Coherence Criterion Research Articles

On the Prototypical Core of Ancient Greek grástis, Latin grāmen and Old English græs

Abstract The present work explores the relevance of prototype semantics in determining genetic relations in Indo-European linguistics. It argues that schematisation as a constitutive process of category formation can be used as a criterion of economy and analytical coherence, when it comes to corroborating assumed phonological correspondences. Thus, it takes the terms grástis, grāmen and græs in Ancient Greek, Latin and Old English, respectively, all roughly meaning “fodder, grass”, and examines the possibility of all three stemming from a common non-propositional prototypical core. The analysis proceeds in the following way: it first tries to reconstruct a schematic prototype for the series of all meanings related genetically to each of the terms, whereas in turn it compares this prototype for each series with that of the rest. It concludes that the image schema of vigorous internal growth is the prototypical core from which all senses emanate in a conceptual network with radial structure.

Advancing Predictive Maintenance with PHM-ML Modeling: Optimal Covariate Weight Estimation and State Band Definition under Multi-Condition Scenarios

The proportional hazards model (PHM) is a vital statistical procedure for condition-based maintenance that integrates age and covariates monitoring to estimate asset health and predict failure risks. However, when dealing with multi-covariate scenarios, the PHM faces interpretability challenges when it lacks coherent criteria for defining each covariate’s influence degree on the hazard rate. Hence, we proposed a comprehensive machine learning (ML) formulation with Interior Point Optimizer and gradient boosting to maximize and converge the logarithmic likelihood for estimating covariate weights, and a K-means and Gaussian mixture model (GMM) for condition state bands. Using real industrial data, this paper evaluates both clustering techniques to determine their suitability regarding reliability, remaining useful life, and asset intervention decision rules. By developing models differing in the selected covariates, the results show that although K-means and GMM produce comparable policies, GMM stands out for its robustness in cluster definition and intuitive interpretation in generating the state bands. Ultimately, as the evaluated models suggest similar policies, the novel PHM-ML demonstrates the robustness of its covariate weight estimation process, thereby strengthening the guidance for predictive maintenance decisions.

Strengthening district health management and planning: an evaluation of a multi-country initiative in Eastern and Southern Africa

Background District health management and leadership capacity is increasingly recognised as critical to health system performance. District health managers play a central role in effective implementation and tailoring of national health policies, and they need adequate skills and support. The District Health System Strengthening Initiative (DHSSi) was implemented over 2019-22 in Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to strengthen sub-national capacity for evidence-based planning and a broader set of management competencies needed to operationalize district plans. To support learning and adaptation, a three-year evaluation was conducted to assess progress against outcomes and to inform ongoing implementation and future investment. Methods The evaluation used a mixed-methods theory-based approach. Evaluation questions were structured using criteria of relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and impact, and corresponded to outputs, outcomes and impacts in the DHSSi Theory of Change. The evaluation was conducted over three annual rounds, and combined data from document review, observation, interviews and group discussions with cross-country, national and district stakeholders, and analysis of secondary quantitative data. Results Experience of DHSSi implementation indicated the relevance of supporting district management and planning, with gaps in current capacity, government interest, and indications of the potential to improve district practice. DHSSi experience also highlighted challenges to effective achievement of stronger capacity, and to translation of skills to improved management practice and, ultimately, to improved service delivery. A range of factors beyond skills affected district capacities, motivation and opportunities for effective planning and management, including areas such as funding, planning templates, health information systems, staff turnover, partner alignment and political structures. Conclusions Strengthening sub-national health management is an important agenda in efforts to expand high-quality primary health care. Future initiatives should prioritize detailed understanding of the range of influences on district management, and work to strengthen the enabling environment for effective district practice.

Assessing coherence and fidelity

Abstract Non-fictional narratives have an open-ended character that projects roles and values to those who participate in them. Narrative participation, in turn, entails narrative assessment and identification processes, through which adherence to values and positions may fail or be achieved. In the analysis of interviews with university students across Turkey, we draw on Fisher’s narrative paradigm to focus on how our participants carry out assessments of narrative credibility. To elucidate narrative coherence and fidelity, we take inspiration from an argumentative-rhetorical perspective, and focus specifically on the relationship among the criteria identified in the literature on narrative assessment. Our study of interviewee evaluations of COVID-19 narratives confirms the use of the coherence criteria, calls into question the fidelity criteria, and highlights the relevance of identification as a basic process for fidelity assessments. We conclude by discussing our limitations and directions for further research.

