Abstract Neuro-fuzzy systems have attracted the growing interest of researchers in various scientific and engineering areas due to its effective learning and reasoning capabilities. The neuro-fuzzy systems combine the learning power of artificial neural networks and explicit knowledge representation of fuzzy inference systems. This paper proposes a review of different neuro-fuzzy systems based on the classification of research articles from 2000 to 2017. The main purpose of this survey is to help readers have a general overview of the state-of-the-arts of neuro-fuzzy systems and easily refer suitable methods according to their research interests. Different neuro-fuzzy models are compared and a table is presented summarizing the different learning structures and learning criteria with their applications.
Aesthetic sensitivity in people with high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) reflects the positive perception of life, especially aspects related to the arts and nature. This study is focused on the analysis of the effect of aesthetic sensitivity in relation to indicators of health-related quality of life (general health, mental health and emotional role), the personality traits openness to experience and agreeableness, and coping strategies in people with SPS. The adult participants (N = 10,520, mean age = 33.61) completed the Spanish versions of the High Sensitivity Person Scale (HSPS-S), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI). It was observed that people with high aesthetic sensitivity presented greater openness and agreeableness, tended to use adaptive coping strategies and showed a slightly poorer functioning in different areas of daily living. Moreover, health-related quality of life, mental health and adaptive coping strategies occupied central positions in the correlations between variables, with a positive impact between mental health and adaptive coping strategies with openness and agreeableness. Lastly, the level of aesthetic sensitivity did not play a moderator role, and it exerted no differential influence on its relationship with the analysed variables. Now, it has been found that people with high levels of aesthetic sensitivity cope more adequately, which would cushion the effect that high SPS can have on mental health, specifically on anxious and depressive symptoms. It is concluded that these findings are relevant and useful for future propositions of prevention and clinical intervention, as well as for counselling in the psychoeducational, labour and family scopes, amongst others.
Training sample re-weighting is an effective approach for tackling data biases such as imbalanced and corrupted labels. Recent methods develop learning-based algorithms to learn sample re-weighting strategies jointly with model training based on the frameworks of reinforcement learning and meta learning. However, depending on additional unbiased reward data is limiting their general applicability. Furthermore, existing learning-based sample re-weighting methods require nested optimizations of models and weighting parameters, which requires expensive second-order computation. This paper addresses these two problems and presents a novel learning-based fast sample re-weighting (FSR) method that does not require additional reward data. The method is based on two key ideas: learning from history to build proxy reward data and feature sharing to reduce the optimization cost. Our experiments show the proposed method achieves competitive results compared to state of the arts on label noise robustness and long-tailed recognition, and does so while achieving significantly improved training efficiency. The source code is publicly available at https://github.com/google-research/google-research/tree/master/ieg.
BACKGROUND People with intellectual disabilities are rarely involved in research on quality of life. The study sought to answer the question: what do people with intellectual disabilities believe improves or hinders their quality of life? METHOD Using an inclusive, accessible research design, 18 participants met in small groups to answer the study's question using their choice of arts-based media. Participants completed the analysis collaboratively, identifying key themes among their responses. RESULTS The participants concluded that supports, well-being, hobbies, and activities contribute to quality of life. Lack of accessibility, assumptions, negative behaviours, stress, and negative people (staff, roommates, people in general) were identified as detractors of quality of life. CONCLUSIONS To continue to make progress in improving the quality of life of individuals with intellectual disabilities, the voice of those with intellectual disabilities is key. The results suggest key areas of focus to make these improvements.
One of the general concepts underlying Waldorf education is that teaching is an art. Although this idea is certainly not unique to Waldorf education, what is unique is the way it has been integrated into Waldorf teacher education. While Waldorf teacher education programs are diverse, both in national and international contexts, one of the central elements which they share is the prominent role which different forms of artistic practice play throughout the course of pre-service and in-service programs. This article explores the reasons and aims behind the inclusion of subjects such as music, sculpture, and speech in Waldorf teacher education, at first within the larger context of viewing different perspectives and justifications for the inclusion of the arts in teacher education outside of Waldorf pedagogy. In light of the educational challenges posed by widespread sensory deficits among children and adolescents, viewed here as being connected to the extensive role/s which different forms of digital media play in their lives, the case is made for the potentials of the arts as a way to address those deficits. In examining both the arguments for arts-based courses in teacher education and the pedagogical challenges of our times I propose a concept for the inclusion of the arts in teacher education connected to the concept of aesthesis, from the Ancient Greek concept of aisthésis, understood here as the primary perceptual-sensory basis of aesthetic experience. The integration of scientific courses with arts-based practice in teacher education is seen as providing a fruitful basis for teachers to be able to take on these educational challenges.
