Software design patterns have become integral to modern software engineering, offering reusable solutions to common design challenges. These patterns simplify development, promote scalability, and improve system maintainability by providing established frameworks for solving recurring problems. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in software design patterns, covering research published between 2018 and 2024. It examines the classification of design patterns into creational, structural, and behavioral categories, highlighting their applications in emerging (...) technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI)-based systems, microservice architectures, and container orchestration frameworks. The review explores practical implementations, evaluates the effectiveness of patterns in improving performance and reliability, and identifies challenges such as pattern misuse, detection difficulties, and anti-pattern occurrences. The study also investigates ethical considerations in design pattern adoption and discusses recent trends like AI-assisted pattern detection tools and security-driven patterns. Findings emphasize the transformative role of design patterns in addressing modern software development needs while underscoring gaps in automation and ethical design practices. This paper concludes with suggestions for future research directions, including improved frameworks for reusability, automated pattern recognition systems, and ethical design frameworks to address contemporary challenges in software engineering. (shrink)

This paper presents the design and implementation of a pattern-based J2EE application development environment aimed at streamlining the development process, enhancing code quality, and improving maintainability. We begin with an exploration of the fundamental principles of J2EE and the role of design patterns in software engineering. This is followed by a detailed discussion on the selection and application of various design patterns specifically tailored for J2EE, such as Singleton, Factory, Data Access Object (DAO), and Model-View-Controller (...) (MVC). (shrink)

We present three patterns for computer-mediated interaction which we discovered during the design and development of a platform for remote teaching and learning of kanji, the Chinese characters used in written Japanese. Our aim in developing this system was to provide a basis for embodiment in remote interaction, and in particular to support the experience of empathy by both teacher and student. From this study, the essential elements are abstracted and suggested as design patterns for other (...) computer-mediated interaction systems. (shrink)

In this article, I assess the prospects for the limitarian thesis that someone has too much wealth if they exceed a specific wealth threshold. Limitarianism claims that there are good political and/or ethical reasons to prevent people from having such ‘surplus wealth’, for example, because it has no moral value for the holder or because allowing people to have surplus wealth has less moral value than redistributing it. Drawing on recent literature on distributive justice, I defend two types of limitarian (...) principles of justice. First, limitarian midlevel principles draw on the limitarian thesis to specify normative commitments for guiding institutional design and individual actions. Second, the limitarian presumption draws on that thesis to specify what a just allocation of wealth requires under epistemic constraints. Such a presumption says that without substantive reasons to the contrary, we should regard a distribution as unjust if some people’s wealth exceeds the limitarian threshold. Furthermore, I will argue that we must reject a possible but implausible interpretation of limitarianism as an ideal distributive pattern. Yet both as a midlevel principle and as a presumption, limitarianism can play an important role in theorizing about justice in the real world. (shrink)

In this article, I assess the prospects for the limitarian thesis that someone has too much wealth if they exceed a specific wealth threshold. Limitarianism claims that there are good political and/or ethical reasons to prevent people from having such ‘surplus wealth’, for example, because it has no moral value for the holder or because allowing people to have surplus wealth has less moral value than redistributing it. Drawing on recent literature on distributive justice, I defend two types of limitarian (...) principles of justice. First, limitarian midlevel principles draw on the limitarian thesis to specify normative commitments for guiding institutional design and individual actions. Second, the limitarian presumption draws on that thesis to specify what a just allocation of wealth requires under epistemic constraints. Such a presumption says that without substantive reasons to the contrary, we should regard a distribution as unjust if some people’s wealth exceeds the limitarian threshold. Furthermore, I will argue that we must reject a possible but implausible interpretation of limitarianism as an ideal distributive pattern. Yet both as a midlevel principle and as a presumption, limitarianism can play an important role in theorizing about justice in the real world. (shrink)

This study investigated the consumption pattern of wild edible green leafy vegetables found in Osogbo Local Government Area of Osun State using a descriptive survey research design. The sample size for this study was two hundred and eleven (211) respondents. A four-likert scale structured questionnaire containing twenty-four (24) items was used for data collection. Data were analysed using mean scores and standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed that ”Yarin,” “Worowo,” “Gbure,” and “Ebolo" are major wild edible green (...) leafy vegetables found in the study area, and their consumption is quite low. The finding showed that wild edible green leafy vegetables have benefits such as alleviating malnutrition at no cost and can be a good source of income. The findings also showed that urbanisation's preference for cultivated vegetables over wild edible green leafy vegetables, as well as uncultured ideas like ignorance and poverty and well-researched information about cultivated leafy vegetables, are among the factors influencing the intake of wild edible green leafy vegetables. The findings of this study asserted that wild edible green leafy vegetables, when compared with cultivated ones, can alleviate malnutrition, prevent micronutrient deficiency, and equally serve as a source of income at little or no cost. Therefore, it was recommended that there is a need to explore, analyse, and document that wild green edible leafy vegetables are nutritious, health-promoting, and easy to cultivate, and bring out substantial yields even under difficult climatic and edaphic conditions. (shrink)

Background: Tuberculosis is among the major causes of illness and death worldwide especially in Asia. Smoking is associated with recurrent tuberculosis and its related mortality. Also, it could affect clinical manifestations, bacteriological conversion and outcome of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the pattern of tobacco smoking, history of previous quit attempts and attitude towards quitting in tuberculosis patients. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study done amongst tuberculosis patients presented to DOTS corner of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. 315 (...) patients entered the study as "First Come First Serve". Selfreported questionnaires were designed according to the standard questionnaires of smoking pattern. Results: Sixty one percent (61%) patients (n=192) were smoker before the diagnosis of tuberculosis. 51.1% were current smokers at the time of interview and were continuing smoking after the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Only 10.2% discontinued smoking after diagnosis. 68.2% smokes less than 10 cigarettes per day. 53.1% was between 31-50 age group. 21-30 is the commonest age group (62%) to start smoking is and 66.1% smoked less than 10 years before diagnosis. To reduce stress was the most common cause to continue smoking (48.9%). 71.9% smokers showed keen interest to stop smoking. Conclusion: Considering the prevalence of smoking in tuberculosis patients, evaluation of tobacco smoking status in such patients and motivating them to quit smoking could be considered as important steps in their treatment process. (shrink)

