Norm-based Approach Research Articles

The Experiential Carrying Capacity of a Barrier Island: A Norm-Based Approach at Cumberland Island National Seashore

Balancing the demands for recreational use against the need to preserve places is one of the most contentious and fundamental challenges of coastal area and barrier island management. This creates an inherent need to address the carrying capacity of barrier islands in a thoughtful, deliberate, informed, and defensible manner. This article describes research that assessed the experiential carrying capacity of Cumberland Island National Seashore (CUIS), which is Georgia's largest and southern-most barrier island. Continued demand for visiting this unique island has created a situation where the island's existing management quota of 300 visitors per day, established in 1984, is often reached during the peak season. Two visitor surveys, using norm-based visual research methods, were administered at CUIS to identify experiential indicators and to quantify related thresholds. Results show that the level of crowding at main attraction sites and the beach were primary indicators of the visitor experience and could inform the development of an experiential carrying capacity. Thresholds derived from survey results indicate that the current number of people within view at main attraction sites and the beach are acceptable to most visitors. This suggests that acceptability thresholds for the number of people at the site have not been violated, and therefore the number of visitors to CUIS could be modestly increased without unacceptably degrading the experience of most visitors. The management quota of 300 people per day set in 1984 now seems outdated, and the methods and results presented in this article provide some of the information needed to accurately set and manage the experiential carrying capacity of CUIS now and in the immediate future.

Formalna i materialna tożsamość systemu prawa

The aim of the article is to show that exclusively formal criteria are not sufficient to establish the identity of a legal system. The concept of identity of a legal system proposed by Joseph Raz, as a prominent representative of a positivist tradition, is presented and criticized. The more abstract, norm-based approach in legal philosophy is also criticized for neglecting the very important feature of law, which is its profound impact on human existence. The different approach to the question of the identity of the legal system, considering both formal and material criteria of identity, is proposed.

Improvement Screening for Ultra-High Dimensional Data with Censored Survival Outcomes and Varying Coefficients.

Motivated by risk prediction studies with ultra-high dimensional bio markers, we propose a novel improvement screening methodology. Accurate risk prediction can be quite useful for patient treatment selection, prevention strategy or disease management in evidence-based medicine. The question of how to choose new markers in addition to the conventional ones is especially important. In the past decade, a number of new measures for quantifying the added value from the new markers were proposed, among which the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) stand out. Meanwhile, C-statistics are routinely used to quantify the capacity of the estimated risk score in discriminating among subjects with different event times. In this paper, we will examine these improvement statistics as well as the norm-based approach for evaluating the incremental values of new markers and compare these four measures by analyzing ultra-high dimensional censored survival data. In particular, we consider Cox proportional hazards models with varying coefficients. All measures perform very well in simulations and we illustrate our methods in an application to a lung cancer study.

Computer experiments with functional inputs and scalar outputs by a norm-based approach

A framework for designing and analyzing computer experiments is presented, which is constructed for dealing with functional and scalar inputs and scalar outputs. For designing experiments with both functional and scalar inputs, a two-stage approach is suggested. The first stage consists of constructing a candidate set for each functional input. During the second stage, an optimal combination of the found candidate sets and a Latin hypercube for the scalar inputs is sought. The resulting designs can be considered to be generalizations of Latin hypercubes. Gaussian process models are explored as metamodel. The functional inputs are incorporated into the Kriging model by applying norms in order to define distances between two functional inputs. We propose the use of B-splines to make the calculation of these norms computationally feasible.

Formula omitted]-norm-based optimization for the identification of gray-box LTI state-space model parameters

In this paper, the challenging problem of determining the unknown parameters of an identifiable LTI state-space representation of a stable system is addressed by resorting to a specific H∞-norm-based optimization algorithm. More specifically, by assuming the availability of a reliable fully-parameterized representation of the system to identify, the algorithm developed herein consists in restructuring this initial black-box representation of the system dynamics via the optimization of a dedicated maximum eigenvalue-based criterion. This study shows that this H∞-norm-based approach can be seen as a good solution for the identification of gray-box LTI state-space representations and, by extension, as an interesting alternative or a reliable initialization step for the standard output-error techniques.

Simulating protection rackets: a case study of the Sicilian Mafia

Protection racketeering groups are powerful, deeply entrenched in multiple societies across the globe, and they harm the societies and economies in which they operate in multiple ways. These reasons make their dynamics important to understand and an objective of both scientific and application-oriented interest. Legal and social norm-based approaches arguably play significant roles in influencing protection racket dynamics. We propose an agent-based simulation model, the Palermo Scenario, to enrich our understanding of these influences and to test the effect of different policies on protection racket dynamics. Our model integrates the legal and the social norm-based approaches and uses a complex normative agent architecture that enables the analysis of both agents' behaviours and mental normative representations driving behaviour. We demonstrate the usefulness of the model and the benefits of using this complex normative architecture through a case study of the Sicilian Mafia.

