Initial Presumption Research Articles

A threshold account of last resort in the ethics of war

This study aims to demonstrate the essential role that the condition of last resort plays in determining when waging war is exceptionally justified. In recent years, this condition has been criticised despite being considered an indispensable condition for just war. According to the commonly accepted Exhaustion View, the last resort occurs after all other options are exhausted. However, the categorical precedence of non-military measures may exacerbate the situation. In order to address this issue, this study presents an alternative Threshold View of last resort. According to this view, the last resort indicates when a certain threshold is crossed, and the initial presumption against war is overridden by more stringent justifications for waging war. By presenting and defending this view, this study addresses the various objections directed at the last resort condition without undermining the requirement of lastness embedded in it.

Improvements in longitudinal phase space tomography at PITZ

Methodical studies to improve the existing e-beam Longitudinal Phase Space (LPS) tomography were performed at the Photo Injector Test facility at DESY in Zeuthen. Proof-of-principle simulations were done to address some core concerns e.g. booster phase range, space charge effects and noisy artefacts in results. Phase advance analysis was done with the help of an analytical model that determined the booster phase range and step size. A slit was introduced before the booster to truncate the beam and reduce space charge forces. The reconstruction method adopted was image space reconstruction algorithm owing to its assurance of non-negative solution. An initial scientific presumption of LPS from low energy momentum measurements was established to reduce artefacts in the phase space. This paper will explain the proof-of-principle simulations highlighting the key aspects to obtain accurate results. Reconstructed LPS for different experimental cases will be presented to demonstrate the diagnostic capability.

Пифагорейский аргумент разумного замысла вселенной и его критика. Статья 1: Двойная структура пифагорейского аргумента

This article is first in a series of publications on the problem of a special character of fundamental physical laws, which combine two opposite qualities: they are complex enough to allow fine-tuning to life, yet simple enough to be discoverable by emerging intelligent life. In other words, the laws permit the emergence of not just living beings, but those capable of discovering these very laws. How could this be possible? Known laws can be looked at from both logical, objective, and historical, subjective, perspectives. On the one hand – the logical – the successes achieved by physics testify to the adequacy of physical theories, to their conformity to the fabric of the Universe itself. This conformity is fundamentally different from fitting complex formulas to facts, like those implemented by the algorithms of Ptolemy, Copernicus or artificial intelligence. Fits describe only what is already embedded in them, whereas physical theories allow to predict phenomena that have never been observed, often unbeknownst even to the authors of those theories. This predictive power stems from the same qualities as the ability to unambiguously falsify physical theories: the simplicity, universality, precision, and completeness of their mathematical principles. In addition to these qualities, and in addition to the fact that the fundamental physical laws possess numerous symmetries, invariants, and equivalences, they also permit that constructive richness of stable material configurations, that is chemistry, which is a necessary condition of life as we know it. Research of recent decades shows how finely tuned the physical constants are to meet this requirement: even small changes in their values would make chemistry impossible. What is the reason for these amazing Pythagorean qualities of the Universe? Purposeful design of this rational elegance of nature, that is, the intelligent design of the Universe, appears to be the only passable answer to this question, as we intend to demonstrate in this series of publications. On the other hand, the history of science testifies that the belief in the mathematical perfection of nature’s arrangement lies at the origin of modern physics, indicating both the possibility and, without exaggeration, the sacredness of cognition of the Universe. This belief is clearly visible in the worldview of the founders of mathematical physics, as a special, emotionally intense Pythagorean credo, a variant of Christian Platonism. The initial presumption of perfect design may not be recognized by the masses of scientists and philosophers who came later, and it may even be rejected by them verbally, but this does not cancel its status as the foundation of physics: there has been and is no other answer to the question of why the understanding of the Universe is possible and important for humanity. The justification of the assumption of intelligent design as the cause of such specific laws of nature, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, discerning and contemplating the meaning of the Pythagorean credo by granting it the status of a metaphysical working hypothesis, together form a dual objective-subjective logical structure, which the authors designate as the Pythagorean argument, as presented in this article.

