pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Gilles Deleuze as interpreters of Henri Bergson

In this essay I concentrate on the relation between Deleuze's philosophy and Merleau-Ponty's. I examine the question of whether their philosophical projects are as widely divergent as Deleuze wants the reader to believe. Since explicit references to Merleau-Ponty in the work of Deleuze are rather rare, I take the detour of examining their interpretations of Henri Bergson, a philosopher they both recognized as an important source of inspiration. More specifically, I study the references to Bergson in the work of Merleau-Ponty and Deleuze that deal with difference and immanence. I show that Merleau-Ponty merely reads Bergson as a difference thinker, whereas Deleuze stresses Bergson's immanentism. However, these two positions do not exclude one another. First of all, there are many similarities with respect to which Bergsonian concepts both authors focus on and how they interpret them. Secondly, as Deleuze's own philosophy illustrates, a philosophy of difference is not incompatible with immanentism. However, there is one passage in Cinema I. The Movement-Image in which Deleuze states that there is a fundamental difference between the battle against dualism as it is fought by Bergson on the one hand, and phenomenology on the other. Since Deleuze's search for an immanent philosophy relies heavily on concepts introduced by Bergson, this passage can help to indicate to what degree the aforementioned similarities between Deleuze's and Merleau-Ponty's immanentism hold
Transcendentalism and original beginnings

In "Sublime historical experience" (2005), Frank Ankersmit argues that the past originates from an experience of rupture. Such an experience of rupture separates the present from the past, and, at the same time, means the beginning of an effort to overcome the separation. Moreover, the experience is precognitive since it precedes (the possibility of) historical knowledge. As such, it is a condition of possibility for history. Ankersmit resists post-modern thinking about history, considered as too relativizing from the perspective of current philosophy of history. In his view, the focus on text and context, but also the emphasis on categories in transcendental thinking, result in a neglect of experience. Experience should be given its due, also in philosophy of history. Starting from the above challenge, the "original beginnings", which Husserl posits as meaning-origins of a particular history in The Origin of Geometry (cf. appendix 6 to The Crisis of European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology, 1970) are questioned from a transcendental perspective. More in particular, it will be investigated if these meaning-origins are to be grasped as structural and nachtraglich, in a Derridean style, or if they are to be considered as founding moments of experience, probably in a more Merleau-Pontian style. At stake is here the transcendental status of the first acquisition. Is the point from which a historical demarcation is being made, and thus also the meaning-origin itself, a matter of interpretation after the facts or is it the witness of a supposedly genuine experience? The differences between these two options are both subtle and crucial for transcendental thinking today. In the conclusions, we point to the importance of thinking the possibility of history in structural terms, and to different possible appreciations of the spiritual products of culture and more specifically, of works of art
Jeremiah Jones and the musical crusade

The research story, Jeremiah Jones and the Musical Crusade, as an example of resonant lifework, highlights various qualities and meanings that make up the musical life of a dedicated music student. Illuminations are presented in order to support the case for further understanding of the ways that music is both 'used' to structure life and as a component in personal identity formation. Developing further understanding of these matters is seen as vital for the future of music education. Importantly, much of the interpretive research process is apparent in the research text, as interactions between the participant and researcher are a storied component of it. 
The narrative framework involved the construction of a storied research text from a synthesis of the meaningful connections, hidden significances and themes gleaned from a series of interviews with Jeremiah, the participant, and also from the researcher’s observations of him in musical performance and daily life situations.
Can proteoglycan change in articular cartilage be detected by ultrasound evaluation?

This paper assesses the capacity of high-frequency ultrasonic waves for detecting changes in the proteoglycan (PG) content of articular cartilage. 50 cartilage-on-bone samples were exposed to ultrasonic waves via an ultrasound transducer at a frequency of 20MHz. Histology and ImageJ processing were conducted to determine the PG content of the specimen. The ratios of the reflected signals from both the surface and the osteochondral junction (OCJ) were determined from the experimental data. The initial results show an inconsistency in the capacity of ultrasound to distinguish samples with severe proteoglycan loss (i.e. >90% PG loss) from the normal intact sample. This lack of clear distinction was also demonstrated at for samples with less than 60% depletion, while there is a clear differentiation between the normal intact sample and those with 55-70% PG loss
Near infrared for non-destructive testing of articular cartilage

