Original Claim Research Articles

Spinoza on the Power of Reason Over the Passions

ABSTRACT In the first half of Part 5 of the Ethics, Spinoza presents his directions for mitigating the passions through reason. He touts his account of the power of reason over the passions as ground-breaking and unique, while positioning himself squarely within the traditional debate of akrasia, or weakness of will. Spinoza claims he is the first to identify the affects through their characteristic effects, and demonstrate the way these effects can be countered by the mind’s activity. It follows that Spinoza’s claim for originality can be explained in (at least) two ways: first, passions themselves have been misunderstood, and second, previous philosophers have misunderstood the relationship between reason and the passions. In the first part of this paper, I place Spinoza’s discussion of the passions and reason’s power over them in a historical context. Next, I present Spinoza’s definition of the affects, and his directions for ‘destroying’ the passions. In the third section I point to the differences between my interpretation and that of recent commentators. Finally, I discuss the way in which Spinoza’s directions for mitigating the passions serve as the psychological basis for his moral theory.

Verifying origin claims on dairy products using stable isotope ratio analysis and random forest classification.

Scientifically underpinning geographic origin claims will improve consumer trust in food labels. Stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) is an analytical technique that supports origin verification of food products based on naturally occurring differences in isotopic compositions. SIRA of five relevant elements (C, H, N, O, S) was conducted on casein isolated from butter (n=60), cheese (n=96), and whole milk powder (WMP) (n=41). Samples were divided into four geographic regions based on their commercial origin: Ireland (n=79), Europe (n=67), Australasia (n=29) and USA (n=22). A random forest machine learning model built using δ13C, δ2H, δ15N, δ18O and δ34S values of all products (n=197) accurately (88% model accuracy rate) predicted the region of origin with class accuracy of 95% for Irish, 84% for European, 71% for Australasia, and 94% for US products.

A Classification Bias and an Exclusion Bias Jointly Overinflated the Estimation of Publication Biases in Bilingualism Research.

A publication bias has been argued to affect the fate of results in bilingualism research. It was repeatedly suggested that studies presenting evidence for bilingual advantages are more likely to be published compared to studies that do not report results in favor of the bilingual advantage hypothesis. This work goes back to the original claim and re-examines both the dataset and the classification of the studies that were employed. We find that the exclusion of published works such as doctoral dissertations, book chapters, and conference proceedings from the original dataset significantly inflated the presumed publication bias. Moreover, the estimation of the publication bias was affected by a classification bias that uses a mega-category that consists of both null and negative outcomes. Yet finding evidence for a bilingual disadvantage is not synonymous with obtaining a result indistinguishable from zero. Consequently, grouping together null and negative findings in a mega-category has various ramifications, not only for the estimation of the presumed publication bias but also for the field's ability to appreciate the insofar hidden correlations between bilingual advantages and disadvantages. Tracking biases that inflate scientific results is important, but it is not enough. The next step is recognizing the nested Matryoshka doll effect of bias-within-bias, and this entails raising awareness for one's own bias blind spots in science.

Emerson and the lyric essay in Maggie Nelson’s Bluets

Abstract This article examines the previously underacknowledged influence of nineteenth-century writer Ralph Waldo Emerson on the contemporary essayist and memoirist Maggie Nelson, in particular the 2009 book-length essay Bluets. Nelson’s hybrid texts have often been seen as key examples of the quintessentially contemporary genre of the lyric essay. My argument here complicates the claims of originality that have been made for this genre and instead identifies Nelson’s formal concerns as the product of a profound engagement with a nineteenth-century model. Through my analysis of Bluets, I suggest that Emerson’s influence is key to understanding Nelson’s formal hybridity and, in turn, her particular representation of the relationship between the subject and the world. Through her engagement with Emerson, Nelson arrives at an understanding of subjecthood that is based on a radical dependency but that is also individually defined and self-sufficient.

