Mere Action Research Articles

Desorption of Positive and Negative Ions from Areoles of Opuntia microdasys Cactus at Atmospheric Pressure: Cactus-MS.

The areoles and spines of cacti can be used to desorb ions of ionic liquids (ILs) by the mere action of an electric field into the atmospheric pressure (AP) interface of a mass spectrometer. The small cactus species Opuntia microdasys bears numerous very fine hairs on its areoles and tiny sharp spines that appeared suited to serve as needle electrodes sharp enough for field desorption of ions to occur. In fact, positive and negative ions of four ILs could be desorbed by a process analogous to AP field desorption (APFD). In contrast to APFD where activated field emitters are employed, the ILs were deposited onto one or two adjacent areoles by applying 1-3 µL of a dilute solution in methanol. After evaporation of the solvent, the cactus was positioned next to the spray shield electrode of a trapped ion mobility-quadrupole-time-of-flight instrument. Desorption of IL cations and IL anions, respectively, did occur as soon as the electrode was set to potentials in the order of ±4.5 kV, while the cactus at ground potential was manually positioned in front of the entrance electrode to bring the areole covered with a film of the sample into the right position. Neither did mixing of ILs occur between neighboring areoles nor did the cactus suffer any damage upon its use as a botanical field emitter.

Conflict management in entrepreneurship: strategies, communication, and leadership

This paper delves into the critical importance of conflict management in the entrepreneurial landscape, particularly in the face of war and heightened uncertainty. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the distinct stages of a conflict’s lifecycle, categorized based on the intensity of the conflict. A comparative analysis of these stages is presented, considering the essence of the conflict at each stage, its visibility, and potential outcomes. This analysis reveals the context-specific nature of conflict resolution dynamics, emphasizing the significant influence of the context, individuals involved, and available resources. The paper identifies the prerequisites for effective conflict management in entrepreneurial ventures. It outlines the primary barriers that hinder such management, including the perception of mutually exclusive interests, differing interpretations of the conflict’s essence, and institutionalization. The paper defines distinct patterns in how participants behave during conflicts. Recognizing the direction of each party’s actions can develop a more tailored approach to conflict resolution. Conflict resolution strategies guide individuals toward a solution, extending beyond mere actions. These strategies encompass two critical aspects of conflict management: the overall strategy and its effectiveness factors. The paper discusses five core conflict management strategies based on the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Management Model. It concludes that the most suitable approach depends on the specific situation, the individuals involved, and the issue. Additionally, the paper explores conflict management strategies based on Glasl’s model, assigning specific conflict resolution strategies to the stages in Friedrich Glasl’s conflict escalation model. Apart from various strategies, the paper categorizes tactics as “soft” or “hard” based on their impact on the opponent. The application of tactics ranges from gentle persuasion to heavy coercion. Some tactics are direct, clearly stating the desired outcome, while others are indirect, subtly influencing the other party. In conclusion, the paper underscores the instrumental role of successful conflict management in guiding confrontations toward positive outcomes. This is achieved by addressing immediate behaviors and underlying issues and fostering an environment conducive to constructive dialogue. Keywords: management, entrepreneurship, conflict resolution, Thomas-Kilmann model, Friedrich Glasl model

A STUDY ON THE PROBLEM OF MEANING IN THE ART OF SCULPTURE

This study explores the complex relationship between the meaning of sculpture and its making process in the context of the philosophy of language. Sculpture is a unique art form that involves the creation of three-dimensional objects that occupy physical space. However, the meaning of a sculpture is not limited to its spatial characteristics alone. This study identifies two distinct levels of meaning in sculpture: its relation to space and its making process. While the former has received considerable attention in the literature, the latter has been largely overlooked. Therefore, this study focuses on the semantic relationship between Richard Serra's sculptures and his sculpture-making processes, particularly in his early works.
 
 Richard Serra is widely regarded as one of the most important artists of the Process Art movement, which emerged in the 1960s and emphasizes the importance of the making process in art. The study questions the reduction of the meaning of sculpture to a mere action and seeks to establish a deeper relationship between the philosophy of language and the process of sculpture. To achieve this, the study draws on the works of Ludwig Wittgenstein, J. L. Austin, and John R. Searle, who are some of the most important philosophers of language of the 20th century.
 