Development of social and labor relations in Ukraine: opportunities for achieving sustainable development goals

The article analyzes the essence of social and labor relations (SLR) in the current socioeconomic environment, where the roles of all market actors are being reassessed. The author proposes to include not only traditional partners, but also stakeholders (scientific community, experts, and the public) as participants of the SLR. The author's concept assumes that the SLR, as a set of relationships, should be focused on the formation, implementation, and reproduction of human capital in the country. This approach implies the existence of a criterion of coherence of interests, i.e., participants direct their activities to achieve common goals. These goals include sustainable development goals, in particular, in the SLR area, the goals of gender equality, decent work, and economic development. The analysis of the SLR through the prism of achieving the defined sustainable development goals showed the following. Achievement of the goal of gender equality in Ukraine in the labor market (as a component of the SLR) is considered through equal opportunities for both sexes. Achieving equality is a process with a positive trend and is characterized by positive changes in reducing the gaps between the average wages of women and men. At the same time, the involvement of young women is decreasing (but there are objective reasons for this). In assessing the level of decent work, several basic indicators were identified: the prevalence of forced part-time employment; decent pay (which is assessed by the ability of wages to fulfill not only reproductive but also incentive functions), and the unemployment rate. It was found that the partners made the largest gaps in the area of remuneration, which reduces the ability to achieve sustainable development goals. The reasons for this are as follows: the focus of wages only on the function of labor reproduction and an inappropriate wage structure that does not motivate professional development, development, etc. The revealed level of forced partial employment at enterprises showed the sustainability of this process, which indicates the natural level of this phenomenon (it is noted that deviations from the main target may be caused by external socio-economic, political, or other reasons that produce uncertainty). As for the unemployment rate, its dynamics correlate with the domestic socioeconomic situation in the country and the ability of SLR participants to create jobs. According to the data obtained, it is confirmed that the achievement of the sustainable development goal by this indicator is in a state of stagnation (i.e., the situation is generally stable, but hidden risks remain).

Design and validation of a structured instrument to assess the influence of sustainable supply chain management practices on sustainable performance in hospitals

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to design and validate a reliable and comprehensive instrument to assess the influence of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices on sustainable performance in hospitals.Design/methodology/approachA systematic and mixed-method approach was used to create and validate an instrument for assessing the level of implementation of hospital SSCM practices and the perceived extent of environmental, social and economic performance. This includes the development of preliminary items and the evaluation of content and construct validity. Data from Colombian hospitals was collected. Structural equation modeling was used to test the structural model.FindingsDuring the content validity phase, an initial version of the questionnaire consisting of 88 items was generated. This version was qualitatively and quantitatively reviewed and assessed by six academicians and two hospital practitioners, based on criteria of sufficiency, clarity, relevance and coherence. The computation of both individual and scale content validity indices, along with the qualitative feedback, led to the refinement of the questionnaire. The subsequent phase of construct validity involved the implementation of a pilot test with 55 responses gathered from Colombian hospitals. By considering the metrics of convergent validity and discriminant validity derived from the analysis of structural equation modeling, the final instrument was composed of 59 items. The results reveal that hospital SSCM practices can be conceptualized and measured through two dimensions: environmental and social. The former includes the underlying constructs of internal environmental management, green purchasing and green operations. The latter encompasses the constructs of working conditions and employee well-being, equity management, social purchasing and community development and participation. Sustainable performance is defined by its environmental, social and economic dimensions.Practical implicationsThis study is intended to provide useful insights for hospitals, researchers and policymakers to measure and develop strategies to enhance the implementation of SSCM practices, thereby improving sustainable performance. As a matter of fact, the instrument has already been applied in a recent empirical study conducted in Colombia, aimed at addressing the influence of SSCM practices on sustainable performance in hospitals.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to develop and empirically test an instrument for measuring the influence of SSCM on sustainable performance, both in the hospital setting and in an emerging country.

