Commodification and Resistance: Migrant Labor in Jordan

Neoliberal globalization, which has guided the economic system of the world for the last forty years, claims to offer opportunities for equality and wealth for all citizens. However, I argue that the structural violence inherent in the neoliberal system and its drive for maximizing profits leads to cycles of abuse and discrimination, as well as a transfer of wealth and power toward elites and away from average citizens. I discuss how Jordan, like other developing countries, has been a locus for this violence. Through the lens of migrant workers within Jordan, this research paper traces the effects of these policies on migrant laborers and looks at how some seek to oppose these forces and advocate for increased rights. The paper shows that these workers have reacted to these dispossessions by creating networks of resistance and support, both informally and through the auspices of NGOs, labor organizations, and religious institutions

Microstructure control of the Sn-Ag-Cu-X solder alloy system through nucleation catalysis of Sn

Tin, the major constituent in Sn-Ag-Cu (SAC) lead-free solders often has difficulty in nucleating during solidification. This often results in the formation of large, brittle pro-eutectic intermetallic (IMC) phases, particularly Ag3Sn, in addition to reduced coupled eutectic volume. This results in weaker, less reliable joints. This research seeks to catalyze tin nucleation at lower undercooling, thereby maximizing the eutectic volume while preventing large pro-eutectic phase formation to promote SAC solder joint reliability. To accomplish this, a near eutectic (NE) SAC alloy is modified with a fourth element (X) selected to favor substitution for Cu in Cu6Sn5. While unadulterated Cu6Sn5 is a poor catalyst for β-Sn, a Cu6Sn5 lattice strained by X may improve this. X candidates (Co, Ni, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Al) were selected based on Darken-Gurry criteria for having a similar atomic radius and electronegativity relative to copper. Undercooling was measured using DSC with fluxed Cu pans at cooling rates common in industry, thereby mimicking real processing conditions. These calorimetric solder joints were then cross-sectioned and analyzed. It was discovered that some X additions increase the undercooling relative to the base SAC alloy while others decrease it. Of the selected X elements, Zn and Al, both with larger atomic radii than Cu, substitute into Cu6Sn5 and result in significantly reduced undercooling. Their corresponding microstructures are favorable and include a high eutectic volume and no embrittling Ag3Sn precipitates

How Process Models Change Business Processes in Organizations: From Planned to Emergent Change

This paper examines how the use of process mining in organizations can promote change in real-world business processes via data-based process models. Drawing on routine dynamics research, we conceptualize process models as artifacts that organizational members can use to change the business processes (i.e., routines) which they perform, and we theorize how such change is possible. Our arguments (a) suggest an emergent change approach to process mining, (b) advance social business process management by unpacking the social influence of process models, and (c) suggest guidelines for practitioners that apply process mining in organizations

Pb-Free Sn-Ag-Cu-Mn Solder

A solder alloy comprises Sn, Ag, Cu, and Mn and has a melting temperature of about 211 degrees C. A solder joint and solder process embody the solder alloy as well as solder balls and solder paste made therefrom to provide a solidified joint that includes three different intermetallic phases and a Sn metal phase. An exemplary Sn—Ag—Cu—Mn alloy consists essentially of about 3 to about 4 weight % Ag, about 0.80 to about 1.0 weight % Cu, and about 0.05 to about 0.15 weight % Mn, and balance consisting essentially of Sn

Rod Library Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon

Rod Library’s Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon is a concerted effort to improve the representation of women and minoritized individuals in the arts on the free encyclopedia and in the Wikipedia community. Wikipedia is the fifth most used website in the world, but there is systemic bias embedded in its content due to a lack of diversity. This project is an effort to change that. Students in LIB 3159: Creating Wikipedia for the Arts hosted the Edit-a-thon on March 24. The event was free and open to the public. In addition to community participants, students in ARTHIST 4608: Arts of Africa (who worked with the Waterloo Center for the Arts), ARTHIST 4320 , 19th Century Western Art, and ARTED 2500: Foundations of Art Education created more than 30 new articles, edited more than 50, and added more than 34,000 words to Wikipedia. Only two days after the event, those edits had been viewed almost 4,000 times around the world. This information about underrepresented individuals is now free and freely available for all. This poster will introduce the project and provide assessment data and statistics demonstrating the outcomes and world-wide reach of the event

Conceptualizing and measuring food and nutrition security

An interdisciplinary conceptual framework of food security is presented that identifies determinants at the macro-socioeconomic, regional-local, and household levels. Food insecurity is described as having consequences for health and well-being that may or may not be expressed in the form of physical-biological consequences such as underweight or nutritional deficiencies. The implications of this perspective for measurement of food security are addressed. A comparative review of indicators commonly used to assess food security is presented, with special focus on the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, which was included in the 2004 National Household Survey (PNAD). The history of the development of the scale in the U.S. and its validation in Brazil are described. Characterized as a direct measure of household food insecurity, this psychometric scale can be used together with indicators and measurement instruments from diverse fields to broaden understanding of this complex phenomenon.Apresenta-se um marco conceitual interdisciplinar de segurança alimentar e nutricional no qual identificam-se determinantes nos níveis macrossocioeconômico, regional-local e domiciliar. Insegurança alimentar e nutricional é vista como tendo consequências para a saúde e o bem-estar, que podem expressar-se ou não em consequências físico-biológicas, como por exemplo baixo peso e/ou carências nutricionais. As implicações de tal perspectiva para questões de mensuração são abordadas. É apresentado um resumo comparativo de indicadores frequentemente usados para mensuração de segurança alimentar, com enfoque especial na Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar, que foi usada na Pesquisa Nacional de Amostras por Domicílio - 2004. A história do desenvolvimento da escala nos Estados Unidos e a sua validação no Brasil estão descritas. Caracterizada como uma medida direta de insegurança alimentar em nível domiciliar, esta escala psicométrica pode ser usada em conjunto com indicadores e instrumentos de mensuração de diversas áreas, para aprofundar a compreensão desse fenômeno complexo.18719

