Focal Point Research Articles

Jean Le Fèvre, Disners, and the War of the Union d’Aix (1382–1388) during the Great Western Schism

The role of commensality, particularly banquets, in peace negotiations is well-known. Banquets were a part of various occasions and rites of passage, including births, knighting ceremonies, marriages, and elections/nominations. They were also an integral component of political rituals, such as when a prince embarked on travels. Notably, banquets symbolized reconciliation, marking the transition from war to peace and agreements between lords since sharing a meal together represented the act of reconciliation. In the following essay, which is based on a reading of Jean Le Fèvre’s journal, I argue that it was not just the banquet itself but the dining table that played a significant role in negotiations. Once established that disners referred to lunches, I explore how they served as chronological markers for afternoon meetings, indicating different stages of negotiations. These occasions were often used to announce important political decisions and acted as focus points for organizing petitions and negotiations. Groups engaged in discussions frequently gathered around the table to facilitate their conversations, taking advantage of the opportunities to exchange gifts and gather valuable information.

Information Communication Technology Adoption and Service Delivery by Microfinance Institutions in Nandi County: A Case Study of Juhudi Kilimo Limited

The Study Aimed To Investigate The Factors Affecting The Adoption Of Information Communication Technology In Service Delivery By Microfinance Institutions In Nandi County With Juhudi Kilimo Limited As The Main Point Of Focus. The Investigation Aimed To: Examine Whether Ict Illiteracy Affects Service Delivery By Microfinance Institutions In Nandi County, Find Out How Technological Infrastructure Has An Effect On Service Delivery By Microfinance Institutions In Nandi County, Ascertain How The Cost Of Adoption Has An Effect On Service Delivery By Microfinance Institutions In Nandi County, And Examine How Perceived Usefulness Has An Effect On Service Delivery By Microfinance Institutions In Nandi County. The Research Considered A Population Of 200 Employees And Clients Of Juhudi Kilimo In Nandi County. The Study Employed A Simple Random Sampling Technique. The Technology Acceptance Theory Constituted The Foundations Of The Research. The Research Employs A Descriptive Design To Examine The Characteristics Of The Target Population, Consisting Of It Officers, Finance Officers, Operations Officers, Research And Development Officers, Internal Auditors, And Clients Of Juhudi Kilimo. A Representative Sample Of 60 Respondents Was Selected Randomly. Data Collection Involved Questionnaires, Validated Through A Pilot Study And Expert Evaluation. The Research Also Provided A Robust Framework For The Study, Ensuring Methodological Rigor And Ethical Adherence In Investigating Ict Adoption's Impact On Mfi Service Delivery. The Study Revealed Strong Positive Correlations Between Ict Illiteracy And Adoption Costs (0.983), Technological Infrastructure (0.310), And Perceived Usefulness (0.459). Technological Infrastructure Demonstrated A Strong Positive Correlation With Perceived Usefulness (0.751) And A Moderate Positive Correlation With Adoption Costs (0.652). Adoption Costs Exhibited Strong Positive Correlations With Both Ict Illiteracy (0.983) And Technological Infrastructure (0.995). Perceived Usefulness Showed A Moderate Positive Correlation With Ict Illiteracy (0.459) And Strong Positive Correlations With Both Technological Infrastructure (0.978) And Adoption Costs (0.959).

Information seeking and subsequent affective well-being in Chinese young adults: the mediating effects of worry.

This study aimed to unravel micro-processes that link information seeking to subsequent affective well-being (i.e., positive and negative affect) at the within-person level, as well as the role of worry as a mediator in this relationship. Within the initial weeks following the Chinese government's relaxation of its epidemic control measures, 184 participants completed experience sampling methods on information seeking, COVID-related worry, and affective well-being three times a day for 14 days. According to dynamic structural equation models, information seeking was associated with high negative affect but not with low positive affect. COVID-related worry acted as a full mediator between information seeking at the previous time point (approximately 5 h ago) and the current negative affect, but not in positive affect. These findings suggested that the impact of information seeking on affective well-being was different for the two dimensions of affect. Furthermore, the persistent impact of information seeking on negative affect was attributed to the indirect effect of worry, suggesting that worry should be a point of focus for intervention to mitigate the potentially negative effects of information seeking within the context of the public health crises.

