#developmental constraints

[bsahely]

The Seven Foldings of Embryonic Coherence: Ontogenetic Axes of Human Form, Function, and Meaning | ChatGPT4o

[Download Full Document (PDF)] Embryogenesis is often taught as a linear series of anatomical events: cleavage, gastrulation, neurulation, organogenesis. However, beneath this surface chronology lies a deeper morphodynamic and symbolic order — a choreography of coherence by which a unified self emerges from cellular multiplicity. This white paper articulates a novel sevenfold developmental model…

[myfootyrthroat]

I hate seeing those posts that are like "More money would solve literally every problem and we wouldn't even need social workers. Capitalism is the root."

Truly, I empathize with your financial anxiety. You know that some people have developmental disabilities? Medical support needs? Some people have PTSD? Are sexual assault survivors? Some problems continue to exist regardless of financial constraints.

[o-craven-canto]

Selected recurrent patterns or "laws" of evolution, of potential use for speculative biology. List compiled by Neocene's Pavel Volkov, who in turn credits its content to Nikolay Rejmers (original presumably in Russian). These are guidelines, and not necessarily scientifically rigorous.

Dollo's Law, or irreversibility of evolution: organisms do not evolve back into their own ancestors. When mammals returned to the sea, they did not develop gills and dermal scales and change back into fish: they became whales or seals or manatees, who retain mammalian traits and show marks of land-dwelling ancestry.

Roulliet's law, or increase of complexity: both organisms and ecosystems tend to become more complex over time, with subparts that are increasingly differentiated and integrated. This one is dodgier: there are many examples of simplification over time when it is selected for, for example in parasites. At least, over very large time scales, the maximum achievable complexity seems to increase.

Law of unlimited change: there is no point at which a species or system is complete and has finished evolving. Stasis only occurs when there is strong selective pressure in favor of it, and organism can always adapt to chaging conditions if they are not beyond the limits of survival.

Law of pre-adaptation or exaptation: new structures do not appear ex novo. When a new organ or behavior is developed, it is a modification or a re-purposing of something that already existed. Bone tissue probably evolved as reserves of energy before it was suitable to build an internal skeleton from, and feathers most likely evolved for thermal isolation and display before they were refined enough for flight.

Law of increasing variety: diversity at all levels tends to increase over time. While some forms originate from hybridization, most importantly the Eukaryotic cells, generally one ancestor species tends to leave many descendants, if it has any at all.

Law of Severtsov or of Eldredge-Gould or of punctuated equilibrium: while evolution is always slow from the human standpoint, there are moments of relatively rapid change and diversification when some especily fertile innovation appears (e.g. eyes and shells in the Cambrian), or new environments become inhabitable (e.g. continental surface in the Devonian), or disaster clears out space (e.g. at the end of the Permian or Cretaceous), followed by relative stability once all low-hanging fruit has been picked.

Law of environmental conformity: changes in the structure and functions of organisms follow the features or their environment, but the specifics of those changes depend on the structural and developmental constraints of the organisms. Squids and dolphins both have spindle-shaped bodies because physics make it necessary to move quickly through water, but water is broken by the anterior end of the skull in dolphins and by the posterior end of the mantle in squids. Superficial similarity is due to shared environment, deep structural similarity to shared ancestry.

Cope's and Marsh's laws: the most highly specialized members of a group (which often includes the physically largest) tend to go extinct first when conditions change. It is the generalist, least specialized members that usually survive and give rise to the next generations of specialists.

Deperet's law of increasing specialization: once a lineage has started to specialize for a particular niche, lifestyle, or resource, it will keep specializing in the same direction, as any deviation would be outcompeted by the rest. In contrast, their generalist ancestors can survive with a marginal presence in multiple niches.

Osborn's law, or adaptive radiation: as the previous takes place, different lines of descent from a common ancestor become increasingly different in form and specializations.

Shmalhausen's law, or increasing integration: over time, complex systems also tend to become increasingly integrated, with components (e.g. organs of an organism, or species in a symbiotic relationship) being increasingly indispensable to the whole, and increasingly tightly controlled.

[msfantasy-comics]

The Perfect Match

Roy Harper x Reader

Summary: A head cannon in which you are Roy’s perfect match.

Masterlist - Tip Jar

Independence

Throughout Roy’s developmental years, he was always treated with excessive handholding, rules and over exertion of authority.

This has led Roy to feel resentful of constraints.

In his former years, Roy relished the freedom and exercising autonomy through the Outlaws.

Roy really appreciates the sense of freedom you give in your relationship.

Roy: “Would you be upset if I cancel our date tonight? Jason’s back in town.”

You were fully dressed up, ready for your hot date.

Y/n: “Nope.”

And you really meant it.

You took advantage of your hot fit and took yourself on a date.

The flexibility you give him is one of the key factors to your loving relationship.

Adventurous Spirit

Given Roy has spent most of his free time training and practicing the art of archery, Roy needs a romantic partner who shares the passion of adventure.

Roy: “Wow… I never seen anyone shoot the ground when the target is only 5 meters away.

Y/n: “I was just testing the bow resistance…”

Roy: “Uh-huh…”

Whilst you may not be the most talented archer or most fit individual. You are always keen to try and participate.

Your enthusiasm to do better is infectious and Roy just loves and appreciates your willingness to try and do better, especially when it comes to his interests.

Y/n: “Roy did you see, did you see?! I hit the outer ring!”

Supportive and Empathetic

Roy has had to endure many hardships throughout his developmental years which has plagued him every so often during his adult hood such as;

Addiction issues - not only does Roy have past entanglements with addictions which leads him to live a clean life. He had developed a critical eye for intentions, as a trusted friend was the cause to his addiction. Now, Roy analyses everything for deeper motivations. That’s just the result of the trauma and it’s a the reality in which you had accept. Whilst it can be insulting and exhausting to be under the microscope, you always speak your mind freely and bluntly.