Time-dependent creep analysis of ultra-high-temperature functionally graded rotating disks of variable thickness

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are high temperature-resistant materials that can simultaneously maintain metallic tenacity and anti-corrosive properties. Nevertheless, using FGMs during a multi-year service life at ultrahigh temperatures is crucial. Hence, the time-dependent creep response of variable-thickness rotating disks made of FGM is investigated. Four different disk profiles of linear, concave, convex, and uniform are considered. The material's creep properties are defined by the Bailey-Norton creep law. Loading is a rotation-based mechanical body force and a uniform temperature throughout the disk. Simultaneous solution of equilibrium, stress-strain, and strain-displacement equations yields a non-homogenous differential equation containing variable and time-dependent coefficients. In an attempt to optimize the computation cost, Bat and Fish algorithms were used to optimize the initial strain presumptions. Semi-analytical solution of this differential equation gives radial and circumferential stress histories and displacement histories. To confirm the solution method, initial thermo-elastic radial stress, and the effective stress history are validated with the existing literature; there is a good agreement between the results. In addition, the finite element software ABAQUS was used to model the FGM disk thermo-elastic behavior, and the result was compared with the semi-analytical solution results. This study emphasizes the significance of accounting for creep effects in the design of FGM rotating disks, as remarkable changes in their displacements and stresses occur over time. This study emphasizes the significance of accounting for creep effects in the design of FGM rotating disks, as notable changes in their displacements and stresses occur over time.

Bridging Feelings And Ventures: An Investigation Into The Mediating Role Of Entrepreneurial Behavior In Social Entrepreneurship

As global challenges intensify, social entrepreneurship—a unique blend of business and social problem-solving—becomes a beacon of innovation. Central to this fusion is empathy, the capacity to comprehend and share the feelings of others, which may profoundly impact one's social entrepreneurial intentions (SEI). This study scrutinized the intricate roles of entrepreneurial behavior (EB) in potentially amplifying or modulating this impact. Leveraging a stratified convenience sample, 393 students from a distinguished private, non-sectarian university provided insights via an online Google Forms survey. The data unraveled intriguing interplays: distinct components of empathy, especially emotional regulation, emerged as crucial drivers for SEI. Yet, their influence was most pronounced when mediated by EB. In particular, EB served as a bridge, fully channeling the effects of several empathy facets on SEI. On the other hand, despite initial presumptions, EB did not moderate the relationship, indicating that its role is more of a conduit than a modifier in the empathy-SEI nexus. This exploration sheds light on the multifaceted interrelationships between personal attributes and entrepreneurial intentions, offering valuable cues for educational institutions and entrepreneurship advocates.

There is no geophysical evidence for the Mahuika Crater on the continental shelf southwest of New Zealand

ABSTRACT This study examines new bathymetric and geophysical evidence that questions the existence of the Mahuika Crater: a proposed impact depression 20.2 km wide lying on the continental shelf ∼250 km SW of New Zealand. Multibeam echo sounder and sub-bottom profiler data across the published location of the crater were collected and synthesised with existing bathymetric data for the wider region to assess the validity of such a claim. We conclude that there is no geophysical basis for the existence for the Mahuika impact crater in the region, the initial presumption of a crater was unsubstantiated, and is a myth propagated in the literature.

Понятие государства в философско-политических концепциях Сергея Гессена и Ивана Ильина («Правовой социализм» vs. «правовой консерватизм»)

The article is devoted to the comparative analysis of the interpretations of the state presented in the works of Sergei Gessen and Ivan Ilyin, two Russian philosophers of the first half of the 20th century. The article demonstrates that the similarity between these interpretations lies primarily in the rejection of legal nihilism and legal positivism. Both philosophers distanced themselves from the mechanistic view of society and the state, which is germane to classical liberalism, and defended the principle of the sovereignty of law in public life. Differences in the understanding of the essence of the state by Gessen and Ilyin are caused by the discrepancy between the initial axiological, worldview, philosophical, and methodological presumptions. Conceptually, Ilyin compares the state to an integral spiritual organism, while for Gessen the state is nothing more than the highest coordinating body in the system of public life. According to Ilyin, the state performs a dual function: it ensures the spiritual unity of the people and protects the spiritual autonomy of an individual. Gessen, for his part, sees the main task of the state in protecting the “impenetrability” of an individual and asserting her supra-legal status. The interpretation of the relationship between the state and law proposed by Ilyin is monistic: “law and order” equal to the “state law and order”. Gessen’s concept of “legal socialism” is pluralistic: the state legal order coexists with non-state (social) legal orders that emerge in various communities, while state power loses its role as the only source of positive legal norms.

