Formal Reconstruction Research Articles

From the Ontology of Social Being to the Law’s Ontology

Social science reconstruction is needed to explain our vital social issues in a theoretical manner. Conceptual differentiations which have laid the foundations of our scientific thought since the era of classical German philosophy (such as phenomenon and essence, or form and content, taken in their duality and/or final synthesis), provide unchangedly the turning points for our methodical thinking and abstract intellectual processing, in variations corresponding to the philosophy and methodology of sciences we cultivate in renewed forms today. The posthumously published synthesising work of GEORGE LUKACS made it clear that all social descriptions have to reckon with socialisation [Sozialisierung/Vergesellschaftlichung] – and with mediation/mediatedness [Vermittlung] within the womb of it – as an unbreakably and irreversibly progressing process, capable of erecting, through their historical accumulations, networks that are complex in themselves. This is the environment that provides the medium within which objectification [Objektivation/Objektivierung] can at all emerge and may turn into an overwhelming power in society, and which can produce, in the course of its self-development, the potential and the social reality of reification [Verdinglichung] that can yet be accepted as functional in social workings, and of alienation [Entfremdung] which is already to be seen as dysfunctional. It is known from the time of MAINE’s inquiry into The Ancient Law one and a half centuries ago at the latest that various kinds of social formalism have already developed since the earliest social formations on, in order to transform human practices and uses more secure and foreseeable, like repetitions within a systemic framework, that is, in order to make them more economical. Social science now designates this trend as conventionalisation, and symbolises and analyses it within the frame and in terms of speech-act theory as its master example. Notwithstanding the fact that LUKACS did not enter any such field of research, it is by far not a mere chance that by investigating mediations taking place between the social total complex and its partial complexes, he emphasised language and law as basic agents of mediation, that is, as ones having the sole function to mediate amongst whatever complexes. Social practices and uses (presupposing co-operation – and thereby also intersubjectivity – by their nature) raise, unavoidably for their theoretical explanation, the question once formulated by classical English philosophising as the dilemma of the separation and/or unity of ‘body’ and ‘soul’. For considering either the formal reconstruction of language (as achieved by SAUSSURE) or the simultaneously differing aspects of law (as revealed by both the clash between KELSEN and EHRLICH in their search for the law’s final criterion and POUND’s sociologism making the distinction between ‘law in books’ and ‘law in action’), analysis needs the presumption of some construction or constructed structure, on the one hand, albeit it is widely known that actual operation will always break it through, on the other. Otherwise speaking, practical operation is a kind of reconventionalisation which is

Clean intermittent catheterization as an initial management strategy provides for adequate preservation of renal function in newborns with persistent cloaca

Clean intermittent catheterization as an initial management strategy provides for adequate preservation of renal function in newborns with persistent cloaca

Will the City Rise Again? The Contested Geography of Housing Reconstruction in Post-Disaster Haiti

This paper examines the contested geography of post-disaster housing reconstruction in Haiti. Drawing on interviews with representatives of 48 organizations, it identifies three spatial preferences regarding reconstruction: urban, non-urban, and mixed. Organizations favoring urban versus non-urban rebuilding differed markedly in their financial resources and voice. Many intergovernmental organizations and large international non-governmental organizations (NGOs)—the organizations that most favored non-urban rebuilding—held relatively anti-urban perspectives. Small international and Haitian NGOs were more likely to see Port-au-Prince as a suitable site for reconstruction and express positive opinions about urban conditions more generally. The findings indicate that much of the formal housing reconstruction effort, particularly as led by large, well-funded and politically powerful organizations, will be directed to the urban periphery and countryside. This suggests Port-au-Prince may continue to face the same challenges of unplanned growth that have led some organizations to find it an undesirable setting for reconstruction in the first place.

A Formal Reconstruction of Buridan's Modal Syllogism

In this paper, we provide a historical exposition of John Buridan's theory of divided modal propositions. We then develop a semantic interpretation of Buridan's theory which pays particular attention to Buridan's ampliation of modal terms. We show that these semantics correctly capture his syllogistic reasoning.

World spiritual search from antiquity to the age of romanticism

The article focuses on the analysis of modern literature appeal to the legendary - mythological material, which is believed to be a tentative to the formal reconstruction of the past. The object of the article consist in finding new attempts to live out the past, to comprehend it in a qualitatively new spiritual context, find new links between different eras, and to model variable ethical potential of social progress.

A non-monotonic intensional framework for framing effects

Expected Utility Theory (EUT) has anomalies when interpreted descriptively and tested empirically. Experiments show that the way in which options are formulated is, in most cases, relevant for decision-making. This kind of anomaly is directly related, however, not with a proper axiom of EUT but rather with the logical principle of extensionality and its decision theoretic version: the principle of invariance. This paper focuses on the phenomenon of framing effects (FE) and the associated failures of invariance. FE arise when different descriptions of the same object lead to different preferences, beliefs, or choices. A formal reconstruction of the Gain–Loss (G-L) frame is proposed, expanding the domain of standard decision theory to incorporate not only prospects but also descriptions of prospects. The system is extended by adding non-monotonic logical resources so as to account for the ceteris paribus character of FE. Finally, the same method is applied to sketching a formal representation for an anomalous case that involves subjective probabilities. The logical method is a general one that can be applied to most cases of FE. The philosophical consequences of the strategy pursued are also discussed.

