Reasonable Demands Research Articles

Viðhorf íslenskra og danskra stjórnenda til starfsumhverfis í ljósi norrænna gilda

Norræn forysta byggir á gildum sem notið hafa aukinnar athygli og vinsælda. Viðfangsefni greinarinnar er að fjalla um opinbera stjórnun á Íslandi og skoða hvort og þá með hvaða hætti íslenskir stjórnendur falla að gildum norrænnar forystu. Gerð var rannsókn að danskri fyrirmynd sem nefnist Opinberir stjórnendur – verkefni og viðhorf. Spurningalisti í formi vefkönnunar var lagður fyrir 1.685 opinbera stjórnendur, 524 svör bárust eða 31%. Megintilgangur rannsóknarinnar var að draga fram áherslur íslenskra stjórnenda í daglegum störfum, viðhorfum til starfsumhverfis og þess ramma sem unnið er í. Skoðað var starfsumhverfi íslenskra og danskra stjórnenda í samhengi við norræn gildi. Helstu niðurstöður benda til þess að opinber stjórnun á Íslandi einkennist af trausti, skýrum verkferlum, stuttum boðleiðum og litlu skrifræði. Helstu hindranir voru lítil áhrif á löggjöf og pólitískt bakland, tækifæri felast hins vegar í að hafa meiri áhrif og auka árangur í starfseminni. Samstarf og tengslanet var gott á vinnustaðnum og sanngjarnar kröfur voru gerðar til stjórnenda. Sérstaða hvors hóps fólst í því að danskir stjórnendur töldu skrifræði vera of mikið og að einfalda mætti verkferla í því sambandi. Íslenskir stjórnendur virtust hins vegar almennt hafa minni áhrif á starfsumhverfið en danskir starfsfélagar. Verkefni og viðhorf íslenskra opinberra stjórnenda ríma við norræn gildi þar sem opin samskipti, gagnrýni í hugsun og umhyggja eru helstu einkennin.

Reality, stability, dynamism, rigidity, flexibility of the Constitution of the Russian Federation

The artcile first of all, it is emphasized that reality puts on the agenda the question of the fate of the current Constitution of the Russian Federation. The author of the article is a supporter of the development and adoption of a new Basic Law of our country. There are two major factors in favor of this. Firstly, Russia is entering a new stage in the development of society and the state. It demands a new Constitution that would reflect everything new that is connected with him, outline, and determine the prospects for further development. Secondly, since the adoption of the Constitution of the Russian Federation in 1993, changes have been made several times. We especially note the amendments of 2020. Their content and volume, from our point of view, are evidence of a virtually new edition of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Let us also draw attention to the fact that there is a violation of the consistency and logic of the presentation of constitutional matter. It makes sense to fix this. It is emphasized that when preparing a new Constitution, one should proceed from its main features, which determine its connection with the development of society, its role and place in the life of the country. Those are reality, stability, dynamism, rigidity, flexibility. Today, more than ever, the question of the ideological property, the ideological essence of the Constitution is relevant. So, the most important thing first of all is to determine what the modern, domestic ideology of the Russian people, society, and the Russian state is. At the same time, there is a reasonable demand that, in order to increase the reality of the Constitution, relevant provisions of an ideological nature should be included in its text. This requires its mandatory consideration when preparing the new Basic Law of Russia.

Phytochemical Test and Antioxidant Activity of Aqueous Extract of Marigold Flower

Natural medicines are increasingly in demand for safety reasons and are believed to be able to cure certain diseases. Literacy reveals that the marigold flower (Tagetes erecta L.) has medicinal potential as an antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogen. This research aimed to identify marigold flower aqueous extract's phytochemical content and antioxidant activity. The method used in this exploratory research was the maceration of marigold flower simplicia using distilled water for 24 hours, followed by evaporation to obtain marigold flower aqueous extract. Then, phytochemical screening and antioxidant bioactivity tests were carried out using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The results of phytochemical screening showed that marigold flower water extract contained flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, and tannins. Meanwhile, the antioxidant activity test obtained an IC50 value of 50.77 ppm. From these results, it can be concluded that the aqueous extract of marigold flowers has medicinal potential with vigorous antioxidant activity.

