Concept Of Thickness Research Articles

Irreducibly Thick Evaluation is not Thinly Evaluative

In this paper, I criticize the pairing of irreducible thickness (the view that thick concepts do not reduce to thin evaluations plus some descriptive component) with the traditional view of evaluation which says evaluation is a matter of encoding good or bad in some way. To do this, I first explicate the determination view, which holds that irreducibly thick concepts are to thin concepts as determinates are to determinables. I then show that, even if the determination view did establish irreducible thickness, it would not have proven that the evaluative is well understood as being an instance of the determination relation; in order to do that, the determination view needs to show how the evaluative fit a general analysis of the determination relation. However, when the determination view attempts to fill in the analysis, we get implausible results—so implausible, I claim, that we should see the results as a reductio to the view. To generalize the criticism to any view like the determination view, I show that the same results ensue when we model the evaluative on mereology. Finally, I diagnose the general failure by claiming that the evaluative domain, as conceived by the defender of irreducible thickness, just does not have the structure to secure the tight connection between thick and thin concepts while also carving up our conceptual economy in a plausible way.

Who's afraid of perfectionist moral enhancement? A reply to Sparrow.

Robert Sparrow recently argued that state-driven moral bioenhancement is morally problematic because it inevitably invites moral perfectionism. While sharing Sparrow's worry about state-driven moral bioenhancement, I argue that his anti-perfectionism argument is too strong to offer useful normative guidance. That is, if we reject state-driven moral bioenhancement because it cannot remain neutral between different conceptions of the good, we might have to conclude that all forms of moral enhancement programs ought not be made compulsory, including the least controversial and most popular state-driven program: compulsory (moral) education. In this paper, I argue that, instead, the spirit of Sparrow's worry should be recast in the language of the capability approach-an approach that strives to enhance people's capabilities to develop their own conceptions of the good by restricting itself from endorsing thick conceptions of the good. The distinction made regarding thick and thin conceptions of the good helps to capture sentiments against state-driven bioenhancement programs without falling prey to the issues I raise against Sparrow's anti-perfectionist arguments.

Blasphemy As A Thick Concept

Thick concepts have been central in metaethical debates over the last few decades, for instance in the controversy between cognitivism and non-cognitisivism or in the fact/value distinction. They are characterised as world guided, action guiding and community shared. In this paper, thick concepts are used to analyse case law on blasphemy from the European Court of Human Rights. When conducting this analysis, the test of civility proposed by Habermas and Rawls will also be applied. Public reason obligates the use of reasons accessible to all, that is to say not with a particular/thick meaning, in the public sphere.

Buckling of laminated glass plates using the effective thickness concept

The critical buckling loads of laminated glass panels are time and temperature dependent because the mechanical behavior of these elements is governed by the material properties of the interlayers, which exhibit a viscoelastic behavior. Although structural stability is one of the design requirements in laminated glass panels, the literature about buckling of these elements is sparse. The finite element method can be used to calculate the response of laminated glass plates, but the classical eigenvalue buckling analysis implemented in these programs does not consider the time and temperature dependency of the interlayers. In this paper, a simplified analytical method to calculate the buckling critical load of rectangular laminated glass plates is presented, where the equations corresponding to linear-elastic monolithic thin plates are modified with an effective stiffness [Formula: see text] dependent on the geometry, material properties, and boundary conditions of the plate. The analytical equations are validated by numerical simulations on simply-supported laminated glass plates subject to uniaxial, biaxial, and in-plane shear, the maximum discrepancies being less than 10% for all the cases studied in the paper.

A method of designing binary energy degrader

In order to improve the efficiency of the single event effect (SEE) experiments on the 100 MeV proton cyclotron of China Institute of Atomic Energy, a binary energy degrader that can lower the initial proton energy to other values rapidly is designed for the 100 MeV protons provided by the accelerator. The energy degrader is comprised of six aluminum plates of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mm at thickness, where the thickness of the latter plate is twice that of the previous one. We introduce the concept of relative thickness, which can also represent the order of the energy of the produced protons, and the state or operation of the degrader. The energy interval of 61 protons with energy above 9.69 MeV, produced by the degrader, is between 0.84 MeV and 4.09 MeV. And their energy straggling degree is less than 10%, and full width at half maximum of the scattering angle is less than 45 mrad. So the energy degrader basically meets the requirements of the proton SEE experiments. The influence of the initial proton energy accuracy of the protons directly provided by the accelerator on the residual energy after they have passed through the degrader is discussed. It is found that the lower the residual energy, the greater the influence is. In addition, the degrader is also suitable for protons in the 70－100 MeV energy range that the accelerator can directly provide, and more continuous energy can be obtained by using more plates designed with this method. The design method of the energy reducer proposed in this paper is simple and effective, and has a strong reference value.