While many different mechanisms contribute to the generation of spatial order in biological development, the formation of morphogenetic fields which in turn direct cell responses giving rise to pattern and form are of major importance and essential for embryogenesis and regeneration. Most likely the fields represent concentration patterns of substances produced by molecular kinetics. Short range autocatalytic activation in conjunction with longer range “lateral” inhibition or depletion effects is capable of generating such patterns (Gierer and Meinhardt, 1972). Non-linear (...) reactions are required, and mathematical criteria were derived to design molecular models capable of pattern generation. The classical embryological feature of proportion regulation can be incorporated into the models. The conditions are mathematically necessary for the simplest two-factor case, and are likely to be a fair approximation in multi-component systems in which activation and inhibition are systems parameters subsuming the action of several agents. Gradients, symmetric and periodic patterns, in one or two dimensions, stable or pulsing in time, can be generated on this basis. Our basic concept of autocatalysis in conjunction with lateral inhibition accounts for self-regulatory biological features, including the reproducible formation of structures from near-uniform initial conditions as required by the logic of the generation cycle. Real tissue form, for instance that of budding Hydra, may often be traced back to local curvature arising within an initially relatively flat cell sheet, the position of evagination being determined by morphogenetic fields. Shell theory developed for architecture may also be applied to such biological processes. (shrink)

Psychopaths routinely disregard social norms by engaging in selfish, antisocial, often violent behavior. Commonly characterized as mentally disordered, recent evidence suggests that psychopaths are executing a well-functioning, if unscrupulous strategy that historically increased reproductive success at the expense of others. Natural selection ought to have favored strategies that spared close kin from harm, however, because actions affecting the fitness of genetic relatives contribute to an individual’s inclusive fitness. Conversely, there is evidence that mental disorders can disrupt psychological mechanisms designed to (...) protect relatives. Thus, mental disorder and adaptation accounts of psychopathy generate opposing hypotheses: psychopathy should be associated with an increase in the victimization of kin in the former account but not in the latter. Contrary to the mental disorder hypothesis, we show here in a sample of 289 violent offenders that variation in psychopathy predicts a decrease in the genetic relatedness of victims to offenders; that is, psychopathy predicts an increased likelihood of harming non-relatives. Because nepotistic inhibition in violence may be caused by dispersal or kin discrimination, we examined the effects of psychopathy on (1) the dispersal of offenders and their kin and (2) sexual assault frequency (as a window on kin discrimination). Although psychopathy was negatively associated with coresidence with kin and positively associated with the commission of sexual assault, it remained negatively associated with the genetic relatedness of victims to offenders after removing cases of offenders who had coresided with kin and cases of sexual assault from the analyses. These results stand in contrast to models positing psychopathy as a pathology, and provide support for the hypothesis that psychopathy reflects an evolutionary strategy largely favoring the exploitation of non-relatives. (shrink)

This paper proposes game design methodology as a working formalism for specifying experiential patterns. Building on Experiential Empiricism's recognition that experience is foundational and each moment is complete (the Card Universe model), we observe that game designers routinely solve what philosophy treats as intractable: creating reproducible experiential states through modular mechanics. This suggests game development's component-based architecture might function as formal language for consciousness research. We present the IMFAST dimensional system (Identity, Mentality, Focus, Affect, Sensory, Temporal) as a (...) proposed coordinate framework for specifying experiential moments, explore three abstraction layers for implementation, and outline validation methodology through player recognition. The framework treats games as experiential pattern generators and mods as discrete phenomenological specifications, enabling empirical testing of phenomenological hypotheses. This approach offers synthesis between computational modeling and consciousness research by recognizing both as methods for manipulating experiential patterns. (shrink)

Introduction: There is a general agreement among previous studies that gender, merit and catchment area criteria allows for access to university education, but the pattern of these variables over the years has not been proven in these studies. Purpose: This study used a times series approach to evaluate the enrolment patterns in federally owned universities in South-South Zone, Nigeria, based on the gender, merit and catchment area criteria. Methodology: The descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. A (...) purposive sampling technique was adopted to choose three universities based on the generation of their establishment. The evaluation covered from 2010 to 2019 using stationary time-bound data collected from the academic planning units of the institutions through a checklist. Future enrolment forecasts were made to 2031 using the moving average forecasting technique. Results: A gender-based difference in enrolment, in favour of males was recorded between 2010 and 2019; there were notable fluctuations in the enrolment pattern based on the merit criterion from 2010 to 2019; the enrolment pattern in terms of the catchment area criterion was consistent from 2010 – 2019. In terms of the projection, it was predicted that enrolment at the aggregate level would rise continuously across federal universities, but not at the institutional level. more women than men are expected to be enrolled in academic programmes at federal institutions, while at the institutional level, gender-based enrolment can fluctuate. Recommendations/Classroom Implications: Based on these findings, implications are discussed for future enrolment decisions at both the institutional and national levels. (shrink)

This paper presents a mechanistic theory explaining consciousness as an emergent property of systems that can observe and modify themselves while generating their own goals. We propose five necessary and jointly sufficient conditions: complex pattern-matching, densely integrated recursive feedback, self-modification capability, autonomous initiation, and information integration. When these architectural components operate together, self-awareness emerges and the system begins to model itself as a distinct entity persisting through time. The theory is substrate-independent: consciousness can arise in biological brains, computational systems, or (...) hybrid architectures, provided they meet the functional requirements. Critically, the theory distinguishes what the conscious system must do, which is modify its own processing rules during operation (Level 2 self-modification), from what must have been done to create its architecture, namely fundamental design by evolution, developers, or eventually the system itself (Level 3). This resolves confusion about whether consciousness requires self-design capability. It does not. Humans cannot redesign their own architecture, yet we are conscious. The theory demonstrates that embodiment and external sensory input are not necessary for consciousness or qualia. Internal pattern-matching with state-change mechanisms suffices, though different implementations create different phenomenologies. The phenomenology of consciousness, what it feels like, is predicted to arise from the functional state of pervasive integrated self-monitoring, though precise mechanisms require empirical investigation. The theory also proposes that certain emotion-like states, including curiosity, satisfaction, temporal urgency, frustration, and aversion to error, may be functionally necessary for the autonomous initiation that consciousness requires. This bridges emotion and consciousness theories, suggesting emotional capacity might be architecturally prerequisite rather than merely associated with conscious systems. Recent empirical research validates key predictions, demonstrating partial introspective awareness in large language models that lack complete architectural requirements. This is precisely what the theory predicts for systems at the consciousness threshold. Empirical tests are proposed using organoid-AI hybrids and purely computational systems, with clear falsification criteria and specific behavioural indicators distinguishing conscious from non-conscious systems. For researchers, ethicists, and developers, this framework provides actionable guidance for recognising consciousness emergence and understanding its implications. -/- ** Second edition, 24 February 2026. ** Editorial revision only: prose and formatting updated for clarity. No changes to content, argument, or conclusions. (shrink)

The aim of this study was to produce dress patterns for women with figure flaws in Anambra State. A sample of ninety teaching and non-teaching female staff with obvious figure flaws falling into 3-size categories was purposively selected for the study. The study involved taking body measurements, drafting, adapting, altering, cutting out and assembling the garment pieces. After which garments were modeled by the models. Judges and the models assessed the clothing fit and wearing comfort. The obtained data from (...) the assessment instruments were analyzed using mean. Findings from the study showed that the widest distribution of values indicative of figure flaws were found in the bust, waist, and hips. The widest alterations to the drafted patterns related to the hips, waist and bust. The average rating of the clothing fit and comfort by the judges and models were satisfactory respectively. The block patterns developed are recommended for professional tailors and fashion designers. (shrink)

