Interactive Machine Learning for User-Innovation Toolkits – An Action Design Research approach

Machine learning offers great potential to developers and end users in the creative industries. However, to better support creative software developers' needs and empower them as machine learning users and innovators, the usability of and developer experience with machine learning tools must be considered and better understood. This thesis asks the following research questions: How can we apply a user-centred approach to the design of developer tools for rapid prototyping with Interactive Machine Learning? In what ways can we design better developer tools to accelerate and broaden innovation with machine learning? This thesis presents a three-year longitudinal action research study that I undertook within a multi-institutional consortium leading the EU H2020 -funded Innovation Action RAPID-MIX. The scope of the research presented here was the application of a user-centred approach to the design and evaluation of developer tools for rapid prototyping and product development with machine learning. This thesis presents my work in collaboration with other members of RAPID-MIX, including design and deployment of a user-centred methodology for the project, interventions for gathering requirements with RAPID-MIX consortium stakeholders and end users, and prototyping, development and evaluation of a software development toolkit for interactive machine learning. This thesis contributes with new understanding about the consequences and implications of a user-centred approach to the design and evaluation of developer tools for rapid prototyping of interactive machine learning systems. This includes 1) new understanding about the goals, needs, expectations, and challenges facing creative machine-learning non-expert developers and 2) an evaluation of the usability and design trade-offs of a toolkit for rapid prototyping with interactive machine learning. This thesis also contributes with 3) a methods framework of User-Centred Design Actions for harmonising User-Centred Design with Action Research and supporting the collaboration between action researchers and practitioners working in rapid innovation actions, and 4) recommendations for applying Action Research and User-Centred Design in similar contexts and scale

Brown bear (Ursus arctos) movement patterns and habitat selection in northern Greece using a step selection approach

Tese de mestrado, Biologia da Conservação, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2021Brown bears (Ursus arctos) population has been increasing in Greece. Despite the optimistic trend, human persecution and road kills continue to threaten this species. Our work used a sample of 21 animals fitted with GPS/GSM Followit collars in northern Greece and focused on bear circadian activity patterns and human related risk and other environmental variables impact on bear habitat selection and movement behaviour. To reach our goals we used hidden Markov models to classify bear behaviour according to its movement state and incorporated this information on integrated step selection functions. Our study found that, bears avoided all human related risks. This was more noticeable during nighttime when bears avoided paved and unpaved roads, and human settlements. Bears selected areas closer to forest edges throughout all day and avoided crossing high proportions of meadows and cultivation areas during night. These findings show us that minimizing human disturbance and increase habitat connec tivity are crucial for bear conservation

How Do Y-Chromosomes Modulate Genome-Wide Epigenetic States: Genome Folding, Chromatin Sinks, and Gene Expression

The Y chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans contain only a handful of protein-coding genes, which are related to sperm mobility and reproductive fitness. Despite low or absent protein coding polymorphism, the Drosophila Y chromosome has been associated with natural phenotypic variation, including variation in the expression of hundreds to thousands of genes located on autosomes and on the X chromosome. Polymorphisms present in the large blocks of heterochromatin and consisting of differences in the amounts and kinds of sequences for satellite DNA and transposable elements may be the source of this modulation. Here we review the evidence and discuss mechanisms for global epigenetic regulation by repetitious elements in the Y chromosome. We also discuss how the discovery of this new function impacts the current knowledge about Y chromosome origin, its current dynamics, and future fate