Abstract As awareness increases of the fundamental role of the arts and humanities in medical education, teachers must expand their skills to include arts-based pedagogical methods. With strong evidence to support its use with medical learners, Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is an arts-based method increasingly being adopted in medical education. VTS provides a structured way of leading interpretative discussions prompted by works of art. However, the simplicity of its structure can be deceiving. As with other teaching skills, faculty development is needed to train educators in VTS facilitation. This is essential not only to optimize VTS’ benefits to participants, but – when VTS is implemented in research studies – to prevent doubts being cast on its impact on medical learners. Educators can apply the twelve tips on facilitating VTS described in this article to guide fruitful facilitation of VTS among medical learners, as well as to enhance discussion-based teaching in general.
In 2021-2023 In Yekaterinburg, 3 volumes of author's essays were published on the development of the cultural sphere of the capital of the Urals. The release of review texts was initiated by the Department of Culture of the Yekaterinburg Administration. On 864 pages, using archival materials, unique historical and contemporary photographs, the “spirit of the development of the arts” is presented - music, theater and cinema in Volume 1, sculpture, painting and architecture in Volume 2, literature, art education and the educational system in Volume 3. The chosen genre - essays - is original and productive. Texts are a form of summing up, recording successes in the development of the Yekaterinburg/Sverdlovsk sphere of culture. The tercentenary anniversary of Yekaterinburg (the city can be scientifically categorized as a regional or peripheral capital), which took place in 2023, is an occasion for reflection and further planning. Richly illustrated, gift-type books are deep and original from the point of view of analytics of the development of the cultural sphere. The authors were leading academic researchers and employees of the largest cultural institutions of Yekaterinburg - the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, UrFU named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, the Museum of the History of Yekaterinburg, the Sverdlovsk Music School named after P. I. Tchaikovsky. Using the general scientific critical method, methods of synthesis and analysis, the text of the review provides a brief overview of all three volumes of essays, characterizes the merits of the publication, and provides criticism.
Sociology (General), Urban groups. The city. Urban sociology
“Embracing the otherness” is a phrase that is borrowed from Morehshin Allahyari’s virtual reality artwork She Who Sees the Unknown: Kabous, the Right Witness, and the Left Witness (2019). In this article, I am using this phrase to question the figuration of self and other as staged by Allahyari in her work. By deploying an overwhelming effect of immersion specific to the technological features of VR, Allahyari establishes a physical as well as an emo- tional relationship to the other. But instead of encouraging a sense of closeness, which is likely to be connected to the idea of “embracing otherness” as well as to the vision of VR as “empathy machine,” this immersive experience has the opposite effect. I argue that it weirdly plays with the appropriative mechanisms of othering, unsettles the viewer’s sovereignty, and thus initiates a rather “strange encounter.” In this sense, I will examine Allahyari’s use of VR’s immersiveness as a “body hack” and elaborate how I read her artwork as a critical commentary on the debate of the transformative potential of VR as “empathy machine.”
Cover caption: Morehshin Allahyari, She Who Sees the Unknown: Kabous, The Right Witness, and The Left Witness, snapshots from VR video, commissioned by The Shed, image courtesy of the artist, 2019.
In the 2010s, universities recognized the limitations of lecture-oriented teaching methods and are expanding the educational method in which students actively participate in learning. Although the educational effects of small group activities such as improving one’s communication ability, one’s problem-solving ability, and one’s interpersonal competency have been proven, learners have many complaints about such teaching methods. This study intends to investigate how learners perceive group activities that are conducted in parallel with the class and to find ways to effectively operate group activities in college liberal arts classes. To this end, this study conducted a survey on how group activities are perceived by students who took the liberal arts classes as <Thought and Expression> courses in S University. According to the survey, students recognize that group activities are necessary but are reluctant to do small group activities because of the burden of carrying out a class assignment while communicating with unfamiliar schoolmates, as well as the anxiety they feel about having to work with schoolmates that are not diligent. Therefore, this study suggests that we strengthen the motivation for group activities, to reinforce the function of peer evaluation, and to provide effective feedback as professors regarding group activities as ways to effectively operate small group activities in college liberal arts classes. Through these methods, it is expected that students will be able to reduce their negative perception of group activities, recognize the meaning and value of collaboration, and be able to achieve learning effects such as improving their communication and problem-solving abilities.