Counterclaims in Investment Arbitration: Towards an Integrated Approach

Abstract It is widely accepted that counterclaims may not be used as a means to exceed the limits of a tribunal’s jurisdiction, while they must at the same time be closely connected to the other party’s claim. However, in the particular context of investment arbitration, these two propositions create a tension that has led to a problematic and unfair construction of the investor-State dispute settlement mechanism. This article explores the foundations for a better, more integrated approach. It argues that jurisdiction over counterclaims should be seen as incidental to the one already established over the original claim, allowing tribunals to hear a wider range of counterclaims. This is inherent to the exercise of a tribunal’s adjudicative function, and rests on a foundation not only of implied consent, but also on one of principle. The approach presented here has the potential to protect counterclaims as a matter of procedural fairness and to address some of the reasons for the backlash against international investment arbitration law.

K-Medoids Customer Segmentation Algorithm by Utilizing Customer Relationship Management

Sales is an activity that needs to be considered in the company, because the end of production is sales. The more sales that occur, the need for a system that can make it easier to process sales. At this time, motorbikes are one of the profitable sales to market. Central Motor Yamaha is present as a dealer that sells various motorcycle products, with the cheapest and original product claims. Customer segmentation is used at the Lubuk Begalung Yamaha Motor Center to group customers, which are processed from sales transaction data. By utilizing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) provides interaction between dealers and customers to increase sales. CRM comes in the form of a system that makes it easier for customers to make purchases, which has various features in it, of course it makes it very easy for customers to use. One method that can be used in CRM is data mining. With the k-medoids method clustering technique produces priority and ordinary customer clusters. Problems at Sentral Motor Yamaha Lubuk Begalung can be resolved using this method, of course it is useful for the company, namely attracting customers with the various features it contains. By implementing the K-Medoids grouping technique, it is hoped that it will become a customer relationship management strategy with the aim of attracting new customers

A new method for the timber tracing toolbox: applying multi-element analysis to determine wood origin

To effectively reduce illegal timber trade, law enforcers need forensic methods to independently verify claims of wood origin. Multi-element analysis of traded plant material has the potential to be used to trace the origin of commodities, but for timber it has not been tested at relevant large scales. Here we put this method to the test, by evaluating its tracing accuracy for three economically important tropical timbers: Azobé and Tali in Central Africa (22 sites) and Red Meranti on Borneo (9 sites). Wood samples from 991 trees were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and element concentrations were analysed to chemically group similar sites (clustering) and assess accuracy of tracing samples to their origin (Random Forest models). For all three timbers, we found distinct spatial differences in chemical composition. In Central Africa, tracing accuracy was 86%–98% for regional clusters of chemically similar sites, with accuracy depending on the tracing question. These clusters were 50–800 km apart and tracing accuracy was highest when combining the two timbers. Tracing accuracy of Red Meranti on Borneo was 88% at the site level. This high accuracy at a small scale may be related to the short distances at which differences in soil type occur on Borneo. A blind sample analysis of 46 African timber samples correctly identified the origin of 70%–72% of the samples, but failed to exclude 70% of the samples obtained from different species or outside the study area. Overall, these results illustrate a high potential for multi-element analysis to be developed into a timber tracing tool which can identify origin for multiple species and can do so at a within-country scale. To reach this potential, reference databases need to cover wider geographic areas and represent more timbers.

Reproducibility of the medical cost estimation from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey: Comparing claims and survey.

