Table Of ContentLearning and Analytics in Intelligent Systems 14
George A. Tsihrintzis
Maria Virvou Editors
Advances in
Core Computer
Science-Based
Technologies
Papers in Honor of Professor Nikolaos
Alexandris
Learning and Analytics in Intelligent Systems
Volume 14
Series Editors
George A. Tsihrintzis, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
Maria Virvou, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
Lakhmi C. Jain, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology,
Centre for Artificial Intelligence, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW,
Australia;
KES International, Shoreham-by-Sea, UK;
Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, UK
Themainaimoftheseriesistomakeavailableapublicationofbooksinhardcopy
form and soft copy form on all aspects of learning, analytics and advanced
intelligentsystemsandrelatedtechnologies.Thementioneddisciplinesarestrongly
related and complement one another significantly. Thus, the series encourages
cross-fertilization highlighting research and knowledge of common interest. The
series allows a unified/integrated approach to themes and topics in these scientific
disciplines which will result in significant cross-fertilization and research dissem-
ination. To maximize dissemination of research results and knowledge in these
disciplines, the series publishes edited books, monographs, handbooks, textbooks
and conference proceedings.
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/16172
George A. Tsihrintzis Maria Virvou
(cid:129)
Editors
Advances in Core Computer
Science-Based Technologies
Papers in Honor of Professor Nikolaos
Alexandris
123
Editors
George A.Tsihrintzis Maria Virvou
Department ofInformatics Department ofInformatics
University of Piraeus University of Piraeus
Piraeus, Greece Piraeus, Greece
ISSN 2662-3447 ISSN 2662-3455 (electronic)
Learning andAnalytics in Intelligent Systems
ISBN978-3-030-41195-4 ISBN978-3-030-41196-1 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41196-1
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The Assembly of the Department of
Informatics of the University of Piraeus, with
its unanimous decision of December 16,
2019, wholeheartedly dedicates this volume
in honor of Prof. Nikolaos Alexandris.
—
Foreword The Knot: A Tool for Craft
and Science
NikolaosAlexandrisisamathematician,whostandsoutfor
knowinghowtosolveknottyproblemswithoutboasting.
Theknot,justlikethewheel,isoneofthefundamentaltoolshumanscreated,which
effectively promoted the development of civilization. The first knot in everyone’s
lifeistheumbilical cord,whichisseveredwhenthenew-bornleaves themother’s
womb (Fig. 1).
Fig.1 Knot
Aknot(theAncientGreekkomvos,meaningnotonlytheactualknot,butalsoa
nodandanodalpoint,andwhenturnedintoaverbmeaning‘boast’—asinthefirst
sentence of this text—which means ‘creating my own public image’, similar to
‘blowing myowntrumpet’)canbeusedtorestrictorconnect.Inother words,itis
directly related to a bond, bonding or commitment, and the activities of knitting,
weaving and needlework. To cover their nakedness human invented weaving.
Knittingproducesbraidsand rope, twoprevalenttoolsfor dailylife.Many objects
are joined/linked with the help of knots. The loom operates using knots and is
directly reflected in the computer. Needlework highlights the aesthetic aspect of
Fig.2 Macramé
vii
viii Foreword—TheKnot:AToolforCraftandScience
Fig.3 Celticknotwork
knotsbothinthecraftsmanshipandthemechanicsofmakingthem.Thisisalsotrue
in jewellery-making and the decorative arts (see Figs. 2 and 3).
AFrenchknot,braids,bows,necktiesandthewaytheyaretiedareallimportant
for both men’s and women’s appearance. Swaddling and girdles also use knots.
Buttons (komvion or koumbi, in Ancient and Modern Greek, respectively) and the
button-hole (Ancient Greek komviodochi = button receptacle) replaced knots in
garments.
Knots led to webs, and the intersection points are called nodal (komvika in
Ancient Greek).
In ancient Egypt, ‘rope stretchers’ often used ropes with knots to form right
angles to mark field borders following the River Nile floods.
Theknotisalsoakindof‘Swissknife’forsailors(ropes/nets),whilenavalknots
are particularly important in the training of Sea Cadets. A fisherman is considered
ready to join the trade when they can tie the hook and disentangle the numerous
verticallinesdroppedwith‘katheti’anglingorwithnetfishing.Ashipistiedtothe
dockwithanordinaryknot.Knotswerealsousedtodefinetheunittomeasurethe
speed of marine vessels.
There is a list classifying all knots, from the simplest to most complex one [8].
