Theoretical Reasoning Research Articles

Nature and the Good

Nature and the Good

The [formula omitted]s and [formula omitted]s in Rayleigh–Taylor and Richtmyer–Meshkov instabilities

The alphas (αb, αs) and thetas (θb, θs) are the essential parameters describing the asymptotic growth behavior of the mixing layer driven by Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) and Richtmyer–Meshkov (RM) instabilities at the interface between the fluids. Extensive simulations and experiments have been conducted in the determination of these parameters. The results depend on numerical algorithms, resolutions, and the accuracy of experimental measurements. In this article, we present a unique relationship between the alphas and thetas by applying a simple buoyancy-drag mixing model. Our first main result is that, for the same fluids, these parameters are not independent because they are fundamentally connected by physics principles and they all are functions of the drag coefficients of the fluids. As a consequence, the alphas and thetas are intrinsically coupled. All are functions of any single one of these. Our second main result is that the RT bubble growth rate (αb) is determined by the bubble competition process – a merger model – at the edge of the mixing layer. Together, these two main results determine all the alphas and thetas by strictly theoretical reasoning. Applications to both hydro and laser driven experiments at OMEGA are presented.

‘Voting Behavior’ to Make Better Choice With Reference to Delhi NCR

Existing political economy models have tended to examine how more information influences either electoral accountability or on turnout. Our evidence and theoretical reasoning, however, suggests that information should influence both margins of voter behavior. One contribution of this paper is to provide a model which identifies the conditions under which information increases electoral accountability when turnout is endogenous. We consider an economic environment in which a sub-population of ethical voters face a cost of voting but may still choose to vote in order to maximize group welfare. We assume that these voters favor politicians whom they expect to perform better, where performance is measured along the lines framed by the report cards. More precise information about incumbent performance increases the expected benefits from voting for the preferred candidate and, therefore, typically increases turnout and reduces vote buying. More precise performance and qualification signals also boost the vote share of better performing incumbents under reasonable conditions. Finally, how turnout varies with incumbent performance depends on voters’ priors.

Міст понад Збручем: Велика Злука у пресі Української Народної Республіки

In the article we analyze the press publications that covered the process of realizing the idea of consolidation and its theoretical reasoning in the journals of 1918—1919 in UNR and Ukrainian State. The subject of the research is newspaper materials of such press editions as «Nova Rada» (Kyiv, 1917—1919), «Kozatska Dumka» (Berdychiv, 1917), «Vidrodzennia» (Kiev, 1918), «Vistnyk Ukrainskoi Narodnoi Respubliky » (Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Kamianets-Podilsky, 1918—1919), «Respublikanski Visty» (Vinnytsia, 1918—1919), «Respublikanski Visty» (Kharkiv, 1918), «Zhyttia Podillia» (Kamianets-Podilsky, 1918—1919), «Kievskii Kommunist» (1918—1919) and others. Analysis of publications about consolidation reveals a wide range of factors that influenced the Act of Union on January 22, 1919 — historical, mental, ideological, political and informational. At the same time it reveals the inconsistency policy of the leaders of the Ukrainian Central Rada, in particular Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, of promoting the idea of the federation (which was de facto in opposition to the idea of consolidation). We have made comparative parallels of understanding the process of unification among Galician and Dnieper Ukrainians, taking into account the fact of the presence of Ukrainian lands within different empires — Russian and Austro-Hungarian, related to this fact internal contradictions among the Ukrainian political elite, open armed aggression against Ukraine. The repressions of the Russian authorities led to the destruction of the nationally-oriented Ukrainian political elite, whose numerous representatives did not know their native language. Additionally, the influence of socialist ideology caused the priority of social demands against national ones. Representatives of the Galicians, released after the revolution from the Siberian camps, have joined the government, administrative and educational institutions of Ukraine. The opponents of consolidation were the Bolsheviks, who saw the prospects of unification only under the red flag. In the journals were published texts of documents, described the process of the celebration on January 22, 1919, abstracts of V. Vynnychenko`s, S. Petliura`s, L. Tsehelsky`s and V. Olesnitsky`s speeches, published mottos for the necessity of the unity of the nation. Keywords: consolidation, Act of Union, federation, UNR, ZUNR, ukrainian press of 1918—1919.

