Concept Research Articles

The Relationship between Future Wilderness and in Situ and Ex Situ Plant Conservation

Extrapolation of current (1993) rates of wilderness destruction indicate that no significant areas are likely to remain by the year 2300. This likely trend is reinforced by the current continued growth of the human population. The concepts of in situ and ex situ plant species conservation are examined in the context of wilderness loss and practical consequences are discussed including the concept of ad valorem species conservation.

Motivation: A Critical Consideration of Freud and Rogers’ Seminal Conceptualisations

Humans vary in many aspects of their psychology with differences routinely found in patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, setting individuals apart across time and place. Though many psychologists have attempted to account for these individual differences, one area that has continued to generate interest and disagreement is the concept of motivation. Today, understanding behavioural motivation remains one of the most important questions facing personality theorists. In an attempt to better account for human motivation, the present exploration reviews seminal theoretical positions put forward by Sigmund Freud from a Psychoanalytical perspective and contrastingly, that of Carl Rogers from the Humanistic approach. Critical consideration is specifically applied to how verifiable each perspective may be and the degree of empirical support either account has attained to date. Whilst understanding human motivation is not a new endeavour, the present exploration provides a contemporary critical assessment of traditional psychological explanations.

Parental generativity. The concept and measurement

Parental generativity. The concept and measurement

Breaking the ice in a conversation: abstract words prompt dialogs more easily than concrete ones

AbstractAbstract domains of knowledge may have social origins. However, whether abstract concepts (ACs) may also differentially affect communicative interaction and conversation has not been explored. Here, we studied ACs’ communicative functions by collecting in an Italian and an English sample, ratings for concrete concept (CC) and ACs related to three main dimensions: communicative/pragmatic [i.e., Openness to Negotiation (ON), Easiness to Start a Conversation (ESC)], semantic/metacognitive [i.e., Social Metacognition (SM) – perceived need of others, Word Confidence (WC), Contextual Availability (CA)], and emotional–experiential (i.e., Pleasantness, Valence, Familiarity). Overall, Italian participants judged it was easier to start a conversation, the more pleasant, familiar, and positively valenced were rated the concepts. Crucially, at lower values of the emotional–experiential component (i.e., Familiarity in the Italian sample, also Pleasantness and Valence in an English sample), there was an advantage of ACs over CCs in the ESC. Moreover, in the Italian sample, participants rated ACs higher on SM, ON, and lower on WC and CA. Notably, in both the Italian and English sample, ACs with higher ratings on the ESC dimension belonged to the Self-Sociality subcluster. The results offer new insights into the pragmatic aspects linked to ACs’ use.

HARTIAN CONCEPTION OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC LAW

The article examines idiosyncratic Hartian conception of international public law, which, often maligned and ignored in the past, has come to recent attention due to originality and singularity of thoughts expressed. Through the positivistic lens in his seminal work, The Concept of Law, H.L.A. Hart manages to offer a unique analysis, even if not entirely free from blemishes, of international public law as its own system of distinguishable rules and an intriguing examination of both the vital distinction between public and private affairs as well as the system of sanctions applicable. The crucial underpinning in the analysis is Hart’s insistence on the rule of recognition as a primary basis of any developed legal system, a feature whose applicability to international public law could be dubious. In spite of this controversial opinion, Hart still closely dissects this field of law, giving valuable insights to be considered. With the ever-increasing importance and consideration given to the international public law, understanding imperfect and yet still unique Hartian perspective might be of great use to legal analysts, wishing to comprehensively grasp this field of jurisprudence.

Perceptions of white UOF students with regard to the general black population

A central leque ini Intercultural interaction is the phenomenon of per ception. Perception Influences the understanding and Interpretation of events. In order to succeed in Inter cultural Interaction it is necessary to develop an understanding and ap preciation of perceptual differences. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions that a sec tion of white UOFS students have of the general black population. To reach this objective, a literature study was undertaken in order to es tablish a clear understanding of per ception and the related concepts. Such concepts included race, cul ture, attitude, prejudice and stereo type. The study concentrated on the Interrelations between these con cepts as well as on the effects of these concepts on the formation of an Individual's perceptions. Through statistical analysis the following considerations were also ad dressed: Whether or not any correlations exist between the perceptions of the respondents. Whether male and female re spondents differ with regard to their political orientations. Whether there are any differences and/or similarities in the perceptions of male and female respondents. • The Identification of specific fac tors in order to determine their contribution toward specific perceptions