The institutional thickness of an inner periphery in the cross-border region between Central Bohemia and Eastern Bohemia

The paper aims to analyze the “soft” factors of local development and to understand the nature of the socio-economic differences between municipalities in an inner periphery in Bohemia. The partial goals are to explain which internal conditions are conductive to the formation of these ties of cooperation, to reveal which power structures are involved in the ties of cooperation, and to assess the direction of these interactions. The conclusions are formulated and discussed in relation to the concept of institutional thickness. Our research confirmed the key differentiating role of mayors in local interactions and the importance of administrative boundaries – especially boundaries of self-government regions. These boundaries had the effect of constraining the formation of formal and informal relations between actors in territorial development. The research also provides evidence of the continued existence of links between municipalities that were formed during the communist period. The data come from the author’s field survey among the mayors.

A “Thick” Conception of Children’s Voices: A Hermeneutical Framework for Childhood Research

“Listening to children’s voices” can help foster respectful regard for their experiences and concerns and promote the recognition of children as active agents; that is, persons who have interests and capacities to participate in discussions and decisions that affect them and other people. However, “listening to children’s voices” can have many different forms, and the ways that these voices should be linked to children’s agency can be unclear. I outline several common misconceptions that can impede “listening to children’s voices” as forms of epistemological oppression. I argue for a thick conception of children’s voices, recognizing that children’s expressions are relationally embedded expressions of their agency. Understanding children’s voices and experiences requires hermeneutical approaches that can help discern what is meaningful for a child in a particular situation. I discuss ontological, epistemological, and methodological shifts that are required for hermeneutical inquiry with children and outline specific methods that can be used, oriented by guiding questions. This hermeneutical methodology can help advance our understanding of children’s experiences as well as their aspirations and concerns in research and in professional practice.

Study on optimization of nano-coatings for ultra-sensitive biosensors based on long-period fiber grating

Bio-chemical sensors are expected to offer high sensitivity and specificity towards the detection of an analyte. It has been found that optical sensors based on long period fiber gratings (LPFGs) meet most of these requirements, particularly when coated with thin and high-refractive index overlays with proper bio-functionalization. In this paper, the influence of properties of the overlay material on the sensitivity of LPFG sensors to bio-analytes is analyzed. It has been observed that the sensitivity of a particular cladding mode of LPFG can be changed drastically with the adhesion of few tens of ‘nm’ of bio-layers to the surface of LPFG. “Volume refractive index sensitivity” and “add-layer sensitivity” of a particular cladding mode, dynamic range, and limit of detection of the sensors have been investigated in the context of overlay materials, bio-functionalization steps, and surrounding buffer medium. The selection criteria of the thin-film deposition technique are discussed with the aim of designing highly sensitive sensors for biological and chemical applications. Concept of optimum overlay thickness has been redefined and an effective case-specific design methodology is proposed.

The case for a thick shareholder concept

AbstractMarkets, corporations, shareholding, management, law, and ethics are all human constructs. A human element seems essential to their existence. Yet, the predominant conception of shareholders as used in academia as well as the business world is thin, generic, and inanimate. This article argues that a thick conception of shareholders as human beings is needed to legitimize and improve managerial decision making under value pluralism, accurately reflect empirical reality of capital markets, and meet moral demands to respect the dignity of the human person. Drawing on the philosophical idea of thick evaluative concepts, the article explores how this idea can be applied to shareholders and begins to examine some of the implications of considering shareholders’ humanity for the responsibilities of and relationships between managers and shareholders.

Thick Concepts and Moral Revisionism in Plato’s Gorgias: Arguing About Something There Can Be No Argument About

Abstract David Furley has suggested that we think of Callicles’ immoralism as attacking a thick concept. I take up this suggestion and apply it to the argument of Plato’s Gorgias more generally. I show that the discussion between Socrates, Gorgias and Polus, which prepares the ground for Callicles, is precisely addressing the thickness of the concept of justice: it reveals that this concept is both descriptive and evaluative and that formulating a revisionist position about justice is therefore extremely difficult. Callicles’ strategy is best read as a response to this difficulty, which sets the stage for Socrates’ revisionist account of justice.

