. You should be, and should do everything you can to avoid it. But in the overall scheme of things, how big a risk is it? Let’s run a few numbers.

Well, let’s suppose the infection reaches 60% of the population. That is the point where the growth ceases to be exponential (because there are not enough non-immune hosts left to fuel such rapid growth). The penetration could go higher, but at a much slower rate, which means medical services are not overwhelmed and more sick people can be saved.

The best current estimate we have for the mortality rate is 1%. (Congressional testimony of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.)

So, in a population of 327M, the proportion who will be infected and subsequently die is 327 x 0.6 x 0.01M, which works out to 1.96M. As a proportion of the entire population, that is 0.006.  Six in every thousand, or 0.6%. Putting it another way, 994 of every 1,000 people in the United States today will survive.

That sounds encouraging, and it is, but it’s a lot higher than the risks associated with most of the actions we take in daily life, such as getting on a plane, driving across town, or crossing the road. Moreover, in particularly severe cases, the illness can be very unpleasant, even if you survive. All in all, it’s definitely something you should try to avoid.

But how does the risk of COVID-19 death stack up against the other things you may die of? More specifically, where does COVID-19 come on God’s List? The answer is, pretty low down the (reordered) list. The group of names that have that label in the “cause of death” column is (roughly) just 1/28th the size of the heart disease group.  [.006/.167 = 1/28 approx.]

But be cautious. COVID-19 presents a different kind of risk than heart disease. The latter is something that creeps up over your lifetime, and, if you get medically examined regularly and you are found to have it, you usually have plenty of time to modify your activities and habits to slow it down or even stop it developing further.

With COVID-19, however, it is a risk that (we all hope) you will only face in 2020 (because by 2021 we hope to have an effective vaccine), and the length of time you have to change your behavior to save yourself is measured in a few weeks (if you are following the news from a reliable source), or maybe just days. On the other hand, the behavioral changes required are very simple, albeit involving a major disruption of your daily life. Thoroughly wash your hands regularly, apply hand-sanitizer after coming into contact with any person, pet, or object, avoid touching your face, and keep at least six feet from any other person.

Nevertheless, in terms of what God has entered against your name as the cause of your death, it’s highly unlikely to be COVID-19. It’s 28 times more likely to be “Heart failure”.

In other words, what the numbers tell us is that you are extremely unlikely to die from COVID-19, whatever you do. But, assuming you’d rather live than die (and would rather avoid a terrible illness even if you survive it), then if there were actions you could take to make your odds for not dying from this virus, you should take them.

As we just saw, the actions required are a nuisance, but you only have to do them until the virus simply goes away (not likely) or we find an effective vaccine (highly likely within a year, maybe a bit more). So COVID-19 presents a numerically small danger made acute by being entirely within a single year or a year-and-a-half. Avoidance is simple, and is required for a relatively short time, but it’s a nuisance.

In the case of heart disease, the same conclusions follow, but the time-scale is very different. In this case, it’s one of a small collection of illnesses (around ten) that you are highly likely to die from, but the threat lasts your entire life. Avoidance measures are also simple (principally diet, exercise, and not smoking), but need to be sustained.

The take-home message, then, is that during this year (and maybe into next), COVID-19 is a threat you should not treat lightly. But in terms of God’s List, this is most unlikely to be what he has entered against your name. (“Heart disease” is far more likely.)

So, given how heavily the overall odds are stacked in your favor, the incentive to take COVID-19 avoidance measures is huge, since they are almost certain to be effective. Besides, with a virus epidemic, avoidance measures any one of us takes benefit all of society, including our families, friends, and loved ones.

If you do come through the COVID-19 epidemic, then, on January 1, 2021, with the novel coronavirus threat behind you (or at least soon to be so), you will be in a position to make a New Year Resolution to make sure your diet and exercise habits can fend off heart disease. That’s a deadly threat that continues throughout your life. And the odds that this killer is the one that gets you are a lot higher than for that virus you just dealt with. Why get through one threat and then squander your chances to avoid a much greater one?

NOTE: This article has a good description of the various ways COVID-19 can spread and how we can prevent them.

The math behind Apollo 11

Here is the PROLOGUE of The Math Gene 3/

The beginnings of Education Science?

  • Focus on developing number sense and problem solving ability.
  • High level of engagement.
  • Instant feedback (both positive and negative).
  • Learning through failure—in a playful, safe environment.
  • Student/player is in control.
  • Student/player has ownership.

Selected sources

What is a proof, really?

What is a mathematical proof? Way back when I was a college freshman, I could give you a precise answer: A proof of a statement S is a finite sequence of assertions S(1), S(2), … S(n) such that S(n) = S and each S(i) is either an axiom or else follows from one or more of the preceding statements S(1), …,S(i-1) by a direct application of a valid rule of inference.

I wrote about this dilemma in my MAA “Devlin’s Angle” column way back in 1996, in an article titled Moment of Truth.

I picked up the theme again in 2003 with my Devlin’s Angle piece When is a Proof?

These days I have a very pragmatic perspective on what a proof is, based on the way people use them in the day-to-day world of mathematics:

Proofs are stories that convince suitably qualified others that a certain statement is true.

If I present you with a proof, and you have the appropriate background knowledge and ability, you can – usually with some time and effort – as a result of reading my story, become convinced that what I claim is true.

But if you take that as your working definition of proof, you have to acknowledge it is fundamentally about communication, not truth. In particular, whether an argument classifies as a proof depends as much on the intended reader as on its creator.

Of course, in order to function in that way, the “story” has to be pretty heavily constrained.

Moreover, the creators and the consumers of those stories have to be familiar with the genre. That part takes time to acquire.

On the other hand, once a person becomes familiar with both the genre and the particular mathematical focus, reading and understanding those stories becomes natural and fluent.

The system works – as any professional mathematician will affirm. It’s how mathematics advances.

To an outsider, however, the whole thing is usually incomprehensible.

Today, many proofs stretch over several pages, not infrequently hundreds of pages. A key feature that allows such proofs to function effectively in the mathematical community is that many steps are left out.

In some cases this is because the step has already been established, either by the same author in a previous piece of work, or by someone else. In such cases, the author simply refers the reader to that source.

In other cases, the author judges that the intended reader should be capable of supplying the missing steps on the fly. The author may provide a hint to help the reader provide the missing steps, but not always.

There is, then, a huge element of audience design in constructing effective proofs. A proof designed for an undergraduate mathematics class is in general very different from one constructed to present at a research seminar.

To the beginner, trying to make the transition from high school mathematics to university level, coming to terms with real proofs is not only difficult, it can be traumatic, with a once comforting illusion of crisp, clean certainty rapidly giving way to a panicked feeling of sinking into shifting quicksand.

At this point, it can be of some comfort to learn that Euclid screwed up big-time when he penned his famous geometry proofs in Elements. Yes, those iconic proofs may seem logically sound, and indeed for two thousand years were held up as models of logically sound reasoning. But as David Hilbert observed in the late Nineteenth Century, Euclid’s arguments are riddled with logical holes.

To give just one example, he often tells you to construct a point by intersecting an arc of a circle with a straight line. But how do you know there is an intersection? Sure, when you draw the arc and the line on a sheet of paper, the arc may cross over the line. But do they actually intersect? That is, do they have an actual (dimensionless) point in common?

