Conventional Interpretation Research Articles

ECtHR: Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland (Application No. 53600/20, 9 April 2024)

The present paper focuses on the analysis of the landmark decision of the European Court of Human Rights in which the Court has, for the first time, ruled on human rights violation due to climate change. It begins with the description of the convention as a so-called living instrument that aims at the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights taking into account the current social circumstances and challenges, such as the growing need for environmental protection and addressing climate change. In the judgment in question, the Court held that Switzerland had violated the applicant's rights due to insufficient legislative measures to protect individuals from the adverse effects of climate change. As a result of the long-awaited but unconventional conclusion, the judgment has become the target of much criticism. The paper thus concentrates on the main seemingly innovative or rather surprising pillars of the judgment, such as the court's determination of locus standi, the scope of a state's positive obligations in the context of climate change and its related margin of appreciation, as well as the unprecedented consideration of scientific evidence. The paper concludes by summarising the possible implications of the court's arguments for similar future cases, which will undoubtedly increase in number.

Zjednodušující předpoklady v nekauzálních vysvětleních

Scientific knowledge relies heavily on models, shaped by simplifying assumptions, with common categories being abstraction and idealization. This article aims to expose conceptual challenges inherent in conventional interpretations of these concepts, particularly in their practical application to scientific modeling. The primary hurdle emerges in applying these categories to real­world instances of scientific modeling, which we illustrate with examples of non­causal explanations. Key issues revolve around (i) the ambiguous distinction between abstraction and idealization and (ii) the application of the simplifying assumption of abstraction. Our hypothesis posits that non­causal explanations face unintelligibility due to an unclear understanding of the role of simplifying assumptions in them. To test this, we analyze selected examples, ranging from (toy­)examples to real­world instances, scrutinizing the alignment with the standard notions of abstraction and idealization. Throughout, we investigate the influence of simplifying assumptions on these explanations, assessing their adherence or deviation from conventional concepts.

Do Specific Ion Effects on Collective Relaxation Arise from Perturbation of Hydrogen-Bonding Network Structure?

The change in the transport properties (i.e., water diffusivity, shear viscosity, etc.) when adding salts to water has been used to classify ions as either being chaotropic or kosmotropic, a terminology based on the presumption that this phenomenon arises from respective breakdown or enhancement of the hydrogen-bonding network structure. Recent quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements of the collective structural relaxation time, τC, in aqueous salt solutions were interpreted as confirming this proposed origin of ion effects on the dynamics of water. However, we find similar changes in τC in the same salt solutions based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using a coarse-grained water model in which no hydrogen bonding exists, challenging this conventional interpretation of mobility change resulting from the addition of salts to water. A thorough understanding of specific ion effects should be useful in diverse material manufacturing and biomedical applications, where these effects are prevalent, but poorly understood.

Understanding the role of local stories in living archaeological heritage sites: the case of Stratonikeia

ABSTRACT Considering experience and memory as inseparable aspects of any place, understanding place attachment through narrative form may provide insight into more diverse perspectives of the values and motives of stakeholders undertaking the conservation of archaeological sites as heritage sites. This study empirically evaluates the ways in which we may understand local people’s place attachment and how that can affect the interpretation and presentation of archaeological heritage sites. The study aimed to analyse the interaction between local people and visitors through storytelling. The investigation focused on Stratonikeia, an archaeological heritage site in the southwest of Turkey, which has the character of a ‘living archaeological heritage site’ having been continually occupied since the Bronze Age. The research methodology of the study involves three phases: oral history, storytelling, and survey. The study’s results demonstrate how local stories can influence visitors’ understanding of the social aspects of a heritage site, facilitating a deeper and more dynamic understanding of the site as a living entity within its historical and contemporary contexts. Incorporating storytelling as a means of exploring the social dimension of heritage sites offers an alternative perspective that enhances the comprehensive understanding of these sites, supplementing their conventional material-based interpretations and presentations.