Formal statement of the special principle of relativity

While there is a longstanding discussion about the interpretation of the extended, general principle of relativity, there seems to be a consensus that the special principle of relativity is absolutely clear and unproblematic. However, a closer look at the literature on relativistic physics reveals a more confusing picture. There is a huge variety of, sometimes metaphoric, formulations of the relativity principle, and there are different, sometimes controversial, views on its actual content. The aim of this paper is to develop a precise language in order to provide a precise formulation of the principle. In view of the fact that the special relativity principle is considered as a universal meta-law, which must be valid for all physical laws in all situations, we try to keep the formalism as general as possible. The benefit of the formal reconstruction is that it makes explicit all the necessary conceptual components of the principle; it brings out many subtle details and the related conceptual problems.

Reconstruction of segmental defects of Achilles tendon: Is it a must in infected complex defects?

Loss of Achilles tendon combined with overlying soft tissue loss is a challenging problem. Multiple techniques like tendon graft with coverage by soft tissue flap or composite flaps have been used. All these options are technically demanding. Reports do exist whereby muscle flaps bridging the defect used as cover in course of time could transmit the tendon force across the defect. We are presenting a case where a free gracilis muscle flap used to cover the soft tissue defect at the Achilles tendon at 2 years follow up provided stable cover and produced active function of the Achilles tendon allowing the patient to stand tip toe. Mechanism of its action has been analysed by MRI and M-mode ultrasound. While in primary Achilles tendon injury reconstruction is still the recommended option, in complex situations mere filling of the gap with the flap without formal reconstruction of the tendon could give good functional outcome. This technique can be used in demanding situations.

Reconstructing Popov v. Hayashi in a framework for argumentation with structured arguments and Dungean semantics

In this article the argumentation structure of the court's decision in the Popov v. Hayashi case is formalised in Prakken's (Argument Comput 1:93---124; 2010) abstract framework for argument-based inference with structured arguments. In this framework, arguments are inference trees formed by applying two kinds of inference rules, strict and defeasible rules. Arguments can be attacked in three ways: attacking a premise, attacking a conclusion and attacking an inference. To resolve such conflicts, preferences may be used, which leads to three corresponding kinds of defeat, after which Dung's (Artif Intell 77:321---357; 1995) abstract acceptability semantics can be used to evaluate the arguments. In the present paper the abstract framework is instantiated with strict inference rules corresponding to first-order logic and with defeasible inference rules for defeasible modus ponens and various argument schemes. The main techniques used in the formal reconstruction of the case are rule-exception structures and arguments about rule validity. Arguments about socio-legal values and the use of precedent cases are reduced to arguments about rule validity. The tree structure of arguments, with explicit subargument relations between arguments, is used to capture the dependency relations between the elements of the court's decision.

The Goldilocks mastectomy

The Goldilocks mastectomy

Accurate Discretization of Analog Audio Filters With Application to Parametric Equalizer Design

This paper is concerned with accurate discretization of linear analog filters such that the frequency response of the discrete time filter accurately matches that of the continuous time filter. The approach is based on formal reconstruction of the continuous time signal using Shannon's interpolation theorem and numerical solving of the differential equation corresponding to the analog filter. When the formal continuous time system is sampled, the resulting filter reduces to discrete linear filter, which can be realized either as a state space model or as an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter. The proposed methodology is applied to design of filters for parametric equalizers.

Formal reconstruction of attack scenarios in mobile ad hoc and sensor networks

Several techniques of theoretical digital investigation are presented in the literature but most of them are unsuitable to cope with attacks in wireless networks, especially in Mobile Ad hoc and Sensor Networks (MASNets). In this article, we propose a formal approach for digital investigation of security attacks in wireless networks. We provide a model for describing attack scenarios in a wireless environment, and system and network evidence generated consequently. The use of formal approaches is motivated by the need to avoid ad hoc generation of results that impedes the accuracy of analysis and integrity of investigation. We develop an inference system that integrates the two types of evidence, handles incompleteness and duplication of information in them, and allows possible and provable actions and attack scenarios to be generated. To illustrate the proposal, we consider a case study dealing with the investigation of a remote buffer overflow attack.