A case for the provision of assisted dying in prisons founded on the right to self-determination: Creating equivalence between prisoners and non-prisoners?

This article makes the case for the provision of access to assisted death in prisons, founded on the right to self-determination under Article 8(1) ECHR, in order to create equivalence between prisoners and non-prisoners. It considers possible State justifications for interferences with the right under Article 8(2) and whether they would meet the Convention standards of legality and proportionality. In relation to proportionality, it is argued that the foundational basis for restrictions on assisted dying imposed on both the general and prison populations derives from the concept of human dignity, a concept which is also fundamental to prisoners’ rights. Under the banner of proportionality, from an initial presumption of equivalence of access to assisted dying, the article identifies certain conditions inherent in the prison situation that inevitably oppose human dignity and which provide a plausible basis for divergence. Ultimately, it is concluded that an absolute bar on provision of access to assisted dying in prisons cannot be justified, but that the factors that undermine dignity in prison could justify a degree of divergence from creation of equivalence between the prison and the non-prison populations in terms of such access.

Radiative flow of magnetic nanofluids over a moving surface with convective boundary condition

The influence of convective boundary conditions and heat radiation on magnetic nanofluids (MNFs) flowing through a permeable moving plate is investigated numerically in this study. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using suitable similarity variables. The ODEs are solved by implementing the built-in solver in Matlab called bvp4c. The stability analysis has supported our initial presumption that only the first solution is stable. The thermal performance between cobalt ferrite nanofluid and manganese-zinc ferrite nanofluid is compared, and it appears that cobalt ferrite nanofluid has a slightly better performance in heat transportation compared to manganese-zinc ferrite nanofluid. We also considered a higher amount of thermal radiation and Biot number to scrutinize the heat transfer performance of MNF, and we found out that a greater amount of these parameters are effective in improving the heat transfer rate.

A decomposition of the total productivity factor into technical progress and technological efficiency – methodological possibilities

Total productivity as the basis for measuring economic efficiency is the initial presumption of this paper, and it is derived from the fact that it has a multiple importance of growing productivity, as an expression of production efficiency. The complex phenomenon of total productivity of factors is sometimes approached too simplistically, and even incorrectly. Productivity is treated as an isolated phenomenon, regardless of the numerous and various factors that condition it and the effects it has on other economic categories. The basis of the theoretical-methodological approach proposed in this paper, was the transcendental logarithmic production function (translog), as a clear interdependence between the maximum output vector and the production factor vector. The paper discusses the methodological basis for decomposition of total productivity growth on technical progress and technological efficiency, and a specification of the deterministic marginal production function. Adequate decomposition enables the more precise identification of the causes of lags in productivity growth. The results of the empirical analysis, through appropriate categorisation, are useful in conducting economic policy because they indicate the direction of activities with the aim of increasing total productivity.

Идеология в эпоху «цинического разума» (Трактовка идеологии в работах Славоя Жижека)

The article is devoted to the critical analysis of the concept of ideology developed by Slavoj Žižek, the modern Slovenian philosopher. The author reveals the possibilities and limitations of Žižek’s approach to understanding the phenomenon of ideology and considers the initial presumptions and methodological assumptions that this approach is based upon. The article shows that despite the indisputable originality, Žižek’s theory is not devoid of contradictions, and the interpretation of ideology as an illusion and mystification, which is justified within the framework of Marxist political philosophy, loses its foundations in the context of the post-structuralist methodology. According to I.Demin’s conclusion, Žižek’s philosophical and political thinking falls prey to the scheme that Peter Sloterdijk defined as “mutual tracking of ideologies”. Criticism of ideology here implies criticism of one ideo logy from the standpoint of another, or criticism of “bad” ideology from the standpoint of “good” ideology. The “criticizing” ideology is not clearly articulated, but implicitly assumed. The fact that the “critic” of ideology prefers not to reveal his own bias constitutes an integral part of the strategy of ideological criticism, as opposed to scientific criticism. Ideology as the principle that structures social reality obtains an allencompassing character in Žižek’s interpretation, since it underlies all human actions and human thinking. However, if there is no way to separate ideology from scientific knowledge, to distinguish between ideology, philosophy and religion, it turns out that ideology is everything and nothing at the same time. With this interpretation, “ideology” becomes an unoperationalizable concept for Social and Political Sciences, and therefore useless. At the same time, a number of the provisions formulated by Žižek (on ideological “fastening”, on the role of the enemy figure in the ideological discourse, etc.) may be in high demand in the course of developing an adequate methodological strate gy for studying the phenomenon of ideology, which distances itself from both “naïve” objectivist doctrines and the extremes of the political anti-essentialism and anti-universalism.