The concept of non-destructive testing (NDT) of materials and structures is of immense importance in engineering and medicine. Several NDT methods including electromagnetic (EM)-based e.g. X-ray and Infrared; ultrasound; and S-waves have been proposed for medical applications. This paper evaluates the viability of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, an EM method for rapid non-destructive evaluation of articular cartilage. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that there is a correlation between the NIR spectrum and the physical and mechanical characteristics of articular cartilage such as thickness, stress and stiffness. Intact, visually normal cartilage-on-bone plugs from 2-3yr old bovine patellae were exposed to NIR light from a diffuse reflectance fibre-optic probe and tested mechanically to obtain their thickness, stress, and stiffness. Multivariate statistical analysis-based predictive models relating articular cartilage NIR spectra to these characterising parameters were developed. Our results show that there is a varying degree of correlation between the different parameters and the NIR spectra of the samples with R2 varying between 65 and 93%. We therefore conclude that NIR can be used to determine, nondestructively, the physical and functional characteristics of articular cartilage
The particle finite element method for multi-fluid flows

This paper presents the Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM) and its application to multi-fluid flows. Key features of the method are the use of a Lagrangian description to model the motion of the fluid particles (nodes) and that all the information is associated to the particles. A mesh connects the nodes defining the discretized domain where the governing equations, expressed in an integral form, are solved as in the standard FEM.We have extended the method to problems involving several different fluids with the aim of exploiting the fact that Lagrangian methods are specially well suited for tracking any kind of interfaces.Postprint (published version
Measures of Gross National Happiness

Happiness is rising on the political agenda and this calls for measures of how well nations perform in creating great happiness for a great number, analogous to measures of success in creating wealth, such as GDP.
Happiness is defined as subjective enjoyment of one’s life as-a-whole and this can be measured using self-reports. Question on happiness are currently used in large scale surveys of the general population in nations. As a result we have now comparable data on happiness in 95 contemporary nations and time-series of 25 years and longer on 11 developed nations.
These data can be aggregated in different ways: If the aim is simply greater happiness for a greater number of citizens, Average happiness (AH) is an appropriate measure. If the focus is on enduring happiness, it is better to combine average happiness with longevity in an index of Happy Life Years (HLY). If the aim is to reduce disparity among citizens a relevant indicator is the Inequality of Happiness (IH) in the nations as measured with the standard deviation. Average and dispersion can also be combined in an index of Inequality-Adjusted Happiness (IAH).
Comparison across nations shows sizable differences on all these measures of gross national happiness and these differences correspond with societal characteristics that can be influenced by policy makers, such as freedom and justice. Comparison over time shows major improvement during the last decade.
Quality Adjusted Life Expectancy

__Abstract__\ud
\ud
The term life expectancy is used for statistical estimates of how long a particular kind of people will live. Such estimates are based on the observed length of life of similar people who have died in the past and on probable future changes in mortality. Used in this sense, the term refers to something “objective,” that is, it is an estimate made by distant observers on the basis of clear criteria. The term is typically not used for subjective appraisals, that is, guesses made by individuals of how long they will live.\ud
These statistical estimates can concern the general population in a particular country, for instance, the life expectancy at birth in Denmark in 2008 was 77.9. Such estimates are also made for people working in particular occupations or for patients suffering from a particular disease.\ud
A long life is not necessarily a good life, for instance, not when medical technology is used to postpone death without stopping a patients suffering. Hence, there is a need for estimates that do not limit to the length of life, but also take its quality into account. There are different notions of what marks quality of life, and different measures of quality-adjusted life expectancy have been developed along these notions. Most of these involve subjective appraisals of one’s personal life, which means that estimates of quality-adjusted life expectancy involve typically a mix of both objective and subjective assessments
Happiness levels stability