Reconstructive Options of Burn Injuries to the Hand and Upper Extremity

Reconstructive Options of Burn Injuries to the Hand and Upper Extremity

The treatment of severe open Pilon fractures

Objective To discuss the operative methods, timing and outcomes of severe open Pilon fractures. Methods From April 2003 to July 2008, 21 patients with open Pilon fractures were admitted. All the patients were type C fracture according to AO/OTA classification, including 17 cases of type C2 and 4 cases of type C3. According to Gustilo classification, there were 18 cases of type Ⅱ, 2 cases of type ⅢA, 1 case of type ⅢB. The patients were treated in two different ways: one-stage minimally invasive osteosynthesis for reconstruction of the articular surface with transarticular external fixation of the ankle (19 cases),which included 16 cases of Gustilo Ⅱ AO/OTA C2, 2 cases of type Gustilo Ⅱ AO/OTA C3 and 1 case of type Gustilo ⅢA AO/OTA C2. Formal open reconstruction of the articular surface by plating and external fixation was performed when the condition of soft tissue had improved (2 cases), which included 1 cases of type Gustilo ⅢA AO/OTA C3 and 1 cases of type Gustilo Ⅲ B AO/OTA C3. Results All the patients were followed up from 6 to 48 months, with the mean of 24 months. The outcome of reduction was evaluated by the Burwell-Charnley score. Anatomical reduction was found in 6 cases, function reduction was in 14 cases and poor reduction was 1 case. The heal-time ranged from 2.5 to 11 months, with the mean of 4.7 months. The delayed union occurred in 2 cases. The rate of delayed union was 9.5%. Two patients experienced skin superficial necrosis. There were superficial infection in 2 cases and deep infection in 1 case. The infection rate was 14.3%. Eight cases experienced early traumatic arthritis. The incidence of this complication was 38.1%.According to American Orthopedic Foot Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale for ankle joint, the result of the treatment was 66-94, with an average of 85.2. Conclusion It is important to have the optimal timing of surgery and reliable fixation according to fracture classification, the condition of soft tissue and time after injury. It is the key to evaluate the condition of soft tissue and protect the blood supply. Key words: Tibia; Fractures, open; Fracture fixation, internal; External fixators

How to become a yucca moth: minimal trait evolution needed to establish the obligate pollination mutualism

The origins of obligate pollination mutualisms, such as the classic yucca-yucca moth association, appear to require extensive trait evolution and specialization. To understand the extent to which traits truly evolved as part of establishing the mutualistic relationship, rather than being preadaptations, we used an expanded phylogenetic estimate with improved sampling of deeply-diverged groups to perform the first formal reconstruction of trait evolution in pollinating yucca moths and their non-pollinating relatives. Our analysis demonstrates that key life history traits of yucca moths, including larval feeding in the floral ovary and the associated specialized cutting ovipositor, as well as colonization of woody monocots in xeric habitats, may have been established before the obligate mutualism with yuccas. Given these preexisting traits, novel traits in the mutualist moths are limited to the active pollination behaviors and the tentacular appendages that facilitate pollen collection and deposition. These results suggest that a highly specialized obligate mutualism was built on the foundation of preexisting interactions between early Prodoxidae and their host plants, and arose with minimal trait evolution.

4 Nasal cosmesis following alveolar bone grafting in unilateral cleft patients

4 Nasal cosmesis following alveolar bone grafting in unilateral cleft patients

Secondary intention healing in lower eyelid reconstruction – a valuable treatment option

Secondary intention healing in lower eyelid reconstruction – a valuable treatment option

Tone, Syntax, and Prosodic Domains in Luganda

UC Berkeley Phonology Lab Annual Report (2010) Tone, Syntax, and Prosodic Domains in Luganda Larry M. Hyman University of California, Berkeley Francis X. Katamba University of Lancaster Presented at Paris Bantu Syntax-Phonology Workshop, Jan. 8-9, 2010. To appear in ZAS Papers in Linguistics, Berlin “The documentation of... descriptive generalizations is sometimes clearer and more accessible when expressed in terms of a detailed formal reconstruction, but only in the rare and happy case that the formalism fits the data so well that the resulting account is clearer and easier to understand than the list of categories of facts that it encodes.... [If not], subsequent scholars must often struggle to decode a description in an out-of-date formal framework so as to work back to... the facts.... which they can re-formalize in a new way. Having experienced this struggle often ourselves, we have decided to accommodate our successors by providing them directly with a plainer account.” (Akinlabi & Liberman 2000:24) Introduction Although the interaction between tone, syntax, and prosodic domains in Luganda has been well-worked, both by us and by others (see references), several colleagues have commented to us over the years how useful it would be if the essentials were all assembled in one place. This is our goal here. We begin by presenting an overview of the syntax-phonology interface in Luganda, synthesizing from our previous work. We then turn to relative and other subordinate clauses, where we address the questions of how the prosodic domains within them compare to those in main clauses and how they form prosodic domains with the constituents in a main clause. Our new observations will further confirm that the prosodic phonology of Luganda is among the most intricate and complex of any language. Since some of the facts do not directly fit into any preexisting formal theory of the syntax-phonology interface, we do as

Tone, syntax, and prosodic domains in Luganda

"The documentation of... descriptive generalizations is sometimes clearer and more accessible when expressed in terms of a detailed formal reconstruction, but only in the rare and happy case that the formalism fits the data so well that the resulting account is clearer and easier to understand than the list of categories of facts that it encodes.... [If not], subsequent scholars must often struggle to decode a description in an out-of-date formal framework so as to work back to... the facts.... which they can re-formalize in a new way. Having experienced this struggle often ourselves, we have decided to accommodate our successors by providing them directly with a plainer account." (Akinlabi & Liberman 2000:24)

Application of a Continent Fecal Reservoir in Patients With Cloacal Exstrophy

Application of a Continent Fecal Reservoir in Patients With Cloacal Exstrophy