Metacognitive domain specificity in feeling-of-knowing but not retrospective confidence

Previous research has converged on the idea that metacognitive evaluations of memory dissociate between semantic and episodic memory tasks, even if the type of metacognitive judgement is held constant. This often observed difference has been the basis of much theoretical reasoning about the types of cues available when making metacognitive judgements of memory and how metacognition is altered in memory pathologies. Here, we sought to revisit the difference between episodic and semantic feeling-of-knowing (FOK) judgements in the light of recent research which has supported a domain general account of metacognition. One hundred participants performed classical episodic and semantic memory tasks with FOK judgements and confidence judgements. Using the meta-d′ framework, we applied a hierarchical Bayesian model to estimate metacognitive sensitivity and cross-task covariance. Results revealed a significant correlation in metacognitive efficiency (meta-d′/d′) between the episodic memory task and the semantic memory task for confidence judgements; however, no evidence was found for a cross-task correlation for FOK judgements. This supports the view that FOK judgements are based on different cues in semantic and episodic memory, whereas confidence judgements are domain general.

Visualization of the educational process of motor actions and improvement of motor skills

In the modern learning environment visualization takes the leading place in the process of students knowledge formation based on the receiving of the constant information flow. The particular attention in the work is paid to the development and application of the techniques and means of educational material visualization. They allow to visualize perceptual images, ideas, movements, thoughts, theoretical reasoning and constructions as visual clarity. The studying process of motor actions, quality and speed of mental operations in the process of its studying, quality and speed of its reproduction depend on many parameters, characterizing the degree of symmetry-asymmetry development in the forms and functions development. The determining factor in the system of physical education and sports training of students visualization use is the feature of its implementation at each training stage. Means and methods of visualization can be modified according to the content, purpose and form of application.

Willingness of future teachers to apply innovative productive teaching methods to form a healthy lifestyle in preschoolers

The goal of the study is to investigate the willingness of future teachers to apply innovative productive teaching methods in their direct work. Future teachers took part in the written survey (N0=141), students of other specialities and established professionals (N1=N2=28). Fisher's φ test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, biserial correlation coefficient, Kendall's τ correlation coefficient, Student's t-test (p ≤ 0.01) were used to statistically evaluate the results It is shown that future teachers from the proposed options choose mainly reproductive methods, and freely formulate informative methods. The most significant differences were revealed between the samples of future teachers and “adults” who do not have pedagogical training, which indicates the choice of methods not based on knowledge in the professional sphere, but on the basis of everyday ideas characteristic of this generation. It can be concluded that future teachers are really not ready to apply innovative productive methods in their practice, preferring more traditional informative and reproductive ones. This poses the task of finding ways to introduce into pedagogical practice those methods, theoretical reasoning about which is oversaturated in modern scientific and educational discourse.

Vertical leadership development: problems of conceptualization and implementation

The environment in which modern business operates is immeasurably more complex, mobile and unpredictable than it was a decade ago. Changes in the world associated with globalization, digital opportunities, social media make people reconsider their experience and beliefs. Society has to meet many economic, social and environmental challenges and expects business to participate in the process effectively. Companies that strive for success increasingly need leaders who not only manage the current model of the organization well, but also transform its mission, culture, and standards in conditions of increasing complexity, ambiguity, and fragility of events. This requires unprecedented abilities and willingness for full commitment and puts forward new requirements for the leader’s formation. The purpose of this article is to systematize knowledge on the vertical leadership development in the new business environment that is typified by an increased level of complexity and interconnectedness. General scientific methods are used to substantiate the theoretical positions and reasoning of the conclusions. The system method allows to consider the organization leadership development as an open, integrated, dynamic, contradictory process in which all its structural elements are closely interrelated and interact. It is also used a descriptive method with the elements of comparison and graphical visualization of factual information. This paper shares findings from the research studies designed to explore the problems of leadership development in the environment that places fundamentally new demands on the managers mindset to develop ability to think comprehensively. A systemic view of the world helps the leader to consider his corporation as not a separate organism for making money, but part of the “life support system” of society. Research limitations / implications. The research focuses on conceptual aspects of leadership development in terms of capacity that is sufficient to meet future leadership requirements. The critical gauge of the current leadership results in the assumption that failures are caused by the mismatch of leader’s mindset to the level that the company needs for its development. It is the model of vertical leadership development that describes the most important processes of understanding, through which people learn and interpret the experience they receive, and then structure the knowledge into more or less complete pictures of the world and characteristic ways of behavior. Originality / value. This study is of an overview nature. There are substantiated the criteria of the VUCA world as far as business environment is concerned; the competencies that will be most valuable to the future leader in managing complex and unpredictable environments are reflected; the methods of horizontal and vertical development are attributed in terms of their key distinction for the collective leadership formation; the action logics of managers in the context of corporate leadership are considered. JEL Classification: L 14, L 29, M 12.

