Conceptual Paradigm Research Articles

Selenium Level in Patients with Heart Failure versus Normal Individuals.

Background:Despite many attempts to discover pathophysiologic mechanisms to explain chronic heart failure (CHF), no conceptual paradigms have been proved yet. Various studies have shown the role of trace elements on heart failure (HF). Among all trace elements, selenium deficiency is regarded as important risk factors for HF. Considering selenium deficiency in our society and high prevalence of HF, we compared selenium level in patients with HF with healthy individuals.Methods:In all, 32 hospitalized patients with HF and 32 healthy controls were enrolled in a case–control study. Demographic characteristics as well as functional class and risk factors were recorded for all two groups. Echocardiography was conducted for patients and all provided data were registered. Then serum selenium levels were compared in case and control groups.Results:The mean (±standard deviation) serum selenium was 92.5 ± 22.44 mg/dL in patients with HF and 109.3 ± 29.62 mg/dL in controls. The level of selenium was significantly lower and the frequency of risk factors was significantly higher in case group. Selenium level did not differ significantly in patients with different HF causes. There were a nonsignificant relationship between selenium level and left ventricular ejection fraction and a significant reverse relationship between selenium level and left ventricular volume and pulmonary artery pressure.Conclusions:Our results showed statistically significant lower level of serum selenium in patients with CHF in comparison to normal individuals. Moreover, selenium level had significant reverse relationship with left ventricular volume and pulmonary artery pressure.

The Teaching Factory Network: A new collaborative paradigm for manufacturing education

Abstract The Teaching Factory (TF) has emerged as a promising paradigm for manufacturing education. It operates as a non-geographically anchored learning “space” interconnecting remotely located engineering and student teams that work together on real-life projects. The paper will introduce the concept of the Teaching Factory Network (TFN), namely a large-scale implementation of the TF paradigm within a network of academic and industrial organizations. Following an overview of the key challenges associated with manufacturing education today, the foundation of this work, namely the concept of the TF paradigm will be shortly presented. On that basis, the paper will define the TFN concept, specify the TFN learning delivery hub, namely the software platform facilitating TFN operations, and discuss implementation aspects.

Critical Pedagogy in Digital Era: Understanding the Importance of Arts & Humanities for Sustainable IT Development

The paper defines the critical pedagogy as the root cause of a cross-disciplinary method of delivery of teaching and research in Higher Education. The paper explicates the lexicographical meaning of the term ‘critical’ in the research context of Arts and Humanities, its conceptual and para-conceptual paradigms that urges us to intersect the specific areas of Information Technology and vice-versa. The premise of the paper is that the IT does not take over Arts and Humanities, rather Arts and Humanities helps the IT make a better society of human civilization where the machine and human co-exists; and understand (we used the word for the machine deliberately) the valued existence of each other. The development of IT without aesthetics of human existence results irrecoverable disaster. The history states so. The development of IT under the shadow of Arts and Humanities results enrichment of both the unending development of IT and the human society to a progressive and sustainable direction. Critical Pedagogy is defined in terms of the development of transdisciplinary education and research intersected with digital studies.

Концептуальна парадигма електронної України в контексті формування інформаційного законодавства для інноваційного розвитку держави

Концептуальна парадигма електронної України в контексті формування інформаційного законодавства для інноваційного розвитку держави

Использование представлений о парадигме в российской бухгалтерской науке

Использование представлений о парадигме в российской бухгалтерской науке

The Light - An Integrating Paradigm Concept in Lucian Blaga’s Work

The Light - An Integrating Paradigm Concept in Lucian Blaga’s Work

A paradigmatic approach to security sciences

T.S. Kuhn’s concept of paradigm differentiates between mature sciences and pre-paradigm sciences. In the case of the latter, it is possible for various approaches to compete with one another. Polish security sciences are currently occupied with seeking paradigms. On the one hand, this search may lead to a homogenisation of opinions within the discipline, or to opposing views on the other. This search is a consequence of evolving opinions within the field, which has a relatively short history in Poland, and constitutes an attempt at determining its defining features. This paper presents various approaches to the concept of paradigm posited by researchers of broadly-defined security, which, as a consequence, constitute evidence of security’s multi-paradigmaticality. The research problem is to answer the question of whether the approaches presented in this paper actually constitute the basis necessary to formulate a set of coherent scientific foundations of the discipline, as analysed from a paradigmatic point of view.

