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Blends have decent numerical properties
No full textA "blend" is a two-point Hermite interpolational polynomial, typically of quite high degree. This note shows that implementing them in a double Horner evaluation scheme has good backward error, and also shows that the Lebesgue constant for a balanced blend or nearly balanced blend on the interval [0,1] is bounded by 2, independently of the grade or degree of the approximation. On [-1,1], which is a more natural interval for comparison, it is of course unbounded, but grows only like 2√(m/π) where 2m+1 is the grade of approximation. I also show that the quadrature schemes for balanced blends amplify errors only by O( ln(m) )
Algorithmic study of the algebraic parameter estimation problem for a class of perturbations
No full textWe consider the algebraic parameter estimation problem for a class of standard perturbations. We assume that the measurement z(t) of a solution x(t) of a linear ordinary differential equation -- whose coefficients depend on a set θ := {θ₁, ..., θᵣ} of unknown constant parameters -- is affected by a perturbation γ(t) whose structure is supposed to be known (e.g., an unknown bias, an unknown ramp), i.e., z(t)=x(t, θ)+γ(t). We investigate the problem of obtaining closed-form expressions for the parameters θᵢ's in terms of iterative indefinite integrals or convolutions of z. The different results are illustrated by explicit examples computed using the NonA package -- developed in Maple -- in which we have implemented our main contributions
Pathways Into Couchsurfing From Child Safety Involvement
No full textCouchsurfing, or temporarily staying with friends, extended family, acquaintances, or strangers, is a growing form of homelessness within Australia, and particularly concentrated among youth. System involvement with child welfare and its link to youth homelessness has previously been well-established, but not within the context of couchsurfing. In interviews with 19 young people with both couchsurfing and a history of system-involvement, we identify and describe six different pathways into couchsurfing. These pathways extended from the beginning to the end of their child safety involvement, and demonstrate how fear of reprisal for reporting, fear of out-of-home-care, and lack of transition planning pushed-or-pulled young people into couchsurfing. These findings indicate the link between couchsurfing and child safety involvement began very early in the investigative process, suggesting multidisciplinary service teams that include housing support should be involved in initial contact. We also echo the recommendations of other researchers to prioritise Housing First programming and risk assessment for evaluating young people’s living spaces.
Prophesying Statues: The Function of Prophecies and Omens in the Byzantine Apocalyptic Tradition
No full textThe Byzantine apocalyptic tradition proliferates with vibrant prophecies. Many of these were associated with monuments and statues within Constantinople, and many of them played a pivotal role in the decisions of the Byzantines and their emperors in political crises. In my paper, I focus on key examples of prophesying statues that showcase the active attempts made by emperors and citizens to harness omens and prophesies and to conform them to desired narratives. I support Paul Magdalino’s thesis that prophesies functioned actively in Byzantine society – as causes and not just effects of history. The evidence leads me to conclude that prophecies functioned as living narratives in Byzantine society. Grounded in material objects, they could be used to control history and fate
Teaching Cross-Cultural and Comparative Perspectives of Teacher Development Online: A Reflective Practitioner Inquiry.
No full textIn this reflective practitioner inquiry, a course instructor and a graduate teaching intern examine the experience of teaching a graduate-level course about cross-cultural perspectives of teacher development. We inquire along three dimensions: assisting doctoral students to become effective and reflective university instructors; responding to course students’ questions and concerns about developing a meaningful academic community in an online learning environment; and conceptual issues of teaching comparative, international, and development education (CIDE) in university settings. Our key argument is that in order to succeed in the above three dimensions, professional reflexivity in CIDE higher education courses can be both conceptually and pedagogically multidirectional, by which experienced and novice instructors learn from each other as much as they learn from their students in an engaging and enriching online environment
Evaluation of the Effects of Pyramid Model Training on the Attitudes and Practices of Early Childhood Educators
No full textThere is growing evidence of the effectiveness of the pyramid model (PM) in promoting young children’s social-emotional competence and reducing challenging behaviours. In the province of Quebec (Canada), as in many other regions, many children with special needs are integrated into early childhood settings where educators have not had specific training in managing challenging behaviours. The current project’s objective was to evaluate, using a mixed-methods design, the effects of a two-day training session in PM practices provided to 33 educators working in inclusive early childhood settings in the province of Quebec. Before the session, educators had reported that inclusion is beneficial for the child but not for the early childhood educator, demonstrating a need for more training and resources to be provided to early childhood educators. Following the session, their perceptions of the usefulness and social validity of the training in PM were positive, and their implementation of PM practices significantly increased. Their perceptions of how inclusion affected them also became more positive; however, no differences were found in their overall attitudes when comparing results from pre- to post-test, indicating the need for further support
