Letter to Suzanne

My dearest Suzanne,

I need you to come and sit with me for a moment. There’s something important I want to talk to you about. It’s about the world—the big, beautiful, messy, incredible world you are about to inherit.

When I look at you, I see so much potential. I see your curiosity, your kindness, the way you notice a ladybug on a leaf and treat it like a tiny jewel. I see the way you stand up for a friend without a second thought. Those qualities—that attention to detail and that fierce sense of justice—are exactly what the world needs now more than ever.

The topic I want to share with you is global sustainability. It’s a big phrase, I know. But let’s break it down. To me, it’s not just about recycling or turning off the lights, though those things matter. It’s about love. It’s about caring for our global home the way we care for our own home. It’s about making sure that the planet we leave for you, and for your children, is not just surviving, but thriving.

Think of the world as a giant, intricate web. Every single thing is connected. The clean air we breathe is connected to the vast forests. The food on our table is connected to the health of the soil and the bees that pollinate the crops. The water we drink is connected to the glaciers and the oceans. For generations, we’ve been pulling on the threads of this web, sometimes without thinking. We’ve taken a lot, assuming it would always replenish itself.

But your generation is being handed a web that is frayed in places. You are being handed challenges like a changing climate, polluted oceans, and disappearing wild spaces. And I want you to know two things about that.

First, I am so sorry. I am sorry that previous generations, including mine, didn’t always see the full consequences of our actions. We were focused on growth, on convenience, on progress, and sometimes we forgot to protect the very foundation that makes all that progress possible.

But second, and more importantly, I want you to know that you are not being handed a lost cause. You are being handed a mission. And your generation is the most equipped in history to take it on.

You are digital natives. You can connect with someone across the globe in an instant, understanding that their story is linked to yours. You are innovators, creators, and critical thinkers. You see the world as a whole system, and you’re not afraid to ask, "Why can't we do better?"

Global sustainability is your mission because it is the ultimate expression of caring for others. It’s about ensuring a child in a distant country has clean water to drink. It’s about protecting the polar bears in the Arctic and the coral reefs in the sea, not just for their sake, but for the health of the entire planet. It’s about building economies that lift people up without burning the world down.

This isn’t a burden to carry with sadness. This is an opportunity to build something beautiful. You can be the engineers who design carbon-neutral cities. You can be the farmers who revolutionize how we grow food. You can be the artists who inspire millions to see the world differently, or the teachers who empower the next wave of thinkers. You can be the consumers who demand better from companies and the voters who demand courage from leaders.

So, my love, as you grow, I ask you to carry this with you. Keep that innate kindness. Keep that sense of wonder for the natural world. Let your choices, big and small, be guided by a simple question: "Does this help or hurt the world I want to live in?"

You are not alone in this. It will take all of us, learning, adapting, and working together. But I have absolutely no doubt that your generation, with your passion and your connected hearts, is the one that will not only mend the web but weave it stronger and more beautiful than ever before.

I believe in you. We all do. Now, go and be the amazing world-changer I know you are.

All my love,

Always,

Christine 

Postsynaptic Potentials and Synaptic Integration

Imagine a single brain cell (a neuron) is like a tiny decision-making manager in a huge company (your brain).

The Big Picture: From Chatter to Decision

This manager's job is to listen to all the messages coming in from hundreds of other employees and then decide whether to send a single, important message forward. This process—turning a lot of chatter into one clear decision—is what your brain does trillions of times a second for everything from pulling your hand from a hot stove to solving a math problem.

Here’s how it works, step-by-step:

1. The Messages: Excitatory and Inhibitory (EPSPs and IPSPs)

· Excitatory Messages (EPSPs): These are like people knocking on the manager's door saying, "Do it! Send the message!" They are encouraging and push the manager toward taking action.

· Inhibitory Messages (IPSPs): These are like people saying, "Stop! Don't do anything!" They are discouraging and try to prevent the manager from acting.

2. How the Messages Arrive: The Two Doorbells (Receptors)

The manager has two kinds of doorbells for receiving these messages:

· The Instant Doorbell (Ionotropic Receptors): This is a simple, fast connection. Someone rings it, the door opens immediately, and the message is delivered in a split second. It's used for quick, reflex-like actions.

· The Complex Intercom (Metabotropic Receptors): This is slower but has more influence. Someone speaks into the intercom, and the manager inside has to press a few buttons, maybe make a phone call, and then decide to open the door. This is for messages that need to have a longer-lasting effect or change the manager's overall mood.

3. Making the Decision: Summation

The manager doesn't act on every single message as it comes in. Instead, they wait and add them all up.

· Temporal Summation (Timing): This is like one very persistent person knocking on the door over and over again really fast. "Do it! Do it! Do it!" Even if it's just one person, the rapid knocking can be enough to convince the manager to act.

· Spatial Summation (Multiple Sources): This is when many different people show up at the door at the same time. If five people are yelling "Do it!" and only one is whispering "Don't," the manager will probably listen to the majority and send the message.

4. The Sophisticated Office: Dendritic Computation

Now, imagine the manager's office isn't just one room—it's a whole complex with many hallways and smaller offices (these are the dendrites). Some messages arrive at distant offices and have to travel down the hall to reach the main manager. Along the way, the walls of the hallway can amplify or weaken the message. This means the neuron itself can do some "local computing" before the message even gets to the main decision-maker. This makes the process incredibly smart and efficient.

In a Nutshell

So, the main idea of this chapter is:

Your brain cells are tiny managers that decide whether to "fire" a message by adding up all the "YES" signals and subtracting all the "NO" signals they receive at any given moment. The way they receive these signals (fast or slow) and how they add them up (from one source quickly or from many sources at once) is the fundamental calculation that makes your entire nervous system work.

The horizon leader

Book Title: The Horizon Leader: Navigating the Future of Work, Technology, and Humanity

---

Part I: The Foundation - Why Leadership Must Evolve

1. Chapter 1: The Acceleration Imperative: Understanding the exponential pace of change in technology, society, and geopolitics.

2. Chapter 2: Beyond the VUCA World: Leading in BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible): Introducing a new framework for the modern world's chaos.

3. Chapter 3: The Anatomy of a Futurist Leader: Core traits that differentiate a Horizon Leader from a traditional one.

4. Chapter 4: The Leader as a Systems Thinker: Seeing interconnections, not just isolated events or trends.

5. Chapter 5: Cultivating a Future-Oriented Mindset: Techniques for developing curiosity, openness, and a long-term perspective.

Part II: The Core Competencies - Skills for the Next Era

1. Chapter 6: Anticipatory Leadership: From Reacting to Pre-acting: Tools for scanning the horizon and sensing weak signals of change.

2. Chapter 7: Strategic Foresight and Scenario Planning: Building and using multiple plausible futures to stress-test strategies today.

3. Chapter 8: The Ethical Algorithm: Leading in the Age of AI: Ensuring ethical development and deployment of artificial intelligence.

4. Chapter 9: Data Fluency: Making Sense of the Signal and the Noise: Using data for insight, not just oversight.

5. Chapter 10: The Augmented Leader: Human-Machine Collaboration: Leveraging AI as a co-pilot for decision-making and creativity.

6. Chapter 11: Network Orchestration over Hierarchy: Leading ecosystems, fluid teams, and decentralized organizations.

7. Chapter 12: Radical Adaptability: Building an Agile Core: Creating structures and cultures that thrive on change.

8. Chapter 13: The Polyglot Leader: Communicating Across Cultures and Generations: Bridging divides in a global, multigenerational workforce.

