AI washing: A conceptual exploration

Concept Exploration (CE) experiments within the Innovative Confinement Concept Program have a unique role which impacts their contributions to the development of fusion energy. As stated in the FESAC ''Report on Alternate Concepts:'' These [CE] programs are aimed at innovation and basic understanding of relevant scientific phenomena. The emphasis on innovation motivates their application to the search for a better fusion reactor configuration. In addition, because of their unique character the CE experiments offer excellent opportunities to couple fusion-plasma physics to other sciences. A recent example of coupling is the fusion self-organized plasmas to reconnection physics and extra-terrestrial plasmas. Perhaps of even greater importance is the education of the future scientists needed for developing fusion energy. The CE experiments, both at universities and national labs, are of a size students can ''get their hands around;'' young scientists and engineers will be attracted by this intellectual challenge combined with the vision of low-pollution energy for mankind represented by a burning-plasma experiment. A CE concept showing promise for fusion energy is expected to advance to the Proof-of-Principal stage. Experience has shown that this progression may occur in several ways: NSTX followed from success in START, a CE-level experiment in England; NCSX built on a broad base of theory and a strong international stellarator data base, without a CE experiment to test quasi-axisymmetry; and MST is following an upgrade path from the CE experiment of the same name. The lesson to be learned is a highly positive one, namely that the portfolio approach--with its five stages of development--is being applied in a flexible and pragmatic manner without artificial constraints from strategic planning. This lesson also makes it clear that as we move towards the development of fusion energy we need to determine the best way forward for each promising configuration, taking advantage of its unique attributes. The reactor embodiment of a CE concept may look much like an improved tokamak or may, in some visions, be very different. This may result in more complex decision points or in zig-zags in progress towards the energy application as the science behind the concept becomes better understood. The resulting innovations may shorten the time to fusion energy; alternatively, maturation of the development path may cause the reactor embodiment of the concept to follow (in time) testing of a tokamak reactor. The long-term success of fusion energy requires us to be flexible in our plans, while recognizing that issues of handling large powers and energy, mitigating neutron damage, and many other practical matters cannot be delayed for the discovery of the ''best'' reactor configuration. Finally, most CE concepts involve more complex physics than the tokamak. This places them at a significant disadvantage for rapid deployment: Because their budgets are low, it is difficult to develop sufficiently the scientific knowledge needed to justify an experiment at the PoP stage. Success in moving to this level will need the use of sophisticated diagnostics to generate the data needed to guide and demonstrate understanding, coupled (in many cases) to advanced computational modeling of the complex phenomena. These are both relatively expensive undertakings, suggesting that progress forward may often be more of a continuous process with small steps than a discontinuous jump from the CE to the PoP level. MST is an example of such a progression. Innovative use of advanced diagnostics, perhaps on more than one experiment but certainly drawing on collaborations among researchers, may prove to be cost effective. Plans for advanced modeling, such as that by the ongoing ISFOS Panel to develop a roadmap for a Fusion Simulation Project, need to explicitly recognize the needs of the ICCs in general and the CEs in particular.

Conceptual engineering involves revising our concepts. It can be pursued as a specific philosophical methodology, but is also common in ordinary, non-philosophical, contexts. How does our capacity for conceptual engineering fit into human cognitive life more broadly? I hold that conceptual engineering is best understood alongside practices of conceptual exploration, examples of which include conceptual supposition (i.e. suppositional reasoning about alternative concepts), and conceptual comparison (i.e. comparisons between possible concept choices). Whereas in conceptual engineering we aim to change the concepts we use, in conceptual exploration, we reason about conceptual possibilities. I approach conceptual exploration via the linguistic tools we use to communicate about concepts, using metalinguistic negotiation, convention-shifting conditionals, and metalinguistic comparatives as my key examples. I present a linguistic framework incorporating conventions that can account for this communication in a unified way. Furthermore, I argue that conceptual exploration helps undermine skepticism about conceptual engineering itself.

This paper asks how, in science in general and in economics in particular, theoretical models aid the understanding of real-world phenomena. Using specific models in economics and biology as test cases, it considers three alternative answers: that models are tools for isolating the ‘capacities’ of causal factors in the real world; that modelling is ‘conceptual exploration’ which ultimately contributes to the development of genuinely explanatory theories; and that models are credible counterfactual worlds from which inductive inferences can be made. The paper argues that the ‘credible worlds’ account captures significant aspects of scientific practice, even if many modellers see their work as conceptual exploration.