That is not only not obvious, it takes a lot of work to answer. (The answer is, it depends on the underlying number system. But it requires some deep machinery not developed until the Nineteenth Century.)

Of course, high school teachers rarely, if ever, tell their students that the geometry proofs they are presented as models are at best sketches of how proofs can be constructed. As a result, those students typically enter university with a totally false impression of what a proof is. In particular, they believe proofs are fundamentally and exclusively about truth, and that they are either right or wrong.

In reality, proofs are about truth, but not fundamentally, and definitely not exclusively. The key property of a proof is not that it is logically correct (it almost certainly is not, but more pertinent, how could you ever be sure it is?), rather that it is expressed in a manner that enables a suitably qualified reader to fill in any holes they notice, to check any steps they have any doubt about, and to correct any errors they find (as they surely will if they dig deep enough).

It’s very much like software engineering, where the most important thing about a program is not that it is bug free (it almost certainly is not), rather that – in addition to working – it is structured and annotated so that someone else can come along later and either fix bugs or else modify the code to do something else.

Ridding high school graduates of the “proofs are about logical correctness” misconception is generally a difficult (for both instructor and student) and painful (for the student) process. Just what it entails has been a focus of a study I have been making in my MOOC Introduction to Mathematical Thinking, currently being offered for the fifth time. I describe my most recent observations in a new post on my other blog, MOOCtalk.org,

where this account continues…

How mountain biking can provide the key to the Eureka moment

MATH: Ditto.

BIKE: I ended my previous post by promising to

It took me four attempts to complete that initial climb!

What are we to make of this strange process?

Which leads me to this.

Alpine Road. The trail is washed out just round the bend

Alpine Road. The trail is washed out just round the bend

My mountain bike at the start of the bypass trail

My mountain bike at the start of the bypass trail

What lies around that sharp left-hand turn?

What lies around that sharp left-hand turn?

The short, narrow descent

The short, narrow descent

Here is our brief basking point.

The inflection point. One more detail to resolve.

The summit of the climb

It took me four attempts to complete that initial climb!

To be continued …

The Wuzzits – Free at Last

In which the word free has several meanings.

A screen shot from Wuzzit Trouble

A screen shot from Wuzzit Trouble

Apple features Wuzzit Trouble on its release

Apple features Wuzzit Trouble on its release

Faulty logic in the new Math Wars skirmish

Mathematicians love puzzling about self-referential statements such as “This sentence is false” (ask yourself if it is true or false and see what happens), and analyzing them has led to significant insights in the way mathematics is used to model real world phenomena. But I suspect the authors of a recent New York Times opinion piece did not see the ironical self-reference in their title The Faulty Logic of the ‘Math Wars’, published on June 16.

If ever there were an article that repeatedly utilized faulty logic, this was it. Evidently written from an advocacy viewpoint, the authors obviously got carried away, allowing their advocacy position to stretch and twist logic well beyond breaking point.

I don’t normally comment on math ed advocacy articles, since people tend to be so firmly entrenched in their position that no amount of evidence and reasoning will prompt them to reflect. But this particular article was so far off the mark, and the logic so abused, I could not resist picking up my teacher’s red pen and going through it paragraph by paragraph, annotating as I did.

(Actually I generally use a green pen, since red is known to have negative consequences on student motivation. In this case, the two authors are accomplished academics, well able to handle the back and forth of scholarly debate, where we attack one another’s ideas but not the people, so ink color is not an issue. Besides, for this medium I worked at a keyboard, using boldface to signify my comments to their normal-typeface article.)

So, original article in regular type, my commentary in bold. Here we go. (It’s long, as was the original article, much of which I have to quote in order to critique it.)

* * *   * * *   * * *

This vision of the educational enterprise is a noble one. It doesn’t follow, however, that it is always clear how to make use of its insights. If we are to apply progressive ideals appropriately to a given discipline, we need to equip ourselves with a good understanding of what thinking in that discipline is like. This is often a surprisingly difficult task. For a vivid illustration of the challenges, we can turn to raging debates about K-12 mathematics education that get referred to as the “math wars” and that seem particularly pertinent now that most of the United States is making a transition to Common Core State Standards in mathematics.

No. Numerical reasoning is just one aspect of math instruction. Analytic reasoning, logical reasoning, relational reasoning, and conceptual understanding are just as important and equally stressed. The basic components of K-12 education were elaborated at length by a blue ribbon panel of experts assembled by the National Academies of Science in a 2001 National Academies Press volume titled Adding It Up: Helping Children Learn Mathematics

What is meant by “efficient” here? For many centuries, it was a crucial ability to be able to carry out numerical computations in the head or by paper-and-pencil. The “standard algorithms” were developed in India in the first centuries of the Current Era, and further honed by traders and engineers in the Iraq-Persia region, in order to make mental paper-and-pencil calculation most efficient. (The medium then was either a smooth patch of sand, a sandbox, a parchment, or some form of tablet.)

Those standard algorithms sacrificed ease of understanding in favor of computational efficiency, and that made sense at the time. But in today’s world, we have cheap and readily accessible machines to do arithmetical calculations, so we can turn the educational focus on understanding the place-value system that lies beneath those algorithms, and develop the deep understanding of number and computation required in the modern world, and prepare the ground for learning algebra.

A mathematical algorithm is a procedure for performing a computation. At the heart of the discipline of mathematics is a set of the most efficient — and most elegant and powerful — algorithms for specific operations.

“At the heart of the discipline”! Totally untrue. This reduces mathematics to computational arithmetic. The standard arithmetical algorithms were developed by, and for, traders, to facilitate commercial activity. Those algorithms were never at the heart of mathematics, not even when they were developed. Anyone who says this, exhibits so little knowledge of what mathematics is, they should not purport to be sufficiently expert to pontificate on mathematics education.

Actually, these are only the most (computationally) efficient algorithms if the computation is done using paper-and-pencil. For mental calculation, left-right algorithms are far more efficient. But this is a red herring, since the focus in education should be learning and understanding, and there are algorithms that are far more efficient in achieving those goals.

What is striking about reform math is that the standard algorithms are either de-emphasized to students or withheld from them entirely.

De-emphasized, yes, for the reason I alluded to above.  The need for a strong focus on those particular algorithms evaporated with the dawn of the computer age. No good teacher would withhold mention or discussion of the standard algorithms, not least because they have huge historical significance. That last remark of the authors is simply not true (though I dare say you could find the occasional teacher who acted is such a way).

In one widely used and very representative math program — TERC Investigations — second grade students are repeatedly given specific addition problems and asked to explore a variety of procedures for arriving at a solution. The standard algorithm is absent from the procedures they are offered.

Note that this is what is done in the second grade, when students are just starting out on their mathematical learning.

Students in this program don’t encounter the standard algorithm until fourth grade, and even then they are not asked to regard it as a privileged method.

So much for the authors’ earlier assertion about the standard algorithms being withheld! As to those algorithms not being treated as privileged methods, that is as it should be in today’s world. They were (rightly) privileged for many centuries when calculation had to be done by hand. But those days are gone.