Effect of stimation about area conceptualization

El objetivo de este estudio es determinar el efecto de la estimación sobre la conceptualización del área. Se aplicó un diseño cuasi-experimental, con grupo, antes y después, con grupo control no equivalente. Los sujetos fueron alumnos de tercer semestre de Administración de Empresas y Negocios Internacionales, con edades comprendidas entre los 17 y 22 años, de ambos géneros. La metodología tiene como fundamento estimar áreas con cuadrículas de regiones que están bajo una curva, teniendo como pretexto el estudio de la integral definida. Se encontró que aunque no hay diferencia significativa en los puntajes entre el grupo control y el grupo experimental en el postest, la metodología influyó significativamente en la conceptualización del área en los alumnos del grupo experimental, ya que se encontró diferencia significativa al comparar la diferencia intragrupo entre el grupo experimental y el grupo control.

Electric Utility Privatization What We Can Learn from the British Experience

Privatization takes many forms . The act of privatization, how-ever , alway s involves "se lling st ate -owned assets to th e private sector,or ... allowing private en terpr ise to p erform functions pr eviouslyh andled by the st ate ."* That definition, of course, includes outsourcingof functions, or partn ering arra nge me nt s betw een th e gove rn me nt-owne d ent ity and a priv at e firm.Out sourcing is just a new word for contra cting out . Any well-m ana ged busine ss will en gag e an oth er firm to perform for it functionsthat it cannot p erform well on its own . That is ju st good business.Selling th e enti re gove rn me nt -owne d bu sin ess t o th e priv at e se ctor isth e most dramatic form of pri vatization. Gov ernm ent s wh ose busin essv entur es ar e disa st er s and govern me n ts in a d esp erat e hurr y to r ais emoney do not think about out sourcing. Th ey go all th e way .Th e m ost famous pr iv atiz ation effort, that of th e Thatch er gov-ern me nt, put th e conc ept on th e fr ont pag es. It embra ced priv atizationwith zeal. It pu sh ed out th e priv atization s with th e enormous gu st oa nd ferv or of th e tru e believer. Th e gove rn me nt r ak ed in billions ofp ounds . Millions of new inv estors bought sh ar es in dozen s of compa-nies. Th ose investors clean ed up, in most cas es .Is eve rybody happy ? Unfortunately, they are not. Tru e, theThatcher governm ent showed th at the governm ent could sell th edull est bu sinesses . The newly energized managements d emonstratedhow to r evitaliz e s e emin gly m oribund ent erpr is e s . But theprivatizati ons left a legacy of probl ems . We can le arn from th em .

Nepal’s Relationship with India and China in the Changing Context

Nepal cherishes aged old relationship with India and China. The geo-physical proximity, socio-cultural resemblances in many instances, economy and trade bound historical linkages are few among many aspects, on backdrop of which Nepal has sustained a bilateral and trilateral relationship with India and China. Nevertheless, in course of time, the historical dynamism of relation has changed. This article, in this context, attempts to assess the present day changed dynamics of relationship among Nepal, India and China. It attempts to explore the emergence areas of priorities that have brought trilateral relationship into a newer avenue. I have purposively used a few source books relating to foreign policy of Nepal and Nepal, India, and China relationship to collect data and conceive ideas on trends of relationship development among these three nations. I have applied descriptive research design and attempted to analyze the observed events and incidents in the relationship among these three nations and present it in an understandable manner. The study overall revealed that the economic rise of India and China has brought myriad opportunities to Nepal. However, the emergence of these two immediate neighbors as regional rival and as pursuant of two different ideological interests has higher prospect to grit Nepal’s national interest, and entangle it into a grave tension if it fails to maintain a balance relationship with both the nations. To Nepal, it is a high time to safeguard its national interest and refrain herself from being under the influence of either of the nations as its card.

HARKing: Conceptualizations, harms, and two fundamental remedies.

HARKing: Conceptualizations, harms, and two fundamental remedies.