The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), under the direction of the Navy Communications Satellite Program Office, PMW-146, will fulfill the Department of Defense's (DoD) unprotected narrowband communications requirements identified by the Senior Warfighter's Forum (SWARF). The Navy has begun efforts to capture these requirements for all services and has developed an acquisition strategy to procure the necessary system(s) and/or services. The first phase, Concept Exploration (CE), focused on the development of communication system concepts meeting the MUOS requirements. Trade studies and analyses of these concept studies were conducted from the perspective of a total system solution. The Navy competitively awarded four firm fixed price CE Study contracts in November 1999, which concluded in May 2000. These four contracts were awarded to Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Spectrum Astro, and Hughes Space and Communications. An additional contract, specifically intended for a commercial satellite communications provider, was awarded to Teledesic/ICO in May 2000. The results of this study will be available at a later date, and are not included in this paper. Each CE contractor team provided two system concepts, with each concept assessed in two distinct business cases to examine alternatives for the procurement of the MUOS. The resulting concept designs were based on the contractor exploration of the available trade space within the constraints of requirements satisfaction, performance, cost, risk, and schedule. This paper presents the trades performed by the contractors, as well as the requirements that drive the chosen architecture.

This concept paper examines the integration of Agile methodologies into IT audit processes to enhance effectiveness and efficiency. In today's dynamic and rapidly evolving technological landscape, traditional audit approaches often struggle to keep pace with the speed and complexity of IT environments. Agile methodologies, originating from software development, offer a flexible and iterative framework that can revolutionize IT audit practices. The paper begins by highlighting the limitations of traditional audit methodologies in addressing the challenges posed by modern IT systems. It then introduces Agile principles and practices, explaining how they can be adapted and applied within the context of IT audits. By embracing Agile, auditors can shift from rigid, linear audit processes to iterative, collaborative approaches that promote adaptability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement. Key components of Agile methodologies, such as sprints, stand-up meetings, and user stories, are explored in the context of IT audits, demonstrating how they can streamline audit planning, execution, and reporting. The paper also discusses the cultural shift required for successful Agile adoption within audit teams and organizations, emphasizing the importance of communication, collaboration, and a mindset focused on delivering value. Through case studies and real-world examples, the paper illustrates the tangible benefits of applying Agile methodologies to IT audits. These include increased audit coverage, faster identification of risks and issues, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and improved alignment with business objectives. Additionally, Agile practices enable auditors to adapt to changing priorities and emerging risks more effectively, ensuring audit activities remain relevant and impactful in dynamic environments. Despite its potential benefits, Agile adoption in IT audits presents challenges such as cultural resistance, skill gaps, and the need for organizational support and buy-in. The paper addresses these challenges and proposes strategies for overcoming them, including training and development initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and pilot projects. In conclusion, the paper advocates for the integration of Agile methodologies into IT audit practices as a means to enhance effectiveness, responsiveness, and value delivery. By embracing Agile principles and practices, auditors can better meet the demands of today's digital landscape, driving continuous improvement and innovation in audit processes. In this concept paper, I analyze how the adoption of Agile methodologies, particularly Scrum, can revolutionize IT audits. I explore how these methodologies improve collaboration, adaptability, and overall audit effectiveness, supported by practical examples and insights from my professional experience. Keywords: Enhancing, IT, Audit Effectiveness, Agile Methodologies, Conceptual Exploration.

Although the treatment landscape for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has seen significant advancements in the past decade with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors and antiangiogenic drugs, progress has fallen short of expectations. Recently, a novel engineered oncolytic virus (OHSV2) that secretes dual-specific T-cell engagers (DSTEs) targeting the fibroblast activation protein (FAP) was developed and combined with GPC3-targeting CAR-T cells and immunotoxins to exert a synergistic antitumor effect. OHSV2-DSTEFAP5/CD3 was initially generated by transducing the DSTEs engaging FAP5 on fibroblasts into the backbone of our oncolytic virus OHSV2. An innovative high-order combination was devised in a xenograft mouse model to conceptually explore whether enhanced anti-tumor effects could be achieved. Additionally, the underlying mechanisms of synergistic effects and safety profiles were preliminarily investigated. OHSV2-DSTEFAP5/CD3 effectively targeted and eliminated fibroblasts in vitro while maintaining cytotoxicity and inducing immune activation compared to parental OHSV2. In vivo, dose-adjusted combination therapy resulted in a remarkable antitumor effect compared to control treatments, leading to tumor regression in 40% of mice without significant toxicity to major organs. Mechanistically, rather than directly depleting fibroblasts, OHSV2-DSTEFAP5/CD3 played an essential role in priming T-cell proliferation, infiltration, and activation, and inhibiting the supportive interaction between cancer cells and fibroblasts. This high-order combination represents a novel multiple-wave immunotherapeutic approach for HCC. Despite being a conceptual exploration, this strategy has demonstrated promising therapeutic efficacy and acceptable safety profiles.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) 's impact on individuals' performance is a topic of interest among academics and is being utilized to explain its richness in professional and social connections. Meanwhile, work-life has been a crucial discussed topic among researchers and a focus of exploration across countries and spectrums. However, individual performance, as defined in this conceptual exploration in terms of emotional intelligence, has an impact on an individual's response to changes in workload, organizational commitment, and work engagement; where the term work-life balance is used to explain the impact of an individual's emotional intelligence on maintaining balance among personal life, family domains, and work domain. Although such studies have focused on the relationship among specific factors, there is limited research on how effective leadership is moderating these variables. This study, therefore, proposes a more comprehensiveness through Bar-On's model, ability model, and expectancy theory to expand and clarify the relationship between the variables and moderator. This paper claims that emotional intelligence is crucially nested in leadership, individual work performance, and the balance between work-life. Hence, the study proposed a theoretical framework that bridges EI with individual performance and work-life balance, where leadership is moderating all those variables.