The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) limited-access data provides the unique opportunity to utilize administrative claims and adjusted survey data to investigate trends in utilization and medical expenditure across time. The adjusted survey data is a synthesized, matched version of the original survey data and claims. Researchers may choose adjusted survey data or original claims for cost evaluations according to their research purpose. However, limited research has examined methodological issues when estimating medical cost using different MCBS data sources. The study objective was to examine the reproducibility of individual-level medical cost using both MCBS data sources: adjusted survey and claims data. This serial cross-sectional study design analyzed 2006-2012 MCBS data. The sample included noninstitutionalized older Medicare beneficiaries (≥65 years old), with a cancer diagnosis and annually enrolled in Medicare Parts A, B, and D. The population was stratified by diabetes diagnosis. The primary outcome was annual medical cost. We investigated the discrepancies of medical cost estimated from the adjusted survey and original claims data. The agreement between cost estimates from the two sources in each year was determined using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A total of 4918 eligible Medicare beneficiaries were included in this study, and 26% of beneficiaries also had diabetes (N = 1275). Significant disagreements in cost estimates between adjusted survey and claims data were present regardless of disease complexity (with or without diabetes). Significant disagreements in medical cost estimates were present in most years, except in 2010 (p = 0.467) and 2011 (p = 0.098), for beneficiaries with cancer and diabetes (p < 0.001 for all). Significant disagreements in medical cost estimates were present in all years for beneficiaries with cancer without diabetes (p < 0.001 for all). Based on discrepant cost estimates across data sources, researchers using MCBS to estimate costs should be cautious when using claims or adjusted survey data alone.

Towards halving food waste: A comparative study using orange juice by-product in dairy desserts

By-products upcycling to produce ingredients has increased in the last years. However, the perception of foods with these ingredients must be studied to find the proper way to inform the consumer. The aim of this work was to study the purchase intention and healthiness and environmental friendliness perceptions of a flan dessert, enriched with orange juice by-product fibre. The effect of different product categories (ready-to-eat, powdered form, home-made type), fibre origin claim, and the addition of a sustainability logo in the packaging were studied through an online survey carried out in Spain (n = 342) and Uruguay (n = 307). Data were analyzed by PLS and cluster analysis. Both Spanish and Uruguayan participants considered the product category the most important attribute in purchase intention and in healthiness and environmental friendliness perception, being the home-made product preferred by both. Logo presence was more important for purchase intention and perceived environmental friendliness, while information about fibre origin was more important for healthiness perception. The home-made product with a logo and the claim about fibre origin was the one that had the highest perception of being healthy and environmentally friendly in both populations. Logo presence affected positively purchase intention for both groups, but the relative importance was higher in the case of Spanish consumers. The allegation “source of fibre” also increased healthiness and environmental friendliness perceptions, although not the purchase intention in Spain. Cluster analysis identified different groups of consumers on each country, who gave different relative importance to each attribute in purchase intention.

Consumer preference for altered color of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillet induced by Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis)

Growing global demand for fish in combination with stagnating capture fishery production challenges aquaculture. Aquaculture is dependent on fishmeal which is criticized for its overall environmental impact. Sustainable growth of aquaculture requires the integration of alternative protein sources. Spirulina has been found to be a viable fishmeal substitute in various fish species and it is known to elevate yellow pigmentation which results in an unusual yellow color for trout fillets. For this reason, the influence of fillet color and other attributes like, country of origin, price and feed claims have on consumer preferences for trout fillet was tested. A discrete choice experiment was conducted to assess German consumer preferences and willingness to pay for yellow fillet color compared to conventional white fillet. Results indicate that spirulina-fed yellow fillet color will not deter consumers away from the unfamiliar colored product, when informed about the potential benefits of spirulina as a fish feed. In fact, informed consumers prefer the spirulina colored product compared to the more usual white fillet. Furthermore, respondents revealed the strongest preferences for fillets of domestic origin (Germany) ahead of Denmark and Turkey. In contrast, feed claims showed no significant effect, except for the claim “fed with sustainable resources”, which had marginal impact. Marketing activities to successfully integrate sustainable feeds like spirulina for rainbow trout into the German fish market should foremost focus on consumers' interest in domestic or nearby production. It seems valuable to raise consumers' awareness of sustainable value chains and production methods in aquaculture through an effective transfer of information.