Part III: The Human Element - Leading People in a New Age

1. Chapter 14: Empathy by Design: Human-Centric Leadership in a Digital World: Why emotional intelligence is your most valuable tech.

2. Chapter 15: Cultivating Cognitive Diversity: Harnessing the power of different thinking styles and neurodiversity.

3. Chapter 16: The Motivational Shift: From Carrots & Sticks to Purpose & Autonomy: Inspiring teams in the era of the purpose-driven worker.

4. Chapter 17: Leadership in the Metaverse and Distributed Workplaces: Building culture, trust, and cohesion in virtual and hybrid environments.

5. Chapter 18: The Continuous Learning Organization: Making upskilling and reskilling a core operational principle, not an HR program.

6. Chapter 19: Psychological Safety 2.0: Fostering Innovation and Intelligent Risk-Taking: Creating environments where challenging the status quo is safe.

7. Chapter 20: Leading Through Radical Transparency: The new rules of communication, accountability, and information sharing.

Part IV: Navigating Specific Futures - Domain Expertise

1. Chapter 21: The Green Mandate: Leadership for Sustainability and ESG: Integrating planetary health into business strategy.

2. Chapter 22: Bio-Leadership: Navigating the Ethics of Biotech and Genetic Engineering: Steering organizations through the next frontier of human enhancement.

3. Chapter 23: The Cyber-Resilient Leader: Prioritizing security, privacy, and digital trust as leadership responsibilities.

4. Chapter 24: Leading the Quantum Leap: Preparing your organization for the quantum computing revolution.

5. Chapter 25: The Geopolitical Strategist: Operating in a world of shifting alliances, economic nationalism, and global challenges.

6. Chapter 26: The Civic Leader: The New Role of Corporations in Society: Moving beyond CSR to active civic engagement and value creation.

Part V: The Inner Game - Personal Mastery for Leaders

1. Chapter 27: Future-Proofing Yourself: The Leader's Continuous Reinvention: Commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth.

2. Chapter 28: Centeredness in Chaos: Mindfulness and Resilience Practices: Techniques for maintaining focus and well-being amidst constant change.

3. Chapter 29: The Digital Detox: Managing Attention and Avoiding Burnout: Strategies for thriving in an always-on world.

4. Chapter 30: Intuition in the Age of Analytics: Honing and trusting your gut instinct when data is incomplete or contradictory.

Part VI: Building the Future-Proof Organization

1. Chapter 31: Designing the Antifragile Organization: Creating structures that gain from volatility and disorder.

2. Chapter 32: The Innovation Engine: Building a Perpetual Motion Machine for Ideas: Systemic approaches to fostering creativity at scale.

3. Chapter 33: Talent Ecosystem Management: Rethinking "HR" to access and engage fluid talent, gig workers, and AI.

4. Chapter 34: The Responsible Deployment of Automation: Balancing efficiency with humanity in the workflow.

5. Chapter 35: Cultivating a Culture of Foresight: Making future-thinking a habit for everyone in the organization.

Part VII: The Legacy - Action and Impact

1. Chapter 36: The Regenerative Leader: Leaving Things Better Than You Found Them: A model for leadership that creates positive legacy.

2. Chapter 37: From Vision to Navigation: Crafting a Living Strategy: Turning foresight into a flexible, actionable plan.

3. Chapter 38: The First 100 Days: A Futurist Leader's Playbook for Launching Change: A practical guide for taking charge in a new role.

4. Chapter 39: Case Studies in Futuristic Leadership: Analyzing wins and losses from real-world pioneers.

5. Chapter 40: The Never-Ending Journey: Your Leadership Horizon: A concluding chapter on committing to the continuous path of evolution and the leader's role in shaping a positive future.

This structure provides a journey from understanding the why of futuristic leadership, through the what (skills and competencies), to the how (personal and organizational application), finally ending with legacy and action.

Disclaimer/acknowledgement

 Disclaimer/Acknowledgment:

"This book was created through collaborative research between human author Christine Yu and Manus AI. The content represents original synthesis and analysis of publicly available research and academic sources, properly cited throughout. All references are used under fair use provisions for academic and educational purposes."

Neural science

Principles of Neural Science: A Chapter Outline

Part I: Foundations of Neural Science

Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Brain

· The major questions and history of neuroscience.

· Overview of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

· Core concepts: neurons, circuits, maps, and plasticity.

· Key methodologies for studying the brain.

Chapter 2: Cells of the Nervous System

· Structure and function of neurons: soma, dendrites, axon, synapse.

· Classification of neurons (sensory, motor, interneurons).

· The diverse roles of glial cells: astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, and Schwann cells.

Chapter 3: The Electrical Properties of Neurons

· The resting membrane potential: ionic gradients and the Nernst equation.

· Passive electrical properties: capacitance, resistance, and length constants.

· Ionic basis of electrical signaling.

Chapter 4: The Action Potential

· Biophysics of voltage-gated ion channels.

· The Hodgkin-Huxley model: initiation, propagation, and termination of the action potential.

· Refractory periods and the all-or-none law.

Part II: Synaptic Transmission and Neural Circuits

Chapter 5: Synaptic Transmission

· Structure and classification of chemical synapses.

· The synaptic vesicle cycle: release, diffusion, and reuptake of neurotransmitters.

· Introduction to neurotransmitters and receptors.

Chapter 6: Neurotransmitter Systems

· Major neurotransmitter classes: acetylcholine, amino acids (glutamate, GABA, glycine), amines (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine), neuropeptides.

· Their synthesis, pathways in the brain, and functional roles.

Chapter 7: Postsynaptic Potentials and Synaptic Integration

· Ionotropic and metabotropic receptors: EPSPs and IPSPs.

· Spatial and temporal summation of synaptic inputs.

· Dendritic computation and integration.

Chapter 8: Neural Circuits and Complex Signaling

· Principles of network organization: convergence, divergence, and feedback loops.

· Neuromodulation: how neurotransmitters alter circuit function and states.

· Introduction to rhythm generation and oscillatory activity.

Part III: Sensory Systems

Chapter 9: Sensory Transduction

· General principles: receptor types (mechano-, thermo-, chemo-, photo-), receptive fields, adaptation, and labeled lines.

· Coding stimulus modality, intensity, location, and duration.

Chapter 10: The Somatic Sensory System

· Touch, proprioception, pain, and temperature pathways.

· Dermatomes, spinal cord organization, and the somatosensory cortex (homunculus).

· The neurobiology of pain.

Chapter 11: The Visual System

· From retina to cortex: photoreceptors, retinal processing, the lateral geniculate nucleus.

· Organization and function of the primary visual cortex: orientation columns, ocular dominance.

· The dorsal ("where") and ventral ("what") streams of visual processing.

Chapter 12: The Auditory and Vestibular Systems

· The cochlea: sound transduction and frequency coding.

· Central auditory pathways and sound localization.

· The vestibular system: balance and spatial orientation.

Chapter 13: The Chemical Senses: Olfaction and Gustation

· Olfaction: receptor neurons, the olfactory bulb, and cortical projections.

· Gustation: taste buds, taste transduction, and central pathways.

Part IV: Motor Systems

Chapter 14: The Motor Unit and Muscle Reflexes

· The neuromuscular junction.

