bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep learning for biosignal control: insights from basic to real-time methods with recommendations
Authors: Dillen Arnau , Steckelmacher Denis , Efthymiadis Kyriakos , Langlois Kevin , De Beir Albert , Marusic Uros , Vanderborght Bram , Nowé Ann , Meeusen Romain , Ghaffari Fakhreddine , Romain Olivier , De Pauw Kevin
Published: January 2022

Objective. Biosignal control is an interaction modality that allows users to interact with electronic devices by decoding the biological signals emanating from the movements or thoughts of the user. This manner of interaction with devices can enhance the sense of agency for users and enable persons suffering from a paralyzing condition to interact with everyday devices that would otherwise be challenging for them to use. It can also improve control of prosthetic devices and exoskeletons by making the interaction feel more natural and intuitive. However, with the current state of the art, several issues still need to be addressed to reliably decode user intent from biosignals and provide an improved user experience over other interaction modalities. One solution is to leverage advances in deep learning (DL) methods to provide more reliable decoding at the expense of added computational complexity. This scoping review introduces the basic concepts of DL and assists readers in deploying DL methods to a real-time control system that should operate under real-world conditions. Approach. The scope of this review covers any electronic device, but with an emphasis on robotic devices, as this is the most active area of research in biosignal control. We review the literature pertaining to the implementation and evaluation of control systems that incorporate DL to identify the main gaps and issues in the field, and formulate suggestions on how to mitigate them. Main results. The results highlight the main challenges in biosignal control with DL methods. Additionally, we were able to formulate guidelines on the best approach to designing, implementing and evaluating research prototypes that use DL in their biosignal control systems. Significance. This review should assist researchers that are new to the fields of biosignal control and DL in successfully deploying a full biosignal control system. Experts in their respective fields can use this article to identify possible avenues of research that would further advance the development of biosignal control with DL methods.
Ancestral sequence reconstruction for co-evolutionary models
Authors: Rodríguez-Horta Edwin , Lage-Castellanos Alejandro , Mulet Roberto
Published: January 2022

The ancestral sequence reconstruction problem is the inference, back in time, of the properties of common sequence ancestors from the measured properties of contemporary populations. Standard algorithms for this problem assume independent (factorized) evolution of the characters of the sequences, which is generally wrong (e.g. proteins and genome sequences). In this work, we have studied this problem for sequences described by global co-evolutionary models, which reproduce the global pattern of cooperative interactions between the elements that compose it. For this, we first modeled the temporal evolution of correlated real valued characters by a multivariate Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process on a finite tree. This represents sequences as Gaussian vectors evolving in a quadratic potential, who describe the selection forces acting on the evolving entities. Under a Bayesian framework, we developed a reconstruction algorithm for these sequences and obtained an analytical expression to quantify the quality of our estimation. We extend this formalism to discrete valued sequences by applying our method to a Potts model. We showed that for both continuous and discrete configurations, there is a wide range of parameters where, to properly reconstruct the ancestral sequences, intra-species correlations must be taken into account. We also demonstrated that, for sequences with discrete elements, our reconstruction algorithm outperforms traditional schemes based on independent site approximations.
Noise-induced transition in the Zeldovich–Semenov model with local and global bifurcations
Authors: Yu Qing , Liu Xianbin
Published: January 2022

The noise-induced transition of the Zeldovich–Semenov model in a continuous stirred tank reactor is investigated under small random perturbations. The deterministic model will exhibit mono- and bistable characteristics via local and global bifurcations. In the bistable zone, based on the Freidlin–Wentzell large deviation theory, the stochastic preference is explained by analyzing the required action of the fluctuational path. For the case of monostability, in the weak noise limit, the emergence of the switching line gives rise to the sudden switch of the optimal path and the sliding cycle will appear via the sliding bifurcation, which is verified by numerical methods. In addition, when there is no saddle in phase space, stochastic excitation with large-amplitude spikes is studied. On the quasi-threshold manifold, the point with the minimum quasi-potential plays the same role as the saddle, which means that the optimal path will undergo a large excursion by crossing this special point. These phenomena are verified by employing stochastic simulations.
Optimal quantum transfer from input flying qubit to lossy quantum memory
Authors: Chatterjee Eric , Soh Daniel , Eichenfield Matt
Published: January 2022