__Abstract__\ud
\ud
One of the ideological foundations of the modern welfare states is the belief that\ud
people can be made happier by providing them with better living conditions. This\ud
belief is challenged by the idea that happiness tends to remain at the same level and\ud
will therefore hardly change when living conditions improve. This counter intuitive\ud
thought draws to two theories of happiness.\ud
One theory holds that happiness is a fixed “trait,” rather than a variable “state.”\ud
This theory figures both at the individual level and at the societal level. The\ud
individual level variant depicts happiness as an aspect of personal character, rooted\ud
in inborn temperament or acquired disposition and is commonly referred to as the\ud
“set point” theory of happiness. The societal variant sees happiness as a matter of\ud
national character, embedded in shared values and beliefs. This variant has been\ud
called “folklore theory.” Both variants imply that a better society makes no happier\ud
people.\ud
The second theory holds that happiness is a matter of comparison and that\ud
different standards of comparison are involved, such as described in Michalos\ud
(1985) “ multiple discrepancies theory” of happiness. In that context it is then\ud
assumed that standards tend to shift over time and that these shifts nullify the\ud
effects of improvements in living conditions. This is seen to lead us in a “hedonic\ud
treadmill,” where we remain equally happy subjectively in spite of progress in an\ud
objective sense (e.g., Brickman & Campbell, 1971).\ud
This idea of stable happiness figures in several discussions, one of which is the\ud
debate on the value of economic growth. In that context the “ Easterlin Paradox” holds that average happiness in nations has remained at the same level over the last\ud
decade in spite of constant economic growth (Easterlin, 1974)
World Database of Happiness

__Abstract__\ud
\ud
Social scientists are producing an ever-growing stream of research findings,\ud
which is becoming ever more difficult to oversee. As a result, capitalization\ud
on earlier research investment is declining, and the accumulation of\ud
knowledge is stagnating. This situation calls for more research synthesis, and\ud
today, interest in synthetic techniques is on the rise. To date, attention has\ud
been focused on techniques for meta-analysis, with little attention paid to the\ud
preliminary step of bringing the available research findings together. What we\ud
need is (1) techniques that can be used to describe research findings in a\ud
comparable way, (2) a system for storing such descriptions in an easily\ud
accessible archive, and (3) a system to which research findings can be added\ud
on a continuous basis
Parkinson's disease - psychological determinants of quality of life

There are many studies, which are focused on measurement the quality of life (QoL) of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), but studies about psychological factors associated with QoL in those patients are scarce. The research was focused on personality (extraversion, neuroticism, type D personality, negative affectivity and social inhibition) and mood disorders (depression, anxiety) as factors associated directly with QoL of PD patients or indirectly - through patient’s delay. A higher score in extraversion was significantly associated with better emotional well-being in males, but surprisingly, with worse emotional well-being in females. Type D was negatively associated with overall QoL in PD patients and with all dimensions except mobility, activities of daily living and bodily discomfort. In women, a higher NA explained the higher dissatisfaction with social support. Non-delayers scored higher in extroversion, which was associated also with better scores in physical and mental health summary score. Results showed, that social interactions, associated with an extrovertly oriented personality, can force decision making on help-seeking. Type D personality was associated with both dimensions of QoL - physical and mental health summary score in PD patients, but this association disappeared in the mental dimension when the variables anxiety and depression were added to the model. Quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease can be partially explained by personality traits and also the gender aspect of quality of life and actual mood disorders appeared to be an important topics contributing to the knowledge about QoL in PD patients.
The economic transition and migration of Vietnam and the Mekong Delta region

Relationship between economic transition and migration has long attracted increasing attention of both policy-makers and researchers. Migration is seen as a response of changes during the economic transition in a country, because labour is an important production factor in the market, in which labourers have a desire to move to a place of better working conditions rather than going to a disadvantaged conditions (De Haas, 2010; Todaro, 1980).In this paper I extend this discussion by examining how effects of economic transition on internal migration since the late 1980s. This idea aims at gaining a broader insight into the relationship between economic transition and migration during the renovation process
Inhibition of bacterial adhesion on medical devices

Microbial infections resulting from bacterial adhesion to biomaterial surfaces
have been observed on almost all medical devices. Biofilm infections pose
a number of clinical challenges due to their resistance to immune defence mechanisms
and antimicrobials, and, regardless of the sophistication of the implant, all
medical devices are susceptible to microbial colonisation and infection. Research
efforts are currently directed towards eliminating or reducing infection of medical
devices. Strategies to prevent biofilm formation include physiochemical modification
of the biomaterial surface to create anti-adhesive surfaces, incorporation of
antimicrobial agents into medical device polymers, mechanical design alternatives,
and release of antibiotics. Nevertheless, the success of these alternatives has been
modest, mainly due to the various environments into which devices are placed and
the diversity of ways in which organisms can colonise surfaces. Biosurfactants have
been reported as a promising strategy as they effectively inhibit bacterial adhesion
and retard biofilm formation, and are thus potentially useful as a new generation of
anti-adhesive and antimicrobial coatings for medical device
Eco-governance in Bulgarian Agriculture

