Ultimate Criterion Research Articles

DOMINANTS FOR THE NATIONAL ECONOMIES’ COMPETITIVENESS

This article is devoted to innovation as a prerequisite for the national economies' sustainable development and a domain for their global competitiveness. The paper aims to highlight the internal essence of mutual relations between innovation, competition, and economic growth. It was assumed that innovation positively affected the competitive behaviour of economic agents and eventually contributed to an increase in public welfare. Regarding the period from 2007 to 2022, we considered the sample of Central European countries and the Baltic states. Theoretical generalization has been applied to systematize the factors determining competition and innovation. We used statistical methods and comparative analysis to investigate the indicators' dynamics. The interdependencies between macroeconomic dynamics and a set of competition and innovation indicators have been assessed. It was proved that the proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in the total value added of manufacturing was quite important, yet not the ultimate criterion for ensuring high growth rates and sustainable development. The dynamics of commercial spending on research and development had been ambiguous and unsustainable. To ensure strategic competitiveness, national governments should encourage innovation in their respective business communities. The sampled economies have been examined considering a set of innovation and competition indicators (e.g., gross capital formation, research and development expenditures, logistics performance, export technological structure, carbon dioxide emission, and renewable energy consumption). Considering the implications of globalization, tax burden as an integral characteristic of the national economy's competitiveness has been evaluated as well. It was pointed out that: a) a stable, understandable and transparent tax policy should be implemented to protect the investors' property rights; b) a system of total anti-corruption measures aimed at preventing the practices of receiving undue benefits should be set; and c) the business sector should improve own environmental and social responsibility complexly, introduce resource-saving, green and circular economy.

Post-mined reclamation condition assessment by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

Post-mined reclamation is an essential phase in coal mining operations, ensuring that the ex-mining area can function again according to its intended purpose in the future. This study aimed to elucidate the differences in planting years of post-mined reclamation at a coal mine in the Paringin area, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, and compared them to undisturbed areas for the years 2003 and 2023. NDVI was used for land cover analysis based on the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resource Regulation, and the ultimate criterion for 100% success in post-mined reclamation is vegetation canopy coverage. The NDVI results showed an improvement in NDVI values for the post-mined reclamation area from 2003 to 2023, indicating an improvement in land cover due to the revegetation process. In 2023, the NDVI results of the post-mined reclamation for eight and twenty years of tree planting showed NDVI values of 0.6-0.7 (moderate vegetation). However, the results of field observations of the twenty-year post-mined reclamation tree condition indicate the non-survival of fast-growing tree species, such as Albizia chinensis. The composition of fast-growing and local tree species, with a minimum proportion of 60:40, and systematic tree distribution across the post-mined reclamation area are required to maintain canopy coverage of the post-mined reclamation area in the long term. Fast-growing tree species, as pioneers, have short to medium life periods. Therefore, the ultimate criterion for 100% success in post-mined reclamation for canopy coverage should be based on local tree species, serving as the basis for releasing the reclamation bond.

Quod significat: Vitruvius’ ultimate criterion for (good) architecture

Abstract The present paper proposes a new reading of one of the most obscure passages of De Architectura; in I, 1,3 Vitruvius claims that in architecture there is always a signifier and a signified, but his approach differs from Quintilian’s as presented in the latter’s Institutio Oratoria. Vitruvius’ is closer to Chrysippus approach, but he fails to mention the third constituent, the tynchanon. This omission is probably due to the fact that Vitruvius speaks of designs rather, than of existing buildings. What can successfully signify a proposed building is, according to my reading, the design and erection of a building that is easily recognized by the public as realizing the intentions of the community to erect the proposed building. Such successful signification constitutes the ultimate criterion for good architecture.