Determination of the coherence interval of radar targets using a multipoint signal reflection model

The problem of determining the coherence interval of the target (CIT) is considered – the time interval during which the signal reflected from the target can be considered coherent. In this case, the criterion of signal coherence is the condition of limiting the random phase fluctuation of the reflected signal to a value. The basis of the method of determining the CIT is the use of a multipoint model of a target that performs a rectilinear motion at a constant speed. When describing the resulting signal, the complex envelope method is used. It is shown that for an arbitrary number of reflection points, the resulting signal can be represented as a product of two functions. The first function is deterministic and determines the dependence of the signal phase on the speed of movement of the target center. The second function determines the amplitude and phase fluctuations of the reflected signal and, due to the unknown number and location of the reflection points, as well as the angle of observation of the target, can be considered random. In the case of a two-point target model, an approximate ratio for the CIT is obtained, depending on the relative size of the target, its range and speed of movement. It is shown that for typical target sizes and ranges of the order of several tens of kilometers, the errors in calculating the CIT when using the obtained approximate ratio do not exceed 10% of the true value of the CIT. It is also shown that the frequently used approach of calculating the CIT based on the calculation of the backscattering diagram of the target does not take into account the target range and therefore can lead to large errors in calculating the CIT. At the same time, the calculated values of the CIT, depending on the size of the target and its range, may differ from the true values by an order of magnitude or more. When switching to the multipoint model of the target, differences in comparison with the two-point model in the calculation of the CIT are determined and estimates of the most rational number of reflection points are obtained, the choice of which can be limited to five or six points.

A logico-geometric comparison of coherence for non-additive uncertainty measures

We investigate the notion of coherence for (non-)additive uncertainty measures from a logico-geometric point of view. Our main result is to the effect that distinct criteria for coherence are not always matched by axiomatically distinct measures of uncertainty. In addition we introduce a metalogic within which this kind of result can be captured formally.

Divergence versus decisionP‐values: A distinction worth making in theory and keeping in practice: Or, how divergenceP‐values measure evidence even when decisionP‐values do not

AbstractThere are two distinct definitions of “P‐value” for evaluating a proposed hypothesis or model for the process generating an observed dataset. The original definition starts with a measure of the divergence of the dataset from what was expected under the model, such as a sum of squares or a deviance statistic. AP‐value is then the ordinal location of the measure in a reference distribution computed from the model and the data, and is treated as a unit‐scaled index of compatibility between the data and the model. In the other definition, aP‐value is a random variable on the unit interval whose realizations can be compared to a cutoff α to generate a decision rule with known error rates under the model and specific alternatives. It is commonly assumed that realizations of such decisionP‐values always correspond to divergenceP‐values. But this need not be so: DecisionP‐values can violate intuitive single‐sample coherence criteria where divergenceP‐values do not. It is thus argued that divergence and decisionP‐values should be carefully distinguished in teaching, and that divergenceP‐values are the relevant choice when the analysis goal is to summarize evidence rather than implement a decision rule.

Compressive imaging beyond the sensor's physical resolution via coded exposure combined with time-delay integration

Compressive imaging has been widely involved in high-dimensional data acquisition such as hyperspectral, ultrafast, and depth imaging. As for its application in high-resolution imaging beyond the sensor's physical resolution, likewise, sub-pixel information needs to be spatially modulated by the essential encoding devices before being projected onto the sensor, thereby introducing additional devices into the optical path with calibration requirements. Toward this end, we propose a high-resolution compressive imaging framework that implements spatial encoding by combining coded exposure with time-delay integration, exploiting its sub-pixel intra-line charge transfer characteristics. In this way, no additional encoding device except a fluttering shutter is required, thus simplifying the system composition and calibration, with the conventional imaging capability preserved. The dual-arm architecture designed to capture sub-pixel information in two orthogonal directions separately is integrated into a joint forward model, in which the point spread function is also introduced as an efficient part of coding to improve the degraded reconstruction caused by optical aberrations. Based on the mutual coherence criterion, the exposure sequence is optimally designed by the genetic algorithm, achieving a substantial improvement in image quality. The calibration methods for this system are also detailed. Then, the imaging performance affected by both internal configurations and external errors in practical applications are quantitatively analyzed through numerical simulations, as well as the generalizability to different types of images. Finally, we built a proof-of-principle prototype to demonstrate that the proposed framework is a viable and effective alternative for high-resolution compressive imaging.

