Logical Connectives Research Articles

Interplay of Linguistic and Semiotic Choices in Shaping Meaning: A Critical Analysis of Political Cartoon in Pakistani English Newspaper

In today's world, where nations are interconnected through media, the analysis of media discourse from different perspectives on societal issues has gained much currency. The present study analyzes the satirical representation of a newspaper cartoon to find out how these media persons utilize cartoons and the accompanying linguistic choices to affect readers' opinions and understandings. Guided by qualitative research methodology, the data for this study is collected in the form of one cartoon selected through purposive sampling from a Pakistani English newspaper i.e., Dawn. Taking insights from Barthes's (1957) theory of semiotics and Fairclough’s (1995) Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) model, the study utilizes an integrated framework for a fine-grain analysis of cartoon discourse. The intermingling of these two models of analysis has helped the researchers to highlight how newspaper cartoon discourse can be utilized to construct and highlight certain ideologies. The selected cartoon under the caption "OIC seeks global intervention to halt Gaza genocide," highlights the themes of victimization and powerlessness. By utilizing the signs of a man and a wooden log for the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) and Gaza, respectively, the cartoonist has evoked feelings of sympathy for the innocent killing of Palestinians. Hence, the study has found a logical connection between linguistic and semiotic systems to highlight the OIC's inefficacy and the world's indifference and hypocritical response towards the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Creating a Program to Predict the Clothing Size Using Fuzzy Logic

This study presents a program to predict trousers’ size using a fuzzy logic technique. There are three variables to input into the program to give the output result of the fit size. The first variable is the waist measurement. The second variable is the hip measurement. The third variable is the trousers’ length measurement. The size determination is done by the Min-Max rule through the IF-THEN structure, effectively managing the commands in the model. The fuzzy rule matrix consists of 108 rows and 6 columns, in which each row represents a fuzzy rule. Each row is a fuzzy rule. The first column represents six groups of neck circumference. The second column represents six groups of hip circumference. The third column represents three groups of pants length. The fourth column represents six predicted output sizes. The fifth column is the weight coefficient. The last column represents the type of logical connection. This size prediction method only takes about five to six seconds to predict the fit size. This reduces the time to choose the size compared to the traditional method. In addition, it reduces the risk of damaging the sample. This method to predict sizes can apply to many other types of clothing as well as many other fields of the garment industry

An Examination of Criminal Intent in Relation to Causality from the Perspective of Criminal Law

This article examines criminal intent and causality from the perspective of criminal law, and analyzes the significance of these two concepts in determining criminal liability. Causality, which refers to the logical connection between a criminal act and its consequences, is particularly salient in result-based crimes. Criminal intent, as a psychological element, plays a crucial role in evaluating criminal behavior, and understanding the offender's awareness of causality can substantially impact the classification and severity of a crime. This study explored the interaction between criminal intent and causality in detail. The central research question is whether the realization of malicious intent requires knowledge of how causality operates. It is evident that the offenders’ awareness of the effect of their actions on producing a specific outcome significantly influences the classification of the crime and the severity of the punishment. Employing an analytical-descriptive methodology, the author provides precise analyses of legal theories and judicial practices, demonstrating that a thorough examination of criminal intent and causality not only aids in determining criminal liability, but also leads to a more comprehensive understanding of how crimes occur and the distinctions among various offender states. The findings indicate that mastery of these two concepts is essential for interpreting and applying criminal laws, and can contribute to promoting justice in the judicial system.

Exploring Migrant Mothers' Utilisation of Oral Health-Related Information: A Qualitative Interview Study in the Swedish Context.