 Wittgenstein's concept of language games and his emphasis on the social context of language use is particularly relevant to this study. The study explores how Serra's sculpture-making processes can be seen as a form of language game, with its own rules and conventions. Similarly, Austin's concept of performative language provides a framework for understanding how the making process of a sculpture can be seen as a form of performative action. The study also draws on Searle's theory of speech acts, which suggests that language use is not just a matter of describing the world, but also of performing actions and creating new realities.
 
 Overall, this study represents an important contribution to the field of art and philosophy. By exploring the relationship between the meaning of sculpture and its making process, the study challenges traditional notions of art and raises important questions about the nature of meaning and representation in art. The study also demonstrates the relevance of the philosophy of language to the study of art and provides a framework for future research in this area.

Potret Objek Hukum Islam: Tinjauan Literatur Klasik dan Kontemporer

This paper looks at the object of law from the perspective of Islamic law the concept of ushul fiqih (Islamic legal philosophy). This study is based on an in-depth study of Islamic law sources oriented towards ushul fiqih. The method used is literature with a data collection system to mix sources that study the science of ushul fiqih, from classical books to mutaakhir books. From the results of the author's search that the object of the law is the act or action of a person who is already mukallaf (legally capable). However, it depends largely on the condition that the deeds of a mukallaf be considered as a legal object or not. The main condition is that a person knows exactly about the deed from the side of the law and the method of its execution. Besides that, there is an element of ability and intentionality when doing so. The object of law is not limited to mere action but rather that everything related to deeds, utterances, neglects, and also azam (strong desires that are in mind).

Disentangling go/no-go from motivational orientation to foods: Approaching is more than just responding

BackgroundTraining motor responses to food images can influence subsequent evaluations of the food and even consumption. One important question in the literature is whether training people to approach versus avoid food items is different from training people to respond (‘go’) versus not responding (‘no go’) to food items. Therefore, we systematically investigated whether mere action, i.e., withholding responses vs go responses, and motivational orientation, i.e., approach and avoidance, differentially change stimulus valence. MethodsIn 60 healthy participants, we contrasted approach, avoidance, and non-responses with the same neutral go response in their potential to change food liking ratings and affective facial responses. ResultsTraining approach responses to stimuli increased their valence compared to mere go responses to stimuli as was evident from explicit liking ratings and facial corrugator activity. Unexpectedly, not responding to stimuli or avoiding stimuli did not decrease their valence relative to go stimuli. ConclusionThe current results suggest that approach responses may be more effective to increase the valence of food items than mere go responses. They further suggest that the devaluation of non-responded stimuli that is often found in the literature may not become visible in the current task set-up where the Go/No-go training is administered on a touchscreen.

Review: A Nation of Descendants: Politics and the Practice of Genealogy in U.S. History, by Francesca Morgan

Review: <i>A Nation of Descendants: Politics and the Practice of Genealogy in U.S. History</i>, by Francesca Morgan

An international perspective on ethics approval in animal behaviour and welfare research

Ethics assessment is essential in studies that involve animals as subjects, which includes research on animal behaviour and welfare. Although ethics review mechanisms within institutions are long established in many regions, processes may be non-uniform across different cultures, institutions, and geographical contexts. Harmonisation need not be the ultimate goal; instead, attention should be directed towards ways of improving ethics assessment with an animal-centred focus. Moreover, applied animal behaviour and welfare research sometimes involves human subjects (e.g., animal owners, farmers, caretakers, and consumers), the ethics of which is scarcely discussed. The International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE) has developed and revised its ethics guidelines to be applied to research articles submitted to the Society’s journal and conferences, and acknowledges the need to address this increasingly contentious issue from a global perspective. At the 2021 ISAE Annual Congress, a workshop on the ethical challenges in animal behaviour and welfare research was held twice. Participants (N ≈ 70) from several continents were presented with hypothetical research cases outlining different ethics scenarios. These scenarios were discussed in small groups, with each participant contributing experiences from their respective countries. More questions than answers were generated, and the mere action of involving researchers from different scientific cultures in a conversation is an important step towards greater insight and transparency. Significant variability in local ethics review requirements across jurisdictions was revealed. However, by focussing on improving transparency of reporting for both animal and human involvement in studies, particularly in the ethics statement and procedure description, ethics assessment by reviewers and editors can be enhanced. There is a need for continued dialogue on ethics within the animal behaviour and welfare research community.