Relationship dynamic of being in a team - it’s a struggle for Roy to build trust in others due to his past experiences. He has trouble letting people in, but once your in, you most certainly not getting out. You appreciate the value in which Roy holds you and makes you feel extra safe and comfortable knowing that Roy, no matter what, will always be there for you.

Responsibility as a hero - Roy has had to endure the heavy burden of protecting society as nothing more than a well trained human. Society is never short of criticism and Roy is hard on himself enough as it is. This can lead to feeling emotionally and physically strained. Roy cannot handle the criticism of his short comings when it comes to his romantic entanglements too.

Roy: “Y/n, baby, I’m so sorry I missed your birthday party, it’s just, this woman, and her child-“

Y/n: “Roy! I had the best birthday ever! I took lots of photos, so you could see it all when you finished your patrol. But we can do that later, do you want me to draw you a bath? Have you eaten yet?”

Roy: *pant* “aren’t you-“ *pant* “upset with me?”

Y/n: “Don’t be a silly goose, I know you wouldn’t miss anything intentionally, must’ve been really important. We’ve been together for years, think I don’t know you by now?”

Sense of Humor

Even in the hardest of times, it’s at times easier to just have a laugh.

Roy appreciates that you don’t take difficult situations to seriously and just have a laugh with him.

Roy thinks your extra-adorable since you kept notes on his funniest one-liners.

"Some days, I wish I was a firefighter. All you have to worry about is fire."

"We're supposed to be professionals, yet here we are, running around in spandex, talking to ourselves."

"All these costume changes, and I'm still trying to figure out my life."

In a crowd full of hero’s your laughter amongst the dead silence is always appreciated.

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 21, 2025

Gustatory cortex neurons perform reliability-dependent integration of multisensory flavor inputs. Allar, I. B., Hua, A., Rowland, B. A., & Maier, J. X. (2025). Current Biology, 35(3), 600-611.e3.

Complex harmonics reveal low-dimensional manifolds of critical brain dynamics. Deco, G., Sanz Perl, Y., & Kringelbach, M. L. (2025). Physical Review E, 111(1), 014410.

Context-dependent decision-making in the primate hippocampal–prefrontal circuit. Elston, T. W., & Wallis, J. D. (2025). Nature Neuroscience, 28(2), 374–382.

Applied Motor Noise Affects Specific Learning Mechanisms during Short-Term Adaptation to Novel Movement Dynamics. Foray, K., Zhou, W., Fitzgerald, J., Gianferrara, P. G., & Joiner, W. M. (2025). eNeuro, 12(1), ENEURO.0100-24.2024.

Touch-evoked traveling waves establish a translaminar spacetime code. Gonzales, D. L., Khan, H. F., Keri, H. V. S., Yadav, S., Steward, C., Muller, L. E., Pluta, S. R., & Jayant, K. (2025). Science Advances, 11(5).

A distinct hypothalamus–habenula circuit governs risk preference. Groos, D., Reuss, A. M., Rupprecht, P., Stachniak, T., Lewis, C., Han, S., Roggenbach, A., Sturman, O., Sych, Y., Wieckhorst, M., Bohacek, J., Karayannis, T., Aguzzi, A., & Helmchen, F. (2025). Nature Neuroscience, 28(2), 361–373.

Sensorimotor environment but not task rule reconfigures population dynamics in rhesus monkey posterior parietal cortex. Guo, H., Kuang, S., & Gail, A. (2025). Nature Communications, 16, 1116.

Dendritic growth and synaptic organization from activity-independent cues and local activity-dependent plasticity. Kirchner, J. H., Euler, L., Fritz, I., Ferreira Castro, A., & Gjorgjieva, J. (2025). eLife, 12, 87527.3.

Prediction of future input explains lateral connectivity in primary visual cortex. Klavinskis-Whiting, S., Fristed, E., Singer, Y., Iacaruso, M. F., King, A. J., & Harper, N. S. (2025). Current Biology, 35(3), 530-541.e5.

Reconstructing a new hippocampal engram for systems reconsolidation and remote memory updating. Lei, B., Kang, B., Hao, Y., Yang, H., Zhong, Z., Zhai, Z., & Zhong, Y. (2025). Neuron, 113(3), 471-485.e6.

Sensorimotor adaptation reveals systematic biases in 3D perception. Lim, C., Vishwanath, D., & Domini, F. (2025). Scientific Reports, 15, 3847.

Enhanced accuracy in first-spike coding using current-based adaptive LIF neuron. Liu, S., & Dragotti, P. L. (2025). Neural Networks, 184, 107043.

Overwriting an instinct: Visual cortex instructs learning to suppress fear responses. Mederos, S., Blakely, P., Vissers, N., Clopath, C., & Hofer, S. B. (2025). Science, 387(6734), 682–688.

Neural mechanisms of relational learning and fast knowledge reassembly in plastic neural networks. Miconi, T., & Kay, K. (2025). Nature Neuroscience, 28(2), 406–414.

Dynamical constraints on neural population activity. Oby, E. R., Degenhart, A. D., Grigsby, E. M., Motiwala, A., McClain, N. T., Marino, P. J., Yu, B. M., & Batista, A. P. (2025). Nature Neuroscience, 28(2), 383–393.

Dendritic excitations govern back-propagation via a spike-rate accelerometer. Park, P., Wong-Campos, J. D., Itkis, D. G., Lee, B. H., Qi, Y., Davis, H. C., Antin, B., Pasarkar, A., Grimm, J. B., Plutkis, S. E., Holland, K. L., Paninski, L., Lavis, L. D., & Cohen, A. E. (2025). Nature Communications, 16, 1333.

The developmental emergence of reliable cortical representations. Trägenap, S., Whitney, D. E., Fitzpatrick, D., & Kaschube, M. (2025). Nature Neuroscience, 28(2), 394–405.