The battle over math education is often conceived as a referendum on progressive ideals, with those on the reform side as the clear winners. This is reflected, for instance, in the terms that reformists employ in defending their preferred programs. The staunchest supporters of reform math are math teachers and faculty at schools of education.

Just stop and think about this for a moment. Where would you expect to find people who know most about mathematics education? Dare I say, math teachers and faculty at schools of education? By way of analogy, consider this statement. “The staunchest supporters of the need for cleanliness and the use of improved medical procedures are the doctors and nurses who work in hospitals.” You don’t say! If you get sick, you consult a medical professional – someone who has spent years studying the subject and has demonstrated their knowledge and ability. Why not proceed in the same fashion when it comes to education?

While some of these individuals maintain that the standard algorithms are simply too hard for many students, most take the following, more plausible tack. They insist that the point of math classes should be to get children to reason independently, and in their own styles, about numbers and numerical concepts. The standard algorithms should be avoided because, reformists claim, mastering them is a merely mechanical exercise that threatens individual growth.

This is such a blatant misrepresentation, I am suspicious of the authors’ motives in writing this. The standard approach in current beginning mathematics education is to begin by providing opportunities for children to reason independently (a hugely valuable ability in today’s world!), and then introduce algorithms, starting with algorithms designed for educational efficiency, and then moving on to algorithms optimized for hand-calculation efficiency. (It is arguable that it would make sense in today’s world to spend some time also looking at the algorithms used by computers, since they are not the standard paper-and-pencil algorithms, and comparison of different algorithms can help students gain deep understanding of number and computation. That could perhaps come later in the educational journey.)

The authors end the paragraph by repeating once more their false claim that “the standard algorithms should be avoided”. The “threatening growth” comment would have substance if mechanical mastery of the standard algorithms were the students’ only exposure to computational methods. But they are not.

No they do not. I do not know a single teacher who advocates calculator use in the second grade. I can’t say with certainty that you won’t find a self-proclaimed “reformist” who has made such a call, but it definitely is not “often”.

Reform math has some serious detractors. It comes under fierce attack from college teachers of mathematics, for instance, who argue that it fails to prepare students for studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.

You can find (a few) college professors who say evolution is false, but they are not in the mainstream. College professors enjoy enormous freedom in what and how they teach, so you can find all kinds of examples. But as someone whose career is almost exclusively spent in academia, who travels extensively and meets other academics across the US and around the world, I have yet to meet anyone who argues strongly that reform math fails to prepare students for studies in STEM. What I do hear a lot is complaints about a lot (not all) of K-12 education failing to prepare students adequately. My sense is the problem is quality of teaching as much if not more than curriculum, though the two are not necessarily independent.

The first part of this statement is totally false. (Unless the phrase “these professors” refers to a couple of professors the authors happen to know.) Familiarity with the standard algorithms plays no role in college STEM. To say mastery of those particular algorithms is crucial to STEM is like saying using a Mac better prepares you for STEM than using a PC. Having a good sense of, and facility with, number, including fractions, is absolutely vital, and the algorithms currently taught in K-12 were developed to maximize that outcome.

Having been teaching university level mathematics around the world for 45 years, I know that in the days when the standard algorithms were the main focus, the results in terms of college-preparedness were terrible. Except for a few students (that few very likely including the article’s authors), the classical teaching methods simply did not work. If they had worked, you would not find so many adults who say they cannot do math! That failure of the old method is what led to the introduction of alternative approaches using algorithms optimized for learning.

Really? I mean, really? Other than a few outliers, I have not heard a deluge of outrage. Reform math is a result of an extensive collaboration between math teachers, mathematics education faculty, and mathematicians, including that blue-ribbon committee of the National Academy of Sciences I mentioned earlier, which published that huge volume on the basic of mathematics education almost fifteen years ago. Hardly “people with no special knowledge of the discipline.”

Even if we accept the validity of their position, it is possible to hear it in an anti-progressivist register. Math professors may sound as though they are simply advancing a claim about how, for college math, students need a mechanical skill that, while important for advanced calculations, has nothing to do with thinking for oneself.

I doubt they would sound that way. In any case, I am not sure what point the authors are trying to make here.

It is easy to see why the mantle of progressivism is often taken to belong to advocates of reform math. But it doesn’t follow that this take on the math wars is correct. We could make a powerful case for putting the progressivist shoe on the other foot if we could show that reformists are wrong to deny that algorithm-based calculation involves an important kind of thinking.

What seems to speak for denying this? To begin with, it is true that algorithm-based math is not creative reasoning. Yet the same is true of many disciplines that have good claims to be taught in our schools. Children need to master bodies of fact, and not merely reason independently, in, for instance, biology and history. Does it follow that in offering these subjects schools are stunting their students’ growth and preventing them from thinking for themselves? There are admittedly reform movements in education that call for de-emphasizing the factual content of subjects like biology and history and instead stressing special kinds of reasoning. But it’s not clear that these trends are defensible. They only seem laudable if we assume that facts don’t contribute to a person’s grasp of the logical space in which reason operates.

I still don’t know for sure what the authors are trying to say here. To my knowledge, no teacher has ever said facts are not important. I can only assume that authors are erecting a huge straw man, but it’s so ludicrous it does not deserve more than this brief dismissal.

The American philosopher Wilfrid Sellars was challenging this assumption when he spoke of “material inferences.” Sellars was interested in inferences that we can only recognize as valid if we possess certain bits of factual knowledge. Consider, for instance, the following stretch of reasoning: “It is raining; if I go outside, I’ll get wet.” It seems reasonable to say not only that this is a valid inference but also that its validity is apparent only to those of us who know that rain gets a person wet. If we make room for such material inferences, we will be inclined to reject the view that individuals can reason well without any substantial knowledge of, say, the natural world and human affairs. We will also be inclined to regard the specifically factual content of subjects such as biology and history as integral to a progressive education.

More of the same. The horse is long dead. It was never born, for heavens sake. Stop flogging it.

These remarks might seem to underestimate the strength of the reformist argument against “preparatory” or traditional math. The reformist’s case rests on an understanding of the capacities valued by mathematicians as merely mechanical skills that require no true thought.

The second sentence here is the exact opposite of actuality. The reformist case rests on knowing that mathematicians value mechanical skills that are based on sound understanding and can be utilized in a creative, thoughtful, reflective way.

[I am going to skip the authors’ next few paragraphs as theoretical cognitive philosophy. You can the entire article in its original posting.]

It is important to teach [the standard algorithms] because, as we already noted, they are also the most elegant and powerful methods for specific operations. This means that they are our best representations of connections among mathematical concepts. Math instruction that does not teach both that these algorithms work and why they do is denying students insight into the very discipline it is supposed to be about.

The first sentence is okay if you delete the qualifier “the most elegant”. The second sentence displays total ignorance of mathematics. (A very odd thing, since the second listed author is an accomplished research mathematician.) The third sentence needs a bit of analysis.