La théorie morale implicite du serment d’Hippocrate

Hippocrates remains famous for having been the first to provide the clinic with a rigorous method, capable of satisfying the demands of reason. A paradigmatic figure in the emergence of rationalism in the West, a contemporary of Socrates and Plato, the father of medicine also marked with his spirit of rigor an “oath‿ promised to great fortune. Through its “performative‿ vocation, the oath has a purpose that differs from that of deontology, the standards of which are governed by regulatory and legal concerns. More than deontology, it’s relevant to compare the oath to the moral theories that make up the philosophical landscape of ethics today. Regardless of the content of its rules, the Hippocratic discourse lends itself to reflection on its overall tone and internal coherence. From its “substantial marrow‿, it’s possible to extract a certain way of conceiving ethics which still makes sense today. As an overall ethical vision, Hippocrates' philosophical thought balances a deontological moral theory with an ethics of prudence.

Retention of Staff in Nordic Healthcare— A Literature Review

The Nordic healthcare sector faces severe staff shortages.This paper is based on a rapid literature review, including 73 papers published between 2010 and 2020, addressing retention issues in the sector.The aim is to compile and discuss empirical research on retention of staff within Nordic healthcare.The paper fills an existing gap providing a comprehensive picture of crucial factors for retaining staff in the sector. Findings include that most studies were quantitative, often surveys, and mostly focusing on registered nurses and/or physicians/medical doctors. Further, high control, high levels of social support, good leadership, satisfactory opportunities for professional development, organizational continuity, reasonable demands, including absence of heavy physical exertion, were all shown to positively impact retention rates. While the results to some extent were as expected, they highlight key areas for healthcare employers, as well as policymakers at various levels, to concentrate on for improving staff retention within their organizations.

Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) on Demand for Wrong Reasons: A Case of Selected Districts in Zambia

Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) on Demand for Wrong Reasons: A Case of Selected Districts in Zambia

The Dilemma of Authority

What I refer to here as the dilemma of authority arises when one ought to defer to authority; one ought to act as the more weighty reason demands; one can do either; one cannot do both. For those who reject the possibility of legitimate authority, the dilemma does not arise. Among those who accept legitimate authority, some, including Joseph Raz, presume the conflict can be resolved without remainder. In this paper, I argue that, in a moral conflict of this kind, when one of the reasons for action is defeated but not cancelled, it is rational to feel regret for failing to do what one ought to do.

Task complexity and task type

Abstract In Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), there is clearly a need for a balanced and flexible view of L1 use. Considering this, a matter of concern in TBLT is that learners might overuse their first language (L1) while performing complex tasks. To test this speculation, the present study investigated the effects of manipulating task complexity along resource-directing variables (+/− reasoning demands) of the Cognition Hypothesis on L1 use and its functions. Further it aimed to test the impacts of task type on L1 use and its functions. To do so, the interaction of 24 intermediate EFL learners while completing two different task types with two levels of task complexity was analyzed. The analysis of L1 words and turns indicated that both task complexity and task type affected L1 use significantly. The results further indicated that L1 was employed for a variety of purposes which were mainly affected by task complexity.

