Natural Definition Research Articles

Transcending the nature-society dichotomy: A dialogue between the Sumak Kawsay and the epistemology of complexity

This transdisciplinary research aims to propose one path, among multiple paths, to transcend the nature/society dichotomy in ecological economics, through an ecology of knowledge between Sumak Kawsay—an Andean indigenous cosmovision—and the epistemology of complexity. A qualitative methodology has been used, which includes a critical revision of scholarship on Sumak Kawsay, the definition of nature, complexity, complex systems, and the epistemology of complexity. This effort points to a critique of the conception of nature held by ‘traditional science’; one that has also resulted in the nature/society dichotomy as an epistemic basis within ecological economics. Thus, an epistemic convergence between Sumak Kawsay and the epistemology of complexity is advocated not only to disregard the nature/society dichotomy in ecological economics but also to include ancestral indigenous principles and values in knowledge production. In conclusion, such a dialogue between Sumak Kawsay and the epistemology of complexity could transcend the nature/society dichotomy within ecological economics by including notions like Pacha Mama and socio-ecological systems. It also has the potential to influence science production by considering principles from ancestral knowledge that points towards community, inclusion, horizontality, complexity, interculturality, and trans-disciplinarity.

Development of the National Policy for Quality in Healthcare for Malaysia

BackgroundQuality in healthcare is a fundamental pillar of health systems performance, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced waste. The World Health Organization recommends that countries establish a national quality policy and strategy (NQPS) to steer the provision of safe and high-performing healthcare services and foster a quality culture. This paper describes the development process and key content of Malaysia’s new 5-year National Policy for Quality in Healthcare.MethodsThe development process was managed by a technical working group led by the Institute for Health Systems Research in the Ministry of Health. Situational analysis was conducted through a multi-pronged approach, underpinned by a review of the past and present healthcare sectoral and quality plans and guided by the WHO NQPS framework. This approach involved: (i) review of quality-related policy documents, (ii) online surveys of healthcare providers and the public, (iii) key-informant facilitated discussions and (iv) mapping of existing quality improvement initiatives (QIIs). Data gathered from these approaches informed the content of the new policy. Following thematic analysis, the findings were grouped into specific domains, which were then organized into a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) framework. ResultsTen key areas of concern identified were (i) a people-centred holistic approach, (ii) governance for quality, (iii) resources, (iv) quality culture, (v) stakeholder engagement, (vi) health management information system, (vii) workforce competency, (viii) knowledge exchange, (ix) quality indicators and (x) monitoring and evaluation of quality activities. These led to the formulation of seven strategic priorities for the planning of improvements aimed at addressing the key areas of concern. The national definition of quality was affirmed. A total of 40 QIIs were mapped and grouped into three broad categories, namely (i) regulatory, (ii) domain-specific QIIs and (iii) Quality Improvement (QI) method.ConclusionsThe National Policy for Quality in Healthcare for Malaysia was developed through a comprehensive situational analysis using a multi-method approach that identified priorities across national, state, institutional and community levels. This evidence-informed approach led to meaningful contextual adaptation of the NQPS framework to shape the strategic direction to advance quality and achieve effective and safe outcomes for all Malaysians.

Colloquium 3 Inclination and the Place of the Elements in De Caelo

Abstract In De Caelo III 2, Aristotle observes that each element is determined by an intrinsic principle to move to its proper place: earth downward, fire upward, and water and air to their respective places in the middle. However, how are we to determine the cause of elemental motion? Aristotle admits that this ranks among the most difficult problems (μάλιστα δ’ ἀπορεῖται) as it is directly related to the argument of Physics VIII 4, which defends the view that whatever is in motion is moved by something. The question of how the elements move is not resolved until we are presented with his definition of inclination (ῥοπή) in De Caelo IV 1. Inclination is the nature of each element to move to its proper place. Aristotle concludes that the principle of inclination is a cause of motion continuously orienting the elements toward their proper places by activating that which is potentially heavy or potentially light. In what follows, I shall demonstrate the internal coherence of Aristotle’s natural philosophy by deploying inclination as a principle of motion and rest to define the nature of each element. This account of inclination as a principle of motion is consistent with Aristotle’s definition of nature in Physics II 1. As an active principle of motion, inclination is identified with the activity (ἐνέργεια) of the element enacting and maintaining its own end (ἐντελέχεια) by being at rest in its proper place. As a passive principle of motion, inclination is identified with the passivity of the element to be moved to its proper place by another element insofar as the respective element undergoes generation or substantial change.

