Academic Librarians with Disabilities: Job Perceptions and Factors Influencing Positive Workplace Experiences

Although there has been increasing attention to diversity in librarianship, little attention has been paid to librarians with disabilities. This study uses a mixed method approach, using results from a survey and in-depth follow-up interviews, to investigate some of the characteristics of Canadian university librarians with disabilities, their job satisfaction, their perceptions of their workplace climate for diversity and accessibility, and the factors that influence their workplace perceptions. Although librarians with disabilities report a generally high level of job satisfaction, they are less satisfied with some areas related to workplace stress and job flexibility than librarians without disabilities. Librarians with disabilities also report less confidence that their workplace is inclusive, values diversity, and is understanding of disability-related issues. Factors influencing the work experience of university librarians with disabilities include a collegial environment, supportive colleagues and supervisors, job flexibility and autonomy, clear priorities and reporting structures, reasonable expectations about workload, time pressures and short deadlines, effective structures and processes to ensure accessibility, an accessible physical environment, and, most importantly, an understanding of disability and awareness of disability-related workplace issues

An Efficient Method for online Detection of Polychronous Patterns in Spiking Neural Network

Polychronous neural groups are effective structures for the recognition of precise spike-timing patterns but the detection method is an inefficient multi-stage brute force process that works off-line on pre-recorded simulation data. This work presents a new model of polychronous patterns that can capture precise sequences of spikes directly in the neural simulation. In this scheme, each neuron is assigned a randomized code that is used to tag the post-synaptic neurons whenever a spike is transmitted. This creates a polychronous code that preserves the order of pre-synaptic activity and can be registered in a hash table when the post-synaptic neuron spikes. A polychronous code is a sub-component of a polychronous group that will occur, along with others, when the group is active. We demonstrate the representational and pattern recognition ability of polychronous codes on a direction selective visual task involving moving bars that is typical of a computation performed by simple cells in the cortex. The computational efficiency of the proposed algorithm far exceeds existing polychronous group detection methods and is well suited for online detection.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figure

Effective partitioning method for computing weighted Moore-Penrose inverse

We introduce a method and an algorithm for computing the weighted Moore-Penrose inverse of multiple-variable polynomial matrix and the related algorithm which is appropriated for sparse polynomial matrices. These methods and algorithms are generalizations of algorithms developed in [M.B. Tasic, P.S. Stanimirovic, M.D. Petkovic, Symbolic computation of weighted Moore-Penrose inverse using partitioning method, Appl. Math. Comput. 189 (2007) 615-640] to multiple-variable rational and polynomial matrices and improvements of these algorithms on sparse matrices. Also, these methods are generalizations of the partitioning method for computing the Moore-Penrose inverse of rational and polynomial matrices introduced in [P.S. Stanimirovic, M.B. Tasic, Partitioning method for rational and polynomial matrices, Appl. Math. Comput. 155 (2004) 137-163; M.D. Petkovic, P.S. Stanimirovic, Symbolic computation of the Moore-Penrose inverse using partitioning method, Internat. J. Comput. Math. 82 (2005) 355-367] to the case of weighted Moore-Penrose inverse. Algorithms are implemented in the symbolic computational package MATHEMATICA

Synthesis of Artificial Magnetic Conductors Using Structure-Based Evolutionary Design

An evolutionary programming approach, the so-called structure based evolutionary design, is applied to the synthesis of planar periodic electronic band gap in order to obtain an artificial magnetic conductor surface. We show that this strategy, in conjunction with a flexible aperture-oriented approach, allows for obtaining new and effective structures. This almost unique ability is exploited to obtain an artificial magnetic conductor periodic surface with a bandwidth larger than the most popular surfaces known so far

Lifting locally homogeneous geometric structures

We prove that under some purely algebraic conditions every locally homogeneous structure modelled on some homogeneous space is induced by a locally homogeneous structure modelled on a different homogeneous space.Comment: 9 page

Developing Effective Structures for Autistic Learners: Transitions between Education Settings

Transitions between education settings are ‘a pivotal moment’ (Fortuna, 2014, p.177) for autistic learners. This dissertation considers the successes, limitations, and importance of such transitions while evaluating current practice and the impacts of this on autistic learners, their families, and professionals in this field. Autism as a condition is a complex field and thus requires a person-centred approach to such transitions – ‘a brain-by-brain, strength-by-strength basis’ (Grandin and Panek, 2014, p.200). To examine this issue, a literature review was conducted to examine research into the area of multi-agency practice and the barriers to effective support. Furthermore, the views of professionals, families and autistic learners have been considered. With the introduction of the Additional Learning Needs Education Tribunal (Wales) Act (2018) (ALNET) following a decade of austerity that has been further compounded by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to consider the potential impacts of such legislation on current practice as Wales moves into a new framework. Current research indicates two key themes in the limitations of successful transitional arrangements for autistic learners: austerity and inconsistent multi-agency practice. Several distinct disadvantages are already at play for autistic people: increased levels of deprivation (Welsh Government, 2014 cited in Shaw et al., 2016), co-morbid mental health conditions (University of British Columbia, 2021), and typically poorer socio-economic outcomes in adulthood (Shaw et al., 2016). Thus, it is vital that issues in support are addressed to improve these transitional structures for autistic learners and thus positively impact their wellbeing, their families, and future outcomes. In short, this dissertation emphasises the need for a successful ALNET implementation as well as careful consideration of the successes and limitations as time moves on