bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some Generalized Pythagorean Fuzzy Bonferroni Mean Aggregation Operators with Their Application to Multiattribute Group Decision-Making
Authors: Zhang Runtong , Wang Jun , Zhu Xiaomin , Xia Meimei , Yu Ming
Published: August 2017

The Pythagorean fuzzy set as an extension of the intuitionistic fuzzy set characterized by membership and nonmembership degrees has been introduced recently. Accordingly, the square sum of the membership and nonmembership degrees is a maximum of one. The Pythagorean fuzzy set has been previously applied to multiattribute group decision-making. This study develops a few aggregation operators for fusing the Pythagorean fuzzy information, and a novel approach to decision-making is introduced based on the proposed operators. First, we extend the generalized Bonferroni mean to the Pythagorean fuzzy environment and introduce the generalized Pythagorean fuzzy Bonferroni mean and the generalized Pythagorean fuzzy Bonferroni geometric mean. Second, a new generalization of the Bonferroni mean, namely, the dual generalized Bonferroni mean, is proposed by considering the shortcomings of the generalized Bonferroni mean. Furthermore, we investigate the dual generalized Bonferroni mean in the Pythagorean fuzzy sets and introduce the dual generalized Pythagorean fuzzy Bonferroni mean and dual generalized Pythagorean fuzzy Bonferroni geometric mean. Third, a novel approach to multiattribute group decision-making based on proposed operators is proposed. Lastly, a numerical instance is provided to illustrate the validity of the new approach.
Exploring Space Management Goals in Institutional Care Facilities in China
Authors: Li Lingzhi , Yuan Jingfeng , Ning Yan , Shao Qiuhu , Zhang Jiankun
Published: August 2017

Space management has been widely examined in commercial facilities, educational facilities, and hospitals but not in China’s institutional care facilities. Poor spatial arrangements, such as wasted space, dysfunctionality, and environment mismanagement, are increasing; in turn, the occupancy rate is decreasing due to residential dissatisfaction. To address these problems, this paper’s objective is to explore the space management goals (SMGs) in institutional care facilities in China. Systematic literature analysis was adopted to set SMGs’ principles, to identify nine theoretical SMGs, and to develop the conceptual model of SMGs for institutional care facilities. A total of 19 intensive interviews were conducted with stakeholders in seven institutional care facilities to collect data for qualitative analysis. The qualitative evidence was analyzed through open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. As a result, six major categories as well as their interrelationships were put forward to visualize the path diagram for exploring SMGs in China’s institutional care facilities. Furthermore, seven expected SMGs that were explored from qualitative evidence were confirmed as China’s SMGs in institutional care facilities by a validation test. Finally, a gap analysis among theoretical SMGs and China’s SMGs provided recommendations for implementing space management in China’s institutional care facilities.
Iterative Learning Impedance for Lower Limb Rehabilitation Robot
Authors: Guo Chenhui , Guo Shuai , Ji Jiancheng , Xi Fengfeng
Published: August 2017

This paper discusses the problem of squatting training of stroke patients. The main idea is to correct the patient’s training trajectory through an iterative learning control (ILC) method. To obtain better rehabilitation effect, a patient will typically be required to practice a reference posture for many times, while most of active training methods can hardly keep the patients training with correct posture. Instead of the conventional ILC strategy, an impedance-based iterative learning method is proposed to regulate the impedance value dynamically and smartly which will help patients correct their posture gradually and perform better. To facilitate impedance-based ILC, we propose two objectives. The first objective is to find the suitable values of impedance based on the ILC scheme. The second objective is to search the moderate learning convergence speed and robustness in the iterative domain. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the performance of trajectory tracking will be improved greatly via the proposed algorithm.
Hybrid Power Forecasting Model for Photovoltaic Plants Based on Neural Network with Air Quality Index
Authors: Khan Idris , Zhu Honglu , Yao Jianxi , Khan Danish , Iqbal Tahir
Published: August 2017

High concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased dependency on photovoltaic (PV) power, but its random nature poses a challenge for system operators to precisely predict and forecast PV power. The conventional forecasting methods were accurate for clean weather. But when the PV plants worked under heavy haze, the radiation is negatively impacted and thus reducing PV power; therefore, to deal with haze weather, Air Quality Index (AQI) is introduced as a parameter to predict PV power. AQI, which is an indication of how polluted the air is, has been known to have a strong correlation with power generated by the PV panels. In this paper, a hybrid method based on the model of conventional back propagation (BP) neural network for clear weather and BP AQI model for haze weather is used to forecast PV power with conventional parameters like temperature, wind speed, humidity, solar radiation, and an extra parameter of AQI as input. The results show that the proposed method has less error under haze condition as compared to conventional model of neural network.
Hypokalemic Paralysis due to Primary Sjögren Syndrome: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Garza-Alpirez A. , Arana-Guajardo A. C. , Esquivel-Valerio J. A. , Villarreal-Alarcón M. A. , Galarza-Delgado D. A.
Published: August 2017

Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) is the main renal involvement associated with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS). TIN can manifest as distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA), nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, proximal tubular dysfunction, and others. We present a 31-year-old female with hypokalemic paralysis due to distal RTA (dRTA). She received symptomatic treatment and hydroxychloroquine with a good response. There is insufficient information on whether to perform a kidney biopsy in these patients or not. The evidence suggests that there is an inflammatory background and therefore a potential serious affection to these patients, such as hypokalemic paralysis. We found 52 cases of hypokalemic paralysis due to dRTA in pSS patients. The majority of those patients were treated only with symptomatic medication. Patients who received corticosteroids had stable evolution even though they did not have another symptomatology. With such heterogeneous information, prospective studies are needed to assess the value of adding corticosteroids as a standardized treatment of this manifestation.
Several Indicators of Critical Transitions for Complex Diseases Based on Stochastic Analysis
Authors: Wang Gang , Li Yuanyuan , Zou Xiufen
Published: August 2017

Many complex diseases (chronic disease onset, development and differentiation, self-assembly, etc.) are reminiscent of phase transitions in a dynamical system: quantitative changes accumulate largely unnoticed until a critical threshold is reached, which causes abrupt qualitative changes of the system. Understanding such nonlinear behaviors is critical to dissect the multiple genetic/environmental factors that together shape the genetic and physiological landscape underlying basic biological functions and to identify the key driving molecules. Based on stochastic differential equation (SDE) model, we theoretically derive three statistical indicators, that is, coefficient of variation (CV), transformed Pearson’s correlation coefficient (TPC), and transformed probability distribution (TPD), to identify critical transitions and detect the early-warning signals of the phase transition in complex diseases. To verify the effectiveness of these early-warning indexes, we use high-throughput data for three complex diseases, including influenza caused by either H3N2 or H1N1 and acute lung injury, to extract the dynamical network biomarkers (DNBs) responsible for catastrophic transition into the disease state from predisease state. The numerical results indicate that the derived indicators provide a data-based quantitative analysis for early-warning signals for critical transitions in complex diseases or other dynamical systems.
Passiflora cincinnata Extract Delays the Development of Motor Signs and Prevents Dopaminergic Loss in a Mice Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Brandão Luiz Eduardo Mateus , Nôga Diana Aline Morais Ferreira , Dierschnabel Aline Lima , Campêlo Clarissa Loureiro das Chagas , Meurer Ywlliane da Silva Rodrigues , Lima Ramón Hypolito , Engelberth Rovena Clara Galvão Januário , Cavalcante Jeferson Souza , Lima Clésio Andrade , Marchioro Murilo , Estevam Charles dos Santos , Santos José Ronaldo , Silva Regina Helena , Ribeiro Alessandra Mussi
Published: August 2017

Passiflora cincinnata Masters is a Brazilian native species of passionflower. This genus is known in the American continent folk medicine for its diuretic and analgesic properties. Nevertheless, few studies investigated possible biological effects of P. cincinnata extracts. Further, evidence of antioxidant actions encourages the investigation of possible neuroprotective effects in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the effect of the P. cincinnata ethanolic extract (PAS) on mice submitted to a progressive model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) induced by reserpine. Male (6‐month‐old) mice received reserpine (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.), every other day, for 40 days, with or without a concomitant treatment with daily injections of PAS (25 mg/kg, i.p.). Catalepsy, open field, oral movements, and plus‐maze discriminative avoidance evaluations were performed across treatment, and immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase was conducted at the end. The results showed that PAS treatment delayed the onset of motor impairments and prevented the occurrence of increased catalepsy behavior in the premotor phase. However, PAS administration did not modify reserpine‐induced cognitive impairments. Moreover, PAS prevented the decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) induced by reserpine. Taken together, our results suggested that PAS exerted a neuroprotective effect in a progressive model of PD.
Trace-Level Screening of Chemicals Related to Clandestine Desomorphine Production with Ambient Sampling, Portable Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Hall Seth E. , O’Leary Adam E. , Lawton Zachary E. , Bruno Alessandra M. , Mulligan Christopher C.
Published: August 2017

Desomorphine is a semisynthetic opioid that is responsible for the psychoactive effects of a dangerous homemade injectable mixture that goes by street name “Krokodil.” Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and paper spray ionization (PSI) are implemented on a portable mass spectrometer for the direct analysis of desomorphine and precursor reagent codeine from multiple substrates of potential relevance to clandestine drug laboratory synthesis and paraphernalia seizure. Minimal sample preparation required for analysis and portability of the instrument suggest the potential for rapid, on-site analysis of evidence, a highly desired benefit for forensic science and law enforcement practitioners. Both DESI-MS and PSI-MS can generate spectra consistent with preceding data obtained using traditional ionization methods, while demonstrating detection limits in the low- to sub-ng levels.
Normal and Malignant Cells Exhibit Differential Responses to Calcium Electroporation
Authors: Frandsen Stine K. , Krüger Mie B. , Mangalanathan Uma M. , Tramm Trine , Mahmood Faisal , Novak Ivana , Gehl Julie
Published: August 2017