In a quantum network, a key challenge is to minimize the direct reflection of flying qubits as they couple to stationary, resonator-based memory qubits, as the reflected amplitude represents state transfer infidelity that cannot be directly recovered. Optimizing the transfer fidelity can be accomplished by dynamically varying the resonator’s coupling rate to the flying qubit field. Here, we analytically derive the optimal coupling rate profile in the presence of intrinsic loss of the quantum memory using an open quantum systems method that can account for intrinsic resonator losses. We show that, since the resonator field must be initially empty, an initial amplitude in the resonator must be generated in order to cancel reflections via destructive interference; moreover, we show that this initial amplitude can be made sufficiently small as to allow the net infidelity throughout the complete transfer process to be close to unity. We then derive the time-varying resonator coupling that maximizes the state transfer fidelity as a function of the initial population and intrinsic loss rate, providing a complete protocol for optimal quantum state transfer between the flying qubit and resonator qubit. We present analytical expressions and numerical examples of the fidelities for the complete protocol using exponential and Gaussian profiles. We show that a state transfer fidelity of around 99.9% can be reached momentarily before the quantum information is lost due to the intrinsic loss in practical resonators used as quantum memories.
Spatial assessment of air pollution due to mining and industrial activities: a case study of Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine
Authors: Batur Maryna , Babii Kateryna
Published: January 2022

Air pollution has remained a primary concern over the last decades. Respirable particulate matters (PM) PM2.5 and PM10 are the main atmospheric pollutants that have an adverse effect on human health. This study aimed to examine the air quality of Kryvyi Rih region through the spatial assessment by means of Ordinary Kriging. The study region has a major iron ore basin with several open cast mining operations and industrial activities, which are mainly contribute to the environmental issues. For the study, 10 monitoring stations were chosen located around the main residential and industrial areas of the city. The results showed that industrial plants were the largest sources of PM emissions. The average Air Quality Index (AQI) of PM2.5 and PM10 for the observed period obtained from the station located in close vicinity to the industrial plants were 170 and 89 respectively. Additionally, the 48 hours of PM dynamics were graphically analysed. It was found that PM reaches a peak primary between 12 AM and 12 PM before falling a little between 12 PM and 12 AM.
Efficiency of mine water use in the centralized heat supply system of city district
Authors: Kolienko Anatolii , Ahmednabiev Rasul , Turchenko Vitalii , Bondar Liudmyla , Demchenko Oksana
Published: January 2022

Technological solutions for the use of mine waters energy potential in district heating system of settlements in the coal-mining regions using heat pumps have been substantiated. Using the example of mines in the Central Donbas, an analysis of composition and quantity of mine waters has been carried out, an assessment of the energy potential of mine waters and an assessment of the sufficiency of such a potential to meet the needs of buildings of cities for heating and hot water supply have been carried out. A schematic diagram has been developed for the implementation of a project for the use of mine water in district heating systems in cities while maintaining the function of existing boiler heating systems as peak sources of heat. Thermodynamic calculations of the heat pump cycle in real conditions of using mine water have been carried out. A quantitative assessment of the main technical, economic and environmental indices of the project is presented. The selection of equipment has been carried out and the efficiency assessment of its work has been made. It is recommended to use heat pumps using the thermal potential of mine water in district heating systems for both operating and closed mines.
Development of methods and software algorithms for state forecast of the ultimate stressed rock massif
Authors: Slashchov Anton , Yalanskyi Oleksii , Slashchov Ihor , Siromaschenko Illya
Published: January 2022

The article covers a live scientific problem consisting in development of new and improving of existing digital technologies for forecasting a stress-strain state of ultimate stressed rock massif. The analysis of the researches has shown that the approaches based on the synthesis of mine monitoring methods and analytical forecasting methods are promising for assessing the state of ultimate stressed rocks. The existing hazard indicators can be beaded by the integral indicators of the stress-strain state of the rock massif determined with the help of geo-information systems. However, there are no methods, algorithms and software for figuring these indications. As a result of the research, methods of implementation and functions of software elements have been developed for determining integral indicators characterizing the state of an ultimate stressed rock massif. The “Methodological recommendations …” have been developed, which describes specificity of using the information system for forecast integral parameters of the rock massif stress-strain state and assessing the conditions for the rock destruction. The use of the designed methods, algorithms and software decreases geomechanical risks of gas-dynamic phenomenon occurrence, reduces cost of breakdown elimination and increases economical efficiency of the mining enterprises.
Numerical investigation of additional gas supply angle influence on flow in jet mill ejector
Authors: Ihnatiev Oleksandr , Shevelova Hanna , Strelnykov Hennadii , Blyuss Borys
Published: January 2022