Constructions and equivalence of Sidon spaces

Sidon spaces have been introduced by Bachoc et al. (in: Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Cambridge University Press, 2017) as the q-analogue of Sidon sets. The interest on Sidon spaces has increased quickly, especially after the work of Roth et al. (IEEE Trans Inform Theory 64(6):4412–4422, 2017), in which they highlighted the correspondence between Sidon spaces and cyclic subspace codes. Up to now, the known constructions of Sidon Spaces may be divided in three families: the ones contained in the sum of two multiplicative cosets of a fixed subfield of mathbb {F}_{q^n}, the ones contained in the sum of more than two multiplicative cosets of a fixed subfield of mathbb {F}_{q^n} and finally the ones obtained as the kernel of subspace polynomials. In this paper, we will mainly focus on the first class of examples, for which we provide characterization results and we will show some new examples, arising also from some well-known combinatorial objects. Moreover, we will give a quite natural definition of equivalence among Sidon spaces, which relies on the notion of equivalence of cyclic subspace codes and we will discuss about the equivalence of the known examples.

Why Aristotle Can’t Do without Intelligible Matter

I argue that intelligible matter, for Aristotle, is what makes mathematical objects quantities and divisible in their characteristic way. On this view, the intelligible matter of a magnitude is a sensible object just insofar as it has dimensional continuity, while that of a number is a plurality just insofar as it consists of indivisibles that measure it. This interpretation takes seriously Aristotle's claim that intelligible matter is the matter of mathematicals generally – not just of geometricals. I also show that intelligible matter has the same meaning in all three places where it is explicitly invoked: Z.10, Z.11, and H.6. Since the H.6 passage involves a mathematical definition, this requires determining what the mathematician defines and how she defines it. I show that, as with natural scientific definitions, there must be a matterlike element in mathematical definitions. This element is not identical with, but rather refers to, intelligible matter.

Phase spaces that cannot be cloned in classical mechanics

The quantum no cloning theorem is an essential result in quantum information theory. Following this idea, we give a physically natural definition of cloning in the context of classical mechanics using symplectic geometry, building on work of A. Fenyes, J. Math. Phys. 53, 012902 (2012). We observe, following Fenyes, any system with phase space (R2N,dxi∧dyi) can be cloned in our definition. However, we show that if (M, ω) can be cloned in our definition, then M must be contractible. For instance, this shows the simple pendulum cannot be cloned in Hamiltonian mechanics. We further formulate a robust notion of approximate cloning, and show that if (M, ω) can be approximately cloned, then M is contractible. We give interpretations of our results and in some special cases reconcile our no cloning theorems with the general experience that classical information is clonable. Finally we point to new directions of research, including a connection of our result with the classical measurement problem.

Overriding the rules of international tax treaties by the means of the national law of one of the parties (“Tax treaty override”)