Acid Leaching of CIGS Solar Cells: A Focus on Silver and Indium

Solar electricity from photovoltaics (PV) contributed to about 4.5 % of the global electricity production in 2022 and is expected to continue increasing by 2050 [1]. Therefore, both manufacturing waste and end of life waste are expected to reach a considerable volume in the upcoming decade. However, recycling methods for this type of waste are still at a very early stage of development. The thin film CIGS PV technology achieves high energy conversion efficiencies [2] and it is also used in promising newer technologies, namely multijunction solar cells. However critical elements like indium (In) and gallium (Ga), and often valuable silver (Ag) as conductive grid, are essential for the achievement of such efficiencies. Therefore, environmental, economic and resource depletion reasons demand the recovery of these elements.In industrial scale, there is currently no established recycling activity on CIGS containing materials. In lab scale, research mainly focuses on recycling of pure CIGS material production waste, which are free of any other element except for their 4 constituent elements in contrast to the real solar cells or PV. However, monitoring and controlling the impurity levels in the recycling of complex waste is of outmost importance, since the higher the purity of the recovered materials, the more economically viable their recycling business becomes. At the same time, the existing literature on the recycling of pure CIGS waste suggests the use of strong mineral acid solutions and high temperatures for the recovery of their elements. The case is similar for Ag, with some studies on its recovery only from another PV technology, namely silicon PV, being available and describing similarly harsh recovery conditions. Although such conditions can be efficient in many cases, they are not environmentally friendly and can be costly for the industry as well. To the best of our knowledge, the only available research work on the recovery of valuable elements from CIGS solar cells (Ag, In and others) using more benign recovery conditions compared to the ones that have been investigated so far (i.e. lower acid concentrations and room temperature), is our recent research work on leaching with nitric acid (HNO3) [3].In our current work we investigated the leaching of flexible CIGS solar cells with a stainless steel substrate production waste at room temperature and acid concentrations no higher than 2 M. The leaching efficiency of Ag and In was studied under different leaching times, acid leaching agents and concentrations, as well as geometrical surface area to liquid ratios (A:L). The elemental composition of all the elements that were likely to be present in the solar cell was measured in all the leachates with ICP-OES. The solid materials left on the cell’s surface after the treatment were characterized in terms of morphology and elemental composition with SEM-EDS, when necessary.The results proved that the choice of the leaching agent plays an important role in the recovery of the different elements present in the cell. It was also confirmed that higher acid concentrations achieve higher leaching recoveries for the same leaching conditions, as expected. As far as the A:L ratio is concerned, in many cases, higher A:L ratios achieved higher efficiencies, probably due to better oxygenation of the solutions.An example of the efficiency of the method is presented in Fig. 1, in which the Ag grid line of the untreated sample (Figure 1a, b) looks white under SEM due to the presence of Ag particles. After the acid treatment of the cell with 2 M HNO3 for 24h, the Ag particles of the Ag grid lines have disappeared, making the line look black (Figure 1c).In total, two important conclusions were drawn: a) selective leaching of various elements for achievement of higher purity products is possible by adjusting the leaching parameters and b) a complete recovery of Ag is possible within one day with more environmentally friendly conditions than the ones suggested so far.

Method for Stress Detection in Industrial Assemblers Using Smartwatch Sensors

Goal: The purpose of this study is to present a method to quantitatively identify the levels of stress of employees during work using the technology of smart watches with sensors measuring vital signs and, from this data, deepen the discussion on the relationships between the levels of physical and cognitive complexity of the activities and their influence on the stress resulting from these works. 
 
 Theoretical reference: Use of literature through research on similar methods already applied in immersive training, dissertations, articles, and national standards. For this purpose, the Systematic Bibliographic Review (SBR) was used, which is “a scientific method for searching and analyzing articles in a given area of ​​science”. 
 
 Method: To achieve the objectives proposed in this work, a methodology with ten steps was developed. Four different workstations of an optical connector assembly company were selected to assess the stress levels of assemblers, using smart watch sensors, during their work activities. The workstations were evaluated for their physical load, through ergonomic analysis and for their cognitive load, through mental load classification. All data were statistically correlated. 
 
 Results and conclusion: Based on the statistical analysis of the data, it can be seen that the higher the level of complexity, the higher the average levels of stress presented. There is a direct influence on the level of stress and activities with greater complexity and related to physical (ergonomic) demands. The level of demand for carrying out activities, motivated by skills, rules and knowledge, mainly because they are related to decision-making, is related to the stress levels of employees, and can thus directly affect their mental health.
 
 Research implications: Through the results presented, we realized that reducing the demands of decision and reasoning during the activities requested at work, the company will be able to promote a reduction of the possible levels of stress of its employees, if this action does not impact on the reduction of their motivation for work. 
 
 Originality/Value: The method presented in this article differs from the others by comparing the different physical and mental demands with the stress levels measured with the use of smart watches during the activities of assembly line workers. It can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of an activity alternation approach, such as rotation, which can have a positive impact not only to minimize physical overloads but also to reduce levels of mental stress at work.