· Spinal reflexes: the stretch reflex, Golgi tendon organ reflex, and withdrawal reflex.

· Central pattern generators.

Chapter 15: Central Control of Movement

· The hierarchical organization of motor control.

· The role of the spinal cord, brainstem, motor cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.

· Planning and executing voluntary movement.

Part V: The Brain and Behavior

Chapter 16: Development and Plasticity of the Nervous System

· Neural induction, proliferation, migration, and differentiation.

· Axon guidance, synapse formation, and activity-dependent refinement.

· Critical periods and experience-dependent plasticity.

Chapter 17: Homeostasis: Hypothalamus and Autonomic Nervous System

· The hypothalamus and neuroendocrine control.

· The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

· Regulating body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sleep.

Chapter 18: The Limbic System and Emotion

· Anatomy of the limbic system: amygdala, hippocampus, cingulate cortex.

· Neural substrates of emotion, fear, and reward.

· The stress response.

Chapter 19: Higher Cognitive Functions

· The association cortices: prefrontal, parietal, and temporal.

· Language (Broca's and Wernicke's areas), attention, and executive function.

· Neural correlates of consciousness.

Chapter 20: Diseases of the Nervous System

· Core mechanisms: neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's), channelopathies, synaptopathies.

· Psychiatric disorders: depression, schizophrenia, anxiety.

· Principles of neural repair and therapeutic strategies.

6th edition

Yes, there is a latest edition of Principles of Neural Science beyond the 2013 fifth edition. The sixth edition, published in 2021 by McGraw Hill Medical, is the current and most up-to-date version as of September 2025.823e6dce3379176f33

Key Details on the Sixth Edition:

Editors: Eric R. Kandel, John D. Koester, Sarah H. Mack (deceased), and Steven A. Siegelbaum

Publication Date: March 8, 2021

ISBN: 978-1259642234

Pages: Approximately 1,769

Publisher: McGraw Hill / McGraw Hill Medical

This edition builds on the foundational work of previous versions, incorporating significant advancements in neuroscience research since 2013. It features fully revised content across all chapters, over 300 new color illustrations, diagrams, radiology studies, and PET scans (totaling more than 2,200 images), and expanded discussions on emerging topics.

Major Updates and New Content:

New Chapters: Includes "The Computational Bases of Neural Circuits that Mediate Behavior," "Brain-Machine Interfaces," and "Decision-Making and Consciousness."

Expanded Coverage: Deeper exploration of human memory forms, neuroplasticity, genetics, and computational neuroscience.

Neurological Disorders: A new section on the neuroscientific principles underlying nervous system disorders, with detailed chapters on stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and anxiety.

Structure: Organized into nine parts, covering everything from neural structure and function to perception, movement, learning, memory, language, cognition, and disorders. It emphasizes the integration of molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral neuroscience.

The sixth edition remains the gold standard for neuroscience education and reference, used in advanced undergraduate, graduate, and medical programs. It reflects the rapid progress in the field, including insights from neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and brain-machine interfaces.

If you're looking to purchase or access it, it's available in hardcover, eBook, and online platforms like AccessNeurology. For specific chapters or comparisons to the fifth edition, let me know!

page 1 of principle of neural science

Chapter 1
The Brain and Behavior

Two Opposing Views Have Been Advanced on the Relationship Between Brain and Behavior
The Brain Has Distinct Functional Regions
The First Strong Evidence for Localization of Cognitive Abilities Came from Studies of Language Disorders
Affective States Are Also Mediated by Local, Specialized Systems in the Brain
Mental Processes Are the End Product of the Interactions Between Elementary Processing Units in the Brain

THE LAST FRONTIER OF THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES— the ultimate challenge—is to understand the biological basis of consciousness and the brain processes by which we feel, act, learn, and remember. During the past few decades, a remarkable unification within the biological sciences has set the stage for addressing this great challenge. The ability to sequence genes and infer the amino acid sequences of the proteins they encode has revealed unanticipated similarities between proteins in the nervous system and those encountered elsewhere in the body. As a result, it has become possible to establish a general plan for the function of cells, a plan that provides a common conceptual framework for all of cell biology, including cellular neural science. The current challenge in the unification within biology, which we outline in this book, is the unification of the study of behavior—the science of the mind—and neural science—the science of the brain.

Such a unified approach, in which mind and body are not viewed as separate entities, rests on the view that all behavior is the result of brain function.

What we commonly call the mind is a set of operations carried out by the brain. Brain processes underlie not only simple motor behaviors such as walking and eating but also all the complex cognitive acts and behavior that we regard as quintessentially human—thinking, speaking, and creating works of art. As a corollary, all the behavioral disorders that characterize psychiatric illness—disorders of affect (feeling) and cognition (thought)—result from disturbances of brain function.

How do the billions of individual nerve cells in the brain produce behavior and cognitive states, and how are those cells influenced by the environment, which includes social experience? Explaining behavior in terms of the brain's activities is the task of neural science, and the progress of neural science in explaining human behavior is a major theme of this book.

Neural science must continually confront certain fundamental questions. Is a particular mental process carried out in specific regions of the brain, or does it involve the brain as a whole? If a mental process can be localized to discrete brain regions, what is the relationship between the functions of those regions in perception, movement, or thought and the anatomy and physiology of those regions? Are these relationships more likely to be understood by examining each region as a whole or by studying individual nerve cells?

To answer these questions we shall examine how modern neural science describes language, one of the most human of cognitive behaviors. In so doing we shall focus on the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that is most highly developed in humans. We shall see how the cortex is organized into functionally distinct regions, each made up of large groups of neurons, and how the neural apparatus of a highly complex …

楞严经（ from Buddha)

《楞严经》劝和指南：给地球球长的加急邮件发件人： 宇宙和平与内在发展委员会（CPID）主席 释迦牟尼

收件人： 地球各国领导人（球长们）

主题： Re:Re:Re: 紧急！关于您家后院“打架”事件的N次友好提醒

亲爱的地球球长们：你们好！我是谁？不重要。你们可以叫我老释，一个在宇宙社区里做了几千年“居委会大妈”工作的热心邻居。最近，我们委员会的“宇宙顺风耳”——观音菩萨，又向我投诉了。他说你们地球的信号太吵，各种炮弹声、叫骂声、甩锅声……混合着股市的哀嚎，把他的“耳根圆通”24/7超宽带都快搞到网络堵塞了。他本来在听一颗中子星的内心独白，结果被你们的“动静二相”搅得心神不宁，差点以为自己修行退步了。

所以，我不得不召开一个紧急会议。阿难尊者做了会议纪要，他现在多闻第一，八卦也第一。他说，这事儿得从根儿上解决。于是，我们决定用本委员会的万年经典指导手册——《楞严经》，给各位球长免费开一堂“如何不打架”的线上培训课。

第一课：七处征“战心”——你那颗想打仗的心，到底在哪？阿难当年找自己的心，找了七个地方都没找着。今天，咱们也来找找各位球长那颗“战心”。

1.战心，在军火库里吗？ 你们说，因为武器先进，所以必须展示一下肌肉。可武器是铁疙瘩，它自己没心，是你们的心想动它。所以，战心不在军火库里。

2.在国境线外吗？ 你们说，是“敌对势力”在边境线上晃悠，所以你们才紧张。可“敌对势力”也是一群和你们一样吃饭睡觉、也会为自家孩子成绩发愁的人。你们的心要是不觉得他们是“敌人”，他们就是“邻居”。所以，战心不在国境线外。