The standard algorithms are a very good historical hack, improved over many generations, that enabled people to do complex arithmetic calculations with paper-and-pencil (or its early equivalent). As long as students learn at least one algorithm for each basic arithmetical operation that gives them an understanding of number and the number system, they will gain insight into number and arithmetic. But number and arithmetic are not what the discipline [mathematics] “is supposed to be about.” Again, the authors’ words indicate that have not a clue what mathematics is about. (Once more puzzling, given the second author’s credentials.) As it happens, there are algorithms that are better suited than the standard ones for gaining insight into number and arithmetic, and those are the ones currently used in “reform mathematics education.” Teaching other methods, including the standard algorithms, can increase that important insight, but the justification for including the classical algorithms is largely historical.

(Reformists sometimes try to claim as their own the idea that good math instruction shows students why, and not just that, algorithms work. This is an excellent pedagogical precept, but it is not the invention of fans of reform math. Although every decade has its bad textbooks, anyone who takes the time to look at a range of math books from the 1960s, 70s or 80s will see that it is a myth that traditional math programs routinely overlooked the importance of thoughtful pedagogy and taught by rote.)

Nonsense. No one makes such a claim. There have always been good teachers providing good education. There have always been, unfortunately, poor teachers providing poor education. This parenthetical paragraph is another straw man.

As long as algorithm use is understood as a merely mechanical affair, it seems obvious that reformists are the true progressivists. But if we reject this understanding, and reflect on the centrality to mathematical thought of the standard algorithms, things look very different. Now it seems clear that champions of reform math are wrong to invoke progressive ideals on behalf of de-emphasizing these algorithms. By the same token, it seems clear that champions of preparatory math have good claims to be faithful to those ideals.

I cannot imagine a paragraph that is more the exact opposite of actuality.

There is a moral here for progressive education that reaches beyond the case of math. Even if we sympathize with progressivists in wanting schools to foster independence of mind, we shouldn’t assume that it is obvious how best to do this. Original thought ranges over many different domains, and it imposes divergent demands as it does so. Just as there is good reason to believe that in biology and history such thought requires significant factual knowledge, there is good reason to believe that in mathematics it requires understanding of and facility with the standard algorithms.

The authors were doing fine until they wrote the second part of this last sentence. The standard algorithms offer no privileged insight into arithmetic, let alone the far broader discipline of mathematics. Their value today is primarily historical. For the period after our ancestors developed symbolic writing up to the invention of the modern computer, the standard algorithms were of great value. They no longer offer anything of unique pedagogic value other than variety. Other algorithms are better suited to learning.

Indeed there is also good reason to believe that when we examine further areas of discourse we will come across yet further complexities. The upshot is that it would be naïve to assume that we can somehow promote original thinking in specific areas simply by calling for subject-related creative reasoning. If we are to be good progressivists, we cannot be shy about calling for rigorous discipline and training.

An apple pie paragraph that everyone will agree with.

The preceding reflections do more than just speak for re-evaluating the progressive credentials of traditional, algorithm-involving math. They also position us to make sense of the idea, which is as old as Plato, that mathematics is an exalted form of intellectual exercise. However perplexing this idea appears against the backdrop of the sort of mechanical picture favored by reformists, it seems entirely plausible once we recognize that mathematics demands a distinctive kind of thought.

Actually, what the preceding reflection indicates is that the authors haven’t any real understanding of mathematics or mathematics learning. (Second author puzzlement again.) They certainly give the impression they have no idea what reform mathematics is about, since the reformists’ position is as far removed from a “mechanical picture” as can be imagined.

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Essay on unemployment in India causes and effects

Essay on unemployment in India causes and effects

Unemployment is a huge problem in every country, and every country has different types of unemployment. This is especially true for developing countries like India, which has always been the leader of the largest human populations.

Unemployment is a very serious problem that can be handled by carefully planned and executed plans of action. In this article, we will be discussing the causes and effects of unemployment in India and how to solve this problem.

1. Definition of Unemployment

Unemployment is a major problem in India. It is a situation where people who are able to work do not have any work. The main cause of unemployment is lack of opportunities.

There are many people who are educated and skilled but they do not get jobs because of various reasons such as the unavailability of jobs, low wages, and lack of proper training and skills. The effects of unemployment are disastrous. It leads to poverty, crime, and social unrest.

2. Causes of Unemployment

There are various factors that contribute to unemployment. One of the most common reasons is the mismatch of skills between the available jobs and the skills of the workforce. When employers are looking to fill a position, and the pool of applicants doesn’t have the qualifications they are looking for, the position goes unfilled.

The most qualified people often have their pick of jobs, so employers are forced to lower their standards and hire people who are less qualified. This can be a problem for both the employer and the employee, as the employee is likely to be overworked and underpaid, and the employer is stuck with a workforce that is not a good fit.

3. Unemployment in India

Millions of people are unemployed in India. Unemployment is a problem that has been going on for many years. There are many reasons for unemployment. The main reasons are slow economic growth, lack of new industries, lack of new investment, lack of skills, and rapid population growth. India is a country that is still in the process of development.

The government has been trying to solve the problem of unemployment, but it has not been successful. The problem of unemployment is causing a lot of tension in the society. It is also causing a lot of stress to the people who are unemployed. The government must find a way to solve the problem of unemployment.

4. Unemployment Statistics in India

Unemployment is a global phenomenon that continues to affect countries irrespective of their development status. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the global unemployment rate was estimated at 5.8% in 2018.

This means that there were approximately 192.1 million unemployed people in the world. India has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. In this essay, we will explore the causes and effects of unemployment in India.

5. How to Tackle Unemployment

There are many ways to tackle unemployment. Some measures are short-term, such as providing training and support services to help people find jobs quickly. Other measures are long-term, such as creating an environment that encourages businesses to invest and create jobs.

The government can also provide financial assistance to people who are struggling to make ends meet. There are many different ways to help, and it’s important to find the right solution for each country. Every country is different, and what works in one place might not work in another.

Unemployment refers to a situation when a person willing and capable of working is not getting employment for the lack of required skills or resources. For example, if you have attended several interviews but didn’t get selected because you don’t have any specific qualification then also you are considered unemployed. Here we will discuss about unemployment in India on basis of some reasons, effects and solutions etc.