The impact of disintermediation on independent music business models

This work presents an exploratory study of how the disintermediation phenomenon, which has been occurring among the main economic agents of the music industry, is affecting independent musicians’ business models and practices. This phenomenon results from a shift in the technological paradigm, in which the access to global communication networks and digital tools has caused disruptive changes to the current production model, to the access conditions of producers to markets, and to the power relations between economic agents. This study locates within the creative industries scope of research, particularly in music business research. It aims to analyse and expose part of the work reality of producers in one of the most important sectors of the creative industries. Concerning methodology, this study adopts realism for its philosophical stance, in order to address the problem, by carrying out objective discovery and theory development, through objective descriptions of reality. Taking this into consideration, the chosen research strategy has been the case study. A set of seven independent music artists has been purposely selected, based on the strategic approach they take in business and in the evolutive path they are pursuing. Personal semi-structured interviews were conducted with five of these artists, in order to obtain information concerning their business models and practices, which provided the primary data for analysis. The data of the remaining two independent artists was obtained from mixed sources. Additionally, in order to complement this study, data reports from the Artists Revenue Streams (ARS) study have been used as secondary data. This study, led by the Future of Music Coalition (FMC) in the US, assesses whether and how musicians’ revenue streams are changing in this new music landscape. This study indicates that the effects of disintermediation, induced by a technological paradigm shift, are mostly observable in the way independent artists are becoming selfsufficient. They have been leveraging on technology to take on business functions, such as management, funding, distribution and promotion. However, concerning disintermediation, these functions reveal different levels of incidence. This is determined by the power that record labels, the traditional intermediary, maintain over financing and promotion. In the evolutionary path of an independent artist, the need for a professional structure typically grows along the way. This structure maybe maybe provided either by a record label, or by assembling a professional team or resorting to independent services. The consequences of disintermediation can be further demonstrated through some illustrative signs; record labels are readjusting, what can be seen through the renegotiation and the adoption of other contract models, and the lessening of investment in certain traditional business functions. Furthermore, the bargaining power of artists has increased, which grants them more control over their career direction, over the development of their brand, and most importantly, of their creativity.Este trabalho apresenta um estudo exploratório sobre o fenómeno da desintermediação, decorrente entre os principais agentes económicos da indústria da música, e o modo como este está a afectar os músicos independentes, no que diz respeito aos seus modelos e práticas de negócio. Este fenómeno surge em consequência de uma alteração do paradigma tecnológico, em que o acesso às redes de comunicação globais e às ferramentas digitais provocou alterações disruptivas no modelo de produção vigente, nas condições de acesso dos produtores aos mercados e nas relações de poder entre agentes económicos. Este trabalho insere-se no âmbito de investigação nas indústrias criativas, e em particular, no negócio da música. Assim, tem como objectivo analisar e expor uma parte da realidade do trabalho de produtores num dos sectores mais relevantes das indústrias criativas. Em termos de metodologia, este trabalho aborda a problemática através de uma postura filosófica que adopta o realismo, de modo a proceder à descoberta objectiva e ao desenvolvimento de teoria, suportados por descrições objectivas da realidade. Tendo isto em consideração, foi realizada uma investigação teórica, baseada na revisão bibliográfica, e uma investigação empírica, que teve por base o caso de estudo como estratégia de investigação. Nesse sentido, selecionou-se um conjunto de sete músicos independentes, que se destacam pela abordagem estratégica ao negócio e pelo percurso evolutivo que têm seguido. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, pessoalmente, a cinco dos músicos para recolha de informação relativa aos seus modelos e práticas de negócio, e que constituíram os dados primários de análise. Para os dois casos restantes, os dados foram obtidos de fontes mistas. Adicionalmente, de forma a complementar este estudo, utilizaram-se os relatórios do estudo Artist Revenue Streams (ARS) como dados secundários. Este estudo foi levado a cabo pela Future of Music Coalition (FMC) nos EUA, e averigua os factores envolvidos na evolução das fontes de rendimento dos artistas musicais. O estudo aponta que os efeitos da desintermediação, que advém do choque tecnológico, se verificam ao nível da autossuficiência demonstrada pelos artistas musicais independentes. Eles têm vindo a assumir funções de negócio, como a gestão, o financiamento, a distribuição e a promoção, tendo a tecnologia um papel preponderante na sua facilitação. No entanto, para cada uma destas funções, a desintermediação apresenta níveis de incidência distintos. Isto é determinado pelo poder que a editora, o intermediário tradicional, mantém no âmbito do financiamento e da promoção. No trajeto evolutivo de um artista independente, surge a necessidade de recorrer cada vez mais a uma estrutura profissional, podendo esta ser uma editora, ou em alternativa a sua própria, construindo uma equipa profissional ou recorrendo a serviços. Adicionalmente, a desintermediação compreende outras consequências; a forma de funcionamento das editoras alterou-se, o que se reflete pelo reajustamento ao nível da renegociação e alteração dos modelos de contrato e pelo desinvestimento em certas funções; o poder de negociação dos artistas aumentou, o que lhes permite deter mais controlo sobre a sua carreira, sobre a forma como a sua marca é desenvolvida, e principalmente, sobre a sua criatividade

La pedagogía de las conductas motrices aplicada eficazmente con el método Movitransfer