Взаємозв’язок між функціональним нирковим резервом, рівнем сечової кислоти та якістю життя пацієнтів із хронічною хворобою нирок І–ІІІ стадії

Актуальність. Визначення функціонального ниркового резерву дає клініцисту додаткову інформацію про перебіг захворювання, дозволяє раніше виявити порушення, відповідно, провести їх корекцію і вплинути на подальший перебіг захворювання та його прогноз. Мета дослідження: оцінити стан функціонального ниркового резерву в пацієнтів із хронічною хворобою нирок І–ІІІ стадії та виявити його взаємозв’язок із рівнем сечової кислоти в сироватці крові та якістю життя пацієнтів. Матеріали та методи. У 22 пацієнтів із хронічною хворобою нирок було проведено обстеження для визначення стану функціонального ниркового резерву за методикою А.І. Гоженка, адаптованою до амбулаторних умов, із виявленням рівнів сечової кислоти в сироватці крові до та після водно-сольового навантаження 0,5% розчином натрію хлориду з розрахунку 0,5 % від маси тіла. Якість життя визначалася за опитувальником SF-36. Результати. Функціональний нирковий резерв був збережений у 19 пацієнтів (87 %) і становив у середньому 115 ± 54 %, знижений — у 2 пацієнтів (9 %) і становив у середньому 5,7 ± 2,1 %, відсутній — в 1 пацієнта (4 %) і становив –41 %. Рівень функціонального ниркового резерву корелював із рівнем сечової кислоти в сироватці крові, визначеним через годину після проведення водно-сольового навантаження (p = 0,60, p-level 0,018), а також із середнім значенням сечової кислоти, визначеним за 4 роки (p = 0,74, p-level 0,0015). Виявлено також взаємозв’язок між станом функціонального ниркового резерву і такими показниками якості життя, як фізичне функціонування (p = 0,60, p-level 0,03), життєва активність (p = 0,68, p-level 0,01), психічне здоров’я (p = 0,58, p-level 0,04). Висновки. При отриманні високих значень функціонального ниркового резерву в пацієнта варто простежити в динаміці за показниками його сечової кислоти.

ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКО-ПРАВОВИЙ ДОСВІД ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ЖИТТЄДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ВУГІЛЬНИХ МОНОМІСТ В УМОВАХ ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНОЇ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЇ

The article is devoted to the analysis of the features of ensuring the life of coal monofunctional cities in the conditions of energy transformation, which should be based not only on the legal definitions of the main categories, but also on the legal qualifications and the ratio of their object-subject compositions. It was determined that the Energy Strategy of Ukraine — 2035 focuses on the subject composition of certain types of transformation relations, while the object circle, after a complete rejection of coal in the energy sector and the termination of any subsidies to this sector, requires: coordination of structural changes with all stakeholders including the local population; basing plans for diversifying the economy, restructuring the coal industry, developing the infrastructure of post-coal regions on appropriate financial support, creating trust funds that will combine state, private and international assistance of various levels; transformation of unprofitable mines and, first of all, as an integral technically and organizationally separate (single) property complex of funds and resources. The concept of “coal monofunctional city” — a satellite of a city-forming enterprise for the extraction and processing of coal — an administrative-territorial unit, the specialization of labor of the population in which is determined by a set of directions for ensuring the operation of this enterprise and the life of its employees is proposed. The concept of “life activity of an employee of a coal mining enterprise is proposed — a set of daily processes, actions, activities that can ensure the existence of an employee, his family members, the entire workforce as a whole through training, communication, orientation, movement, self-service, control over his behavior, participation in labor activities with the help of physical, psychological and social functions”. It has been substantiated that the considered experience of such European coal-mining countries as Germany, Ro mania, Czech Republic, Poland, Great Britain can and should be adapted in the process of developing domestic con ceptual, strategic or program documents to support the life of coal monocities in the following blocks of relations: energy; environmental; social; economic; informational; administrative; housing and communal services; transport; law enfor cement.

Managing a Sustainable Supply Chain – Statistical Analysis of Natural Resources in the Furniture Industry

Abstract Managing a sustainable supply chain is a concept related to many areas of the economy. Its efficient functioning depends on the implementation of SDG activities and the development of industry (first-fourth/fifth industrial revolution). Due to the likelihood of different priorities in the implementation of the sustainable development goals, it is important to build such relationships, e.g. in the supply chain, so that their implementation could take place under similar conditions. Digitization, or the circular economy concept (CE), create an opportunity for the SME sector to build relationships as part of industry networks, for instance, where the managed supply chain would have a common and realistic goal to achieve. This goal will be a priority in business models based on sustainable development. The article presents the results of research regarding the furniture industry in Poland (key industry, referred to as smart specialization). The results of the analysis show that the industry has a large production potential, and the natural resources used in it are constantly increasing. However, there are doubts raised by the lack of stability in the dynamics of the sold production in the industry. Ultimately, the business model of the industry supply chain should focus on the environmental aspect (sustainable management of the raw material supply chain) and on eco-friendly consumption (sustainable management of the product supply chain), so that it can be managed in a sustainable way.