Explainability, Public Reason, and Medical Artificial Intelligence

The contention that medical artificial intelligence (AI) should be ‘explainable’ is widespread in contemporary philosophy and in legal and best practice documents. Yet critics argue that ‘explainability’ is not a stable concept; non-explainable AI is often more accurate; mechanisms intended to improve explainability do not improve understanding and introduce new epistemic concerns; and explainability requirements are ad hoc where human medical decision-making is often opaque. A recent ‘political response’ to these issues contends that AI used in high-stakes scenarios, including medical AI, must be explainable to meet basic standards of legitimacy: People are owed reasons for decisions that impact their vital interests, and this requires explainable AI. This article demonstrates why the political response fails. Attending to systemic considerations, as its proponents desire, suggests that the political response is subject to the same criticisms as other arguments for explainable AI and presents new issues. It also suggests that decision-making about non-explainable medical AI can meet public reason standards. The most plausible version of the response amounts to a simple claim that public reason demands reasons why AI is permitted. But that does not actually support explainable AI or respond to criticisms of strong requirements for explainable medical AI.

Sustainability contribution of hybrid solar collector towards net-zero energy buildings concerning solar cells wasted heat

Sustainable communities require emerging innovations to fulfill the energy needs of urban societies. Renewable energy systems are the most significant trend in net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) that serve sustainable development. Due to their consistent power generation, standalone hybrid solar photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems are currently in reasonable demand in the building sector. This study adopted a special design of the hybrid solar collector utilising a combination of water and air simultaneously as a working fluid (combi-PV/T), considering the waste heat generated from classical polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) modules that negatively affect the building's sustainability. The main comparison parameters considered between the examined combi-PV/T and PV modules are the waste heat, solar cell surface temperature, exergy efficiency, and sustainability index. The experimental result confirmed the effectiveness of the combi-PV/T compared to the classical PV module. The results showed that the waste heat generated by the combi-PV/T module was lowered by 77.6 %. Besides, the average solar cell surface temperature of the PV module decreased by 30.6 % in the combi-PV/T module from 53.6 °C to 36.4 °C. Exergy efficiencies for combi-PV/T and PV ranged from 12.6 to 35.3 % and 4.4–6.8 %, respectively. Moreover, the sustainability index values were in the range of 1.15–1.8 and 1.03–1.06, respectively. Obtained findings indicated that the combination of hybrid solar PV/T systems has an efficient sustainability contribution and the potential to subsidise sustainable building construction towards NZEBs.

Impartiality and fair play revisited

Impartiality and fair play revisited

Symposium Introduction: Discourse Ethical Perspectives on Education in Polarized Political Cultures

Symposium Introduction: Discourse Ethical Perspectives on Education in Polarized Political Cultures

Stability and disruptive speech

Stability and disruptive speech

Recent Advances on Alternative Aviation Fuels/Pathways: A Critical Review

The Paris Agreement’s objectives related to climate change put aviation under great pressure and environmental inspection. In particular, the aviation industry is committed to achieving a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. A shift to alternative aviation fuels seems imperative. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified the production of drop-in sustainable liquid fuels (SAFs) as the most promising strategy, at least short term, to reduce the environmental impact of the sector. Within this review, a critical summary of the current alternative aviation fuels/pathways is presented and a comparative analysis of the dominant technologies is performed considering techno-economic assessment, environmental evaluation, and future projections. The impact of the ‘ReFuelEU Aviation’ initiative on the current dominant policies and market incentives is assessed. Hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA), Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis, alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) conversion, and e-fuel pathways are put under the microscope. A wide range of potential fuel selling prices (0.81–5.00 EUR/L) was observed due to the presence of multiple routes, while some pathways seem able to secure more than 90% emission savings compared to the fossil jet reference. The accelerated scale-up of SAF production is a reasonable demand for the aviation industry. The establishment of a sustainable scale-up framework and the alignment of all of the involved aviation stakeholders is an immediate challenge.

The Highest Good as the Ideal of Reason in the Canon of the first Critique

Abstract In the Dialectic of the first Critique, Kant claims that a highest being is the transcendental ideal of speculative reason. However, the Canon of the Doctrine of Method presents the highest good as an ideal of both the speculative and the practical use of reason. In this paper, I argue (1) that the highest good is the ideal of the unity of reason – unlike the ideal in the Dialectic – insofar as (2) the highest good serves both the speculative and the practical employment of reason. Accordingly, I also argue that (3) these two employments are complementary, not alternative. Kant’s argument for the ideal of the highest good in the Canon shows that the unity of reason combines the two lawful employments of reason. In order to be reason’s highest ideal, this ideal cannot just mirror the demands of speculative reason – it must also involve the other fundamental employment of reason, i. e., the practical. This highest standpoint cannot be merely speculative but must be moral as well: not just a highest ideal, but also a good (the highest good).