Terceira onda dos estudos sobre clientelismo na América Latina: uma leitura crítica

Abstract The article presents a critical reading of the third wave of studies on clientelism in Latin America produced in Political Science since the 2000s. Through a dialogue with the most influential authors and works on the issue, the objective is to show that despite significant advances, this literature still faces difficulties in defining clientelism. The central argument is that these difficulties are due to the adoption of universal and rigid assumptions about politicians’ and voters’ behavior and the strong normative tone of the analyses, almost always grounded on premises of how democracy should work and how clientelism displaces this ideal. To demonstrate this argument, the concept of clientelism was broken down into four central aspects: the object of the exchanges, the participants, the method used, and the temporality. The analysis of these dimensions is articulated with the literature on concept formation, especially the criteria of differentiation, depth, internal coherence, and theoretical utility. The article concludes by proposing ways to overcome the highlighted problems, among them the re-evaluation of the premises that inform the analysis, the valorization of description, and the investment in multi-method research designs.

Application of a-technology to clarify agreed systems of experts’ advantages

It is expedient to study the professional activity of an expert as a person making a decision through the prism of the influence of the human factor. Among the relevant indicators of such influence, systems of advantages (individual and group) are identified and studied on the indicators and characteristics of objects of expertise. Under the system of advantages, we mean an ordered series of indicators and characteristics of the studied objects of expertise (in the context of our research, features of investment attractiveness, the spectrum of which covers n = 18 features): from more weighty, significant, attractive, etc., to less weighty. The use of indicators of the significance of these features, especially in combination with the determination of their expressiveness in a particular object, contributes, on the one hand, to the solution of the problem of obtaining an integral assessment of the degree of its investment attractiveness, which and only to which the system property of emergence is inherent, and on the other hand, — establishing “compromises” on this expressiveness. Both tasks are multi-criteria, with the first being one-step and the second being multi-step. A more popular method for constructing individual advantage systems is pairwise comparison and normative determination of a part of the total value of the compared alternatives. Group preference systems are usually constructed by applying group decision strategies such as summing and averaging ranks. However, the practice of constructing systems of preferences in the ordering scale is given in a certain way, measurements are “loaded”, since we are talking about a linear change in ranks. The “fineness” and non-linearity of measurements should be ensured by the normalized weight coefficients of features. The definition of these coefficients is related to one of the methods for constructing personal preference systems. measurements. Based on the obvious compilation of ranks of 18 features of the investment attractiveness of objects of expertise, including “related”, and using the mathematical method of prioritization, the required coefficients are established. The acceptability of the results of the third iteration of the method is substantiated, since, on the one hand, in this case, the requirement for the non-linearity of these coefficients is really satisfied, and on the other hand, the proper accuracy of calculations is ensured. m = 90 specialists involved in conducting various examinations at the SSI “UkrISTEI” took part in the research. The results of their tests (individual systems of advantages on the spectrum of features of the investment attractiveness of objects of expertise) were initially processed in order to identify and reject marginal thoughts, as well as eliminate “the systematic error of the survivor”. From the initial sample of subjects, four subgroups were identified, in which the coherence of group thoughts satisfies the spectrum of system-information criteria of coherence at a high level of significance a = 1 %. The basic system of advantages is substantiated, where the ranks in the individual preference systems of its members are replaced by normalized weight coefficients. An almost absolute (significantly greater than 0,9) agreement of the obtained a-group system of advantages with the basic and its optimized versions is determined. The ways of further development of a-technology of expert research are outlined.

