Positive Notion Research Articles

Economics as ideological discourse practice: a Gramsci-Foucault-Lacan approach to analysing power/knowledge regimes of subjectivation

ABSTRACT Ideology analyses play an important role in Cultural Discourse Studies because they investigate complex meaning production within various political systems and power structures. The notion of ideology can be analysed in different dimensions. Whereas Marx and Engels proposed a negative as well as a positive conception of ideology, sociologists such as Mannheim understood ideologies as sets of ideas and general world views. Some scholars in Discourse Studies seem to follow a conception of ideology that is located in-between Mannheim’s conception and Marx’s negative idea of ‘false consciousness’. In this paper we define ideology as a political discourse practice devoted to exerting power and influence. Following Marx’s positive notion, ideology is seen as a modality that regulates the relationship between the subject and a specific system of knowledge related to political action. Here, ideology refers to discourses as knowledge/ power regimes where the political-power aspect is suppressed through the subjectivation process itself. Following Gramsci, Foucault and Lacan, our theoretical framework helps us to analyse ideological discourse practices as different modalities of subjectivation. We propose three types of ideological subjectivation: oppressive forms, normalizing forms and resisting forms. Finally, these forms are illustrated with examples from economic expert discourses from Italy and Germany.

A generalized Schmidt subspace theorem for closed subschemes

We prove a generalized version of Schmidt's subspace theorem for closed subschemes in general position in terms of suitably defined Seshadri constants with respect to a fixed ample divisor. Our proof builds on previous work by Evertse and Ferretti, Corvaja and Zannier, and others, and uses standard techniques from algebraic geometry such as notions of positivity, blowing-ups and direct image sheaves. As an application, we recover a higher-dimensional Diophantine approximation theorem of K.F. Roth-type due to D. McKinnon and M. Roth with a significantly shortened proof, while simultaneously extending the scope of the use of Seshadri constants in this context in a natural way.

Including near peer mentoring - Does it make a greater sense to mentoring program

Background: Students entering into medical education encounter many difficulties right from adjustment to the new environment, peer pressure, and home sickness to difficulty in coping with their studies. A helping hand in the form of a mentor can ease the situation with confidence. A peer mentor is also a student of the same profession of higher phase who would be of help to the juniors to overcome difficult situations. Aim and Objective: Our study was done to assess the opinion of the students on peer mentoring and to improve the effectiveness of the mentoring program. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study. It was done on 150 MBBS students which included both males and females. It included students of all the years studying in MBBS at Sri Siddhartha Medical College and Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical sciences, T-Begur. About 107 students were willing to participate in the study. A questionnaire was provided to them which was answered and returned back. Data were summated and descriptive statistics were applied. Responses of the students to the questionnaire were represented as percentages. Results: About 56% of the students knew what peer mentoring is. Almost all the students were of the opinion that peer mentoring will provide positive lifestyle changes. About 79.43% of students suggested that peer mentoring would prevent ragging. Finally, there was a positive notion from the students side to add on peer mentoring to the mentoring program. Conclusion: Students entering into the medical curriculum are burdened with voluminous subjects, stressed with peer pressure, and depressed with homesickness. In our study, we could assess the need for the mentoring program and conclude that a peer mentor can help them to resolve the lacunae of the mentor-mentee relationship and help them handle the situation better.

Characterization of Pseudo-Effective Vector Bundles by Singular Hermitian Metrics

In this paper, we give complex geometric descriptions of the notions of algebraic geometric positivity of vector bundles and torsion-free coherent sheaves, such as nef, big, pseudo-effective, and weakly positive, by using singular hermitian metrics. As an application, we obtain a generalization of Mori’s result. We also give a characterization of the augmented base locus by using singular hermitian metrics on vector bundles and the Lelong numbers.