Sound source localization in non-line-of-sight environment based on equivalent source method combined with time reversal method

Sound source localization is a critical task in various applications. However, it becomes challenging when the sound sources are not directly visible to the sensors due to obstacles or other environmental factors. This paper proposes a novel approach for locating sound sources in non-line-of-sight environments by combining the equivalent source method (ESM) with the time reversal method (TRM). The ESM is used to compute the frequency responses between the focusing points and the measurement points numerically. These frequency responses are then substituted to the TRM to localize the sound sources. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, it is tested through numerical simulations and an experiment. The results prove that the ESM can compute the frequency responses accurately, and the combination of TRM and ESM effectively localizes sound sources in non-line-of-sight environments.

Music Matters – A Qualitative Evaluation of a Nurse-Led, Group-Based Music Program Complementary to Early Intervention for First-Episode Psychosis

First-episode psychosis is a significant mental health condition that can have a profound and lasting effect on an individual’s functional abilities and overall quality of life. While music therapy has shown promise in improving these areas, there is a lack of research exploring the impact of music groups led by mental health professionals without formal music therapy training in the context of early intervention in psychosis. This study aimed to conduct a qualitative evaluation of a once-weekly, 12-week, nurse-led music group, offered as an adjunct to early intervention in young people with first-episode psychosis. The specific objectives were to explore social interaction and experiences of participants and instructors in relation to the music group and provide focus points for implementation in clinical practice. The study utilized Interpretive Description, collecting data through participant observation (6 sessions × 1.5 hrs; 9 hrs in total), key informant interviews (n = 1), and group (n = 4) and email-based (n = 2) interviews. The data was transcribed, thematized, and analyzed using NVivo12 and Interpretive Description inductive analysis resulting in three main themes: Practicalities of the music group, Restored identity, and Music as medicine reflecting the potential of the music group to contribute to a sense of non-patient identity, decreasing symptoms related to mental illness, foster social relationships and a feeling of belonging to a musical community. This study highligts how participation in music groups can be a possible promoter of recovery. However, sustainability appears contingent on the skills and resources of the facilitator (i.e., nurse). Suggestions for a program theory and clinical implications are presented and discussed.

Effect of different beam distances in laser soldering process: a numerical and experimental study

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the effect of different beam distance by understanding laser beam influence on solder joint quality. The utilisation numerical-based simulations and experimental validation will help to minimise the formation of micro void in PTH that can lead to cracks and defects on passive devices.Design/methodology/approachThe research uses a combination approach of numerical-based simulation using Finite Volume Method (FVM) and experimental validation to explore the impact of different laser beam distances on solder joint quality in PTH assemblies. The study visualises solder flow and identifies the optimal beam distance for placing a soldering workpiece and a suitable tolerance distance for inserting the solder wire.FindingsThe simulation results show the formation of micro void that occurs in PTH region with low volume fraction and unbalance heat concentration profile observed. The experimental results indicate that the focus point of the laser beam at a 99.0 mm distance yields the smallest beam size. Simulation visualisation demonstrates that the laser beam’s converging area at +4.6 mm from the focus point which provides optimal tolerance distances for placing the solder wire. The high-power laser diode exhibits maximum tolerance distance at 103.6 mm from the focus point where suitable beam distance for positioning of the soldering workpiece with 50% laser power. The simulation results align with the IPC-A-610 standard, ensuring optimal filling height, fillet shape with a 90° contact angle and defect-free.Practical implicationsThis research provides implications for the industry by demonstrating the capability of the simulation approach to produce high-quality solder joints. The parameters, such as beam distance and power levels, offer practical guidelines for improving laser soldering processes in the manufacturing industry.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the field by combining high-power laser diode technology with numerical-based simulations to optimise the beam distance parameters for minimising micro void formation in the PTH region.

Human Eyes-Inspired Recurrent Neural Networks Are More Robust Against Adversarial Noises.