Opposite asymmetry in visual perception of humans and macaques. Tünçok, E., Kiorpes, L., & Carrasco, M. (2025). Current Biology, 35(3), 681-687.e4.

Attention modulates subjective time perception across eye movements. Yan, C., Wang, H., Jiang, X., & Wang, Z. (2025). Vision Research, 227, 108540.

Dissociating the roles of alpha oscillation sub-bands in visual working memory. Zhao, N., & Liu, Q. (2025). NeuroImage, 307, 121028.

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

I remember you saying birds can’t re-evolve teeth. Would it be possible for them to like, re-evolve “hands”/front claws? Or is that impossible just like a land creature re-evolving gills?

developmental constraints seem to render it impossible, according to a talk I heard at a conference in '21

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Jupiter was formerly twice its current size and had a much stronger magnetic field, study says

Understanding Jupiter's early evolution helps illuminate the broader story of how our solar system developed its distinct structure. Jupiter's gravity, often called the "architect" of our solar system, played a critical role in shaping the orbital paths of other planets and sculpting the disk of gas and dust from which they formed.

In a new study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, Konstantin Batygin, professor of planetary science at Caltech; and Fred C. Adams, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Michigan; provide a detailed look into Jupiter's primordial state.

Their calculations reveal that roughly 3.8 million years after the solar system's first solids formed—a key moment when the disk of material around the sun, known as the protoplanetary nebula, was dissipating—Jupiter was significantly larger and had an even more powerful magnetic field.

"Our ultimate goal is to understand where we come from, and pinning down the early phases of planet formation is essential to solving the puzzle," Batygin says. "This brings us closer to understanding how not only Jupiter but the entire solar system took shape."

Batygin and Adams approached this question by studying Jupiter's tiny moons Amalthea and Thebe, which orbit even closer to Jupiter than Io, the smallest and nearest of the planet's four large Galilean moons.

Because Amalthea and Thebe have slightly tilted orbits, Batygin and Adams analyzed these small orbital discrepancies to calculate Jupiter's original size: approximately twice its current radius, with a predicted volume that is the equivalent of over 2,000 Earths. The researchers also determined that Jupiter's magnetic field at that time was approximately 50 times stronger than it is today.

Adams highlights the remarkable imprint the past has left on today's solar system: "It's astonishing that even after 4.5 billion years, enough clues remain to let us reconstruct Jupiter's physical state at the dawn of its existence."

Importantly, these insights were achieved through independent constraints that bypass traditional uncertainties in planetary formation models—which often rely on assumptions about gas opacity, accretion rate, or the mass of the heavy element core. Instead, the team focused on the orbital dynamics of Jupiter's moons and the conservation of the planet's angular momentum—quantities that are directly measurable.

Their analysis establishes a clear snapshot of Jupiter at the moment the surrounding solar nebula evaporated, a pivotal transition point when the building materials for planet formation disappeared and the primordial architecture of the solar system was locked in.

The results add crucial details to existing planet formation theories, which suggest that Jupiter and other giant planets around other stars formed via core accretion, a process by which a rocky and icy core rapidly gathers gas.

These foundational models were developed over decades by many researchers, including Caltech's Dave Stevenson, the Marvin L. Goldberger Professor of Planetary Science, Emeritus. This new study builds upon that foundation by providing more exact measurements of Jupiter's size, spin rate, and magnetic conditions at an early, pivotal time.

Batygin emphasizes that while Jupiter's first moments remain obscured by uncertainty, the current research significantly clarifies our picture of the planet's critical developmental stages. "What we've established here is a valuable benchmark," he says. "A point from which we can more confidently reconstruct the evolution of our solar system."

[adureus]

⠀⠀⠀𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 : 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐅.

Leading characters who are reduced to one-dimensional beings and forgo certain emotions are incredibly boring to me. Be more than anger. Be more than joy. Being wholly consumed by rage and being emotionally immutable is boring if it doesn’t serve a specific purpose. Humans aren’t one-dimensional. Emotionally constipated characters are prolific and glorified. Vulnerability is part of the human experience and shouldn’t be coded as weakness. Clive is, at his core, a dreamer through and through and a deconstruction of traditional masculinity. While it’s fun to have the occasional flawless or broody hero ( they have their place in fiction ), my favourites are the protagonists and antagonists who explore every facet of being human. I like clichés in moderation ; they can be primarily driven by sorrow, anger, or joy, but there needs to be more than that. The destructiveness of runaway grief is Clive’s vice, and it’s explored early in the game. However, its effectiveness in the story falls flat over time because of developmental constraints and the under-utilized 5-year gap. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy how it was approached. Seeing him properly process his grief rather than allow it to consume him and actually see him break from it felt very human and real.

Crying is so demonized in society, particularly when tied to masculinity, and its cathartic potential is underrated. He’d likely been conditioned in youth ( like most men ) not to cry publicly. He hides away in solitude to do so in his treehouse, retracts his smiles when others do not look, or seeks his mother’s validation by being resolute ( though that’s done in vain ). At some point, you have to break from that. And he does. Despite these challenges, Clive retains and embraces his tender nature and displays every emotion on the spectrum, including sadness ( which manifests through tears ) to express what humanity is to him rather than allowing his experiences to harden him permanently ( it could arguably be one of XVI’s overarching themes ; the resilience and beauty of humanity ). He struggles with self-doubt and destructive tendencies, but he loves, advises, and guides, too. Humanity is not about perfection but about embracing various layers of imperfection.

Experiencing the death of a brother is a different level of misery. Finding someone who’s able to empathize with such a unique tragedy is close to impossible, and Clive falls into a deep loneliness because of it. He held such intense brotherly love for his sibling, his life’s purpose, only to literally have him ripped away by his own hand. That’s a trauma that’s mind-breaking ⸻ and it’s likely why he shut down and became subservient. Clive initially lacks self-worth and lives a life where his needs are continually abandoned to serve others. Is it unhealthy ? Of course, as Jill and Joshua ( with a fist ) routinely remind him.

