Simultaneous resolution of singularities in the Nash category: finiteness and effectiveness

In this paper we present new proofs using real spectra of the finiteness theorem on Nash trivial simultaneous resolution and the finiteness theorem on Blow-Nash triviality for isolated real algebraic singularities. That is, we prove that a family of Nash sets in a Nash manifold indexed by a semialgebraic set always admits a Nash trivial simultaneous resolution after a partition of the parameter space into finitely many semialgebraic pieces and in the case of isolated singularities it admits a finite Blow-Nash trivialization. We also complement the finiteness results with recursive bounds

Technology-enabled Learning (TEL): YouTube as a Ubiquitous Learning Aid.

The use of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in the society has become ubiquitous. The advent of communication technologies alongside other unification trends and notions such as media convergence and digital content allow the users of the social network to integrate these networks in their everyday life. There have been several attempts in the literature to investigate and explain the use of social networks such as Facebook and WhatsApp by university students in the Arab region. However, little research has been done on how university students utilise online audiovisual materials in their academic activities in the UAE. This research aims to elucidate the use of YouTube as a learning aid for university students in the UAE. We adopt the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the theoretical framework for this investigation. A quantitative methodology is employed to answer the research question. Primary data consisting of 221 correspondents were analysed, covering patterns of using YouTube as an academic audiovisual learning aid. Statistical techniques including descriptive, correlations, regression tests were used to analyse the data. The study concluded that students use YouTube as a learning tool for their academic studies and enriching their general knowledge; and there is a positive relationship between the use of YouTube videos in academic settings and the students’ overall performance. This study can shed light for teachers, curriculum designers, government entities, and other stakeholders on how to best utilise and integrate the online technology — YouTube — as a learning aid

NOSTALGIA FOR A PAST: BEIRUT’S SHARED OPEN SPACES

El teixit urbà de Beirut és un palimpsest que reflecteix diferents períodes històrics amb els seus creixements naturals, deformacions i esdeveniments. Les petjades dels espais urbans oberts incloent carrers i algunes places persisteixen i alimenten memòries col·lectives en aquesta ciutat. Altres espais oberts emergeixen a través de la capa de la postguerra i informen sobre les pràctiques quotidianes de les societats coexistents de Beirut. Aquest document ofereix una visió general de l'estat dels espais urbans oberts a Beirut, i se centra en l'ètica de l'estètica dels espais urbans oberts de postguerra a Beirut. L'objectiu és establir una comprensió del paper dels espais en relació amb la memòria, la identitat i la vida urbana quotidiana en temps present Beirut.Beirut’s urban fabric is a palimpsest reflecting different historical periods with their natural growths, deformations and happenings. Traces of urban open spaces including streets and some squares persist and feed collective memories in this city. Other open spaces emerge through the post-war layer and inform about the everyday practices of Beirut’s coexisting societies. This paper provides an overview of the state of open urban spaces in Beirut, and focuses on the ethics of the aesthetics of Beirut’s post-war open urban spaces. The aim is to establish an understanding of the role of those spaces in relation to memory, identity and everyday urban life in present-time Beirut.El tejido urbano de Beirut es un palimpsesto que refleja diferentes períodos históricos con sus crecimientos naturales, deformaciones y acontecimientos. Las huellas de los espacios urbanos abiertos incluyendo calles y algunas plazas persisten y alimentan memorias colectivas en esta ciudad. Otros espacios abiertos emergen a través de la capa de la posguerra e informan acerca de las prácticas cotidianas de las sociedades coexistentes de Beirut. Este documento ofrece una visión general del estado de los espacios urbanos abiertos en Beirut, y se centra en la ética de la estética de los espacios urbanos abiertos de posguerra en Beirut. El objetivo es establecer una comprensión del papel de los espacios en relación con la memoria, la identidad y la vida urbana cotidiana en tiempo presente Beirut

Voices of Immigrant Adults: Perspectives and Experiences with French as a Second Official Language in “English-dominant” Canada

The federal government of Canada, through the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) (2000), claims that immigration is a challenge to English/French official language duality in Canada. In its promotion of official language duality to potential immigrants, the government cites the advantages of official language bilingualism and the responsibility of immigrants to respect official language duality (OCOL, 2002). Supported by Anderson’s theory of imagined communities (2006), Lave and Wenger’s concept of situated learning (1991) and Bourdieu’s concept of capital (1977), this study reports on immigrant parents’ perspectives and experiences with French as a second official language (FSOL) in parts of English-dominant Canada as reported through interviews with adult immigrants to Canada. More precisely, the immigrants report on their pursuit of official language bilingualism for themselves and their children and their difficulty in accessing its cited advantages. I suggest the government has responsibility in converting its claims of the advantages to official language bilingualism into realities for the immigrant populatio