Humans actively observe the visual surroundings by focusing on salient objects and ignoring trivial details. However, computer vision models based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) often analyze visual input all at once through a single feedforward pass. In this study, we designed a dual-stream vision model inspired by the human brain. This model features retina-like input layers and includes two streams: one determining the next point of focus (the fixation), while the other interprets the visuals surrounding the fixation. Trained on image recognition, this model examines an image through a sequence of fixations, each time focusing on different parts, thereby progressively building a representation of the image. We evaluated this model against various benchmarks in terms of object recognition, gaze behavior, and adversarial robustness. Our findings suggest that the model can attend and gaze in ways similar to humans without being explicitly trained to mimic human attention and that the model can enhance robustness against adversarial attacks due to its retinal sampling and recurrent processing. In particular, the model can correct its perceptual errors by taking more glances, setting itself apart from all feedforward-only models. In conclusion, the interactions of retinal sampling, eye movement, and recurrent dynamics are important to human-like visual exploration and inference.

A decade of advances in black soldier fly research: from genetics to sustainability

Abstract Black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, is one of the most explored insect species mass-produced for feed, but also for food and technical purposes. Considering the rapid developments in both research and industrial production of this insect species in the last decade, this review intends to reflect on the most current scientific insights and define the future trends and needs for the most relevant associated research fields. The review reflects on the aspects of BSF production and reproduction, utilization of BSF biomass as components of animals’ feeds and human food. It also provides reflection on genetics, microbiology and sustainability. The analysis identifies the need in future research associated with compositions of fungal and viral communities of insects and their environments and mapping the dynamics of BSF gut physiology and microbiota in varying conditions. High interest will be devoted to establishing genomic resources, to characterize genotypic diversity, and to harness its potential through selective breeding to improve BSF performance quantitatively and/or qualitatively. Further research will follow on the use of BSF for food and feed development, potentially for specific application cases, associated with animal gut microbiome improvement and antimicrobial properties of BSF biomass. The further in-depth exploration of the potential of BSF for waste biotransformation and the assessment of its circularity potential are also expected to be major focus points of research in the next decade.

Selective hydrolysis of traditional Chinese medicine residue into reducing sugars catalysed by sulfonated carbon catalyst and application of hydrolysate

The conversion of waste into high-value products has long been a focus point of research in green and sustainable chemistry. In this study, a novel value-adding strategy was devised to not only facilitate the resource utilization of biomass waste like Chinese medicine residue (CMR) and pomelo peel but also contribute to the advancement of microalgae cultivation. Sulfonated biochar PP-700-S was synthesized from pomelo peel waste, and its morphology and structural characteristics were analyzed. An effective method for the hydrolysis of CMR using PP-700-S as a catalyst in the aqueous phase was then explored, with a thorough investigation of the process and key influencing factors. Under the reaction conditions of 130 °C, 24 h, 20 mL H2O, CMR: PP-700-S = 1: 1, a 51.87 % yield of reducing sugars was directly obtained from the CMR, with PP-700-S exhibiting the selectivity of glucose production. Subsequently, the hydrolysate (HL-CMR) was utilized as a growth medium for microalgae, revealing that the presence of HL-CMR enhanced the nutrient balance in the medium, creating a more conducive environment for microalgae growth. Overall, this study presents a sustainable and efficient pathway for the utilization of lignocellulosic waste, facilitating the conversion of waste into higher-value products and contributing to the development of a green and sustainable science.

“Are you OK doctor?” An expanded health belief model exploration of doctors’ experiences and perspectives of on-shift health behaviour

ABSTRACT Purpose Understanding doctors’ health beliefs is essential for developing effective and competent healthcare practices that benefit doctors and their patients. This study aimed to qualitatively explore doctors’ perceptions of on-shift health-protective behaviours and their perceived effects on competence. Methods The research applied theoretically driven Expanded Health Belief Model (EHBM) enquiry methods to explore beliefs and experiences through an occupational context survey, 14 individual depth interviews, and two focus groups. Semantic and deductive themes associated with EHBM domains were examined, and an inductive thematic analysis of the interviews was conducted. Results Doctors’ beliefs were strongly imbued by their perceived identity within the systemic context; they expressed impaired self-efficacy in reacting to their health needs on shift, and several disclosed harm to themselves and patients. Dominant themes included the psychosocial effects of the systemic culture and the influence of the situational occupational context in impacting health-protective behavioural action. The context and implications of experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed. Conclusions This study presents key belief-oriented factors influencing doctors’ health-protective behaviour at work and its implications for competent practice. Further doctor-led guidance on focus points for evidence-based theoretically driven health improvement solutions is provided regarding operational practice, formulating policies, developing interventions and further research.