Ecological literature fundamentally has a convergence nature in that it combines “ecology” and “literature.” Its significance has been highlighted anew in the recent COVID-19 pandemic situation. This study aims to analyze liberal arts subjects related to ecological education and examine their achievements and limitations, thus proposing a new convergence liberal arts subject.</br>For these purposes, the investigator analyzed “The Environment and Humanities” at S University and “A Future Environment and Risk Society” at D University. Both the subjects have huge significance in that they are designed to be integrated with various academic areas for study. “The Environment and Humanities” leaves room for improvement as it may not help students themselves integrate each content piece fully organically. “A Future Environment and Risk Society” has concerns with the possibility that the success and failure of its lecture can be determined by the abilities and levels of subject developers.</br>The study proposed a tentative subject “Ecological Crises in Ecological Literature” to solve these problems. In the former part, it covers sequentially seven topics related to an ecological crisis including water quality, atmosphere, soil, nuclear weapons, criticism of civilization, apocalyptic future, and life. In the latter part, it selects a work related to one of the seven topics for each team, analyzes its content, and proposes ways to overcome an ecological crisis in it. The lectures in Week O, for instance, will help students cultivate their natural science knowledge and recognize the reality of water contamination via various media based on Lee Hyeong-gi's <i>BOD PPM</i> and then provide discussion and debate activities to analyze <i>Bhêchadjaguru Shall Not Come</i> by Choi Seong-gak and find fundamental alternatives. Such activities are expected to help students develop their ecological sensibility and embody ecological ethics.
This study reflects on the educational validity of competency-based liberal arts education, and aims to enhance its feasibility and secure its sustainability. It also aims to clarify the educational conditions and circumstances of competency-based liberal arts education in a didactical manner, which ultimately attempts to encourage the recovery of educational authenticity in the context of actual practice. Even though the concept of competency emerged within the vocational training context, it has been re-conceptualized within the context of school education through the evolution of <i>introduction-diffusion-transformation</i>. Thus, it is time to overcome the conceptual confusion of competency discourse and to collect educational wisdom. The concept of competency should permeate into the pedagogical realm in terms of aims, content, methods and evaluation of liberal arts education. As to the educational aim, competency should guide the overall liberal arts education as the real power that drives ‘well-being’. Regarding its content, subjects in the liberal arts education should be restructured into a dynamic whole in which knowledge, skills, attitude and values are all blended together in a trans-boundary way. In terms of methods, the essential meaning of learning should be based more on student agency, allowing for learners to think more for themselves and to act autonomously. Regarding evaluation, the conventional formal diagnosis, with its instrumental and measurement-focused approach, should be converted into a more narrative evaluation in order to draw each student’s existential reflection. Based on the past 2500 years of history, liberal arts education might be summed up with one word: reinterpretation. In the same spirit, the post-human and post-Covid era requests a brand-new liberal arts education. Competency-based liberal arts education should be reborn as educational transformation that widens the prospect of liberal education in the 21<sup>st</sup> century.
Aylin Ulman, Fadilah Z. Ali, Holden E. Harris
et al.
Major invasions of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) are underway in the Western Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. While the establishment of lionfish in the Western Atlantic is perhaps the most well-studied marine fish invasion to date, the rapidly expanding invasion in the Mediterranean is more recent and has received less attention. Here we review and synthesize successes and failures from two decades of lionfish management in the Western Atlantic to give policy recommendations for their management in the Mediterranean. Two failed approaches that were attempted multiple times in the Western Atlantic and that we advise against are (1) feeding lionfish to native fish to promote predation and (2) implementing bounty programs to incentivize lionfish harvest. Broadly, the most important management lessons that we recommend include (1) conducting routine removals by spearfishing with scuba, which can effectively suppress local abundances of lionfish; (2) encouraging the development of recreational and commercial lionfish fisheries, which can promote long-term, sustainable lionfish population control; and, (3) engaging local communities and resource users (e.g., with lionfish removal tournaments), which can concurrently achieve multiple objectives of promoting lionfish removals, market-development, research, and public education. Managers in the Western Atlantic often needed to adapt current conservation policies to enable lionfish removals in areas where spearfishing with scuba was otherwise prohibited for conservation purposes. The risk of abusing these policies was mitigated through the use of gear restrictions, diver trainings, and through participatory approaches that integrated scuba divers and stakeholder organizations in lionfish research and management. Our review of policies and practices in the Mediterranean Sea found that many of our recommended lionfish management approaches are not being done and indicate potential opportunities to implement these. We expect and fully recommend that work continues towards multinational cooperation to facilitate regional coordination of research, control, and management efforts with respect to the Mediterranean lionfish invasion. As with other major biological invasions, lionfish are unconstrained by political borders and their control will require rapid and strategic management approaches with broad cooperation among and between governments and stakeholders.