Through its increasing use, community resilience as a concept is interpreted differently across disciplines. In this paper, an indicator-based assessment framework is developed, to find an understanding of community resilience as a social dynamic that is informed by multiple theoretical approaches. It breaks community resilience down into manageable components. Understood proactively, it enables communities to tap into diverse resource pools in times of change and uncertainty. Its individual, social, governance and economic dimensions are interdependent upon each other and present community as a dynamic process. This process is impacted by drivers such as the polycrisis, which society needs to be resilient against. Participation is discussed as a potentially enabling factor to strengthen community resilience.

This article departs from an observation that current practices of readers advisory (litteraturformidling) in public libraries tend to prioritize readers’ demands, taste, or contextual matters on the expense of literature itself. We ask what it means to put literature first and how research can underpin such practices. In a conceptual and exploratory study departing from Gerard Genette’s work on the paratext we draw inter alia on theory of literature, pragmatic philosophy, and the legislation on public libraries. By way of conceptual inquiries, we analyse what it would mean for the libarian to advocate works, collections, and other cultural artefacts in the library. We have developed an understanding of literary advocacy foregrounding five methodological devices: 1) listening carefully to literature; 2) talking on behalf of literature by articulating the reading experience; 3) addressing the reader as one that wishes to discover and find new ways of seeing; 4) cultivating the art of selection; and 5) attending to the democratic mandate of libraries and taking a position. Professional librarianship in terms of literary advocacy would mean to negotiate democratic values relative to the singularity of the work and relative to all the selections the advocate has to make. Our result then points towards a “tool” for professional research on the literary practices of public libraries too.

A participatory approach is widely recommended for organizational interventions aiming to improve employee well-being. Employees' participatory influence over organizational interventions implies that managers share power over decisions concerning the design and/or implementation of those interventions. However, a power-sharing perspective is generally missing in organizational intervention literature. The aim of this paper is therefore broaden the picture of the mechanisms that influence, more or less, participatory processes by conceptually exploring this missing part to the puzzle. These conceptual explorations departs from both an empowerment and a contingency perspective and results in six propositions on what to consider in terms of power-sharing strategies, reach, amount, scope, culture and capacity. Implications for research, as well as for organizations and practitioners interested in occupational health improvements, are then discussed. Especially, the importance of aligning power-sharing forms with the needs of the participating employees, and taking factors that can facilitate or hinder the power-sharing process into consideration, are stressed. The importance of training managers in power-sharing practices and supporting a participatory process is also highlighted.

Metaphorical language, though often overlooked, plays a pivotal role in couple's therapy, shaping the dynamics of communication and influencing conflict resolution processes. This conceptual exploration delves into the multifaceted impact of metaphorical language on the therapeutic discourse within couples. Through a synthesis of existing literature and theoretical frameworks, this paper elucidates the intricate interplay between metaphorical expressions and the resolution of relational conflicts. The use of metaphorical language in couple's therapy serves as a symbolic bridge, facilitating the articulation of deeply rooted emotions and experiences that may otherwise remain inaccessible. Metaphors act as linguistic vehicles, enabling individuals to convey complex thoughts and feelings in a manner that transcends literal expression. Within the therapeutic context, metaphors offer a creative space for couples to explore their relationship dynamics, perceptions, and narratives. Furthermore, metaphorical language not only elucidates individual experiences but also shapes the shared reality constructed by couples. Metaphors can reveal underlying relational patterns, power dynamics, and unspoken assumptions, thereby fostering insight and empathy between partners. By reframing conflicts through metaphorical lenses, couples can gain a fresh perspective on their challenges, promoting collaborative problem-solving and mutual understanding. However, the impact of metaphorical language in couple's therapy is not unidimensional. Misinterpretations or divergent interpretations of metaphors may inadvertently exacerbate misunderstandings or conflicts within the therapeutic process. Therapists must navigate the nuances of metaphorical communication sensitively, balancing interpretation with validation of individual experiences and perspectives. This conceptual exploration highlights the significance of metaphorical language in shaping the therapeutic discourse and its potential implications for conflict resolution in couple's therapy. By embracing and exploring metaphorical expressions, therapists can harness the transformative power of language to facilitate insight, empathy, and ultimately, relational healing within couples. Further empirical research is warranted to elucidate the nuanced mechanisms through which metaphorical language influences therapeutic outcomes in couple's therapy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in healthcare, with the potential to revolutionize the monitoring of HIV treatment adherence. This conceptual exploration delves into the various roles that AI can play in this critical aspect of HIV management, aiming to improve patient outcomes and enhance the effectiveness of treatment programs. The Review will discuss how AI can analyze data from various sources, such as electronic medical records, wearable devices, and patient-reported outcomes, to monitor treatment adherence in real-time. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, AI can identify patterns and trends in patient behavior that may indicate non-adherence, allowing healthcare providers to intervene early and provide targeted support. Furthermore, the Review will highlight the potential of AI to personalize adherence monitoring strategies based on individual patient characteristics and treatment regimens. AI can analyze large datasets to identify factors that influence adherence, such as socioeconomic status, mental health, and comorbidities, enabling tailored interventions that address the unique needs of each patient. Additionally, the Review will discuss how AI can improve patient engagement and education through personalized interventions delivered via mobile applications or virtual assistants. These interventions can provide patients with real-time feedback on their adherence behavior, offer motivational support, and address any barriers to adherence they may be facing. Overall, this conceptual exploration will demonstrate the transformative potential of AI in monitoring HIV treatment adherence. By harnessing the power of AI, healthcare providers can develop more effective strategies for improving adherence, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for patients living with HIV.