More Is Required of Us: Complicating an Ontology of Experience at the Heart of Community-Based Research

More Is Required of Us: Complicating an Ontology of Experience at the Heart of Community-Based Research

Optimizing Drilling Cost through the Application of Hydraulic Workover Unit to Drill New Wells in Andalan Delta

TN is a mature giant gas field in Andalan Block Contract Area which is operated by PT Surya Energy Company (PT SEC). TN wells are located in the delta of Andalan river and currently already entering production decline phase. Drilling activities in PT SEC itself has entered industrialization phase since early year 2000, resulted by more than 20 years of learning curve creation in the construction of well design architecture. Currently most of the wells drilled are targeting marginal hydrocarbon (HC) reserve. The downturn of oil and gas industry in mid-year 2014 had pushed the Drilling & Well Intervention team in PT SEC to further squeeze the well duration beyond the technical limit in order to meet the economy of wells drilled and continue drilling operation activities in order to maintain hydrocarbon production plateau. Many innovative ideas have been implemented to achieve these objectives such as the implementation of batch drilling, offline drilling activities, well architecture optimization, more rigless operation and other initiatives as alternative solutions have been introduced and will be planned to reduce well duration and operating cost in overall. This article discusses what factors that cause the well cost become high when drilling in TN field especially in TN Shallow development, investigation of the root cause (s), and the alternative solutions that may be feasible and also the implementation of the selected alternative solutions in order to avoid the company loss opportunity to drill and produce new TN Shallow wells. The root cause analysis used the current reality tree (CRT) which identifies main root cause on why the well cost becomes high or premium, which is high site preparation cost specifically to perform dredging activity. The site preparation is needed to allow for Swamp Barge (SB) rig and any other barge access to safely enter the well location and perform drilling activities the fact that the conventional SB rig is considered the only means to drill new wells in TN field. The alternative solutions of the root causes were determined, and then the best alternative solutions were selected using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The ultimate criteria for the selection of the alternative are the overall well cost creation, and how immediate means of drilling new wells as a solution can provide impact to the overall well cost reduction. Several alternative solutions are results of study and research of improvement on drilling project management implementation, including but not limited to some efforts in reducing drilling duration and innovative means to drill new wells with the fit-for-purpose design of drilling fleet, without using conventional SB rig which require huge amount of dredging volume thus resulting in high site preparation cost. Selected alternative solution to perform drilling activities using Hydraulic Workover Unit (HWU) is the best solution considering the equipment and working barges' technical capacity requirement point of view which resulting less daily drilling expense than the SB rig has resulted in less overall well cost. Drilling with HWU is a complex project management involving many entities with various competencies requirements within and outside the company organization. Even though the result of implementation may not be measured and obtained in a short period, the ultimate objective of reducing overall well cost to keep the well economy is expected to gain in the first campaign in the year 2023.

Mediator effects of psychological empowerment between ethical climate and innovative culture on performance and innovation in nurses.

This study investigates the effects of ethical climate and innovative culture on the hospital nurses' job performance and innovative behaviour with the mediating factor of psychological empowerment. Hospital nurses have an opportunity to embrace innovative behaviours and increase their performance through a positive ethical climate and innovative culture. Understanding nurses' psychological empowerment in the workspace context that impacts innovation has not been a focus for hospital leadership. A cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire design was used for data collection and analysis. The data are collected through a voluntary survey-selected by a convenience sampling method-of 393 nurses from University Hospital. The Structural Equation Model and Bootstrap method test the study's hypotheses. A STROBE checklist was used for reporting. Ethical climate and innovative culture predict job performance and innovative behaviour with the mediating role of psychological empowerment. Moreover, psychological empowerment decreases the predictive power of ethical climate and innovative culture separately but increases the nurses' job performance and innovative culture. Ethical climate and innovative culture significantly positively affect job performance and innovative behaviour. Additionally, the mediating effect of psychological empowerment increases job performance and innovative behaviour more than the effects of ethical climate and innovative culture. Nurses need to be prepared to practice safely, accurately and compassionately by translating moral values into rules of the nursing profession, where innovation increases at an astonishing rate. Nurse leaders and hospital managers should establish ethical norms as the consensus of ultimate criteria of validity of the rational analysis of tasks or particular nursing practice concepts, with an innovative culture by empowering nurses exceedingly in their workplace.