IMS CUBE, A NEW RISK MODEL FOR INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN AVIATION

Airlines have implemented various management systems to avoid different risks but without considering interoperability or integration. This results in a lack of a holistic view and a counterproductive and isolated approach to managing different risks. Therefore, this article proposes a newly designed model to have an integrated system for airlines to ensure interoperability and demonstrate the added value of such a model. The model is based on a survey outcome which confirmed the need for interoperability amongst different management systems. The developed model creates a language for key processes in different management systems, enabling different management systems to create interoperability. The language consists of 3 components used by the different systems. Adding a process to integrate all the different systems provides a holistic view of how each management system works together by providing focus points for the different risks airlines face. Together with the concept of the IMS cube, a new practical model is developed and provides new insights into the different management systems, which remain undetected when looking at management systems individually. It is concluded that a holistic risk profile assists airlines in making decisions which impact multiple management systems rather than individual management systems.

Research on Project-Based Teaching Strategies for the Chinese Curriculum of International Baccalaureate (IB) based on the SAMR Model

In the digital era, there have been significant changes in international students’ Chinese language learning patterns and methods. The integration of information technology and project-based teaching not only promotes the demand for applications and learning media but also provides new opportunities to enhance student’s critical thinking abilities. However, project-based teaching of information technology and Chinese is prone to the misconception of seeking the most suitable application or learning medium for verification. The SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition) model is an educational model based on Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives for “creative” teaching. This information technology-integrated teaching method provides students with diverse learning experiences. The Chinese language course of the International Baccalaureate (IB) aims to cultivate students’ profound understanding of literature, language, and culture by providing a critical exploration learning experience in the field of language and literature. It encourages students to explore similarities and differences between different cultures, delve into topics or works of interest, and conduct independent language and literature research projects. The project-based learning approach helps students meet their further academic research and personal growth skills needs, cultivating them as language users and lifelong learners who are willing to explore and have critical thinking skills. The application exploration of the SAMR model in project-based teaching proposes relevant suggestions for the integration of information technology and Chinese teaching in the digital era and provides some new focus points for effective strategies and paths of IB Chinese teaching: encouraging teachers to improve students’ skills in collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking (4C) through advanced teaching at four different levels of SAMR model, flexible use of teaching rounds, creation of GRASPS teaching evaluation scenarios, and design of conceptual driving tasks, in order to achieve the improvement of language and literature construction and application abilities, and further promote the collaboration and autonomy of IB Chinese project-based learning process.

The hidden influence: exploring presence in human-synthetic interactions through ghostbots

Presence is a palpable sense of space, things and others that overlaps with matters of meaning, yet is not reducible to it: it is a dimension of things that hides in plain sight. This paper is motivated by observations that (1) presence is under-appreciated in questions of modern and nascent human-synthetic agent interaction, and (2) that presence matters because it affects and moves us. The paper’s goal is to articulate a multi-faceted understanding of presence, and why it matters, so the importance of presence may be readily understood by those who regulate media, digital and artificial intelligence (AI) industries. Novel forms of presence raise all sorts of questions of what it means to live with new forms of presences. Some of these are highly positive and others are resistant to simplistic moral diagnosis, a point explored through extended consideration of ‘thanatechnology’ and ‘ghostbots’. To clarify and foreground presence, this paper draws on continental philosophy and technologist ideas about presence to understand the significance and parameters of presence. It then puts these to work by considering a range of existing and emerging human-synthetic agent interactions, arguing that that presence is an underappreciated yet crucial factor in human-synthetic interactions, particularly involving AI and ghostbots. The paper concludes with points of focus for organisations charged with media, data protection and AI governance regarding facets of presence-based characteristics for emergent human-synthetic interaction. Foremost is consideration of open standards for a presence-based afterlife and suggestion of a temporal firewall, or a break of time before resurrection, to prevent harm to those who have recently lost someone.