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IA Scholar Query: A Supervised Learning Network Based on Adaptive Resonance Theory. https://scholar.archive.org/ Internet Archive Scholar query results feed en info@archive.org Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT fatcat-scholar https://scholar.archive.org/help 1440 Adversary Models for Mobile Device Authentication https://scholar.archive.org/work/6vp5xrtuhbg3za2r243pcry4s4 Mobile device authentication has been a highly active research topic for over 10 years, with a vast range of methods proposed and analyzed. In related areas, such as secure channel protocols, remote authentication, or desktop user authentication, strong, systematic, and increasingly formal threat models have been established and are used to qualitatively compare different methods. However, the analysis of mobile device authentication is often based on weak adversary models, suggesting overly optimistic results on their respective security. In this article, we introduce a new classification of adversaries to better analyze and compare mobile device authentication methods. We apply this classification to a systematic literature survey. The survey shows that security is still an afterthought and that most proposed protocols lack a comprehensive security analysis. The proposed classification of adversaries provides a strong and practical adversary model that offers a comparable and transparent classification of security properties in mobile device authentication. René Mayrhofer, Stephan Sigg work_6vp5xrtuhbg3za2r243pcry4s4 Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT 1. Introduction https://scholar.archive.org/work/r4b25wtxdbahdm6jejvbpovtni work_r4b25wtxdbahdm6jejvbpovtni Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT Vegas, Disney, and the Metaverse https://scholar.archive.org/work/ycueigxa2jarrehldbuvl6hqk4 In his technophilosophical investigation Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy, David J. Chalmers discusses the historical skepticism about the human capacity to recognize material reality. Already in the centuries before our era, Chinese, Indian, and Greek thinkers independently raised whether humans could distinguish between what was real and what was an illusion. Chalmers outlines Zuanghzi's dream about being a butterfly, Narada's dream in which he lived an entire life as a woman, and Plato's allegory of the cave whose imprisoned inhabitants mistake distorted and selective reflections for reality. He interprets these doubts as examples of philosophical domains: "Knowledge: How can Zhuangzi know whether or not he's dreaming? Reality: Is Narada's transformation real or illusory? Value: Can one lead a good life in Plato's cave?" 1 Classical philosophy's concerns about the perceptibility of material reality continued into the modern era, culminating in René Descartes's Meditations on First Philosophy. 2 With them, Chalmers writes, Descartes "set the agenda for centuries of Western 1 Chalmers, David John: Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy, Gundolf S. Freyermuth work_ycueigxa2jarrehldbuvl6hqk4 Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT »Doing the Work« https://scholar.archive.org/work/aljly33dzncwjitlpngfpcek3i Ann-Christine Simke work_aljly33dzncwjitlpngfpcek3i Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT "Geniu, Talent, Creativitate – o perspectivă socio-culturală", conferinţa ştiinţifică Internaţională (13 ; 2022 ; Iaşi). Lucrările Conferinţei Ştiinţifice Internaţionale "Geniu, talent, creativitate", Ediţia a-XIII-a, mai 2022 https://scholar.archive.org/work/mgziqj7wlfgq7aepamwodiwn2a Volumul de faţă reuneşte o serie de perspective teoretice dar şi practice ce au în centrul lor creativitatea, dezvoltarea individuală, inserţia socială, aspecte legale şi juridice, aspecte privind integrarea în situaţii dificile, de stress, epuizare şi bullying. This volume brings together a series of theoretical and practical perspectives of these concepts, which focus on creativity, individual development, social inclusion, legal issues, aspects of integration in difficult situations, stress, exhaustion and bullying. Marinela Rusu work_mgziqj7wlfgq7aepamwodiwn2a Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT Diffusion Models: A Comprehensive Survey of Methods and Applications https://scholar.archive.org/work/olq2ukauzrdepgjbshovvnxexe Diffusion models are a class of deep generative models that have shown impressive results on various tasks with a solid theoretical foundation. Despite demonstrated success than state-of-the-art approaches, diffusion models often entail costly sampling procedures and sub-optimal likelihood estimation. Significant efforts have been made to improve the performance of diffusion models in various aspects. In this article, we present a comprehensive review of existing variants of diffusion models. Specifically, we provide the taxonomy of research in diffusion models and categorize them into three types: sampling-efficiency enhancement, likelihood-maximization enhancement, and data-generalization enhancement. We also introduce the other generative models (i.e., variational autoencoders, generative adversarial networks, normalizing flow, autoregressive models, and energy-based models) and discuss the connections between diffusion models and these generative models. Then we review the applications of diffusion models, including computer vision, natural language processing, temporal data modeling, multi-modal learning, robust learning, molecular graph modeling, material design, and inverse problem solving. Furthermore, we propose new perspectives pertaining to the development of generative models. Github: https://github.com/YangLing0818/Diffusion-Models-Papers-Survey-Taxonomy. Ling Yang, Zhilong Zhang, Yang Song, Shenda Hong, Runsheng Xu, Yue Zhao, Yingxia Shao, Wentao Zhang, Bin Cui, Ming-Hsuan Yang work_olq2ukauzrdepgjbshovvnxexe Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT Hunting for meaning in a landscape of practice: The case of Chief Information Officers https://scholar.archive.org/work/yofs7geabngldcdj3nyx2sxrki The increasing complexity in the IT environment, characterised with constant emergence of new technologies, potential disruption, industry hyperbole, and states of uncertainty, has fuelled strong competitive strains for organisations to adapt and respond accordingly (Vial, 2019). Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are expected to lead organisations in adapting to the growing complexity of the IT environment by having an awareness and understanding of emerging technologies that are relevant to their organisations, and thus demonstrate strategic IT knowledge (Bendig et al., 2022). Despite there being widespread consensus that obtaining strategic IT knowledge is an inherent necessity for CIOs to function effectively at strategic level (Smaltz et al., 2009), existing academic literature offers very limited insight on how CIOs develop their strategic IT knowledge. Therefore, this research aimed to offer a significant step towards understanding and explicating how CIOs navigate the complex IT environment to acquire knowledge and construct meanings of emerging technologies as a necessary effort to function effectively at strategic level. In doing so, it drew on the theoretical lens of landscapes of practice (Wenger-Trayner and Wenger-Trayner, 2014) to demonstrate CIOs' development of strategic IT knowledge as a socially constituted experience of meaning making. From an interpretivist standpoint, qualitative data were gathered using semi-structured interviews with 32 CIOs across the UK. CIO respondents were asked to provide accounts of meaning-making experiences relating to emerging technologies. Particular attention was given to how CIO respondents gained knowledge and negotiated meaning of emerging technologies, as well as how they accounted for the role of individual and collective practitioners that formed their social body of knowledge. The findings revealed that CIOs are embedded in an epistemic landscape of practice constituted by diverse landscape actors. These landscape actors were abstracted into three categorie [...] Ayowoletomiwa Adaramoye work_yofs7geabngldcdj3nyx2sxrki Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT How to See Hidden Patterns in Metamaterials with Interpretable Machine Learning https://scholar.archive.org/work/ekqwidcsvfazpc5suykfgwubzy Machine learning models can assist with metamaterials design by approximating computationally expensive simulators or solving inverse design problems. However, past work has usually relied on black box deep neural networks, whose reasoning processes are opaque and require enormous datasets that are expensive to obtain. In this work, we develop two novel machine learning approaches to metamaterials discovery that have neither of these disadvantages. These approaches, called shape-frequency features and unit-cell templates, can discover 2D metamaterials with user-specified frequency band gaps. Our approaches provide logical rule-based conditions on metamaterial unit-cells that allow for interpretable reasoning processes, and generalize well across design spaces of different resolutions. The templates also provide design flexibility where users can almost freely design the fine resolution features of a unit-cell without affecting the user's desired band gap. Zhi Chen, Alexander Ogren, Chiara Daraio, L. Catherine Brinson, Cynthia Rudin work_ekqwidcsvfazpc5suykfgwubzy Sat, 01 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT Automatic Context-Driven Inference of Engagement in HMI: A Survey https://scholar.archive.org/work/rvjp6nhw75fotopy2rkvlrb4ki An integral part of seamless human-human communication is engagement, the process by which two or more