The Evolving Strategic CSR Practices in Africa: Exploring the Multidimensional Implications for Telecommunication Firms’ Outcomes in Nigeria

In developing African countries, a considerable body of knowledge exists about the evolving stages of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices from mere philanthropic actions to damage control strategy, especially in the mining sector. However, little is known about the emerging strategic CSR as a competitive strategy particularly its dimensional outcomes among diverse sectors in the region. Applying a multidimensional perspective of corporate social responsibility activities, we explored how customers’ perception of a firm’s economic, legal, ethical, and social responsibility actions influence the firm’s product rating, consumer loyalty, and firms’ strategic legitimacy among telecoms subscribers in Nigeria. A probability sampling technique was used to select 126 subscribers with a proportionate representation of the five mobile phone service providers in Nigeria. From the collected data, descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the demographic profile of the participants while the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. Contrary to expectations, the outcomes suggest that consumer perception of telecoms firms’ economic responsibilities has no significant positive influence on the firms’ product rating, consumer loyalty, and the firms’ strategic legitimacy. Conversely, the outcomes support our propositions that the consumer perception of telecoms firms’ social, legal, and ethical responsibility actions has a significant positive influence on the firms’ product rating, consumer loyalty, and firms’ strategic legitimacy. The findings suggest the need for telecoms firms to focus on social, legal, and ethical responsibility dimensions as competitive strategies.

Recent advances in solar photochemical processes for water and wastewater disinfection

Photochemical processes for the treatment of water and wastewater have been receiving increasing attention as sustainable treatments involving a renewable, free and clean source of light, such as natural solar radiation. Different oxidative agents including hydrogen peroxide, peroxymonosulfate, persulfate, peracetic acid and free chlorine have been recently investigated as potential strategies to enhance the mere action of the solar photons for water disinfection.The aim of this study is to review the most recent advances reached in the scientific literature regarding these solar processess based on their promising capability to be further implemented in real field or industrial scale. The characterization of each oxidative agent, the efficiency of each solar photochemical process for disinfection of water and wastewater and the operating mechanism governing the microbial pathogens inactivation are discussed. Specific and complementary requirements of this type of applications such as the solar resource and the most promising solar reactors currently employed have been also described in detail. Finally, the main advantages, drawbacks, challenges and perspectives for their future implementation at full scale are also highlighted.

Development and validation of a novel corpus of 269 verb pictures in Kannada based on an argument structure taxonomy

Pictorial stimuli are crucial in psycholinguistic research and clinical practice. The development of culturally and linguistically appropriate, standardized picture corpora is a tedious and meticulous process. Yet, such readily accessible picture sets are useful for researchers and clinicians alike. The current study introduces a novel set of 269 verb pictures for an Indian language – Kannada. The included verbs were selected from a published database of 100,000 words along with their frequency scores in this language, and were subsequently categorized based on an argument structure taxonomy. Each picture is developed based on an exemplar sentence that depicts a scenario rather than a mere action. Norms are provided for verb name and argument agreement, image agreement, concept familiarity, and visual complexity, along with the orthographic frequency. Correlations between these measures are also described. The complete set of pictures are freely downloadable from https://osf.io/uk2af/?view_only=ecffbd92f48546a484c869b3f0b8ec94 for academic, research, and clinical usage in the future.

Agency, Free Will, Self-Constitution: New Concepts for Historians of German-Jewish History between 1914 and 1938?

Abstract This article discusses recent work on German-Jewish agency between 1914 and 1938. To find out whether ‘agency’ might be a helpful category for examining the crises facing Central European Jewry in this period, the article addresses the subject from the perspectives of individual and collective agency, applying classifications that philosophers have employed to make sense of human conduct. As I hope to show, these delimitations are only a preliminary step in trying to determine the explanatory power of agency. Whether the latter can serve as a tool in future work on modern German-Jewish history depends on the suitability of more specific philosophies of agency. Here the work of Christine Korsgaard and especially Michael Bratman may prove helpful in reflecting both on the self-understanding of German Jews in the first decades of the twentieth century and on their ‘freedom of action’ once this self-understanding was called into question. There is reason to see planning structures—grounded in the diachronic organization of our temporally extended selves—as basic to our individual and collective agency. Without ‘planning agency’, I will argue, ‘agency’ refers to mere action or choice.

