Purposeful Research Articles

NATIONAL POVERTY ERADICATION PROGRAMME (NAPEP) AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN RURAL NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF GIWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

The study aims at analyzing the framework of NAPEP inorder to ascertain the impact of the programme on the people of Giwa local government area of Kaduna State as it affects the wellbeing of the people in improving their standard of living vis-a-vis poverty eradication. Purposeful and simple random sampling technique was used to sample 220 respondents in the study area. Data was collected from the respondents using the interview schedule and a total of 179 questionnaires were used for the analysis. The principal results of the study reveal the failure of poverty alleviation programmes with special reference to NAPEP in Giwa local government area. Hence this study therefore recommends that NAPEP as an agency of the government with the sole aim of coordinating all poverty alleviation efforts in the country should work in harmony with other ministries and agencies that are stakeholders in the fight against poverty; the provision of credit facilities and skills training should be one of the central focus in poverty eradication and Government should adopt a holistic approach to poverty alleviation in the country.

Purposeful trusts and foundations?

Purposeful trusts and foundations?

Relating additive and subtractive processes in a teleological and modular approach

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to relate additive manufacturing (AM) and machining (CNC) synergistically in a modular approach in the design and manufacturing domains, to generate value for end‐users and manufacturers (a teleological system).Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology decomposes a part into modules, by employing a teleological systems theory approach paired with principles of modular design. Modules are manufactured with either additive manufacturing (fused deposition modeling, FDM) or machining (CNC). Process selection is determined by a decision‐making framework that quantifies strength and weakness comparisons of FDM and CNC machining processes, accomplished using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).FindingsThe developed methodology and decision‐making framework is successfully applied to the design and manufacturing of a large, complex V6 engine section sand casting pattern. This case study highlights the merits of the research.Research limitations/implicationsThe research assumes that the processes being considered are capable of meeting the product functional requirements. The proposed methodology can be extended to evaluate additional processes.Practical implicationsValue is assessed in this research relative to: time and cost opportunities, managing knowledge limitations of a process by leveraging hybrid options, and aligning design and manufacturing to create a product that accomplishes the goals of the end‐user (teleological effectiveness).Originality/valueUtilizing the AHP process and a teleological perspective are new, and proven effective, approaches in relating additive and subtractive processes in a hybrid approach with end‐user perspectives. The research demonstrates a systematic methodology to quantify additive and subtractive process selection.

Upper-directed systems: a new approach to teleology in biology

How shall we understand apparently teleological systems? What explains their persistence (returning to past trajectories following errors) and their plasticity (finding the same trajectory from different starting points)? Here I argue that all seemingly goal-directed systems—e.g., a food-seeking organism, human-made devices like thermostats and torpedoes, biological development, human goal seeking, and the evolutionary process itself—share a common organization. Specifically, they consist of an entity that moves within a larger containing structure, one that directs its behavior in a general way without precisely determining it. If so, then teleology lies within the domain of the theory of compositional hierarchies.

<p>Developing purposeful mathematical thinking: a curious tale of apple trees</p>

In this paper I explore aspects of the ways in which school mathematics relates to the “real” world, and argue that this relationship is an uneasy one. Through exploring the causes of this unease, I aim to expose some problems in the ways in which context is used within mathematics education, and argue that the use of context does not ensure that the purposes of mathematics are made transparent. I present and discuss a framework for task design that adopts a different perspective on mathematical understanding, and on purposeful mathematical thinking. Desarrollo de un pensamiento matemático intencionado: un relato curioso de manzanos En este artículo exploro aspectos de las maneras en que las matemáticas escolares se relacionan con el mundo “real” y argumento que esta relación es preocupante. Al explorar las causas de esta preocupación, me propongo exponer algunos problemas que surgen de las formas en que se usa el contexto en Educación Matemática y argumento que el uso del contexto no asegura la transparencia de los propósitos de las matemáticas. Presento y discuto un esquema para el diseño de tareas que adopta una perspectiva diferente sobre la comprensión de las matemáticas y el pensamiento matemático intencionado.Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10481/19524

: (Region Industry Structure: The State and Problems of Purposeful Change)