Surface generation modeling of micro milling process with stochastic tool wear

Micro milling is widely used to manufacture miniature parts and features at high quality with low set-up cost. To achieve a higher quality of existing micro products and improve the milling performance, a reliable analytical model of surface generation is the prerequisite as it offers the foundation for surface topography and surface roughness optimization. In the micro milling process, the stochastic tool wear is inevitable, but the deep influence of tool wear hasn't been considered in the micro milling process operation and modeling. Therefore, an improved analytical surface generation model with stochastic tool wear is presented for the micro milling process. A probabilistic approach based on the particle filter algorithm is used to predict the stochastic tool wear progression, linking online measurement data of cutting forces and tool vibrations with the state of tool wear. Meanwhile, the influence of tool run-out is also considered since the uncut chip thickness can be comparable to feed per tooth compared with that in conventional milling. Based on the process kinematics, tool run-out and stochastic tool wear, the cutting edge trajectory for micro milling can be determined by a theoretical and empirical coupled method. At last, the analytical surface generation model is employed to predict the surface topography and surface roughness, along with the concept of the minimum chip thickness and elastic recovery. The micro milling experiment results validate the effectiveness of the presented analytical surface generation model under different machining conditions. The model can be a significant supplement for predicting machined surface prior to the costly micro milling operations, and provide a basis for machining parameters optimization.

Effect of low-k oxide thickness variation on gate-all-around floating gate with optimized SiO2/La2O3 tunnel barrier

This paper reports the use of a novel lanthanum oxide (La2O3) tunnel barrier layer with low-k materials, silicon dioxide (SiO2) to improve Gate-All-Around Floating Gate (GAA-FG) memory performance performed using 3-Dimensional (3D) simulator of Silvaco ATLAS. We examine the ability of Variable Oxide Thickness (VARIOT) concept for several high-k dielectric materials using lanthanum oxide, yttrium (III) oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium dioxide and hafnium (IV) oxide (La2O3, Y2O3, Al2O3, ZrO2 and HfO2) to evaluate the memory characteristics including tunneling current, program/erase (P/E) operation and memory window. In this work, low-k oxide thickness, SiO2 is varied at 1:1:4 nm. Importantly, this finding shows that the combination of SiO2/La2O3 asymmetric stack have distinct consequences at the lowest programming voltage with Vprog = 4.7 V. In addition, the ability of silicon dioxide / lanthanum oxide (SiO2/La2O3) tunnel stack is significantly improved when the low-k oxide thickness, SiO2 is reduced. The proposed thickness ratio of SiO2 on GAA-FG memory cell yields substantial increased in memory window from 0.04 V to 5.0 V at the same P/E time, t = 0.1 ms. The optimized SiO2/La2O3 combination in this study demonstrated potentials flash memory architecture in the future.

Seawater cement paste: Effects of seawater and roles of water film thickness and superplasticizer dosage

In some remote areas or islands, the shortage of freshwater inspires the consideration of using seawater for making concrete. However, the use of seawater is not common and relatively little research has been done on seawater concrete. In this research, the influences of seawater on the fresh and hardened properties of seawater cement paste were investigated and the concept of water film thickness (WFT) was extended to seawater cement paste. To compare the various properties of seawater and freshwater cement pastes, and find out how the WFT affects the fresh properties of seawater cement paste, a series of seawater and freshwater cement paste mixes with varying water to cement (W/C) ratio and superplasticizer (SP) dosage were made and tested. It was found that at the same SP dosage and W/C ratio, seawater cement paste has lower workability and flowability, higher adhesiveness, lower packing density and slightly higher cube strength than the freshwater cement paste. Lastly, statistical correlation analysis revealed that the WFT and SP dosage are the key factors governing the fresh properties of seawater cement paste. Hence, the WFT theory is proven to be applicable also to seawater cement paste.

Thick Concepts and Sociological Research

I consider how to do sociological things with thick concepts, what’s the relation between thick concepts and social facts, what’s unique about thick concepts, and what’s unique about creatures in whose lives there are thick concepts.

Equivalent ice thickness in ship ice transit simulations: overview of existing definitions and proposition of an improved one

ABSTRACTSeveral definitions of equivalent ice thickness for simplification of complex ice cover are found in the literature. However, their systematic analysis is currently absent. Therefore, this paper reviews different definitions and validates them against a high-fidelity ice transit simulator, determining the most accurate one, with an average error of 16% for one analysed ship, and 10.5% for the other. Furthermore, capability of equivalent ice thickness to predict ship besetting in ice is tested, accurately predicting this event in 88% of the cases. Moreover, sensitivity analysis to the parameters not included in the traditional definitions is conducted, and it is found that only the thickness of ridge consolidated layer has significant impact. Finally, traditional concept based on equivalent ice volume is extended, and a concept of equivalent-performance ice thickness is developed, outperforming the traditional approach by reducing the average error to 4.6% for one ship, and to 3.2% for the other.