Subject of research. The article is dedicated to the “tax treaty override”; it outlines debatable aspects, associated herewith. “Tax treaty override” is an action (in certain cases - omission of action) to expand taxation beyond (jurisdictional boundaries), defined in double taxation agreements which is implemented mainly through the intentional alteration of national legis-lation. The correlation between national and international legal norms has major impact upon the agreements on double taxation of income taking into account that many states including Russia are participants to the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting 2016, which modifies rules of the men-tioned agreements and therefore begets a large number of possible collisions.Goal of the article. The goal of the article is to demonstrate that even if constitutional pro-visions don’t prevent the adoption of legislation on taxes and charges in contradiction with international obligations – that doesn’t imply that the latter lack legal significance. The goal also includes revealing specific features of double taxation agreements one of which is deep integration with domestic tax legislation that doesn’t stand still, but is evolving constantly. Methods of research. The preparation phase included the following research methods: formallogical analysis, system-based analysis, description, juxtaposition, synthesis and summarizing.Basic outcomes. The author draws a conclusion that the alteration (expansion) of tax jurisdiction which impacts i.a. the contents of tax residents’ rights of one or both treaty countries (party countries, treaty states) is actually the essence of tax treaty override. The main objectives of regulatory impact are jurisdictional capabilities (distributive rules) of states and tax reliefs for residents (individuals for the tax agreements). The phenomenon under consideration represents an artificially generated collision between the provisions of tax treaties and more recent norms of domestic legislation of one of the countries subject to a tax agreement, while the mentioned issue should be resolved in favor of domestic regulations. The main goals of regulatory impact include: jurisdictional capabilities of states (dis-tributive rules) and tax reliefs or benefits for residents (individuals for the tax agreements). Tax treaty override emerges when a provision of a law prevails and cannot be overridden by the means of tax agreements, including the test of correspondence between a national legal definition and the agreement context. At the same time legal changes that have prevailing power may correspond with international law (reasonable protection of national tax base) since the treaty states seek to eliminate double taxation without creating possibility of taxation freedom or reduction of taxation through tax avoidance and tax evasion.

Identifying the Concepts and Structures Related to Psychopathology with an Islamic Approach

Introduction: Various psychotherapy systems have provided definitions for pathology based on their definition of human nature. Islam is the most complete religion and includes all aspects of human life; therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of identifying and analyzing the concepts and structures related to psychopathology with an Islamic approach.
 Methods: The present study is qualitative, using data-driven theory (grounded theory). After examining the verses of the Quran and related texts, the concepts were categorized and coded. In order to extract the concepts and structures related to psychopathology, the concepts were categorized using open, axial, (selective) coding method.
 Results: After reviewing Quranic verses and related texts, categorized concepts and similar themes were placed in the final category as a code. After categorizing the codes, we obtained 173 codes, 22 sub-themes, and 4 main themes. Sub-themes included heart disease, disease, zigzag, madness, ignorance, affliction, khabal, idiot, copper, rhinoceros, zig-zag, rib, ghafl, lock, stupidity, overdoing , underdoing, nature, termination, polytheism, hypocrisy, doubt, worldliness and mamonism. The main themes that emerged from the heart of these sub-themes are: ignorance, sick heart, naturalism, affliction.
 Conclusion: Based on the findings of our research, we found the constructs of ignorance, sick heart, naturalism and affliction, and its sub-themes that can help us in diagnosing psychological injuries. These structures are derived from the verses of the Quran and hadiths and can be used for all people at all times.

Phase transitions and critical phenomena for the FRW universe in an effective scalar-tensor theory

We find phase transitions and critical phenomena in cosmic thermodynamics. We derive the thermodynamic pressure (generalized force) P of the FRW (Friedmann–Robertson–Walker) universe in an effective higher order scalar-tensor theory with the work density W of a perfect fluid, which is a natural definition directly read out from the first law of thermodynamics. By this identification, we further construct an equation of state P=P(V,T) for the FRW universe and make a thorough discussion of its P−V phase transitions and critical phenomena. Impressively, we find that the coexistence phases of the phase transitions appear above the critical temperature, which is different from that of van der Waals system and most of black holes system. In the end, we calculate the critical exponents near the criticality of FRW universe and show that they are universal and are independent of the details of the physical system although the thermodynamic quantities depend on the coupling parameters.

Cutoffs and Characteristics of Abnormal Bowel Dilatation in Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome.