Phraseology in Time: On the Innovative Treatment of Word Combinations in Specialised Nineteenth-Century Bilingual Dictionaries

Historically, the word phraseology has been connected with lexicography (Knappe 2004), especially with bilingual dictionaries (Moon 2000) and their norm-setting role associated with foreign-language teaching and learning. Nineteenth-century specialised bilingual lexicography seems to depart from the then usual norm-based approaches and to favour the inclusion of use-related phraseological combinations. This paper analyses the treatment of word combinations which can be referred to as ante-litteram collocations in two rather different dictionaries, namely Tarver’s Royal Phraseological English–French, French–English Dictionary (1845–53) and Nutt’s English–Italian Conversation Dictionary (1894), to see to what extent nineteenth-century specialised bilingual lexicography has marked a move away from prescriptivism and affected later studies on the lexicographical treatment of collocation and changes in the use of the word phraseology.

Commitments and interaction norms in organisations

In an organisational setting such as an online marketplace, an entity called the `organisation' or `institution' defines interaction protocols, monitors agent interaction, and intervenes to enforce the interaction protocols. The organisation might be a software system that thus regulates the marketplace, for example. In this article we abstract over application-specific protocols and consider commitment lifecycles as generic interaction protocols. We model interaction protocols by explicitly-represented norms, such that we can operationalise the enforcement of protocols by means of norm enforcement, and we can analyse the protocols by a logical analysis of the norms. We adopt insights and methods from commitment-based approaches to agent interaction as well as from norm-based approaches to agent behaviour governance. First, we show how to use explicitly-represented norms to model commitment dynamics (lifecycles). Second, we introduce an operational semantics to operationalise norm enforcement. Third, we show how to logically analyse interaction protocols by means of commitment dynamics and norm enforcement. The model, semantics, and analysis are illustrated by a running example from a vehicle insurance domain.

Error Approximation in Mesoscale Material Property Field Representations

AbstractLocally averaged random fields can be used to represent composite material properties at an intermediate scale. These types of fields provide the basis for stochastic simulation to generate nominally identical realizations of random composite microstructures to be used in reliability analysis. One challenge in choosing an appropriate local averaging technique and mesoscale length parameter is the difficulty of quantifying the accuracy of the locally averaged model. Although mesoscale models may offer advantages over the use of a representative volume element (RVE), particularly in regions of high stress gradients, mesoscale approximations do not converge to an effective medium, so the accuracy of the mesoscale representation cannot be quantified. In this paper, a matrix norm error is developed to test locally averaged material property approximations where loading is not specified a priori. This norm-based approach illustrates the advantage of local averaging over global averaging when small-scale...

The impact of masculinity on safety oversights, safety priority and safety violations in two male-dominated occupations

BackgroundAlthough men have a higher risk of occupational injuries than women the role of masculinity for organizational safety outcomes has only rarely been the object of research. AimThe current study investigated the association between masculinity and safety oversights, safety priority and safety violations in two male-dominated occupations using both a trait-based and a norm-based approach to masculinity. MethodsQuestionnaires covering trait-based (Bem Sex Role Inventory, BSRI) and norm-based (Male Role Norms Inventory – Revised, MRNI-R) measures of masculinity, three safety-related context factors (safety leadership, commitment of the safety representative, and safety involvement) and three safety-related outcome factors (safety violations, safety oversights and safety priority) were administered twice 12months apart to Danish ambulance workers (n=1157) and slaughterhouse workers (n=920). ResultsAlthough the level of masculinity differed, the same general pattern of associations was identified across the two study populations. A high score on the MRNI was associated with a higher level of safety violations and a reduced propensity to report safety oversights to supervisors. A high score on the BSRI masculinity scale was associated with a higher propensity to report safety oversights, while BSRI femininity was not associated with any of the safety measures. ConclusionNorm-based aspects of masculinity are suitable for analysing the association between masculinity and safety outcomes, whereas trait-based theories do not show strong associations with safety outcomes. ImplicationsThe association between norm-based masculinity and safety measures might be used in tailoring and developing new preventive measures that specifically address masculinity and male role norms.