Calcium electroporation may offer a simple general tool for anticancer therapy. Transient permeabilization of cancer cell membranes created by applying short, high-voltage pulses in tumors enables high calcium influxes that trigger cell death. In this study, we compared the relative sensitivity of different human tumor models and normal tissues to calcium electroporation. Plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) protein expression was confirmed in vitro in all cancer cell lines and normal primary dermal fibroblasts studied. In all tumor types tested in vivo, calcium electroporation effectively induced necrosis, with a range of sensitivities observed (36%–88%) 2 days after treatment. Necrosis was induced using calcium concentrations of 100–500 mmol/L and injection volumes 20%–80% of tumor volume. Notably, only limited effects were seen in normal tissue. Calcium content increased >7-fold in tumor and skin tissue after calcium electroporation but decreased in skin tissue 4 hours after treatment to levels comparable with untreated controls, whereas calcium content endured at high levels in tumor tissue. Mechanistic experiments in vitro indicated that calcium influx was similar in fibroblasts and cancer cells. However, we observed decreased PMCA expression in cancer cells compared with fibroblasts, offering a potential explanation for the different calcium content in tumor cells versus normal tissues. Overall, our results suggest that calcium electroporation can elicit a rapid and selective necrosis of solid tumors, with limited deleterious effects on surrounding normal tissues. Cancer Res; 77(16); 4389–401. ©2017 AACR.
Survival of Head and Neck Cancer Cells Relies upon LZK Kinase-Mediated Stabilization of Mutant p53
Authors: Edwards Zoe C. , Trotter Eleanor W. , Torres-Ayuso Pedro , Chapman Phil , Wood Henry M. , Nyswaner Katherine , Brognard John
Published: August 2017

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) includes epithelial cancers of the oral and nasal cavity, larynx, and pharynx and accounts for ∼350,000 deaths per year worldwide. Smoking-related HNSCC is associated with few targetable mutations but is defined by frequent copy-number alteration, the most common of which is gain at 3q. Critical 3q target genes have not been conclusively determined for HNSCC. Here, we present data indicating that MAP3K13 (encoding LZK) is an amplified driver gene in HNSCC. Copy-number gain at 3q resulted in increased MAP3K13 mRNA in HNSCC tumor samples and cell lines. Silencing LZK reduced cell viability and proliferation of HNSCC cells with 3q gain but not control cell lines. Inducible silencing of LZK caused near-complete loss of colony-forming ability in cells harboring 3q gain. These results were validated in vivo by evidence that LZK silencing was sufficient to reduce tumor growth in a xenograft model of HNSCC. Our results establish LZK as critical for maintaining expression of mutant stabilized p53. Cancer Res; 77(18); 4961–72. ©2017 AACR.
Tanning and Teens: Is Indoor Exposure the Tip of the Iceberg?
Authors: Hay Jennifer L. , Riley Kristen E. , Geller Alan C.
Published: August 2017

Because of recent state regulations and the reduced availability of free-standing tanning salons, indoor tanning (IT) prevalence is beginning to decline. This may lead to unintended consequences, such as increases in outdoor intentional tanning. We advance a series of research directions to track and intervene to address all forms of intentional tanning. First, we advocate for enforcement of IT regulation and encourage collection of data on tanning salon compliance and alternative IT strategies. Second, we suggest questions about outdoor and IT should be included in national surveys. Third, we need to understand the potentially complex patterns of indoor and outdoor tanning that may exist among those who tan. Fourth, research examining changing motivations for intentional tanning is needed. Finally, IT intervention studies should include outdoor tanning as an outcome to examine the effect of interventions on these related risk behaviors. These advances will ensure the development of novel interventions to address intentional tanning through multiple routes, and to avoid any unintended negative consequence of IT regulation. The promising downward direction of IT use in the United States should now lead the public health field to sharpen its focus on outdoor tanning. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(8); 1170–4. ©2017 AACR.
Augusto como Mercúrio enfim
Authors: Martins Paulo
Published: August 2017

A minha preocupação neste artigo é investigar e analisar a representação de Augusto como Mercúrio e o que isso pode sugerir e significar para os romanos da urbs e das prouinciae, tendo em vista a epigrafia, a numismática e a literatura. Além disso, fazer a revisão de três trabalhos que, em certa medida, operaram essa questão, a saber, Bandinelli, Zanker e Martins. Ainda que as associações entre divindade e governante sejam muito comuns – Augusto representado como Apolo, Júpiter ou Netuno; Tibério como Apolo; Cláudio, Júpiter; ou Cômodo à semelhança de Hércules –, a discussão sobre a relação entre Augusto e Mercúrio é bem rara na bibliografia recente. As reflexões mais profícuas sobre esse tema remontam à primeira metade do século XX, de maneira que o trabalho de Chittenden sobre numismática e o artigo de Grether a respeito de epigrafia são muito importantes. Assim, novas evidências devem ser consideradas a fim de que tenhamos um panorama mais atento dessas representações no mundo romano.
The Expressed Genome in Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke: Refinement, Diagnosis, and Prediction: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Musunuru Kiran , Ingelsson Erik , Fornage Myriam , Liu Peter , Murphy Anne M. , Newby L. Kristin , Newton-Cheh Christopher , Perez Marco V. , Voora Deepak , Woo Daniel
Published: August 2017