Although excessive intestinal dilatation associates with worsened outcomes in pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS), little is known about the natural history and definition of pathological dilatation. We addressed fore-, mid-, and hind-gut dilatation in children with SBS, who had not undergone autologous intestinal reconstructive (AIR) surgery, in relation to controls. SBS children without history of AIR surgery (n = 59) and age-matched controls without any disclosed intestinal pathology (n = 140) were included. Maximum diameter of duodenum, small bowel (SB), and colon were measured in each intestinal contrast series during 2002 to 2020 and expressed as diameter ratio (DR) to L5 vertebrae height. Predictive ability of DR for weaning off parenteral nutrition (PN) was analyzed with Cox proportional hazards regression models using multiple cutoffs. Duodenum (DDR), SB (SBDR), and colon (CDR) DR were 53%, 183%, and 23% higher in SBS patients compared to controls ( P < 0.01 for all). The maximal DDR and SBDR measured during follow-up is associated with current PN dependence and young age. DDR correlated with SBDR ( r = 0.586, P < 0.01). Patients with maximal DDR less than 1.5, which was also the 99th percentile for controls, were 2.5-fold more likely to wean off PN ( P = 0.005), whereas SBDR and CDR were not predictive for PN duration. All segments of remaining bowel, especially SB, dilate above normal levels in children with SBS. In SBS children without AIR surgery, PN dependence and young age is associated with duodenal and small intestinal dilatation, while duodenal dilatation also predicted prolonged PN.

Public participation in nuclear waste storage and disposal: a comparative analysis of German and US approaches

Abstract. The national nuclear waste management programs of Germany and the United States of America currently both find themselves at critical junctures. The US government is reviving its efforts for consent-based siting of a consolidated interim nuclear waste storage facility (, ), in the momentary absence of, but with future hope for, a viable permanent disposal solution for the nation's nuclear waste. Germany is in the process of implementing legal directives to find a final disposal site for its nuclear waste that meets high safety standards (BASE, 2022), while further developing its strategy for public participation in the process (Weißpflug et al., 2022). The two national contexts exhibit significant differences in political systems, historical trajectories, institutional roles, and societal structure, as well as attitudes towards nuclear energy and radioactive waste disposal strategies (Richter et al., 2022; Saraç-Lesavre, 2021; Joppke, 1993; Blattmann et al., 2023). However, respective approaches to public participation in managing and disposing of nuclear waste exhibit some commonalities in motivations, strategies, and goals. What can policy audiences in both countries learn from the respective national nuclear waste management programs, creating the potential for participatory processes to be more adaptive, responsive, and flexible to a diversity of values and social actors? How do the findings from the comparative analysis of US and German cases translate into policy-relevant lessons for other national waste management programs engaging with the design of participatory processes and nuclear waste governance frameworks? We offer a systematic comparative analysis of the foundations and rationale of the US and German programs for nuclear waste disposal. We aim to illuminate conceptual and empirical contrasts and comparisons between the two nations' engagement of the public in the storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel, leading to nationally appropriate policy-relevant insights. Categories for analysis include national disposal goals, historical trajectories, institutional setup, and definition of partners in participation processes. Through comparison and contrast of these categories across the two nations, we allow for deeper insight into the conditions, frameworks, and assumptions in which policy makers operate and can draw from Hopkin (2010). This discussion will identify and compare relevant knowledge, narratives, and legal frameworks in each nation's approach to incorporating public participation in the process of searching for a site to store or dispose of nuclear waste. We encourage reflection and learning through comparing and contrasting core principles of these two cases, with the aim of maximizing avenues of mutual learning towards responsible, safe, and democratic nuclear waste management.

Validation of Claims-Based Algorithm for Lyme Disease, Massachusetts, USA.