Of Technoutopias and Doomsday Scenarios

Being one of the most important works of the Critical Theory, the “Dialectic of Enlightenment” (DoE) has not been in the focus of human geography so far. Yet, its core argument of the reversal of Enlightenment thinking into mythical thought is reflected very clearly in the controversial diagnosis of the Anthropocene, the possible new geological era of humankind. The objective of this contribution is thus to illustrate Horkheimer`s and Adorno`s propositions with contemporary future imaginaries in the context of the Anthropocene and to make productive use of them for a critical emancipatory human geography. The paper concludes with the plea for a “re-enchanted geography” that emphasises the affective attachments of humans to the world and takes up the positive notion of enlightenment, sketched in the DoE.

Uncovering New Paths to Adaptation: A Case Study of Malaysian English as a Second Language Pre-service Teachers

This study aims to explore how English as a Second Language ESL Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) employ adaptation strategies in response to the surrounding constraining context to develop their professional identities. The research question is “How do pre-service teachers (PSTs) employ adaptation strategies to develop their professional identity (PI) during their simulated teaching class and practicum?”. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews and classroom observation from PSTs in a Malaysian university and public secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur. Findings showed that the positive notions of belonging to a Community of Practice (CoP) proved to be applicable in the simulated teaching class context, so PSTs used their adaptation process of observation-experimentation and evaluation to attempt different teaching practices. Nonetheless, the positive notions of the CoP were inapplicable in the teaching practicum context. Hence, PSTs struggled to construct their Professional Identity (PI) and had to alter their adaptation strategies to negotiate PI construction. The study concludes with some recommendations for further use. Program designers need to consider social interaction and integration within the professional context. That could enable adaptation processes to enhance PSTs’ PI development.

Rural Electrification and Its Impact on Households’ Welfare

Electricity is the key input for urban and rural development which directly effects households’ welfare in micro-level. Least developed countries policy focus on electrifying rural area through off-grid electricity because of high cost in connecting remote areas to national grid. This research estimates the welfare effects of Shorabak small hydropower in Fayzabad city of Badakhshan province, considering the wellbeing of residences in Taliqan city of Takhar provice that obtained from imported electricity from Tajikistan. The dependent variables of education, saving, health, employment, information and environment used as determinant of welfare in linear regression models. Residences of Fayzabad and Taliqan cities constituted the target population, who interviewed through 400 questionnaire using purposive samplings. For the purpose of analysis, regression models run in SPSS version 25. It was found that full access to electricity in Taliqan city positively changed study hours, saving via cheap per kW fee, decreased illness caused by utilizing wood, fuel for cooking and heating purposes. Furthermore, the level of information increased because of access to media particularly TV. A positive notion seen in keeping environment green by removing wood in households as result of using electricity instead. Generally the findings show, by Shorabak hydropower plant inauguration which is 90% completed the same welfare increase will be felt in Fayzabad city as well.

Disability in Islam: a Sufi perspective

In Islam, the issue of disability and vulnerability has only been addressed at the sociological or theological-legal level. The studies mainly highlighted the societal nature of disability and the legal issues faced by vulnerable groups, with theological issues thus remaining intimately linked to legal issues. Vulnerability is a positive notion present in the Qur’an and hadith, generating legislation for deficient individuals that insist on the duties that fall to the society. The objective of this communication will thus be to examine precisely the possibility based on the spiritual dimension of making a theology of vulnerability in Islam. Sufism in particular appears to be a fundamental reading key and remains a broad field of investigation to be explored in the investigation of the question. Sufism places the vulnerability of human beings at the heart of their spiritual journey since it participates in their ontological condition as servants, the only guarantee of the emergence of God’s power and presence among us. The interest will therefore be to understand to what extent the teachings of Sufism can offer a contribution for disability discourse.