The results of numerical simulation of the flow in the jet mill ejector which is equipped with an additional gas supply channel have been presented. The influence of the supply system parameters on the nature of the flow in the ejector accelerating tube has been investigated. A comparative analysis of the change in the flow structure in the ejector for different values of the additional gas flow angle has been carried out. The dependences of the flow velocity at the outlet of the accelerating tube, the ejection coefficient and the thickness of the protective layer on the angle of the additional energy carrier supply have been scrutinized. The maximum values of the average output velocities for the given ranges of the additional flow parameters have been determined. Recommendations for the choice of geometric and gas-dynamic parameters of the additional gas flow to ensure the highest efficiency of the acceleration process in the jet mill ejector have been developed. The choice of the angle of the additional gas flow supply, which provides the highest average velocity at the outlet from the accelerating tube with the highest ejection coefficient, has been substantiated.
Influence of low-frequency vibrations on mass transfer in pores
Authors: Lutsenko Vasyl , Yelisieiev Volodymyr , Sovit Yurii
Published: January 2022

The work is devoted to the numerical investigation of mass transfer in a narrow extended channel at small low-frequency fluid vibrations. These questions are of interest for technological processes associated with impregnation and filtration. Three different series of mass transfer problems are considered. In the first series a low velocity flow with some diffusing component was supplied through the initial section of a long thin rectangular channel. In the second series the speed fluctuation near the zero point was considered, i.e. there was no stationary component of the fluid velocity in the channel. In the third series of calculations the mass transfer was determined for the case when the dissolving substance was absorbed on the opposite wall of the channel. Calculations of mass transfer in capillary channels showed that with longitudinal oscillations of the flow in the channel, the amplitude of the velocity oscillations has the main influence while the frequencies play practically no role.
Method for determining the trajectories of particle movement in the undermined rock mass
Authors: Kodunov Boris
Published: January 2022

A method for determining the coordinates of particles displaced as a result of undermining a rock mass is considered, which makes it possible to pre-calculate displacements and deformations of a rock mass and the earth’s surface. When compiling a model, a rock mass is considered as a discrete layered medium of a block structure. The mined seam is divided into elementary sections, which generate zones of displacement of rocks and the earth’s surface. As a result of their addition, a common area of displacement is formed due to whole working area, and particles of rocks or the earth’s surface move, forming displacement vectors. The direction and value of these vectors can be used to define changes in the position of the original line or surface and corresponding deformations caused by these changes. Mathematical modeling of the displacement process makes it possible to establish the patterns of spatial movement of points. Comparison of the calculated trajectories of points with the results obtained during mining operations relevealed their similarity. The proposed method can be used to predict the displacements of points in the undermined rock mass during the movement of the longwall face.
Forecasting the parameters of displacement of rocks and the earth’s surface on the basis of mathematical modeling in the conditions of underground mining of gold ore deposits
Authors: Sayyidkosimov Sayyijabbor , Nizamova Albina
Published: January 2022

To substantiate the conditions of safe mining of the ore deposit sections of the Charmitan deposit (Zarmitan gold ore zone), the change in the stress-strain state of the rock mass has been estimated during the actual mining. In the article, researches have been carried out to solve geomechanical problems using numerical modeling based on the finite element method. Based on the performed calculation on the finite element model of the stress-strain state of the massif several sizes (62 m, 40 m and 41 m) of safety pillar have been analyzed. To compare the results obtained in the model, the calculation of the expected deformations for the protected area has been performed at the power of the safety pillar 43 m.
Economic aspects of ecological conditions at the enterprise caused by technogenic pollution
Authors: Khorolskyi Valentin , Kvitka Tatyana , Serebrenykov Vadim , Khotskina Valentina
Published: January 2022

Mathematical modeling of the ecological state of the enterprise at technogenic pollution is stated. It is proved that the reduction of costs for eco-modernization of the mining and metallurgical complex leads to an increase in the cost of treatment of workers. The question arises about the creation of an ecological state of the enterprise, which corresponds to the optimal profit, taking into account the restrictions associated with fabricated pollution. To assess the cost of this, an indicator is used that determines the intensity of diseases of workers per unit time depending on the concentration of harmful substances. The problem is solved by minimizing the economic criterion, taking into account the limitations. A computational experiment on a mathematical model is implemented, which confirms the results of analytical calculations. The application of similarity theory reduces the number of variables from four to two, which simplifies the analysis of the results of a computational experiment. This allows top managers of mining and metallurgical enterprises to build a system for monitoring the territory and design the eco-modernization of enterprises by 2030.
Concerning the static balance optimization for excavator SRs 2000
Authors: Nedyalkov Petko , Minin Ivan , Vrazhilski Dragomir
Published: January 2022

Balancing the excavator structure is a widely considered topic that directly relies on the operation, the wear of nodes connecting the upper and the lower structures of the excavator and especially on the stability of the excavator at the operational site. The present paper considers the balance of the excavator structures of the SRs 2000 excavator with idealization to some static positions and simplification of the interactions to static ones. This allows positional regard of the most used positions under operating conditions. This approach derives some dependences clarifying the static balancing of the super structure of the excavator to the undercarriage, taking into account the interactions of both the weight parameters, as of the structural units, as of the main external forces. There are derived dependences for determining the load of ballast weights during repair and modernization of excavator structures
Justification of the hydro-mechanical systems operating modes, used for restoring accumulation capacity of tailings storages
Authors: Medvedieva Olha , Semenenko Yevhen , Blyuss Borys , Skosyriev Viktor
Published: January 2022