Right to Freedom of Religion: Dynamics of Conceptual Evolution

This article analyzes the dynamics of the content of the freedom of religion aiming to reflect the transformation of the right to freedom of religion in historical perspective and forming generalized models of such content, as well as prognosing the prospects for further dynamics of these changes. The relevance of the study is justified by several factors. Firstly, the issue of exercising the right to freedom of religion is urgent in the context of the growing number of followers of various religions, as well as the use of religious narratives for political purposes. Secondly, contemporary factors shaping post-secular society (diversification of attitudes towards religion and types of religiosity) contribute to the erosion of the classical definition of the subject of freedom of religion. Thirdly, forecasting the further development of freedom of religion requires an analysis of its formation and historical transformations, which remains insufficiently studied in domestic doctrine. The article argues that the content (subject) of freedom of religion (especially within the European tradition of understanding it) has undergone significant changes, influencing the concepts and scope of state-confessional interaction, as well as the principles of defining relevant norms. Therefore, it is necessary, having examined individual epochs of the formation of freedom of religion, to identify its general meaning and development trends. Such research is conducted based on historical-legal sources and doctrinal knowledge. It is argued that the historical development of freedom of religion demonstrates its dynamic evolution and the acquisition of an increasingly broader scope. The ancient vision of freedom of religion is characterized by the assertion of adherence to one of the alternative cults (territorially defined) as a legal duty. However, the common background (principle) of all cults does not allow for choice and thus leads to the implicit leveling of the significance of freedom of religion. In medieval law, freedom of religion is explicitly leveled; adherence to a single cult is affirmed as a legal duty (reception of obligation with denial of alternative compared to antiquity). Actual freedom of religion emerges in modern times as the ability of individuals to choose and change beliefs freely and to freely practice their religion. This process is accompanied by the formation of a secular state. Partial freedom of religion, based on limited state-sanctioned choice, later transforms into full freedom with unrestricted free choice. Such a concept prevails in international law and national legislation currently. Further development of freedom of religion is possible in the context of challenges of post-secular society, including diversification of attitudes towards religion and types of religiosity, as well as the spread of a worldview based on non-religious faith. This concept has now seen the most development in the practice of interpretation and application of the European Convention on Human Rights, as set out in the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. This practice requires detailed study in further research.

Integration of deep-learning fault segmentation, horizontal transverse isotropy analysis, and ambient microseismic methods to enhance fracture prediction in the Crisol Anticline, Colombia

The analysis of fault and fracture systems in the subsurface is crucial for identifying potential reservoirs and optimizing production. However, conventional fault interpretation methods have limitations due to the complexity and amount of data involved. In this study, a multimethod approach was used to analyze fault and fracture systems in the Crisol area of the Valley Middle Magdalena basin. We used deep-learning fault segmentation, horizontal transverse isotropy (HTI), and ambient microseismic methods to identify and characterize fault and fracture systems in the study area. The deep-learning fault segmentation method helped to identify complex fault systems, whereas the HTI method identified areas and orientations of intense fracturing that occurred at any prior period of stress in geologic time. Meanwhile, the ambient microseismic method measured active rock movements and fracturing in the subsurface that occurred during the microseismic trace recording. The application of multiple methods for analyzing fault and fracture systems in the subsurface is demonstrated to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the geology and enhance the accuracy of well placement and production forecasts.

Early Detection of Breast Cancer using Deep Learning in Mammograms

Breast cancer still poses a serious threat to world health, needing creative approaches to early identification in order to improve patient outcomes. This study investigates the potential of deep learning methods to improve the precision and effectiveness of mammography interpretation for the identification of breast cancer. In this paper proposed, a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture, ResNet50, is created and trained on a sizable data set of annotated mammograms. The CNN is made to automatically identify and extract pertinent elements, such as microcalcifications, masses, and architectural distortions,that may be symptomatic of possible cancers. The model develops the ability to distinguish between benign and malignant instances through an iterative process of training and validation, finally displaying a high level of discriminatory accuracy. The paper findings show that the deep learning model outperforms conventional mammography interpretations in terms of sensitivity and specificity for detecting breast cancer. Furthermore, the model's potential for use in actual clinical settings is highlighted by its generalizability across a range of patient demographics and imaging technologies.This study represents a big step in improving radiologists' capacity for breast cancer early detection. Our deep learning-based architecture has promise for improving the screening procedure and potentially decreasing the difficulties brought on by radiologist shortages by lowering false positives, improving accuracy, and offering quick analysis. By utilising cutting-edge technology to enable prompt and efficient detection, this study contributes to continuing efforts by the international healthcare community to improve breast cancer outcomes.