To explore, as a part of oral health literacy conceptual content, how migrant mothers utilise oral health-related information to maintain and promote oral health in their children. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven migrant mothers of children up to 10 years old resettled in Kalmar County, Sweden. The mothers had entered Sweden from 2015 onwards, and their native language was Somalian, Dari or Arabic. The participants were encouraged to describe their experiences seeking oral health information and oral health in general and dental health services. The interviews were analysed by qualitative content analysis with coding in categories, followed by formulating a main category. The findings revealed a main category-combining different ways of information utilisation. The main category captures the essence of the migrant mothers' various ways of using oral health-related information in the Swedish context to maintain and promote oral health in their children. The main category draws upon four sub-categories that emerged from the analysis: cognitive processing, decision-making competencies, adapting to social norms and practical application. The results provide an important insight into migrant mothers' approach to utilisation of oral health-related information. This approach distinguished being rational and making logical connections, believing in their capacity to know what is right for their children and acting based on these beliefs, as well as adapting to prevailing social norms and applying information in specific use. This knowledge can be used to support parental oral health actions and conduct further research in this area.

Outsourcing of Pharmacies of the Program "Family Doctor and Rural Insurance" of Comprehensive Health Service Centers of Iran

Background: This study aimed to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and outsourcing solutions for pharmacies within Iran's "Family Doctor and Rural Insurance" program at comprehensive health service centers. Methods: This qualitative research utilized the snowball method and maximum diversity sampling to conduct interviews. The criteria for participant selection included a minimum of three years of experience in the Family Doctor and Rural Insurance program and sufficient knowledge of its processes. After categorizing the data, logical connections were established using MAXQDA version 2022 software. Results: A total of 40 individuals were interviewed. The most significant benefits of outsourcing identified by respondents included improvements in quality, the use of software systems, and better management of financial resources. Key operational solutions for enhancing outsourced pharmacy services included identifying high-performing contractors, signing contracts with these contractors, and implementing a qualification test approved by the pharmaceutical affairs department under the university's vice-chancellor of health. Conclusions: To improve the delivery of services by outsourced pharmacies, it is recommended to incorporate expert opinions (particularly from pharmacists) when setting up and finalizing contracts. Additionally, a wide-scale announcement should be made to encourage greater participation from private sector pharmacies.

The Coherence Relations of "Mollie" in Animal Farm under Segmented Discourse Representation Theory(SDRT)

This paper delves into the coherence relations of Mollie, a character from George Orwell's "Animal Farm," utilizing the Segmented Discourse Representation Theory (SDRT) to analyze her role within the narrative. The study reviews the current research on "Animal Farm," highlighting the scarcity of in-depth analysis of Mollie's character, which is often overlooked in favor of more prominent characters. The paper introduces SDRT, a linguistic theory that dissects discourse into smaller segments to examine logical connections and coherence, providing a fresh perspective to explore Mollie's actions and their implications in the novel. The application of the SDRT framework to Mollie's character reveals how her individual desires and actions contrast with the collective ethos of the farm, symbolizing the broader themes of individualism versus collectivism. It also underscores her reactions to the power structures, which are indicative of the farm's societal dynamics. The analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of Mollie's role and her interactions with other characters, offering insights into the underlying social and political commentary of "Animal Farm." The paper concludes that SDRT not only enriches our comprehension of Mollie's character but also enhances the interpretation of the novel's overall message, shedding light on the complexities of power, freedom, and loyalty within the context of a totalitarian regime.

Proof-Theoretic Validity isn’t Intuitionistic; So What?

ABSTRACT Several recent results bring into focus the superintuitionistic nature of most notions of proof-theoretic validity, but little work has been done evaluating the consequences of these results. Proof-theoretic validity claims to offer a formal explication of how inferences follow from the definitions of logic connectives (which are defined by their introduction rules). This paper explores whether the new results undermine this claim. It is argued that, while the formal results are worrying, superintuitionistic inferences are valid because the treatments of atomic formulas are insufficiently general, and a resolution to this issue is proposed.

