Common Life Research Articles

The Research of Markov Chain Application under Two Common Real World Examples

Markov chain is a random process with Markov characteristics, which exists in the discrete index set and state space in probability theory and mathematical statistics. Based on probability theory, the Markov chain model is a quantitative prediction model for stationary random phenomena using autoregressive process methods. This article first introduces the Markov Chain and its related principles, then in order to study the applicability of Markov Chain, two common life situations are used in practical applications, and the conclusion that Markov Chain can accurately predict the probability is drawn; finally evaluated the Markov chain model and advocated for its wide application.

The Charisma Machine: The Life, Death, and Legacy of One Laptop per Child

The Charisma Machine: The Life, Death, and Legacy of One Laptop per Child

Polymer icephobic surface by graphite coating and chemical grafting with diazonium salts

The development of techniques and methods to acquire icephobic surfaces is increasingly important, especially for polymers that are being employed in many fields of common life every day. In this work, we propose an alternative method for the preparation of easily applicable coating that can be used on a variety of polymers that enter in a wide range of applications. This approach is based on incorporating graphite spheres, vapor annealed with the polymer using the corresponding polymer's solvent, and subsequent grafting it with diazonium salt and grafting to the hydrophobic fluoro-containing chemical moieties. The morphology and surface chemistry of samples was characterized by different techniques. Mechanical tests on coating showed good adhesion on the polymer. The main advantage of this approach is that it is easy to apply, reliable, inexpensive, durable, and showed a significant change in wettability behavior and its icephobicity. The coating showed very low wettability with a water contact angle of 167°, with self-cleaning properties and a low sliding angle. The coating also results in significantly prolonging the time of the freezing of water drop, and considerably less ice adhesion on the surface compared to non-coated samples, which was shown by the results from different icephobicity tests.

Christ and the Common Life. Political Theology and the Case for Democracy, written by Luke Bretherton

Christ and the Common Life. Political Theology and the Case for Democracy, written by Luke Bretherton

In Ecclesia Nostra: The Collatiehuis in Gouda and Its Lieux de Savoir

This article will show how the concept of <em>lieux de savoir</em> as theorized by Christian Jacob provides an intriguing framework from which to examine the interactions between laypeople and religious professionals and the transmission of knowledge in the late medieval city, by applying it to the Collatiehuis in Gouda. Here, religious knowledge was shaped and communicated in the interaction between the Brothers of the Common Life and visiting laypeople. The separate rooms in which these interactions took place, as well as the location of the house within the city, influenced the circulation of knowledge. Aside from this spatial approach, the article will also propose that the texts used during these meetings can be considered their own <em>lieux de savoir</em> as they played an important role in shaping and communicating religious knowledge between the lay and religious participants of the <em>collatio</em>.