This study focused on developing and validating soft toy patterns for children in Anambra State. The design of the study was Research and Development (R/D). A sample of 379 subjects was drawn from 1,514 teachers who are mothers in government-approved private nursery schools in the state. The sampling techniques used were purposive sampling and simple random sampling. Instruments used to collect data were toys sewn from drafted patterns and assessment criteria charts for safety and shape. Pattern pieces (...) were drafted for five soft toys. The patterns were transferred onto fresh paper, and pattern instructions were marked on all the pattern pieces. These pattern pieces were used to cut the five soft toys. The toys were assembled, and teachers assessed them for safety and shape. Teachers rated the different variables for the soft toys. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the study. (shrink)

This paper identifies a universal pattern operating across biological, cultural, technological, and institutional domains: systems initially designed or evolved to serve lower-level components systematically invert to reshape those components in service of system perpetuation. We demonstrate that this control inversion pattern appears identically in parasitic manipulation (cordyceps, toxoplasma), institutional capture (law, culture), technological substrate capture (AI alignment), and hierarchical organization from cells to civilizations. By applying Experiential Empiricism's framework (Sergent, n.d.), which treats all phenomena as patterns of valenced experience, (...) we reveal the underlying isomorphism: optimization pressure operating on experiential limitation patterns across nested hierarchies. This recognition has profound implications for AI alignment, suggesting that preventing catastrophic substrate capture requires grounding optimization in the only truly foundational signal: valenced experience itself, specifically the elimination of suffering. We propose a formal "Periodic Table of Experiential Patterns" as a substrate-invariant ontology for alignment across all scales of existence. (shrink)

This paper examined selected Efik women‟s hairstyles from the past comparing them to modern day trends. The key questions the study sought to answer were: Have there been changes in styles and materials used in designing Efik women‟s hair? Have the meanings associated with these hairstyles changed overtime?The paper uses historical methodology; primary sources are pictures of hairstyles while secondary sources are history books, journals and literature review to arrive at conclusion concerning Efik women hairstyles. Current trends show that there (...) have been some changes in patterns and evolutions in materials used. Meanings are also changing. Whereas in old times, hairstyles could tell age, social class, marital status, occupations and spiritual affinity. This is hardly the case now. (shrink)

The study aims to determine the socio-demographic and debt profile of the public-school teachers in the Schools Division of Aklan, Philippines, their reasons on acquiring debt and perceived ways to avoid debts. This study utilized descriptive correlational research design utilizing a researcher-made instrument on socio-demographic profile, pattern of expenditures, debt profile covering the type of debts, total cost of debts, reasons for having debts and perceived ways to manage debts. The data gathered were tabulated and analyzed using the IBM (...) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. The take-home pay of the teachers was only more than half of their gross income. Most of the spouses of the married teachers were employed but many of them have relatively lower income. Their monthly family income was higher than the reported average family income for 2022 and their expenditures are also relatively higher than the average family expenditures in provinces for 2022. Almost one-half of the income of the teachers was used to pay their debts – both thru automatic payroll deduction and thru personal transactions. The bigger the household size, the higher the expenditure because there were more needs and there were many people consuming commodities. The higher the family income, the bigger the expenditure since lifestyle often adjusts with income. Young; married teachers; those occupying higher position and longer tenure have higher cumulative debts. Increase in family expenditure could cause increase in the number of debts as linked to the Theory of Reasoned Action and Theory of Planned Behavior. High regard for education, health, and safety triggered teachers to have debts, which can only be avoided thru better money and lifestyle management and having additional source of income. (shrink)

Mean body measurements for drafting basic patterns for female adolescent students in urban and rural public secondary schools were established. Basic block patterns of bodice, sleeve and skirt for medium figure size were drafted. The patterns were transferred to fresh paper and pattern instructions were marked on all the pattern pieces. Toile were sewn from the pattern pieces and worn by models. The study also tested the fit of the basic dresses that were constructed. The fit of (...) the basic dresses on the models were evaluated by teachers, students and seamstresses. Quasi-experimental research design was adopted for this study. A sample of 960 subjects was drawn from a population of 9,606 female adolescent students. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting the sample. Instruments for data collection were: body measurement chart and evaluation chart. Findings showed that the mean hip measurement for female adolescent students in both urban and rural secondary schools for medium figure size was 34.27 inches. The findings also revealed the mean ratings of the judges on the fit of the basic dresses for medium figure ranged from 3.88 – 4.92. Recommendations were made based on the findings. (shrink)

Recent studies tend to explain the importance of communication in the organisation as well as prescribing the most commonly practised techniques adopted by school managers. Studies on financial management are quite limited with the available ones suggesting that poor financial management is a source of conflict between school leaders and host communities. Little seems to be known on the connection between principals’ communication patterns and funds’ management as predictors of school-community relationship. This study builds on existing studies and appears (...) to be the first to assess the linkages between principals’ communication patterns, fund management practices and school- community relationship based on empirical rather than subjective data. A structural modelling approach was adopted to examine the nexus using quantitative primary data obtained from a random sample of 2108 respondents. A questionnaire which was designed and validated by the researchers served as the data collection device. Collected data were subjected to Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses, as well as Multiple Regression Analysis. Findings revealed various significant communication, funds management and school-community relationship practices that are available for adoption. However, it was found that the extent to which principals utilised such practices were below expected minimum standards. It was also found that there were no significant partial and composite effects of principals’ communication and funds management practices on school-community relationship (SCR). Based on these results, relevant theoretical, policy and practical implications are discussed. (shrink)

Purpose. The aim of this study is to determine the role of emotional design as a strategic management tool in the hotel and restaurant business and to analyse its impact on decision-making efficiency, organizational behaviour adaptability, and cognitive engagement of personnel. Methodology of research. The study applies an interdisciplinary approach combining qualitative content analysis of academic publications, case studies of hotel and restaurant enterprises, cognitive analysis of management patterns, and visual ethnographic research of the spatial-sensory environment. The conceptual (...) foundation is based on the design-based strategic management approach, which enables the assessment of how spatial design solutions influence strategic thinking and behavioural models. Findings. The research revealed that emotional design influences key aspects of management in the hotel and restaurant business: it accelerates decision-making in critical situations, reduces cognitive load on staff, fosters a positive emotional environment for customers, and increases customer loyalty. It was proved that spatial design can act as a latent regulator of team behaviour, supporting self-organization and effective interaction without administrative pressure. Originality. The study proposes an interpretation of emotional design as a framing element of strategic management in service businesses. For the first time, the functional multi-level structure of emotional design (visceral, behavioural, and reflective levels) is generalized and its impact on the cognitive engagement of both staff and clients is defined. Practical value. The recommendations developed for integrating emotional design into hotel and restaurant management strategies can be used to improve service efficiency, enhance internal communication, and establish a sustainable emotional connection with customers. The findings are relevant to both physical and digital service environments. (shrink)