A nuclear magnetic resonance-based study of the behavior of the tautomers of triclabendazole in DMSO-d6, in the presence of water

The benzimidazole antihelmintic agent triclabendazole (TCB) exhibits tautomeric polymorphism. It has been claimed that DMSO-d6 solutions prepared from the polymorphs of TCB display different NMR behavior. Therefore, a comprehensive NMR study was undertaken, in order to unveil the causes behind this unusual observation.In a first instance, 1H and 13C spectra of TCB were unequivocally assigned. Then, isothermal and variable temperature 1H NMR experiments were conducted in order to explore the relationship between the spectral changes with system variables: time, temperature and amount of water. Solutions prepared from both polymorphs experienced water-dependent spectral changes related to a tautomerization process at 298 K, and EXSY experiments confirmed the participation of H2O in the NH exchange. The tautomerization constant (KT = 1.14 ± 0.07) was determined from the signals of H4 at 298 K.On the other hand, variable temperature 1H NMR enabled estimation of coalescence temperatures (Tc) for the signals of H4, H6’ and NH, where a water-dependence was found for H4 (Tc = 298→334 K when H2O:TCB = 8:1→16:1). The exchange constants at coalescence (kc = 111.8 s−1 at 303 K, H2O:TCB = 9:1 and kc = 179.7 s−1 at 334 K, H2O:TCB = 16:1) were also determined. Thermodynamic data of the tautomerization, including free energy (ΔG‡ = 15.03 Kcal mol−1 at 300 K), enthalpy (ΔH‡ = 7.75 Kcal mol−1) and entropy (ΔS‡ = –0.0244 Kcal mol−1 K at 300 K) were obtained from the Eyring graph of linewidth-corrected exchange constant values of H4, while the activation energy (Eact = 8.48 Kcal mol−1) was obtained from an Arrhenius plot. A 1H NMR/chemometric approach demonstrated the reversibility of the temperature-driven changes in the range 298–355 K. Finally, a novel mechanism was proposed to account for the observations and dismiss the original claim, taking the presence of water in the system as the agent responsible for the detected variations.

Business Valuation Cases in Brief

Business Valuation Cases in Brief

On resistance and pluriversal voices of subversive archaism

On resistance and pluriversal voices of subversive archaism

ПРЕДЪЯВЛЕНИЕ ВСТРЕЧНОГО ИСКА КАК ОДИН ИЗ СПОСОБОВ ЗЛОУПОТРЕБЛЕНИЯ ПРОЦЕССУАЛЬНЫМИ ПРАВАМИ В ЦИВИЛИСТИЧЕСКОМ ПРОЦЕССЕ

The article analyzes the counterclaim as one of the means of defense of the defendant in the civil process. The article examines the concept of a counterclaim and its effectiveness as a way to protect the rights of the defendant from the original claim. The purpose of filing a counterclaim is highlighted as one of the ways of abuse of procedural rights. The article analyzes the terms of filing a counterclaim under the Agroindustrial Complex of the Russian Federation, the Civil Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, as well as the positive experience of other countries. The article analyzes the judicial practice with the late filing of a counterclaim and the filing of a counterclaim at the final stage of the trial. The article describes the consequences of the return of counterclaims filed for the purpose of delaying the consideration of the dispute. The analysis shows that there is an urgent need to legally establish a deadline for filing a counterclaim, after which the filing of a counterclaim will not be possible.

Reply: The Persistent Absence of Empirical Evidence for Free-Riding in Global Climate Politics

Abstract Kennard and Schnakenberg (KS) raise three concerns regarding Aklin and Mildenberger (“Prisoners of the Wrong Dilemma: Why Distributive Conflict, Not Collective Action, Characterizes the Politics of Climate Change,” Global Environmental Politics 20 (4): 4–27). In this response, we delineate where we agree and where we disagree with KS. We then consider whether the model presented by KS changes our assessment that free-riding concerns are not currently the binding constraint on global climate politics. We conclude with a refined statement of our original claim.