Science, General. Including nature conservation, geographical distribution
This article examines the photographs of artist Jimmy DeSana, who documented New York subcultures in the 1970s and experimented with materials and color in the 1980s. DeSana’s photographic interest in fetish cultures will be contextualized in the philosophical discourse of the 1970s, in which transgressive sexual practices were used to reveal and subvert power structures. To this end, I will locate the visual politics of the photographs in their publishing contexts: the magazine Semiotext(e), edited by philosopher Sylvère Lotringer, and FILE Megazine, edited by the artist group General Idea. Both magazines queered with their visual politics the strategies that determined the representation of subjects. I argue that DeSana’s material stagings and photographic processes intertwine bodies, their surfaces, and the surrounding space in order to reflect on image rhetorics and subject formations of mass media and create an alternative in which to image other ways of being and relating.
Francieli Regina Garlet, Vivien Kelling Cardonetti, Cristian Poletti Mossi
et al.
Apresentam-se, neste ensaio, indagações e experimentações em forma de escritas e leituras com imagens de um coletivo de criação que se dedica há algum tempo a produzir academicamente com os campos da educação, da arte e da filosofia. Opera-se com os conceitos de percussão e de política de tambores, empreendidos por Basbaum (2017), com a noção de coletivo, abordada por Escóssia (2009) e Escóssia e Kastrup (2005), bem como com a noção de encontro, proposta por Deleuze e Parnet (1998). Do ponto de vista metodológico, aposta-se na noção de transversalidade (GUATTARI, 2004), agenciada por quatro pares de mãos, em revezamento. Buscam-se novas sonoridades, harmonias e melodias na produção científica, em meio a um território traçado entre leituras e escritas com imagens que, na composição deste ensaio, é atravessado também por sons e ruídos de um cotidiano acionado pelo confinamento físico provocado pela pandemia de Covid-19.
Nel solco della consuetudine dei “treni bianchi” che conducevano gli ammalati verso i principali santuari mariani quali Lourdes e Loreto, nel 1943 il Vaticano aveva commissionato a Vittorio De Sica la direzione di un film che trattasse dei viaggi dei pellegrini nella basilica lauretana. La pellicola, intitolata La porta del cielo, a causa degli eventi bellici dovette subire riduzioni, soprattutto per ciò che concerne la ripresa delle scene da girare a Loreto, tanto che la chiesa della Santa Casa fu riprodotta all’interno del perimetro extra-territoriale di San Paolo fuori le Mura. Le riprese, iniziate il I marzo 1944, vennero così realizzate integralmente a Roma e terminate poco dopo l’entrata delle truppe americane in città il 4 giugno. Qui De Sica anticipa le tematiche del neorealismo, sviluppate poi nel dopoguerra insieme a Cesare Zavattini, entrando nelle sottili pieghe delle problematiche quotidiane dei malati (e dei loro accompagnatori) in viaggio verso il santuario. La produzione inserì nei registri delle comparse oltre quattrocento persone, includendo ebrei, ricercati politici, renitenti alla leva, che così riuscirono ad evitare i rastrellamenti e, dopo l’arrivo degli americani, tornarono ad abbracciare nuovamente la città.
Following the custom of the “white trains” that led the sick towards the main Marian sanctuaries such as Lourdes and Loreto, in 1943 the Vatican had commissioned Vittorio De Sica to direct a film dealing with pilgrims’ journeys to the Lauretan basilica. The film, entitled La porta del cielo (The Gate of Heaven), due to the war events had to be changed, especially in regards to the scenes to be shot in Loreto, so the Santa Casa was reproduced within the extra-territorial perimeter of San Paolo fuori le mura. Filming, which began on March 1st 1944, was thus carried out entirely in Rome and ends shortly after the entry of American troops into the city on June 4th. Here De Sica anticipates the themes of neorealism, developed after the war with Cesare Zavattini, entering the daily problems of the sick (and of their companions) travelling towards the sanctuary. The production includes over four hundred people in the registers of extras, including Jews, political dissidents, draft dodgers, who thus managed to avoid round-ups and, after the arrival of the Americans, return to embrace the city again.
The term innovation is commonly considered synonymous with improvement. This particularly happens in liberal societies, whose economic dynamics are expressed both in the production of objects and in the design of new services. This meaning in fact has emerged in a productive and social context in which high technology is able to produce increasingly sophisticated instruments and devices that, although requiring a very high level of scientific knowledge, are offered for mass consumption. Moreover, most of the users can only partially understand their functioning.Today innovation seems to be a permanent imperative both at the level of companies and industries, and at the level of institutions, that widely use this term when reforming their services. However, even though the term is mostly used to feed the vicious circle of consumerism, it could also refer to shared design processes and practices capable of promoting unprecedented methods of social construction.