New Insights into Fuzzy Genetic Algorithms for Optimization Problems

In this paper, we shed light on the use of two types of fuzzy genetic algorithms, which stand out from the literature due to the innovative ideas behind them. One is the Gendered Fuzzy Genetic Algorithm, where the crossover mechanism is regulated by the gender and the age of the population to generate offspring through proper fuzzy rules. The other one is the Elegant Fuzzy Genetic Algorithm, where the priority of the parent genome is updated based on the child’s fitness. Both algorithms present a significant computational burden. To speed up the computation, we propose to adopt a nearest-neighbor caching strategy. We first performed several experiments, using some well-known benchmark functions, and tried different types of membership functions and logical connectives. Afterward, some additional benchmarks were retrieved from the literature for a fair comparison against published results, which were obtained by means of former variants of fuzzy genetic algorithms. A real-world application problem, which was retrieved from the literature and dealt with rice production, was also tackled. All the numerical results show the potential of the proposed strategy.

Disaster health literacy for diabetics: A scoping review towards a framework

Due to the increasing occurrence of natural disasters, it is essential to prioritize the improvement of health literacy during emergencies, particularly for individuals with chronic illnesses like diabetes who are especially vulnerable in the medical sector. The primary objective of this study was to identify the key themes within an emerging framework for disaster health literacy specifically tailored for diabetics. A scoping review design was selected based on the Arksey and O’Malley framework. The published articles indexed in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were retrieved up to April 2023, applying related keywords. There restrictions were placed in the English language and the study design. Textual analysis method to identify themes in the articles. The research team conducted multiple collaborative sessions to identify the themes related to health literacy during disasters based on a comprehensive review of existing literature. Three challenges were identified during the analysis process. These challenges include the difficulties encountered by diabetic patients in the early stages of disasters, the physical side effects they experience, and the major recommendations for preparedness and initial response. Subsequently, a framework was developed based on the extracted main challenges and the established logical connections between the conceptual codes, achieved through consensus among the research team. The study emphasized the importance of integrating health literacy assessment and training initiatives throughout all stages of the disaster cycle, with a specific emphasis on individuals with diabetes. By implementing such programs, it is anticipated that the overall health literacy of diabetic patients during disasters can be enhanced.

Natural Language Processing-Driven Microscopy Ontology Development

This manuscript describes the accelerated development of an ontology for microscopy in materials science and engineering, leveraging natural language processing (NLP) techniques. Drawing from a comprehensive corpus comprising over 14 k contributions to the Microscopy and Microanalysis conference series, we employed two neural network-based algorithms for NLP. The goal was to semiautomatically create the Microscopy Ontology (MO) that encapsulates and interconnects the terminology most frequently used by the community. The MO, characterized by its interlinked entities and relationships, is designed to enhance the quality of user query results within NexusLIMS. This enhancement is facilitated through the concurrent querying of related terms and the seamless integration of logical connections.

New Fuzzy Implication Model Consisting Only of Basic Logical Fuzzy Connectives

Fuzzy implication models play a crucial role in the field of fuzzy logic. The reason behind this reality is the fact that fuzzy implications are influenced by the properties of the model used for their creation. The importance of the mentioned models increases due to the fact that there is a need for new fuzzy implications for use in artificial intelligence and other applications. So, this paper aims to resolve this problem by creating a new model. This model, named (S,T,N) by the authors, is an evolution from previous models as it utilizes all of the basic logical fuzzy connectives in a new composition that emphasizes the use of as many connectives as practically possible. Moreover, a computer program has been developed to display various interpretations of the proposed model and allow the readers to form a deeper understanding of the paper’s research. The results provided by the research conducted are mainly due to the development of the new fuzzy implication model and, secondarily, the new tool for displaying the capabilities of the implication model. Finally, the conclusions drawn from the paper proved that the search for new fuzzy implications should not only be targeted at new research directions but also at more established ones. Furthermore, the program displayed the strong capabilities of computer-assisted computations since it allowed for rapid checking of multiple implications, thus easing the researcher’s task of practically verifying the new model’s validity.