The paper describes the ways to extend the service life of tailings storage facilities by restoring their accumulation capacity. Analysis of the state-of-the-art experience in tailings management is provided. Restoring is carried out due to the following: storing of waste as paste-like slurry; raising embankment; intensifying wastewater treatment process in ponds by means of coagulation agents; selection of adequate alluviation maps mode; specifying parameters of surface and underwater alluvial beaches; implementing the separate storage of solid-phase fractions; preliminary pulp clarification in alluviation maps before supplying it to the pond. Due to the long length of the hydrotransport lines, the use of paste thickeners in the mining and processing plants of Kryvbas is impossible. These technologies are implemented at new storage facilities where waste is placed in the first tier. The aim of this study is to determine and substantiate parameters of hydro-mechanical systems during the operation of tailing facilities with temporary clarifiers. The study for the first time established relationship between the temporary pond operation time. There are such parameters as concentration and consumption of slurry, initial depth of the pond filling, barrier dam height and the length of alluvial front.
Tamponage of massif by modern polymeric materials for isolating mined-out areas in the coal seams prone to spontaneous ignition
Authors: Krukovskyi Oleksandr , Kurnosov Serhii , Makeiev Serhii , Ryzhov Hennadii , Pilipenko Yurii
Published: January 2022

The causes of endogenous fires and methods to prevent coal spontaneous ignition were analyzed. Rational parameters of rock massif tamponage with different polymeric chemical compositions for stabilization of its stress-strain state and isolation of mine workings from methane penetration and fresh air leakage were investigated by the mine experimental methods. The dependences of the nominal pressure of injection of the chemical composition into the rock massif were established with taking into account coefficients of influence of rock type and stress concentration in the zones unloaded from rock pressure, in zones of geostatic pressure and in stress concentration zones. In order to control any accidental leaks of chemical composition through the main cracks, the stress-strain state of the rock massif in the mined area is taken into account for calculating the volume of substance to be injected. The parameters of methods for the rock massif cementation and tarring around the isolating bulkhead are substantiated. The method is developed for constructing a double isolating bulkhead in difficult mining and geological conditions to isolate the mined-out areas in the coal seams prone to spontaneous ignition.
Stress reindexation in coal seams when mining works cross zones of rupturing dislocations
Authors: Pylypenko Yurii , Konstantynova Iryna , Kliuiev Eduard , Ptak Mariusz
Published: January 2022

A description of the stress state of the coal seam contained tectonic disturbance with closed edges is presented. The area of the disturbance is shown in the form of an elliptical inclusion and rupturing dislocation with displaced edges. Stress state is defined as a superposition of two solutions on the reference pressure of the coal seam and zone of rupturing dislocation. Changes in the stress-strain state parameters leads to reindexation of the axes with preserving their spatial orientation. This leads to changes in geomechanical state of the coal seams and properties of coal and adjoining rocks when approaching and passing through tectonic disturbances.
Mechanically and biologically promoted cell-laden constructs generated using tissue-specific bioinks for tendon/ligament tissue engineering applications
Authors: Chae Suhun , Choi Yeong-Jin , Cho Dong-Woo
Published: January 2022

Tendon and ligament tissues provide stability and mobility crucial for musculoskeletal function, but are particularly prone to injury. Owing to poor innate healing capacity, the regeneration of mature and functional tendon/ligament (T/L) poses a formidable clinical challenge. Advanced bioengineering strategies to develop biomimetic tissue implants are highly desired for the treatment of T/L injuries. Here, we presented a cell-based tissue engineering strategy to generate cell-laden tissue constructs comprising stem cells and tissue-specific bioinks using 3D cell-printing technology. We implemented an in vitro preconditioning approach to guide semi-organized T/L-like formation before the in vivo application of cell-printed implants. During in vitro maturation, tissue-specific decellularized extracellular matrix-based cellular constructs facilitated long-term in vitro culture with high cell viability and promoted tenogenesis with enhanced cellular/structural anisotropy. Moreover, we demonstrated improved cell survival/retention upon in vivo implantation of pre-matured constructs in nude mice with de novo tendon formation and improved mechanical strength. Although in vivo mechanical properties of the cell-printed implants were lower than those of human T/L tissues, the results of this study may have significant implications for future cell-based therapies in tendon and ligament regeneration and translational medicine.
Transparent superhydrophobic film with anti-fouling and anti-scaling ability by facile method of dip-coating SiO2 Sol
Authors: Feng Xiaojuan , Shi Yanlong , Yin Xuelong , Wang Xue
Published: January 2022