participants establish, maintain, and end their perceived connection. Therefore, to develop successful human-centered human-machine interaction applications, automatic engagement inference is one of the tasks required to achieve engaging interactions between humans and machines, and to make machines attuned to their users, hence enhancing user satisfaction and technology acceptance. Several factors contribute to engagement state inference, which include the interaction context and interactants' behaviours and identity. Indeed, engagement is a multi-faceted and multi-modal construct that requires high accuracy in the analysis and interpretation of contextual, verbal and non-verbal cues. Thus, the development of an automated and intelligent system that accomplishes this task has been proven to be challenging so far. This paper presents a comprehensive survey on previous work in engagement inference for human-machine interaction, entailing interdisciplinary definition, engagement components and factors, publicly available datasets, ground truth assessment, and most commonly used features and methods, serving as a guide for the development of future human-machine interaction interfaces with reliable context-aware engagement inference capability. An in-depth review across embodied and disembodied interaction modes, and an emphasis on the interaction context of which engagement perception modules are integrated sets apart the presented survey from existing surveys. Hanan Salam, Oya Celiktutan, Hatice Gunes, Mohamed Chetouani work_rvjp6nhw75fotopy2rkvlrb4ki Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Application and Innovation of Biopsychosocial Model https://scholar.archive.org/work/62r2ukv33zdcxpplbzsuxwufpq Vulnerability refers to poorly adapting to stressors and showing inappropriate responses that can become persistent states of stress. In contrast, resilience is linked to being able to perceive stressful events in less threatening ways, promoting adaptive coping strategies. In particular, resilience is important in overcoming harmful effects of stress and maintaining health in the pandemic era. Learning Objectives: 1) to learn the importance of roles of cognitive appraisal and coping in determining vulnerability and resilience, 2) to learn that gene-gene and gene-environment interactions are related to individual differences in stress responses and 3) to learn the functional capacity of the brain structures that mediate mood and emotion determines resilience. Description: Differences in individual vulnerability and resilience occur across sex, age, and culture. Resilience is an active process, not just the absence of pathology. The underlying mechanisms of vulnerability and resilience are known to depend on a combination of genetic and nongenetic factors. In particular, the functional capacity of the brain structures involved in the integrated circuits that mediate mood and emotion determines stress resilience. Overall, psychosocial factors, behavioral factors, neuroendocrine stress responses, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, and neural circuitry are likely to be involved in vulnerability and resilience to stress. Discussion/ George Nasra work_62r2ukv33zdcxpplbzsuxwufpq Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Enhancing the Use of Evidence by Policymakers in Indonesia https://scholar.archive.org/work/m2ae63b66ncpfhvn47vpa7gl2u The RTI Press mission is to disseminate information about RTI research, analytic tools, and technical expertise to a national and international audience. RTI Press publications are peer-reviewed by at least two independent substantive experts and one or more Press editors. RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. We combine scientific rigor and technical expertise in social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development to deliver solutions to the critical needs of clients worldwide. Acknowledgments ix 1. Knowledge Systems Theory, Development, and Application Contents List of Figures v List of Tables vii Ishak Fatonie, Primatia Romana Wulandari, Budiati Prasetiamartati work_m2ae63b66ncpfhvn47vpa7gl2u Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Chronic Neuropathic Pain (CNP): A Pilot fMRI Neuro-Imaging Analysis in Breast Cancer Survivors https://scholar.archive.org/work/ctuukahjo5gtxcxbnufvmrg6bq A significant subset of women plagued with breast cancer continue to experience chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) long after undergoing cancer treatment. Medical interventions such as pharmacotherapy and/or surgery have been most widely used to abate painful symptoms with limited efficacy. Other alternatives are required given a heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals can lead to tolerance, dependence and severe side effects. Possibilities include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), physical therapy, and mindfulness interventions to supplement pharmacotherapies. Mindfulness practice in particular has been offered to a variety of chronic pain groups including breast cancer patients, however evidence is lacking to support its effectiveness in CNP for breast cancer survivors (BCS). The purpose of the present study was to explore the benefits a mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) may have on altering the underlying neuronal correlates linked with pain-related symptoms associated with CNP in BCS. The primary objective was to investigate how mindfulness training might possibly mediate the brain's capacity for emotional reactivity, white matter integrity, and activation of the default mode network (DMN) and how these changes may correlate with levels of pain severity and pain interference, improving overall quality of life. To achieve these results, several brain imaging techniques were used in order to observe the correlation between the subjective experience of pain and the objective manifestation of brain changes that may be potentiated by MBSR training. A total of 23 participants were placed in either an 8 week MBSR intervention group (n=13) or a waitlist control group (n =10). All women were scanned with MRI before and after the 8 week intervention regardless of group allotment. The following neuroimaging modalities were used for each scanning session: resting state fMRI (rsfMRI) to monitor changes to functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN); Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to assess the struc [...] Ola Mioduszewski, University, My work_ctuukahjo5gtxcxbnufvmrg6bq Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Multi-Feature Extraction-Based Defect Recognition of Foundation Pile under Layered Soil Condition Using Convolutional Neural Network https://scholar.archive.org/work/x5iczijgvrccxmc3mvxqqr3jvu If the layer of soil surrounding a pile is not taken into account during the engineering detection process, the velocity-time curve might show asymptotic diameter shrinkage or diameter expanding features, which would alter the interpretation of the test findings. In this study, we suggest combining multi-feature extraction and a convolutional neural network (CNN) to increase accuracy in pile defect recognition for layered soil conditions and traditional deep learning flaws. First, numerical simulations are run to create velocity–time curves for foundation piles under layered soil conditions. Then, the data are extracted from three dimensions: time domain, frequency domain, and time-frequency domain, respectively, and fused into a set of feature vectors. Finally, a foundation pile defect identification model combining multi-scale features and CNN is established. The findings demonstrate that the CNN model has 97.8% accuracy while the PNN has 28.6% accuracy, demonstrating that the approach is very reliable. Chuan-Sheng Wu, Tian-Qi Hao, Ling-Ling Qi, De-Bing Zhuo, Zhen-Yang Feng, Jian-Qiang Zhang, Yang-Xia Peng work_x5iczijgvrccxmc3mvxqqr3jvu Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Neufassung des Besonderen Teils der Prüfungsordnung für den Masterstudiengang "Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen - Maschinenbau" an der Technischen Universität Braunschweig, Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Fakultät und Fakultät für Maschinenbau https://scholar.archive.org/work/4unklumxsbgfjl53stvzxqqhuq Herausgegeben von der Präsidentin der :None, Universitätsbibliothek Braunschweig work_4unklumxsbgfjl53stvzxqqhuq Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Characterization and Evaluation of Carbonate Reservoir Pore Structure Based on Machine Learning https://scholar.archive.org/work/wy7t655r5ncgjdfx7527sz6ljq The carboniferous carbonate reservoirs in the North Truva Oilfield have undergone complex sedimentation, diagenesis and tectonic transformation. Various reservoir spaces of pores, caves and fractures, with strong reservoir heterogeneity and diverse pore structures, have been developed. As a result, a quantitative description of the pore structure is difficult, and the accuracy of logging identification and prediction is low. These pose a lot of challenges to reservoir classification and evaluation as well as efficient development of the reservoirs. This study is based on the analysis of core, thin section, scanning electron microscope, high-pressure mercury injection and other data. Six types of petrophysical facies, PG1, PG2, PG3, PG4, PG5, and PG6, were divided according to the displacement pressure, mercury removal efficiency, and median pore-throat radius isobaric mercury parameters, combined with the shape of the capillary pressure curve. The petrophysical facies of the wells with mercury injection data were divided accordingly, and then the machine learning method was applied. The petrophysical facies division results of two