When Knowledge Is Not Enough

When Knowledge Is Not Enough

Spatial analysis of potential ecological sites in the northeastern parts of Ethiopia using multi-criteria decision-making models

The northeastern part of Ethiopia, particularly Raya area is a pilgrimage site famed for its antique civilization, archaeological sites, and rural landscapes. Despite existing ecotourism potentials, the area has not been utilized for tourism for millennia. While previous work looked at the availability of natural resources, it did not identify and prioritize the resources, so knowledge gaps continue to exist in prioritization of potential ecotourism sites. This study attempted to identify various ecotourism indicators, evaluate and produce maps of suitable ecotourism sites, and prioritize optimum protected areas that are best suited for sustainable ecotourism development of Raya areas. For this analysis, 13 spatial indicators from physical, environmental, archaeological, socio-cultural, and socioeconomic sectors were considered. Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) was used to calculate the details of the spatial indicators and class weights. The suitability maps were classified into four classes as Highly Suitable (S1), Moderately Suitable (S2), Marginally Suitable (N1), and Not Suitable (N2). The results revealed 114.37 Km2 (10.33%), 13.36 Km2 (1.91%), and 10.39 Km2 (1.62%) fall under the highly suitable class in Blocks B, A and C, respectively. AHP weights with ultimate criterion and field observations also ranked lake Ashenge, Hugumburda, and Gratkhassu national forest priority areas as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd optimal zones, respectively. The outcomes of this study are crucial for conservation pioneer work in ecological development, and should be used as an ideal blueprint by ecotourism planners and decision-makers for sustainable ecotourism development strategies.

Bridging the Invisible Cultural Gap

Bridging the Invisible Cultural Gap

Framework for the Development of Strain-Based Ultimate Performance Limit State Criterion for the Stability of Earthen Embankments

Framework for the Development of Strain-Based Ultimate Performance Limit State Criterion for the Stability of Earthen Embankments

Unidirectional Geosynthetic Reinforcement Design for Bridging Localized Sinkholes in Transport Embankments

The durability of foundations with localized sinkholes can be improved by geosynthetic-reinforced soil. Current design methods for geosynthetic-reinforced structures are based on the assumptions that the vertical load is distributed uniformly on the geosynthetic above the sinkhole and it corresponds to the geostatic stress in the anchorage area. In this study, a new analytical method is proposed to consider the ‘secondary arching effect’ and the vertical load distribution in the anchorage area due to the ‘arching effect.’ The influence of vertical load acting on the geosynthetic is analyzed based on three different cases. Results indicate that the increment of vertical load on the geosynthetic in the anchorage area has little effect on the maximum tensile force and surface settlement. Compared to a uniform load distribution on the geosynthetic above the sinkhole, the assumption of an inverse triangular load distribution can reduce the maximum tensile force and surface settlement. A new design method is proposed to determine the minimum geosynthetic stiffness to meet design standards. The obtained results verify the method as an applicable tool to meet the serviceability limit state and the ultimate limit state criteria.

Centrifuge Modeling of Cyclic Nonsymmetrical Thermally Loaded Energy Pile Groups in Clay

Heat transfer from/to energy piles can cause plastic contraction of soft clay with a low overconsolidation ratio (OCR) during heating and cooling. This can lead to thermally induced excess pore water pressure and changes in the lateral stress acting on a pile. These thermally induced phenomena cause additional plastic settlement of the soil and pile. Irreversible settlement may cause serviceability or ultimate limit state problems for floating energy piles whose capacity is mainly derived from shaft resistance. Due to intended operational needs or by accident, cyclic nonsymmetrical thermal loads may be applied to floating energy pile groups and piled rafts. The thermomechanical interaction among nonsymmetrical loaded piles is not well understood. In this study, a series of cyclic nonsymmetrical thermally loaded centrifuge model tests were conducted on floating pile groups and piled rafts in soft kaolin clay with an OCR of 1.7 at the pile toe. The performance of floating 2×2 elevated energy pile groups and energy piled rafts was investigated. Three piles in each group were subjected to 15 cycles of ±14°C in temperature change. The thermally induced irreversible settlement and tilting of the elevated pile groups exceeded serviceability and ultimate criteria. The piled rafts similarly settled but to a smaller extent than the elevated group. Their tilting, however, did not exceed the serviceability criterion. It is recommended that energy piled rafts be used in soft clay instead of elevated energy piles.