Pivot Interactives

Pivot Interactives is a web-based platform with interactive videos to help teachers use recorded lab experiments with students rather than animations or simulations. Each activity shows actual footage of experiments taking place, giving students opportunities to make real observations and collect real data rather than just watching a simulation. The activities include exciting and engaging experiments covering biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science topics. What makes these videos interactive are the tools that can be overlaid on them directly for measurement and graphing and the ability to manipulate variables in real time. These experiments can be used as they exist on the site, or they can be fully customized to suit a teacher’s needs.Once on the site, teachers can find the experiments they want by searching for specific NGSS practices, NGSS strands, or topics, including AP Bio, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, and specific subtopics of biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. Activities can be sorted further by five levels of scaffolding, location in instructional sequence, and instructional purpose. The five levels of scaffolding range from step-by-step instructions with definite learning targets to “goal-less” instructions that allow students to figure out the procedure and reach their own conclusions. The location in instructional sequence offers choices between introduction, application, and assessment. The instructional purposes include argument from evidence, modeling instruction, and lab skills (data linearization, error analysis, experimental design, graphing, slope and intercept, measurement).There are currently activities within biology topics for molecules to organisms, ecosystem interactions, energy and dynamics, and heredity. These are common classroom life science lab experiments, such as egg osmosis, catalyzed activity, cellular respiration, fermentation, fruit fly genetics, and homeostasis.Once a teacher has chosen an activity, they can preview and edit it before adding it to “My Library.” A typical activity video will have options to manipulate variables within the video and a menu of interactive tools that can be used on top of the video. The tools can be dragged and rotated for taking accurate measurements while the video is playing or the video can be paused for measurements to be taken. For example, in the Egg Osmosis lab, the video starts with an egg in 0% corn syrup with two tools available by default to students: a ruler and stopwatch. As students watch the video, they can measure the change of size in the egg over time. Students can then increase the concentration of corn syrup in 10% intervals up to 100% and rerun the video while taking measurements. The preloaded activity has two parts. The first part includes a brief description of the activity, open-ended and multiple-choice questions, instructions for taking measurements and calculating volume, and a data table and graph. The second part coaches students through the process of building a model to explain their observation of the change in size of the egg.The activity can be assigned to students through “My Classes.” Student responses can be graded in a number of ways. The teacher can choose to view one student at a time or one question at a time, or to grade anonymously.The teacher has full control of the amount of scaffolding, including the tools to which students have access. The questions are fully customizable, including adding or deleting certain items, adding or deleting hints, and allowing multiple attempts for each question. There is also a full library of short, targeted tutorial videos for teachers, ranging from basic functions of the site, such as finding activities, creating classes, inviting students, and adding or deleting assignments, to more in-depth topics such as using data tables and graphing tools, customizing activities, and grading student responses.The cost of Pivot Interactives is $5 per student per calendar year, and site licenses are available. It is compatible with all platforms and operating systems, can be used on any device, and integrates nicely with Google Classroom, Canvas, and Blackboard.As remote learning has taken over classroom learning in the last year, new resources that actively engage students in real scientific thinking have become essential. While it can certainly be used in a classroom setting, Pivot Interactives provides a great way for students learning remotely to still engage with real science.

New Books across the Disciplines

New Books across the Disciplines

L’acte manqué dans La Cantatrice chauve : un discours réussi

"The Parapraxis in The Bald Soprano: a Successful Speech. This paper is about Parapraxis in the Cantatrice chauve, which Ionesco associates with politics. The unconscious knowledge of the Cantatrice chauve (The Bald Soprano) is the knowledge of comedy and tragedy; it is a form of knowledge which leads man towards an empty word which can no longer be articulated in meaningful speech. The nagging antinomies of common life emerge in the background. There is an endless dialectic that crosses time and history, life and death, joy and pain. There is an unsolved conflict that the Cantatrice chauve holds together, thus repeating the trauma of separation and the breakdown of community ties. The tragedy of language is that you can only live in a subjective way. It is a communication which affirms the absence of communication, opening up the tragicomic horizon of language and disintegrating the power which underlies the language of communication. Keywords: parapraxis, speech, language, communication, knowledge, enigma. "

