Weak Definition Research Articles

Lack of Association between Insufficient Intake of Multiple Vitamins and Frailty in Older Adults Who Consume Sufficient Energy and Protein: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Frailty is a complex condition that intensifies with age and is marked by decreased physiological function. We rigorously investigated the effects of lower vitamin intake on frailty using data from 665 adults aged over 65 years who consumed sufficient recommended daily energy and protein intakes from the Korean Nutrition and Health Survey, 2016-2019. The definition of frailty was modified based on Fried et al.'s definition of weight loss, exhaustion, weakness, slowness, and low energy expenditure. Based on daily intake, we analyzed vitamins such as vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, and vitamin C. Our results of logistic regression showed that increasing multiple deficiencies in several kinds of vitamins (mild to moderate to severe) is not associated with frailty (odds ratio: 1, 1.24 (0.24-3.10), 0.82 (0.28-2.39), p for trend = 0.626) in older adults who consumed sufficient calories and proteins. A subgroup analysis of age and sex, which may interfere with the relationship between vitamin intake and frailty, showed that vitamin intake was not associated with frailty when sufficient energy and proteins were consumed. Furthermore, there was no difference in the prevalence of frailty between the groups with sufficient and insufficient intakes of individual vitamins.

Does D Select the CP in Light Verb Constructions? A Reply to Hankamer and Mikkelsen 2021

In this response to Hankamer and Mikkelsen (H&M) 2021, we clarify the meaning of the definite article the in out-of-the-blue occurrences of English light verb constructions such as make the claim. While H&M view these as purely uniqueness-requiring determiners (as opposed to purely anaphoric ones in non−light verb constructions), we classify them as instances of Carlsonian weak definites (e.g., Carlson et al. 2006), which presuppose neither uniqueness nor anaphoricity. This clarification casts doubt on H&M’s idea that the D in light verb constructions selects the descriptive CP, which serves to uniquely specify the intended referent. Crosslinguistic data (from the Dravidian language Kannada) also serve to question the relationship between D and CP claimed by H&M. We conclude that D does not directly select the CP in light verb constructions. Nevertheless, these CPs do empirically behave like syntactically selected complements. We suggest that this is because, if the light verb construction is taken as a whole—that is, the light verb + the weak definite nominal—its complement selection properties altogether parallel those of the corresponding lexical verbs. We propose a compositional analysis that reinforces this conclusion.

О парадоксальном способе самосознания: рок-культура как маркер идентичности

One of the tools that participate in the transformation of the identity system at the stage of transition from modern culture to postmodern culture is rock culture. It offers a person a number of identification opportunities that have different properties compared to the possibilities of defining oneself in a manner characteristic of modern culture. There is a partial rejection of identity markers characteristic to the modern era. The identity formed by rock culture, in accordance with current theoretical concepts, can be attributed to multiple, small narrative identities. As its fundamental characteristic feature, the presence of an indefinite core of identity is considered, which is understood as a set of phenomena perceived and interpreted by the subject as a basis for establishing one’s own identity with other subjects. This uncertainty lies in the weak definitions of rock, in the desire of subjects to refuse to positively identify themselves with rock, in denying the existence of this phenomenon as such. At the same time, rock does not turn into its own opposite, does not assume the functions of the excluded Other, remaining an object of centrifugal or centripetal motion. In addition, the weakening of the core of identity is due to the fact that the concept of rock turns into the focus of axiological aspirations of the subject. Rock culture is appropriated by the subject, turning into an absolute epicenter of identification. Subjectivity, thus, is taken out of the framework of one’s own personality and is endowed with the characteristics of an object, while receiving the name of rock. The real object for building identity disappears, being replaced by a subject, or at least a separate segment of it.

Enriched Environments in Stroke Units: Defining Characteristics and Limitations.

Individuals with stroke rehabilitated in an enriched environment (EE) compared to a non-EE are more likely to participate in cognitive and social activities, promoting their rehabilitation and well-being. There is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of methods to implement EEs within complex health systems, particularly in stroke units. The aim of this systematic review was to compile the concept of an EE in stroke units. The literature was sourced from CINAHL, Embase, and Medline databases. A detailed screening and sifting process was used to identify relevant literature. Multiple reviewers independently appraised the identified literature using a Mixed-methods Appraisal Tool. After screening 336 studies, 11 were included. This review reveals an EE is challenging to define and almost exclusively about activities based on access to individual and communal equipment. Generally, there are no common descriptions or conceptual agreements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically review the concept of an EE in stroke units and shows that more studies on EEs are needed. The weak definitions and unclear theoretical backgrounds of an EE in the included studies could challenge operationalization. Future research should be based on more precise definitions of an EE and broader interventions that include changes to built and natural environments.

Retractions on closed sets

On a manifold or a closed subset of a Euclidean vector space, a retraction enables to move in the direction of a tangent vector while staying on the set. Retractions are a versatile tool to perform computational tasks such as optimization, interpolation, and numerical integration. This paper studies two known definitions of retraction on a closed subset of a Euclidean vector space, one being weaker than the other. Specifically, it shows that, in the context of constrained optimization, the weaker definition should be preferred as it inherits the main property of the other while being less restrictive.