“Bluewashing” the Firm? Voluntary Regulations, Program Design, and Member Compliance with the United Nations Global Compact

Voluntary programs have emerged as important instruments of public policy. We explore whether programs lacking monitoring and enforcement mechanisms can curb participants’ shirking with program obligations. Incentive-based approaches to policy see monitoring and enforcement as essential to curb shirking, while norm-based approaches view social mechanisms such as norms and learning as sufficient to serve this purpose. The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a prominent international voluntary program, encourages firms to adopt socially responsible policies. Its program design, however, relies primarily on norms and learning to mitigate shirking. Using a panel of roughly 3,000 U.S. firms from 2000 to 2010, and multiple approaches to address endogeneity and selection issues, we examine the effects of Compact membership on members’ human rights and environmental performance. We find that members fare worse than nonmembers on costly and fundamental performance dimensions, while showing improvements only in more superficial dimensions. Exploiting the lack of monitoring and enforcement, UNGC members are able to shirk: enjoying goodwill benefits of program membership without making costly changes to their human rights and environmental practices.

Korea’s Soft Power as an Alternative Approach to Africa in Development Cooperation

* The first version of this paper was presented at the Fifth European Conference on African Studies (ecas 5), which was held on June 27-29, 2013 at iscte-iul Lisboa, Portugal. I am deeply grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments on the previous drafts. This work was supported by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Research Fund of 2014. The rise of China as an emergent global power in gaining access to energy and mineral resources is one of the main factors for reinforcing Korea’s aid to Africa. Although Korea recognizes the limits of searching for ways of furthering its ‘resource diplomacy’ based primarily on economic pragmatism, the Korean government has strived to utilize foreign aid as a tool for soft power. Korea’s perspective is to play a bigger role in addressing global issues as well as to aspire in becoming a middle power, in the sense that it is not regionally influential in spite of its growing powers. Given that middle power diplomacy tends to pursue a norm-based approach and also provides knowledge and/or ideas relevant to a unique niche that it finds important, it is characteristically soft power-oriented. Taking into account the non-material or ideational factors as well as material ones, constructivists in the field of international relations (ir) recognize the power of ideas, norms, institutions, and interests, which contain the core elements of what Nye calls soft power. In this context, this paper attempts to illuminate some of the important questions as to why and how Korea has endeavored to focus on developing its soft power strategy toward Africa in the new millennium.

A probabilistic approach to the arithmetics of fuzzy numbers

An alternative look on fuzzy numbers based on two random variables and their summation and multiplication is introduced. This approach to summation covers the standard Zadeh's extension principle and triangular norm-based approach, however, it is more general. We illustrate it on some examples. Moreover, copula-based summation preserving the class of triangular (trapezoidal) fuzzy numbers is discussed.

Heterogeneity in European Research Integrity Guidance

Similar forms of misconduct are perceived differently throughout Europe. There are no extensive surveys on the guidance on research integrity in the different countries of Europe. Therefore, we performed a systematic content analysis of (biomedical) research integrity guidance documents from all the countries of the European Economic Area. We show that there is strong heterogeneity concerning research integrity guidance on crucial aspects, for example, the defining of research misconduct, at both an international and a national level. We also sought to explain why the guidance documents differ by distinguishing the approaches that underlie them. We distinguished a value-based and a norm-based approach, as well as different perspectives on trust. The current confusing situation concerning research integrity guidance hampers international research and possibly wastes research funds. We risk talking past each other, if we do not take the distinction between these underlying approaches into account.

Are Internal Heat Gains Underestimated in Thermal Performance Evaluation of Buildings?

Improving the energy performance of buildings can contribute substantially to reducing energy demand. To evaluate the useful energy demand for space heating purposes from an energy economics perspective norm-based bottom-up models are applied that capture the energy-related characteristics of buildings. As electricity demand per household attributed to appliances and lighting has increased substantially in the EU27 during the last two decades (+50%), the question arises whether the static norm-based approach is underestimating the contribution of internal heat gains to covering useful energy demand. To analyze the impact of dynamic internal heat gains in the residential sector, a bottom-up vintage model is applied that covers the EU27 building stock with a country-specific typology. This means the internal heat gains are time-dependent and heat dissipation is distinguished by appliances, lighting and residents. The analysis consists of two explorative scenarios for the residential building stock of EU27 until 2050. A reference scenario represents the static norm-based modelling of internal heat gains while the second scenario considers their dynamic development. The study reveals that the norm-based approach underestimates the contribution of internal heat gains to covering thermal heat demand. Comparing the countries throughout the EU27 climate zones indicates that on average the static and the dynamic share of internal heat gains differ in a range from 20-70% by 2050. Especially in the case of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEB), e.g. with 30 kWh/m2*a useful energy demand, the internal heat gains are about 10-15% higher using the dynamic approach compared to the norm-based approach.