Reliability evaluation of direct current gathering system in onshore wind farm based on reliability block diagram-sequential monte carlo

The full DC wind power generation system has effectively overcome the harmonic resonance, reactive power transmission, and other problems of the traditional AC wind power system, which has broad prospects for development. As a key component of the mentioned system, the reliability of the collection system is critical to the safe and stable operation of the entire onshore wind farm. Firstly, this paper investigates the key equipment and topology of the onshore wind farm DC collection system. Secondly, considering both the internal components and external environment of the wind farm, a component outage probability model based on weather factors is constructed to provide accurate data for the reliability evaluation of the DC collection system of the wind farm. The Reliability Block Diagram is used to analyze the internal logical connection of different topologies of onshore wind farm DC collection systems in detail. Then, a reliability evaluation method of an onshore full DC wind farm collection system based on Reliability Block Diagram-Sequential Monte Carlo is proposed. Finally, a 50 MW onshore wind farm is studied as a sample to compare and analyze the assessment results of the reliability of different collection system topologies. The results show that the reliability of the DC collection system of onshore wind farms has significant advantages.

A conceptual framework for the path of digital preservation of intangible cultural heritage: A thematic review

Abstract The digital preservation strategy could be concerned from the perspective of the life cycle of a digital resource, which includes creation, use, management, and preservation, which has been implemented widely for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) safeguarding. Nonetheless, the depth of development of the metaverse, digital humanities, etc., raises the question of which direction the most up-to-date strategic and theoretical developments are headed in a wider context. As a result, this study will evaluate articles from 2018 to 2024 to determine the trends in digital preservation strategies at ICH. With a thematic review (TR) instrument, a total of 24 articles out of 129 peer-reviewed database articles from the WoS and Scopus databases were extracted and screened, which cover the application of digital preservation strategies in ICH conservation. ATLAS.ti 9, the analysis software, produced quantitative results showing trends in this study. The thematic analysis reveals four key themes: computer technology, cultural transmission, strategy implementation, and metadata preservation. The authors propose a conceptual framework that establishes the logical connection between the four themes and outlines the path for ICH digital preservation. The findings provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners involved in the digital preservation strategy of ICH, as well as mapping the scope, challenges, and practices of these initiatives.

Prospective secondary mathematics teachers’ use of inquiry-based teaching principles as conceptual tools when modifying mathematical tasks

The objective of this study was to investigate how prospective secondary mathematics teachers apply inquiry-based teaching principles to modify tasks that support students' engagement in specific mathematical practices. The research employed the theory of goal-oriented decision-making to describe and explain the use of inquiry-based teaching principles as a conceptual tool by these prospective teachers. The study involved two cohorts, comprising 43 prospective teachers (20 in one cohort and 23 in the other) enrolled in a Secondary Education Teaching program. Data were collected from written reports documenting the implementation of two professional tasks, where participants modified textbook assignments to promote exploratory teaching. An inductive analysis was conducted in two phases. The findings revealed that prospective teachers consistently applied inquiry-based teaching principles when they set specific mathematical practices as student learning objectives, such as analyzing particular cases, identifying patterns and relationships, and formulating conjectures and generalizations. However, when these mathematical practices were not established as learning objectives, teachers struggled to apply inquiry-based teaching principles consistently during task modification. These results suggest that inquiry-based teaching principles are an effective conceptual tool for prospective teachers' instructional reasoning. Nonetheless, for consistent application, it is crucial to establish a coherent network of logical connections between the conceptual tool and the intended learning objectives.

Synergizing Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT) Chatbots in a Process-Based Writing Paradigm to Enhance University Students’ Writing Skills