Compared with notifiable disease surveillance, claims-based algorithms estimate higher Lyme disease incidence, but their accuracy is unknown. We applied a previously developed Lyme disease algorithm (diagnosis code plus antimicrobial drug prescription dispensing within 30 days) to an administrative claims database in Massachusetts, USA, to identify a Lyme disease cohort during July 2000-June 2019. Clinicians reviewed and adjudicated medical charts from a cohort subset by using national surveillance case definitions. We calculated positive predictive values (PPVs). We identified 12,229 Lyme disease episodes in the claims database and reviewed and adjudicated 128 medical charts. The algorithm's PPV for confirmed, probable, or suspected cases was 93.8% (95% CI 88.1%-97.3%); the PPV was 66.4% (95% CI 57.5%-74.5%) for confirmed and probable cases only. In a high incidence setting, a claims-based algorithm identified cases with a high PPV, suggesting it can be used to assess Lyme disease burden and supplement traditional surveillance data.

A tandem of GC‐MS and electroanalysis for a rapid chemical profiling of bacterial extracellular matrix

AbstractHerein an assay toward a rapid and reliable profiling of extracellular matrix of Escherichia coli (E. coli) utilizing a tandem of GC‐MS as a tool for definition of the exact chemical nature of low molecular weight compounds and cyclic voltammetry for their high throughput detection is presented.Briefly, during a set of investigations the formation of glycerol in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of E. coli at physiological relevant conditions of cells was revealed. Based on the obtained knowledge, the electrochemical protocol allowing both qualitative and quantitative analyses of glycerol in E. coli ECMs at palladium ink‐modified screen printed electrodes with precision values (RSD) &lt;10 % and recovery rates ranged from 98 % to 102 % was proposed.The provided protocol for a rapid electrochemical profiling of the bacterial ECMs can readily be used as a guideline for the controlled electroanalysis of target electroactive signaling analytes in complex biological samples.

ON SOFT RING AND SOFT TOPOLOGICAL RING

Soft set theory is an affective mathematical tool to solve problems that involves uncertainties. Despite the development in the theoretical structure of soft sets, researchers did not make consensus formulation of soft element. In this study soft ring is redefined by the help of soft operation which are based on a natural definition of soft element. This new soft ring definition is compared with the soft ring definition in the literature. Some examples, results and theorems are given to enrich the concept of soft ring. Also soft topological ring structure which is a harmonization of soft ring and soft topology is studied with some results.

A sheaf-theoretic approach to tropical homology

We introduce a sheaf-theoretic approach to tropical homology, especially for tropical homology with potentially non-compact supports. Our setup is suited to study the functorial properties of tropical homology, and we show that it behaves analogously to classical Borel-Moore homology in the sense that there are proper push-forwards, cross products, and cup products with tropical cohomology classes, and that it satisfies identities like the projection formula and the Künneth theorem. Our framework allows for a natural definition of the tropical cycle class map, which we show to be a natural transformation. Finally, we characterize the rational polyhedral spaces that satisfy Poincaré-Verdier duality as those that are smooth.

Adherence to interdisciplinary tumor board recommendations as an expression of quality-assured patient care: results of a bicentric German analysis

PurposeInterdisciplinary tumor boards (ITBs) represent a central part of standard cancer care defining a guidelines-guided treatment plan adapted to the patient’s capabilities, comorbidities and wishes in a multi-professional team. The implementation rate of ITB recommendations can be monitored by structured adherence analyses. But (inter)national definitions how to measure the level of implementation are missing. Here, we present results of 4 years of ITB adherence analyses in a bicentric German Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC).MethodsBetween 2018 and 2021, for at least 1 month, the implementation rate of recommendations of 8 different ITBs of 2 CCC sites was evaluated manually according to harmonized criteria between both sites regarding the degree of implementation of ITB’s recommendations.ResultsIn total, 1104 cases were analyzed (65% male, 35% female). Mean distance from patient’s home to the CCC was 57 km (range 0.8–560.6 km). For 949 cases (86%) with known follow-up, the adherence rate was 91.9% (95% CI 0.9; 0.935). In 8.1%, ITB decisions were not implemented due to medical reasons (45.4%), patient’s wish (35.1%) and unknown reasons (19.5%). Logistic regression revealed neither age (OR = 0.998, p = 0.90), nor gender (OR = 0.98, p = 0.92) or the distance from patient’s home to the CCC (OR = 1.001, p = 0.54) were significantly associated with ITB adherence.ConclusionITB adherences analyses can serve as a quality management tool to monitor the implementation rate of ITB recommendations and to stay in contact with practitioners, other hospitals and state cancer registries to share data and resources in accordance with data protection requirements for continuously improvement of quality management and patient care.