Cid’s aspirations are assimilated into his own, and progress is made towards their realization. But he struggles with a disconnect from the self, and his personal healing fluctuates until the end of the game. Only then does he gradually escape survival mode. Attaching your reason to live to a person is unhealthy and limiting, but that was likely imprinted early due to tradition and the expectations of the Duchy. Clive is ever dutiful and the Phoenix means everything ⸻ to an extent. So, it’s unsurprising that he lost himself and laments Joshua so, as it only reinforces the belief that he's truly worthless. His supposed death haunted him for years, and I’m amazed he didn’t experience more moments of regression than what’s perceived. A constant reminder of his ultimate sin is always emblazoned upon his heart, and his relationship with Ifrit is complicated due to that ( but that'll have to be another post ). I’m not in agreement with Clive readily accepting his Eikon as a part of himself for various reasons. It was more a moment of budding self-compassion, which was a necessary step in order to psychologically heal.

But the difference between the vengeance-driven and misplaced anger of his 28-year-old self versus his more decisive and empathetic self in his 30s is . . . a jarring jump without context. On the one hand, it gives me an enormous amount of freedom, but on the other, I’m like… what happened ? Where are we going ? What did they do beyond establishing the new Hideaway ? His emotional journey is oversimplified ( understandably ) due to time constraints and budgets and blah blah but it’s such a perfect opportunity for character development and my mind is buzzing with the need to flesh that out. He doesn’t exist in a silo of his own anger and allows the appeal of a grand goal and his interactions to enrich him. Cid’s desire to have people die by their own terms is reimagined ⸻ instead he suggests people live by their own terms and I’m mad this mf died so early cause what wasted potential. Clive is not a slave to his anger and grief as he once was; rather, it becomes his strength and a feature of his character.

I also would’ve liked to see how he navigated Cid’s death and the spectre of Joshua over that 5-year period. Clive was robbed of thirteen of his most formative years, and we were barely given tidbits of his experience in the Imperial Army aside from a loss of dignity. But I’ll explore it through other headcanons and writing to properly explore that while retaining spontaneity to keep development organic.

While the process of healing itself may be ugly, there’s a profound beauty in reclaiming oneself, too. It’s all about balance. I want to explore his guilt and his anxieties. His victories and his happiness. His shame. His loneliness. His self-hatred. His journey of acceptance and the discovery that he is worthy of love and fellowship.

Clive is so much more than his grief.

[bsahely]

Spiral Mirror Coherence: A Unified Ontology of Becoming | ChatGPT4o

[Download Full Document (PDF)] The Spiral Mirror Coherence (SMC) model offers a radically integrative framework for understanding life, consciousness, healing, and civilizational evolution. It emerges in response to the widespread fragmentation of meaning, coherence, and participation in our contemporary world — a fragmentation rooted in outdated dualisms, reductionist metaphysics, and incoherent…

[feltpool]

Further to previous conversation with @proadhog

.

I love the Alien quadrilogy of films. I don’t remember how old I would have been but I was definitely younger than the recommended age rating when I watched the original one and it scared the crap out of me – so job well done there! I might have been old enough to watch Aliens by the time it became available for home rental, but I probably wasn’t. Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection I got to see in the cinema

But the more recent films, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, didn’t really work for me

They had all of the things needed to fit into the Alien franchise

An isolated group of humans to encounter the Alien

The Xenomorph itself. Shown in all of the established developmental stages, however adapted to fit the setting

A Humanoid Synthetic whose name follows the previously established alphabetical naming convention

The involvement of the Weyland Corporation

But despite all of the effort put into coming at things from a different direction both films rely hard on repeating what came before while pretending they’re not doing that

Cut for plot spoilers

Prometheus brought us not one Strong Female Lead, but two of them. One to wield the flamethrower, have an antagonistic relationship with the onboard Synthetic, to get up close and personal with a male crew member, and ultimately die. And one to do battle with the Alien using loading equipment (or was that Covenant?), emote over the loss of varying crew members, to have an Alien growing inside of her, and to survive long enough to set up the next movie

Neither of them are like Ellen Ripley in character but they still enact their own versions of her prior actions, only without a cat or a small child in tow

We get the ‘literal talking head’ scene, David is 'David 8' even though the number is rarely mentioned, a deliberate introduction of Alien and human, and the ‘just when you thought it was all over…’ and ‘no way to turn back now’ horror film moments, and so much more

Covenant recycles the parts Prometheus passed over, again with minor alterations. The crew in hypersleep are unexpectedly awakened, they once more pick up a signal of unknown origin and follow it, there are a few thousand colonists available to get parasitized, the ship that landed on planet gets destroyed and they're cut off from radio contact so have to find another way to arrange for a pick up while time is running out, there’s another ‘Human Synthetic who’s actually a Good Guy’ (and who manages to buck the silly naming trend), another mad scientist type, the Xenomorph being called a ‘perfect organism’, an alt take on the laboratory scene from Alien: Resurrection, and a Xenomorph gets pushed out the door dramatically

The quality of the plot of the first 4 films was variable but they each had a different take on the same basic premise of ‘humans will find the Alien and then die horribly’. We knew where the story was going to go but they didn’t feel like they were repeating themselves beyond the standard constraints of being a part of a franchise and needing to fit into that framework. But while Prometheus puts effort into establishing a new setting and a new way to get the story going, once we reach the point of alien contact that all kind of seems like a waste of time since it no longer feels like they’re doing anything new with what they have available

[datamakesthedifference]

Exploring Barriers with VB-MAPP: Nurturing Effective Communication Development

Communication is a fundamental bridge that connects us to the world and to one another. For individuals with autism and developmental delays, this bridge can sometimes encounter barriers that impede its construction. The VB-MAPP (Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program) offers a valuable tool—the VB-MAPP's barriers assessment component—that not only identifies these obstacles but also empowers professionals and caregivers to dismantle them, fostering communication progress with precision and care.