AACE2021-A-1082: Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Case Report of Management with Extra Ordinary Low Dose of Cinacalcet in an Elderly Male

Primary Hyperparathyroidism is a common cause of Hypercalcemia and is often seen in endocrine clinics. Majority of patients are found to have solitary parathyroid adenomas which may be associated with other endocrine problems. Common systemic complications are secondary osteoporosis, renal stones, pancreatitis and peptic ulcers. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for correction of pathology, however patients who do not meet the criteria or in whom surgery is contraindicated are managed conservatively and with calcimimetic agents such as cinacalcet. Case report and literature review. We are reporting a case of a 73 years old male who was referred to the endocrine clinic for work up of hypercalcemia. His past medical history was significant for well controlled Type 2 Diabetes and Hypertension. During his work up, he was found to have elevated serum calcium of 11.7 mg/dl, elevated serum PTH of 767 ng/L and 24 hours urinary calcium excretion of 446 mg/dl. Renal functions and 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels were within normal limits and the ultrasound and DEXA scan were negative for presence of any renal stone or osteoporosis. His two elder brothers also had a history of parathyroidectomy. He was reluctant for surgery and therefore imaging for the neck was also omitted. He was started on cinacalcet 15 mg/ day with an initial presumption of increase in dose requirement afterwards. However his serum calcium levels showed a remarked improvement and within one month they dropped to 9.9 mg/dl. The second subsequent test showed a serum calcium of 8.9 mg/dl after which the dose was reduced to 15 mg every alternate day. A presumption of tumor necrosis was made but the calcium levels rose higher on stopping cinacalcet and again went back to normal on the extra ordinary low dose of 15 mg every alternate day. His 3 years follow up to our clinic on this maintenance dose has shown steady calcium levels, improvements in serum PTH with fluctuations between 260 – 380 ng/L and no subsequent complication. Primary Hyperparathyrodism is a common cause of hypercalcemia which if left untreated can have serious systemic complications. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment but in patients not meeting the criteria or in whom surgery is contraindicated, medical therapy is an option which includes dietary measures, bisphosphonates and calcimimetics like cinacalcet. The usual dose of cinacalcet is between 30 – 90 mg/day. Our case represents an unusual story of improvement on a very low dose of calcimimetic. More cases need to be evaluated and tested on low dose and may-be we can have a change in the recommendations in future.

EU framework programmes: positive and negative effects on member states' innovation performance

Research background: Seeking to ensure competitiveness in the global market, the EU is constantly improving its innovation policy. Compared to other EU initiatives, the Framework Programs for Research and Innovation (FPs) act as the main instrument with the longest history and the largest budget to boost member states' innovation performance. Despite the initial presumptions that these financial inflows should bring positive and constructive effects, the results significantly diverge across the countries with highly uneven and incoherent progress. Therefore, complex and reliable tools must be adopted to evaluate the long-term influence of EU investment and the reasons which distort the innovation performance in separate member states.
 Purpose of the article: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the influence of EU investment on its member states? innovation performance by using a redeveloped national innovative capacity framework and including technological, non-technological and commercial innovative output.
 Methods: Panel unit root tests were used to assess the time series stationarity. Autoregressive distributed lag models helped in calculating the long-term influence of EU investment on member states? innovation performance. Finally, by employing dummies, it was analysed how this influence varied over time and across different countries.
 Findings & value added: The findings provide evidence that EU investment exerts positive long-term influence on the technological innovative output proxied as total, business and higher education institutions? patent applications, as well as product and process innovations. The effects were also positive on trademarks and marketing, and organisational innovations. However, small but negative influence was found in the case of patent applications by the government sector and the exports of hi-tech products and knowledge-intensive services. These insights may serve in the designing process of the specific instruments and the future innovation policies, which would bring the maximum benefit for the society and economy.