PEOPLE, FLOWERS AND THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF BEAUTY

PEOPLE, FLOWERS AND THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF BEAUTY

Evaluating the effectiveness of using Merrill component display theory in performance and retention of the concept of fraction in kids grade elementary mathematics

Background The concept of fraction is one of the most difficult concepts of math in all levels of education. We aimed to investigate the effect of Merrill’s component display theory in the learning of students in math. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, the number of students under investigation was 183 boys where 31 students were randomly selected as experimental group and 30 as control group. The concept of teaching was designed based on the teaching design pattern of Merrill’s Component Display Theory and based on which the students in experimental group was taught for 10 sessions of 45 minutes; control group also received the traditional teaching. After two months, students were post-tested for their performance by a 10-question exam taken from teacher’s guidebook. Then, after three more weeks, they were again post-tested to ascertin their retention of the topic. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.0 Results: The T-test results showed that the mean of students in experimental group increased about four grades and from 13.9 reached to the significant number of 18 for the performance post-test with the standard deviation of 0.63. In retention, the mean of students changed from 15.4 to 15 which is not a lot. It also means that there was no significant difference between mean scores of retention of Merrill’ group and the scores of post-test Merrill’s group. It means that education materials used Merrill’s design have been positively effective. Conclusion Considering the findings, it can be stated that the Merrill’s component display theory has been effective in both performance and the retention of the students.

From Book Poetry to Digital Poetry

In the article, I will discuss the relationship between ‘book poetry’ and ‘digital poetry.’ I examine the differences, as well as the similarities, between poetry as presented in these two media. Research on the transition from book poetry to digital poetry has mainly focussed on the significant changes in genre and work con cepts as well as in the author and reader roles. However, several trends within the tradition of poetry have intensified and have further developed since the emergence of the digital media. The focus in this paper will thus be on four key features, which were founded in book poetry as far back as early Modernism and the avant-garde movements, but, to a great extent, those features have unfolded in digital poetry. The four features are the multimodality, the montage form, the network structure, and the serial form. The artistic opportunities offered by digital poetry are not only due to technological opportunities in the new media. Such opportunities are just as much due to the innovations in multimodality, montages, network structures, and seriality realized by avant-garde and symbolist poets like Mallarme, Apollinaire, Schwitters, Eliot, and Pound in early modernism. My article concludes with an example of how the four features form the basis for a work of digital poetry, namely Johannes Helden’s “The Primary Directive” (2008).

A Qualitative Study on Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning of Experienced Counselors

A Qualitative Study on Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning of Experienced Counselors

Editorial: Demonstratives, Deictic Pointing and the Conceptualization of Space

Editorial: Demonstratives, Deictic Pointing and the Conceptualization of Space

Conceptualizing and Measuring Political Inequality in a Cross-National Perspective

Conceptualizing and Measuring Political Inequality in a Cross-National Perspective

Sweetness or Mouthfeel: A corpus-based study of the conceptualization of taste

The sensory lexicon plays a pivotal role in bridging our cognitive system to the physical world. In this role, it has been the focus of recent interdisciplinary investigations on cognition, language, culture, and their interactions. Recent studies on linguistic synesthesia and sensory modality exclusivity showed unequivocally that cross-modality usages of sensory words are the norm rather than the exception. Given the dominance of cross-modality uses, the null hypothesis that the five senses are separate but equal modules merits a closer examination. In this paper, we focus on the gustatory quality of sweetness because of its universal appeal as well as the well-attested cultural influence on the gustatory lexicon. Based on an analysis of online food reviews containing descriptions of desserts, we show that mouthfeel, a multisensory concept, is strongly preferred over sweetness. Mouthfeel is associated with words from all the sensory domains, including both sensory and abstract (e.g., mental state) concepts. The highly non-exclusive characteristic of gustatory sensation suggests that it might be the most connected sensory modality, and the cross-modality expressions indicating personal preferences further imply the subjective propensity of the gustatory sense. Our study adds to the existing literature the interrelationship among sensory modalities through language use, and further sheds light on the interactions between language, cognition, and culture. (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)