Trouble psychotique partagé ou trouble délirant induit ? Étude d’un cas clinique

Can a delusional idea be contagious? This question may seem paradoxical when we know that the very definition of delirium correspond to “an erroneous belief (…) maintained despite the very generally shared opinion” (DSM4) and so implies that peers do not share the beliefs expressed by the subject. However, cases of collective delirium have been described for many years, and have been the subject of numerous scientific publications since the 19th century. Among them, an entity emerged : “folie à deux”, in which a primary active subject could induce his delusions to a secondary subject, more vulnerable, said induced and passive. In 1877, Lasègue and Falret first introduced the term “folie à deux” and proposed the diagnostic criteria. They describe nine essential criteria among which, three would be the sine qua non conditions that can allow the outbreak of a delirium shared by two. They are the presence of an active element of superior intelligence, the existence of a common life between the two individuals, sufficiently long and intimate and a “closed and isolated” environment. These criteria were subsequently supplemented to arrive at the current definitions of induced delusional disorder (ICD10) and shared psychotic disorder (DSM4). This rare disorder has been the subject of numerous publications. However, these publications were often divided over both its epidemiology, its diagnostic criteria, and the specific treatment to be offered. The two recent definitions resulting from current classifications can also illustrate this dichotomy on certain criteria, beyond the very semantics which here oppose the terms “induced delusional” and “shared psychosis”. Moreover, this disorder has the particularity to question its real existence as it is currently challenged in the new classifications of the DSM V and ICD 11. We can therefore see that if the subject fascinates, it divides. What is it really? Can a delirium really be transmitted? Can a psychosis really be shared? And if so, is one of the two definitions more suitable to describe this disorder? What future can we imagine for this pathology? During the hospitalization of a patient for a “délire à deux”, concerning two persons from two different families sharing a delirium of filiation, we observed the current issues around this disorder and we asked ourselves which treatment to administer to these patients. The hospitalization took place over two stages: the first stage to understand the disorder, the second one to treat it. À family interview was conducted in the presence of the dyad of patients, to explore the interactional elements together, and establish the diagnosis. A preliminary step essential to therapeutic work on the question of loyalty and differentiation. This clinical case recalls the value of an integrated approach based on the systemic epistemology, both for the diagnostic phase than during therapeutic support. The objective of this work is to study, through an atypical clinical case and a review of recent literature, the different diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary perspectives of this particular pathology.

Reproductive transitions and women’s status in Indian households

Using panel data, this study tracks the impact of reproductive transitions on women’s status in the household in India. Here, status refers to the social benefits that women experience by meeting societal expectations related to childbearing. The analysis shows that becoming a mother is associated with increased freedom of movement and access to enabling resources. The adoption of permanent contraception—a common life course event marking the end of childbearing in India—is associated with increased freedom of movement but has no association with changes in access to enabling resources. Household decision-making, another dimension of women’s status examined in the paper, is less dynamic over time and there is limited evidence of its association with reproductive transitions. The findings illustrate the tight linkages between household power dynamics and the life course in the South Asian context, and highlight the centrality of women’s role as mothers in determining their social position.

Conceptualizing Civic Renaissance as Social Movement

Abstract Our nation is experiencing a convergence of social, political, and structural forces that threaten our democracy. Acknowledging our current moment, this article discusses the idea of “civic renaissance” as a movement to transform social and institutional life by regaining trust and friendship among the American people. Civic renaissance as a social movement stands in contrast to other social movements in that it focuses on means rather than ends of political engagement as the ultimate goal. Drawing on examples of nonviolent traditions lead by Martin Luther King and Mohandas Gandhi, this article explores the power of constructive nonviolence in catalyzing individuals, organizations, and institutions to serve the common good. A contemporary expression of these ideals and practices is seen in the work of Braver Angels, America's largest bi-partisan organization dedicated to the work of political depolarization. In describing the goals and initiatives of this organization, this essay articulates the hope, challenges, and possibilities of developing a “beloved community” that binds Americans together in creating and sustaining a common life. The idea of civic renaissance—building community and restoring integrity to our institutions—is an idea well suited to addressing the problems facing the United States in our current moment.

The Ground of Self-determination

This paper addresses the justice of national self-determination claims and defends a right to self-determination rendered as both a primary right, meaning that it does not require grievances or injustices, and a prima facie right, meaning that it is defeasible by the presence of injustices or the prospect of baneful consequences. The paper’s distinct contribution lies in the ground of this right, arguing that autonomy is not alone sufficient and that a better grounding can be found in a common civic life, understood as a species of the basic good of interpersonal harmony. This basic good, and the norm of self-determination that protects it, rest on the foundation of natural law. The paper manifests the collection’s focus on liberty and security by exploring the claims for liberty proffered by a group desiring collective political autonomy, claims that bear upon the security of the group’s members, the security and liberty of minorities and of people liable to be subjected to illiberal practices, and the security of all who would experience war and violence in conflicts over self-determination.