Wavelet-Based Numerical Solution for MHD Boundary-Layer Flow Due to Stretching Sheet

In this paper, a two-dimensional steady flow of a viscous fluid due to a stretching sheet in the presence of a magnetic field is considered. We proposed two new numerical schemes based on the Haar wavelet coupled with a collocation approach and quasi-linearization process for solving the Falkner-Skan equation representing the governing problem. The important derived quantities representing the fluid velocity and wall shear stress for various values of flow parameters <i>M</i> and β are calculated. The proposed methods enable us to obtain the solutions even for negative β, nonlinear stretching parameter, and smaller values of the magnetic parameter (<i>M</i> < <i>1</i>) which was missing in the earlier findings. Numerical and graphical results obtained show an excellent agreement with the available findings and demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the developed schemes. Another significant advantage of the present method is that it does not depends on small parameters and initial presumptions unlike in traditional semi-analytical and numerical methods.

Are Jurors Intuitive Statisticians? Bayesian Causal Reasoning in Legal Contexts.

In criminal trials, evidence often involves a degree of uncertainty and decision-making includes moving from the initial presumption of innocence to inference about guilt based on that evidence. The jurors’ ability to combine evidence and make accurate intuitive probabilistic judgments underpins this process. Previous research has shown that errors in probabilistic reasoning can be explained by a misalignment of the evidence presented with the intuitive causal models that people construct. This has been explored in abstract and context-free situations. However, less is known about how people interpret evidence in context-rich situations such as legal cases. The present study examined participants’ intuitive probabilistic reasoning in legal contexts and assessed how people’s causal models underlie the process of belief updating in the light of new evidence. The study assessed whether participants update beliefs in line with Bayesian norms and if errors in belief updating can be explained by the causal structures underpinning the evidence integration process. The study was based on a recent case in England where a couple was accused of intentionally harming their baby but was eventually exonerated because the child’s symptoms were found to be caused by a rare blood disorder. Participants were presented with a range of evidence, one piece at a time, including physical evidence and reports from experts. Participants made probability judgments about the abuse and disorder as causes of the child’s symptoms. Subjective probability judgments were compared against Bayesian norms. The causal models constructed by participants were also elicited. Results showed that overall participants revised their beliefs appropriately in the right direction based on evidence. However, this revision was done without exact Bayesian computation and errors were observed in estimating the weight of evidence. Errors in probabilistic judgments were partly accounted for, by differences in the causal models representing the evidence. Our findings suggest that understanding causal models that guide people’s judgments may help shed light on errors made in evidence integration and potentially identify ways to address accuracy in judgment.

THE USE OF MODAL VERBS IN ENGLISH LEGAL TEXTS AND THEIR SERBIAN EQUIVALENTS

The aim of this paper is to examine and describe similarities and differences in the use and distribution of modal verbs by contrasting English and Serbian legal texts. The corpus consists of an English version of The Convention on the Rights of the Child and its official Serbian translation. We started from an assumption that modal verbs are more frequent in legal texts in English than in Serbian, where we expected to find examples of lexical items with modal meanings instead. In addition, we assumed that due to its specific use in legal texts of this kind, the English modal ‘shall’ will show the highest frequency of occurrence. A total of one hundred and twenty six (126) modal verbs and a semi-modal ‘need not’ were found in the source text. The results of the analysis support the initial presumption that ‘shall’ will stand out as the most frequent of all modal verbs (60% of all occurrences). Despite the high occurrence rate of the legalistic ‘shall’ in the source text, translation solutions in the target language only rarely take the form of the modal verb. Most often deontic notions of imperative directness and necessity in Serbian legislative writings are expressed by means of the present indicative. The analysis also indicates that translation solutions for the remaining English modal verbs most often take the form of a modal verb or a modal lexeme with a corresponding meaning in Serbian.