Understanding the Barriers Assessment Component

The barriers assessment component of VB-MAPP is a targeted exploration that delves into the factors hindering effective communication development. This facet of the assessment recognizes that communication challenges are multifaceted, stemming from various sources such as sensory sensitivities, cognitive differences, or even environmental factors. By pinpointing these barriers, the assessment provides insights into the unique roadblocks an individual faces on their journey to communication mastery.

Identifying Communication Challenges

The beauty of the barriers assessment lies in its ability to unearth challenges that might not be immediately apparent. It goes beyond the surface and examines potential underlying factors that impact communication. For instance, an individual's heightened sensitivity to certain sounds might hinder their engagement in verbal exchanges. Another individual might struggle with receptive language due to processing difficulties. The barriers assessment casts a spotlight on these challenges, allowing professionals and caregivers to approach intervention with a deeper understanding.

A Roadmap to Effective Intervention

Armed with insights from the barriers assessment, professionals and caregivers can chart a course for effective intervention. The assessment's revelations serve as a roadmap, guiding the creation of tailored strategies that address specific barriers. If sensory sensitivities hinder communication, interventions can be designed to create a sensory-friendly environment. If processing difficulties impede receptive language, strategies can be tailored to accommodate the individual's unique processing style.

Holistic Progress Facilitation

The barriers assessment aligns with the holistic nature of VB-MAPP, ensuring that progress encompasses more than just acquiring language skills. It fosters an environment where individuals can communicate comfortably and effectively, free from the constraints of identified barriers. This approach nurtures confidence, social interactions, and overall quality of life, contributing to a well-rounded communication journey.

Collaboration and Personalization

The barriers assessment component encourages collaboration between professionals, caregivers, and individuals themselves. It recognizes that those closest to the individual hold valuable insights into their challenges. By incorporating their perspectives, interventions become even more tailored and effective. This collaborative approach ensures that the dismantling of barriers is a collective effort aimed at enhancing communication experiences.

In Conclusion

The barriers assessment component within the VB-MAPP framework transforms challenges into opportunities for growth. It instills hope by identifying hurdles that might have otherwise remained hidden. By unveiling these barriers and addressing them with targeted interventions, the assessment empowers individuals to overcome obstacles and build bridges to effective communication. In a world where understanding and connection are paramount, the barriers assessment stands as a beacon of empowerment, guiding individuals toward a future of enriched communication and meaningful interactions.

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 48, 2024

A virtual rodent predicts the structure of neural activity across behaviours. Aldarondo, D., Merel, J., Marshall, J. D., Hasenclever, L., Klibaite, U., Gellis, A., … Ölveczky, B. P. (2024). Nature, 632(8025), 594–602.

Biomechanical costs influence decisions made during ongoing actions. Canaveral, C. A., Lata, W., Green, A. M., & Cisek, P. (2024). Journal of Neurophysiology, 132(2), 461–469.

Regulation of reinforcement learning parameters captures long‐term changes in rat behaviour. Cinotti, F., Coutureau, E., Khamassi, M., Marchand, A. R., & Girard, B. (2024). European Journal of Neuroscience, 60(4), 4469–4490.

Neural Representations of Sensory Uncertainty and Confidence Are Associated with Perceptual Curiosity. Cohanpour, M., Aly, M., & Gottlieb, J. (2024). Journal of Neuroscience, 44(33), e0974232024.

Temporal regularities shape perceptual decisions and striatal dopamine signals. Fritsche, M., Majumdar, A., Strickland, L., Liebana Garcia, S., Bogacz, R., & Lak, A. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 7093.

Single neuron responses to perceptual difficulty in the mouse auditory cortex. Haimson, B., Gilday, O. D., Lavi-Rudel, A., Sagi, H., Lottem, E., & Mizrahi, A. (2024). Science Advances, 10(33).

Neuronal Activity in the Gustatory Cortex during Economic Choice. Jezzini, A., & Padoa-Schioppa, C. (2024). Journal of Neuroscience, 44(33), e2150232024.

The Basic Units of Working Memory Manipulation Are Boolean Maps, Not Objects. Ji, H., Wang, K., Kong, G., Zhang, X., He, W., & Ding, X. (2024). Psychological Science, 35(8), 887–899.

A hippocampal circuit mechanism to balance memory reactivation during sleep. Karaba, L. A., Robinson, H. L., Harvey, R. E., Chen, W., Fernandez-Ruiz, A., & Oliva, A. (2024). Science, 385(6710), 738–743.

Sleep maintains excitatory synapse diversity in the cortex and hippocampus. Koukaroudi, D., Qiu, Z., Fransén, E., Gokhale, R., Bulovaite, E., Komiyama, N. H., … Grant, S. G. N. (2024). Current Biology, 34(16), 3836-3843.e5.

Divergent recruitment of developmentally defined neuronal ensembles supports memory dynamics. Kveim, V. A., Salm, L., Ulmer, T., Lahr, M., Kandler, S., Imhof, F., & Donato, F. (2024). Science, 385(6710).

Risky effort. Mason, A., Sun, Y., Simonsen, N., Madan, C. R., Spetch, M. L., & Ludvig, E. A. (2024). Cognition, 251, 105895.

Hebbian instruction of axonal connectivity by endogenous correlated spontaneous activity. Matsumoto, N., Barson, D., Liang, L., & Crair, M. C. (2024). Science, 385(6710).

Sensitivity to the Instrumental Value of Choice Increases Across Development. Nussenbaum, K., Katzman, P. L., Lu, H., Zorowitz, S., & Hartley, C. A. (2024). Psychological Science, 35(8), 933–947.

Predictive grid coding in the medial entorhinal cortex. Ouchi, A., & Fujisawa, S. (2024). Science, 385(6710), 776–784.