Plausibility and the Benefit of Theoretical Reasoning: Comment on Austin Bradford Hill (1965)

Plausibility and the Benefit of Theoretical Reasoning: Comment on Austin Bradford Hill (1965)

Risk spillover in financial markets based on support vector quantile regression

In terms of financial market risk research, with the rapid popularization of non-linear perspectives and the improvement of theoretical reasoning, scholars have slowly broken through the cage of linear ideas and derived new and more practical methods from non-linear perspectives to make up for the shortcomings of traditional research. Based on the support vector classification regression algorithm, this research combines the typical facts and characteristics of financial markets, from the perspective of quantile regression and SVR intelligent technology in computer science, to explore the research method of financial market risk spillover effects from a nonlinear perspective. Moreover, this research integrates statistical research, machine learning and other related research methods, and applies them to the measurement of financial risk spillover effects. The empirical analysis shows that the method proposed in this paper has certain effects, and financial risk analysis can be performed based on the risk spillover effect measurement model constructed in this paper.

Editorial: Only a Three-Legged Stool? A Review of the Concept of Alignment in the Economics of Performance Management

This editorial revisit the concept of alignment within the agency theoretic view of organisational performance management. Based on an analysis of a real-life case, we examine how far the theoretical reasoning based on the concept of ‘three-legged stool’ is practically relevant. Findings of our case suggests that while there is seemingly misalignment among the three established structures of performance evaluation, decision right allocation and incentive compensation, the ‘misalignment’ is ‘repaired’ with the support of two other governance structures namely, HR and CRM policies. We believe that the design of performance management is not to be confined to the ‘three-legged stool’ but practically extended to other forms of governance structures.

El autoconocimiento de las creencias: una objeción al método de la transparencia

According to the method of transparency, genuine self-knowledge is the outcome of an inference from world to mind. A. Byrne (2018) has developed a theory in which the method of transparency consists in following an epistemic rule in order to form self-verifying second-order beliefs. In this paper, I argue that Byrne’s theory does not establish sufficient conditions for having self-knowledge of first-order beliefs. Examining a case of self-deception, I strive to show that following such a rule might not result in self-knowledge when one is involved in rational deliberation. In the case under consideration, one precisely comes to believe that one believes that p without coming to believe that p. The justification for one’s not forming the belief that p with its distinctive causal pattern in mental life and behaviour, is that one already had the unconscious belief that not-p, a belief that is not sensitive to the principles governing theoretical and practical reasoning.

Estimating cloud condensation nuclei number concentrations using aerosol optical properties: role of particle number size distribution and parameterization

Abstract. The concentration of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) is an essential parameter affecting aerosol–cloud interactions within warm clouds. Long-term CCN number concentration (NCCN) data are scarce; there are a lot more data on aerosol optical properties (AOPs). It is therefore valuable to derive parameterizations for estimating NCCN from AOP measurements. Such parameterizations have already been made, and in the present work a new parameterization is presented. The relationships between NCCN, AOPs, and size distributions were investigated based on in situ measurement data from six stations in very different environments around the world. The relationships were used for deriving a parameterization that depends on the scattering Ångström exponent (SAE), backscatter fraction (BSF), and total scattering coefficient (σsp) of PM10 particles. The analysis first showed that the dependence of NCCN on supersaturation (SS) can be described by a logarithmic fit in the range SS <1.1 %, without any theoretical reasoning. The relationship between NCCN and AOPs was parameterized as NCCN≈((286±46)SAE ln(SS/(0.093±0.006))(BSF − BSFmin) + (5.2±3.3))σsp, where BSFmin is the minimum BSF, in practice the 1st percentile of BSF data at a site to be analyzed. At the lowest supersaturations of each site (SS ≈0.1 %), the average bias, defined as the ratio of the AOP-derived and measured NCCN, varied from ∼0.7 to ∼1.9 at most sites except at a Himalayan site where the bias was >4. At SS >0.4 % the average bias ranged from ∼0.7 to ∼1.3 at most sites. For the marine-aerosol-dominated site Ascension Island the bias was higher, ∼1.4–1.9. In other words, at SS >0.4 % NCCN was estimated with an average uncertainty of approximately 30 % by using nephelometer data. The biases were mainly due to the biases in the parameterization related to the scattering Ångström exponent (SAE). The squared correlation coefficients between the AOP-derived and measured NCCN varied from ∼0.5 to ∼0.8. To study the physical explanation of the relationships between NCCN and AOPs, lognormal unimodal particle size distributions were generated and NCCN and AOPs were calculated. The simulation showed that the relationships of NCCN and AOPs are affected by the geometric mean diameter and width of the size distribution and the activation diameter. The relationships of NCCN and AOPs were similar to those of the observed ones.