Strict positivity and D-majorization

ABSTRACT Motivated by quantum thermodynamics, we first investigate the notion of strict positivity, that is, linear maps which map positive definite states to something positive definite again. We show that strict positivity is decided by the action on any full-rank state, and that the image of non-strictly positive maps lives inside a lower-dimensional subalgebra. This implies that the distance of such maps to the identity channel is lower bounded by one. The notion of strict positivity comes in handy when generalizing the majorization ordering on real vectors with respect to a positive vector d to majorization on square matrices with respect to a positive definite matrix D. For the two-dimensional case, we give a characterization of this ordering via finitely many trace norm inequalities and, moreover, investigate some of its order properties. In particular it admits a unique minimal and a maximal element. The latter is unique as well if and only if minimal eigenvalue of D has multiplicity one.

A graphical calculus for integration over random diagonal unitary matrices

We provide a graphical calculus for computing averages of tensor network diagrams with respect to the distribution of random vectors containing independent uniform complex phases. Our method exploits the order structure of the partially ordered set of uniform block permutations. A similar calculus is developed for random vectors consisting of independent uniform signs, based on the combinatorics of the partially ordered set of even partitions. We employ our method to extend some of the results by Johnston and MacLean on the family of local diagonal unitary invariant matrices. Furthermore, our graphical approach applies just as well to the real (orthogonal) case, where we introduce the notion of triplewise complete positivity to study the condition for separability of the relevant bipartite matrices. Finally, we analyze the twirling of linear maps between matrix algebras by independent diagonal unitary matrices, showcasing another application of our method.

ESCAPING THE FIRE FOR THE FRYING-PAN? BRITISH TEACHERS ENTERING INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLING

ABSTRACT The arena of ‘English-Speaking International Schooling’ continues to grow, reaching almost 12,000 schools in 2020. The growing teaching arena attracts 30,000 new entrants each year and continues to be dominated by British-trained teachers. Little is actually known about the motives or subsequent experiences of this body. However, the narrative about this ‘brain-drain’ tends to be negative and condescending, referring to teachers ‘fleeing’ Britain and ‘escaping’ neoliberal performativity and accountability, and finding ‘refuge’ overseas. The reality is that many may enter an equally difficult, insecure, and precarious environment. This paper explores the emergent terrain and shows how it has changed over time, revealing the reality of teaching in a new arena of profit-driven activity in mainland China, aimed mainly at local Chinese parents. A resultant new narrative is proposed, based upon positive notions of ‘resistance’ and ‘self-care’, which helps to explain why the exodus tends (at present) to be largely one-way.

Ressentiment as a Function of Memory: Nietzsche, Deleuze, Jankelevitch

The aim of this paper is to discuss the later development of Nietzsche’s notion of ressentiment in the philosophies of Gilles Deleuze and Vladimir Jankelevitch. In the context of Nietzsche’s philosophy, the concept of ressentiment is used to explain a revolution in morality. It is argued that ressentiment should not be understood with appeal to the motivation of a subject, whose notion Nietzsche refuses, or to the intensity of exterior excitation, but rather to the function of memory. In Deleuze’s theory, ressentiment is understood as the product of reactive forces that triumph over the active by eliminating the faculty of forgetting. The man of ressentiment is said to be unable to get rid of external excitations and, in turn, he projects his frustration on other people. Because of this, the figure of a “faulty other” functions as a priori of the man of ressentiment. In the philosophy of Jankelevitch, ressentiment is also understood as a negative, anti-vital phenomenon. However, Jankelevitch also introduces the positive notion of ressentiment, which functions as a precondition of authentic forgiveness.

Immature Adults and Playing Children: On Bernard Stiegler\u2019s Critique of Infantilization

This article assesses Bernard Stiegler’s critique of infantilization. Contemporary education—and society in general—would no longer develop children into adults, but would keep them in their childish state. Stiegler’s critique is explicitly inspired by Enlightenment ideals, characterized by a positive notion of maturity and a negative notion of childhood and immaturity. Infantilization is for Stiegler therefore immediately a negative development. However, Stiegler’s works also contain a positive understanding of childhood and of the extension of childish characteristics into adulthood. The main thesis of this article is that this results in an unresolved tension in Stiegler’s work. I therefore propose a notion of infantilization not as solely negative, but as fundamentally ambivalent and risky. The continuation of childhood into maturity is necessary for the life of the mind, yet it can also foreclose maturity altogether. I use this new notion of infantilization to correct some of Stiegler’s radically conservative views on education and on the care for the new generations.