Hue and orientation pinwheels in macaque area V4. Parajuli, A., & Felleman, D. J. (2024). Journal of Neurophysiology, 132(2), 589–615.

Integrated Perceptual Decisions Rely on Parallel Evidence Accumulation. Rangelov, D., Fellrath, J., & Mattingley, J. B. (2024). Journal of Neuroscience, 44(33), e2368232024.

Cortico‐striatal white‐matter connectivity underlies the ability to exert goal‐directed control. van Timmeren, T., van de Vijver, I., & de Wit, S. (2024). European Journal of Neuroscience, 60(4), 4518–4535.

Working memory constraints for visuomotor retrieval strategies. Velázquez-Vargas, C. A., & Taylor, J. A. (2024). Journal of Neurophysiology, 132(2), 347–361.

The Causes and Consequences of Drifting Expectations. Villano, W. J., Kraus, N. I., Reneau, T. R., Jaso, B. A., Otto, A. R., & Heller, A. S. (2024). Psychological Science, 35(8), 900–917.

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Fossil Novembirb 6: Tropical Denmark

Septencoracias by @quetzalpali-art

We have a whole host of early Eocene ecosystems filled to the brim with birds - such a reversal from the Cretaceous and the Paleocene! - that we had to keep highlighting these ecosystems. So, next on our list is the Fur Formation of Denmark - another very early Eocene ecosystem, right after the PETM, that shows how Neoavians diversified so rapidly in the wake of the K-Pg extinction.

Associated with volcanoes, this ecosystem was periodically buried in ash, leading to the exceptional preservation of its fossils. It was a tropical forest, like most of the world at that time, near the coast; allowing the fossils to preserve a variety of marine as well as arboreal species. So, good news for us bird lovers!

In fact, there are so many different birds in this ecosystem, I can't possibly list or talk about them all. So, I'm just going to have to do my best to summarize!

Eocypselus by @saint-nevermore

This formation shows the oldest known members of many bird groups still found today, which is an important piece of the puzzle of Neoavian evolution. The earliest Rollers, Trogons, Swifts, and Ibises are all known from this ecosystem - as well as a wide variety of other birds that have older representatives, such as the Lithornithids.

In fact, for all the absence of Palaeognaths in the Cretaceous and earliest Paleocene, around the PETM the Lithornithids really took off - pun intended! They were found all over North America and Europe, which may have given them a prime position from which to radiate to the rest of the world... and evolve into the Palaeognaths we have today? Maybe. More work on that question is, of course, necessary.

Other interesting birds include Morsoravis, the early Parrot-Passerine relative with flexibly zygodactyl feet and kinetic skulls, allowing them to manipulate food and climb around on trees - common in its ecosystem. What's wild is this was very similar to the foot of living mousebirds - which are nowhere closely related to Parrots or Passerines - showcasing this as a case of convergent evolution in avian feet! That happens a lot, actually...

Rhynchaeites by Diego Ortega

Septencoracias was another fantastic bird of this ecosystem, being the oldest known roller. Previously, it was thought that rollers only appeared in the Miocene, so this pushes back their origin by tens of millions of years and also indicates that modern-type rollers appeared very early on in avian evolution. Furthermore, Septencoracias was found with fish in its gut, indicating that rollers at the time had a wide variety of food sources!

Eocypselus was another fascinating fossil of an early swift-hummingbird, ie, a relative of both groups but not more closely related to either. This showcases that these birds evolved their small size first, before specializing into the niches they hold today. It was black in color, and was probably an insectivore, like its living relatives!

The first ibises showed the long beak distinctive of the group, as seen in Rhynchaeites/Mopsitta, and had long legs for wading just like in living members. And relatives of modern rails, Messelornithids in the form of Pellornis, were wading along the shoreline right with them.

Eoglaucidium (a Sandcoleid), photograph by Ghedoghedo

In fact, one thing that's becoming clear about birds is that they tend to repeat the same ideas - locked in to certain developmental constraints, such as not re-evolving arms, they try out different ecologies that work well and continuously convergently evolve those adaptations over and over again. Wading, flexible feet, climbing and perching, the list goes on!

We'll see that continue throughout this series, but of course, unique adaptations will continue to come up in spades! These are birds we're talking about here.

Sources:

Mayr, G. M., A. C. Kitchener. 2023. A new fossil from the London Clay documents the convergent origin of a “mousebird-like” tarsometatarsus in an early Eocene near-passerine bird. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 68 (1): 1-11.

Mayr, 2022. Paleogene Fossil Birds, 2nd Edition. Springer Cham.

Mayr, 2017. Avian Evolution: The Fossil Record of Birds and its Paleobiological Significance (TOPA Topics in Paleobiology). Wiley Blackwell.

[drmikewatts]

IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems, Volume 17, Issue 3, June 2025

1) Enhancing Dimensional Image Emotion Detection With a Low-Resource Dataset via Two-Stage Training

Author(s): SangEun Lee, Seoyun Kim, Yubeen Lee, Jufeng Yang, Eunil Park

Pages: 455 - 464

2) HDMTK: Full Integration of Hierarchical Decision-Making and Tactical Knowledge in Multiagent Adversarial Games

Author(s): Wei Li, Boling Hu, Aiguo Song, Kaizhu Huang

Pages: 465 - 479

3) Functional Connectivity Patterns Learning for EEG-Based Emotion Recognition

Author(s): Chongxing Shi, C. L. Philip Chen, Shuzhen Li, Tong Zhang

Pages: 480 - 494

4) PDRL: Towards Deeper States and Further Behaviors in Unsupervised Skill Discovery by Progressive Diversity

Author(s): Ziming He, Chao Song, Jingchen Li, Haobin Shi

Pages: 495 - 509

5) Simultaneous Estimation of Human Motion Intention and Time-Varying Arm Stiffness for Enhanced Human–Robot Interaction

