title: Unbounded knowledge acquisition based upon mutual information in dependent questions

authors: Smith, Tony C.

subjects: computer science

abstract: This paper describes an experimental system for knowledge acquisition based on a general framework exemplified in the game of twenty questions. A sequence of propositional questions is put to the user in an attempt to uncover some hidden concept, and the answers are used to expand and refine the system’s knowledge of the world. Previous systems adopting this framework typically represent knowledge as a matrix of truth values or weights that relate entities to attributes—such that if the hidden concept is “a bird”, for example, then the answer to a question about whether the target entity can fly is based on the extent to which “flying” is generally attributable to “a bird” as measured by the value in the matrix element indexed by the attribute-entity pair. Our system adopts a subtly different approach wherein knowledge is a measure of the extent to which answers to pairs of questions are co-dependent. Thus, knowledge about birds being able to fly is captured by the mutual information in the answers to a pair of questions like “Can it fly?” and “Is it a bird?”. We present a case that this offers a practical and epistemologically sound basis for acquiring knowledge.

text: Unbounded knowledge acquisition based upon mutual information in dependent questions This paper describes an experimental system for knowledge acquisition based on a general framework exemplified in the game of twenty questions. A sequence of propositional questions is put to the user in an attempt to uncover some hidden concept, and the answers are used to expand and refine the system’s knowledge of the world. Previous systems adopting this framework typically represent knowledge as a matrix of truth values or weights that relate entities to attributes—such that if the hidden concept is “a bird”, for example, then the answer to a question about whether the target entity can fly is based on the extent to which “flying” is generally attributable to “a bird” as measured by the value in the matrix element indexed by the attribute-entity pair. Our system adopts a subtly different approach wherein knowledge is a measure of the extent to which answers to pairs of questions are co-dependent. Thus, knowledge about birds being able to fly is captured by the mutual information in the answers to a pair of questions like “Can it fly?” and “Is it a bird?”. We present a case that this offers a practical and epistemologically sound basis for acquiring knowledge.

year: 2011

title: Modes of representation in contemporary Galician visual poetry

authors: Lopez-Fernandez, Laura

subjects: visual poetry

abstract: Visual poetry in Galicia had a plural and discontinuous existence in the twentieth century'! Its development in Galicia follows national (Spanish) and international artistic practices, while also engaging in the configuration of a local, national, and transnational Galician identity. The practice of different styles of visual poetry shows a rich line of creativity, especially in the last four decades. Their approaches coincide with sociocultural and economic changes in Spain, such as the end of the dictatorship in 1975, the consequent normalization of the Galician language, and more recently the progressive influence of globalization. This essay considers how current Galician visual poets  reconceptualize these issues in the context of an international cultural and visual aesthetics.

text: Modes of representation in contemporary Galician visual poetry Visual poetry in Galicia had a plural and discontinuous existence in the twentieth century'! Its development in Galicia follows national (Spanish) and international artistic practices, while also engaging in the configuration of a local, national, and transnational Galician identity. The practice of different styles of visual poetry shows a rich line of creativity, especially in the last four decades. Their approaches coincide with sociocultural and economic changes in Spain, such as the end of the dictatorship in 1975, the consequent normalization of the Galician language, and more recently the progressive influence of globalization. This essay considers how current Galician visual poets  reconceptualize these issues in the context of an international cultural and visual aesthetics.

year: 2011

title: Manaakitia te paharakeke: an insight into the daily operational challenges facing Te Whakaruruhau