In the past decades, the studies of materials with transparency and durable superhydrophobicity have captured much attention because of the versatile uses in outdoor glass wall, automobile windshield and solar panel. In this paper, a superhydrophobic and transparent SiO2 film with transmittance over 44% was obtained on glass substrate with a facile method of dip-coating without further modification. The contact angle and sliding angle of water droplet on the superhydrophobic film is 163.1° and 4°, respectively. The results reveal the performance of superhydrophobicity originates from the synergistic effects of rough SiO2 structures and hydrophobic alkyl with low surface energy. The SiO2 coating exhibits self-cleaning ability, anti-fouling property and anti-scaling performances. Furthermore, the SiO2 coatings have good thermal stability and resistance ability to acid and base. The techniques adopted here have the advantage of simple process, low cost and fluorine-free treatment, which may provide an useful reference for the preparation of transparent and superhydrophobic film in practice.
Exponential optical absorption edge in PbS quantum dot-ligand systems on single crystal rutile-TiO2 revealed by photoacoustic and absorbance spectroscopies
Authors: Toyoda Taro , Shen Qing , Nakazawa Naoki , Yoshihara Yasuha , Kamiyama Keita , Hayase Shuzi
Published: January 2022

The photovoltaic properties of quantum dot (QD) sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) depend significantly on the surface modification applied to the QDs and on the nanostructured interface between the QDs and the electrode surface. In the development of QDSCs with spatially ordered QD arrays, linking molecular ligands with the QDs (QD-ligands) can lead to the realization of novel QDSCs. The ligand shell around the QDs mediates the electron and energy transfer processes that underpin their use in QDSC applications. The dependence of the photovoltaic properties on the interparticle distance (QD spacing) can also be evaluated by applying different sizes of molecular ligands. The present study focuses on specific attention to the exponential optical absorption edge (often termed Urbach tail) in PbS QD-ligand systems with different QD spacing adsorbed on rutile-TiO2 (R-TiO2) substrates with different crystal orientations. It is essential to accurately characterize QD-ligands on electrode surfaces with different crystal orientations, not only for scientific studies, but to further optimize the growth conditions and processes in order to design and fabricate advanced QDSCs. Photoacoustic (PA) and conventional absorbance (Abs) spectroscopies were applied to determine the optical absorption and nonradiative relaxation properties. There is a discrepancy between the PA and Abs spectra especially in the Urbach tail region. As the Urbach tail states are related to the absorbed photon energy lost in the form of heat generated by nonradiative relaxation, therefore characterization of the Urbach tail is important and essential for QDSC applications. Characterization of the Urbach tail and the heat generated by nonradiative relaxation of PbS QD-ligand systems by combined PA and Abs spectroscopies showed that the characteristics depend strongly on the crystal orientation of the R-TiO2 substrate, the QD spacing, and the free energy change.
Non-perturbative renormalization for the neural network-QFT correspondence
Authors: Erbin H , Lahoche V , Ousmane Samary D
Published: January 2022

In a recent work (Halverson et al 2021 Mach. Learn.: Sci. Technol.
2 035002), Halverson, Maiti and Stoner proposed a description of neural networks (NNs) in terms of a Wilsonian effective field theory. The infinite-width limit is mapped to a free field theory while finite N corrections are taken into account by interactions (non-Gaussian terms in the action). In this paper, we study two related aspects of this correspondence. First, we comment on the concepts of locality and power-counting in this context. Indeed, these usual space-time notions may not hold for NNs (since inputs can be arbitrary), however, the renormalization group (RG) provides natural notions of locality and scaling. Moreover, we comment on several subtleties, for example, that data components may not have a permutation symmetry: in that case, we argue that random tensor field theories could provide a natural generalization. Second, we improve the perturbative Wilsonian renormalization from Halverson et al (2021 Mach. Learn.: Sci. Technol.
2 035002) by providing an analysis in terms of the non-perturbative RG using the Wetterich-Morris equation. An important difference with usual non-perturbative RG analysis is that only the effective infrared 2-point function is known, which requires setting the problem with care. Our aim is to provide a useful formalism to investigate NNs behavior beyond the large-width limit (i.e. far from Gaussian limit) in a non-perturbative fashion. A major result of our analysis is that changing the standard deviation of the NN weight distribution can be interpreted as a renormalization flow in the space of networks. We focus on translations invariant kernels and provide preliminary numerical results.
Organizational Neuroscience
Authors: Massaro Sebastiano , Baljević Dorotea
Published: January 2022