NOSTALGIA FOR A PAST: BEIRUT’S SHARED OPEN SPACES

El teixit urbà de Beirut és un palimpsest que reflecteix diferents períodes històrics amb els seus creixements naturals, deformacions i esdeveniments. Les petjades dels espais urbans oberts incloent carrers i algunes places persisteixen i alimenten memòries col·lectives en aquesta ciutat. Altres espais oberts emergeixen a través de la capa de la postguerra i informen sobre les pràctiques quotidianes de les societats coexistents de Beirut. Aquest document ofereix una visió general de l'estat dels espais urbans oberts a Beirut, i se centra en l'ètica de l'estètica dels espais urbans oberts de postguerra a Beirut. L'objectiu és establir una comprensió del paper dels espais en relació amb la memòria, la identitat i la vida urbana quotidiana en temps present Beirut.Beirut’s urban fabric is a palimpsest reflecting different historical periods with their natural growths, deformations and happenings. Traces of urban open spaces including streets and some squares persist and feed collective memories in this city. Other open spaces emerge through the post-war layer and inform about the everyday practices of Beirut’s coexisting societies. This paper provides an overview of the state of open urban spaces in Beirut, and focuses on the ethics of the aesthetics of Beirut’s post-war open urban spaces. The aim is to establish an understanding of the role of those spaces in relation to memory, identity and everyday urban life in present-time Beirut.El tejido urbano de Beirut es un palimpsesto que refleja diferentes períodos históricos con sus crecimientos naturales, deformaciones y acontecimientos. Las huellas de los espacios urbanos abiertos incluyendo calles y algunas plazas persisten y alimentan memorias colectivas en esta ciudad. Otros espacios abiertos emergen a través de la capa de la posguerra e informan acerca de las prácticas cotidianas de las sociedades coexistentes de Beirut. Este documento ofrece una visión general del estado de los espacios urbanos abiertos en Beirut, y se centra en la ética de la estética de los espacios urbanos abiertos de posguerra en Beirut. El objetivo es establecer una comprensión del papel de los espacios en relación con la memoria, la identidad y la vida urbana cotidiana en tiempo presente Beirut

The Informed Human Firewall: The Impact of Knowledge Dimensions on Employees\u27 Secure Behavior

Organizations implement a variety of knowledge mechanisms such as information security education, training, and awareness (SETA) programs and information security policies to influence employees’ secure behavior. However, skills gained through these knowledge mechanisms have not always translated to secure behavior. Protection motivation theory (PMT) is a widely used and accepted theory in information security behavioral research. Nevertheless, information security research has not examined the impact of knowledge mechanisms on PMT psychological processes. This study explains the key psychological processes that influence employees’ secure behavior and seeks to understand how organizational knowledge mechanisms influence these key psychological processes that form threats perceptions. Drawing on the knowledge management literature, the impact of knowledge mechanisms on users’ threat perceptions was conceptualized and examined across three knowledge dimensions: breadth, depth, and finesse. The research also applied construal level theory (CLT) to provide a means to measure the psychological constructs of PMT from an individual’s perspective. The research conceptualizes the PMT psychological process based on the threat un-desirability and coping feasibility. The four dimensions of the psychological distance from CLT (temporal, social, spatial, and hypothetical) formed the threat un-desirability while response efficacy and difficulty formed the coping feasibility construct. This study empirically tested the model using a multi-method approach. The first method used an experiment with 262 students to validate the CLT driven constructs and its impact on protection motivation. The second study tested the overall model, including knowledge mechanisms dimensions, across a sample of 219 industry professionals. The theoretical model was tested using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Results show support that the psychological distance from the threat allows employees to perceive the personal impact of the threat. Results also support that the key psychological constructs, threat un-desirability and coping feasibility, influence employees behavioral choices. This research offers noteworthy contributions to the literature. It provides a greater understanding of the role of knowledge dimensions to motivate compliance. The research also presented an improved model that preserves the original intent of PMT in the context information security. Finally, the research presented a generalizable and practical business approach to a traditionally technical topic. Keywords: Information security, secure behavior, compliance, construal level theory, knowledge dimensions, protection motivation, security policies, security education and training awareness, SETA programs, information security threats