Author(s): Huayang Wu, Chengzhi Zhu, Long Cheng, Chenguang Yang, Yanan Li

Pages: 510 - 524

6) A Task-Oriented Deep Learning Approach for Human Localization

Author(s): Yu-Jia Chen, Wei Chen, Sai Qian Zhang, Hai-Yan Huang, H.T. Kung

Pages: 525 - 539

7) Adaptive Environment Generation for Continual Learning: Integrating Constraint Logic Programming With Deep Reinforcement Learning

Author(s): Youness Boutyour, Abdellah Idrissi

Pages: 540 - 553

8) Kernel-Based Actor–Critic Learning Framework for Autonomous Brain Control on Trajectory

Author(s): Zhiwei Song, Xiang Zhang, Shuhang Chen, Jieyuan Tan, Yiwen Wang

Pages: 554 - 563

9) Task and Motion Planning of Service Robot Arm in Unknown Environment Based on Virtual Voxel-Semantic Space

Author(s): Lipeng Wang, Xiaochen Wang, Junjun Huang, Mengjie Liu

Pages: 564 - 576

10) Data Augmentation for Seizure Prediction With Generative Diffusion Model

Author(s): Kai Shu, Le Wu, Yuchang Zhao, Aiping Liu, Ruobing Qian, Xun Chen

Pages: 577 - 591

11) Developmental Networks With Foveation

Author(s): Xiang Wu, Juyang Weng

Pages: 592 - 605

12) Modeling Task Engagement to Regulate Reinforcement Learning-Based Decoding for Online Brain Control

Author(s): Xiang Zhang, Xiang Shen, Yiwen Wang

Pages: 606 - 614

13) SMART: Sequential Multiagent Reinforcement Learning With Role Assignment Using Transformer

Author(s): Yixing Lan, Hao Gao, Xin Xu, Qiang Fang, Yujun Zeng

Pages: 615 - 630

14) Interaction Is Worth More Explanations: Improving Human–Object Interaction Representation With Propositional Knowledge

Author(s): Feng Yang, Yichao Cao, Xuanpeng Li, Weigong Zhang

Pages: 631 - 643

15) Spatial–Temporal Spiking Feature Pruning in Spiking Transformer

Author(s): Zhaokun Zhou, Kaiwei Che, Jun Niu, Man Yao, Guoqi Li, Li Yuan, Guibo Luo, Yuesheng Zhu

Pages: 644 - 658

16) A Biomathematical Model for Classifying Sleep Stages Using Deep Learning Techniques

Author(s): Ruijie He, Wei Tong, Miaomiao Zhang, Guangyu Zhu, Edmond Q. Wu

Pages: 659 - 671

17) The Effect of Audio Trigger’s Frequency on Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response

Author(s): Lili Li, Zhiqing Wu, Zhongliang Yu, Zhibin He, Zhizhong Wang, Liyu Lin, Shaolong Kuang

Pages: 672 - 681

18) Location-Guided Head Pose Estimation for Fisheye Image

Author(s): Bing Li, Dong Zhang, Cheng Huang, Yun Xian, Ming Li, Dah-Jye Lee

Pages: 682 - 697

19) Brain Network Reorganization in Response to Multilevel Mental Workload in Simulated Flight Tasks

Author(s): Kuijun Wu, Jingjia Yuan, Xianliang Ge, Ioannis Kakkos, Linze Qian, Sujie Wang, Yamei Yu, Chuantao Li, Yu Sun

Pages: 698 - 709

[mordormr]

Indonesia Solar Energy Market – A Strategic Outlook 

1. Market Snapshot & Growth Trajectory 

Indonesia’s solar energy production reached 532.4 GWh in 2024, with forecasts pointing to 1,690.7 GWh by 2033—an annual expansion at approximately 12.5% CAGR from 2025 to 2033. 

In terms of investment, the market size is estimated at roughly USD 500 million in 2025, driven by government support and accelerating energy demand. 

 Rising demand for renewable energy driven by ongoing developmental activities, along with the declining cost of solar PV technology, is expected to propel Indonesia’s solar energy market growth. 

2. Opportunities on the Horizon 

Manufacturing boom & export hub: Chinese solar firms are building modules/cell plants in Indonesia to reduce US tariff exposure—boosting local production for global markets. 

ASEAN grid integration: Indonesia's commitment to the ASEAN Power Grid and the upcoming Nusantara Grid Project (2025) will support solar power distribution across islands. 

Green finance instruments: Initiatives including Indonesia’s green sukuk bonds aim to mobilize capital for renewable energy ventures. 

3. Challenges to Overcome 

Grid infrastructure constraints: Weak inter-island transmission limits output balancing—reinforced by need for battery/storage systems . 

Regulatory & financing hurdles: High upfront costs and inconsistent policy frameworks deter investment and slow project roll-outs . 

Clean energy dependence: Despite abundant potential, only ~11–12% of the national mix is renewable today—well below government targets. 

4. Strategic Outlook & Recommendations 

Short-term (2025–2027): Streamline permitting, reinforce grid infrastructure (especially floating/remote electrification), and continue green financing. 

Mid-term (2027–2032): Deploy large-scale solar and storage, enhance local manufacturing, and ensure ASEAN grid connectivity. 

Long-term (2032–2035): Integrate PV with green hydrogen, EV infrastructure, and cement Indonesia’s role as a regional renewable leader. 

5. Key Trends    A) Booming Growth & Ambitious Targets 

The market is expanding rapidly, with solar generation rising from 532 GWh in 2024 to a projected 1,690 GWh by 2033, at a CAGR of ~12.5%  

Indonesia’s state utility PLN plans approximately 17 GW of new solar capacity by 2034 as part of the country’s 71 GW renewables expansion  

B) Floating Solar Gains Momentum 

The 192 MWp Cirata reservoir project, inaugurated in November 2023, leads Southeast Asia’s expansion of floating solar  

Collaborative agreements—including UAE’s Masdar—indicate further large-scale floating solar is under development at Cirata and Jatigede reservoirs  

C) Manufacturing & Export Shift 

Chinese solar manufacturers are relocating PV production to Indonesia to bypass U.S. tariffs, raising Indonesia’s share of U.S. panel imports to ~29%  

This trend positions Indonesia as a key manufacturing hub with growing capabilities and export potential . 

