Optimal global synchronization of partially forced Kuramoto oscillators

We consider the problem of global synchronization in a large random network of Kuramoto oscillators where some of them are subject to an external periodically driven force. We explore a recently proposed dimensional reduction approach and introduce an effective two-dimensional description for the problem. From the dimensionally reduced model, we obtain analytical predictions for some critical parameters necessary for the onset of a globally synchronized state in the system. Moreover, the low dimensional model also allows us to introduce an optimization scheme for the problem. Our main conclusion, which has been corroborated by exhaustive numerical simulations, is that for a given large random network of Kuramoto oscillators, with random natural frequencies $\omega_i$, such that a fraction of them is subject to an external periodic force with frequency $\Omega$, the best global synchronization properties correspond to the case where the fraction of the forced oscillators is chosen to be those ones such that $|\omega_i-\Omega|$ is maximal. Our results might shed some light on the structure and evolution of natural systems for which the presence or the absence of global synchronization are desired properties. Some properties of the optimal forced networks and its relation to recent results in the literature are also discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. Final version accepted for publication in Chaos. After it is published, it will be found at https://publishing.aip.org/resources/librarians/products/journals

O brincar na educação infantil.

Trabalho de Conclusão do Curso de Especialização em Educação Infantil - primeira Edição – Polo Chapecó, para a obtenção do Grau de Especialista em Educação Infantil.Este artigo é resultado de um projeto de intervenção pedagógica que se orientou através do brincar na educação infantil, realizado com um grupo de crianças que freqüentam um Centro Municipal de Educação Infantil, abrangendo a faixa etária de 3 a 5 anos de idade em um município do oeste de Santa Catarina, sendo que o principal objetivo foi de, através de atividades de brincadeiras organizadas como parte do processo pedagógico da prática de professora AD, compreender a contribuição do brincar no desenvolvimento cognitivo, social e afetivo da criança. O processo construído permite sublinhar o espaço da educação infantil como fundamental ao desenvolvimento da criança, sobretudo, quando a ação pedagógica acontece de forma prazerosa envolvendo o brincar, de modo que desperte o interesse e a motivação

Passive and model-agnostic sampling for training data development in machine learning regression

Machine learning (ML) regression has a tremendous impact on advancing scientific progress. ML regression models predict continuous label values based on input features by leveraging large labeled datasets to learn the underlying ruling mechanisms. However, using large datasets may not always be feasible due to computational limitations and high data labeling costs. Such issues often arise in scientific applications, where we can typically only label a limited number of points for training due to expensive numerical simulations or laboratory experiments. The prediction quality of regression models is highly dependent on the training data. Consequently, selecting appropriate training sets is essential to ensure accurate predictions. This work shows that we can improve the prediction performance of ML regression models by selecting suitable training sets. We focus on passive and model-agnostic sampling, that is, selection approaches that solely rely on the data feature representations, do not consider any active learning procedure, and do not assume any specific structure for the regression model. This approach promotes the reusability of the labeled samples, ensuring that labeling efforts are not wasted on subsets useful only for specific models or tasks. First, we aim to improve the robustness of the models by minimizing their maximum prediction error. We study Farthest Point Sampling (FPS), an existing selection approach that aims to minimize the fill distance of the selected set. We derive an upper bound for the maximum expected prediction error of Lipschitz continuous regression models that linearly depends on the training set fill distance. Empirically, we demonstrate that minimizing the training set fill distance by sampling with FPS, thereby minimizing our derived bound, significantly reduces the maximum prediction error and improves prediction stability in Gaussian kernel regression, outperforming alternative sampling methods. Next, we focus on improving average prediction performance. We derive an upper bound for the expected prediction error of Lipschitz continuous models that depends linearly on a weighted fill distance of the training set. We propose Density-Aware FPS (DA-FPS), a novel data selection approach. We prove that DA-FPS provides suboptimal minimizers for a data-driven estimation of the weighted fill distance, thereby attempting to minimize our derived bound. We empirically show that using DA-FPS decreases the average absolute prediction error compared to other sampling strategies. Our experiments focus on molecular property prediction, a crucial application for drug discovery and material design, which originally motivated our research effort. Traditional methods for computing molecular properties are slow. Using ML regression allows for quick predictions, accelerating the exploration of the chemical space and the discovery of new drugs and materials. We empirically validate our findings with four distinct regression models and various datasets

Knowledge-intensive business services and their impact on private and public innovation