The Filing Cabinet: A Vertical History of Information

The Filing Cabinet: A Vertical History of Information

Human Learning from Artificial Intelligence: Evidence from Human Go Players' Decisions after AlphaGo

Author(s): Shin, Minkyu; Kim, Jin; Kim, Minkyung | Abstract: Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to outperform humans in many domains of decision-making, the process by which AI arrives at its superior decisions is often hidden and too complex for humans to fully grasp. As a result, humans may find it difficult to learn from AI, and accordingly, our knowledge about whether and how humans learn from AI is also limited. In this paper, we aim to expand our understanding by examining human decision-making in the board game Go. Our analysis of 1.3 million move decisions made by professional Go players suggests that people learned to make decisions like AI after they observe reasoning processes of AI, rather than mere actions of AI. Follow-up analyses compared the decision quality of two groups of players: those who had access to AI programs and those who did not. In line with the initial results, decision quality significantly improved for the players with AI access after they gained access to reasoning processes of AI, but not for the players without AI access. Our results demonstrate that humans can learn from AI even in a complex domain where the computation process of AI is also complicated.

Assemblages in the Venetian Lagoon: Humans, water and multiple historical flows

Since the dawn of its existence, and at times thanks to ambitious interventions, Venice and its lagoon have needed to be constantly protected from the various ways in which water has reclaimed its existence. This article asserts that the ways in which Venice approached the watery world imply a tendency to relate to the natural environment as if it was something humans ought to separate themselves from, rather than something towards which they could harmoniously relate. As a result of this mindset, the natural changes which made humans interventions necessary are most often phrased as events abruptly sprouted into being, and less as obvious consequences of pre-existing ecological alterations of the islands’ ecosystem throughout the centuries. In order to read these events differently, this article adopts assemblage theory as delineated in the work of Manuel DeLanda (2006], 2016), according to which history comprises a multiplicity of flows, each belonging to a specific social reality. As such, this article auspicates a way to read ecological alterations of the Venetian lagoon beyond the mere actions of humans and to see, instead, socio-natural changes as the result of intricate relations between heterogenous agents and forces.

How transformative learning nurtures ecological thinking. Evidence from the Students Swap Stuff project

Purpose There is a growing call for novel approaches in education with respect to sustainable development. Transformative learning lacks empirical research. This paper responds to that gap and aims at analysing how transformative learning nurtures ecological thinking. Design/methodology/approach The Students Swap Stuff sustainability project is the result of a transformative and action-oriented learning process within the course Corporate Social Responsibility of the Master Environmental, Health and Safety Management, Faculty of Economics and Business at KU Leuven, Brussels, Belgium. Framed by the appreciative inquiry method, students set up a swapping system to limit overconsumption, waste and spillage caused by students’ stay in Brussels for a semester or longer. The paper is focusing on participatory action research, using semi-structured interviews with twenty-two participating students exploring whether their assumptions regarding the dominant paradigms in management have been transformed. Forty-nine participants in the closet swap completed a questionnaire related to their motivations. Findings The project was helpful in rethinking the traditional economic system and in decentering the economic element allowing for a different way of thinking, integrating trust and restoring the value of just giving. Four insights from the Students Swap Stuff project are relevant for other action-oriented learning approaches: start from a specific framework to guide the action; give enough time to dream what might be, but always link it to delivering what will be; insert sufficient moments of reflection; and give the students ample opportunities to express their feelings during the project. Research limitations/implications First, the research focused on one case, the Students Swap Stuff, with a limited number of students participating in the project. The aim of action-oriented learning, however, was not mere action, but the action had to lead to insights that are helpful for other cases and situations. Second, the interviews were set up between peers. Information about their background, such as families, preferred activities during leisure time, attitudes in favor of the environment, were not directly integrated in the semi-structured questions. This could be part of follow-up research emphasizing aspects of environmental psychology. Practical implications This study reveals that transformative and action-oriented learning demand a lot from students and lecturers. To avoid confusion on the concept “action,” praxis could be used to emphasize that thinking and doing exist simultaneously. Students learn in a natural way, but do not always see the effects immediately. Lecturers have to respond to this in a constructive way and have to include reflection moments on a regular basis. Originality/value Apart from the dominant research on students as objects, there is little research with students. This paper goes further by combining two stances: students as co-creators of knowledge; and students as participants in action research.