The Russian Intelligentsia: Taming Nihilism in the Stalin Period

This essay represents a fragment of a text devoted to issues of figurative representation in Soviet and Russian cinema. It briefly analyzes the evolution of the image of the scientist during the period of Stalinist cinema. The authors theoretical reasoning is based on the definition of nihilism given by Nikolai Berdyaev in his essay Russian Socialism and Nihilism.
 In their policy towards the intelligentsia, including the policy in the sphere of cinema, the Soviet authorities used those attributes of nihilism which constituted the main essence of the Russian and Soviet intelligentsia. The author discusses four periods in the history of Soviet cinema: the 1920s, the 1930s, the World War II period and the consequent period of malokartinye (film scarcity). Beginning with the film Congestion (1919), an attempt had been made to convince representatives of the intelligentsia that the Soviet form of government carried the ideas of freedom, equality and fraternity, so there was no more reason for nihilistic attitudes towards reality as to a world ruled by evil. In the 1930s, the Soviet culture formed a full-fledged positive image of a scientist who accepted Soviet power. A most important domestic political task was outlined: the state was to carry out a tremendous job of bringing up its own Soviet intelligentsia and scientists who would not be tainted by the wrong nihilism of their pre-revolutionary predecessors. If it ever arose, nihilism was to be tightly controlled and transformed into the search for scientific truth and intransigence towards the enemies of the Soviet regime. During the World War II (the Great Patriotic War), intellectuals became the highest embodiment of spiritual aspirations and the denial of everything hostile to the nation; it may be said that their faith was deemed as an achievement comparable to the faith of Christian martyrs. And in the post-war period and the period film scarcity, cinema renewed the demonstration of the possibility of an ideal relationship between the scientists, the intelligentsia and the Soviet government. Film representation system included images of what the Soviet government gave to the scientists (and, more broadly, to the intelligentsia) and of their debt of gratitude for everything given to them.

TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE, AND RELIGIOUS BELIEF

Religious beliefs are often criticized as lacking the rational justification we expect of factual knowledge claims. In this article I suggest that while religious believers do often claim ‘knowledge’ of the ‘truth’ they typically use these words in traditional, and indeed still current, senses that are quite different from the senses assumed both by their atheist critics and by standard theories of knowledge. The claims are not primarily claims of factual accuracy, subject to the norms of what philosophers call theoretical reasoning, but claims of acquaintance with what can be trusted in the making of practical judgements, and subject to the rather different norms of practical reasoning. This does not exempt them from rational critique, but it does call for a different kind of critique from that usually offered.

The Relationship between Parent Volunteering in School and School Safety in Disadvantaged Urban Neighborhoods

ABSTRACT Schools located in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods report disproportionately high rates of crime and violence. Theoretical reasoning suggests that school-based parent participation may lead to improved school safety in these settings, but little empirical work has tested this relationship. This study examines the relationship between school-based parent volunteering and two measures of school safety by using data from five waves of the School Survey on Crime and Safety, Common Core Data, and the American Community Survey. Results from analyses of 12,698 schools indicated that school-based parent volunteering is associated with improved school safety, controlling for school organizational features, sociodemographic characteristics, and neighborhood-level crime. For schools in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, this relationship persisted with parent volunteering being associated with less school crime and violence and student bodily harm. Findings establish a need for future research to determine whether parent volunteering may be a tool for enhancing school safety.