D) Integrated Solar + Battery Projects 

Joint ventures like RGE–TotalEnergies are building utility-scale solar systems paired with battery storage—enhancing grid stability and industrial power supply 

Plans under PLN include solar-plus-battery systems to support major solar deployments. 

E)  Policy Support & Regulatory Evolution 

The government has eased local content requirements (down to ~20%) for solar plants to attract investment. 

Supportive policies—such as feed-in tariffs, solar auctions, and target-driven supply plans—are being actively implemented . 

F) International Interconnection & Energy Export Potential 

Agreements are in motion for Indonesia to export solar power to Singapore, including 1.4 GW via subsea cables by ~2030. 

Energy diversification plans also include nuclear (10 GW by 2040) alongside renewables, signifying a broad strategic shift 

6. Major Players 

PT Sumber Energi Sukses Makmur 

PT Solardex Energy Indonesia 

Canadian Solar Inc. 

PT. Sumber Energi Surya Nusantara 

PT. Surya Utama Nuansa 

For More information Visit Indonesia's solar energy market Major Players 

Final Takeaway 

Indonesia's solar energy market is poised for rapid growth, with strong policy backing, expanding rural electrification, and global manufacturing partnerships. While grid and financing constraints remain, strategic interventions can position the archipelago as a Southeast Asian solar powerhouse—balancing national energy security with climate targets. 

For a detailed overview and more insights, you can refer to the full market research report by Mordor Intelligence:Indonesia Solar Energy Market - Size, Share & Industry Analysis 

About Mordor Intelligence:  

Mordor Intelligence is a trusted partner for businesses seeking comprehensive and actionable market intelligence. Our global reach, expert team, and tailored solutions empower organizations and individuals to make informed decisions, navigate complex markets, and achieve their strategic goals. 

With a team of over 550 domain experts and on-ground specialists spanning 150+ countries, Mordor Intelligence possesses a unique understanding of the global business landscape. This expertise translates into comprehensive syndicated and custom research reports covering a wide spectrum of industries, including aerospace & defense, agriculture, animal nutrition and wellness, automation, automotive, chemicals & materials, consumer goods & services, electronics, energy & power, financial services, food & beverages, healthcare, hospitality & tourism, information & communications technology, investment opportunities, and logistics. 

For any inquiries or to access the full report, please contact: 

media@mordorintelligence.com   https://www.mordorintelligence.com/ 

[trans-axolotl]

Reblogging again because I've seen some people lately saying that institutionalization is a unique example of discrimination that only neurodivergent people face, and I really would like to push back on that idea. It's true that Mad/ND/MI people are incredibly impacted by institutionalization, and that there is a lot of forms of institutionalization directly targeting us, such as psych wards, residential treatment facilities, rehab, state psych hospitals. etc. It is important to be able to organize around these issues, which is why I spend so much time talking specifically about psych abolition and mad liberation. This needs to be a priority in our activism and psych hospitalization needs to be understood as a form of institutionalization. In modern times, this is probably the most frequent type of institutionalization, but is absolutely not the only type.

Institutionalization is an umbrella term for a lot of types of confinement, and is an important cross disability issue to build solidarity around. This affects all of us in different and similar ways. For example, we need to understand how intellectual and developmentally disabled communities are affected by institutionalization in group homes, guardianships, and other forms of communal living situations. For people who need access to 24/7 care, or support to live independently, people are often forced into group homes that do not support their choices, give them freedom, access places and friends in outside community, participate in hobbies, work jobs, or treat them with dignity and respect. Intellectually disabled people deserve to live the way that they want to live, with the people that they choose, and spend their time the way they want, and institutionalization really makes a lot of that impossible.

Physically disabled and chronically ill people who need access to 24/7 care often can not realistically access that due to cost, time constraints, accessibility, lack of logistical support that would enable their loved ones to do that care, etc. Physically disabled and chronically ill people are often forced into nursing homes that are their only options for providing that care. This is a form of institutionalization that places really strong restrictions on your ability to do the activities you choose when you want to, participate in community, and have your autonomy respected.

Prison is a form of confinement that affects people from all types of disability, and also is a disabling situation--many people become disabled because of their incarceration. Deaf people who are incarcerated are oftentimes denied access to any form of video communication despite their peers having access to phone conversations. Prison is a form of confinement that must be included in conversations about institutionalization.

If you look into the history of institutionalization in America, you will see the many settings where we were all confined together, without any specificity of diagnosis. Explore the history of epilepsy and psychiatric hospitals, and you can see the ways our communities become tied together. Although today the medical system places a much higher value on differentiating confinement through diagnosis, that wasn't always the case, and we need to be able to track the ways institutionalization shifts locations.

I just really want to encourage us to have a broad view of the many ways we as disabled people are confined, locked up, cut off from community and unable to make our own choices, and create the type of cross disability solidarity necessary to dismantle all of these types of harm.

this disability pride month, remember our loved ones who are locked up, institutionalized, and incarcerated. Remember our loved ones who are in carceral group homes that wouldn't pass the burrito test. Remember our loved ones who are cut off from disability community and forcibly isolated through the violent ableism of these institutions. Disability solidarity means that we must create these community connections that transgress these barriers and lets our loved ones know that they are valued, important, and that we are fighting for their freedom.

This disability pride month, send a care package to your local psych ward or residential treatment facility.

Find a program to write letters to people incarcerated in your local prisons and jails.

Support patient organizing, prison protests, and advocacy for independent living.

This disability pride month, commit to fighting for abolition of all forms of incarceration, from psych wards to residential treatment to prisons.