PARADIGMA INTEGRASI-INTERKONEKSI DI TENGAH KOMPLEKSITAS PROBLEM KEMANUSIAAN

This article tries to describe the concept of integration-interconnection of science as a meeting point to integrating the mind and revelation. A concept which is positioning human mind and revelation as entities that are not dichotomous, but as relationships that complement to each other, as well as an effort to answer the complexity of the human problems which require a comprehensive and holistic process of settlement. Through critical-analytical studies of the concepts of integration-interconnection of science from various experts, the results of the study show that the term, forms, and implementations of this scientific paradigm are very diverse. Integration is not a single paradigm concept that is suitable in various life contexts, but a dynamic concept. The context in which human a being live will determine the patterns and forms of integration. Space and time, the types of problems and needs, and human creativity in responding the various life problems greatly determine the format and form of this paradigm.

Determining the Intelligibility of Einsteinian Concepts with Middle School Students

The modern Einsteinian conception of space, time, matter and radiation represents a radical paradigm shift compared with the traditional Newtonian physics that underpins most primary and secondary school science. It is increasingly recognised that school education should encompass this modern paradigm to allow a seamless progression of learning throughout school education. The goal of the research presented in this paper was to test whether five core concepts of the Einsteinian paradigm could become conceptually intelligible to middle school students or whether there were intrinsic difficulties. The research was underpinned by the theoretical notion that intelligibility is a key step to the ontological conceptual changes needed for the radical shift to the Einsteinian paradigm and that conceptual change is impacted by students’ attitudes. The research was conducted in the context of a 20-lesson teaching programme based on models and analogies specifically designed for middle school students and to enable ontological conceptual change. We present an analysis of 120 14- to 15-year-old students’ conceptualisations of Einsteinian physics and their attitudes towards science as a result of this programme. Through testing before and after the programme, we found that the students possessed variable levels of prior knowledge of the core Einsteinian concepts, but near universal intelligibility of the core concepts after the programme. The strong saturation indicates that there is no intrinsic difficulty regarding intelligibility of core Einsteinian concepts at the middle school level of the participants. While the male students initially showed greater interest in physics compared with their female counterparts, the female students showed a significantly increased interest in physics after the programme. Repeatability in knowledge tests between classes given one year apart and long-term retention indicate that the programme had a lasting impact on students’ conceptual understanding.

Membangun Peradaban Esoteris Berbasis Nilai-Nilai Spiritual: Studi Historis Sains Islam Abad Pertengahan

<p class="06IsiAbstrak">The science of Islam in medieval times provides another perspective on human concepts and the progress of civilization. The values of monotheism look at the sides of spirituality as a measure of the progress of civilization. From it the definition of civilization gained new space and paved the way for the inherent potentials of humanity as the foundation for the progress of civilization as well as not reducing the quality of scientific sophistication. This paper aims to uncover the concept of the holistic paradigm and the history of Islamic science in the Middle Ages while also contextualizing it on the concept of Coomaraswamy spiritual civilization which has the theory of spiritual civilization, as a basis for the meaning of civilization with historical methods as well as descriptive analysis. Thus, my findings conclude that the paradigm of the progress of civilization has an esoteric perspective, and spirituality can be used as a measure of the progress of civilization besides not ignoring the materiality side in the form of sophistication of scientific science theories.</p>

The cognitive paradigm in the modern bibliographic studies

The bibliography cognitive paradigm is substantiated as essential for the modern society evolving from the being information to the cognitive one. The origins and development of the paradigm reflection in the library and bibliographic studies are discussed. The key components of the cognitive paradigm theoretical core of bibliography, namely mission, concept, terms, that make bibliography a cognitive social institution, are examined. The bibliography social mission is defined as overcoming the cognitive gap by individual and collective society actors during the transition from the information to the cognitive stage. The relevancy of bibliography would rise significantly if it increases its cognitive potential and proves to be fully fledged, independent generator and distributor of knowledge – the concept of bibliographic studies cognitive paradigm. The author demonstrates that bibliography is able to accomplish every process of knowledge transformation: its socialization, externalization, combining and internalization. Within the cognitive paradigm, bibliography is defined as a cognitive institution of the knowledge society with the purpose of knowledge generation and distribution it focuses on the system aspects of the documented knowledge conceptual content. The author also proves the need for enhancing cognitive character of library bibliographic activities and suggests tools and methods to intellectialize its cognitive and information activities.