New and revised paleomagnetic data from the southern central andes: Testing tectonic rotations

A paleomagnetic study performed in Plio-Pleistocene volcanic rocks of two localities in the Southern Central Andes is presented. The region corresponds to the transition zone between the Central and the Patagonian Andes. In the latter, deformation is almost exclusively controlled by the dextral-strike slip Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone, that extends from ∼47 °S to ∼38 °S and accommodates the deformation generated by the oblique subduction of the Nazca Plate below South America. To the north of ∼36 °S, deformation is mainly contractional. Our study was carried out in the transition zone between both tectonic regimes. Sampling consisted of 31 paleomagnetic sites distributed in two localities: the Loncopué (∼38.0 °S, 70.7 °W) and Andacollo (∼37.2 °S, 70.8 °W) areas. We sampled Pliocene and Pleistocene volcanic rocks with ages younger than 5 Ma. After stepwise demagnetization and principal component analysis, site mean remanence directions were computed. Both localities show non-significant clockwise rotations of 1.7° ± 14.4° (Loncopué) and 8.1° ± 8.4° (Andacollo). Although the presently available database does not support significant tectonic rotation of the Andacollo lavas, preliminary results obtained from upper Miocene volcanics in a nearby area indicating ∼20° of clockwise rotation, encourage further studies to improve the resolution of the paleomagnetic data to determine if crustal block rotations have been, or still are, part of the Andean deformational processes. A revision of previously published paleomagnetic data in the northern Patagonian Andes suggests that, against original claims, no significant tectonic rotations associated to the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone, between ∼39 and 37.5 °S, can be unambiguously demonstrated.

Brazilian Canephora coffee evaluation using NIR spectroscopy and discriminant chemometric techniques

High-quality Brazilian Canephora coffees are rising to the level of specialty coffees in the face of a new industry perception. In this framework, spectra from 527 coffees were analyzed in the near-infrared (NIR) region. Principal component analysis distinguished Brazilian Canephora producing states, botanical varieties, low and high-quality Canephora, Canephora and Arabica, and Canephora with geographical indication (GI) from those without GI. Also, Canephora coffee cultivars from Western Brazilian Amazon were distinguished. Three multi-class PLS-DA (traditional, hard, and soft versions) were compared to discriminate 5 classes: Robusta Amazônico from traditional (1) and indigenous (2) producers of Rondônia, Conilon from Espírito Santo (3), Conilon from Bahia (4), and specialty Arabica (5). Binary PLS-DA discriminated GI Canephora and non-GI Canephora with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Carbohydrates, chlorogenic acids, lipids, caffeine, and proteins were dominant absorption bands in coffee classifications. The proposed method is objective, simple, fast, and could be used in the routine analysis of coffee to verify claims of identity, variety, and origin.

Weekly Versus Intermittent Progress Monitoring in Mathematics: A Conceptual Replication and Pilot Study

Replication studies in special education are necessary to strengthen the foundation upon which instruction and intervention for students with disabilities are built. J. Jenkins et al. (2017) found intermittent reading fluency progress monitoring schedules did not delay decision-making and were similar in decision-making accuracy to the traditional weekly progress monitoring schedule. Results of the current pilot study, although underpowered, conceptually replicated the original claims and extended their work by investigating their questions in the area of mathematics computation. Implications for research and practice are shared.

Stable isotope and elemental profiles determine geographical origin of saffron from China and Iran

Origin verification of high-value saffron is essential for fair trade and to protect consumers' interests and rights. A traceability method using elemental content (% C and % N) and stable isotopes (δ13C, δ2H, δ18O, and δ15N) combined with chemometrics was developed to discriminate saffron from Iran and China and classify major domestic production areas in China. Results showed that Iranian samples had lower % C and % N contents but higher δ13C values than Chinese origin saffron, with δ13C acting as an important variable for origin discrimination. Moreover, δ2H and δ13C isotopes were found to be important variables to classify Chinese regional saffron origin. Two supervised pattern recognition models (PLS-DA) developed to classify Iranian and Chinese saffron, and regional Chinese saffron had a discrimination accuracy of 85.0 % and 80.2 %, respectively. These models provide the basis for a new regulatory inspection procedure to verify saffron origin and label claims, minimizing fraudulent mislabeling and adding value to saffron from specific regions.

Imperial Beast Fables: Animals, Cosmopolitanism, and the British Empire

Imperial Beast Fables: Animals, Cosmopolitanism, and the British Empire