Organizational neuroscience—a novel scholarly domain using neuroscience to inform management and organizational research, and vice versa—is flourishing. Still missing, however, is a comprehensive coverage of organizational neuroscience as a self-standing scientific field. A foundational account of the potential that neuroscience holds to advance management and organizational research is currently a gap. The gap can be addressed with a review of the main methods, systematizing the existing scholarly literature in the field including entrepreneurship, strategic management, and organizational behavior, among others.
The Role of Local Governments in International Climate Policy
Authors: Castán Broto Vanesa , Westman Linda , Ruiz Campillo Xira
Published: January 2022

Local governments play an increasingly important role in international climate policy. Climate action follows existing trajectories of sustainable development action at the local level. The history of climate action in cities suggests a lot of potential for learning from previous sustainability experiences. Three aspects of climate change governance are important at the local level: the motivations for responding to climate change, the different responses deployed, and the city structures and networks representing cities in the global spheres.

Current interest in climate change action at the local level follows three decades of local sustainability action. Because of engagement with environmental conflicts at the local level, environmental justice activists also influenced local climate action. Cities and settlements are exciting policy arenas with great potential to enable just transitions. However, the impacts of local government’s action at both the local level and internationally are not always evident.

Cities have sought to address climate change through planning, harnessing co-benefits of climate action, and finding appropriate evaluation means. Solutions have also been developed through the insertion of cities in global circuits of knowledge production via transnational municipal networks (TMNs).

Local government action can only be explained with reference to the international climate change regime. International policy events influence local government action, and local government action influences international discourses of climate action. A range of actors, from local governments to businesses, communities, and civil society, also play a role in addressing climate change. Still, they require autonomy and the resources to deliver mitigation and adaptation actions that local governments can mediate.
Consequentialism
Authors: Andersen Martin Marchman
Published: January 2022

Consequentialism is a theory of moral rightness, where the domain of morality is to be understood in the broadest sense, covering politics and normative economics as well as more personal morality. It holds that an action is right if and only if no other available action leads to a better outcome seen from an agent-neutral perspective. Thus, according to consequentialism we must maximize the good seen from an agent-neutral perspective. Consequentialism is demanding not only because our actions are right only if they lead to the best outcome—second or third best are never good enough—but also because the evaluation of what the best outcome is should be given from an agent-neutral perspective: The reasons we give, for acting in one way or another, should be reasons for anyone.

Consequentialism is a basic moral theory in the sense that we need to specify its values for it to be operational, for it to tell us how to act, what to do. Our considerations over the values of consequentialism must result in answers to several questions, most importantly as to what it is we should maximize. This includes the specification of not only the consequentialist currency, for example, welfare, but also how that currency ought to be distributed, for example, by maximization, and between whom it ought to be distributed, for example, conscious human beings. The most famous version of consequentialism is utilitarianism, holding that actions are right if and only if they maximize the sum of welfare.
Public Interest
Authors: Boot Eric R.
Published: January 2022

Appeals to the public interest in fields such as politics and law are commonplace. Government policies are criticized for contravening the public interest. A whistleblower’s violation of government secrecy laws may be deemed justified because their disclosures are in the public interest. Human rights violations may be considered justified if a particularly weighty public interest (national security, public health) is at stake. If biobanking promotes the public interest, its ambiguous relation to privacy may be deemed acceptable. The problem is that such appeals are made without clarifying what the public interest is and how it can be determined.

Political philosophers are particularly well qualified to provide much-needed conceptual clarification and moral argument, yet during the past few decades they have largely ignored the issue. This is the consequence of a certain uneasiness with the concept of the public interest: It has been criticized for being empty, inimical to contemporary pluralistic societies, and a mere veil for the self-serving interests of the powerful. Proponents of the concept, however, respond that it is possible to provide a clear account of the public interest that meets (most of) these criticisms. The aggregative theory, for example, holds that the public interest corresponds simply to the sum of the private interests of those who make up the public. The procedural approach, instead, hopes to distill the public interest from a plethora of private interests through the process of either democratic competition or deliberation. Where these two accounts of the public interest derive the public interest from people’s private interests, the unitary account derives it instead from a comprehensive moral theory that applies equally to private and public interests. Finally, the civic account maintains that the public interest consists in interests we share in our capacity as citizens.