Automatic construction of a fuzzy system with a matrix representation of rules and a correct knowledge base

The object of this study is the process of automatic formation of fuzzy production rules on the basis of a training sample for solving the classification problem. The problem of automatically creating and then checking the correctness of a fuzzy inference model for a classification task is solved. The result is an automatically constructed correct database of rules for solving the classification problem. Analysis of the correctness of the knowledge base is carried out using the criteria of completeness, minimality, coherence, and consistency. To prove the completeness of the rule base, Hoare logic and the resolution method are used. The quality of the classification is assessed using such metrics as accuracy, precision, recall, f1-score. The dependence of the classification result on the size of the training sample is considered. The expert system has the following features: the ability to learn from data; high level of accuracy; the correct knowledge base. The knowledge base is formed using the objects of the training sample on the basis of linguistic variables and term sets. A production model of knowledge representation is applied, combining the Mamdani and Takagi-Sugeno-Kang models. It is assumed that the left parts of the production rules describe combinations of the features of objects, and the right parts correspond to classes. The matrix representation of the antecedents of the rules is used. Consequents are represented as a column vector. For the automatic construction of the matrix of antecedents, it is proposed to use the Cartesian product. The formation of the consequent vector is carried out automatically using domain data and a training procedure. The resulting expert system can be used to solve the problems of classification, clustering, data mining, and big data analysis

Fundamental factors influencing bus coherency in distribution networks with distributed energy resources

With the participation of distributed energy resources (DERs) in inertia emulation, voltage control and primary frequency response, distinct angle and voltage dynamics are introduced in a conventional distribution network. These additional low-frequency dynamics emanating from a pre-dominantly resistive distribution network influence the mode properties of system oscillations uniquely. For better control and partitioning of active distribution network during emergency conditions coherent participation of DERs in local and inter-area modes need to be evaluated. In this work, fundamental factors affecting the bus coherency of distribution system are analyzed. It introduces a concept of coherency duality between pre-dominantly resistive and inductive distribution networks along with unique effect of source and control interactions by DERs. The work discovers pre-dominance of voltage based coherency criteria for active power flow control/islanding in resistive sub-networks and angle based criteria for inductive sub-networks, due to the reverse relation between state and power variables. Dynamic coherency changes inflicted by DER variabilities like different control and source interactions, increased penetration level, change in the spatial distribution of DERs, and dynamic loading are presented in the work. The proposition is tested for modified IEEE-39 bus systems with 33 bus 132/33/11/0.4 kV and 2182 bus 20/0.4 kV distribution networks in DigSILENT/PowerFactory.

Comment enseigner le discours scientifique en langue étrangère aux étudiants : la compétence discursive spécialisée à travers l’analyse des textes écrits

The aim of the paper is to identify the methods of teaching academic discourse in French on the example of a selected written text whose subject matter is concerned with linguistics in connection with other disciplines. The analysis uses as its starting point the assumptions of the theory of the linguistic image of the world (J. Bartmiński) and of the cognitive linguistics (G. Lakoff and M. Johnson, R.W. Langacker) as applied in glottodidactics. While reading and understanding a written text, students activate the process of schematization (abstraction) and categorization/recategorization (R.W. Langacker). Teacher’s role is to explain specialized lexis to students and make an attempt with them to analyse scientific texts from an interdisciplinary perspective. It is also important to familiarize students with the editorial rules applicable to diploma dissertations, both bachelor’s and master’s in French as well as the criteria of textuality, in-cluding cohesion, coherence, intentionality, acceptability, informativity, situationality, and intertextuality (R.A. De Beaugrande, W.U. Dressler).

Functional Connectivity Analysis in EEG Source Space During Deception

Purpose: Deception is described as a deliberate endeavor to deceive others. In this research, the main purpose is to survey the brain network between deception and telling the truth.
 Materials and Methods: Electroencephalography (EEG) data were collected from 17 subjects during a deception task in which the subjects had to classify the target stimuli deceptively while responding truthfully to other stimuli (non-targets). Functional Connectivity (FC) analysis was carried out in source space in order to attenuate the volume conduction effect. The coherence criterion was applied for calculating FC.
 Results: The results revealed that deception is associated with significantly greater connectivity between distant regions, including frontal-occipital and frontal-parietal connectivity. In addition, Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) demonstrated significantly greater connectivity with regions of the frontal and occipital lobes. Besides, deception was accompanied by high number of strong connectivity between the left parietal and frontal lobes.
 Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that the FC studies in source space can strikingly assist in the investigation of deception.

Short version of the Multidimensional Scale of Dating Violence (MSDV 2.0) in Spanish-language: Instrument development and psychometric evaluation.