Malaysia's Chicken Shortage, A Solution Proposal Through Consumerism Advocacy

This study intended to observe Malaysia's chronic shortage of poultry eggs and meat, especially chicken, from September 2021 to July 2022. The pattern observed could answer the role every Malaysian can play through consumerism amid the current chicken crisis. A case interview is done by using McKinsey Case Interview Format. The corresponding author is currently a practitioner in the Policy and Strategic Planning Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Putrajaya. Data were obtained primarily through discussion with the two (2) senior officials of MAFS from their observation in several government strategic meetings. The scope of the study is limited to chicken eggs and meat. Poultry egg and meat undeniably are Malaysia's most sought source of protein as it is cheap and easily accessible. The shortage of poultry meat and egg supply caused social unrest. Malaysia's poultry egg self-sufficiency ratio is more than 100%, and almost 100% for poultry meat. However, Malaysia's per capita consumption is among the world's highest at 22.2 and 52.0 kg/person/year. If Malaysians diversify their protein intake and unintentionally create a more reasonable demand, despite all the disruptions to production, our current poultry supply should still be enough for everyone. This study suggested that Malaysians consume chicken more than they should chew and should be advocated to practice a healthier lifestyle. In guidelines by the Ministry of Health, i.e., 'Malaysia Healthy Plate: Quarter, Quarter, Half' and 'Malaysia Diet Guideline and Food Pyramid 2020', Malaysians were urged to eat more fiber, such as fruits or vegetables, and eat less protein, especially meat.

Fluid volume management in hemodialysis: never give up!

Every hemodialysis session starts with the question of how much fluid should be removed, which can currently not be answered precisely. Herein, we first revisit the "probing-dry-weight" concept, using the historical example of Tassin/France (practicing also "long, slow dialysis"): Mortality outcomes were, in the 1980s, better than registry data, but are nowadays similar to European average. In view of the negative primary end point in a recent trial on dry weight assessment, based on lung ultrasound-guided evaluation of fluid excess in the lungs, and a meta-analysis of prospective studies failing to show that bioimpedance-based interventions for correction of volume overload had a direct effect on all-cause mortality, we ask how to ever move forward. Clinical reasoning demands that as much information as possible should be gathered on the fluid status of patients undergoing dialysis. Besides body weight and blood pressure, measurements of bioimpedance and dialysate bolus-derived absolute blood volume can in principle be automatized, whereas lung ultrasound can be obtained routinely. In the era of machine learning, fluid management could consist of flexible target weight prescriptions, adjusted on a daily basis and accounting even for fluctuations in fluid-free body mass. In view of all the negative prospective results surrounding fluid management in hemodialysis, we propose this as a "never-give-up" approach.

How much natural gas does China need: An empirical study from the perspective of energy transition

The proposed policy targets of “2030 carbon peaking” and “2060 carbon neutrality” further accelerate the substitution of natural gas for oil and coal. In this paper, we systematically considered the growth trend of natural gas demand from both the total amount and the structure of energy.On the basis of 60-year sample data, we built the HMM model innovatively to simulate the complementary and alternative structural effects between different energy. In addition, according to the different policy intensity, we simulated the history of energy demand and forecast the future trend in three scenarios. The empirical results show that the share of natural gas in primary energy consumption in China in 2035 is 16.5%, 17.3%, and 13.6%, respectively, translating into natural gas demand of 6975, 7316, and 5748 bcm. Therefore, policymakers should promote energy transformation in a steady and orderly manner based on national conditions and strengthen gas demand-side management on the premise of ensuring reasonable demand. Our prediction of natural gas demand from a new perspective can assist policymakers to formulate the natural gas demand-side policy and import plan, and also provide a reference for studies of achieving the goal of energy transition and “2060 carbon neutrality".