There have been major advances in our knowledge of the contribution of DNA sequence variations to cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, the inner workings of the body reflect the complex interplay of factors beyond the DNA sequence, including epigenetic modifications, RNA transcripts, proteins, and metabolites, which together can be considered the “expressed genome.” The emergence of high-throughput technologies, including epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, is now making it possible to address the contributions of the expressed genome to cardiovascular disorders. This statement describes how the expressed genome can currently and, in the future, potentially be used to diagnose diseases and to predict who will develop diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias.
Individual and Combined Effects of Dietary Factors on Risk of Incident Hypertension
Authors: Lelong Helene , Blacher Jacques , Baudry Julia , Adriouch Solia , Galan Pilar , Fezeu Leopold , Hercberg Serge , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle
Published: August 2017

Dietary intake is pointed as one of the major determinants in hypertension development. Data in the area are mostly obtained from cross-sectional studies. We aimed to investigate the prospective association between (1) individual nutritional factors and (2) adherence to the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension and the risk of incident hypertension in a large cohort study. We prospectively examined the incidence of hypertension among 80 426 French adults participating in the NutriNet-Santé cohort study. Self-reported sociodemographic, lifestyle health questionnaires and dietary consumption assessed by three 24-hour records were completed at baseline and yearly thereafter. Associations between quartiles (Q) of nutrients and food groups and adherence to Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension diet and hypertension risk were assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. During a mean follow-up of 3.4±2.1 years, 2413 cases of incident hypertension were documented. Dietary intakes of sodium (Q4 versus Q1): hazard ratio (HR)=1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.35), potassium: HR=0.82 (95% CI, 0.72–0.94), animal protein: HR=1.26 (95% CI, 1.11–1.43), vegetable protein: HR=0.85 (95% CI, 0.75–0.95), fiber: HR =0.81 (95% CI, 0.71–0.93), magnesium: HR=0.77 (95% CI, 0.67–0.89), fruit and vegetables: HR=0.85 (95% CI, 0.74–0.97), whole grain: HR=0.84(95% CI, 0.76–0.93), nuts: HR=0.72 (95% CI, 0.63–0.83), and red and processed meat: HR=1.25 (95% CI, 1.11–0.42) were associated with risk of hypertension. Besides, adherence to the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension was strongly inversely associated with incident hypertension: (Q4 versus Q1) HR=0.66 (95% CI, 0.58–0.75). Our results confirmed the association of several nutritional factors intake and incident hypertension and highlighted that adopting a global healthy diet could strongly contribute to the prevention of hypertension.
‘On the Origin of Medicine’ from Eastern Medicine [for] Prolonging the World and Preserving People by Yi Chema (1837–1900)
Authors: Yi Kiebok
Published: August 2017

The translation below is an essay, ‘On the Origin of Medicine’ (Ŭiwŏnnon醫源論), taken from the textbook1Eastern Medicine[for]Prolonging the World and Preserving People(Tongǔi Susebowǒn東醫壽世保元, 1894),2 by Yi Chema 李濟馬 (1837–1900, styled Tongmu 東武).3 Yi Chema, hailing from the peripheral northern part of Korea, was a Confucian-cum-physician and also served as military officer and local magistrate during the Chosŏn 朝鮮 dynasty (1392–1910). Having no specific allegiances to any intellectual lineage in either medicine or Confucianism, he was able to translate his critical yet inspirational impulses into a distinctively novel style of clinical practice. His ideas built on the observation that sentimental/emotional, or better, psychosocial dispositions of a person are inextricably associated with the visceral dynamics of the person.4 He thus put forward as an overarching scheme of organisation the four constitutional types: Greater Yang (Taeyang 太陽) Person, Greater Yin (Taeŭm 太陰) Person, Lesser Yang (Soyang 少陽) Person, and Lesser Yin (Soŭm 少陰) Person. Later dubbed ‘Sasang Medicine’ (Sasangǔihak四象醫學), Yi Chema’s distinctive way of knowing and style of practice became one of the main intellectual currents of Korean medicine during the twentieth century. Its history thus provides an illustrative example of the diverse landscape and historical dynamics of East Asian medicine.
The Art of Sowing
Authors: Yoon Eunkyung
Published: August 2017