Russian Abstract: Цель: определение основных направлений изменения структуры про-мышленного комплекса региона.Методы проведения работы: метод системного подхода, сравнения и сопоставления, табличный, абстрактно-логический метод. Результаты: по результатам исследования определены приоритетные направления, способствующие формированию оптимальной структуры про-мышленного комплекса региона, в их числе: развитие наукоемких производств на промышленных предприятиях региона, развитие инфраструктуры промышленной деятельности, формирование условий для создания производственных кластеров, финансирование и привлечение инвестиций в промышленность региона, развитие кадровых ресурсов.Область применения результатов: результаты исследования могут быть использованы в деятельности органов государственной власти и управления при разработке и реализации целевых программ в области стратегического развития региона и промышленного комплекса.English Abstract: Purpose: To determine the main directions of change in the structure of the industrial complex of the region.Methodology: A method of system approach, comparison and confrontation, table and abstract-logical methods.Results: The results of research priorities identified by the board, contributing to the formation of the optimal structure of the industrial complex of the region, including: the development of knowledge-intensive industries at the industrial enterprises of the region, infrastructure development, industrial-term activity, creating conditions for the creation of industrial clusters, funding and investment in the industry at the regional, human resources development.Practical Implications: The research results can be used in the public authorities’ activities connected with the development and implementation of targeted programs in the strategic development of the region and industry.

Contextualizing Smoking Behaviour over Time: A Smoking Journey from Pleasuring to Suffering

This paper reports a qualitative study describing the basic psychosocial process of contextualizing smoking behaviour in the life fabric of Jordanian psychiatric nurses (JPNs). A classical grounded theory method was used to collect and analyze the data derived from a theoretical (purposeful) sample of eight Jordanian psychiatric nurses in 2009-2010. The constant comparative method of data analysis was used; thus, data collection, coding and analysis occurred simultaneously. Strategies were used throughout the study to ensure trustworthiness; that is, fulfill the requirements for credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. “Contextualizing smoking behaviour over time” was the core concept that explained how JPNs integrate smoking behaviour into their life fabric. For these nurses, smoking is contextualized in four phases: becoming a novice smoker, becoming a formal smoker as a nursing student, becoming a heavy smoking psychiatric nurse, and becoming an exhausted smoker. Contextualizing smoking among JPNs demonstrates that those nurses frequently normalize smoking as part of the fabric of everyday life. Participants described their smoking as a journey in a manner that reflected how it started with pleasuring and ended with suffering. Although this study presents a deep understanding of smoking behaviour, further studies are required to develop the theory of contextualized smoking. A developed contextualized theory of smoking is required to guide culturally sensitive smoking cessation and prevention programmes capable of influencing smoking behaviours.

THE DIFFERENCE IN NANOPARTICLES SIZE, THE PATENTABILITY OF NANOTECHNOLOGY INVENTIONS: THE CASE WITH NOVELTY AND INVENTIVE STEP REQUIREMENTS

In line with the remarkably rapid increase of the number of patent applications on nanotech inventions, legal disputes have arisen as to the challenges facing the patentability of such inventions. Chief among them are the issues of the novelty and inventive step of nanotech inventions. With respect to the novelty, the question is whether the minimized forms of substances can be regarded as novel over the substances at larger scales? Also, the question concerning inventive step is in what situations nanotech inventions are considered as involving inventive step? This article seeks to identify the difficulties of nanotech inventions in meeting the novelty and inventive step requirements and examine the solutions suggested by the European Patent Office (EPO) and its case law during the examination of nanotech patent applications. The findings of this case show that merely making a known materials or devices smaller does not grant novelty to the invention. Instead, the size of the nanoparticles (or the sub-range selection) in patent applications related to the nanotech inventions needs to be narrow, sufficiently far removed from the prior art, and/or purposeful with new technical teaching. Also, the mere minimization or reduction of the particle size does not account for the inventive step of an invention. It must be shown that the invention has a new technical advantage not found in the prior art, and not obvious to a skilled person which comes from the size differences. It is only in this situation that the inventive step of downscaling of particles may be acknowledged.

Informatieverwerking bij anorexia nervosa: is ze verstoord?

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a major health problem with an unfavourable prognosis. More than half of AN patients struggle with chronic problems, desspite treatment. The identification of endophenotypes, such as information processing biases, may contribute to a better understanding of the disease and to the development of a tailor-made treatment. AN is found to be associated with a cognitive style characterised by a reduced mental flexibility, a weak central coherence and a selective attentional bias for disease relevant information. These deficits are found in AN and bulimia nervosa, as well as in recovered eating disorder patients and healthy relatives. The management of neuropsychological problems is not the primary focus of most current therapeutic approaches for AN. However, preliminary research findings suggest that purposeful cognitive training may influence the cognitive functioning in AN. In this article, results of neuropsychological research are summarised and implications for clinical practice discussed as well as preliminary findings about the effectiveness of cognitive remediation therapy.