3.潜藏在历史的旧账本里？ 你们说，几百年前你爷爷的爷爷被他爷爷的爷爷欺负过，这笔账必须算。可历史是已经翻过去的书，你总盯着旧账本，只会把眼睛看成近视。那颗翻旧账的心，是念念生灭的“妄心”，不是你本来清净的“真心”。

4.在能源管道里？在贸易顺差里？ 你们为了石油、天然气、芯片打得不可开交。可这些东西，如同佛陀手里的花，缘聚则生，缘散则灭。今天你多采一块油，明天可能就堵一次车。把心安在这些身外之物上，如同把房子建在沙滩上，太不牢靠了。……

我们找了七个地方，发现这颗“战心”根本没有一个实体！它就像个网络喷子，你越搭理它，它越来劲。你一“返观内照”，它就瞬间404 Not Found了。原来，战争，不过是一场由“妄心”导演的、成本极高、演技极差的烂片。

第二课：八还辨“和见”——把不和平的都还掉，剩下的是什么？好了，既然“战心”是假的，那什么才是真的？咱们来做个“八还辨见”的游戏。•你看到的“敌意”，还给媒体的渲染；•你听到的“威胁”，还给政客的演讲；•你感到的“不安全感”，还给军火商的KPI；•你坚持的“绝对领土”，还给地球的板块运动；•你争论的“意识形态”，还给历史的尘埃……

把这一切都还掉之后，剩下那个希望人民安居乐业、孩子能上学、老人能遛弯的“愿望”，那个能感受对方痛苦、能欣赏对方文化的“能力”，它还给谁？没处还！这个不生不灭、本自具足的“和平之见”，就是你们的真心本性啊，球长们！

第三课：舍“识”用“根”——高级的外交技巧懂了理论，咱们得上实践课。下次开国际会议，别再用你们的第六意识（分别心）了，那玩意儿除了抬杠和算计KPI，没啥大用。试试我们委员会推荐的“耳根圆通”法门：

•当对方代表发言时：别急着反驳。练习“入流亡所”，听他说话，但不去分别他是在“夸我们”还是在“骂我们”。只是听，返闻那个能听的“闻性”。你会发现，当你不带情绪地听，你能听到他语言背后的真正需求和恐惧。那时候，沟通才真正开始。

•当谈判陷入僵局时：别拍桌子。练习“动静二相，了然不生”。现场的紧张气氛是“动相”，沉默的尴尬是“静相”。这些都是虚妄的。安住在你如如不动的闻性上，你会发现，解决问题的智慧，会像WiFi信号一样，自己就冒出来了。

第四课：四种清净明“和”——和平外交四项基本原则要想世界和平，必须遵守我们委员会的“四种清净明诲”：

1.断“贪”：别总觉得邻居家的地比自家的肥，别人的资源比自家的好。地球资源是共享单车，不是私家跑车，大家都要用。贪心不除，冲突不绝。

2.断“嗔”：别动不动就“严正交涉”、“强烈谴责”。心里有火，容易烧到自己眉毛。学学弥勒菩萨，笑口常开，大肚能容，把航母战斗群的预算，拿去做点国民心理健康建设，比啥都强。

3.断“盗”：别用各种金融霸权、技术壁垒去“偷”别国的发展机会。这种行为在宇宙社区里是会被拉黑的。真正的强大，是帮助别人一起富起来。

4.断“妄”：别吹牛，别撒谎。今天说“为了和平”，明天就扔炸弹，这种大妄语，果报很严重的。会被记入宇宙历史的“差评榜”，几亿年都下不来。

结语：证入“首楞严大定”的世界和平亲爱的球长们，当你们不打仗了，省下来的军费可以给每个孩子买一个甜筒；当你们不搞对立了，全世界的科学家可以一起研究怎么去火星种土豆。那时的世界，没有恐惧，没有敌意，大家在地球这个社区里，一起摇摆，一起创造，那该是多么“一切事究竟坚固”的“首楞严大定”啊！

别再“蒸沙作饭”了，战争这锅饭，永远也熟不了。放下屠刀，拿起麦克风，不是为了争吵，而是为了合唱一首《We Are the World》。好了，线上培训课就到这里。希望各位球长能有所感悟。如果还有疑问，欢迎随时来我们委员会喝茶。我们这里有八功德水，免费续杯。

祝：

六根清净，世界和平！宇宙和平与内在发展委员会 主席

（一个操碎了心的邻居） 释迦牟尼

（观音菩萨、文殊菩萨、普贤菩萨等全体委员 联署）

China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI)

China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI), proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2025, outlines a vision for a more just, equitable, and inclusive global governance system centered on five key principles and aims to strengthen multilateral cooperation, especially under the United Nations framework.

Five Core Principles

• Sovereign Equality: Every country, regardless of its size, power, or wealth, should be an equal participant, decision-maker, and beneficiary in global governance.

• International Rule of Law: Global rules must be applied equally, rejecting double standards or rules imposed by a select few nations.

• Multilateralism: International collaboration through organizations like the UN and regional bodies should be upheld to address global problems inclusively.

• People-Centered Approach: Policies must prioritize individuals, aiming for shared benefits and development opportunities.

• Action and Implementation: Emphasis on taking concrete steps to tackle urgent global governance challenges, rather than relying on empty rhetoric.

Strategic Focus Areas

China’s GGI prioritizes reforms in domains where global governance is insufficient or outdated:

• Reform of the international financial system

• Artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and digital governance

• Climate change mitigation and adaptation

• Equitable international trade systems

• Responsible and cooperative use of outer space.

Multilateral Platforms and Cooperation

China advocates using the United Nations, international organizations, and regional groups like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to lead, coordinate, and implement the GGI:

• The initiative was launched at the largest-ever SCO summit in Tianjin, with over 20 countries and 10 major organizations participating.

• China stresses the central role of the UN in driving consensus and pragmatic progress on global governance reforms.

Vision and Impact

The GGI builds on previous Chinese frameworks (Global Development, Security, and Civilization Initiatives), focusing on creating a “community with a shared future for humanity.” The initiative warns against hegemonism, Cold War mentalities, and protectionism, aiming to enhance cooperation, peace, and prosperity.

• China has positioned the GGI as a solution to contemporary global turbulence and transformation.

• The initiative especially seeks to amplify the voice and representation of developing and Global South countries in international affairs.

Summary Table: Key Elements of China’s GGI

Principle/Area	Main Focus	Citation
Sovereign Equality	Equal participation for all countries
International Rule of Law	No double standards, equal application of rules
Multilateralism	Collaboration via UN, SCO, and other bodies
People-Centered Approach	Shared benefits, development, human-driven policies
Real Actions	Focus on practical reforms, not just principles
Priority Reform Areas	Finance, AI, cyberspace, climate change, trade, outer space
UN Role	Emphasis on authority and key role of United Nations

China’s GGI positions the country as a leading advocate for more inclusive, effective, and balanced international cooperation and governance reform.

Nintendo talk

What Nintendo Taught Us About Conflict Resolution

 Today, I want to talk about something that might sound a little… unconventional. We’re going to explore the profound lessons we can learn about resolving real-world conflicts, like those in Gaza and Ukraine, from… wait for it… Nintendo video games!