MICHEL MAFFESOLI: BETWEEN CIVILIZATIONAL CRISIS AND SOFT TOTALITARIANISM, A LOOK AT TODAY'S FRANCE, BOTH CONFLICTUAL AND COMMUNITARIAN

Sociologist, Professor, and, among other positions, holder of the “Emile Durkheim” chair at the Sorbonne, and director of the Center for Research on the Imaginary, Michel Maffesoli is an essential personality in the French academic-media landscape. Although he is often contested as a scientist, he nonetheless remains an enlightened observer of postmodernity and his socio-political analyzes on various themes linked to societal developments remain references with strong prophetic value, whatever his detractors may say. In his essay The era of uprisings (Maffesoli, 2021), he is a critical observer of the growing divorce between political-media elites and French citizens which is manifested by the multiplication of protest movements. This thesis leads us to go beyond conventional interpretations of poverty or inequalities in order to understand the extent of the civilizational crisis we are experiencing and the transition to after-modernity. The latter serves as a preamble to a denunciation of ‘soft totalitarianism’ and the rejection of human finitude which are rampant today in France since the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, and perhaps paradoxically, it fuels ‘the trial of utopian imagination’ (Wunenburger, 1978) while calling for the revival of a revolutionary spirit. This review essay aims at 1) putting the author's arguments into perspective with previous but also current works in order to gain impartiality, and 2) comparing the achievements of the work with socio-political aspects touched upon or even ignored, this which makes it possible to extend the political and social scope of the analysis.

Network dynamics of civil society: a longitudinal study in Malaysia amidst changing political opportunity structures

Abstract This article explores the role of macro-level factors, specifically political opportunity structures (POS), in shaping interorganizational network tie formation and persistence. Grounded in the POS literature and the multitheoretical multilevel (MTML) framework—specifically using the theories of resource dependency and collective action—we examine how changes in POS are associated with network structures in Malaysian civil society. Data were collected in two phases, reflecting different political contexts. Although the network never evolved into a decentralized or centralized structure, the most central organizations remained consistent and seemed to have been active in bringing others closer to reconfigure toward a more cohesive structure as the POS became more closed. This research contributes to communication network theory by demonstrating how incorporating exogenous environmental factors like POS can advance theory. It offers new insights into operationalizing POS within network analysis and challenges conventional interpretations of centralization in interorganizational relationships.

Meta-Analysis of Optical Surrogates for the Characterization of Dissolved Organic Matter.

Optical surrogates, derived from absorbance and fluorescence spectra, are widely used to infer dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition (molecular weight, aromaticity) and genesis (autochthonous vs allochthonous). Despite the broad adoption of optical surrogates, several limitations exist, such as context- and sample-specific factors. These limitations create uncertainty about how compositional interpretations based on optical surrogates are generalized across contexts, specifically if there is duplicative or contradictory information in those interpretations. To explore these limitations, we performed a meta-analysis of optical surrogates for DOM from diverse sources, both from natural systems and after water treatment processes (n = 762). Prior to analysis, data were screened using a newly developed, standardized methodology that applies systematic quality control criteria before reporting surrogates. There was substantial overlap in surrogate values from natural and treated samples, suggesting that the gradients governing the surrogate variability can be generated in both contexts. This overlap provides justification for using optical surrogates originally developed in the context of natural systems to describe DOM changes in engineered systems, although the interpretations may change. Absorbance-based surrogates that describe the amount of spectral tailing (e.g., E2:E3 and S275-295) had a high frequency of strong correlations with one another but not to specific absorbance (SUVA254) or absorbance slope ratio (SR). The fluorescence index (FI) and biological index (β/α) were strongly correlated with one another and to the peak emission wavelength but not to the humification index (HIX). Although SUVA254 and FI have both been correlated to DOM aromaticity in prior research, there was a lack of reciprocity between these optical surrogates across this data set. Additionally, there were patterns of deviations in the wastewater subset, suggesting that effluent organic matter may not follow conventional interpretations, urging caution in the use of optical surrogates to track DOM in water reuse applications. Finally, the meta-analysis highlights that three aspects should be captured when optical spectra are used for DOM interpretation: specific absorbance, absorbance tailing, and the extent of red-shifted fluorescence. We recommend that SUVA254, E2:E3, and FI or β/α be prioritized in future DOM studies to capture these aspects, respectively.