Proponents of the concept of the public interest, moreover, argue that it can do normative work no other concept can. Though political philosophy has been dominated by the concept of justice for decades, not all political philosophical matters are reducible to questions of justice. Public interest is used to justify facilities, policies, and actions that are somehow beyond the purview of justice, such as public infrastructure, the disclosure of state secrets, the placing of limits on human rights, and much more.
The Neuroendocrinology of Empathy
Authors: Burkett James , Naghavi Farzaneh
Published: January 2022

“Empathy” is an umbrella term for any type of process in which one is affected by the emotional state of others, and it is of great importance for daily social interaction. Empathic processes are thought to have evolved in the context of parental care to motivate caregivers to respond to helpless neonates’ needs, but over time may have been generalized outside the rearing context to make a wider social network and help shape social behaviors. It is becoming more apparent that in several psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and antisocial personality disorder, impaired empathic behaviors are correlated with the severity of the disease and a reduced quality of life. Therefore, developing scientific avenues for the study of empathy, its mechanisms, and origins is important for human health and understanding the human condition.
Doubly Reflexive Ethnography and Collaborative Research
Authors: Dietz Gunther , Mateos Cortés Laura Selene
Published: January 2022

Doubly reflexive ethnography is a collaborative research methodology developed in the social and educational sciences through a combination of classical ethnographic methods of participant observation and lifeworld-oriented interviewing, on the one hand, and participatory methods of co-interpreting, co-theorizing, and co-validating empirical research results together with the collaborating actors, on the other hand. Double reflexivity is defined here as the result of a dialogical, collaborative conversation between different actors involved in educational research processes, starting from the research design, problematization and delimitation, going on through a cyclical accompaniment via observations and interviews, and culminating in a dialogical, often collective data analysis, which leads to collaborative and diversified ways of assessing, validating, and evaluating research results. This doubly reflexive approach integrates and relates the researcher reflexivity with the reflexivity contributed by the collaborating actors, be they organizations or institutions active in an educational field. Doubly reflexive ethnography maintains close relations with the main features of ethnography and classical ethnographic methods; it has transited from originally and historically extractive ethnographic practices toward collaborative and participatory alternatives of research methodologies. The key semantic, pragmatic, and syntactic dimensions of doubly reflexive ethnography are identified and illustrated as those dimensions that allow for a spiral, cyclical research and collaboration process that includes visual, observational data; verbal, interview data; and textual, documentary data in an integrated system of collaborative-ethnographic methods. This system integrates and triangulates diverse sources of information, diverse degrees of data abstraction, and diverse degrees of researcher involvement, thus avoiding and overcoming conventional dichotomies of quantitative versus qualitative research and of unilateral, extractive versus proactive, participatory strategies.
Federalism, Decentralization, Intergovernmental Relations, and Educational Provision in Five Latin American Countries
Authors: Cardoso de Araujo Gilda
Published: January 2022

Federalism is a common object of study in various fields, including political science, economics, law, and history. In the field of education, however, the analysis of how educational policies are shaped by federal contexts is relatively recent. Despite the influence of U.S. constitutionalism and federalism, the historical trajectory of both Latin American federalisms and the distribution of responsibility for providing education are characterized by a centralizing federalism. This was the case at least until the final years of the 20th century when decentralizing processes based on cooperative intergovernmental relations, linked to a transfer of authority that limited the equitable provision—both in quality and quantity—of public education began.
Monitoring Migrants’ Health Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases
Authors: Campostrini Stefano
Published: January 2022

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have become the first cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. These have been targeted by most governments because they are associated with well-known risk factors and modifiable behaviors. Migrants present, as any population subgroup, peculiarities with regard to NCDs and, more relevantly, need specific information on associated risk factors to appropriately target policies and interventions. The country of origin, assimilation process, and many other migrant health aspects well studied in the literature can be related to migrants’ health risk factors. In most countries, existing sources of information are not sufficient or should be revised, and new sources of data should be found. Existing survey systems can meet organizational difficulties in changing their questionnaires; moreover, the number of changes in the adopted questionnaire should be limited for the sake of brevity to avoid excessive burden on respondents. Nevertheless, a limited number of additional variables can offer a lot of information on migrant health. Migrant status, country of origin, time of arrival should be included in any survey concerned about migrant health. These, along with information on other Social Determinants of Health and access to health services, can offer fundamental information to better understand migrants’ health and its evolution as they live in their host countries. Migrants are often characterized by a better health status, in comparison with the native population, which typically is lost over the years. Public health and health promotion could have a relevant role in modifying, for the better, this evolution, but this action must be supported by timely and reliable information.
Early History of the Drukpa Kagyü School
Authors: Kumagai Seiji
Published: January 2022

Among the four main Tibetan Buddhist schools, the Kagyü (Bka’ brgyud) school produced the highest number of subschools in the early period after its foundation. Within this school, the Drukpa Kagyü (‘Brug pa bka’ brgyud) school became religiously and politically influential in Tibet and its surrounding areas along with the Karma Kagyü (Karma bka’ brgyud) school and the Pakdu Kagyü (Phag gru bka’ brgyud) school. The Drukpa Kagyü school was responsible for the unification of Bhutan in the 17th century and currently has the second largest number of adherents within the entire Kagyü school. Thus, the Drukpa Kagyü school has played an important role both politically and religiously in Tibet and the Himalayan regions.