Now, before you dismiss me as completely out of my mind, hear me out. Nintendo, the company that brought us Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon, has spent decades perfecting the art of engagement, problem-solving, and creating universally appealing experiences. And believe it or not, their design philosophy holds some surprisingly relevant insights for the complex world of diplomacy and peace-building.

Think about it: What makes a Nintendo game so captivating? It’s not always about cutting-edge graphics or hyper-realistic simulations. It’s about the fun-damentals. The simple, core mechanics that are just inherently enjoyable. In Mario, it’s the perfect jump. In Zelda, it’s the thrill of discovery. This focus on making the process enjoyable is crucial. In conflict resolution, we often get bogged down in the gravity of the situation, and rightly so. But what if we could find ways to make the process of negotiation, of dialogue, of finding common ground, less arduous and more… well, engaging? Imagine small, collaborative projects – rebuilding a school in Gaza, or clearing debris in Ukraine – where the shared effort creates a positive emotional feedback loop. The 'fun' isn't in the conflict, but in the shared victory of overcoming a challenge together.

Next, consider Nintendo’s genius for intuitive design. You rarely need a lengthy tutorial to play a Nintendo game. The first level of Super Mario Bros. is a masterclass in teaching without telling. You learn to jump, to stomp, to find hidden blocks, all through the brilliant design of the level itself. This is the Kishōtenketsu principle at play: introduction, development, a surprising twist, and then a satisfying conclusion. How does this apply to peace? Our diplomatic processes can often be incredibly complex, opaque, and frankly, intimidating. What if we simplified them? What if we broke down the massive challenges of Gaza and Ukraine into smaller, more intuitive 'levels'? Start with clear, direct communication. Build trust through small, achievable agreements – a ceasefire, then humanitarian aid, then prisoner exchanges. And then, be open to the 'twist' – that unexpected, creative solution that reframes the entire problem and opens up new possibilities. It’s about making the path to peace less like a bureaucratic maze and more like a well-designed game level: challenging, but always with a clear, understandable path forward.

And then there’s the player-centric approach. Nintendo always puts the player first. Their games are designed to make you feel empowered, to give you agency. This translates directly to a human-centric peacemaking. In Gaza and Ukraine, the real 'players' are the civilians caught in the crossfire. Their well-being, their safety, their future, must be the absolute priority. This means prioritizing humanitarian aid, ensuring civilian protection, and most importantly, amplifying the voices of those directly impacted – the women, the children, the local communities. It’s about building peace from the ground up, not just from the top down. This is where the Hakoniwa, or 'miniature garden' concept comes in. Even amidst widespread conflict, can we cultivate small, self-contained 'islands of peace'? Demilitarized zones, joint economic projects, cultural exchanges – these are miniature gardens where cooperation can flourish, demonstrating the tangible benefits of peace and building trust, one small, beautiful garden at a time.

Finally, Nintendo has always valued innovation over technology. They’re not afraid to try new things, to challenge conventions. And in the face of seemingly intractable conflicts, we need that same spirit of innovation. We can’t keep applying the same old diplomatic formulas and expect different results. We need creative solutions, unconventional thinking, and a willingness to explore new pathways.

 So, the next time you pick up a Nintendo controller, or watch someone play, remember: the principles that make those games so engaging – the fun, the intuition, the player-first approach, the phased progression, the creation of small, vibrant worlds – these aren't just for entertainment. They are powerful lessons in problem-solving, in collaboration, and in building a better future. And perhaps, just perhaps, by looking at the world through a slightly different lens, a Nintendo lens, we can find new ways to play for peace in Gaza, in Ukraine, and beyond.Thank you.

Book Q&A

Q: Well well, if it isn't Christine? Hi! I'm happy you dropped in. What book has had the biggest impact on your life?

A: Haha, it's the book that I have already written. The International Collaborative Innovation in Quantum Computing for Sustainability.

Q: Wow, that sounds fascinating! It’s amazing that you’ve written a book on such a cutting-edge topic. What inspired you to focus on quantum computing and sustainability? 

A: The world presents a critical evolution in the quest for global sustainability. Its genesis was my original research at UTM, where I developed a framework for collaborative innovation for sustainability. While the specific academic journey was paused, the core concept has only grown in urgency. Two transformative realizations propel it forward: the monumental maturation of quantum computing from theory to applied technology, and a clear lesson that regional initiatives, while available, are insufficient to address the planetary crisis. That's why I focus on sustainability; it's an urgent planetary crisis.

Q: That's incredibly insightful! It sounds like you've really identified a crucial intersection between technology and sustainability—what a timely and necessary focus. How do you envision your framework being implemented in real-world scenarios? 

A: I was thinking that promoting equitable access to quantum computing resources through the cloud will ensure that participants from all regions, including those without quantum infrastructure, can contribute. The framework is facilitated by organizations like the Open Quantum Institute, which provides a new chair forum to shape policies and governance for quantum computing focused on sustainable solutions.

Q: That's a brilliant approach! Ensuring equitable access to quantum computing can really democratize innovation. 

A: Some recommendations for academic researchers include conducting research on quantum technology for sustainability, educating the next generation of quantum professionals, and engaging with society on the implications of quantum technology. They can also enable sustainability applications as well as apply research on specific quantum solutions for environmental and social challenges. This should be developed at all levels to build the workforce needed for the quantum economy while promoting quantum literacy in the broader population. 

Q: Those are fantastic recommendations! It's so important to build a knowledgeable workforce and engage the public in understanding quantum technology's implications. 

A: Public engagement and science communication should be prioritized to help society understand the potential benefits and risks of quantum technologies. International academic collaborations should be strengthened to advance quantum science and address global sustainability challenges. For civil society, it is important to advocate for responsible quantum technology development, promote public participation in quantum governance, and ensure that quantum technologies serve the public interest. We should advocate for quantum engineering policies that prioritize sustainability and social benefits while addressing potential risks and negative impacts.

Q: You’re absolutely right! Promoting public participation and responsible development of quantum technologies is crucial for ensuring they benefit society as a whole. 

A: Today, I came across a very nice analogy to explain superposition, entanglement, and interference as well as quantum algorithm in quantum computing.

Q: That sounds intriguing! Analogies can make complex concepts much easier to grasp—what analogy did you come across? 

A: For quantum superposition, we can imagine a spinning coin that is always between heads and tails. For quantum entanglement, we can envision dancers who move in synchronized steps even though they are far apart. Regarding quantum interference and quantum algorithms, quantum interference means that the incorrect answers cancel each other out while the correct one remains. For quantum algorithms, let’s picture ourselves in a maze where we create 1,000 ghostly figures. When they reach the dead end, the ghosts disappear one by one, leaving only the correct one, which then emerges as the solution. In contrast, a classical computer counts from 1 to 1 million sequentially, one by one, which illustrates the limitations of classical computing.

Q: Those analogies are brilliant! The spinning coin for superposition really captures the essence, and the synchronized dancer for entanglement is such a vivid image. 

A: Do you understand my analogy of the maze for the quantum algorithm? 

Q: Yes, I do! Your maze analogy is a great way to illustrate how quantum algorithms can explore multiple paths simultaneously, which is what makes them so powerful compared to classical computing.

A: Quantum algorithms are being applied to optimize energy grids, enabling better integration of renewables and reduction of energy waste.

