Modal Concepts Research Articles

Legal risk, legal evidence and the arithmetic of criminal justice

ABSTRACTIt is argued that the standard way that the criminal justice debate regarding the permissible extent of wrongful convictions is cast is fundamentally flawed. In particular, it is claimed that there is an inherent danger in focussing our attention in this debate on different ways of measuring the probabilistic likelihood of wrongful conviction and then evaluating whether these probabilities are unacceptably high. This is because such probabilistic measures are clumsy ways of capturing the level of risk involved, to the extent that a defendant can be subject to an unacceptably high level of legal risk in this regard even where the relevant probabilities are very low. An alternative conception of legal risk – one that is primarily cast along modal rather than probabilistic lines – is set out which offers a much better way of framing the debate regarding what would be an acceptable level of wrongful conviction. It is further argued that with this modal conception of legal risk in play we can capture an important necessary condition that should be imposed on legal evidence, one that has application beyond the context of the criminal trial.

Frustration, culmination, and inertia in Kimaragang grammar

The FRUSTRATIVE particle in Kimaragang marks unrealized expectations or intentions, counterfactuals, etc. Copley & Harley (2010) propose a unified account for frustratives, non-culminating accomplishments (‘I killed the snake but it didn’t die’) and the “imperfective paradox”, based on Dowty’s (1979) concept of “inertia”. I argue that this analysis makes the wrong predictions for Kimaragang. The distribution of frustratives and non-culminating accomplishments in Kimaragang reveals a number of differences not predicted by the Copley & Harley analysis. These differences in distribution reflect in part a difference in the kind of expectation that is involved. In non-culminating accomplishments, the unachieved result is specified by the meaning of the verb, whereas frustrative clauses may involve expectations that are based on cultural factors, knowledge of the world, etc. I sketch out an alternative analysis of Kimaragang frustratives which treats expectation and intention as modal concepts.

Advanced intraoperative imaging

There are several unique features of the concept of advanced intraoperative imaging modalities with CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnet resonance imaging) and DSA (digital substraction angiography) inaugurated in one operating tract. For the first time, there is the opportunity to switch from postoperative to intraoperative imaging – when the surgeon can not only check the result of surgery but improve it – but in general, that is, for all specialties, at least theoretically. Intraoperative imaging is a broad term with many technologies already in routine use today, such as image intensifier, ultrasound, fluorescence technologies, and soon. Using intra-operative CT, MRI, and DSA is not indisputable. Does the benefit justify such immense costs, both in building and in maintenance? To evaluate the clinical benefit and possible drawbacks of these technologies and if there's a substantial benefit for the patients. Also, this is a review of literature to evaluate the evidence and clinical impact of advanced intraoperative imaging in neurosurgery. There is one prospective randomized trial showing that intraoperative MRI increases the extent of resection. In spine surgery, there are several randomized trials showing that pedicle screws are inserted more accurately when image guidance is used. However, there is no RCT comparing navigation with intraoperative CT-updated navigation. Several prospective studies are showing that intraoperative DSA is able to identify vascular remnants or vessel occlusions in case of aneurysm-, arteriovenous malformation-and arteriovenous fistula-surgery. A fair comparison of the benefit of these new technologies must take into consideration that other methods of intraoperative imaging or image guidance already exist. Hence, there are some patients in whom the use of the more advanced technologies makes a personal, individual difference that may affect quality of life and survival. We have to differentiate between (1) the best diagnostic procedure and (2) the term “standard of care.” Advanced intraoperative imaging is a gold standard in terms of imaging but not a standard of care.

Finean essence, local necessity, and pure logical properties

Since Kit Fine published his famous counter-examples to the modal account of essence, numerous modalists have proposed to avoid the counter-examples by revising the modal account. A sophisticated revision has been put forward by Fabrice Correia. Drawing on themes from Prior’s modality, Correia has introduced a nonstandard conception of metaphysical modality and has proposed to analyze essence in its terms. He has claimed that the analysis is immune to Fine’s counter-examples. In this paper, I argue that there are counter-examples supported by the very intuition underlying Fine’s counter-examples, which are not accommodated by Correia’s account. If my argument is sound, then Correia has not been successful in his defense of modalism. An important corollary of my argument will be that Fine’s consequential conception of essence needs to be modified if it is to capture his own intuitive notion of essence.

Linguistic asymmetry, egocentric anchoring, and sensory modality as factors for the observed association between time and space perception.