Whenreferringtoweaving,Platounderlined:Ofcourse,nomanofsensewould
wishtopursuethediscussionofweavingforitsownsake,butmostpeople,itseems
to me, fail to notice that some things have sensible resemblances which are easily
perceived’ (Statesman/Politicus 285d), concluding that a politician’s art resembles
the craft of weaving wool.
A knot may be necessary, inevitable or undesirable. It may be born of need,
carelessness,rush,intentionorjustbycoincidence,whileitspurposedeterminesthe
material used to make it (yarn, rope, fishing line, etc.). The knot holds together,
protects, stops, blocks or prevents a hazard.
Experienceteachesthatit isdifficult tounravel aknot if onedoesnotknowthe
wayitwascreated.Thetimeandcostspenttocreateaknotandthetechniquesused
are the basic parameters that will help unravel it.
Playing with knots can be an interesting leisure activity or used as a juggling
trick.
Undoingaknot isnecessarywhenitsexistencemakesit difficult forthesystem
containing it to operate. However, the security certain systems require makes it
imperative to use knots that cannot be easily undone.
Foreword—TheKnot:AToolforCraftandScience ix
Aknotisassociatedwiththelossoflifeorwithaperson’srescue.Executionby
hangingorrescuingamountaineeroraspeleologist,bothrelyonthehelpofknots
and loops.
In Medicine, a knot is a basic tool for therapeutic interventions and operations
(surgery, trauma care, physiotherapy, etc.). In the paper ‘Iatrikai Synagogai’
(Medical Collections) by Oreibasius of Pergamum (Pergamenus), an eminent
physicianandphilosopherofthefourthcenturyAD,includestheorthopaedicknots
and slings Heraclas, a physician used in the first century AD (see Figs. 4 and 5)
Finally, the pharyngeal knot (globus pharyngeus/lump in the throat) is a known
annoying symptom.
Fig.4 PlinthiosBrokhos
[4-loopbandagenoose]
Fig.5 Crossednoose
Linkingwouldbeinconceivablewithoutknots.Sorcererspromisedthatbytying
and using knots on effigies they could harness harmful forces. A prayer rope is
made up of successive cross-shaped knots, to accompany the devout during their
prayers. The worry-beads (komboloi = literally a string of knots) have replaced
prayer knots with beads, so that a sound is also produced during their use.
TheIncaskeptaccountingrecordsfortheirdailyneedswiththehelpofaquipu,
i.e., a knotted yarn system (like prayer beads), which they also put to other uses.
The knot, as a symbol, describes typical aspects of human behaviour.
Indicatively, the Ancient Greeks used the verb kompazo and the Mediaeval Greek
the verb komborrhemono to express boasting. Aeschylus’ works ‘But his boast is
tooproudforamerehuman’[SevenagainstThebes,425]characterisesabragging
persons way of thinking. Similarly, Sophocles [Antigone 127] notes that ‘… Zeus
detests above all the boasts of a proud tongue’.
x Foreword—TheKnot:AToolforCraftandScience
Fig.6 Quipu[TalkingKnot]
Dailyexpressionslike‘theknothitthecomb’[that’sthelaststraw]or‘thisisthe
knot (crux) of the matter’ indicate life problems and difficulties, while if you are
‘buttoned up’ (Koumbomenos), you are cagey. Finally, ‘I turned my sorrows into
knots’impliesastoicapproachtomisfortunes,while‘Igotmixedup’impliesbeing
entangled in a ball of yarn (Fig. 6).
‘Kombodema’ (money tied in a kerchief knot) describes the arduous way of
savingpenniestoachieveaspecificgoal.Theterm‘kombogiannitis’(charlatan—a
persontryingtorestorehealthbytyingknots,likeasorcerer)referstoanyonewho
lacks the qualifications to undertake the tasks of their trade, while ‘tying a knot in
one’s kerchief’ is a reminder for something one should not forget.
In Fine arts, knots appear in various forms, as in Escher’s works. In cinematic
art, there is a well-known film by the Russian director Aleksandr Sokurov called
‘The Knot’ [Uzel or Dialogues with Solzhenitsyn].
In music, knots are used for tuning string instruments.
Aeschylus,in‘PrometheusBound’,presentsthetitan’sdivinepunishmentusing
the chains made by Hephaestus to tie the tragic hero to the rock.
Fig.7 Escher’sknots
For psychiatrist R. D. Laing, ‘Knots’, his famous work [5], refers to the inter-
twining of patient’s words to express their condition (Fig. 7).
The power and craftsmanship required to make or unravel a knot often need
coordinated movements and a fair amount of patience. Of course, the way the
Gordian knot was undone by Alexander the Great presents a violent solution.