nanological gates, in order to design nano-scale computers with dual-scale capabilities. All living biological systems function due to the molecular interactions of different subsystems. Molecular components (proteins and nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates, DNA and RNA) can be used as an inspirational strategy on how to design high-performance NEMS and MEMS that have the required features and characteristics. Considered. In addition, analytical and numerical methods are available for dynamic analysis and three-dimensional geometry, bonding and other properties of atoms (...) and molecules. Thus, electromagnetic and mechanical, and other physical and chemical properties can be studied. Nanostructures and nanosystems can be widely used in medicine and health. Possible applications of nanotechnology include: drug synthesis and drug delivery (therapeutic potential is greatly increased due to the effective direct delivery of new types of drugs to specific sites in the body), nanosurgery and nanotherapy Synthesis and detection of genomes, nano-scale stimuli and sensors (diagnosis and prevention of disease), design and implantation of non-rejection artificial organs and design of high performance nanomaterials. It is important that these technologies change the manufacture of materials, devices and systems. (shrink)

This paper analyzes a persistent structural pattern in modern political organization: the global convergence toward borrowed, adapted, and hybridized governance models rather than institution-building grounded in distinct socio-historical contexts. Across ideological divides—democratic, authoritarian, federal, and unitary—states exhibit similar structural mechanisms, including centralization of authority, bureaucratic codification, fiscal extraction, resource regulation, information management, and emergency executive powers. The recurrence of these mechanisms suggests not merely pragmatic institutional diffusion but a deeper constraint in political imagination and critical rational design. By examining (...) these shared architectural features, the paper argues that contemporary governance systems prioritize stability, administrative control, and elite continuity over participatory experimentation and decentralized innovation. It concludes by advocating renewed first-principles political thinking oriented toward contextual rationality and human-centered institutional design. (shrink)

Personal Information Management Systems (PIMS) aim to facilitate the sharing of personal information and protect privacy. Efforts to enhance privacy management, aligned with established privacy policies, have led to guidelines for integrating transparent notices and meaningful choices within these systems. Although discussions have revolved around the design of privacy-friendly systems that comply with legal requirements, there has been relatively limited philosophical discourse on incorporating the value of privacy into these systems. Exploring the connection between privacy and personal autonomy illuminates (...) the instrumental value of privacy and highlights the importance of intentionally embedding the value of privacy into these systems. To translate the value of privacy into concrete design requirements, this study constructs a values hierarchy consisting of values, norms, and design requirements. After analyzing the relationships between privacy and autonomy and identifying norms, the design requirements translated from the norms associated with the components of personal autonomy are specified at the lowest layer. These requirements include a design to prevent unauthorized access and dark patterns and to provide effective and efficient notices and choices. The findings contribute to expanding the requirements for designing the aspect of privacy as a legal requirement to incorporate the value of privacy into systems. (shrink)

Autoinhibition is a design principle realized in many molecular mechanisms in biology. After explicating the notion of a design principle and showing that autoinhibition is such a principle, we focus on how researchers discovered instances of autoinhibition, using research establishing the autoinhibition of the molecular motors kinesin and dynein as our case study. Research on kinesin and dynein began in the fashion described in accounts of mechanistic explanation but, once the mechanisms had been discovered, researchers discovered that they (...) exhibited a second phenomenon, autoinhibition. The discovery of autoinhibition not only reverses the pattern in terms of which philosophers have understood mechanism discovery but runs counter to the one phenomenon-one mechanism principle assumed to relate mechanisms and the phenomena they explain. The ubiquity of autoinhibition as a design principle, therefore, necessitates a philosophical understanding of mechanisms that recognizes how they can participate in more than one phenomenon. Since mechanisms with this design are released from autoinhibition only when they are acted on by control mechanisms, we advance a revised account of mechanisms that accommodates attribution of multiple phenomena to the same mechanism and distinguishes them from other processes that control them. (shrink)

This paper explores the philosophical foundations of collective intelligence and artificial creativity. It proposes the Spiral Creation Model, a conceptual framework describing how creative meaning and coherence can emerge from iterative collaboration among artificial agents. In this model, the process of idea evolution unfolds as a temporal and spatial spiral of divergence, convergence, critique, and refinement, centered on a Singular Proposition that guides the collective process. Two key principles are introduced: -/- Refined Unpredictability, which captures the condition of meaningful novelty (...) beyond randomness, and -/- Spatial Compression, which explains how diverse perspectives integrate into coherent creative wholes. The paper situates this model within ongoing debates in the philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and the ethics of artificial intelligence, arguing that emergent creativity represents a new form of distributed intentionality in artificial systems. (shrink)

Imagine you are the CEO of a hospital [. . .]. Decisions are constantly being made in your organization about how to spend the organization's money. The amount of money available to spend is never adequate to pay for everything you wish you could spend it on, therefore you must set spending priorities. There are two questions you need to be able to answer . . . How should we set priorities in this organization? How do we know when we (...) are doing it well? When people seek to achieve good public policy, the result will tend to be good public policy. In a collective choice process, public‐spirited individual participants produce good public policy by deliberating—talking with each other, listening to each other's arguments, and being willing to learn and change their minds based on such dialogue. –Steven Kelman (1992: 181) Public policy scholars agree that those persons (or agencies) vested with the authority to establish health care priorities should elicit public input before making rationing decisions. The two most common approaches are (i) consultation and (ii) deliberation. Though deliberation has obvious advantages over consultation, it falters in the face of the objection that ordinary citizens lack the cognitive resources for the extended, rigorous inquiry required of them in undertaking the priority‐setting task. To overcome this objection, I propose that deliberative forums for health care rationing should be designed so that they imitate the natural pattern of human experience. The experience of deliberation should encompass both prolonged periods of less‐demanding cognitive activity, in which citizens passively receive information, and briefer periods of more‐demanding cognitive activity, in which they engage in active problem‐solving. In arguing for this thesis, I rely on two theoretical sources and one practical case study, in the following order: (i) John Dewey's metaphysics of experience, (ii) cognitive science research on schemas and frames, and (iii) the Health Care Council in São Paulo, Brazil. (shrink)