New design concept of Reactor Coolant System (RCS) including a reactor assembly for the SMR is introduced in this work. An exploration of new type of reactor that is advanced from proposed SMRs is performed by using systems engineering approach. In this point of view project structured on three main phases; needs analysis (NA), concept exploration (CE), and concept definition (CD). Main objectives as an output of the CE stage are a small size, low cost, shortening the schedule, and enhancing safety. The SMRs usually have a small size requirement. In order to meet the size requirement and to achieve a productivity, in other words, easiness to manufacture, this paper suggests an integrated PWR design concept through researching predecessors. Although the integrated PWR concept provides many advantages, it has disadvantages that composite of maintenance and a low availability problem. Therefore, this paper comes up with a run-to-fail design concept based on modular design to address the maintenance problem and to maximize the availability of SMRs as well as to be compatible with the overall-SMRs including Barge Mounted(BM)type.

1) Naval Engineering Division in Naval Force Analysis, Test and Evaluation Group of ROKNAbstract : The early-phase naval ship design demands requirements synth esis rather than design synthesis, which conducts engineering design for several domains on a deta iled level. Requirements synthesis focuses on creating a balanced set of required operational capab ilities satisfying user’s needs and concept of operations. Requirements are evolved from capab ility based languages to function based language by statistical exploration and engineering design which are derive d in the following order: concept alternative, concept baseline, initial baseline and functional baseline. The early-phase naval ship design process can be divided into three passes: concept definition, concept explorat ion and concept development. Main activities and outcomes in each pass are shortly presented. Concept defini tion is the first important step that produces a concept baseline through extensive design space exploration p romptly. Design space exploration applies a statistical approach to explore design trends of existing ships and produce feasible design range corresponding to concept alternative. It further helps naval systems engineer s and operational researchers by inducing useful responses to user and stakeholders ’ questions at a sufficient degree of confidence and success in the very early ship design. The focus of this paper is on the flow of design space exploration, and its application to a high-speed patrol craft. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors, and do not reflect the official policy or rule of the Navy.Key Words : Naval Ship Design, Design Space Exploration, Naval architect ure, Naval engineering, Operational Research, Systems Engineering, Concept Baseline, Statistics, Hi stogram, Design of Experiment, Regression Analysis, Artificial Neural Network, High-speed patr ol craft* 교신저자 : Jinwon Park, jwpark1@gmail.com* This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which pe rmits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The contemporary convergence of documentary practices and data visualization sets an interesting field for both creative and conceptual exploration. At the same time, however, at both levels we are still dealing with a challenge, a broad spectrum of possibilities still waiting to be filled with the full range of solutions. The aim of this text is to look at the phenomenon of interactive documents based on data visualization from two key perspectives. The first one is focused on the issue of the status of data and their visual representations in the context of Big Data as a set of culturally, socially, politically and business shaped database technologies, data analysis schemes and numerous ideologies that accompany these activities. There is also an interesting cognitive perspective of how data were and are conceptualized, produced and used both in the tradition of documentary film and in the domain of applied data visualizations. The second approach problematizes the tension between the sublime and the anti-sublime, as two opposing (although very often complementary in individual implementations) epistemic attitudes, which in data visualization research have been used as a tool for typologizing practices, but also as concepts capturing the transgressive value of visual representations of large scale data repositories.