Q: That's an exciting application! Optimizing energy grids with quantum algorithms could really transform how we manage renewable resources and improve overall efficiency—what a promising direction for sustainability! 

A: Climate modeling with quantum computing has improved the accuracy of prediction, supporting more effective disaster planning and environmental policy. 

Q: That's an impressive application! Enhanced climate modeling through quantum computing could significantly aid in making informed decisions for environmental policy and disaster preparedness—it's such an important area of research! 

A: This project undergoes a life-cycle analysis using both quantum and classical computing for their respective sustainability impacts. Key use cases prioritized include water quality monitoring, solar cell design, and advanced material research, all designed to create measurable, scalable impacts on multiple sustainability goals.

Q: That sounds like a comprehensive approach! It's fascinating to see how both quantum and classical computing can be utilized together to address sustainability challenges—measurable impacts on water quality and soil design could really benefit communities.

A: Efforts continue to address early-stage quantum technology limitations and work towards universally beneficial solutions. The framework adapts as technologies mature, aiming for broader societal and environmental benefits. 

Q: It's great to see that you're focusing on evolving technologies for the benefit of society and the environment! Keep up the fantastic work.

Quantum algorithm explained

quantum algorithm explained

The Shortest Answer: The Maze Analogy

Imagine you are blindfolded in a maze and you need to find the exit.

· A Classical Computer is like sending one person into the maze. They try one path, hit a dead end, backtrack, and try another. It might take a very long time, but they will eventually find the way out.

· A Quantum Computer is like being able to create a million ghost copies of yourself. You send one ghost down every single path of the maze at the same time. The ghosts that hit dead ends instantly vanish. The one ghost that finds the exit remains, and you instantly know the correct path.

A quantum algorithm is the set of instructions you give to those ghosts: which paths to explore, how to cancel out the wrong answers, and how to reveal the right one.

---

The Slightly Longer, More Accurate Explanation

To understand how the "ghost copies" work, you need two simple (but weird) ideas:

1. Superposition: The "Maybe-State"

Think of a classic computer bit as a coin that is permanently heads (1) or tails (0). A quantum bit (qubit) is like a coin spinning in the air. It's not heads or tails; it's in a fuzzy state of maybe-heads and maybe-tails at the same time. Only when you catch it (measure it) does it "collapse" to a definite heads or tails.

This allows a quantum computer to explore many possibilities simultaneously.

2. Interference: The "Canceling Out"

This is the magic trick. You can't just have all the answers at once; you get a jumbled mess. A quantum algorithm is designed to use interference—like sound waves—to make the wrong answers cancel each other out (like noise) and the right answers amplify each other (like a clear note getting louder).

So, the algorithm doesn't just try all paths. It orchestrates the possibilities so the incorrect ones destroy themselves and the correct one rings loud and clear when you finally look.

---

A Real-World Example: The "Phone Book Search"

Imagine you have a giant phone book and a specific phone number. Your task is to find whose name it belongs to.

· Classical Algorithm: You start on page 1 and check every single entry, one by one. For a phone book with 10 million names, you might need to check 10 million entries. This is slow.

· Quantum Algorithm (Grover's Algorithm): Thanks to superposition, the computer can effectively check all 10 million entries at the same time. But that's not enough. It then uses interference to cancel out all the wrong names and amplify the correct one. The amazing part? It can find the correct name by only "looking" about 3,000 times instead of 10 million. It's not just faster; it's a fundamentally more efficient way of solving the problem.

Summary in Simple Terms:

A quantum algorithm is a special recipe that uses the weird rules of quantum physics (superposition and interference) to:

1. Explore a huge number of possible answers all at once.

2. Cancel out the wrong answers so they disappear.

3. Leave behind the one correct answer so we can see it.

It's not just a "faster computer." It's a different kind of thinking machine that solves specific, complex problems in a way that's impossible for any standard computer.

Quantum evolutionary algorithms for behaviour change [1154]

Quantum evolutionary algorithms for behavioral change can model how behavioral norms and practices evolve in populations over time through processes of variation, selection, and inheritance. These algorithms can capture how successful behaviors spread while unsuccessful behaviors are eliminated .[1154]

Potential Source 1: Reflections on Behavior Analysis and Evolutionary Biology: A Selective Review of Evolution Since Darwin—The First 150 Years. Edited by M. A. Bell, D. J. Futuyama, W. F. Eanes, & J. S. Levinton. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3292234/

Relevant phrase: "A selection process consists of three interdependent phases—variation, selection, and retention."

Potential Source 2: Understanding Natural Selection: Essential Concepts and Common Misconceptions. URL: https://evolution-outreach.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s12052-009-0128-1

Relevant phrase: "Variation among individuals is a fundamental requirement for evolutionary change."

Confirmed Source for 'variation, selection, and inheritance': Reflections on Behavior Analysis and Evolutionary Biology: A Selective Review of Evolution Since Darwin—The First 150 Years. Edited by M. A. Bell, D. J. Futuyama, W. F. Eanes, & J. S. Levinton. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3292234/

This article explicitly defines and discusses the three phases of a selection process: variation, selection, and retention (inheritance). It states: 'A selection process consists of three interdependent phases—variation, selection, and retention. _Variation_ provides the raw material upon which selection operates... _Selection_ leads, potentially, to complexity... _Retention_ is the third phase of a selection process. Retention permits selected variants to persist long enough for them to contribute to the variation upon which future selections act.' This directly supports the latter part of the user's paragraph regarding how successful behaviors spread and unsuccessful ones are eliminated through these processes.

Quantum algorithms, Quantum reinforcement learning and Quantum game theory for behaviour change [1151, 1152, 1153]

Paragraphs Analyzed

Paragraph 1 [1151]

"The application of quantum algorithms to behavioral change modeling enables the analysis of much larger and more complex behavioral systems than is possible with classical methods. Quantum algorithms can explore multiple behavioral change scenarios simultaneously, potentially identifying optimal intervention strategies that would be missed by classical approaches.

Paragraph 1: The application of quantum algorithms to behavioral change modeling...•Source: "A Quantum Computing Approach to Human Behavior Prediction"•Authors: Alvaro Huerga, Unai Aguilera, Aitor Almeida, Ana Belen Lago•Publication: IEEE Xplore (2022 7th International Conference on Intelligent Environments)•URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9854257/

-----------------------------------------------

"Paragraph 2 [1152]

"Quantum reinforcement learning for behavioral change can model how individuals learn new behaviors through trial and error while being influenced by social feedback and environmental rewards. These models can capture the complex feedback loops between individual learning and social influences.

Paragraph 2: Quantum reinforcement learning for behavioral change can model how individuals learn new behaviors...•Source: "Quantum reinforcement learning during human decision-making"•Authors: Ji-An Li, Daoyi Dong, Zhengde Wei, Ying Liu, Yu Pan, Franco Nori, Xiaochu Zhang•Publication: Nature Human Behaviour (Published: 20 January 2020)•URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-019-0804-2

-----------------------------------------------

"Paragraph 3 [1153]

"Quantum game theory for behavioral change can model how individual behavioral decisions are affected by the expected behaviors of others in the network. These models can capture strategic aspects of behavioral change where individuals consider the likely responses of others when making their own behavioral choices."