Aristotle on Incidental Causes and Teleological Determinism

Aristotle on Incidental Causes and Teleological Determinism

<b>A teleologia e a aleatoriedade no estudo das ciências da natureza: sistemas, ontologia e evolução</b><br>DOI:10.5007/1807-1384.2011v8n2p316

This is an investigation on the subject of Teleology, which has been dealt with all along the history of the human thought with special emphasis to the interval related to the development of scientific theories referring to the study of Nature. The presentation of the subject starts with the conceptual definitions of Teleology. Following, this subject is revisited all along the historical application of the concept in the development of science. In this respect, the first approach is about teleology in Biology and life sciences, with emphasis on the repercussion over the vitalist conception and natural selection. Hence, the discussion turns around the dialectic conceptions of teleological systems and random systems. Finally, this paper finishes with a thought about how these themes may be pertinent within the environmental studies whereon physical, biological and human systems are in co-operation, with the various applications of nuances and uses of the teleological concept.

Escatologia à la cantonade. Althusser para além de Derrida

O autor estabelece uma comparação entre Althusser e Derrida a partir da questão da temporalidade, por meio da leitura que os dois autores propõem de Marx sub specie theatri. A partir disso emerge uma teoria da temporalidade em Althusser que está além tanto da teleologia da tradição hegeliano-marxista, quanto do messianismo sem messias proposto por Derrida em sua releitura benjaminiana de Marx. Nesse sentido, a escatologia em Althusser só é pensável à la cantonade

Soggetti e sistemi nel contributo di Roberto Fazzi sul governo d’impresa

This work is a free interpretation of Fazzi’s thought which has been summarized in four propositions: a) The dichotomy between subjects and systems originates from the different teleologies of purposes and goals. The company is the portrayal, though not exclusive, of subjects, while the organization is the governed system. b)In company management, orientation (“the ways”) represents that moment in which ideas and purposes are birthed, in which relative hypotheses regarding managerial decisions take form, while company magnitude keeps to the context of the justification by which the hypotheses that emerged from the idea are transformed into evaluated alternatives and controlled phenomena. c) The subjectivity that cannot be reduced to a system triggers new discoveries and drives managerial choices. d) The three company functions originate from the need for orientation and organization and their reciprocal integration. The political function has the role of orienting subjectivity; the organizational function that of regulating the system; while the strategic function has the role of teleological integration between subjects and systems.

Frontal lobes: twin orchestra conductors in cerebral symphony.

The brain has two processors. Left hemisphere functions like a serial processor and right hemisphere like a parallel processor. Though the brain to body ratio in apes and human beings is nearly the same but intellect-wise there is a great difference. It is probably differentiation of two hemispheres in human beings which increase their mental capacity. The control of opposite in both hemispheres may be due to inverted image of eye lenses, representing upside down images in opposite hemispheres and reciprocal control over the threats in the visual field. The cerebral hemispheres are different structurally, functionally and chemically.1 Right hemispheric cortex is thicker than that of left and it has forward protrusion (Yakovlevian torque).2 Cytoarchitecture shows increased number of spindle cells on the right side. Goldberg mentioned that the association fibers in the right hemisphere are longer and have greater speed of processing. In contrast, the left hemisphere consists of short fibers with lower speed of processing. The ratio of noradrenaline and dopamine in both hemispheres also differs.3 Frontal lobes, the expressive and the most humane part of brain is the most recently evolved region, important for cognition flexibility, motivation and control of social and behavioral impulses. Consciousness in animals may be limited to one sense. Dogs are smell conscious. In snakes touch, vision and taste are independent of each other. Human beings are unique having consciousness of SELF and all the senses are linked together and sampled in frontal lobes creating whole body image in relation to atmosphere. Frontal lobes are the twin orchestra conductors in cerebral symphony. These have inhibitory effect over other parts of brain to concentrate or meditate. Frontal lobes work in an economized state at low energy level. It has a braking system for thinking, motor activity and feelings; and regulates emotions. Hippocampalprefrontal cortical circuits are important to working memory. Pre-frontal cortex is used during consciously thinking and holds information to understand, decide, recall and memorize. It integrates different information gathered from different areas of brain into purposeful and planned behavior, anticipating future, making critical judgment and discerns various ideas to fit. It has multimodal association cortex. The heteromodal component is known as granular cortex, whereas the paralimbic component is known as dysgranular cortex.4 It processes information from various sensory modalities and integrated here for memory, perception, and diverse cognitive processes. Pre-frontal cortex is the last cortical area which myelinates in adolescence.5 According to Jacksonian Principle,6 evolution is passage from the simple, the most automatic, towards the complex, the most voluntary or least automatic. Dissolution is the reverse process of evolution which passes from the most complex, the least automatic towards the most simple, and the most automatic. In other words, in disease those parts suffer first and most, which have the highest, the most complex, or those functions that have developed latest. So the frontal lobes are latest and highly complex in the development and the first to be knocked out. Frontal lobes have 3 areas with different functions namely the motor and pre-motor unit, the frontal eye field area and the pre-frontal cortex (PFC). The later is divided into medial frontal cingulated cortex, dorsolateral cortex and the orbital frontal lobe.