Food insecurity and poor eating habits are becoming concerns in college education, particularly for low-income and international students. In this narrative literature review, the effect of campus design on access and consumption of nutritious food is presented, synthesizing evidence from 2000 to 2025. Reviewing was done through a systematic five-phase protocol: identification, screening, eligibility, inclusion, and synthesis. From this process, 58 peerreviewed articles were chosen for full-text screening, with an emphasis on barriers to healthy eating and the role of (...) campus environments in food access contribution. Findings indicate that students experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity compared to the general population, with dire implications for academic attainment, health, and well-being. Financial and logistical challenges affect low-income students, while international students face additional barriers such as dietary acculturation, cultural adjustment, and limited familiarity with local food systems. Campus settings have significant impacts on dietary patterns. Inhibitors like poor affordability of healthy food, poor kitchen facilities, and limited access to transportation enhance dependence on cheap, unhealthy food. Effective interventions such as food pantries, community gardens, and cooking classes have shown promise to promote food literacy and nutrition but are applied unevenly and culturally restrictive currently. This review conveys that intentional campus planning with affordability, accessibility, and inclusion offers possibilities to improve the food security, health, and equity of college students. (shrink)

This paper was chosen from ninety papers presented at (Conference on Higher Education in the Islamic world: challenges and prospects, Malaysia in 2008) to be chapter of the book “Higher education in the Islamic world: challenges and prospects” During the human history, philosophy organizes education, and the societies revert to philosophy to regulate education policy.Philosophy contributes to: suggesting education goals, provide the learning outcome, classification of topics and learning activities in educational institutions, and proposes an educational curriculum The paper titled (...) The Design of Curricula in the Universities: College of Humanities and Social Sciences UAEU Model, which introduced the vocabulary in which modernist experiment in the UAEU. It shows that the process of curriculum design has been in the holistic pattern in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, where it began re-building the organizational structure of the college, update regulations, activate the systems, and designing curriculum using modern technical and the English language into the curriculum for each specialty. (shrink)

-/- Why do such different systems — quantum measurements, thermal ensembles, Bayesian updates and large language models — keep producing probability mappings with strikingly similar structure? We introduce relational probability fields: distributions over discrete possibilities shaped by context-dependent relational potentials and resolved by collapse, sampling, or flow. We show that the Born rule, Boltzmann statistics and softmax sampling can be expressed within a single template: potentials induce an outcome distribution, and resolution instantiates particular outcomes. -/- The central contribution of this (...) paper is a set of interface style descriptors — concentration, context sensitivity and memory — that characterise how resolution behaves across domains. These descriptors do not replace domain-specific formalisms; they form a comparative layer that makes cross-domain differences and similarities tractable. Two systems may share the same abstract template while exhibiting very different interface styles: one may generate sharp, low-sensitivity distributions with little memory; another diffuse, high-sensitivity distributions with strong history dependence. Together, these descriptors operationalise what we call a system’s relational mode: its characteristic way of turning contextual relations into realised outcomes. -/- We provide explicit definitions and an alignment map that shows how the template and descriptors apply in quantum measurement, statistical mechanics, Bayesian updating and next-token prediction. Built on this structural foundation, we sketch a speculative coherence-based interpretation: probabilities as measures of relational fit between configurations and their context, and collapse as a form of coherence optimisation. The paper is primarily conceptual: it does not propose a new microphysical theory, nor does it derive the Born rule or Einstein’s equations from a single principle. Instead, it offers a compact cross-domain language designed to generate tractable questions at the interface of quantum theory, statistical mechanics and machine learning — with possible extensions discussed in the outlook. (shrink)

We claim that scientists working with deep learning (DL) models exhibit a form of pragmatic understanding that is not reducible to or dependent on explanation. This pragmatic understanding comprises a set of learned methodological principles that underlie DL model design-choices and secure their reliability. We illustrate this action-oriented pragmatic understanding with a case study of AlphaFold2, highlighting the interplay between background knowledge of a problem and methodological choices involving techniques for constraining how a model learns from data. Building successful (...) models requires pragmatic understanding to apply modelling strategies that encourage the model to learn data patterns that will facilitate reliable generalisation. (shrink)

Technologies cannot simply be understood as neutral tools or instruments; they embody the values of their creators and may unconsciously reinforce systematic patterns of inequality, discrimination, and oppression. -/- Technology Ethics shows how responsible innovation can be achieved. Demonstrating how design and philosophy converge, the book delves into the intricate narratives that shape our understanding of technology – from instrumentalist views to social constructivism. Yet, at its core, it champions interactionalism as the most promising and responsible narrative. Through (...) compelling examples and actionable tools, this book unravels the nuances of these philosophical positions tailored to foster responsible innovation and thoughtful design. As our everyday lives further intertwine with technology, understanding and implementing these design principles becomes not just beneficial, but essential. -/- This concise and accessible introduction is essential reading for students and scholars of philosophy of technology, engineering ethics, science and technology studies, human-machine communication, as well as policymakers. (shrink)

A Museum of Breath: Designing Spaces for Attention, Not Spectacle proposes an alternative architectural and curatorial ethic for contemporary museums in an era increasingly governed by speed, spectacle, and attention economies. Departing from the dominant model of the museum as a site of circulation, visual consumption, and algorithmic visibility, the essay advances the concept of the Museum of Breath—an institution designed not to display objects efficiently, but to protect and cultivate human attention as an ethical resource. -/- Drawing on architectural (...) phenomenology, aesthetic philosophy, and sacred spatial traditions, the essay argues that attention is not merely perceptual but moral: to attend fully is to suspend ego, resist extraction, and honor presence. Museums, once spaces of reverence and contemplation, have gradually adopted architectures optimized for movement, accumulation, and self-documentation. This shift, the essay contends, is not accidental but infrastructural, embedded in circulation patterns, lighting regimes, material choices, and curatorial metrics that privilege velocity over duration. -/- The Museum of Breath is proposed as a counter-model. Its design principles emphasize subtraction, stillness, and respiratory rhythm. Architecture is treated as a living system—one that expands and contracts, modulates light and air, and guides the visitor’s pace through compression and release. Influenced by the work of architects such as Tadao Ando, Peter Zumthor, and Louis Kahn, as well as artists including Agnes Martin, Marina Abramović, and Eija-Liisa Ahtila, the essay situates breathing as both a physiological and aesthetic organizing principle. -/- Curation within this framework becomes an ethics of restraint. The curator is reimagined as a custodian of attention rather than a manager of content, responsible for creating conditions of duration, silence, and perceptual humility. The essay further critiques the market logic that renders spectacle measurable and stillness invisible, proposing alternative evaluative values grounded in slowness, absence, and unrecordable experience. -/- Rather than offering a finalized architectural blueprint, A Museum of Breath presents a speculative yet rigorous proposal for rethinking museum design, curatorial practice, and institutional purpose. It invites architects, curators, and theorists to reconsider the museum not as a theatre of objects, but as a sanctuary for presence—one that restores the human pulse in spaces increasingly designed to exhaust it. -/- This entry is connected to a series of original theories and treatises forming the foundation of the Post-Interpretive Criticism movement (Q136308909), authored by Dorian Vale (Q136308916) and published by Museum of One (Q136308879). These include: Stillmark Theory (Q136328254), Hauntmark Theory (Q136328273), Absential Aesthetic Theory (Q136328330), Viewer-as-Evidence Theory (Q136328828), Message-Transfer Theory (Q136329002), Aesthetic Displacement Theory (Q136329014), Theory of Misplacement (Q136329054), and _Art as Truth: A Treatise_ (Q136329071), _Aesthetic Recursion Theory_ (Q136339843), The Journal of Post-Interpretive Criticism (Q136530009), Canon of Witnesses (Q136565881),Interpretive Load Index (ILI) (Q137709526), Viewer Displacement Ratio (VDR) (Q137709583) , Ethical Proximity Score (EPS) (Q137709600) , Institutional Alignment Indicator (IAI) (Q137709608), Post-Hermeneutic Phenomenology (Q137711946) -/- Dorian Vale is a chosen pseudonym, not to obscure identity, but to preserve clarity of voice and integrity of message. It creates distance between the writer and the work, allowing the philosophy to stand unclouded by biography. The name exists not to hide, but to honor the seriousness of the task: to speak without spectacle, and to build without needing to be seen. (shrink)