An H∞-norm-based approach for operating point selection and LPV model identification from local experiments

When the identification of linear parameter-varying (LPV) models from local experiments is considered, the question of the necessary number of local operating points as well as the problem of the efficient interpolation of the locally-estimated linear time-invariant models arise. These challenging problems are tackled herein by using the H∞-norm. First, thanks to the nu-gap metric, an heuristic technique is introduced to optimize the number as well as the position of the local operating points (along a given trajectory of the scheduling variables) with respect to the information brought by the local models. Having access to a reliable set of local models, the second step of the procedure, i.e., the parameter estimation step, consists of the optimization a second H∞-norm-based cost function measuring the fit between the local information (represented by the locally-estimated LTI models) and the local behavior of a parameterized global LPV model. A special attention is given to parameterized LPV models satisfying a fully-parametrized or a physically-structured linear fractional representation.

Embeddedness and informal norms: Institutionalisms and anthropology

Institutionalisms, old and new, are multifaceted and heterogeneous but they share a desire to unshackle the economy to some extent, and open it out to an inclusive society. This gives room for a dialogue with anthropology. Two concepts are discussed here: (1) the embeddedness paradigm has been influential according two very different perspectives:economic anthropology (focusing on unequal relations) and culturalist approaches (focusing on common social values and norms), both being too unilateral and too general. (2) The informal institutions (or informal norms) issue has been promisingly raised by new-institutional economists, but the questions they posed are more interesting and stimulating than their too often formal and stereotyped answers. It is in fact between sociology of institutions on one side, anthropology of public action on the other, that the dialogue is the most fruitful, based on both sides on a strong empirical commitment, a combination of the norm-based approach and the power based approach, and an historical perspective.

Force Maximization of Biarticularly Actuated Manipulators Using Infinity Norm

There is a rising interest in biologically inspired manipulators equipped with biarticular actuators-actuators that span two joints-for solving the known limitations of conventional systems. In contrast with kinematic redundancy, actuator redundancy resulting from the presence of biarticular actuators has the added advantages of bringing more stability, reducing the inertia of the robot links, and decreasing the nonlinearity of the end effector force as a function of force direction. In this paper, the advantage of the infinity norm optimization criteria on a robot designed under the actuator redundancy paradigm is investigated. A closed form solution based on the infinity norm for a manipulator with mono- and biarticular actuators is derived. The proposed infinity norm-based approach is compared with the conventional method based on pseudoinverse matrix by both calculation and experiment. Under the same actuator limitations, the maximum end effector force produced with the proposed method is significantly greater than the one produced by the conventional method. The proposed closed form solution is suitable for redundant systems with three inputs and two outputs, bringing the advantage of an higher maximum output without the need for iterative algorithms.

A Social Constructionist Perspective on the Diffusion of Innovative Fiscal Responsibility Legislation

Compared to competitive, coercive and learning models, social constructionist theory is particularly well-suited to explaining the diffusion of policy norms across cross-country networks. This paper augments this approach with a myth perspective that is applied to an analysis of the diffusion of the qualitative fiscal norms embedded in New Zealand's innovative Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1994. The ‘prime mover’, ‘innovative discontinuity’ and ‘unmodified legislative success’ components of the agent significance myth surrounding this fiscal responsibility law (FRL) are examined and the scope and limits of its subsequent diffusion are related to mutual identification and interaction across pre-established network linkages between actors who have learnt its usefulness. The relative durability of myths compared to fads lend an unpredictability to the diffusion process, the potential limits of which are shaped by cultural and institutional factors that influence the receptiveness of governments to such norm-based approaches to fiscal discipline.

Efficient curve fitting: An application of multiobjective programming

Curve fitting is an interesting and important subject in mathematics and engineering. It has been studied extensively and a number of approaches, mostly based on polynomials and piecewise polynomials, have been employed. In the usual setting, some data points are given and one wants to find a polynomial function with the minimum violations measured by a norm in the given data points. In these approaches, norms are applied to aggregate all violations as a scalar. In this paper, the polynomial curve fitting problem is considered from the viewpoint of decision making. Taking into account some weaknesses of the norm-based approaches, a multiobjective programming model for curve fitting is given in which the violations are minimized simultaneously as a vector. This approach is more flexible for the curve fitting problem. Indeed, using the concept of efficiency in multiobjective programming, it enables us to impose some additional helpful secondary preferences. Especially, this approach can obtain a fitted curve with efficient violations and minimum average curvature or minimum average slope.