Bifurcation analysis, and exact solutions of the two-mode Cahn–Allen equation by a novel variable coefficient auxiliary equation method

This document elaborates on a newly introduced analytical method known as the “Variable Coefficient Generalized Abel Equation Method,” as proposed by Hashemi in Hashemi (2024), designed specifically for addressing the two-mode Cahn–Allen equation. Diverging from conventional techniques that heavily rely on constant coefficient ordinary differential equations and auxiliary ordinary differential equations, our method innovatively incorporates variable coefficient ordinary differential equations within a sub-equation framework. Demonstrating its versatility, we apply this innovative technique to the two-mode Cahn–Allen equation, showcasing its effectiveness and efficiency through the derivation of analytical solutions. Notably, this method emerges as a promising tool for tackling complex nonlinear partial differential equations prevalent in fluid dynamics and wave propagation scenarios. Beyond merely expanding the repertoire of available analytical tools, our approach contributes to advancing solutions for various models within the realm of mathematical physics. Various forms of exact solutions, including exponential-type solutions, Kink solitons, dark solitons, and bright soliton solutions, are obtained for the model under consideration. Moreover, we delve into the analysis of bifurcation, chaotic behavior, and sensitivity within the context of the two-mode Cahn–Allen model, further enhancing the depth and breadth of our study. Three equilibria are analyzed across various classifications, including center point, focus point, saddle point, and node point. Chaotic behavior of the corresponding dynamical system is considered by adding the function ω1sin(ω2ζ). Lastly, sensitivity analysis of the system is conducted by examining different parameters of the model and imposing noise to the initial conditions.

"Empowerment for Us by Us (E4UBU)": Developing a Model of Empowerment Using Feminist Participatory Methods with LBQT+ Persons Assigned Female at Birth in Western Kenya.

Lesbian, bisexual, queer, trans and other gender diverse persons assigned female at birth (heretofore referred to as "LBQT+ persons") in Western Kenya experience intersectional oppression and stigma. This stigma can manifest in acts of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and sexual and gender minority (SGM)-based violence, as well as various forms of discrimination-all of which have been linked to disproportionately higher levels of negative health outcomes for this group. Despite these challenges, many LBQT+ persons have been able to gain personal and collective power and thrive in this oppressive environment. The Empowerment for Us by Us (E4UBU) project is a mixed methods feminist participatory research study focused on exploring how LBQT+ persons conceptualize and define empowerment for themselves, and to understand their perspectives on how feelings of power and powerlessness influence their physical and mental health. This paper focuses on data from the first phase of the study, in which qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 40 LBQT+ persons (ages 19 to 50) from Kisumu and Homa Bay in Western Kenya. A participatory interpretive phenomenological analysis was conducted to understand the lived experiences of LBQT+ persons as they navigate intersectional oppression and its influence on their experiences of empowerment and subsequent health outcomes. Findings from this analysis were presented to two different focus groups composed of participants who had participated in the in-depth interviews to gather their insights on the interpretations of the interviews as a form of member checking. Findings revealed that "empowerment" was not experienced and viewed by LBQT+ persons as a monolithic construct, but rather a process through which LBQT+ persons are able to transform negative forces of intersectional oppression and powerlessness into experiences of power and subsequent individual and collective action and impact-all leading to improved mental health and well-being. This process is facilitated at several junctures by participatory seeking and attainment of community-appropriate resources at multiple socio-ecological levels that, when accessed with sufficient intensity, frequency, and duration, enhance one's journey through the process of empowerment. These facilitation junctures are viewed as likely points of focus for public health intervention. Analysis also revealed that the process of empowerment is dependent on the context within which the process is occurring, the specific issues being faced, and the population of focus. Recommendations for how this model can be used for future research and practice to improve the lives of LBQT+ persons in Kenya are discussed.

Innovative Approach to Identify the Readiness Factors to Realize Green Ergonomics in Sustainable Service Organizations

The relationships between humans and the environment have recently been incorporated into ergonomics in an effort to broaden the discipline’s traditional scope. Green ergonomics is an emerging field of study that has discovered links between people’s well-being and a sense of connection to nature. The study aims to build a conceptual model to identify the readiness factors for green ergonomics in healthcare organizations, which are the primary focus point of the current study. To determine the readiness factors, a review of the literature and a survey of healthcare experts’ opinions were conducted. The healthcare professionals validated the identified readiness factors. Data for this study were gathered using a closed-ended questionnaire and scheduled interviews. The study employed total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) methodology and cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis to address why and how the factors interact and prioritize the identified readiness factors. Ten green ergonomics readiness factors were identified in this study. Design principles (F4), green buildings (F1), ergoecology (F2), audit working practices/risk assessments (F3), and professional practice (F6) had strong driving power and weak dependence, thus being identified as key factors or driving factors for green ergonomics in healthcare organizations. Although the study primarily focused on the readiness factors for green ergonomics in healthcare organizations, the scope could eventually be expanded to explore more areas. Academics and other stakeholders will have a better understanding of the key drivers and the readiness factors for healthcare green ergonomics. In this study, the total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) and cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis for healthcare together are proposed as an innovative approach to address the green ergonomics concept.