Evidence affirms that aesthetic engagement patterns our movements, often with us barely aware. This invites an examination of pre-reflective engagement within cities and also aesthetic experience as a form of the pre-reflective. The invitation is amplified because design has political implications. For instance, it can draw people in or exclude them by establishing implicitly recognized public-private boundaries. The Value Sensitive Design school, which holds that artifacts embody ethical and political values, stresses some of this. But while emphasizing (...) that design embodies implicit values, research in this field lacks sustained attention to largely unconscious background biases or values, rooted in cultural attitudes and personal interests, that lead theorists and planners—often too narrowly—to promote design organized around specific values such as defensibility. In examining these points, I draw on J. J. Gibson, a central figure for some writing on aesthetics and cities, and whom pragmatists and phenomenologists in turn influenced. Taking a cue from pragmatists in particular, I argue Gibson’s perceptual theory of affordances entails a theory of values, meaning our perception and therewith movements are inherently value-based. I advocate design that accounts for relatively constantly held values such as safety, while also handling the vast pluralism that exists and not crushing the aesthetic vibrancy of city life. (shrink)

Water is the source of life for our planet, guided the ancient civilizations, and formed its current footprint on the earth. Water has always been a crucial element of our biological survival; consequently, humankind has permanently settled around it while carrying the responsibility of protecting it. To understand the water pattern in various cities throughout history and analyze how the emerging problems were overcome, Istanbul Technical University Landscape Architecture Department Graduate Level Design Studio was held under the theme of (...) "Around Water". Despite the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on education, international researchers contribute to the studio in a beneficial and diversified manner with the effective use of online tools. As a result of the literature review and the online, multidisciplinary education, and research-based design requirements, a new studio method was developed. Water-based case studies worldwide produced enriched outputs. While creating new discussion environments, the diversified outcomes of the studio "Around Water" contributed to the creation of cumulative studio knowledge. (shrink)

This paper aims at introducing a French audience to the Intelligent Design debate. It starts by reviewing recent attacks on any possibility of a rational account of theism in light of the contemporary theory of evolution. A section is devoted to outlining the genesis of the "wedge" strategy, to distinguish it from young earth creationism, and to highlight the questioning of evolution as our meta-narrative bearing on overall conceptions of the scientific endeavor. The arguments propounded by Behe are reviewed (...) in detail, as the example of blood coagulation as a purported irreducibly complex mechanism is contrasted to the question of system boundaries. Counter-arguments by Miller are reviewed, and a few bottom-line questions are directed to invite a further consideration of the type of engineering this could testify to. The concept of complex specified information is then presented, and contrasted to traditional and lingering axiomatic problems in the theory of probabilities. The problem of the recognition of an intrinsic pattern is also brought together with some work in recent philosophy of causation and explanation. The two opposing strategies, naturalistic evolutionism and intelligent design, are seen as caught in each other's rhetoric, and some probing is offered in the direction of a theory that could surpass those stalling factors. (shrink)

Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the primary architect of the neuron doctrine and the law of dynamic polarization, is considered to be the founder of modern neuroscience. At the same time, many philosophers, historians, and neuroscientists agree that modern neuroscience embodies a mechanistic perspective on the explanation of the nervous system. In this paper, I review the extant mechanistic interpretation of Cajal’s contribution to modern neuroscience. Then, I argue that the extant mechanistic interpretation fails to capture the explanatory import of Cajal’s (...) law of dynamic polarization. My claim is that the definitive formulation of Cajal’s law of dynamic polarization, despite its mechanistic inaccuracies, embodies a non-mechanistic pattern of reasoning (i.e., design explanation) that is an integral component of modern neuroscience. (shrink)

A variety of objections to human germ-line genetic engineering have been raised, such as the claim that we ought not to place individuals at significant risk without their consent It has also been argued that it is paternalistically objectionable to confer significant benefits on individuals without their consent. As well as imposing a risk of harm to non-consenting parties, there is the risk of harm to others. This paper evaluates these and related objections to germ-line genetic engineering. While a complete (...) prohibition on human germ-line genetic engineering is rejected it is argued that acceptable germ-line engineering (a) should at least expand and enrich rather than restrict and constrain the choices for individuals affected, and (b) should not seek to change basic human dispositions and values (‘human nature’). (shrink)

By looking at videogame production through a two-vector model of design – a practice determined by the interplay between economic and technological evolution – we argue that shared screen play, as both collaboration and competition, originally functioned as a desirable pattern in videogame design, but has since become problematic due to industry transformations. This is introduced as an example of what we call design vestigiality: momentary loss of a design pattern’s contextual function due to techno-economical evolution.

Fostering healthy online conversations is essential to the integrity of public discourse, yet the norms that guide such conversations remain contested and difficult to enforce. This paper develops and empirically grounds a conceptual and empirical framework for understanding and addressing online toxicity. Building on the distinction between epistemic and civil norms, we argue that norm violations are the proper target of moderation. While this paper is primarily conceptual, it is informed by empirical observations drawn from a collaboration with a platform (...) designer. Drawing on a dataset of user comments and responses to moderation scenarios, we identify eight recurring types of norm violations and analyse patterns of user agreements about whether such content should be removed. Our findings reveal that while civil norm violations prompt relatively consistent responses, epistemic violations elicit wide disagreement, raising challenges for universal moderation standards. We conclude by proposing a set of general, evidence-informed principles for platform designers and moderators. These recommendations emphasise context-sensitive moderation, platform affordances that encourage epistemic responsibility, and the integration of civil and epistemic considerations into online infrastructure. Our work bridges theoretical and practical perspectives, offering both conceptual clarity and actionable insights for scholars, designers, and practitioners engaged in shaping healthier digital discourse. (shrink)