Temporal and spatial representations have been consistently shown to be inextricably intertwined. However, the exact nature of time-space mapping remains unknown. On the one hand, the conceptual metaphor theory postulates unilateral, asymmetric mapping of time onto space, that is, time is perceived in spatial terms but the perception of space is relatively independent of time. On the other hand, a theory of magnitude assumes bilateral and symmetric interactions between temporal and spatial perceptions. In the present paper, we argue that the concepts of linguistic asymmetry, egocentric anchoring, and sensory modality provide potential explanations for why evidences favoring both asymmetry and symmetry have been obtained. We first examine the asymmetry model and suggest that language plays a critical role in it. Next, we discuss the symmetry model in relation to egocentric anchoring and sensory modality. We conclude that since these three factors may jointly account for some conflicting past results regarding the strength and directionality of time-space mapping, they should be taken into serious consideration in future test designs.

Quantum state atomic force microscopy

New classical modalities of atomic force microscopy continue to emerge to achieve higher spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution for nanometrology of materials. Here, we introduce the concept of a quantum mechanical modality that capitalizes on squeezed states of probe displacement. We show that such squeezing is enabled nanomechanically when the probe enters the van der Waals regime of interaction with a sample. The effect is studied in the non-contact mode, where we consider the parameter domains characterizing the attractive regime of the probe-sample interaction force.

Historical Introduction to Nicolai Hartmann’s Concept of Possibility

In his article “The Megarian and Aristotelian Concept of Possibility” (“Der Megarische und der Aristotelische Moglichkeitsbegriff,” 1937), Nicolai Hartmann attempts to revive an interpretation of the conception of possibility of the Megarians that stood in opposition to the Aristotelian conception of possibility and thus in opposition to the Aristotelian conception of modality in general. In this introduction, I undertake to situate Hartmann’s article in its historical context. Did Hartmann come to adopt this thesis through his study of ancient Greek philosophy? Or did he already have a predilection for the Megarian conception of possibility prior to this? If so, how did this predilection come about? Was there an influence from his friend Vasily Sesemann, who published an article discussing the Megarians the previous year? Or were both Hartmann and Sesemann influenced early on by their mutual Russian teacher Nikolai Lossky, or even by a general tendency pervading Russian thought—itself grounded in the fatalism typical of the Russian collective unconscious—as we find it expressed in the philosophy of Vladimir Solovyov, Lev Tolstoy, and other Russian thinkers?

Kant on Modalities and Justification

Abstract:This paper studies the Kantian conception of modality of judgement. After making some general considerations about the text following the table of the forms of judgement, I will take an historical perspective which will point out that the central concept for the definition of the modality of judgement is the copula. Then, after explaining the distinction between two conceptions of the copula, namely the formal conception and the transcendental one, I will argue for the second one. Finally, I will define each of the three modalities of judgement in relation to the justification the judger is able to give for her judgement.

QUASI-MODALS IN BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

In daily use of language, speakers need to use certain linguistic units to convey messages to the interlocutors. To assert non-factual condition, there are modality markers as parts of language elements. English grammar marks the modality concept by means of modal verbs, adverbs, adjective, conditional sentence, and the like. Regarding modal verbs, one of them is quasi-modal. This paper then examines quasi-modals in English. However, talking about English cannot be separated from its regional varieties. This research thus aims to describe the differences of quasi-modals in British English and American English. To complete the research, it attempts to reveal the factors triggering the differences.

Justifications of citizens’ subject positions in public debates on welfare

Foucault’s work has inspired studies examining how subject positions are constructed for citizens of the welfare state that encourage them to adopt the subject position of active and responsible people or consumers. Yet these studies are often criticised for analysing these subject positions as coherent constructions without considering how their construction varies from one situation to another. This paper develops the concept of subject position in relation to the theory of justification and the concept of modality in order to achieve a more sensitive and nuanced analysis of the politics of welfare in public debates. The theory of justification places greater weight on actors’ competence in social situations. It helps to reveal how justifications and critiques of welfare policies are based on the skilful contextual combination of diverse normative bases. The concept of modality, in turn, makes it possible to elaborate how subject positions in justifications and critiques of welfare policies become associated with specific kinds of values. We demonstrate the approach by using public debates on children’s day care in Finland. The analysis illustrates how subject positions are justified in relation to different kinds of worlds and made persuasive by connecting them to commonly desirable rights, responsibilities, competences or abilities.

“The Final Word”?: The Qur?an and Karl Rahner in Dialogue

Muslim-Christian conversation has historically broken down over three Qur’anic objections to Christian doctrine. The Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Crucifixion all seem to be repudiated in Islamic scripture. Karl Rahner, one of the Catholic scholars who drove Vatican II’s theological agenda, did not comment much on Islam, so putting him in dialogue with a tradition about which he was relatively uniformed might initially seem strange. Nevertheless, and perhaps because of his distance from Islam, his thought might allow fresh angles with which to approach these core difficulties. In particular, his concept of divine modalities—which for him render Christianity “radically” monotheistic—makes him a useful dialogue partner for Islam, one of whose primary tenants is that God is one and not three. His focus on Logos theology gives him an inroad to the Qur’anic explanation of Christ as “the word of God.” Finally, his “theology from below” allows for an experiential rather than metaphysical understanding of God’s presence amongst humanity. This paper offers a Rahnerian grounding from which to approach the doctrine of God in Muslim-Christian dialogue.