Meaning of Success: perception of medical students, and faculty-A Qualitative Study from a medical school in Mauritius

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to find what undergraduate medical students and teaching faculty perceive success to be.MethodsA descriptive phenomenological qualitative study was designed and conducted on faculty and medical students in Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Medical College, Mauritius. NVivo 12 (Windows) Plus software was implemented for data analysis and thematic analysis was performed.ResultsThe codes/nodes namely being: Satisfaction, Accomplishment, Actions, Motivations, Extrinsic Factors and Intrinsic Factors were identified in the transcribed data. Satisfaction was described as the positive emotions and notions intimately related as well as synonymously associated with success. Accomplishment as the attainment and fulfilment of any physical, mental, emotional, social, occupational, personal goal or desire by an individual. Actions was the arsenal of physical processes, acts of planning, goal setting or forethinking exercised by the individual. Motivations was the drive to attain the preset goal or notion be it positive or negative. This applies to factors that enable a subject to strive forwards. Extrinsic Factors were the external determinants and definition of success perceived by the subject. Intrinsic Factors were the subject’s internal organic, comprehension and definition of success. The themes generated were: Products of Success, Mechanisms of Success and Concepts of success.ConclusionA tangible demarcation is noticeable between the preconceived general impression of success and the vast multifactorial cohort of intrinsic and extrinsic factors coupled to the highly emotional aspects which were brought forth.

Strongly Statistical Convergence

We introduce a concept of A-strongly statistical convergence for sequences of complex numbers, where A = (ank)n,k∈ℕ is an infinite matrix with nonnegative entries. A sequence (xn) is called strongly convergent to L if $$ \underset{n\to \infty }{\lim }{\sum}_{k=1}^{\infty }{a}_{nk}\left|{x}_k\right.-L\left|=0\right. $$ in the ordinary sense. In the definition of A-strongly statistical limit, we use the statistical limit instead of the ordinary limit with a convenient density. We study some densities and show that the (ank)-strongly statistical limit is an ( $$ {a}_{m_nk} $$ )-strong limit, where the density of the set {mn ∈ ℕ : n ∈ ℕ} is equal to 1. We introduce the notion of dense positivity for nonnegative sequences. A nonnegative sequence (rn) is dense positive provided the limit superior of a subsequence ( $$ {r}_{m_n} $$ ) is positive for all (mn) with density equal to 1. We show that the dense positivity of (rn) is a necessary and sufficient condition for the uniqueness of A-strongly statistical limit, where A = (ank) and rn = $$ {\sum}_{k=1}^{\infty }{a}_{nk} $$ . Furthermore, necessary conditions for the regularity, linearity and multiplicativity of the A-strongly statistical limit are established.

Social innovation as a ‘magic concept’ for policy-makers and its implications for urban governance

This article proposes a critical reflection on the concept of social innovation, arguing that it can be understood as a ‘magic concept’ as theorized by Pollitt and Hupe. It is a pervasive and positive notion in academia, policies and politics. The notion of social innovation is therefore deconstructed into the characteristics that make it so seductive: the multiplicity of meanings it can take on, its positive normative charge, its ability to generate consensus and its global marketability. This investigation underlines the way in which the understanding of social innovation may have profound repercussions in the ways in which decision-makers are reshaping urban governance.