This report illustrates how the condition of infertility and its remedy in Korean Medicine is likened to the art of sowing, and how Korean medical professionals and their patients navigate their way against a backdrop of a dominantly biomedical scene. In South Korea, where both biomedicine and Korean Medicine are recognised as legitimate medical systems, a medically defined condition creates a crossroads where different epistemologies conflict and intermingle. While biomedicine perceives infertility as an absence or impairment of fertility, where the ability to become pregnant is immutable, Korean Medicine views it as something that could change according to conditions of bodily elements, and thus can be improved through shifting the bodily state. Factors involved in pregnancy are described metaphorically in the medical texts as the man as seed and the woman as earth. The doctor is described as playing the role of the farmer. This way of metaphorical thinking of infertility leads to a different assessment of what the problem is, and to different approaches in treatment. These differences can be seen in the interviews of Korean medical professionals that are the foundation of this practice report. The illustrations in this report show how practice can differ according to epistemology in the case of infertility, where on the one hand, the state of the art biomedical techniques for treatment remove the pregnancy process from the body by replacing its roles in the lab, while on the other hand, Korean medical practitioners consider fertility to be reflexive to the individual’s bodily state and deal with it on the more elementary level of the patient’s body.
The Paradigmatic Crises in China’s Minzu Studies: Reflections from the Perspective of Human Development
Authors: Zhang Xiaojun
Published: August 2017

The field of minzu 民族 studies is currently in a state of disarray. This article proposes to discuss three paradigmatic crises—the one-dimensional interpretation, problematization, and de-ethnicization of the term minzu—from the perspective of human development. Although the meaning of minzu is, as this article argues, ambiguous, it has mostly been reduced to its political and ideological meaning. To solely rely on this one-dimensional interpretation in an academic discussion has led to a paradigmatic crisis in minzu studies. From the perspective of human development, minzu is the carrier and basic cultural unit of a pluralistic global culture. Although the concept of minzu is not inherently problematic, the word is being problematized by subsuming a number of extraneous issues. Problematization thus constitutes another paradigmatic crisis in current minzu studies. Opposing the current trend of de-ethnicizing the minzu question, this article proposes to de-problematize the concept of minzu instead, thereby preventing it from being used as a political tool. This article intends to shed light on the current state of crisis in China’s minzu studies, discuss a suitable research methodology, and provide an academic basis for ethnic research and policy implementation.
Toward a Maoist Dream of the Red Chamber: Or, How Baoyu and Daiyu Became Rebels Against Feudalism
Authors: Kaminski Johannes
Published: August 2017

Mao Zedong’s views on literature were enigmatic: although he coerced writers into “learning the language of the masses,” he made no secret of his own enthusiasm forDream of the Red Chamber, a novel written during the Qing dynasty. In 1954 this paradox appeared to be resolved when Li Xifan and Lan Ling presented an interpretation that saw the tragic love story as a manifestation of class struggle. Ever since, the conception of Baoyu and Daiyu as class warriors has become a powerful and unquestioned cliché of Chinese literary criticism. Endowing aristocratic protagonists with revolutionary grandeur, however, violates a basic principle of Marxist orthodoxy. This article examines the reasons behind this position: on the one hand, Mao’s support for Li and Lan’s approach acts as a reminder of his early journalistic agitation against arranged marriage and the social ills it engenders. On the other hand, it offers evidence of Mao’s increasingly ambiguous conception of class.
Qurʾanic Ethics and Islamic Law
Authors: Abou El Fadl Khaled
Published: August 2017

The issue of Islamic law and morality has for the most part received scant attention in the modern age. This essay contributes to the exploration of possible ways of understanding the relationship of ethics to Shariʿah and Islamic law. The author’s objective in this essay is largely normative. While he makes every effort to root his arguments in the fabric of the Islamic tradition, this essay is not descriptive, but aspirational in the sense that he seeks to persuade readers of the desirability of specific understandings of the meaning of Shariʿah and the relationship between Islamic law and ethics. As a point of departure, the author accepts that the Qurʾan and the laws of God are binding, and that an Islamic theory has to be expressed within the framework of Islamic principles. He maintains that the dynamism and vitality of Islamic law must be preserved in the contemporary age, and that such a result is not possible without maintaining the liberty and innovative capacities of the individual.
Meta-ethics: A Quest for an Epistemological Basis of Morality in Classical Islamic Thought
Authors: al-Attar Mariam
Published: August 2017

The aim of this article is to critique the meta-ethical foundation of the purposes of law theory (maqāṣid al-sharīʿa). It starts by introducing the Ashʿarite meta-ethics, and in two sub-sections briefly elucidates the perceived relation between meta-ethics and normative ethics and the relation between ethics, Islamic jurisprudence (uṣūl al-fiqh) and speculative theology (ʿilm al-kalām). The article examines the meta-ethical presuppositions of the Qurʾan, arguing that Qurʾanic ethics allows for rethinking the meta-ethical foundation of themaqāṣid,since it accepts objective moral values and allows for moral epistemology that is based on reason. The last and the longest section of the article develops arguments that would admit human reason in formulating themaqāṣidand suggests that this requires a different ethical foundation, one that is closer to the Muʿtazilite conception of morality. The arguments are based on the work of some classical and contemporary scholars who have noted the contradiction in the traditionalmaqāṣidtheory, and on the views of those scholars whose ethical views and principles expressed an understanding of morality that contradicts with ethical voluntarism or ‘divine command theory’ in ethics. The theory ofmaqāṣidis here clearly presumed to be a normative one rather than simply descriptive.
A new pelvic-less species of Melanorivulus Costa (Cyprinodontiformes: Cynolebiidae), with a discussion on the pelvic-fin absence in killifishes
Authors: DEPRÁ GABRIEL DE CARVALHO , SILVA HUGMAR PAINS , GRAÇA WEFERSON JÚNIO DA
Published: August 2017