Esta tesis propone un marco para la interacción de las consultorías KIBS dentro de la función de producción de conocimiento. Este marco se aplicará para analizar cómo estas consultorías impulsan la innovación dentro de la función de producción del conocimiento para los sectores público y privado de la economía. En concreto, se examinará cómo las consultorías KIBS contribuyen a la mejora de los procesos del sector público en seis economías de la UE y, facilitan la generación de innovación en los sectores manufacturero y de servicios dentro de las tres economías que integran el TMEC (Estados Unidos, Canadá y México). Tras las técnicas de estimación, los resultados delinearán los canales de transferencia de los procesos de innovación que se generan dentro de los sectores económicos, público y privado, en los que las consultorías KIBS han realizado mejoras significativas en términos de productos innovadores. Además, las estimaciones demostrarán diferentes economías de escala para los sectores manufacturero y de servicios de las tres economías del TMEC. Por último, los modelos de ecuaciones estructurales delinearán los mecanismos directos e indirectos por medio de los cuales las consultorías KIBS, utilizando metodologías centradas en el usuario, han mejorado los servicios públicos relacionados con los procedimientos y trámites empresariales. Existe un vacío en el análisis de la relación causal entre los KIBS y la mejora de los procesos de servicio público, particularmente aquellos dirigidos a organizaciones empresariales o relacionados con procedimientos empresariales. Además, hasta ahora ningún estudio ha explorado las diversas relaciones que ocurren dentro de la función de producción de conocimiento (KPF), entre los efectos directos e indirectos de los KIBS y la innovación de productos en los sectores de manufactura y de servicios de las economías del T-MEC. Este estudio analizará estas interacciones y propondrá políticas comerciales e industriales para fomentar la competencia y la integración entre estas economías. En primer lugar, el estudio analiza la relación entre los KIBS y los procesos gubernamentales relacionados con las empresas dentro de las unidades de servicios públicos en seis países de la UE-20, que estaban atravesando procesos innovadores (fuente de datos: encuesta Co-VAL H2020). En este sentido, la tesis propone un doble objetivo: (i) proporcionar un marco para la relación entre los KIBS y los servicios públicos, con un enfoque central en el papel de los usuarios del servicio, y (ii) presentar nueva evidencia empírica a partir de la encuesta Co-VAL H2020, que pone a prueba el impacto de las consultorías de servicios empresariales (KIBS) asociadas a procesos de co-creación en la innovación de los servicios públicos. Las metodologías empleadas incluyen procesos de co-creación (participación de usuarios), codiseño (laboratorios de diseño) y, co-producción (apoyo paralelo).En segundo lugar, la tesis aborda una brecha de investigación relacionada con la contribución de los gastos de investigación y desarrollo (I+D) a la generación de efectos directos e indirectos innovadores a través de servicios empresariales intensivos en conocimiento (KIBS), particularmente dentro de los subsectores de manufactura y de servicios empresariales de los países que integran el T-MEC. Esta brecha se aborda estimando la función de producción de conocimiento (KPF) para estos países. El modelo propuesto es un enfoque de dos etapas que analiza las elasticidades de la producción y las economías de escala, que surgen de la estimación de funciones individuales de producción de conocimiento dentro de un sistema de comercio regional

The Peasantry as a Class in the Philippine Context

This paper attempts to use a modified definition of the peasantry based on (1) a non-traditional reconfiguration of the concept based on a more flexible and less rigid definition of the category, and (2) field data from three rural villages in the Central Luzon region in the Philippines. This more nuanced definition is the result of an interrogation of the various interpretations of class among scholars and thinkers from various Left traditions with respect to the agrarian sector in general and the peasantry in particular. The proposed configuration of the peasantry as a class covers not just the relationship to the means of production but also taking into account the political, social, and cultural aspects of intra-class and inter-class relationships in agrarian societies. The paper then proceeds to apply the redefinition of the peasant class within the context of the field research area’s socio-historical narrative.

Teaching English as an additional language to learners with disabilities: a systematic review of literature on challenges, strategies and methodological procedures used when teaching students that have ASD and/or ADHD

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e Expressão, Letras Inglês.Com o objetivo de compreender o processo de ensino e aprendizagem de uma língua adicional para pessoas com deficiência, e ainda identificar estratégias e procedimentos metodológicos utilizados por professores de inglês como língua adicional no ensino de alunos com TEA e/ou TDAH, bem como possíveis desafios que estes professores podem enfrentar, este trabalho traz uma revisão sistemática de literatura de dez estudos, publicados entre os anos de 2015 e 2022. Nos sete estudos sobre TEA analisados foram identificados 14 desafios e 17 estratégias/procedimentos metodológicos. Enquanto isso, foram identificados 5 desafios e 6 estratégias/procedimentos metodológicos nos 3 estudos com foco em estudantes com TDAH. Os resultados indicam a relevância da formação de professores, bem como as condições para o planejamento docente. Além disso, os resultados destacam que não existe uma receita para o ensino de uma língua adicional, além da necessidade de mais pesquisas sobre a formação de professores em relação ao ensino de pessoas com deficiência.In order to comprehend the process of teaching and learning an additional language for people with disabilities, and furthermore identify strategies and methodological procedures used by teachers of English as an additional language when teaching students that have ASD and/or ADHD as well as possible challenges these teachers may face, this work provides a systematic review of literature of ten studies, published between the years of 2015 and 2022. In the seven analyzed studies focused on ASD, 14 challenges and 17 strategies/methodological procedures were identified. Meanwhile, 5 challenges and 6 strategies/methodological procedures were identified in the 3 studies analyzed with a focus on ADHD students. Results indicate the relevance of teacher education as well as conditions for teacher planning. Moreover, findings highlight there is no recipe for teaching an additional language, besides the need for further research concerning teacher education in relation to teaching people with disabilities