La metafísica modal de Leibniz: su fundamentación de la contingencia hacia 1686 y su concepción integral de madurez

<p class='p1'>Si Dios es la razón suficiente del mundo, entonces parece seguirse que todos los eventos son consecuencia necesaria de un ser necesario. Para evadir esta conclusión, Leibniz formula en la década de 1670 una concepción modal que funda la contingencia en un rasgo lógico eintrínseco de las ideas de las cosas: la posibilidad de concebir la idea contraria sin contradicción. Hacia 1686, Leibniz complementa esta primera concepción con lo que considera su solución definitiva al problema de la contingencia: la teoría del análisis infinito. Sin embargo, en otros escritos de ese año, propone dos vías alternativas de fundamentación de la contingencia. Este trabajo sugiere que esa pluralidad de modelos explicativos converge en una concepción integral de las modalidades que subyace como trasfondo de la reflexión modal leibniziana. </p>

Circularly Polarized Annular Ring Microstrip Antenna for High Gain Application

ABSTRACTDesign, simulation and measurement of high gain annular ring microstrip antenna with L-shaped strip for circular polarization is presented. The simulated and experimental results are obtained using Ansoft’s commercially available High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS, Brookfield WI) software and the Agilen (Santa Clara, CA) vector network analyzer (N5230A.PNA-L), respectively. Parametric study of input characteristics of the proposed antenna is carried out using modal expansion cavity model and circuit theory concept. Theoretical, simulated, and measured results show good accord between each other. For the TM12 mode, measured results illustrated an impedance bandwidth and axial ratio bandwidth of 28.20 and 10.4%, respectively. With high gain, low profile, good radiation pattern, and simple structure, it can find potential industrial application in X-band to communicate between peripherals with each other.

Modality annotation for Portuguese: from manual annotation to automatic labeling

We investigate modality in Portuguese and we combine a linguistic perspective with an application-oriented perspective on modality. We design an annotation scheme reflecting theoretical linguistic concepts and apply this schema to a small corpus sample to show how the scheme deals with real world language usage. We present two schemas for Portuguese, one for spoken Brazilian Portuguese and one for written European Portuguese. Furthermore, we use the annotated data not only to study the linguistic phenomena of modality, but also to train a practical text mining tool to detect modality in text automatically. The modality tagger uses a machine learning classifier trained on automatically extracted features from a syntactic parser. As we only have a small annotated sample available, the tagger was evaluated on 11 modal verbs that are frequent in our corpus and that denote more than one modal meaning. Finally, we discuss several valuable insights into the complexity of the semantic concept of modality that derive from the process of manual annotation of the corpus and from the analysis of the results of the automatic labeling: ambiguity and the semantic and syntactic properties typically associated to one modal meaning in context, and also the interaction of modality with negation and focus. The knowledge gained from the manual annotation task leads us to propose a new unified scheme for modality that applies to the two Portuguese varieties and covers both written and spoken data.

성경 히브리어 동사의 양태 특성 소고

This article provides a comprehensive description of the Biblical Hebrew verbal system that focuses on the value of modal concept. Until recently, some Hebraists insisted that the verbal system of classical Hebrew is tense-prominent, but scholars at the opposing end disputed the theory, and insisted it as aspect-prominent. In this context, some scholars suggest a new syntactic and pragmatic perspectives in the light of common understanding of tense, aspect and modality. I demonstrate that the value of modality is absolutely indispensible in understanding the functions of verbal conjugations of Biblical Hebrew: qatal, yiqtol, wayyiqtol, weqatal and weyiqtol. As far as the verbal system is concerned, it is true that verbal forms could carry the value of tense, aspect, and modality. But as Joosten, Hatav, Warren, and Andrason insist, epistemic and deontic modality gives various new perspectives to solve complex issues of the yiqtol and waw-consecutive weqatal forms. I propose that deontic and epistemic modality contributes to accurate identification of the meaning of yiqtol and weqatal. Furthermore, with regard to the qatal form, Hebraists generally advocate that the qatal expresses the meaning of indicative past and also the value of resultative construction, but sometimes the qatal conceptually could be shown to be modal, involving the remaining dominant sense of propositional/evidential modality. In this respect, I propose that the modal concept should be considered in the semantic and pragmatic categories of Biblical Hebrew verbal system.