PulseNet: Deep Learning ECG-signal classification using random augmentation policy and continous wavelet transform for canines

Evaluating canine electrocardiograms (ECG) require skilled veterinarians, but current availability of veterinary cardiologists for ECG interpretation and diagnostic support is limited. Developing tools for automated assessment of ECG sequences can improve veterinary care by providing clinicians real-time results and decision support tools. We implement a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) approach for classifying canine electrocardiogram sequences as either normal or abnormal. ECG records are converted into 8 second Lead II sequences and classified as either normal (no evidence of cardiac abnormalities) or abnormal (presence of one or more cardiac abnormalities). For training ECG sequences are randomly augmented using RandomAugmentECG, a new augmentation library implemented specifically for this project. Each chunk is then is converted using a continuous wavelet transform into a 2D scalogram. The 2D scalogram are then classified as either normal or abnormal by a binary CNN classifier. Experimental results are validated against three boarded veterinary cardiologists achieving an AUC-ROC score of 0.9506 on test dataset matching human level performance. Additionally, we describe model deployment to Microsoft Azure using an MLOps approach. To our knowledge, this work is one of the first attempts to implement a deep learning model to automatically classify ECG sequences for canines.Implementing automated ECG classification will enhance veterinary care through improved diagnostic performance and increased clinic efficiency

An overview of Old Tibetan synchronic phonology

Despite the importance of Old Tibetan in the Tibeto-Burman language family, little research has treated Old Tibetan synchronic phonology. This article gives a complete overview of the Old Tibetan phonemic system by associating sound values with the letters of the Tibetan alphabet and exploring the distribution of these sounds in syllable structure

Perception and comprehension of concepts of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale in indigenous communities in the state of Amazonas, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the perception and comprehension of concepts and terminology related to food security and insecurity, especially those that comprise the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale, in the context of indigenous socio-cultural reality. METHODS: Qualitative research techniques were used in Cacau, Flexeira and Mamori indigenous communities located in the Médio Juruá watershed, in the municipalities of Envira and Eirunepé (AM). The methods were based on a methodology used previously in Brazil and adapted to the present context in a meeting of specialists familiar with these indigenous communities. Next, focus groups were organized in each one of the three communities, with a total of 18 participants. RESULTS: Hunger appeared as a phenomenon experienced frequently by the participants. Many of the concepts and terms, such as food security, hunger, and good food, were well-understood, but others, such as varied food, sufficient food strategies to avoid problems with food were not. Everyday life depends on family relations that allow exchanges, which differs from studies conducted previously in urban and rural areas, where difficulties related to access to food were due to lack of financial resources. The subject of trading, or exchanges, appeared often during the focus groups, as well as a collective aspect of the experience of food security that had not emerged previously in focus groups conducted as part of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale validation. CONCLUSION: More in-depth qualitative and quantitative studies are needed to develop a food security measurement instrument that reflects the reality of these indigenous communities while, at the same time, provides results that are comparable to other indigenous communities as well as to results obtained using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale in other populations. To apprehend the situation of food security in these grups is necessary an instrument that takes into consideration the question of trading/exchange, the collective aspect, and the importance of the environment in their experiences related to food security and insecurity. It is recommended that, if questionnaires are to be used, that they should be kept as short and simple as possible.OBJETIVO: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a percepção e a compreensão de conceitos e terminologia da segurança e insegurança alimentar, especialmente os que compõem a Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar, no contexto da realidade sócio-cultural indígena. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados recursos de pesquisa qualitativa para a abordagem das comunidades indígenas Cacau, Flexeira e Mamori, situadas na bacia hidrográfica do Médio Juruá, nos municípios de Envira e Eirunepé (AM), baseando-se em metodologia já previamente utilizada no Brasil e adaptada ao presente contexto, em uma reunião com especialistas da área. Em seguida foram organizados grupos focais, com 18 participantes das três comunidades indígenas. RESULTADOS: A fome apareceu como situação vivenciada por muitos dos participantes dos grupos focais das três comunidades estudadas. Os conceitos e as terminologias como segurança alimentar, fome e comida boa foram bem compreendidos, no entanto, comida variada, comida suficiente e estratégia para evitar problemas com comida foram conceitos não compreendidos por eles. A rotina de vida desses povos baseia-se nas relações familiares que permitem trocas, diferindo de outros grupos focais da área urbana e rural, conduzidos como parte da validação da Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar, nos quais a dificuldade de acesso aos alimentos era conseqüência da falta de recursos financeiros. CONCLUSÃO: São necessários novos e aprofundados estudos, qualitativos e quantitativos, para o desenvolvimento de um instrumento de mensuração de insegurança alimentar que reflita a realidade desses povos, ao mesmo tempo em que busquem fornecer resultados comparáveis com aqueles de outros povos indígenas e mesmo os obtidos pela Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar em outras populações. Será necessário um instrumento que contemple a questão da troca, o aspecto coletivo, a importância e o uso do ambiente nas experiências de segurança ou insegurança alimentar. Sugere-se ainda que, para estudos quantitativos, o questionário deva ser mais resumido e simples.53s63