Play ‘Purposeful Politics’ to Gain Success

Play ‘Purposeful Politics’ to Gain Success

Farmers' Knowledge of Land Degradation Issues in Ganga District, Daura Emirate, Katsina State, Nigeria

The study described here examined farmers' knowledge about land degradation; their understanding and interpretation of factors related to soil fertility decline; their responses to land degradation; their views on the seriousness of the problem; how their perceptions influenced the management practices of their farmlands within the study area; variations in farmers' perception of land degradation / soil fertility decline across Ganga District (Ganga, Godai, Shadambu, Tambu, and Mazoji); and the influence of level of education, gender, and age on farmers' perceptions of land degradation / soil fertility decline issues in Ganga District of Daura Local Government Area, Katsina State. A total of 240 semi-structured questionnaires were administered to respondents within the study area, supplemented by oral interviews and field observations. Purposeful sampling technique was used to select famers actively involved in farming practices in the area. The farmers were surveyed between December 2008 to January 2009,...

Purpose in the Living World? Creation and Emergent Evolution. By Jacob Klapwijk and Purposiveness: Teleology Between Nature and Mind. Edited by Luca Illetterati and Francesca Michelini

Purpose in the Living World? Creation and Emergent Evolution. By Jacob Klapwijk and Purposiveness: Teleology Between Nature and Mind. Edited by Luca Illetterati and Francesca Michelini

The Purposeful Path to Sustainability

The Purposeful Path to Sustainability

Comparison of early childhood education (preschool education) in Turkey and OECD countries

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate how the difference the early childhood education in Turkey and OECD countries. The outstanding point evaluated by the teachers about the difference between the education in Turkey and that in OECD countries and the conditions needing to be improved was the compare of age groups benefiting from the services within the frame of Early Childhood Education (ECE) and the number of teachers and personnel, based on the data obtained. In the research, homogeneous sampling method, of the purposeful sampling, was used. The data obtained from the interview with the teachers was interpreted by means of the content analysis method which is one of the data analysis methods. Key words: Early childhood education, preschool education, Turkey, OECD countries.

TEACHING DESIGN AT THE LIMITS OF ARCHITECTURE

Pre-industrial architects inherently knew the effectual dimension of design through its materiality, detail, and form. Until now, the intellectual dichotomy of human thinking held that mind and body were separate entities, drawing a distinction between reasoned thought and feeling. The early Greek philosophers distinguished between these two realms. Theories on beauty, the human aesthetic impulse, and design were divided along the objective and subjective lines for centuries. In more current architectural terms, the objective dimension of industry gave structure and perceived virtue to the modernist paradigm, while at the same time clearing the way (tabula rasa) for the rampant subjectivity we now see in the idiosyncratic expressions of so many contemporary architects. By revealing the relationship between our physical and mental processes, neuroscience re-situates the debate on physical reality well outside the intellectual enterprise of aesthetically driven design. Clear measures can now be evidenced, documented, and applied to establish a new, more effective, and humanly engaging way to build. This new architecture draws upon those mechanisms of neuro-connectivity that help us to feel safe and secure. From this knowledge we have developed a new model for building/rebuilding the world, called Intelligence-Based Design. Intelligence-Based Design is the purposeful manipulation of the built environment to engage humans in an essential manner through complex organized information. Intelligence-Based Theory evidences the direct neurological evaluations of surface, structure, pattern, texture, and form, etc., and maintains that our sense of well being is established through positive neuro-engagement with the physical world at the deepest level common to all people, i.e. “Innate Intelligence.” This paper describes a senior architectural design studio taught using the precepts of Intelligence-Based Design. We describe our methodology, and the successful implementations of both theoretical concepts and practical ideas on pedagogy. We also relate in some detail the numerous conceptual obstacles we came up against; almost all of them attributable to the anti-architectural training students tend to receive inside contemporary architectural programs.