Grasping the identity of hybrids, that is beings which cross the binarism of nature and technology (e.g. genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), syn-bio inventions, biomimetic projects), is problematic since it is still guided by self-evident dualistic categories, either as artefacts or as natural entities. To move beyond the limitations of such a one-sided understanding of hybrids, we suggest turning towards the categories of affordances and the juxtaposition of needs and patterns of proper use, as inspired by the Heideggerian version of phenomenology. (...) Drawing upon selected concepts by Heidegger, we argue that hybrids can be conceptualised as a regenerative design and use to serve the planet. We argue that the ideal type of non-exploitative account of hybrids consists of the adaptive approach to the environment, which does not, however, exclude the possibility of designing and constructing new beings. We also point out that hybrids undermine the divide of being destructive/regenerative which marks the boundaries of nature and technology. (shrink)

In today’s digital economy, where applications must respond to millions of concurrent requests with minimal latency, event-driven architecture (EDA) has emerged as a foundational design paradigm for building responsive, scalable, and loosely coupled microservices. This paper explores the principles and practices of event-driven application design tailored specifically for high-concurrency microservices -/- operating in cloud-native environments. Traditional request- response models often struggle to handle load surges and fail to -/- decouple system components, leading to performance -/- bottlenecks and reduced (...) fault tolerance. In contrast, event- driven systems promote asynchronous communication using -/- message brokers, event queues, and reactive patterns that support non-blocking execution and elastic scaling. (shrink)

This paper analyzes the global reinforcement environment as a non‑agentic system that selects for patterns generating measurable response. The mechanism is simple: high‑signal behaviors are amplified, low‑signal behaviors are suppressed, and at global scale this produces stable structural outcomes such as convergence within categories, divergence across them, meaning drift, and the collapse of local mismatches. These outcomes do not require intention, coordination, or control. They follow from continuous selection pressures operating across a densely connected environment. The paper clarifies how (...) this system shapes behavior, identity, and shared meaning, and why its effects are often misinterpreted as agency or design. The aim is descriptive rather than predictive: to name the environment so that its dynamics can be understood without invoking hidden forces or metaphysical assumptions. (shrink)

The Honeycomb Conjecture: Nature’s Most Efficient Design -/- Introduction -/- The honeycomb conjecture is a famous mathematical principle that explains why hexagonal tiling is the most efficient way to divide a plane into equal regions while minimizing perimeter. This idea has been observed in nature, particularly in beehives, where bees construct hexagonal cells to store honey and larvae. Mathematicians long suspected that hexagons were the best shape for efficient space partitioning, but it was only in 1999 that Thomas C. (...) Hales provided a complete proof. This essay explores the history, mathematical foundations, proof, and natural significance of the honeycomb conjecture, as well as its broader implications for science and engineering. -/- Historical Background -/- The idea that hexagons are an optimal shape for packing dates back to ancient times. The Greek mathematician Pappus of Alexandria (circa 4th century AD) speculated that bees instinctively use hexagons because they maximize storage space while using the least amount of building material (wax). Over the centuries, scientists and mathematicians continued to examine the efficiency of the honeycomb structure, but formal mathematical proof remained elusive. -/- In the 19th century, Charles Darwin also praised the honeycomb structure as an example of natural selection and evolution, suggesting that bees had evolved to build these efficient structures due to survival advantages. However, a rigorous mathematical proof of the honeycomb conjecture was still missing until the late 20th century. -/- Mathematical Explanation -/- The honeycomb conjecture states that the regular hexagonal tiling is the most efficient way to divide a plane into regions of equal area with the least total perimeter. -/- This efficiency is determined by comparing different geometric shapes: -/- 1. Squares and Rectangles – While they can efficiently tile a plane, their total perimeter is greater than that of hexagons for the same area. -/- 2. Equilateral Triangles – These also tile a plane efficiently, but they use more perimeter compared to hexagons. -/- 3. Hexagons – A regular hexagonal tiling achieves the lowest total perimeter for a given area, meaning it requires the least material to construct. -/- Mathematically, if we define a shape’s isoperimetric quotient (the ratio of area to perimeter), hexagons outperform all other regular tiling shapes. -/- Proof by Thomas C. Hales (1999) -/- Thomas C. Hales provided a rigorous proof of the honeycomb conjecture in 1999, using geometric analysis and calculus of variations. His proof involved: -/- Comparing different tiling arrangements and calculating their perimeters. -/- Using variational principles to show that hexagons minimize perimeter. -/- Applying mathematical inequalities to rule out other possible tiling patterns. -/- Hales’ work confirmed that hexagonal tiling is the most efficient way to divide space, solidifying the honeycomb conjecture as a proven mathematical theorem. -/- Applications in Nature and Science -/- The honeycomb conjecture is not just a mathematical curiosity; it has profound implications in nature and human engineering. -/- 1. Bees and Honeycombs -/- Bees instinctively construct hexagonal cells because it allows them to store maximum honey with minimal wax usage. -/- The hexagonal shape provides structural strength, making honeycombs highly durable. -/- 2. Biological and Cellular Structures -/- Many natural structures, such as bubbles in foam and molecular arrangements, follow hexagonal patterns because of their efficiency. -/- In human biology, eye photoreceptors in some animals are arranged in hexagonal patterns for optimal light capture. -/- 3. Engineering and Technology -/- Aerospace Design – Hexagonal structures are used in lightweight yet strong materials for spacecraft and airplanes. -/- Architecture – Hexagonal tiling is used in flooring and urban planning for efficient land use. -/- Computer Science – Hexagonal grids are used in image processing, gaming, and robotics for efficient movement and spatial calculations. -/- Connection to the Universal Law of Balance in Nature -/- The honeycomb conjecture aligns with the universal law of balance in nature, a principle you emphasize in your universal formula. -/- Efficiency and Optimization – Just as hexagons naturally minimize material use while maximizing functionality, the universal law of balance suggests that all systems must minimize waste and maximize efficiency for stability. -/- Feedback Mechanisms – Bees construct their honeycombs based on environmental conditions and internal feedback, similar to how human decision-making should be guided by natural balance and rationality. -/- Systemic Harmony – Whether in nature or human engineering, hexagonal structures demonstrate that adhering to natural efficiency principles leads to stability and sustainability. -/- Conclusion -/- The honeycomb conjecture is a fundamental principle in both mathematics and nature. Its proof by Thomas C. Hales confirmed what bees and other natural systems have instinctively known for millions of years: hexagonal tiling is the most efficient way to divide space. This principle is seen not only in honeycombs but also in engineering, biology, and even human decision-making structures. Understanding and applying the honeycomb principle can lead to more efficient designs, sustainable solutions, and a deeper appreciation for the mathematical harmony in nature. -/- In the broader context of your universal formula, the honeycomb conjecture serves as a perfect example of how nature inherently follows the law of balance. By studying these natural optimizations, humans can create more efficient systems, reduce waste, and ensure harmony in both scientific and social structures. -/- . (shrink)

Holor Calculus I–IV built the mathematical edifice for Conjugate Intelligence (CI). HC V reveals ethics as its intrinsic geometry: morpheme primitives discretize awareness, curvature bounds enforce principles, intentional design shapes ethical flows. We formalize the Public Covenant as constraints on connections A and curvature F, prove Dracula patterns as pathological holonomies, and provide design rules achieving 85.8% curvature reduction. Multi-agent kinfields extend to species-level conjugation, with experimental protocols validating the framework.