Melanorivulus nelsoni, new species, is described from a stream draining into the upper rio Paraguai basin, in the municipality of Juscimeira, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. It is distinguished from all other congeners, except M. pictus (Costa) and M. planaltinus (Costa & Brasil), by the lack of the pelvic fin and girdle (although only in M. nelsoni they are invariably absent). Furthermore, M. nelsoni is distinguished from all other congeners, except M. pindorama, M. pinima and M. rutilicaudus, by having 10 transverse series of scales. Additional characters are provided to distinguish M. nelsoni from these and other congeners. The analysis of a large number of M. pictus specimens showed that this species occasionally exhibits a single or no pelvic fins. We found phenotypical evidence that the absence of pelvic fins in Melanorivulus species is likely genetically controlled by an allele that, when in heterozygosity, may result in unpredictable phenotypes. Data gathered from literature, along with our own results, suggest that the Cyprinodontiformes, especially the Cynolebiidae and the Cyprinodontidae, have a particularly high probability of evolving absence of pelvic fins, which is usually associated with body elongation. We suggest that in the case of Cyprinodontiformes this evolutionary trend might be related to the shape and position of the vertical fins.
Improving Trigger Functions for Convective Parameterization Schemes Using GOAmazon Observations
Authors: Song Fengfei , Zhang Guang J.
Published: August 2017

Using observations from the Green Ocean Amazon (GOAmazon) field campaign, this study aims to improve trigger functions of convection schemes. Results show that the CAPE generation rate (dCAPE)-type triggers are the first tier and that the Bechtold and heated condensation framework (HCF) triggers are a distant second tier. The composite analysis reveals that the undilute dCAPE trigger underpredicts convection when there is bottom-heavy upward motion but overpredicts convection with low-level downward and upper-level upward motions. The empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis on vertical velocity shows that EOF1 (62.65%) exhibits upward motion throughout the troposphere and that EOF2 (28.05%) has lower-level upward motion and upper-level downward motion. Both of them have close relationships with precipitation, indicating the role of vertical velocity in triggering convection. The skill sensitivity analysis shows that the inclusion of 700-hPa upward motion significantly enhances the undilute dCAPE trigger. For the dilute dCAPE trigger, entrainment rate and dCAPE threshold are optimized to improve it. Opposite to dCAPE-type triggers, the Bechtold trigger overemphasizes the low-level vertical velocity and underpredicts the mature and decaying phases of long-lasting convection events. The HCF trigger overemphasizes the near-surface moist static energy and overlooks the vertical velocity. The performance of dCAPE-type triggers on various convective systems over the Amazon region is examined. The eastward-propagating systems are best represented, with only a few underpredictions in their decaying stages. The weak locally occurring systems and marginal phases of westward-propagating systems are easy to underpredict. The revised dCAPE-type triggers perform better on different convection systems and the diurnal cycle of convection.
The Large-Scale Dynamical Response of Clouds to Aerosol Forcing
Authors: Soden Brian , Chung Eui-Seok
Published: August 2017

Radiative kernels are used to quantify the instantaneous radiative forcing of aerosols and the aerosol-mediated cloud response in coupled ocean–atmosphere model simulations under both historical and future emission scenarios. The method is evaluated using matching pairs of historical climate change experiments with and without aerosol forcing and accurately captures the spatial pattern and global-mean effects of aerosol forcing. It is shown that aerosol-driven changes in the atmospheric circulation induce additional cloud changes. Thus, the total aerosol-mediated cloud response consists of both local microphysical changes and nonlocal dynamical changes that are driven by hemispheric asymmetries in aerosol forcing. By comparing coupled and fixed sea surface temperature (SST) simulations with identical aerosol forcing, the relative contributions of these two components are isolated, exploiting the ability of prescribed SSTs to also suppress changes in the atmospheric circulation. The radiative impact of the dynamical cloud changes is found to be comparable in magnitude to that of the microphysical cloud changes and acts to further amplify the interhemispheric asymmetry of the aerosol radiative forcing. The dynamical cloud response is closely linked to the meridional displacement of the Hadley cell, which, in turn, is driven by changes in the cross-equatorial energy transport. In this way, the dynamical cloud changes act as a positive feedback on the meridional displacement of the Hadley cell, roughly doubling the projected changes in cross-equatorial energy transport compared to that from the microphysical changes alone.
Damping Characteristics of Horizontal Laplacian Diffusion Filters
Authors: Klemp Joseph B.
Published: August 2017