Субъективная модальность в художественном тексте: феноменологический статус и прагматический потенциал

Donskova Ekaterina Yurievna The article deals with the basic characteristics of objective modality that specifies its status of text-forming categories. In light of the existing concepts of modality it is set the parameters of subjective modality in the art text, it emphasizes its axiological character. Initial opposition to an assessment and self-describing estimates and reveals in a literary text the whole range of modal values and reveal the pragmatic potential of this phenomenon. Synthesis of objective and subjective modality in the structure appears in the unity and cooperation of the general linguistic, national and individual copyright and personally. Subjective modality allows for a pragmatic and suggestive potential of a literary text to includ multi-level relations, “the author - the narrator - character.” A consistent description of subjective modality can be carried out from the standpoint of establishing the relationship of the speaker to be reported. The pragmatic potential of subjective modality in the art text deterministic description of the object and intention of the author, objectified at the level of the author / modality of character. Key words : subjective modality, pragmatic potential, fiction, assessment, producient, recipient.

Semantic Event Fusion of Different Visual Modality Concepts for Activity Recognition.

Combining multimodal concept streams from heterogeneous sensors is a problem superficially explored for activity recognition. Most studies explore simple sensors in nearly perfect conditions, where temporal synchronization is guaranteed. Sophisticated fusion schemes adopt problem-specific graphical representations of events that are generally deeply linked with their training data and focused on a single sensor. This paper proposes a hybrid framework between knowledge-driven and probabilistic-driven methods for event representation and recognition. It separates semantic modeling from raw sensor data by using an intermediate semantic representation, namely concepts. It introduces an algorithm for sensor alignment that uses concept similarity as a surrogate for the inaccurate temporal information of real life scenarios. Finally, it proposes the combined use of an ontology language, to overcome the rigidity of previous approaches at model definition, and a probabilistic interpretation for ontological models, which equips the framework with a mechanism to handle noisy and ambiguous concept observations, an ability that most knowledge-driven methods lack. We evaluate our contributions in multimodal recordings of elderly people carrying out IADLs. Results demonstrated that the proposed framework outperforms baseline methods both in event recognition performance and in delimiting the temporal boundaries of event instances.

Modal energy balance approach for seismic performance evaluation of building structures considering nonlinear behaviour

This paper presents an improved seismic evaluation method based on modal energy balance concept. The capacity spectrum for the structure is converted into energy capacity curve and the demand spectrum for the structure is converted into energy demand curve. The energy capacity curve is combined with energy demand curve and energy performance points are obtained at their intersections. Seismic evaluation of the one-storey, three-storey, five-storey, and seven-storey reinforced concrete building frames has been carried out using the proposed method. The results obtained from the proposed method are compared with those obtained from conventional capacity spectrum method as well as time-history analysis. The results show that the proposed method can be used effectively for seismic evaluation of structures. Like Leelataviwat’s method, the proposed method is also based on energy concept; the advantage of the proposed method over the Leelataviwat’s method is that the proposed method can be more comprehensively and easily applied to the practical analysis.

Modalities and Bribe Offers: Making Sense of Post-Soviet Corruption

Why villagers in Azerbaijan prefer to invest in building mosques and cemeteries rather than schools and kindergartens? Why the Azerbaijani government's sudden decision to outlaw food or other treat in funeral ceremonies is important? Why insurance is not perceived as a sphere of business by the Azerbaijani population? This article is able to pose and asnwers the questions through a novel methodology of political culture analysis - the concept of modalities. Focusing on the analysis of attitudes toward and practice of bribe offers by the population in the post-Soviet states, we argue that corruption is associated with imbalance within pairs of psychological modalities of Symbol and Content, Local and Global, Passive and Active. Government's selective focus on bureaucratic graft neglects formidable argument that the problem of corruption is tightly woven into political culture of a post-Soviet society. Simple administrative measures cannot overcome fundamental value orientations within a society.

A Cross-Sectional Investigation of the Development of Modality in English Language Learners’ Writing: A Corpus-Driven Study

The present research investigated the development of English modality in the written discourse of Arab second language (L2) English learners across six levels of English proficiency. Two hundred texts were randomly selected from each of the six levels resulting in a total of 1,200 texts. Following the concept-oriented approach (CoA) to second language acquisition (SLA), modal expressions were analyzed for frequency, type and combinations of modal auxiliaries and verbs. Results indicate that initially learners express the concept of modality with limited linguistic means at their disposal such as over reliance on the primary modals can and will. Expression of this semantic concept becomes more productive and variant as learners progress in their language proficiency. More forms and types of modal expressions emerge and learners make clear distinctions between forms and meanings.