mercury injection wells were used as training samples. The artificial neural network (ANN) method was applied to establish a training model of petrophysical facies recognition. Subsequently, the prediction for the petrophysical facies of each well in the oilfield was carried out, and the petrophysical facies division results of other mercury injection wells were applied to verify the prediction. The results show that the overall coincidence rate for identifying petrophysical facies is as high as 89.3%, which can be used for high-precision identification and prediction of petrophysical facies in non-coring wells. Jue Hou, Lun Zhao, Xing Zeng, Wenqi Zhao, Yefei Chen, Jianxin Li, Shuqin Wang, Jincai Wang, Heng Song work_wy7t655r5ncgjdfx7527sz6ljq Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Monoamine Neurotransmitters Control Basic Emotions and Affect Major Depressive Disorders https://scholar.archive.org/work/whqvjeornnedjka2elipmjre54 Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and complex mental disorder, that adversely impacts an individual's quality of life, but its diagnosis and treatment are not accurately executed and a symptom-based approach is utilized in most cases, due to the lack of precise knowledge regarding the pathophysiology. So far, the first-line treatments are still based on monoamine neurotransmitters. Even though there is a lot of progress in this field, the mechanisms seem to get more and more confusing, and the treatment is also getting more and more controversial. In this study, we try to review the broad advances of monoamine neurotransmitters in the field of MDD, and update its effects in many advanced neuroscience studies. We still propose the monoamine hypothesis but paid special attention to their effects on the new pathways for MDD, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, neurotrophins, and neurogenesis, especially in the glial cells, which have recently been found to play an important role in many neurodegenerative disorders, including MDD. In addition, we will extend the monoamine hypothesis to basic emotions; as suggested in our previous reports, the three monoamine neurotransmitters play different roles in emotions: dopamine—joy, norepinephrine—fear (anger), serotonins—disgust (sadness). Above all, this paper tries to give a full picture of the relationship between the MDD and the monoamine neurotransmitters such as DA, NE, and 5-HT, as well as their contributions to the Three Primary Color Model of Basic Emotions (joy, fear, and disgust). This is done by explaining the contribution of the monoamine from many sides for MDD, such the digestive tract, astrocytes, microglial, and others, and very briefly addressing the potential of monoamine neurotransmitters as a therapeutic approach for MDD patients and also the reasons for its limited clinical efficacy, side effects, and delayed onset of action. We hope this review might offer new pharmacological management of MDD. Yao Jiang, Di Zou, Yumeng Li, Simeng Gu, Jie Dong, Xianjun Ma, Shijun Xu, Fushun Wang, Jason H. Huang work_whqvjeornnedjka2elipmjre54 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Security For System-On-Chip (SoC) Using Neural Networks https://scholar.archive.org/work/x474ku5kpvhenfgymfza6cfd2u With the growth of embedded systems, VLSI design phases complexity and cost factors across the globe and has become outsourced. Modern computing ICs are now using system-on-chip for better on-chip processing and communication. In the era of Internet-of-Things (IoT), security has become one of the most crucial parts of a System-on-Chip (SoC). Malicious activities generate abnormal traffic patterns which affect the operation of the system and its performance which cannot be afforded in a computation hungry world. SoCs have a chance of functionality failure, leakage of information, even a denial of services (DoS), Hardware Trojan Horses and many more factors which are categorized as security threats. In this paper, we aim to compare and describe different types of malicious security threats and how neural networks can be used to prevent those attacks. Spiking Neural Networks (SNN), Runtime Neural Architecture (RTNA) are some of the neural networks which prevent SoCs from attacks. Finally, the development trends in SoC security are also highlighted. Vedant Ghodke, Shubham Deshmukh, Atharva Deshpande, Ninad Ekbote, Swati Shilaskar work_x474ku5kpvhenfgymfza6cfd2u Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Empirical Analysis of Data Streaming and Batch Learning Models for Network Intrusion Detection https://scholar.archive.org/work/ffqcfkybejastks3vcclvmhx3y Network intrusion, such as denial of service, probing attacks, and phishing, comprises some of the complex threats that have put the online community at risk. The increase in the number of these attacks has given rise to a serious interest in the research community to curb the menace. One of the research efforts is to have an intrusion detection mechanism in place. Batch learning and data streaming are approaches used for processing the huge amount of data required for proper intrusion detection. Batch learning, despite its advantages, has been faulted for poor scalability due to the constant re-training of new training instances. Hence, this paper seeks to conduct a comparative study using selected batch learning and data streaming algorithms. The batch learning and data streaming algorithms considered are J48, projective adaptive resonance theory (PART), Hoeffding tree (HT) and OzaBagAdwin (OBA). Furthermore, binary and multiclass classification problems are considered for the tested algorithms. Experimental results show that data streaming algorithms achieved considerably higher performance in binary classification problems when compared with batch learning algorithms. Specifically, binary classification produced J48 (94.73), PART (92.83), HT (98.38), and OBA (99.67), and multiclass classification produced J48 (87.66), PART (87.05), HT (71.98), OBA (82.80) based on accuracy. Hence, the use of data streaming algorithms to solve the scalability issue and allow real-time detection of network intrusion is highly recommended. Kayode S. Adewole, Taofeekat T. Salau-Ibrahim, Agbotiname Lucky Imoize, Idowu Dauda Oladipo, Muyideen AbdulRaheem, Joseph Bamidele Awotunde, Abdullateef O. Balogun, Rafiu Mope Isiaka, Taye Oladele Aro work_ffqcfkybejastks3vcclvmhx3y Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Possible Synergies of Nanomaterial-Assisted Tissue Regeneration in Plasma Medicine: Mechanisms and Safety Concerns https://scholar.archive.org/work/5fliy5l75zcodctvksc4alnuv4 Cold atmospheric plasma and nanomedicine originally emerged as individual domains, but are increasingly applied in combination with each other. Most research is performed in the context of cancer treatment, with only little focus yet on the possible synergies. Many questions remain on the potential of this promising hybrid technology, particularly regarding regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In this perspective article, we therefore start from the fundamental mechanisms in the individual technologies, in order to envision possible synergies for wound healing and tissue recovery, as well as research strategies to discover and optimize them. Among these strategies, we demonstrate how cold plasmas and nanomaterials can enhance each other's strengths and overcome each other's limitations. The parallels with cancer research, biotechnology and plasma surface modification further serve as inspiration for the envisioned synergies in tissue regeneration. The discovery and optimization of synergies may also be realized based on a profound understanding of the underlying redox- and field-related biological processes. Finally, we emphasize the toxicity concerns in plasma and nanomedicine, which may be partly remediated by their combination, but also partly amplified. A widespread use of standardized protocols and materials is therefore strongly recommended, to ensure both a fast and safe clinical implementation. Priyanka Shaw, Patrick Vanraes, Naresh Kumar, Annemie Bogaerts work_5fliy5l75zcodctvksc4alnuv4 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT Self-care and spirituality in volunteer psychologists during the Covid-19 pandemic https://scholar.archive.org/work/hminzcxeuzarhfars4m3j2zqwq This work is an integral part of a master's thesis whose objective was to unveil the perceptual experience and the meaning of life for volunteer psychologists who have served online amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In this qualitative study, the self-care of these professionals is approached in different ways, as it is a multidimensional and multifaceted concept involving areas and dimensions of personal and professional life. In the scenario of the current pandemic, with all its particularities, the self-care of psychologists contributes to the relief of stress, helping in their personal and professional life. This study was conducted to identify how volunteer psychologists had experienced their self-care in the face of the demands brought by their clients. The objective was to understand whether spirituality acts as a protective factor. A sample of 20 professionals, of which 90% were females, participated in the study. Self-care strategies were identified that proved effective in dealing with the exhaustion caused by clinical practice. The importance of using resources from the spiritual dimension was verified as a source of strength to live. Belief in God, and the help of prayer, offer confidence and support to overcome life's obstacles, especially in a period of social isolation. Tania Regina dos Santos Barreiros Cosenza work_hminzcxeuzarhfars4m3j2zqwq Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT


Device Allows Three Brains To Connect, Share Thoughts And Play Game As One

A combined team of neuroscientists from the University of Washington and Carnegie Mellon University have successfully demonstrated a device that connects participants’ brains, enabling them to share their thoughts and cooperate while playing a Tetris-style video game together.

This three-person brain network called ‘BrainNet’ works by combining electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). EEG records brain activity, while TMS works primarily to administer information to the brain in a non-invasive way.

For now, the interface allows only three participants to work together, but the team says it could be scaled up to connect as many participants as possible.

“We present BrainNet which, to our knowledge, is the first multi-person non-invasive direct brain-to-brain interface for collaborative problem solving”, the team wrote in the paper. “The interface allows three human subjects to collaborate and solve a task using direct brain-to-brain communication.”

In the study, three participants were asked to play a Tetris-like game which involved falling blocks. Of the three participants, two were “SENDERS”, and the other “RECEIVER”.

The “SENDERS” brain signals were interpreted using EEG to extract the decisions they made, that is – to rotate a block or not before it was dropped to fill a line. Their decisions were sent via the TMS cap to the “RECEIVER” who then made the judgement call.

The team furthermore demonstrated the scalability of the BrainNet by letting other five groups of three participants to perform the Tetris task. The accuracies were astounding.

“Our results raise the possibility of future brain-to-brain interfaces that enable cooperative problem solving by humans using a “social network” of connected brains,” the team noted.


# Customization (Blockly)

SyncPenguin provides a high level of advanced customizations of the sync process. This includes adding/removing fields from field mapping, applying filters, custom fields, conditions, loops, and other forms of data transformation.

This guide provides in-depth information on how to configure custom field mapping using our visual interface without any code.

# Create custom mapping

Any sync created in SyncPenguin has a default field mapping, which usually includes all basic and common fields between the two synced applications. To create a custom mapping, open your sync and click the Create custom mapping button in the Field mapping & filters section:

Create custom field mapping

Once you enter the name, a mapping area will open in a new window, which looks like this:

Custom field mapping

The mapping area consists of the following parts:

  1. Mapping direction that indicates which direction is currently being configured. Click on it to switch to the opposite.
  2. A button to open the testing area.
  3. Refresh button to reload field data.
  4. History of changes button that opens the list of revisions with the possibility to revert to any previous version.
  5. Settings where you can rename your mapping.
  6. Save changes button to save and apply the mapping.
  7. The configuration area.
  8. Customization blocks.

# Sync flow

Before applying customization it's important to understand how field mapping is used in SyncPenguin.

Each time a new data record is created or updated (be it contact, meeting, task, etc.) in your application, it's picked up and processed by SyncPenguin. This is exactly when the field mapping is applied to transform the data from one application format to another, and then this mapped record is added or updated to the other synced application.

Each mapping has two directions. If your sync runs one-way, you can simply ignore the other mapping direction as it's never applied.

Please note that some customizations of two-way sync might lead to undesired loop mapping if not handled properly. For example, if you simply prepend meeting subject with some text in both sync directions and the meeting is processed by SyncPenguin multiple times in both directions, the subject will be prepended multiple times as well.

# Field mapping

Field mapping is configured using field blocks. To browse what fields can be used in mapping, expand one of the two field block sections on the left:

Note that some fields might be read-only and hence only available in one sync direction.

To add fields to the mapping, drag and drop one block from each app to the configuration area:

After that, connect the two blocks:

Lastly, you can vertically connect the blocks with the remaining ones. This is done just for readability purposes.

To remove fields from the mapping simply select the corresponding block and press delete.

Please note that field blocks are of different types (text, number, date/time, bool, or object). If two fields are of mismatching types, you won't be able to connect them.

# Testing

Once you have applied some customization to the field mapping, you can test to see if the changes transform the data in the right way. Please note that this is abstract testing that does not affect your actual application data in any way.

To test the field mapping, click the Run a test button. You'll then see the testing area that looks like this:

Mapping fields

On the left side, you can enter the field mapping input data, meaning the data fields of your source app. Once you click the Map button, the right side will show how the data is mapped to the destination app.

Mapping fields

You are also able to use your real data as field mapping input. To load it, click on the Test data dropdown. Please note that it might take a moment for the loading to complete.

# Filtering

Field mapping can be also used to filter out any data that should not be synced. For example, if you only need to sync Mailchimp contacts with the status 'Subscribed', you can add the following condition to the field mapping:

Note that to filter out data, we use 'don't sync' blocks that can be found in the Sync flow section. Whenever this block is encountered, the data record that is currently being mapped is ignored altogether, which means that it will not be processed and synced to the other application.

Also note that filtering logic can be placed anywhere in the mapping configuration, not necessarily at the beginning.

Here's another example that is filtering out Mailchimp contacts that contain the 'Private' tag:

In this case, we use a loop to go over all tags of the contact.

# Conditions & logic

Conditions allow you to have broad control over how data is transformed between the two synced applications. Condition and logic blocks are located in the Logic section of configuration blocks. Some of the most commonly used blocks are the following:

This block is used to add 'if' conditions to your mapping. You can click the gear icon to add 'else-if' or 'else' conditions.
This block is used to check two values for equality, inequality, or to compare them. You can click on the dropdown to select which operation is used. This block can be used with text, number, date/time and boolean values (true/false)
This block can be used to combine two logical values together with 'and' or 'or' operation.
The 'not' block can be used to express opposite logical value than what is connected to it.
The true/false block simply represents true or false value that can be used for comparison in conditions and checks.

# List operations

List operations allow you to loop over, transform, or filter lists. Loop blocks are located under the Loops section, and list blocks are located under the Lists section. Here are some of the most commonly used blocks:

Checks if the connected list is empty or not.
Returns the length of the given list.
Loop over all elements of a list. Note that this block creates an additional variable that can be used to access the currently processed element of the loop.
This block can be used to filter elements of a list. Note that it doesn't modify the original list but simply returns a new one with filtered elements.
This block can be used to transform all elements of a list from one format to another.

# Contact us

Anything unclear? Feel free to contact us!

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