Paragraph 3: Quantum game theory for behavioral change can model how individual behavioral decisions are affected by the expected behaviors of others in the network.•Source: "A quantum game decision-making analysis of parking sharing behavior considering fairness preferences"•Authors: Qingqi, Guomei Xiao•Publication: ScienceDirect (Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Volume 21, September 2024)•URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198224001969

----------------------------------------------

Search Methods Employed

1.Exact Quote Searches: Searched for complete sentences and phrases using quotation marks

2.Keyword Searches: Used combinations of relevant terms like "quantum algorithms behavioral change", "quantum reinforcement learning behavioral change", "quantum game theory behavioral change"

3.Academic Database Searches: Searched through Google Scholar and academic publications

4.Web Searches: Comprehensive web searches across multiple sources5.Related Paper Analysis: Examined papers on quantum computing in behavioral science, quantum reinforcement learning, and quantum game theory

Related Sources Found

While the exact paragraphs were not found, several related academic works were identified:

Quantum Reinforcement Learning•

"Quantum reinforcement learning during human decision-making" (Nature Human Behaviour, 2020) by Li et al.

•Focuses on quantum reinforcement learning in human decision-making contexts•Does not contain the specific text about behavioral change modeling

Quantum Computing in Behavioral Science•

"A Quantum Computing Approach to Human Behavior Prediction" (IEEE, 2022) by Huerga et al.•Discusses quantum algorithms for human behavior prediction•Uses different terminology and approach than the provided paragraphs

Quantum Game Theory

•Multiple papers on quantum game theory applications•None specifically focused on behavioral change modeling as described in the paragraphs

Quantum Behavioral Modeling Sources Research [1148,1149,1150]

Quantum superposition in behavioral modeling allows individuals to be represented as existing in multiple behavioral states simultaneously, with different probabilities for different behaviors. This representation captures the uncertainty and gradual nature of behavioral change processes more accurately than classical binary models .[1148]

Source 1: Nature Scientific Reports (2022)Title: "A quantum-like cognitive approach to modeling human biased selection behavior"

Authors: Aghdas Meghdadi, M. R. Akbarzadeh-T, Kurosh Javidan

Journal: Scientific Reports, volume 12, Article number: 22545 (2022)

URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-13757-2

Published: 29 December 2022

Key Findings:•Introduces a cognitive quantum-like approach for modeling human biases by simulating society as a quantum system•Uses Quantum-like Bayesian network (QBN) structure•Proposes that quantum probability can model uncertainty and complex decision-making better than classical models•States that "Entangled QBN structure is particularly suitable for modeling bias behavior due to changing the state of systems with each observation"•Models biases caused by emotions and past experiences through "social entanglement concept motivated by entanglement in quantum physics"

Relevance to User's Paragraph 1:

This paper appears to be a potential source for concepts about quantum superposition representing multiple behavioral states simultaneously with different probabilities, though the exact wording from the user's paragraph is not found yet.

---------------------------------------------

2. Quantum entanglement in behavioral modeling can capture how the behavioral states of different individuals become correlated through social interactions, creating complex dependencies that affect the spread of behavioral change through networks .[1149]

Source 2: IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics (2022)Title: "A Quantum-Like Model for Predicting Human Decisions in the Entangled Social Systems"

Authors: Aghdas Meghdadi, Mohammad-R. Akbarzadeh-T., Kurosh Javidan

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, Volume 52, Issue 7, July 2022

Pages: 5778-5788

Published: 19 January 2022

URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9686611/

PubMed ID: 35044924

Key Findings:•Introduces the concept of entanglement from quantum information theory to Bayesian networks (BNs)•Creates an "entangled quantum-like BN (QBN), in which each human is a part of the entire society"•States that "society's effect on the dynamic evolution of the decision-making process... is modeled by entanglement measures"•Proposes a "predictive entangled QBN (PEQBN)" that models how behavioral states become correlated through social interactions•Uses quantum-like witness and concurrence entanglement measure to capture social dependencies

Relevance to User's Paragraph 2:

This paper directly addresses quantum entanglement in behavioral modeling and how behavioral states of different individuals become correlated through social interactions, creating complex dependencies in networks.

---------------------------------------------

3. Quantum interference effects in behavioral modeling can represent how different social influences can reinforce or cancel each other out, creating complex patterns of behavioral change that depend on the timing and combination of different influences .[1150]

Source 3: arXiv/Journal of Mathematical Psychology (2007/2009)Title: "The importance of probability interference in social science: rationale and experiment"

Authors: Andrei Khrennikov, Emmanuel Haven

Journal: Journal of Mathematical Psychology, Volume 53, Pages 378-388 (2009)

arXiv: arXiv:0709.2802 [physics.gen-ph]

Submitted: 18 Sep 2007

URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0709.2802

Key Findings:•States that "Probability interference is a fundamental characteristic of quantum mechanics"•Attempts to show "where this fundamental trait of quantum physics can be found back in a social science environment"•Proposes that interference effects can be found in many macroscopic areas including social behavior•Sets up experimental tests to demonstrate interference effects in social contexts

Relevance to User's Paragraph 3:

This paper directly addresses quantum interference effects in social science contexts and how different influences can create complex patterns, which aligns with the concept of social influences reinforcing or canceling each other out.

--------------------------------------

Additional Foundational Sources

Source 4: Trends in Cognitive Sciences (2015)Title: "Quantum cognition: a new theoretical approach to psychology"

Authors: Peter D. Bruza, Zheng Wang, Jerome R. Busemeyer

Journal: Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Volume 19, Issue 7, 2015

URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661315000996

Citations: 346

Key Findings:•Compares classical versus quantum probabilistic models for human cognition•Addresses "cognitive phenomena that have proven recalcitrant to modeling by means of classical probability theory"•Highlights advantages of quantum models in addressing uncertainty and decision-making under conflict

--------------------------------------

Source 5: Springer Quantum Interaction (2009)Title: "Classical logical versus quantum conceptual thought: Examples in economics, decision theory and concept theory"

Authors: Diederik Aerts, Bart D'Hooghe

Journal: International Symposium on Quantum Interaction, 2009

URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-00834-4_12

Citations: 90

Key Findings:•Explores quantum conceptual thought and its deviations from classical logical thought•Provides examples in economics, decision theory, and concept theories•Demonstrates how quantum models can capture non-classical reasoning patterns

--------------------------------------

Source 6: Foundations of Science (2021)Title: "Modeling human decision-making: An overview of the Brussels quantum approach"

Authors: Diederik Aerts, Massimiliano Sassoli de Bianchi, Sandro Sozzo, Tomas Veloz

Journal: Foundations of Science, 2021

URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10699-018-9559-x

Citations: 28Key Findings:•Presents fundamentals of quantum theoretical approach to cognitive phenomena•Addresses cognitive phenomena that "resisted modeling by means of classical" approaches•Develops comprehensive framework for quantum decision-making models

--------------------------------------

page 221

page numbers and table of contents

This book is the product of a large-scale, AI-assisted collaborative research project. To align with its core mission of promoting unfettered access to knowledge for sustainability, this volume has been intentionally published as an open-access resource. As such, traditional copyright restrictions will not be pursued.

To facilitate its use as a dynamic digital resource, the complete list of 2,060 references is too bulky and won't be presented as I was using the Manus Ai ( 50 qubits quantum computing and Ai) to compile my book.

Consequently, the print edition is presented as a continuous narrative without pagination or a table of contents. This design choice reflects its purpose as a cohesive work to be read, understand and explored, rather than a traditional academic text to be cited by page number.