On Christian Engagement with Digital Technologies: A Reformed Perspective

This essay proposes that the Reformed theology of ordinary life has promising principles that can be applied to the recent challenges of the digital age. It first examines how contemporary scholars have grappled with the challenges posed by virtual life, highlighting their Advantages and disadvantages. Then, it suggests that the Reformed attitude for sanctifying ordinary life leads Christians inevitably to embrace discipline in their use of technology. The author recommends digital resistance and digital intentionality as judicious parameters for Christian engagement in a digital age. KEYWORDS: Theology of common life, Christian vocation, technology, digital technologies, Christian life, Reformed worldview

Development of an autobiographical memory test for older electroconvulsive therapy candidates.

To develop a test of autobiographical memory for monitoring of older people during a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A list of events commonly experienced in later life was gathered from older people (n = 26) at a psychogeriatric day clinic and from psychiatrists (n = 23) who work with older depressed patients. The most common events were chosen as question domains for an autobiographical memory interview. This was piloted with 12 severely depressed older patients. A list of 15 common life events was developed. After pilot testing, a final 30-item questionnaire covering six common life events was proposed. This study developed an autobiographical memory test with good face validity and potential for clinical use. It was modelled on a well-validated scale (The Columbia University Autobiographical Memory Interview, CUAMI-SF) and represented a useful first step in the development of a test for memory loss in older patients receiving ECT. The proposed test may be particularly sensitive to autobiographical memory loss in older people undergoing ECT because it uses recent personal memories, which are relatively commonly experienced in the older depressed population.

H type tracheo-oesophageal fistula: 2 cases with review of literature

Tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TEF) with oesophageal atresia is a common life threatening congenital malformation. H type TEF is a rare subtype (1.8 to 4.2% of all TEF) with the least association with congenital anomalies. We report two cases of H type TEF, first patient was a 2 month old girl who presented with the classical triad of symptoms, and the second patient was a 2 year old girl who presented with recurrent attacks of pneumonia, choking on feeding and noisy breathing. After radiological confirmation, optimization of pulmonary status and nutritional improvement, both underwent right cervicotomy with disconnection of the H fistula. Both patients are doing well on regular follow up. Detection of H fistula is difficult as compared to TEF since the clinical symptoms are variable, radiological detection difficult and diagnosis is based on a high degree of clinical suspicion. We present these two cases to document the history, presentation, clinical management and surgical procedure done in these patients.

INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES OF POTOHAR PLATEAU, NORTHERN PAKISTAN

The present research work is based on the identification of Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) distributed in Potohar Plateau, which are threat to indigenous flora. To confirm the invasive and alien status of these species, we investigated the flora of Potohar plateau. The target population sampling method was used for the collection and listing of IAPS present in all districts of Potohar Region. Invasion status of IAPS was recorded from wastelands, roadsides, crop fields, banks of canals, mismanaged gardens and housing colonies. Our results revealed that Broussonetia papyrifera Vent., Cannabis sativa L., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Lantana camara L., and Parthenium hysterophorus L. are highly invasive species. Whereas seventeen IAPS were found in naturalized, ten recently escaped from controlled cultivation, three were newly introduced while fifteen grown casually in the study area. The common life form of IAPS was herbs and are used for medicinal and ornamental purposes. These species have invaded maximum area to obstruct the distribution of native flora including medicinal and economically important plants, which are now found in patches. We tend to use eradication methods to control further replacement of indigenous vegetation. This study suggests that the Government of Pakistan should take possible steps to prevent natural habitat of local flora and make separate zones for IAPS. The present study will help the researchers and policymakers to control invasion and alien species.

The Effect of Retirement on Older Adults’ Substance use, an Update and Expansion to the Literature