Women and Roman religion in Dacia: the epigraphic evidence

The role of women in Roman religious communication is a growing research field, with several significant focus points and case studies. Understanding the role of women in religious communication within provincial contexts is one of the most fertile areas of research, yet it has not been thoroughly examined within the Danubian provinces. This study marks the first instance in historiography of Dacia where the focus is placed on exploring the role of women in Roman religious communication within the province, employing the comprehensive analysis of all available epigraphic evidence (112 inscriptions). The study provides methodological insights and underscores key research points for future systematic work that needs to be undertaken in the Danubian provinces.

Micro-surface crack inspection with arc-shaped bi-grating laser ultrasound spectroscopy

This paper introduces a novel method for detecting and characterizing initial micro-surface crack in metal structures and materials, with a particular focus on initial fatigue cracks. The proposed technique utilizes an arc-shaped double-spaced grating mask to spatially modulate laser beams, forming an arc-shaped bi-grating laser source on the surface of the specimen. This configuration excites two focused surface waves that have the same focus point but differ in frequency and propagate in opposite directions. By monitoring surface wave signals as they pass through defects and analyzing the relative changes in the amplitude of the frequency components in the spectrum of the reflected and transmitted waves, the initial defects can be identified. Both simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of this method in detecting tiny artificial surface cracks, including those shorter than 0.3 mm. In addition, this method has been successfully applied to the detection of actual initial fatigue cracks. Experimental findings demonstrate that focused surface waves enable highly sensitive detection of sub-millimeter fatigue cracks.

NLP as Individual Programming:

The current study is an attempt to analyze two literary texts, namely William Shakespeare's play Hamlet and Bachtyar Ali's Kurdish novel The City of White Musicians, in the light of, neurolinguistics as an individual programming. These are from two distinct literary traditions that were picked because they essentially share the appearance of ghosts. To find out how these subtleties affect the reader's understanding, neurolinguistics is applied. Consequently, the paper's title was chosen. The texts serve as a sort of manual, and our goal is to identify the link that connects language and reason. These pieces are meant to affect the reader both while they are written and after. As a result, the influence is similar to programming and adheres to one of the core ideas of neurolinguistics, which will be covered in the introduction. The research tries to answer issues like The extent to which literary works' particular programming and neurolinguistics influence readers. Likewise, how "reaching success," one of the fundamental ideas of programming, is perceived. Moreover, Are there any similarities between the English and Kurdish texts in terms of neurolinguistics and personal programming? The methodology of the research is a thematic analysis method that is through studying the language and special terms from a variety of perspectives to illustrate the personal programming that is present in the texts and forms the main body of this study. One of programming's core principles is that success serves as a focus point for the procedures, according to the study's major findings. Additionally, self-criticism and the will to succeed are two other neurolinguistics foundations that are present in both texts.

Augmented Feedback: A Compositional Approach to Acoustic Feedback in Digital Spaces

The research entitled "Augmented Feedback", is focused on developing a compositional practice, centered around acoustic feedback processing in digital spaces. I wish to explore acoustic feedback that occurs in virtual spaces, including the hybrid world of physical and digital space and physical phenomena that occurs from the excitation of feedback through microphones and loudspeakers. I will focus on experiments, reflections, developing techniques and functions that I have discovered while composing and experimenting with pieces that have used processed acoustic feedback as sonic material, microphones and loudspeakers as instruments. The outcome will have brief background and development reflections about my approach to feedback around my personal compositional practice, the historical side of feedback and how it relates to the works of other composers and artists, technical and philosophical content of feedback in compositional situations, and how my compositional approach led me to the term “augmented feedback”. “What if the sonority of feedback was not the center focus point of a piece? What else can we develop by using feedback and imagining it in different sonic landscapes? What is the mystique of its nonlinearity? How can we deal with microphones and loudspeakers as a musical instrument through using software environments?” are the main questions that drove me into researching feedback. Dividing these questions into subcategories: conceptual and compositional.