To develop and psychometrically test the short version of the Multidimensional Scale of Dating Violence (MSDV 2.0) in Spanish-language to detect violence perpetrated and suffered in dating relationships. A psychometric instrument development and validation study. A two-phase approach was used: Phase (1) the items of the original instrument were revised and new items related to online violence and sexual violence were incorporated. Content validation by a Delphi panel with 25 psychometric and dating violence experts were performed. Next, a face validity was performed in 32 students followed by a pilot study in another 74 participants. Phase (2) Psychometric validation, the instrument was tested in a sample of 1091 university students, analysing the psychometric properties based on construct validity and internal consistency. The study was conducted from September to November 2020 in the context of the Andalusian Public University System. In phase (1) 42 items for each subscale (perpetration, victimization) were accepted by the Delphi panel, and acceptable values were obtained for the criteria of clarity, coherence, and relevance. In phase (2) the MSDV 2.0 showed acceptable psychometric properties. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a five-dimensional structure with 18 items for each subscale with excellent fit rates. Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (α=.879-.802) and correlations with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (ρ=.418-.225) and the self-perceived health item (ρ=.380-.179), providing evidence of its convergent validity. Cut-off points were also calculated for each dimension, with their corresponding sensitivity and specificity, indicating to be a good instrument for detecting possible cases of dating violence. The MSDV 2.0 is the only short instrument published to date that measures the dating violence suffered and perpetrated taking into account all its dimensions. Its use would serve as support in prevention programs and design of public policies. The short version of the MSDV 2.0 could be a comprehensive enough instrument to enable a detection and evaluation of dating violence in the educational setting.

Listado de la artropodofauna del macizo de Sierra Nevada (Almería y Granada, España)

We present a list of the arthropod fauna of Sierra Nevada (latitude 36.927 and 37.23; longitude -3.571 and -2.646) which includes 3953 records represented as 6 classes, 33 orders, 268 families, 1884 genera and 3940 species (of which 169 are endemic), indicating the bibliographic reference of the citation and the corresponding taxonomic information. The elaboration of this list, and its future updates, attempts to alleviate the lack of knowledge that still exists about the arthropods present in Sierra Nevada; offering an essential resource to generate knowledge about the entomological biodiversity of this massif, as well as to propose adequate conservation strategies. The work "Los Insectos de Sierra Nevada. 200 years of history" (Ruano et al. 2013) has been the primary source of citations and we have completed it with those taxa not included in it or appearing in the scientific literature later. The scientific names have been validated based on different taxonomic catalogues and the knowledge of experts and under criteria of coherence, relevance and timeliness. The list is available in GBIF in Darwin Core format (https://doi.org/10.15470/nt5nsx) and part of the material cited is deposited in the collections of the Zoology Department of the University of Granada (https://ccz.ugr.es/)

De Finetti's coherence and exchangeability in infinitary logic

We continue the investigation towards a logic-based approach to statistics within the infinitary conservative extension of Łukasiewicz logic IRL and prove versions of de Finetti's theorems on coherence and exchangeability. In particular we will prove a coherence criterion for a subclass of the variety of σ-complete Riesz MV-algebras in the conditional and unconditional case, and discuss de Finetti's exchangeability in a special case.

Specific features of pressure pulsation control in combustion chambers of land based gas turbine units

LLC SPC Teplofizika, developing low-emission combustion chambers with premixing of fuel for ground application gas turbine installations, investigates the problems associated with the occurrence of pressure pulsations in the combustion chambers, as well as with the methods of their registration and measurement. To date, there is no unified method for assessing and calculating the amplitude-frequency characteristics of these pulsations and their measurement in general. This article is based on many years of experience in measuring and recording pressure pulsations under the conditions of a test bench and operation. Methods for evaluating and accumulating measurement results are presented, criteria for determining the average frequency and amplitude of oscillations are developed, reproducible in the course of experiments and during full-scale measurements. To detect vibrating combustion, an additional criterion of coherence of vibrations is also used with the aid of the entropy coefficient. As a result of the computational and experimental study, we find that the pulsation pressure in the volume of the combustion chamber does not allow the use of probes for measuring pressure pulsations in the air volume of the combustion chamber to reliably prevent the occurrence of vibrating combustion during its operation.