How preference change induced by mere action versus inaction persists over time

AbstractUnderstanding how sustainable preference change can be achieved is of both scientific and practical importance. Recent work shows that merely responding or not responding to objects during go/no-go training can influence preferences for these objects right after the training, when people choose with a time limit. Here we examined whether and how such immediate preference change in fast choices can affect choices without time limit one week later. In two preregistered experiments, participants responded to go food items and withheld responses toward no-go food items during a go/no-go training. Immediately after the training, they made consumption choices for half of the items (with a time limit in Experiment 1; without time limit in Experiment 2). One week later, participants chose again (without time limit in both experiments). Half of the choices had been presented immediately after the training (repeated choices), while the other half had not (new choices). Participants preferred go over no-go items both immediately after the training and one week later. Furthermore, the effect was observed for both repeated and new choices after one week, revealing a direct effect of mere (non)responses on preferences one week later. Exploratory analyses revealed that the effect after one week is related to the memory of stimulus-response contingencies immediately after the training, and this memory is impaired by making choices. These findings show mere action versus inaction can directly induce preference change that lasts for at least one week, and memory of stimulus-response contingencies may play a crucial role in this effect.

How Preference Change Induced by Mere Action Versus Inaction Persists Over Time

Understanding how sustainable preference change can be achieved is of both scientific and practical importance. Recent work shows that merely responding or not responding to objects during go/no-go training can influence preferences for these objects right after the training, when people choose with a time limit. Here we examined whether and how such immediate preference change in fast choices can affect choices without time limit one week later. In two preregistered experiments, participants responded to go food items and withheld responses toward no-go food items during a go/no-go training. Immediately after the training, they made consumption choices for half of the items (with a time limit in Experiment 1; without time limit in Experiment 2). One week later, participants chose again (without time limit in both experiments). Half of the choices had been presented immediately after the training (repeated choices), while the other half had not (new choices). Participants preferred go over no-go items both immediately after the training and one week later. Furthermore, the effect was observed for both repeated and new choices after one week, revealing a direct effect of mere (non)responses on preferences one week later. Exploratory analyses revealed that the effect after one week is related to the memory of stimulus-response contingencies immediately after the training, and this memory is impaired by making choices. These findings show mere action versus inaction can directly induce preference change that lasts for at least one week, and memory of stimulus-response contingencies may play a crucial role in this effect.

La representación verbal de la arquitectura

En las artes y la arquitectura de la modernidad se trató de excluir el momento narrativo/simbólico tanto de su pro- ducción como de su recepción. Sin embargo, y pese a los intentos de suprimir de la obra de arquitectura cualquier componente que remita fuera de ella, podría ocurrir que la mera acción de percibir –lo edificado o cualquier otro objeto– constituyese desde el principio un acto en parte lingüístico que, en cuanto tal, convocase un discurso acerca de lo contemplado inextricablemente entretejido con lo puro-sensible. La forma abstracta adquiere además una multiplicidad de sentidos y significados a través de mecanismos diversos, algunos de los cuales se examinarán aquí brevemente desde una pluralidad de perspectivas. La cuestión de la narrati- vidad de la experiencia arquitectural y la posibilidad consiguiente de representar lo arquitectónico mediante la palabra tienen gran importancia para el desarrollo de la disciplina.

COVID-19 current controversies

This July 2020 issue of JME introduces a new section, “COVID-19 Current Controversies,” which will be a recurring section in each issue for the foreseeable future. This issue reflects on...

Corporate Social Responsibility and Intellectual Capital: Sources of Competitiveness and Legitimacy in Organizations’ Management Practices

Two important managerial strategies have shaped organizations’ initiatives in recent years: corporate social responsibility (CSR) and intellectual capital (IC). Organizations’ implementation of voluntary CSR practices implies a commitment that goes beyond mere actions and it constitutes a step toward securing benefits for these entities. In contrast, IC refers to a set of intangible organizational assets (i.e., human, structural, and relational capital) that are capable of providing greater value than tangible assets do. Putting both strategies into practice independently of each other is a source of competitive advantages for organizations, including more legitimacy in their sector. However, the present study sought to explore the possibility of strengthening the link between CSR and IC by integrating socially responsible practices into the configuration of each IC dimension. Thus, this research’s objective was to determine whether CSR initiatives can generate improvements in key IC components in organizations. The study included extremely diverse Spanish organizations ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to large firms, private and public companies, and organizations serving multiple purposes, such as universities—all of which were implementing CSR initiatives. The partial least squares technique was applied to estimate a structural equation model to achieve the objective. The findings include that CSR improves organizations’ IC and that the resulting competitiveness is a source of legitimacy.