authors: Kurei, Anna

subjects: Women's refuge

abstract: This report is based on participant observations of the daily operations at Te Whakaruruhau, Hamilton. The observations represent the fieldwork element of an undergraduate paper contributing to the co-author, Anna Kurei’s Bachelor’s degree at the University of Waikato. Anna’s participation and observations over several weeks included attending meetings, shadowing Advocates, contributing (as appropriate) to operations and observing interactions between Advocates and the women in living in the service’s residential housing. 
Founded by Ruahine Albert and Ariana Simpson in 1986, Te Whakaruruhau Incorporated (Waikato women's refuge) was the first Māori women's refuge in Aotearoa. Since its inception, Te Whakaruruhau has been a Kaupapa driven service, with Māori cultural practices consciously employed throughout all its operations. Māori tikanga is fluid and adaptable by nature and can therefore meet the needs of people from multiple cultures and backgrounds. The current service has grown from humble beginnings in a four-bedroom state owned house providing emergency housing, to now include a twenty-four-hour crisis service, residential housing and a broadened community outreach programme. Staff numbers have increased from 7 to 36 paid staff and the twenty-fourhour crisis service has allowed the refuge to provide services for high risk cases that would otherwise be turned away. 
Funding is critical to the successful operation of the service. The refuge provides wrap-around services to meet clients’ needs and help them navigate through a maze of government and community services. The needs of women and families who have lived with domestic violence are deep-seated and complex. Achieving a stable, healthy, independent life is frequently a long-term process. Funding however, is not only limited, but is tied to expectations of achieving successful outcomes in the short-term. It was quickly evident during the fieldwork that Te Whakaruruhau is desperately under-resourced. In the year to June 2015 the Refuge provided services for 6575 cases, but had contracted funds for less than 1600. The consequences of such starkly inadequate resources are dire – for both clients and staff.
Advocates (case workers) are frequently exhausted as they try to assist women and children with high and complex needs with very little resources on a highly restricted budget. Many times, workers were observed relegating their own interests (including their own health and safety) in order to meet the demands and needs of their clients. Similarly, the successful rehabilitation of clients is jeopardised by restricted options, insufficient capacity in the system and at times even the simplest of requirements such as transport to essential services. We know that when women and children become free of violence they have better health, employment and education outcomes. These outcomes benefit not only themselves but their communities and the wider social and economic landscape. Higher levels of funding - with a longer term focus- would therefore ultimately reduce the costs of domestic violence overall. Further to this, Kaupapa-based services at Te Whakaruruhau offer a culturally meaningful response to the high representation of Maori women seeking assistance. Its success in the face of such high levels of under-resourcing suggests that expectations around funding also need to be altered.

text: Manaakitia te paharakeke: an insight into the daily operational challenges facing Te Whakaruruhau This report is based on participant observations of the daily operations at Te Whakaruruhau, Hamilton. The observations represent the fieldwork element of an undergraduate paper contributing to the co-author, Anna Kurei’s Bachelor’s degree at the University of Waikato. Anna’s participation and observations over several weeks included attending meetings, shadowing Advocates, contributing (as appropriate) to operations and observing interactions between Advocates and the women in living in the service’s residential housing. 
Founded by Ruahine Albert and Ariana Simpson in 1986, Te Whakaruruhau Incorporated (Waikato women's refuge) was the first Māori women's refuge in Aotearoa. Since its inception, Te Whakaruruhau has been a Kaupapa driven service, with Māori cultural practices consciously employed throughout all its operations. Māori tikanga is fluid and adaptable by nature and can therefore meet the needs of people from multiple cultures and backgrounds. The current service has grown from humble beginnings in a four-bedroom state owned house providing emergency housing, to now include a twenty-four-hour crisis service, residential housing and a broadened community outreach programme. Staff numbers have increased from 7 to 36 paid staff and the twenty-fourhour crisis service has allowed the refuge to provide services for high risk cases that would otherwise be turned away. 
Funding is critical to the successful operation of the service. The refuge provides wrap-around services to meet clients’ needs and help them navigate through a maze of government and community services. The needs of women and families who have lived with domestic violence are deep-seated and complex. Achieving a stable, healthy, independent life is frequently a long-term process. Funding however, is not only limited, but is tied to expectations of achieving successful outcomes in the short-term. It was quickly evident during the fieldwork that Te Whakaruruhau is desperately under-resourced. In the year to June 2015 the Refuge provided services for 6575 cases, but had contracted funds for less than 1600. The consequences of such starkly inadequate resources are dire – for both clients and staff.
Advocates (case workers) are frequently exhausted as they try to assist women and children with high and complex needs with very little resources on a highly restricted budget. Many times, workers were observed relegating their own interests (including their own health and safety) in order to meet the demands and needs of their clients. Similarly, the successful rehabilitation of clients is jeopardised by restricted options, insufficient capacity in the system and at times even the simplest of requirements such as transport to essential services. We know that when women and children become free of violence they have better health, employment and education outcomes. These outcomes benefit not only themselves but their communities and the wider social and economic landscape. Higher levels of funding - with a longer term focus- would therefore ultimately reduce the costs of domestic violence overall. Further to this, Kaupapa-based services at Te Whakaruruhau offer a culturally meaningful response to the high representation of Maori women seeking assistance. Its success in the face of such high levels of under-resourcing suggests that expectations around funding also need to be altered.

year: 2016