<h3>Introduction</h3> Transitions through life stages can be a vulnerable time for mental health, and this may lead to a change in the way people use substances. Extensive research has explored retirement, the most common life transition for older adults, and its effect on wellbeing and physical health. However, less research exists concerning the role retirement may play in the use of substances among older adults. This topic has been previously examined in two review articles with broad inclusion criteria and inconsistent results. This review attempts to update and expand on previous literature by only including studies that report on "old-age" retirement (excluding those who retired due to disability), and report on clear measures of substance use quantity or a validated screening tool for substance use disorder both before and after retirement for the same population. <h3>Methods</h3> A literature search for peer-reviewed publications identified 14 studies published between 2000 and 2019 which met inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was not carried out given heterogeneity across studies, instead a narrative synthesis was employed. <h3>Results</h3> Of 1,246 studies identified for review, 14 were included, all of which assessed alcohol use. No studies meeting diagnostic criteria were identified that assessed the use of opiates or benzodiazepines prior to and after non-disability retirement. Of the 14 studies analyzed, 4 indicated an increase in alcohol use, risky drinking, or problems related to alcohol use, 1 study indicated a decrease in problems related to alcohol use, and 3 studies indicated no change in alcohol use. 6 studies showed mixed results, indicating different trends for different cohorts, such as men vs. women. The majority of these findings were not reported to be statistically significant. Various risk-factors were identified for increased alcohol use after retirement, including high levels of stress in job prior to retirement (2 studies), involuntary retirement (1 study), poor sleep (1 study), and positive belief about the effect of alcohol (1 study). Increased quantity of alcohol consumption on drinking occasions was a concerning pattern that emerged for recent retirees (3 studies). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Although findings from the identified studies are inconsistent and contradictory, several risk factors were identified, including increased stress at job before retirement, involuntary retirement, and sleep problems after retirement. The analysis also calls attention to a trend of increased quantity of alcohol consumption on drinking occasions. These findings have implications for providers as they counsel adults on the transition to retirement and screen for substance use disorders during this time. The lack of studies about benzodiazepine and opiate use during transition to retirement is notable, and given the increase in use of these substances among older adults, further research in this area would be beneficial.

National Identity and Integration Challenges of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients

Approximately 650,000 children and young adults currently reside in the United States with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, providing them with temporary legal status to reside in the country. We explored the phenomenon of how five DACA recipients experienced their national identities and how it contributed to their acculturation patterns using in-depth semi-structured interviews. We interpreted their comments through the theoretical lens of Berry’s (1997) acculturation theory and Edensor’s (2002) emphasis on everyday life as a critical factor of national identity. Although the participants had the desire to remain in the United States and be a part of U.S. culture, everyday realities of discrimination, and challenges accomplishing common life tasks taken for granted by American peers (getting a driver’s license, travelling, working, obtaining financial aid for higher education) kept the participants from fully integrating into American society and gaining a sense of belonging.

Nature of the common good as the foundation of the community

The subject of interest of the author of the text is the common good as an inalienable element of the organization of the human community. The paper consists of three parts. The first part analyses the need for a common good as the basis of social and political life. The starting point was the distinction of four forms of common life (community, society, political body and state), defining the nature of society, presentation of three forms of relationship between man and society (individualism, collectivism and personalism) and identifying problems related to the definition of the common good. In the second part, the author presented a reflection on the procedural common good in the liberal tradition, the issue of impartiality and identification of the common good in the process of the debate. In the third part, attention is paid to the personalistic view of the common good, which is based on the integral development of personal human nature in the framework of the appropriate institutions and structures. This understanding of the common good is, in the author’s conviction, the best point of reference in social and political life.

Pip's Ego Oscillations in Charles Dickens's Great Expectations

This research project studies Pip's ego fluctuations in Charles Dickens's Great Expectations. Freud's division of the human psyche into id, ego and superego is appropriate for the analysis of the rise and fall of the hero in his pursuit to attain gentlemanhood. Four main questions have been addressed: First, what makes up Pip's id? Second, what are the main components of his superego? Third, does Pip's ego succeed or fail in striking a balance between his id and superego? In what ways does it fail? And fourth, how does Pip's ego eventually succeed in striking a balance between his id and superego? The study finds out that Pip's id is demonstrated through his fascination with high-class lifestyle and relinquishment of common life. It shows that his superego is constructed from the hurdles that prevent him from pursuing gentlemanhood, namely past common life restraints and present high class deficiencies. It also demonstrates how Pip's faulty ego comes as a result of his frustration at high class lifestyles and resentment of his old common life. The study eventually reveals that two important factors contribute to the success of Pip's ego: His reconciliation with the past and appreciation of the present in order to have more realistic expectations of the future.