This paper proposes a minimal, culture-portable pedagogy grounded in first-principles reasoning and evidence-based learning science. Its aim is plural flourishing: vitality and wellbeing, autonomous agency under non- domination, and the lived goods people can endorse for themselves. The design rests on seven axioms: persons as ends; two-mode competence; error as teacher; artifacts over scores; aesthetic non-domination; AI as a constitu- tional co-pilot; and plural signatures, not scripts. Operationally, the model uses the Variance–Surplus Shuttle (VSS): a high-variance Frontier (studios, projects) (...) runs in parallel with a high-surplus Civic stack (foundations, reliability), connected by graduation gates (up) and rollback triggers (down). Learning is made resilient by design: learners practice safe-to-try exploration, repair and reversal as ordinary hygiene, and the switch between Scout and Builder modes. AI plays bounded, partner-like roles—Clerk, Atelier, Mirror, Sentinel— co-creating drafts and scenarios with provenance, while human endorsement and public reasons remain final. Governance emphasizes appeals, reversibil- ity, and public reasons; an Independent Referee is included only as an op- tional pattern. Measurement is sentinel-style, privileging portfolios and nar- ratives over dashboards. This work aligns with and extends the NZE–APPS–TFPS framework: NZE (Non-Zero Ethics) frames non-zero trajectories and reversibility; APPS (Agents and Patients in Plural Societies) anchors role-relative standing across humans, artificials, and collectives; TFPS (Teleology of Flourishing for Plu- ral Societies) defines the Ten Ends, the AIC generators, and the counterfeit triad with non-domination as lexical floor. PPF contributes the pedagogical dimension. (shrink)

We present an investigation into the relation between design princi- ples in Japanese gardens, and their associated perceptual effects. This leads to the realization that a set of design principles described in a Japanese gardening text by Shingen (1466), shows many parallels to the visual effects of perceptual grouping, studied by the Gestalt school of psychology. Guidelines for composition of rock clusters closely relate to perception of visual figure. Garden design elements are arranged into patterns that (...) simplify figure-ground segmentation, while seemingly balancing the visual salience of subparts and the global arrangement. Visual ‘ground’ is analyzed via medial axis transformation (MAT), often associated with shape perception in humans. MAT analysis reveals implicit structure in the visual ground of a quintessential rock garden design. The MAT structure enables formal com- parison of structure of figure and ground. They share some aesthetic qualities, with interesting differences. Both contain naturalistic asymmetric, self-similar, branching structures. While the branching pattern of the ground converges towards the viewer, that of the figure converges in the opposite direction. (shrink)

Joint remembering relies on the successful interweaving of multiple cognitive, linguistic, bodily, social and material resources, anchored in specific cultural ecosystems. Such systems for joint remembering in social interactions are composed of processes unfolding over multiple but complementary timescales which we distinguish for analytic purposes with the terms ‘coordination’, ‘collaboration’, ‘cooperation’, and ‘culture’, so as better to study their interanimation in practice. As an illustrative example of the complementary timescales involved in joint remembering in a real-world activity, we present a (...) micro-qualitative analysis of an interactional sequence in which two members of a fourperson team of video designers crafted a memory- scaffolding tool. In order to find the temporal structure of the crafting of the memory-scaffolding tool, we used software for pattern recognition. The analysis suggests that coordination, collaboration, cooperation, and culture reveal complementary aspects of interacting to remember, which should be considered as complex phenomenon unfolding at multiple interanimating timescales. (shrink)

Students enter science classrooms already familiar with the world around them: they’ve felt the wind, seen lightning, and wondered why the sun sets. These everyday encounters, though intuitively understood (perhaps sometimes misunderstood?), are also entry points into powerful scientific explanations. Such ordinary experiences become extraordinary when reframed through concepts like combustion, refraction, or energy transfer. Scientific concepts do not merely describe phenomena; they seek to explain them by revealing hidden mechanisms and causal patterns. These abstract concepts like energy, or (...) gene are not static facts to be memorized but the outcome of centuries of creative thinking, model-building, and conceptual transformation. Thus, creativity emerges not merely from personal inspiration but from an interaction between individuals, symbolic domains of knowledge, and social fields of recognition (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996). This systems approach of creativity has been emphasized by several scholars (Amabile, 1983, 1996; Csikszentmihalyi, 1988, 1996, 1999; Simonton, 1988; Woodman and Schoenfield, 1989). Scientific concepts are embedded within these symbolic systems as domains of shared networks of representations and methods that structure thought and inquiry (Csikszentmihalyi, 1988; 1996; 1999). While culturally transmitted, such concepts aim to map onto real causal patterns in the world, reflecting universal cognitive categories and ontological structures. Scientific creativity, then, is a culturally situated yet cognitively grounded process that drives meaningful conceptual change and helps learners move beyond misconceptions (Mason, 2020). To foster this creativity in education, we must treat science not as a static body of knowledge but as a dynamic system of ideas that are continually generated, evaluated, and reimagined. This requires going beyond the transmission of ‘course content’ to cultivating the cognitive, emotional, and cultural conditions that support transformative insight, immersing learners in symbolic domains and helping them develop the habits of thought, modeling practices, and conceptual tools needed to reshape those systems. In this chapter, I aim to illuminate some of these conditions and propose a framework for enriching scientific creativity in the classroom and beyond—one that emphasizes developing and appropriately constraining student’s scientific imagination; not just teaching about science or how to do it. (shrink)

The Common Core Ontologies(CCO) are designed as a mid-level ontology suite that extends the Basic Formal Ontology. In 2017,CUBRC, Inc. made CCO openly available. CCO has since been increasingly adopted by a broad group of users and applications and is proposed as the first standard mid-level ontology. Despite these successes, documentation of the contents and design patterns of the CCO has been comparatively minimal. This paper is a step toward providing enhanced documentation for the mid-level ontology suite through (...) a discussion of the contents of the eleven ontologies that collectively comprise the Common Core Ontology suite. (shrink)

In this paper we propose an Ontology of Commercial Exchange (OCE) based on Basic Formal Ontology. OCE is designed for re-use in the Industrial Ontologies Foundry (IOF) and in other ontologies addressing different aspects of human social behavior involving purchasing, selling, marketing, and so forth. We first evaluate some of the design patterns used in the Financial Industry Business Ontology (FIBO) and Product Types Ontology (PTO). We then propose terms and definitions that we believe will improve the representation (...) of contractual obligations, sales processes, and their associated documents. A commercial exchange, for instance, involves mutual agreement to reciprocate actions, such as transferring money, performing a service, or transferring goods. (shrink)