This paper presents the evolution of diverse modes of environmental management in Bulgarian agriculture, and assesses their efficiency and likely prospects of development. First, it analyzes the pace of development and the impact(s) on individual behavior of the major modes of environmental governance - institutional environment (distribution and enforcement of property, user, trading etc. rights and rules); private and collective modes (diverse private initiatives, and contractual and organizational arrangements); market modes (various decentralized initiatives governed by “free” market price movements and market competition); public modes (different forms of Government, community, international etc. intervention). Second, it assesses the impact(s) of dominating system of governance on the state of environment and identifies major eco-challenges, conflicts and risks – increased competition for natural resources, degradation and contamination of farmland, pollution of surface and ground waters, loss of biodiversity, deterioration of (agro)eco-systems services etc. Third, it projects likely evolution of environmental management in the specific “Bulgarian” economic, institutional and natural environment, and estimates its probable effect on environmental security, and suggests recommendations for institutional modernization and public policies improvement.
Forests as Commons – Changing Traditions and Governance in Europe

Commons are complex institutions and exist across the world in a wide range of situations regarding locally developed governance and management systems of many different natural resources. For many people commons remain associated with Hardin’s theory concerning the “Tragedy of the Commons” (1968), in which he assumed that local users of a natural resource are unable to formulate governance and management structures concerning their own choices that took into account the long-term sustainability of the resource itself. As a result, Hardin articulated that the tragedy was that the resource would inevitably become degraded in such situations and that the solution was private or public ownership. However, across Europe many forests have for a very long period of time successfully been managed as commons, just as they have in many other parts of the world. This chapter has three main aims: It will provide an introduction to the various types of commons before going on to link the issue of commons to the traditional forest landscapes of Europe, and it will look at how the role of forests and forest landscapes has changed and how it may change further in the future
Not throwing out the baby with the bathwater: Bell's condition of local
  causality mathematically 'sharp and clean'

The starting point of the present paper is Bell's notion of local causality
and his own sharpening of it so as to provide for mathematical formalisation.
Starting with Norsen's (2007, 2009) analysis of this formalisation, it is
subjected to a critique that reveals two crucial aspects that have so far not
been properly taken into account. These are (i) the correct understanding of
the notions of sufficiency, completeness and redundancy involved; and (ii) the
fact that the apparatus settings and measurement outcomes have very different
theoretical roles in the candidate theories under study. Both aspects are not
adequately incorporated in the standard formalisation, and we will therefore do
so. The upshot of our analysis is a more detailed, sharp and clean mathematical
expression of the condition of local causality. A preliminary analysis of the
repercussions of our proposal shows that it is able to locate exactly where and
how the notions of locality and causality are involved in formalising Bell's
condition of local causality.Comment: 14 pages. To be published in PSE volume "Explanation, Prediction, and
  Confirmation", edited by Dieks, et a
The surprising Weberian roots to Milton Friedman's methodology

The main point of this paper is to contribute to understanding Milton Friedman’s 1953 “The Methodology of Positive Economics” (hereafter F1953), one of the most influential statements of economic methodology of the twentieth century, and, in doing so, help discern the non trivial but complex role of philosophic ideas in the shaping of economic theorizing and economists’ self-conception.1 It also aims to contribute to a better understanding of the theoretical origins of the socalled ‘Chicago’ school of economics
The application of warfare ecology to belligerent occupations

Insofar as warfare ecology aims to examine all war-related conditions, belligerent occupations are a necessary stage in its broad taxonomy. Under international law, belligerent occupations are covered by a distinctive subset of jus in bello (humanitarian law), which is imprecise regarding ecological changes. This chapter examines the potential role of warfare ecology in studying belligerent occupations, highlighting the multiple, often indirect, means by which such occupations shape ecological processes. Particular attention is paid to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, due to its protracted duration, although also discussed are environmental effects associated with the US and UK occupation of Iraq. The onus on the occupying power, under international humanitarian law, to protect the conditions of life for civilians can plausibly be applied to the environmental resources of the resident population. It is argued that warfare ecology can make a significant contribution both to assessing the effects of occupations and, through the generation of policy advice, to promote conflict outcomes more sensitive towards ecological processes