Let the Data Speak? On the Importance of Theory-Based Instrumental Variable Estimations

AbstractIn absence of randomized-controlled experiments, identification is often aimed via instrumental variable (IV) strategies, typically two-stage least squares estimations. According to Bayes’ rule, however, under a low ex ante probability that a hypothesis is true (e.g. that an excluded instrument is partially correlated with an endogenous regressor), the interpretation of the estimation results may be fundamentally flawed. This paper argues that rigorous theoretical reasoning is key to design credible identification strategies, the foremost, finding candidates for valid instruments. We discuss prominent IV analyses from the macro-development literature to illustrate the potential benefit of structurally derived IV approaches.

Judicial Reform in China: From the Perspective of Legal Fee Arrangements

Abstract To achieve equality and justice is the main objective of China’s judicial reform. However, due to the scarcity of judicial resources in China, the cost of achieving equality and justice must be considered when designing the judicial system. Thus, how to balance equality, justice and judicial costs has become one of the most complicated questions of the reform. Analysis of the legal fee arrangements provides a unique perspective for this issue. In this paper, we use the method of law and economics to analyze this question. Through setting up a dynamic game model for litigation, we compare the effects of different legal fee arrangements on equality, justice and the social cost. Through data simulation, our theoretical findings are interpreted intuitively. The paper also scrutinizes institutional factors in system designing, which provides useful implications for the judicial reform. In addition, our research findings have amended the inconsistence of results between theoretical reasoning and empirical evidence.

"Three yin and three yang" subarea division in the body and acupuncture effect

Under the revised demand of theoretic development in clinical practice and scientific research of acupuncture and moxibustion, the reconstruction of the theory was discussed on the "three yin and three yang" subarea division in the body and acupuncture effect in line with the traditional thinking of Chinese medicine so as to explore the longitudinal foundation and rule in the human body for the "effective stimulation". ①Based on the theory of "qi-space correlation" in Internal Classic and the source of nomenclature of "three yin and three yang", the body is divided in stereo zone in accordance with the theory of "three yin and three yang". ②In view of theoretical reasoning and practical interpretation, it is expounded that the same longitudinal stereo zone subarea in the body could respond to diseases and generate therapeutic effects. ③It is pointed out that the subareas of "three yin and three yang" in the body are closely related to meridians and collaterals, which is the basis of the spatial structure and and physical effect. The importance of the "body" itself is ignored nowadays because of the conventional thinking of "qi and blood" in traditional Chinese medicine.

Subcritical magnetohydrodynamic instabilities: Chandrasekhar’s theorem revisited

Subcritical instabilities (i.e. finite-amplitude instabilities that occur without any linear instability) in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows are studied by computing finite-amplitude equilibrium solutions of viscous–resistive MHD equations. The plane Couette flow magnetised by a uniform spanwise current is used as a model flow. Solutions are found for broad sub- and super-Alfvenic flow regimes by controlling the magnetic Mach number, but their existence is greatly influenced by the magnetic Prandtl number. When that number is unity, and the walls are perfectly insulating, the solution branch found in the super-Alfvenic regime cannot be continued towards the sub-Alfvenic regime; the boundary between those regimes is called the Chandrasekhar state, where Chandrasekhar (Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 42, 1956, pp. 273–276) proved the non-existence of a linear ideal instability. Thus, the result may seem to suggest that the Chandrasekhar theorem holds even when diffusivity and nonlinearity are present. This is certainly true, but only when the perturbation magnetic field on the boundary is small. The boundary effects add more complexity to the nonlinear analysis of the Chandrasekhar state. The Chandrasekhar theorem is known to work for flows bounded by perfectly conducting walls. However, somewhat paradoxically, when the walls are perfectly conducting, our large-Reynolds-number computational results show that the nonlinear solutions do exist in the Chandrasekhar state. We give a theoretical reasoning for this curious phenomenon, using a large-Reynolds-number asymptotic analysis. For small magnetic Prandtl numbers, we also show that the solution can be continued for infinitesimally small magnetic Mach number, where the flow is significantly sub-Alfvenic.