Presumptions, and How They Relate to Arguments from Ignorance

By explaining the argument from ignorance in terms of the presumption of innocence, many textbooks in argumentation theory suggest that some arguments from ignorance might share essential features with some types of presumptive reasoning. The stronger version of this view, suggesting that arguments from ignorance and presumptive reasoning are almost indistinguishable, is occasionally proposed by Douglas Walton. This paper explores the nature and limits of the stronger proposal and argues that initial presumptions and arguments from ignorance are not closely connected. There are three main reasons. First, the argument from ignorance, unlike typical presumptive reasoning, is a negative kind of inference. Second, the typical initial presumption is sensitive to a broader set of defeaters and thus assumes a higher (negative) standard of acceptability. Third, in dialectical terms, initial presumption and argument from ignorance bring different attacking rights and obligations. I conclude that Waltonian intuition is unsupported or, at best, is limited only to practical presumptions and practical arguments from ignorance.

Kecerdasan Emosional dan Kualitas Hubungan Persahabatan

This study aimed to determine whether there are any correlation between emotional intelligence and the quality of friendship relations in adolescence. The initial presumption put forward in this study is there is a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and the quality of friendship relations in adolescence. This study tooks 162 high school students aged 15-17 years. Two scales used in this study are Emotional Intelligence Scale and Friendship Relations Quality. Data analysis method used in this study is Pearson product moment correlation analysis using computer program SPSS. The result indicate r = 0,532 and p = 0.000 or p < 0.01. This result shows that the initial presumption of this study is accepted, which means there is a positive correlation between emotional intelligence and the quality of friendship relations in adolescence with social skills as the most influential aspect to the quality of friendship relations.

Tolerance, toxicity and transport of Cd and Zn in Populus trichocarpa

Metal inputs to terrestrial ecosystems are of great concern due their toxicity to biota, especially for elements with no biological function such as cadmium. Fast-growing trees such as poplars may have potential in phytoremediation schemes. We assessed accumulation, metal partitioning, gene expression (Pt-HMA4) and overall tolerance to, and interaction between, cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) in Populus trichocarpa ‘Trichobel’. We predicted that Zn would have an antagonistic effect in Cd accumulation and anticipated some level of tolerance to these metals. Poplars were grown in sandy substrate under different metal applications, ranging from 1 to 243 mg kg−1 Cd; or 30 to 7290 mg kg−1 Zn; and also two combined treatments: 27 mg kg−1 Cd with 90 or 270 mg kg−1 Zn. Growth parameters and metal contents in shoots and roots were determined. Transcriptional levels of the Pt-HMA4 gene were assessed in roots and leaves. P. trichocarpa showed a surprisingly high tolerance to Cd, with root biomass being affected only at the highest doses applied. Metals accumulated mainly in roots (up to 6537 mg kg−1 Cd and 21,500 mg kg-1 Zn), root-to-shoot translocation peaked at the 9 mg kg−1 dose for Cd (41%) and 90 mg kg−1 for Zn (40%). At high Cd/Zn applications, expression of Pt-HMA4 in roots decreased significantly. Contrary to the initial presumption, Zn addition increased Cd uptake, reaching hyperaccumulator-like concentrations in shoots (≥100 mg kg−1 Cd). Differential root-to-shoot partitioning has a major role in Cd tolerance in P. trichocarpa; partly by down-regulating the Pt-HMA4 gene in roots. Zn addition promoted high Cd uptake without any detriment to plant growth. P. trichocarpa was tolerant to extreme Cd concentrations, offering a great potential to be used in phytoremediation techniques for stabilization/extraction of Cd from soils contaminated by both Cd and Zn.

Archaeometry at the PGAA facility of MLZ – Prompt gamma-ray neutron activation analysis and neutron tomography

Instrumental neutron techniques such as Prompt Gamma-ray Activation Analysis and Neutron Tomography and their combination, are effective methods to obtain chemical compositions with good detection limits and visualize internal structures within a sample. As non-destructive analysis methods, they are especially suitable for the investigation of cultural heritage objects and are therefore attractive for the field of archaeometry. This article reports on the investigation of two ring-like Celtic burial gifts from the Bavarian region using these methods. In contrast to our initial presumption, the two rings were not made in the same way. Our results clearly show completely different compositions and internal structures.