Background: The combination of the process-based writing framework and GPT-based chatbots establishes a dynamic and interactive environment, leading students through the stages of planning, drafting, revising, and editing. This collaborative approach not only elevates writing skills but also cultivates critical thinking and self-reflection, thereby transforming the writing process into a more effective and engaging learning experience. Despite the potential synergy to revolutionize the writing process, there exists a surprising lack of research within the educational domain exploring the impact of this innovative approach. Purpose: This study investigates the influence of a GPT-based chatbot within a process-based writing framework on university EFL students’ writing skills, specifically focusing on components such as organization, content, coherence-cohesion, logical connection, and argumentation. Method: Employing a sequential mixed methods type of research with a pre- and post-test design, 30 university EFL students were selected via purposive sampling technique. They engaged in 10 sessions that incorporated GPT-based chatbots within a process-based writing framework. Data collections were through pre-and post- writing tests, writing quizzes, and semi-structured interviews. Results: The results highlighted substantial improvements in participants’ writing performance, evident through a noteworthy increase in post-writing test scores (x̄=17.03) in comparison to pre-writing test scores (x̄=9.13). The study identified a progressive enhancement in four out of five writing components - organization, content, coherence-cohesion, and argumentation - across the 1st to 4th quizzes. However, the ‘logical connection’ component experienced a temporary decline during the 2nd and 3rd writing quizzes, rebounding significantly in the 4th quiz. Notably, the most improved writing components were ‘content’ and ‘argumentation,’ while the component related to ‘logical connection’ exhibited the least improved one. Qualitative findings further underscored participants’ acknowledgment of the effectiveness of the strategy in facilitating their writing tasks. Conclusion: The integration of chatbots within a writing framework was concluded as a facilitative pedagogical approach, fostering a dynamic, personalized, and effective learning experience, contributing to the multifaceted improvement of their writing skills. As educators and practitioners consider innovative approaches, this study provides a compelling case for the effective utilization of GPT-based chatbots in fostering language proficiency and a more engaging learning experience.

FORMING DESIGN THINKING SKILLS DURING THE EDUCATION OF FUTURE SPECIALISTS

The article revealed the meaning of the concepts of «thinking», «design thinking» by theoretically analyzing the scientific works and identifying the psychological and pedagogical features of formation of students' design thinking skills in the educational process. The levels of development of design thinking skills of future specialists, the authors relied on the design thinking criteria, components, and terms cited by scientists in the research. Diagnosing design thinking using a three-level stage, components such as cognitive, analytical, and activity were distinguished by the improvement of the process of forming students' design thinking skills. The experimental part of the research was planned and experimental work was carried out using effective methods. Surveys were conducted to determine design thinking by methods of «critical thinking», J. Barrett's «Critical Analysis» methodology, and Michael Chaifitz's test to assess the ability to find logical errors. The results of the pedagogical experiment showed the low level of design thinking of students. It needs creation and usage for improving the educational process in HEI. A work plan was created, and during its implementation, the solution to the problem of determining the effectiveness of design thinking was demonstrated based on the analysis of the results of each of the conducted methods. Comparing the results, none of the stages of development of design thinking could exclude an insufficient level; showed the highest indicator of students' cognitive stage; the analytical component of design thinking posed the greatest challenge, with only 69% of students indicating they were ready to make logical connections, and 13% saying they had great difficulty making them. It is possible to influence students by encouraging responsibility and independence, realizing awareness, creativity, self-development, learning to monitor, generalize, compare, and increase their attention in order to form design thinking skills, and the formation of design thinking skills is not enough.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE POWERS OF THE HEAD OF STATE

In the article, the author examines the typology of powers of heads of state, the basis for the classification of powers, citing the opinions of foreign scientists. The analysis of scientific works shows the variety of types of grouping of powers of the head of state. The purpose of the scientific work is to identify problems in classifying the powers of the head of state on certain grounds and to develop proposals aimed at solving the identified problems. When writing the article, the author used a complex of general scientific and specific scientific methods of cognition. The author notes that most scientists adhere to the so-called classical approach when classifying powers, the basis of which is the sphere of activity of the head of state. At the same time, some note some features in the typology of the powers of the head of state. For example, it is proposed to distinguish one’s own powers (some suggest calling them traditional), powers according to branches of government, internal and external, according to the method of implementation. Most powers have overlap, which leads to some confusion when classifying them. In his work, the author draws attention to such a category as the so-called “hidden” and other powers. The threat of both hidden and other powers lies in the possible unconstitutional expansion of their scope, including through judicial practice (Resolutions of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan). The author draws attention in detail to the author's classifications of the powers of the head of state. Some of them use bases that do not have a formal logical connection and have multiple intersections. Some classifications of non-CIS authors for the Republic of Kazakhstan are, in all likelihood, not relevant for systematizing the powers of the President. In conclusion, an assessment of the studied classifications of powers of heads of state is given and recommendations are given on the typology of powers of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Neuro-Logocentric Representation of Brain Activity as a Conceptual Basis for Artificial Neural Networks: a Critical Analysis