Water management paradigm shifts in the Caspian Sea region: Review and outlook

The study explores the shifts in water management paradigms in the Caspian Sea basin over the last three centuries with an emphasis on the period after 1990. The investigation is based on the chronological analysis of developments in the water sector, treaties and agreements between the littoral states, important technical inventions, and changes in political regimes. The methodology used in the paper captures two concepts. The concept of water management paradigms helps to comprehend developmental stages of water management of the Caspian Sea. The concept of hydrosocial cycle was applied as an analytical lens for studying each paradigm. We examine different understandings of water in the following five stages: i) pre-industrial era (before 1846); ii) industrialization era (1846–1917); iii) Soviet collectivization era (1917–1940); iv) hydraulic mission (1940–1990); v) independent littoral states (1990–present). Before the Industrial Revolution, the Caspian Sea was managed by the Russian Empire and Persia for navigation and fishing only. The ensuing technical progress gave an impulse to regional sectoral activities, pushing forward the hydraulic mission that caused a considerable degradation of the sea’s ecosystems. The adoption of the Tehran Convention in 2003 became a first step towards the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) paradigm for the Caspian. However, the water governance of the Caspian states does not adhere to the principles of IWRM and, consequently, environment continues to deteriorate. The study provides new directions and approaches for reviewing the role of society in the governance of the Caspian Sea and its resources.

Strategies Christian Nurses Use to Create a Healing Environment

From Nightingale forward, nursing has understood that interaction of person, nurse, and environment facilitates optimal outcomes. Yet, there remains a need for research on the paradigm concept of environment and creation of a healing environment. This classical, grounded theory study aimed to identify (1) strategies Christian nurses used to create a healing environment and enhance well-being, (2) outcomes they perceived resulting from these strategies, and (3) factors they regarded as either enhancing or inhibiting the creation of the healing environments. A criterion-based, purposive sample of Christian nurses (N = 15) was interviewed between June 2013 and January 2014 until data saturation was reached. Data were analyzed using constant comparative methods in consultation with a grounded theory expert. “Charting the healing path,” the core category, consists of four phases: helping patients get better, fostering the healing environment, charting a healing path, and observing outcomes. The “charting the healing path” model informs development of the environment domain of nursing knowledge. Knowing the patient, the juncture of nurse and patient points of view, and the resultant nurse–patient partnership promote best potential outcomes to be realized incrementally during, and after, hospitalization.

Effect of carbon nanotubes reinforcement on the polyvinyl alcohol – polyethylene glycol double-network hydrogel composites: A general approach to shape memory and printability

The developing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) double network (DN) hydrogel are promising to utilize as matrix composites due to their unique characteristics such as shape memory. The DN hydrogel are hydrophilic smart materials that possess shape memory phenomenon by thermal stimuli-responsive. Scientifically, the DN hydrogel can describe as a combination of polymers with two different sets of properties. In particular, the PEG play as a minor network of a stiff framework and the PVA play as a major network of an elastic matter. In addition, the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) become reinforcement has emerged as one of the most promising to bring new conceptual paradigm for DN hydrogel, due to their advantages have well-established in the polymer matrix. The development of DN hydrogel composite becomes high novelty with approaching attributes on general studies about shape memory and printability. The result shows that the CNTs additional are capable to maintain the shape memory effect of hydrogels and improve the viscoelasticity for printability, respectively.

Italy as a gateway to Europe for African migration: How to deal with the Doll's House effect?

AbstractNo physical wall would ever be an effective deterrent when opposed to growing inequalities among people in neighbouring regions. Nevertheless, whether or not governments decide to build physical walls on their borders, walls already often exist around each individual migrant, keeping them secluded like in a Doll's House. This is particularly true when applied to the new stream of African migration to Europe, flowing mainly through Italy. In this paper, we propose a conceptual paradigm to show how the Doll's House is structured for this typical stream of migration and we provide some policy suggestions to deal with it.

Alternative rural development: Social Justice, Equity, Self-Reliance, and Third Worldism

Alternative Rural Development is a conceptual paradigm shift of mainstream economic development of political economy or development economics. It is, to a larger extent, based on Social Welfare Model of Rural Development and Gandhian ideology of Development. The method, strategy and program endogenously designed for Social Justice, Equity and Self Reliance in any underdeveloped country in the third world is Alternative Rural Development. Endogenous sustainable and scientific resource distribution mechanism is Alternative Rural Development. This paper presents the literature review of the Alternative Rural Development paradigm. It gives information and academic inputs about social Justice, Equity, Self–Reliance and Third Worldism.Research Nepal Journal of Development Studies Vol.1(1) 2018 1-17