Reevaluating Cosmic Origins: A Critical Analysis of Relic Radiation and Cosmometric Assumptions in Big Bang Cosmology

This article presents a critical examination of two key aspects of Big Bang cosmology: the nature and observability of cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation and geometric inconsistencies or “cosmometric contradictions” within established approaches to cosmology. By dissecting the conventional interpretation of the CMB as relic radiation from a primordial fireball, we uncover that the standard model’s reliance on a spatially homogeneous fluid to represent radiation and matter underestimates the propagation of radiation and leads to the conclusion that the observability of the CMB contradicts its purported origins. Treating free radiation as if it expanded with the universe while disregarding that it escapes from its source at the speed of light is termed here as the “relic radiation blunder”. Furthermore, we delve into the cosmometric contradiction, highlighting how the calculated distances in standard cosmology imply a universe that exceeds the spatial limitations of its own foundational premise. This makes it evident that standard cosmology is not a unitary theory but involves models with conflicting spatial extensions. The analysis suggests a need for a revised understanding of redshift phenomena and cosmic expansion. It advocates for a reassessment of the underpinnings of cosmology, urging the scientific community to consider alternative frameworks that reconcile these critical inconsistencies. This work challenges the inviolable core of established cosmological theory, calling for a paradigm shift to foster foundational advances in our understanding of the universe.

Symmetries and covering maps for the minimal tension string on AdS3× S3× T4

This paper considers a recently-proposed string theory on AdS3 × S3 × T4 with one unit of NS-NS flux (k = 1). We discuss interpretations of the target space, including connections to twistor geometry and a more conventional spacetime interpretation via the Wakimoto representation. We propose an alternative perspective on the role of the Wakimoto formalism in the k = 1 string, for which no large radius limit is required by the inclusion of extra operator insertions in the path integral. This provides an exact Wakimoto description of the worldsheet CFT. We also discuss an additional local worldsheet symmetry, Q(z), that emerges when k = 1 and show that this symmetry plays an important role in the localisation of the path integral to a sum over covering maps. We demonstrate the emergence of a rigid worldsheet translation symmetry in the radial direction of the AdS3, for which again the presence of Q(z) is crucial. We conjecture that this radial symmetry plays a key role in understanding, in the case of the k = 1 string, the encoding of the bulk physics on the two-dimensional boundary.

The Altruism Requirement as Moral Fiction.

It is widely agreed that living kidney donation is permitted but living kidney sales are not. Call this the Received View. One way to support the Received View is to appeal to a particular understanding of the conditions under which living kidney transplantation is permissible. It is often claimed that donors must act altruistically, without the expectation of payment and for the sake of another. Call this the Altruism Requirement. On the conventional interpretation, the Altruism Requirement is a moral fact. It states a legitimate constraint on permissible transplantation and is accepted on the basis of cogent argument. The present paper offers an alternative interpretation. I suggest the Altruism Requirement is a moral fiction-a kind of motivated falsehood. It is false that transplantation requires altruism. But the Requirement serves a purpose. Accepting it allows kidney donation but not kidney sale. It, in short, rationalizes the Received View.

