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Comparative analysis of player ability, game size, and ideal starting positions in Nim games

Sinha et al. | Aug 02, 2026

Comparative analysis of player ability, game size, and ideal starting positions in Nim games
Image credit: Immo Wegmann

Here the authors investigated the impact of player ability versus starting positions in the game of Nim under imperfect play, hypothesizing that player skill becomes the primary determinant of outcomes as pile sizes grow. Through computational simulations and a mathematical model, they demonstrated that favorable starting positions lose their advantage over time and provide key insights to help improve reinforcement learning algorithms in abstract, complex decision-making environments.

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Does technology help or hurt learning? Evidence from middle school and high school students

Lu et al. | Oct 02, 2022

Does technology help or hurt learning? Evidence from middle school and high school students

Here, recognizing the vastly different opinion held regarding device usage, the authors considered the effects of technology use on middle and high school students' learning effectiveness. Using an anonymous online survey they found partial support that device use at school increases learning effectiveness, but found strong support for a negative effect of technology use at home on learning effectiveness. Based on their findings they suggest that the efficacy of technology depends on environmental context along with other important factors that need consideration.

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