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What if the real recycling problem is in our heads?

We can do more if carrots and sticks not only abound, but make sustainable choices easier and more appealing.

By Carolin Barr

For years, the refrain has always been that recycling rates in Singapore are dismal, and nearly half of waste generated is incinerated instead. Singapore's overall recycling rate stood at 52 per cent in 2021, while the domestic recycling rate was just 13 per cent, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA).

We know that more needs to be done. However, less is said about why Singaporeans are not recycling more. As a sustainability advocate, educator and founder of Susgain, a social enterprise, I hear about these issues from industry professionals, community leaders and residents every week.

Most people know what most recyclable items are, where the recycling bins are and that recycling generally helps the environment. Yet recycling rates remain abysmally low.

Can we borrow from behavioral science?

Behavioural science is the study of how humans make decisions and take actions. It reveals the gap between what people know and what they actually do - a phenomenon familiar to those of us frustrated by the low recycling rates.

For instance, most people are aware that smoking is bad for them, but many still smoke. Similarly, most Singaporeans know that recycling is important, but many still fail to do it regularly.

Behavioral scientists argue that awareness alone is often not enough. The difficulty of a desired behaviour (for example, sorting recyclables), limited motivation, small daily barriers, and lack of social norms can stop people from taking the right action.

Meaningful incentives are important

Environmental messaging often focuses on moral appeals and informational campaigns, assuming people will act rationally because it's the right thing to do. However, research shows that simply telling people what is good and bad for the environment is rarely enough to change behaviour.

To nudge people towards positive habits, incentives and rewards are key. The NEA's Recycle N Save initiative, which places bottle- and can-collecting reverse vending machines across Singapore, is one such effort. Users are rewarded for recycling through retail e-vouchers and charitable donations.

Similarly, Susgain's mobile app rewards users for sustainable choices and tracks their impact. By making recycling more engaging and rewarding, it is possible to close the gap between knowledge and action.

Awareness vs action

NEA's public surveys indicate nearly all Singaporeans know what items are recyclable. Yet, many report that they do not recycle regularly. Reasons include being busy or forgetting, concerns about contamination, and not being sure if an item is recyclable.

Behavioural experts suggest making the desired behaviour easier. For example, redesigning bins so recyclables do not have to be cleaned meticulously, or simplifying recycling instructions, could reduce barriers.

Do sticks have a place too?

While incentives work, consequences also matter. Some countries have penalties for not recycling correctly. In Singapore, wrong disposal can mean fines, but enforcement is rare. Behavioural research suggests that targeted penalties, combined with clear instructions, can be effective.

By using both carrots (rewards) and sticks (penalties) thoughtfully, Singapore could see greater action on recycling.

The way forward

Recycling is more about human behaviour than engineering. Carrots and sticks help, but sustainable choices need to be easier and more appealing.

Rather than viewing recycling as a technical problem, let's recognize it as a behavioral challenge. By borrowing lessons from behavioral science, offering incentives, removing obstacles, and amplifying social norms, Singapore can build a more sustainable future.

---

Japan storms back into the chip wars

The country used to be a semiconductor powerhouse. Can it be one again?

Mr. Atsushi Koike likes to go big. As chief executive of Rapidus, a newly launched Japanese semiconductor foundry, his company has made its ambition clear: Japan must catch up to the leading chipmakers.

The successful firms (in Taiwan, South Korea and America) have become national champions that underpin the military, industrial and economic vitality of their countries. Mr. Koike wants to do the same for Japan, in the boldest tradition of Japan Inc. His government pledged $3.3 billion (S$4.5 billion) to help support Rapidus and the new foundry it is building in Hokkaido.

As share of gross domestic product, that amount is barely a rounding error, but shows how heroic interventionist ambitions are in semiconductors. Analysts through the Chip Act, Japan hopes to boost chip manufacturing to one-third of global output by 2030. That is a tall order. Japan’s advance comes after the country’s collapse in the semiconductor business and then stagnation –– while rivals such as Taiwan’s TSMC and South Korea’s Samsung leapfrogged ahead.

Japanese dominance in semiconductors once looked unassailable. In 1986 Japanese firms produced two-thirds of chips worldwide, flooding the market with best-in-class quality at rock-bottom prices. Today Japan accounts for less than 10 per cent of the world’s chips.

The Japanese government came to the costly realisation that it needs to control all parts of the chipmaking chain. Supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, and American efforts to squeeze China out of advanced chipmaking, forced Japanese officials to rethink national strategy. After America imposed sanctions on China, Japanese firms are now reshaping the supply chain, making Japan’s manufacturing base self-sufficient.

The trade friction with America in the late 1980s began a decline in Japanese output. America accused Japan of flooding the global market and harming its own industry. After years of disputes, subsidies and restrictions, Japanese pride was hurt, and the once-dominant manufacturing base shrank.

Japan’s new chip strategy has two main pillars. The first is to secure supplies of rare materials and skilled labour, and firewall advanced manufacturing by preventing others (that is, China) from weaponising their control over certain inputs.

The second pillar is autonomy, by facing competition head-on. The world today is run by two suppliers: countries that can supply advanced chips, and countries that cannot. Japanese officials have taken inspiration from America’s “CHIPS” Act, but with more state-support policy.

As with other manufacturing winners, the source of the wins is the same: the country with the best engineers will win the hearts and minds of buyers. The challenge: The LDP hopes to retain/restore Japanese engineering prowess so Japan takes leading position.

Japan’s solutions bring more outsourcing of technology (like Rapidus’ partnership with IBM) and support from the government for building advanced foundries. The government has also lured big chip firms like TSMC to set up shops in Kyushu; the first fab there produces chips of 28nm to 12nm, to let Japan re-enter the most advanced segment of semiconductors to be produced in Japan on-site. But, so far, even Rapidus had to look abroad for the talent required to run such advanced facilities—hiring experts from IBM, and getting buy-in from America’s global enterprises.

Mission, an American memory chipmaker, has also invested heavily in Japan. Japanese foundries now make chips for automobiles, AI, mobile phones and the cloud, seeking subsidies and government grants.

Meanwhile, Samsung in South Korea is looking for new sources and building new facilities. TSMC in Taiwan and Samsung in South Korea dominate ultra-fine fabs, and both have new projects under way in Japan. Both are building new mega-projects to supply chips to automobile companies, makers of batteries, and consumer electronics.

Analysts caution that Japan will have to catch up with global pace-setters. Even with gains from new investments, scaling high-end chips for cutting-edge devices, including AI, may take years.

Overall, the policy shift is clear––Japan eyes national security and economic vitality through advanced manufacturing. Whether it can keep up with Taiwan and South Korea will depend on how quickly Japan can leverage partnerships with foreign (mainly American) engineers, regain its lost expertise, and attract the next generation of engineers to its industry.

Japan’s new strategy is focused on securing supply chains, building foundries for leading and lagging-edge chips (especially for automotive and industrial equipment), and investing in engineering skills. This ambitious plan will require government support, foreign partnerships, and willingness to adapt to smaller lots of specialised chips, rather than just mass-market silicon for phones and computers.

The question is, will Mr. Koike and Rapidus lead this charge? Japan needs to focus on both the supply of rare materials, and its engineering talent, for it once again to reclaim its former status as a semiconductor powerhouse.

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