Governance as a Conceptual Paradigm for Institutional Reform and Transformation

Due to the inherent weaknesses of colonialism, traditional cultures and liberation movements, neither colonial nor traditional regimes nor liberation struggles prepare leaders for good governance. The paper is a descriptive narrative that aims to integratethe Ackoff-Gharajedaghi five-dimensional design of institutional development with the normative principles of good governance as a paradigm for changing systemically corrupt institutions to promote integrity-driven performance. The research methodology isthe ‘soft systems approach’ (SSA) to systems thinking. Some of the findings are that obstructions to development are inherently part of governance failures. Corruption is, amongst other things, deviant human behaviour, a breakdown of the integrity of systems, which in turn leads to serious development failures that cannot be rectified by piecemeal reforms, but only by a complete transformation of the whole institution. From the research executed, it is possible to say that governance is an open system andinclusive approach. The aspiration to obtain influence and power in decision-making is one of the most critical drivers of development. Another finding from the study is that good governance as a construct goes beyond decision-making to promote integrity and has the potential to guide policies, strategies and values. The study also found that good governance can provide strategic, operational and technical direction necessary for changing corrupt institutions. Good governance is a conceptual paradigm for institutional reform and transformation of systemically corrupt institutions towards ones with integrity-driven performance.

Metaphor and Irony in the Public Criminological Discourse of Lithuania

This article discusses metaphor and irony as discursive strategies employed by the Lithuanian media while construing the imagery of crime, criminal, and criminality. The method applied to analyse metaphor and irony in Lithuanian criminological discourse combines the framework offered by conceptual metaphor theory with corpus linguistics. First of all, metaphorical and ironical expressions were inventoried, and then conceptual paradigms were reconstructed from them. The conceptual-level analysis revealed that the relations between the conceptual domains of metaphor and irony are processed by different types of mapping (similarity [metaphor] vs. dissimilarity [irony]). Despite differences in the processing of cross-domain mapping, metaphor and irony realised in public criminological discourse carry out the same or very similar rhetorical and social functions. The main function of these discursive strategies is the vivid expression of emotional attitudes and values directed at the criminal—the text adresser evaluates the criminal and crime negatively, dissociates from the offender, and isolates him symbolically from our community. In this way, the contemporary Lithuanian media constructs and shapes the community’s approach to particular social phenomena—crime, criminal, and criminality.

The Central Role of Theory in Qualitative Research

The use of theory in science is an ongoing debate in the production of knowledge. Related to qualitative research methods, a variety of approaches have been set forth in the literature using the terms conceptual framework, theoretical framework, paradigm, and epistemology. While these approaches are helpful in their own context, we summarize and distill them in order to build upon the case that a balanced and centered use of the theoretical framework can bolster the qualitative approach. Our project builds on the arguments that epistemology and methodological rigor are essential by adding the notion that the influence of theory permeates almost every aspect of the study—even if the author does not recognize this influence. Compilers of methodological approaches have referred to the use of theory as analogous to a coat closet in which different items can be housed or a lens through which the literature and data in the study are viewed. In this article, we offer an evaluative quadrant for determining the appropriate use of theory in qualitative research and a diagram of the qualitative project that points to the central role of a theoretical framework. We also caution against the overreliance on theory in the event that it begins to limit the ability to see emergent findings in the data.

A problematização da Vida em Michel Foucault, Roberto Esposito e Nikolas Rose

As investigações de Michel Foucault acerca do exercício do poder sobre a vida inspiraram, tanto em termos de objetivos –uma genealogia dos processos de subjetivação do homem moderno – quanto em termos metodológicos – arqueologia das formas de resistência à sujeição – inumeráveis estudos, polêmicas, críticas e malentendidos, com muitos dos quais Foucault chegou a dialogar ainda em vida. Talvez os conceitos mais presentes nessas investigações sejam os de biopolítica e bio-poder, formulados por Foucault no bojo da problematização que envolve as relações entre saber, poder e subjetividade. O conceito de biopolítica pode ser entendido, grosso modo, como uma “gestão calculista da vida” em prol da promoção da vida, com o menor dispêndio possível tanto econômico quanto ideológico, institucional, etc. O presente artigo visa a apresentar, ainda que sumariamente, o lugar ocupado pelas análises destes conceitos no interior da obra foucaultiana, para, a seguir, apontarmos duas dessas contribuições teóricas que estão em curso neste início de século XXI e que dialogam diretamente com o pensamento foucaultiano: o conceito de paradigma imunitário, de Roberto Esposito, e o conceito de ética somática, de Nikolas Rose