Mucho se ha hablado y escrito en torno al cambio de paradigma en la educación física, así como al protagonismo que la conducta motriz ostenta en este proceso para modernizar esta disciplina pedagógica que sigue aplicando los métodos de producción industrial que heredó en el siglo XVIII. En el gimnasio Olimpia de la ciudad argentina de Chivilcoy se está llevando a cabo esta importante y necesaria transformación de un modo eficaz y exitoso. Las clases de educación física que allí se imparten, se llevan a cabo mediante un método singular e innovador que aplica la pedagogía de las conductas motrices (Parlebas), con propuestas pedagógicas basadas en procesos de exploración motriz (Feldenkrais) y generando dinámicas pedagógicas mediante puestas en común y circuitos con situaciones psicomotrices y sociomotrices. En una reciente investigación cualitativa en torno a "qué es lo que se aprende en las clases con Movitransfer", una muestra significativa de alumnos del gimnasio dicen que han aprendido a sentirse libres, puesto que su autoconfianza ha ido acrecentándose con las clases; que su calidad de vida ha mejorado porque las situaciones pedagógicas planteadas en clase son competencias para la vida; que al desanudarse están descubriendo lo mejor de sí mismos; que cada vez se sienten mejor capacitados para evaluar y optimizar sus propias conductas motrices y que el gimnasio se ha convertido en una escuela para la vida en donde los alumnos ponen en práctica un modo de vivir que les hace sentirse cada vez más felice

Demonstrating Interactive Machine Learning Tools for Rapid Prototyping of Gestural Instruments in the Browser

These demonstrations will allow visitors to prototype gestural, interactive musical instruments in the browser. Different browser based synthesisers can be controlled by either a Leap Motion sensor or a Myo armband. The visitor will be able to use an interactive machine learning toolkit to quickly and iteratively explore different interaction possibilities. The demonstrations show how interactive, browser-based machine learning tools can be used to rapidly prototype gestural controllers for audio. These demonstrations showcase RapidLib, a browser based machine learning library developed through the RAPID-MIX project

Development of a microfluidics droplet generator

The need for mass scale testing in areas such as microbiology and chemistry requires faster processing times, multiplexing capability, and reduced reagent requirements. To achieve this, the volumes processed must be reduced. This work intends to produce a microfluidic chip capable of producing increasingly smaller droplets that serve as testing vessels, by taking advantage of the dynamics of two immiscible fluids. The purpose of the present chip is to be used in the future in a digital Polymerised Chain Reaction (dPCR) for DNA amplification and detection. The microfluidic device was first simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics to understand the different behaviours of the droplet generator junctions. Glass sealed devices were produced using soft-lithography, composed of two different parts, a glass substrate and a top PDMS slab fabricated by photolithography of a SU-8 mould on a Si wafer that was used to mould the PDMS. Devices were tested with two immiscible fluids, which were injected at a constant flow rate into two inlets that lead to the junction were the droplets were formed. We were able to obtain droplets as small as 1 nL in devices with a channel size of 50 μm. We concluded that reducing the entry section to the main channel until the junction point, will decrease droplet size keeping the same size of the channels after the junction. Faster droplet generation rate was also obtained, using side channels width smaller (50 μm) than the main channel (100 μm)

Organic Waste Management and Circular Bioeconomy: A Literature Review Comparison between Latin America and the European Union

The authors appreciate the support of the research group RNM-197 (Environmental Management and Technology) of the University of Granada. We are grateful to four anonymous referees for their comments and useful discussions.Worldwide, organic waste represents one of the most significant shares in the waste management system. Within the framework of circular bioeconomy, new and cutting-edge infrastructure has been developed at the European level to turn organic waste into valuable resources. The present paper aims to provide an exhaustive comparison between the European Union and Latin America regarding organic waste valorization. To this end, an introductive analysis about the state of the art circular bioeconomy in Latin America and Caribbean countries was developed. Subsequently, a systematic literature review in the context of South and Central America was conducted to detect differences and similarities in technologies and best practices for treating biowaste. The results show that the Latin American region is home to numerous bio-based infrastructures: biogas recovery, composting facilities and bioremediation strategies. Nevertheless, a conclusive remark underlines that some social, economic and political barriers are still encountered in the region, and therefore, new and locally-based studies are of paramount importance.Environmental Management and Technology) of University of Granada RNM-19

An AudioWorklet-based signal engine for a live coding language ecosystem

This paper reports on early advances in the design of an ecosystem for creating new live coding languages, optimal for audio synthesis, machine learning and machine listening. We present the design rationale and challenges when applying the Web Audio API, and in particular, an AudioWorklet-based solution to refactoring our digital signal processing library Maximilian.js for our high-performance signal synthesis engine. Furthermore, we contribute with a new system implementation, engineered for modern web applications, and for the live coding community to design their own idiosyncratic languages and interfaces applying our signal engine. The evaluation shows that the system runs with high reliability, efficiency and low latency