Citizen Engagement Challenges in Urban Disaster Management Programs with Special Reference to Fire, Waterlogging and Pandemics

The main objective of this study is to explore the challenges of engaging citizens in urban disaster management (UDM) in the urban fire, waterlogging, and pandemic like COVID 19. A qualitative research approach, mainly in-depth interview method was applied to gain insights from different government officials of civil defense, police force, and ward councilors of Dhaka and Chattogram City Corporations, who were experienced in working at the field level UDM. The study tried to investigate the challenges faced by the officials during disaster rescue operations with special reference to the role of urban citizens. The findings of the study capture, in detail, the challenges faced by different personnel involved in UDM operations. While citizen engagement is expected to be a positive notion, in most cases, citizens themselves become the main obstacle of disaster management, due to their ignorance, negligence, and lack of patience in the given disastrous and pandemic situation, and thus, hinders UDM operations and crisis management. The lessons learned from contemporary urban disasters like fire and the COVID 19 pandemic are recorded elaborately. Based on that, different recommendations are made to ensure the active engagement of citizens to facilitate UDM activities in an orderly manner.

The Fixed Childfree Subjectivity: Performing Meta-Facework about Sterilization on Reddit

ABSTRACT Although sterilization is the most common and effective form of birth control available, childfree individuals often report difficulty actually obtaining the procedure. The ideological and material constraints that impede access have been well documented, including physicians’ pronatalist perceptions that childless women will regret sterilization when they mature or meet the right partner. However, researchers have demonstrated that childfree women experience low levels of regret after sterilization, indicating that physicians’ reluctance is empirically unfounded. In order to mitigate physicians’ hesitancy, childfree individuals organize and communicate online in order to share health-related information, seek support, and engage in identity work to more effectively procure the procedure. The current study contributes to critical health, interpersonal, and family communication conversations by employing performative face theory to study online interactions on the childfree subreddit, the largest and most active online forum dedicated to child freedom. Through critical-qualitative analysis of a cross-section of subreddit posts about sterilization, this study demonstrates how subreddit discourse draws upon ideological and metaphorical associations to articulate the fixed childfree subjectivity, which rejects negative significations of regret in favor of positive notions of repair and permanence. Users further engage in subversive meta-facework, or facework presented online about facework users engaged in offline, which maintains shared face and denaturalizes taken-for-granted linkages between gender, identity, and parenthood. Implications for health activism across individual, relational, communal, and cultural levels are discussed.

A converse of Hörmander’s L2-estimate and new positivity notions for vector bundles

We study conditions of Hormander’s L2-estimate and the Ohsawa-Takegoshi extension theorem. Introducing a twisted version of the Hormander-type condition, we show a converse of Hormander L2-estimate under some regularity assumptions on an n-dimensional domain. This result is a partial generalization of the 1-dimensional result obtained by Berndtsson (1998). We also de_ne new positivity notions for vector bundles with singular Hermitian metrics by using these conditions. We investigate these positivity notions and compare them with classical positivity notions.

Computational and experimental investigation on effective utilization of waste heat from diesel engine exhaust using a fin protracted heat exchanger

The present research investigates the energy recovery capability of exhaust gases in Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) in order to reap low grade waste heat energy. In order to achieve this aim, a double pipe, Protracted Finned Counter flow Heat Exchanger (PFCHE) was designed, analysed, fabricated and experimented with binary (water-ethanol) mixtures as working fluids. In the current work, as a first step, the theoretical design was completed and the computational simulation of PFCHE was executed. From the experimental investigation and analytical results, a positive notion was observed about the overall efficiency of the heat recovery system. It was proved that when the number of fins increased along with its height, then the heat transfer rate also got increased which further resulted in the improved performance of heat recovery system and increased Brake Thermal Efficiency from 32% to 39.6%. The developed heat recovery system was able to produce 0.35 kW–0.76 kW of power when the turbines were made to run at 1700 rpm to 4800 rpm respectively. Overall, the study concludes that the PFCHE increased the working fluid outlet temperature, effectiveness, heat transfer rate as well as the overall Brake Thermal Efficiency when compared with traditional heat exchangers that lack fins.