A Computational Platform for Automatic Signal Processing for Bender Element Sensors

The small strain shear modulus is an important characteristic of geomaterials that can be measured experimentally using piezoelectric sensors (bender elements). However, most conventional signal interpretation techniques are based on the visual observation of the output signal and therefore inherently subjective. Objective techniques also exist, like the cross-correlation of the input and output signals, but they lack physical insight, as they rely on the (incorrect) assumption that input and output signals are similar. This paper presents GeoHyTE, the first objective and physically consistent toolbox for the automatic processing of the output signal of bender element sensors. GeoHyTE updates a finite element model of the experiment, iteratively searching for the small strain shear modulus that maximises the correlation between the experimental and numerical output signals. The method is objective, as the results do not depend on the experience of the user, and physically consistent, as the wave propagation process is modelled in full and signals of the same nature (output) are correlated. Moreover, GeoHyTE is nearly insensitive to grossly erroneous input by the user, both in terms of the starting point of the iterative maximisation process and refinement of the finite element model. The results obtained with GeoHyTE are validated against benchmark measurements reported in the literature and experimental data obtained by the authors. A detailed statistical analysis of the results obtained with GeoHyTE and conventional interpretation techniques is also presented.

Metodología para la interpretación constitucional desde el modelo de la justicia electoral mexicana

The article aims to analyze in perspective how constitutional interpretation influences electoral justice and the protection of fundamental rights of a political-electoral nature. A methodology is proposed for the correct and efficient use of constitutional and conventional interpretation by jurisdictional operators, with special emphasis on the analysis of the obstacles or technical barriers they face when carrying out constitutional-conventional regularity examinations. The conclusion was obtained that in electoral judicial practice there are many problems when maximizing or optimizing rights, so constitutional interpretation must be based on a consistent and credible examination of judicial argumentation and hermeneutics to enhance political-electoral rights and democratic principles in the framework of the democratic rule of law.

Seismic interpretation of the Mero Field igneous rocks and its implications for pre- and post-salt CO2 generation – Santos Basin, offshore Brazil

Understanding igneous rock emplacement is crucial for deciphering any sedimentary basin's evolution. Its occurrence can be a determining factor for elements of the petroleum system, such as hydrocarbon generation, migration, trap formation, and reservoir quality. The high-impedance nature of igneous rocks in relation to their surrounding host rocks renders amplitude anomaly-based attributes sufficient for the identification of igneous bodies within siliciclastic sequences. However, this is not necessarily valid in pre-salt settings because of the high-impedance carbonates that make the impedance contrast subtle. Furthermore, if the emplacement characterization of the various magmatic pulses that occur in a given area over geological time were better evaluated, it would be possible to assess the gases (such as CO2) they produce with higher reliability. In this paper, the principal geometric and petroelastic characteristics of the igneous rocks of the Mero Field are described in detail in order to estimate the thermogenic production of CO2. Both manual and semi-automatic seismic interpretation were carried out to quantitatively and properly reduce the uncertainties inherent to the seismic mapping of these rocks. Thus, a 3D probabilistic igneous facies classification was performed based on a Bayesian inference using the P- and S-impedance well log data available and seismic elastic inversion volumes. These volumes of occurrence probability were useful for semi-automatically extracting maps and geobodies, which, along with conventional manual seismic interpretation, provided hypothetical volumetric scenarios for Mero igneous rocks and also for CO2 production. Five main intrusive features were recognized based on mainly in seismic geometries found in the Mero Field, two of them being Lower Cretaceous rift-related magmatism synchronous with the pre-salt reservoir deposition and the other three being related to the Santonian/Campanian magmatism. The analyzed data suggests that deep intrusions were responsible for the installation of a multiple hydrothermal vent system in the Santos Basin. During pre-salt sedimentation in the Lower Cretaceous, the emplacement of tholeiitic sills, primarily in low-energy facies at structural depressions, may have played a significant role in the thermal alteration of the sedimentary framework and would have released a significant amount of CO2 into the atmosphere. It's possible that the reactivation and reuse of these older structures (i.e., sill-related hydrothermal vent complexes generated by tholeiitic intrusions) during alkaline Santonian/Campanian magmatism might have contributed further to the production of additional carbon dioxide, which would be trapped in pre-salt reservoirs in this instance.

Право на свободу объединения и право на забастовку: особенности толкования Конвенции МОТ № 87

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of the interpretation of ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize in the exercise of its supervisory functions by the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of conventions and recommendations, the legal status of the Committee in the structure of the ILO bodies, clarification of the Committee's position on the relationship between the right to strike and the right to form a trade union, the decision of the ILO Governing body to appeal to the International Court of Justice on the interpretation of Convention No. 87.