Horizontally diffusive computational damping terms are frequently employed in 3D atmospheric simulation models to enhance stability and to suppress small-scale noise. In configuring these filters, it is desirable that damping effects are concentrated on the smaller-scale disturbances close to the grid scale and that the dissipation is spatially isotropic. On Cartesian meshes, the isotropy of the damping can vary greatly depending on the numerical formulation of the horizontal filter. The most isotropic behavior appears to result from recursive application of a 2D Laplacian that combines both along-axis and diagonal contributions. Also, the recursive application of 1D Laplacians in each coordinate direction provides better isotropy than the recursive application of the 2D Laplacian represented with a five-point operator. Increased isotropy also permits a larger maximum diffusivity, which may be beneficial in certain filter applications. On hexagonal and triangular meshes, Laplacian operators exhibit excellent isotropy, owing to the more isotropic nature of the meshes. However, previous research has established that straightforward application of the Laplacian may yield a diffusion operator that damps both resolved physical modes and unresolved high-wavenumber (aliased) modes, but it does not converge to the proper analytic behavior. Special averaging is then required to recover an accurate representation for the Laplacian. A consequence of this averaging is that the resulting filters do not act on the aliased modes (the checkerboard mode in particular) and thus employing the unaveraged diffusion operators may be preferable. The damping characteristics and stability constraints are derived for both the unaveraged and averaged Laplacian filters for C-grid staggering on these meshes.
Impact of Consistent Semi-Lagrangian Trajectory Calculations on Numerical Weather Prediction Performance
Authors: Husain Syed Zahid , Girard Claude
Published: August 2017

Inconsistencies may arise in numerical weather prediction models—that are based on semi-Lagrangian advection—when the governing dynamical and the kinematic trajectory equations are discretized in a dissimilar manner. This study presents consistent trajectory calculation approaches, both in the presence and absence of off-centering in the discretized dynamical equations. Both uniform and differential off-centering in the discretized dynamical equations have been considered. The proposed consistent trajectory calculations are evaluated using numerical experiments involving a nonhydrostatic two-dimensional theoretical mountain case and hydrostatic global forecasts. The experiments are carried out using the Global Environmental Multiscale model. Both the choice of the averaging method for approximating the velocity integral in the discretized trajectory equations and the interpolation scheme for calculating the departure positions are found to be important for consistent trajectory calculations. Results from the numerical experiments confirm that the proposed consistent trajectory calculation approaches not only improve numerical consistency, but also improve forecast accuracy.
Le vie dei lumi: Dai riformatori napoletani ai padri della Costituzione americana
Authors: Nicolì Rita
Published: August 2017

Il saggio si propone di ripercorrere, attraverso alcuni esplicativi esempi, lo scambio epistolare tra Benjamin Franklin e Gaetano Filangieri – erede della scuola dei riformatori dell’Illuminismo meridionale -, vagliando l'influenza che l'opera dell'intellettuale napoletano ebbe sul sostrato filosofico della Costituzione degli Stati Uniti d'America, nonostante la differenza generazionale tra i due. Secondo gli studi più recenti, dal loro carteggio si evince l’ambizioso progetto politico a cui il filosofo napoletano offriva il suo contributo per la costruzione di un assetto istituzionale realmente fautore della pubblica felicità ed emerge la forza del pensiero dell’Illuminismo italiano e le sue proiezioni internazionali. L’interesse di Franklin per l'opera di Filangieri ha infatti risvolti anche esecutivi: egli considera il lavoro del filosofo napoletano un modello a cui ispirarsi sia per la redazione della legislazione criminale in Pennsylvania sia per la più impegnativa missione di elaborare la Costituzione del nuovo Stato federale. La Scienza della Legislazione è una costruzione intellettuale lucidamente utopica e al contempo tecnicamente raffinata e moderna che, per prima, mette in rilievo l’interdipendenza delle leggi della politica e dell’economia, individuando per Napoli, ma anche per l’Europa ed oltre, l’urgenza di una radicale, generale riforma. Gli scritti di Filangieri, furono presentati a Franklin, durante il suo soggiorno parigino, da un diplomatico del Regno di Napoli a Parigi, ma soprattutto fu la comune affiliazione alla Massoneria a favorire un contatto tra i due intellettuali. Si intende qui porre l’accento sulla relazione tra il Sud Italia e la nazione americana, sui rapporti tra la Costituzione americana e sulla proiezione degli ideali illuministici di Gaetano Filangieri nel Nuovo Mondo, alla luce degli insegnamenti di Genovesi e dell’influenza di Locke.
Effects of Terms of Trade on Economic Growth of Pakistan
Authors: Jebran Khalil , Iqbal Amjad , Rao Zia Ur Rehman , Ali Arshad
Published: August 2017

This paper analyzes the effect of terms of trade on economic growth of Pakistan considering annual time series data from 1980 to 2013. This study opted autoregressive distributed lag model for purpose of analyzing short- and long-run relationship. The results reveal significant negative long-run and short-run effects of terms of trade on economic growth. The analyses also indicate significant positive long-run and short-run effects of labour on economic growth. Further, capital stock is influencing positively the economic growth in long run only. We suggest that economic policies may be implemented to deteriorate terms of trade which will further enhance the economic growth of Pakistan.