Fortunately, modern historians’ studies have enabled us to grasp the historical outline of the school. However, most of them treat only a particular era or rely only on a limited number of biographies and dharma annals. Therefore, they often offer insufficient or incomplete information. The early history of the Drukpa Kagyü school, in particular, has not been exhaustively examined or philologically studied.

To understand the Drukpa Kagyü school fully, it is necessary to comprehend the precise order of events in its early history. This article thus has the objective of reexamining the early history of the school, primarily focusing on three generations: the founder of the Drukpa Kagyü school, Tsangpa Gyare (Gtsang pa rgya ras Ye shes rdo rje, 1161–1211), his root master Ling Repa (Gling ras pa Padma rdo rje, 1128–1188), and his disciples such as Darma Senge Sangye Wonre (Darma seng ge Sangs rgyas dbon ras, 1177–1237). The article also examines the relationship between the Lingre Kagyü school and the Drukpa Kagyü school, as well as the classification of subschools inside the Drukpa Kagyü school.
The Independence of Uruguay and the Atlantic World
Authors: Duffau Nicolás
Published: January 2022

The process that led to the independence of the Oriental State of Uruguay (now the Oriental Republic of Uruguay) began with the 1810 revolution and lasted until the 1828 Preliminary Peace Convention and the enactment of the first constitution in July 1830. In these twenty years, the territory of the River Plate was marked by war and various experiments of social and political organization.

In the 1810s, some of the elites of the territory located on the eastern bank of the Uruguay River joined the uprising that had begun in Buenos Aires. This support for the Buenos Aires junta—the outcome of demands for the expansion of jurisdiction and greater autonomy—divided the territory between the administration of Montevideo (until 1814 in the hands of Españolistas) and a revolutionary group. In this context, a radical popular revolutionary project was produced under the leadership of José Artigas (1764–1850). This sought a federal union with other provinces along the Uruguay River and became known as the System of Free Peoples. It encountered fierce resistance from the authorities in Buenos Aires. The radicalization of certain postures among the “Orientales” (as the people in what is now Uruguay were called) was rejected by the Creole elites, who abandoned the Artiguista group and imposed restraints on the social revolution. Added to this were the occupation of the territory by Luso-Brazilian forces (who had strong local support) and the transformation of the Oriental Province into the Cisplatin Province, since 1821 part of the Portuguese Empire.

In 1825, a second stage began in the fight for independence from the king of Portugal and the emperor of Brazil, and the union with the United Provinces based in Buenos Aires. Support from the latter was due to a war with Brazil, which ended with the Preliminary Convention of Peace. Signed and ratified in 1828, this allowed the creation of an independent state—with not very precise boundaries—whose first constitution was enacted in 1830.

From the second half of the 19th century to the present, the independence of Uruguay has been a permanent theme of historiographic and political debate, fundamental for the definition of national identity. This discussion became intertwined with the foundation of a national account of the country and the formation of a pantheon of patriotic heroes (headed by Artigas). Views of the past, which merged with the ideological debate of each present, traveled along distant paths, ranging from the initial desire of the Orientales to construct an independent state at the beginning of the revolution, to interpretations that resignified political projects as possible alternatives as events unfolded.
Employment and Unemployment: Macro Social Work Perspectives
Authors: Lewis Michael Anthony
Published: January 2022

Social workers are concerned with the well-being of all members of a given society. In order to be well, people need access to certain goods and services. In a society with a capitalist economy, most people gain access to necessary goods and services either by working themselves or being connected to someone else who works. This means that not being able to find a job can be a serious threat to people’s social welfare. For this reason, unemployment should be of interest to social workers. Therefore, what follows is a discussion of employment, unemployment, and their relevance to the concerns of social workers.
Social Work Macro History
Authors: Moya Eva M. , Stoesz David , Lusk Mark , Chávez-Baray Silvia M.
Published: January 2022

A broad overview of the professionalization of social work in the United States is presented while illustrating how developments in social work stimulated the emergence of macro social work as a field of practice. The history of macro practice’s dedication to social justice, human rights, and the eradication of poverty through macro-level strategies is reviewed. Influential forces, practice challenges, and initiatives responsible for the establishment and continued movement within the field are highlighted. How macro practice fits within the Specialized Practice Curricular Guide for Macro Social Work Practice (2018) and the Grand Challenges for Social Work (2015) is reviewed, along with future endeavors in macro social work.