The aim of this article is a critical analysis of the logocentric representation of brain as a conceptual basis for artificial neural networks (ANNs). Neuro-logocentrism turns possible mostly because of some similarities of brain activity to logical reasoning. They are discrete mode of action, semblance of realization of logical connectives and inferences, presence of two “values” (“all-or-none” principle). It is demonstrated that they are only loose analogies. The idea that neurons are net nodes that realize logical and computational operations as quite simple automata is based on the concept of connectionism that appears a new special type of hylemorphism. On the contrary, brain activity demonstrates the primacy of the whole and its irreducibility to the aggregative sum of elements and parts. It appears continual totality, where everything is reciprocally interconnected, so that it is impossible to establish any unified formalism for it. Brain essentially is a part of the living, not “bio-logic” but fully biological reality, which has an emergent mode of existence with its unique properties. Such processes as neuroplasticity and synaptic pruning are responsible for adaptive and teleonomic re‑shaping of the brain. Usual conventional logic is suitable for computing machines and their nets, but it is incapable of reproducing such autopoietic phenomena. As a result, there is a fatal ontological gap between natural networks of neurons and ANNs. The second ones are not able to implement complex cognitive functions as they are product of the logocentric hypertrophy of algorithms which is fully devoid of flexibility of the living brain.

Establishing the program to predict Shirt Sizes with Fuzzy Logic

This paper presents a program for prediction shirt size with a fuzzy logic technique. The Mamdani model is applied to a MISO fuzzy system with two inputs and one output. Neck girth and sleeve length are chosen as the primary dimensions, serving as input variables for this simulation model. In this study, fuzzy logic is used to select the size of the Min-Max rule. The IF-THEN structure is applied to execute commands effectively within this model. The outcome is an appropriate size. The program’s fuzzy rule matrix consists of 45 rows and 5 columns. Each row is a fuzzy rule. The first column represents the 9 sizes of necklaces. The second column represents the 5 groups of sleeve lengths. The third column represents the 9 predicted sizes in the output. The third column represents the 9 predicted output sizes. The fourth column is the weight coefficient. The last column represents the logical connection type. The fuzzy logic approaches significantly reduces the time required. This approach provides an alternative method for prediction sizes that more accurately align with individual body measurements, offering a personalized fit.

A SYNTHESIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESSFUL INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN ORGANISATIONS

Organisations exist, function and develop through communication. Intercultural communication is a specific communication activity in which the parties involved represent different cultures. The current context, dominated by globalisation, multiculturalism, internationalisation and digitalisation, underlines the importance of studying intercultural communication in an organisational context. The aim of this paper is to develop a comprehensive synthesis of the factors that influence the effectiveness of intercultural communication in organisations and to propose research hypotheses for future studies in this area. The methodology used to conduct this study includes the methods of analysis, synthesis, induction (for logical connections), deduction (for identifying theories from the literature), abduction (for identifying causes and factors and building hypotheses) and hierarchical classification (for grouping factors in the three-level taxonomy). The analysis of the factors mentioned in the literature on the effectiveness of intercultural communication in organisations has led to the development of a three-level taxonomy that groups them into five categories: management-related factors, group factors, individual factors, cultural factors and communication factors. This systematic and clarifying approach suggests linkages and directions for research as well as lines of action for practitioners to ensure sustainable development of multicultural organisations and increase the chances of success of intercultural communication in different organisational contexts. The novelty of the paper lies in the fact that the existing literature does not propose a systemic view of the factors that influence intercultural communication outcomes. Most of the identified research presents comparative, descriptive approaches to the characteristics of intercultural communication in specific cultural contexts.