Ayn Rand's Credit Problem

Abstract In this article, the author diagnoses the cause of Rand's problematic position on intellectual property. He argues that Rand treats credit as a very thick concept. Rand sees crediting a person with inventing something as granting that person a right to the money embodied in the invention, its sale, and the profits related to licensing reproduction. The author shows that this thick notion of credit leads Rand to make several questionable claims in her arguments for intellectual property rights.

State Speech as a Response to Hate Speech: Assessing \u2018Transformative Liberalism\u2019

‘Transformative liberals’ believe that the state should use its non-coercive capacities to counter hateful speech and practices, by seeking to transform the views of those who hold hateful and discriminatory beliefs. This paper critically assesses transformative liberalism, with a particular focus on the theory developed by Corey Brettschneider. For Brettschneider, the state should engage in ‘democratic persuasion’ by speaking out against views that are incompatible with the ideal of free and equal citizenship, and refusing to fund or subsidise civil society groups that hold such views. My critique has five parts. I first rebut two central justifications for transformative liberalism, regarding complicity and the undermining of equal citizenship. Second, I show that some of the central policies that Brettschneider advocates are in fact coercive. Third, I raise concerns about the nature of the complex and contestable judgments that transformative liberalism requires the state to make. Fourth, I argue that Brettschneider’s view has various troubling implications. Finally, I argue that many of these problems derive from his adoption of a thick conception of free and equal citizenship, resulting in an overly broad definition of hateful viewpoints and of hate speech. A defensible version of transformative liberalism would use a significantly narrower conception.

Anticorrosion Performance of Sol–Gel Driven SIO2-Al2O3 Coatings on Low Carbon Steel

Anticorrosion performance of the sol–gel coatings was investigated for their applications to carbon steels. Cracking seemed to be a major problem in achieving the corrosion protection of the sol–gel coatings. It was found that some modifications from the original coating material such as the reduced particle size and structural change of the coating layer exerts a significant effect on the crack formation, which can be understood by the concept of critical thickness. Once corrosion occurred at the steel/coating interface, the cracking of the coating became accelerated as a result of oxide formation at the interface as it generates tensile stress on the sol–gel coating for the crack propagation. From the EIS analysis, it is demonstrated that the sol–gel coating would be not an ideal barrier for corrosion protection. Even though there was no crack on the coating, the charge transfer occurred through the film (frequency shift of time constant) with time, resulting in the corrosion at the steel/sol–gel coating interface with the crack propagation of the coating.

The Expansion View of Thick Concepts

AbstractThis paper proposes a new Separabilist account of thick concepts, called the Expansion View (or EV). According to EV, thick concepts are expanded contents of thin terms. An expanded content is, roughly, the semantic content of a predicate along with modifiers. Although EV is a form of Separabilism, it is distinct from the only kind of Separabilism discussed in the literature, and it has many features that Inseparabilists want from an account of thick concepts. EV can also give non‐cognitivists a novel escape from the Anti‐Disentangling Argument. §I explains the approach of all previous Separabilists, and argues that there's no reason for Separabilists to take this approach. §II explains EV. §III fends off objections. And §IV explains how non‐cognitivist proponents of EV can escape the Anti‐Disentangling Argument.

Quantitative evaluation of the computational accuracy for the Monte Carlo calculation of radiative heat transfer

Generally, there is no common method for directly and quantitatively evaluating computational errors in the calculation of radiative transfer. A method for quantitatively evaluating the accuracy in calculation of radiative transfer using the Monte Carlo method (MCM) is proposed, which is based on setting a radiative transfer enclosure in an isothermal and radiative equilibrium state, i.e. a state that equates exactly to a blackbody. For a gray emitting, absorbing, isotropically scattering, cubic enclosure bounded with diffusely emitting and reflecting surfaces, the computational accuracy and efficiency of the MCM are examined under fixed, constant surface emissivity of 0.5 and medium scattering albedo of 0.5. The concept of Mean Optical Thickness per Element (MOTE), that is the product of the absorption coefficient and the average length of three coordinate directions of the discrete space elements, is proposed to serve as a key scaling parameter to evaluate the calculation errors. When the MOTE is less than around 0.1, the errors for the surface elements reach a minimum level, even if the mesh density continues to increase. Scaling laws have been set up to relate the minimum errors for both the surface elements and space elements with the variation in the number of energy bundles (NEB). A desirable calculation error level is set as 1.0% for radiative heat transfer with an acceptable cost, for which the minimum NEBs are 3000 and 750 for the surface and space elements, respectively. For the surface elements, a scaling law relating the NEB and the maximum MOTE has been obtained that will enable the desirable error not to be exceeded; for the space elements, achieving the desirable error is dominated by the NEB, not the MOTE. It is stated that the cases studied in the paper have many limitations, and additional research should be done in the future to address the real cases of interest.