What is the Fourier Transform of a Spatial Point Process?

This paper determines how to define a discretely implemented Fourier transform when analysing an observed spatial point process. To develop this transform we answer four questions; first what is the natural definition of a Fourier transform, and what are its spectral moments, second we calculate fourth order moments of the Fourier transform using Campbell’s theorem. Third we determine how to implement tapering, an important component for spectral analysis of other stochastic processes. Fourth we answer the question of how to produce an isotropic representation of the Fourier transform of the process. This determines the basic spectral properties of an observed spatial point process.

Rowmotion on 321-Avoiding Permutations

We give a natural definition of rowmotion for $321$-avoiding permutations, by translating, through bijections involving Dyck paths and the Lalanne--Kreweras involution, the analogous notion for antichains of the positive root poset of type $A$. We prove that some permutation statistics, such as the number of fixed points, are homomesic under rowmotion, meaning that they have a constant average over its orbits.&#x0D; Our setting also provides a more natural description of the celebrated Armstrong--Stump--Thomas equivariant bijection between antichains and non-crossing matchings in types $A$ and $B$, by showing that it is equivalent to the Robinson--Schensted--Knuth correspondence on $321$-avoiding permutations permutations.

Healthcare Services for Asylum-Seekers: Untangling the European Social Charter.

Asylum-seekers, like any population, need healthcare services, yet national laws sometimes restrict access to such services. The European Social Charter (revised) protects the right to health and medical services. However, the Charter has a complex application, and its scope is limited concerning foreigners. This article analyses to what extent the provisions of the Charter on the right to health and medical assistance apply to adult asylum-seekers. It shows that the Charter may apply to various degrees to asylum-seekers depending on several circumstances, such as the national definition of residence or regular work, grounds for seeking asylum, citizenship or lack thereof. Depending on these factors, some asylum-seekers may receive full healthcare services, whereas others may have only limited rights. The article shows that the migrant statuses created by national and EU law do not fit in the system of statuses in the Charter, which might produce legal hindrances to accessing health-related rights for asylum-seekers. The article also discusses the possible ways for the European Committee of Social Rights to further expand the scope of the Charter's application.

Legal Nature of the Institution of Rendition (Extradition) of a Person for Criminal Prosecution or Sentence

The article is devoted to the study of a sharply debatable legal problem – the problem of the legal nature of the institution of rendition (extradition) of a person for criminal prosecution or execution of a sentence and its place in the system of law. The definition of the legal nature of any institution is of fundamental importance, because it determines its essential properties and relevant place in the legal system. In the theory of law, various judgments have been expressed on this issue. They can be summarized to seven positions, each of them is analyzed and assessed. A number of legal scholars proceed from the affiliation of the institution of rendition (extradition) to a certain branch of law (international, international criminal, criminal, criminal procedure). The author of the article adheres to the position on the polysystemic nature of the institution of rendition (extradition), on the basis that it cannot be referred to only one branch of law, since it is most closely interconnected with a number of branches of law: international, state, criminal, criminal procedure. The institution of extradition is also assessed in terms of the currently emerging new branches of the modern legal system – international criminal law and international criminal procedure law. The article criticizes the judgment that extradition is an independent institution in relation to international cooperation and international legal assistance. The author›s position in this matter is based on the fact that the institution of rendition (extradition) is a type of international assistance, which is an integral part of international cooperation regulated by international legal treaties and national legislation.