Seeing God's Essence: A Teleological Coordination of the Beatific Vision and Christ's Work of Atonement

Both Hans Boersma and Michael Allen have recently written important books on the beatific vision. This article engages these works in two main movements. In the first, the efforts of Boersma and Allen will be commended as much needed exhortations for the contemporary church. For the beatific vision combats the modern tendencies of demoting teleology and immanentizing the ultimate criteria of human flourishing. However, the second movement will critique a point that these two theologians share in their respective formulations of this eschatological act. Both posit the incarnate Son as the direct object of the vision. In contrast, this article contends that it is more theologically fitting to give this place to the divine essence. It does so by coordinating the beatific vision with the overarching telos of Christ's atoning work and its implications for theological anthropology.

Trust, mistrust and distrust as blind spots of Social Licence to Operate: illustration via three forerunner countries in nuclear waste management

The notion of social licence to operate (SLO) has become a widely applied concept for companies in mining and resource extraction industries to manage their social and community relations, in the face of local criticism and opposition. SLO literature and practice have highlighted earning the trust of the local community as a key requirement for an SLO. This article addresses three weaknesses in how the current SLO literature addresses trust. The arguments are illustrated via examples from nuclear waste management in Finland, France and Sweden – three forerunners in implementing high-level nuclear waste repository projects. Nuclear waste management constitutes a relevant case for analysis, as an industry that faces significant risk-related challenges of local acceptance, ethics, economics, and democratic debate. Focussing on the oft-used SLO framework of Boutilier and Thomson, with its emphasis on interactional and institutionalised trust between the company and the local community, we address three gaps in the SLO literature: 1) insufficient conceptualisation of trust, in particular the dynamics between different dimensions of trust, mistrust and distrust; 2) lack of attention to the potential virtues of mistrust and distrust; and 3) the downsides of taking the institutionalisation of trust as the ultimate criterion of a strong SLO, especially in contexts entailing significant asymmetries of power. The article concludes by suggesting ways of alleviating the identified weaknesses, via greater recognition of the multidimensionality of trust, mistrust and distrust, the virtues of mistrustful civic vigilance, and greater attention to trust dimensions that lie beyond the community-company relations.

Is Mohism really li-promotionalism?

ABSTRACT A longstanding orthodoxy holds that the Mohists regard the promotion of li (benefit, 利) as their ultimate normative criterion, meaning that they measure what is yi (just, 義) or buyi (unjust, 不義) depending on whether it maximizes li or not. This orthodoxy dates back at least to Joseph Edkins (1859), who saw Mozi as a utilitarian and an ally of Bentham. In this paper, we will argue that this orthodoxy should be reconsidered because it does not square with several passages from the Mozi. That the Mohists place a strong weight on the promotion of ‘li for the whole world (tianxia zhi li, 天下之利)’ is uncontroversial. We argue, however, that in certain cases the Mohist moral calculus diverges in its rationale or outcome from li-promotionalism. This position rejects the orthodoxy by showing that Mohism and li-promotionalism are not entirely coterminous.

Сила философии, философия силы

Selfless search for truth does not only make sense of philosophy and science, but also involves participating in a competition between rival theories and hypotheses. Truth is not an ultimate criterion in this process, especially after Michel Foucault revealed its inclinations towards violence. Questioning the position of truth opens the door to different criteria, among them - power. Using the argument of power in philosophical disputes and scientific controversies has a long tradition and nowadays with the unprecedented development of technology it has been offered new tools. Majcherek Janusz A. Sia filozofii, filozofia siy // Argument. 2020. Vol. 1(10). Pp. 11-25.