JEL: F13, F43
Auditory versus visual stimuli in vocabulary testing
Authors: Heim A. W. , Watts K. P. , Simmonds V.
Published: August 2017

One hundred and ninety-one first years and eighty-four fourth-years in a co-educational comprehensive school took either vocabulary test P or Q. The tests were divided into equated subtests, P1 and P2, Q1 and Q2, the subtests being given either in auditory or in visual form. The experimental design was counterbalanced, in order to verify subtest equivalence and absence of order effects. The hypothesis was confirmed that auditory presentation of stimulus words constitutes an easier task than visual presentation. The further hypothesis that this difference is greater for the younger and the less able subjects was partially confirmed.
Classroom interaction: Two studies of severely educationally subnormal children
Authors: Beveridge Michael , Evans Peter
Published: August 2017

An experimental study of go/no-go discrimination learning had previously indicated that individual differences in learning relate to childrens’ scores on the excitation/inhibition factor of a classroom assessment scale.

The current paper reports two observational studies which show that this scale factor also relates to aspects of the children's classroom behaviour. In particular, the frequency of initiation of interaction, amount of speech, number of approaches and likelihood of interacting with the teacher, were positively and significantly related to the degree of excitation of the children. These results were interpreted as indicating that excitable children are more reinforcement seeking than inhabitable children, and that this tendency leads to the differences observed in the classroom.
Professional values: A case study of professional students in a polytechnic
Authors: Joseph M.
Published: August 2017

This is an intensive study of students on a three-year Surveying degree course at a polytechnic. The degree gives exemption from the examinations of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The central task of the study was to define the content of the group culture, and to outline the socialisation process by which it is acquired. This involved ascertaining whether there is something which could be called the culture of the surveying profession, or at least the culture of the students in that profession, and, if so, to identify and examine the component parts of this culture. The relationship between student culture and examination success was considered to see whether there was a link between integration into the culture and examination success, and, further, whether examination success is a predictor of later success in the profession. Finally, it was hoped to show the way in which student culture changes throughout the experience of the course.1
Discipline and corporal punishment in schools: A longitudinal study of the attitudes of a group of student and probationary teachers
Authors: Starr J. W.
Published: August 2017

A Thurstone-type attitude scale was used to assess the attitudes of a group of graduate student teachers towards the use of corporal punishment in schools on each of three occasions: before embarking on a period of six weeks’ teaching practice in schools; on completion of this period of practice; and at the end of one year in a substantive teaching post. Measured attitudes before and after the period of teaching practice were similar, but, by the end of the first year of teaching, there was a significant shift in favour of the use of corporal punishment. Splitting the sample into two subgroups, those who were, and were not, having difficulty with discipline, revealed that the overall shift in attitude could be largely accounted for by changes in the attitudes of those who were having discipline problems.
Methodological problems in measuring teaching effectiveness
Authors: Schulmeister Rolf
Published: August 2017

This paper does not argue for more reliability in using traditional evaluation methods, but for abandoning some of the basic starting points of empiricist methods. Objectivity of measurement, in the manner of the natural sciences, cannot be increased by greater effort and precision, because this principle is antagonistic to the laws of social, symbolically mediated interaction. It is argued that comparative evaluation, or teacher assessment, is not important. Our aim should be to develop evaluational methods for innovational settings. Most traditional methods of evaluation assess the individual, not the system, and tend to gather the subjective opinion of the individuals. As a result, conclusions tend to be based on present views in ignorance of alternatives. In consequence it is a rather conservative approach which fixes the status quo of the system and immobilises it against more radical innovations. Much more fruitful would be the abandonment of the attempt at quasi-scientific objectivity and its replacement by on-going evaluation of the complex interactions in the innovation process via ‘action research’.
Task orientation as a predictor of academic attainment for Diploma in Management Studies students
Authors: Cox John H.
Published: August 2017

A simple Task Orientation Inventory was administered to 147 postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies students. Examination scores in the nine diploma subjects were standardised. The mean of the nine standard scores was used as a measure of academic attainment. A significant (p = 0.003) inverse linear relationship was found to exist between task orientation and academic attainment.
Children from socially disadvantaged families and special education
Authors: Phillips C. J.
Published: August 2017

This is the first of two articles in which some findings are examined from a study of severely disadvantaged families and their children. The samples are described in terms of living conditions, schools, and the health and physical growth of the children. Educational and intellectual attainments are reported. It is proposed that high concentrations of severe disadvantage change the aims and standards of school teachers. The theoretical issue of ‘deficiency’ or ‘cultural difference’ is introduced.
Allocation of Repertory Grid Constructs to Superordinate Categories: Interjudge Reliability
Authors: Phillips Derek , Callely Eileen
Published: August 2017

After using a form of the Repertory Grid technique to elicit from teachers constructs of the characteristics of children with behaviour problems, the authors and four other judges allocated the constructs to superordinate categories.

Some research reports have indicated that the criterion for interjudge reliability has been product moment correlations of the number of constructs allocated to categories. It is possible that such a method may lead to misinterpretation.

Interjudge reliabilities, expressed by product moment correlations, were high when number of constructs was considered. However, an investigation carried out to ascertain percentages of same constructs allocated to the categories revealed that relatively low percentages of constructs were so allocated.