Numerical and experimental investigation of the effect of the solid–liquid interface shape on grown-in defects in a silicon single crystal

The demand for grown-in defect-free wafers for high-performance silicon semiconductor devices is significantly increasing. To obtain defect-free crystals, the ratio v/G of the growth rate v to the temperature gradient G in the growth direction near the solid–liquid interface during crystal growth must be kept at a critical value ξcri. Furthermore, ξcri depends on the interface shape, which is interpreted as the change in the diffusion direction of point defects due to the change in the interface shape. In this study, we present a new interpretation based on simulations and experiments, in which ξcri changes due to the effect of the diffusion direction of point defects when the solid–liquid interface shape is convex, as in the conventional interpretation, as well as the effect of thermal stress when it is concave.

Architecture and evolution of shelf‐margin clinoforms developed in a back‐arc tectonic setting: Insights from quantitative analysis on the south‐west shelf margin of the Ulleung Basin

AbstractGeophysical and geological research in the Ulleung Basin has been ongoing since the 1970s, involving continuous seismic acquisition and multiple well‐drilling projects. This study utilized an integrated quantitative approach with conventional seismic interpretation based on recent trends to understand the history of the shelf‐margin development and individual controls that may have influenced each period in the Ulleung Basin. Quantitative analysis was conducted by measuring the progradation (Pse), aggradation (Ase) and sediment influx (Fc) of individual shelf margins in seven dip‐oriented seismic profiles, and calculating the shelf‐edge gradient (αse) and the P/A ratio. Based on these data and the ratio of accommodation to sediment supply (A/S ratio), which was interpreted from the stratal stacking pattern, five shelf‐edge trajectory types were defined and assigned to each shelf margin. By considering individual controls (eustatic fluctuations, sediment supply and tectonic events), we defined the three evolution intervals of the Ulleung Basin during the Middle Miocene to Late Miocene (15 to 6.5 Ma): (1) the upper Middle Miocene (15 to 11.63 Ma) characterized by a moderate sediment supply and high aggradation margin induced by rapid subsidence, (2) the lower Upper Miocene (10.8 to 10 Ma) as a high sediment supply and low aggradation margin associated with reworked sediments from the uplifted Dolgorae Thrust and (3) the uppermost Miocene (9.2 to 6.5 Ma) characterized by a low sediment supply and low aggradation margin experiencing sediment starvation. A comparison with worldwide continental margins indicated that the Ulleung Basin formed under a relatively low rate of progradation (low sediment supply; 4.79 km/Myr) and a high rate of aggradation (high shelf accommodation; 361.04 m/Myr) condition. The SW margin of the Ulleung Basin provides a unique example of understanding stratigraphic architecture variations under changing stress regimes of back‐arc setting (extensional to compressional) and understanding of individual controls that influence margin development.

Systemic Interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights and its Protocols: Creeping Fragmentation of State Responsibility

The article discusses how the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter — ECtHR, the Court) influences the way the European Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter — ECHR, the Convention) is systematically interpreted in the context of state responsibility. The article highlights that interpretation of the Convention and general principles of state responsibility is crucial for holding states accountable, ensuring justice for victims, and upholding the credibility and coherence of international law. For this reason, it is essential for the Court to carefully interpret the ECHR within the broader context of international law. The authors believe that one of the most practical strategies to analyse this issue is through determining the consistency of the European Court of Human Rights’ approach to state responsibility issues, elaborated through its case-law, with general customary rules of international law. It can be effectively performed through the lens of three fundamental problems: jurisdiction and attribution interaction problem; issues of state responsibility for the acts of international organisations, paying special attention to peace-keeping operations; and third-state responsibility problem. The analysis shows that the Court creates its own criteria, often conflicting with each other, by ignoring established general rules of international law on state responsibility. Lastly, the authors show that while the Court often acts as a lawmaker, it should create the law in a unified way to apply it fair and equally for the purposes of human rights protection. It is not the states and their particular interests that should govern the application of law by the Court. In the end, the authors come to the conclusion that the policy behind the Court’s decisions is not only predominantly inconsistent with the general customary rules of international law and the object and purpose of the Convention, but also results in the creeping fragmentation of the international law on state responsibility.