Theoretical Insights into the Limitation of Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting Performance of VIA Group Elements Doped Polymeric Carbon Nitride: A Density Functional Theory Calculation Predicting Solar‐to‐Hydrogen Efficiency

Polymeric carbon nitride (p‐C3N4) is thermodynamically feasible for photocatalytic overall water splitting. Element doping is proved effective in enhancing the photocatalytic performance of p‐C3N4. The effect of doping is usually interpreted from the angle of electronic structures by first‐principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. However, the information on electronic structures is insufficient for understanding and predicting the ultimate criterion of solar‐to‐hydrogen (STH) efficiency. Herein, a DFT calculation method is provided to investigate and predict the STH of VIA group elements doped p‐C3N4 by calculating the efficiencies of both light absorption and carrier utilization. Particularly, significant efforts are made to calculate the energy barriers for the surface hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to determine the carrier utilization efficiency. Moreover, the chemisorption energies of the reactant intermediates are calculated to quantify the intermediates affinity for HER and OER on the surface. Among the VIA elements, oxygen is discovered as the most effective dopant in promoting the STH because oxygen‐doped p‐C3N4 has the lowest energy barriers for OER and the largest chemisorption energy for intermediates absorption. The calculation results highlight the importance of the surface reaction properties for efficient photocatalytic overall water splitting.

Flexural analysis of transverse joints of prefabricated T girder bridge superstructure

Rapid construction of prefabricated bridges requires minimizing the field work of precast members and ensuring structural stability and constructability. In this study, we conducted experimental and analytical investigations of transverse joints of prefabricated T-girder bridge superstructures to verify the flexural performance and serviceability. In addition, we conducted parametric studies to identify the joint parameters. The results showed that both the segmented and continuous specimens satisfied the ultimate flexural strength criterion, and the segmented specimen exhibited unified behavior, with the flexural strength corresponding to that of the continuous specimen. The segmented specimens exhibited elastic behavior under service load conditions, and the maximum crack width satisfied the acceptance criteria. The reliability of the finite element model of the joint was verified, and parametric analysis of the convexity of the joint section and the compressive strength of the filler concrete showed that the minimum deflection and crack width occurred at a specific angle. As the strength of the filler concrete increased, the deflection and crack width decreased. However, we confirmed that the reduction in the crack width was hardly observed above a specific strength. Therefore, a design suitable for prefabricated bridges and accelerated construction can be achieved by improving the joint specifications based on the required criteria.

Siła filozofii, filozofia siły


 
 
 The power of philosophy, philosophy of power: Selfless search for truth does not only make sense of philosophy and science, but also involves participating in a competition between rival theories and hypotheses. Truth is not an ultimate criterion in this process, especially after Michel Foucault revealed its inclinations towards violence. Questioning the position of truth opens the door to different criteria, among them — power. Using the argument of power in philosophical disputes and scientific controversies has a long tradition and nowadays with the unprecedented development of technology it has been offered new tools.
 
 

The Tyranny of Health: Juli Zeh's “Body Utopia” Corpus Delicti: Ein Prozess (2009)

Juli Zeh, who enjoys an international reputation, is one of the most gifted and productive writers of Germany today. Her dystopian tale Corpus Delicti: Ein Prozess (2009; English translation, 2012) represents a lively, intelligent, and innovative addition to the genre. It presents a picture of a benevolent dictatorship that demands good health as the highest duty of its citizens, in a sequence of dramatic scenes combining the virtues of a thriller with a dystopia focusing on the present-day preoccupation with health and the body. Most segments are presented as scenes of a trial against a biologist who is accused of rebellion against “The Method,” the ruling order of the future state, whose dominant ideology is “Health as the Principle of State Legitimacy.” Thus metaphysical morality and Enlightenment values such as freedom, democracy, and justice have been replaced by a scientific, secular notion of life as the ultimate criterion and value.