Weak definite nominals

AbstractWeak definite nominals are a class of nominals composed of weak definites and bare singulars occurring in the same linguistic environments within and across languages. They display several characteristic properties: restricted distribution, non‐unique reference, sloppy identity in VP‐ellipsis sentences, acceptability in sluicing contexts, narrow‐scope interpretation, lexical constraints, restricted modification, restricted number morphology, meaning enrichment, and discourse referential defectiveness. In this review we explore two main theoretical approaches accounting for the meaning of these expressions, namely, one that treats them as pseudo‐incorporated nominals and another one that attributes to them an abstract object reference. We first discuss the properties of weak definite nominals using Rioplatense Spanish data and then evaluate how both approaches can account for these properties.

Current issues in tourism: Mitigating climate change in sustainable tourism research

This paper adopts a problematising review approach to examine the extent of mitigating climate change research in the sustainable tourism literature. As climate change has developed into an existential global environmental crisis and while tourism's emissions are still increasing, one would expect it to be at the heart of sustainable tourism research. However, from a corpus of 2573 journal articles featuring ‘sustainable tourism’ in their title, abstract, or keywords, only 6.5% covered climate change mitigation. Our critical content analysis of 35 of the most influential papers found that the current methods, scope and traditions of tourism research hamper effective and in-depth research into climate change. Transport, the greatest contributor to tourism's emissions, was mostly overlooked, and weak definitions of sustainability were common. Tight system boundaries, lack of common definitions and incomplete data within tourism studies appear to hamper assessing ways to mitigate tourism's contribution to climate change.

Semantic Incorporation in English Singular Indefinites

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a class of exceptionally narrow-scoping singular indefinites in English (e.g., “Sam drove a car for several years before switching to a truck”), which pattern more closely with what have been termed “weak definites” in the literature (e.g., Poesio, 1994; Carlson et al., 2006) than with regular indefinites. While the existence of such exceptional “weak” indefinites has been previously anticipated by Klein et al. (2013), the category is difficult to distinguish from simple narrow-scoped singular indefinites in most contexts. Here, we argue that there is one environment where weak singular indefinites can be distinctively identified: namely, when they appear with for-adverbials. We sketch a concrete implementation of a semantic incorporation-based account for such nominals, bringing them analytically in line with incorporation analyses of weak definites, building closely on the ideas in Dayal (2011). We further briefly discuss how the proposed analysis adjudicates between two competing analyses for for-adverbials, one which assumes that for encodes a universal quantifier (e.g., Deo & Piñango, 2011) and another which takes for to be non-quantificational (e.g., Champollion, 2013), in favor of the latter view. We close by considering some remaining issues surrounding semantically incorporated DPs in English: specifically, how weak (in) definites relate to other nominals that receive covarying interpretations across contexts—such as bare plurals on the one hand (which we do not take to be semantically incorporated) and bare singulars on the other.

BALANCING THE RIGHT OF GIG ECONOMY WORKERS IN THE CONTEXT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Collective bargaining forms an integral part of a trade union. In Malaysia, workers are protected under the relevant employment legislations that provide basic minimum rights. Although Malaysia’s freedom of association is embodied in the Federal Constitution, the rights of the gig economy workers, more often than not, are neglected. This is evident from the exclusion of this category of workers from the definition stated in the employment legislations. With this exclusion, gig economy workers are denied from establishing and joining a trade union. This subsequently unable them to have collective bargaining powers that resulted in the exploitation of their rights. The method adopted in this study is doctrinal in nature by analysing various employment related legislations and international conventions relating to trade union and collective bargaining and decided cases. It has been revealed that the weak definition of workmen impedes the right of workers in the gig economy to form a trade union. Based on the shortcoming identified, it is understood that the government plays a critical role in helping these workers to overcome barriers through strengthening the available legislations. This study proposed for gig economy workers to utilise other avenues currently available in other countries with the hope that collective agreement, non-binding agreement and application-based society exclusively for gig economy workers that could eventually lead to the forming of a trade union.

The algebraic origin of the Doppler factor in the Liénard–Wiechert potentials

After reviewing the algebraic derivation of the Doppler factor in the Liénard–Wiechert potentials of an electrically charged point particle, we conclude that the Dirac delta function used in electrodynamics must be the one obeying the weak definition, non-zero in an infinitesimal neighborhood, and not the one obeying the strong definition, non-zero in a point. This conclusion emerges from our analysis of (a) the derivation of an important Dirac delta function identity, which generates the Doppler factor, (b) the linear superposition principle implicitly used by the Green function method, and (c) the two equivalent formulations of the Schwarzschild–Tetrode–Fokker action. As a consequence, in full agreement with our previous discussion of the geometrical origin of the Doppler factor, we conclude that the electromagnetic interaction takes place not between points in Minkowski space, but between corresponding infinitesimal segments along the worldlines of the particles.

Complex multi-affine polynomials and invariant circles

The classical Grace-Walsh-Szegő Coincidence Theorem relates the zeros of a polynomial p(z) with the points in the solution of the unique symmetric multi-affine polynomial P(z1,…,zn), such that p(z)=P(z,…,z). Thus, the geometric properties of the solutions of P(z1,…,zn) reveal some information of the zeros of p(z). Several geometric properties related to invariant circles of multi-affine polynomials were studied in [10] and [11]. Unfortunately, they seem to be too restrictive, when the degree of the polynomial is large, say four or more. This work investigates a relaxed notion for circles (C1,…,Cn) to be invariant with respect to multi-affine polynomials P of degree n, given a vector (u1,…,un). This weaker definition allows us to formulate necessary and sufficient conditions for invariant circles to exist, given (u1,…,un). In the case when the multi-affine polynomials P are symmetric, these necessary and sufficient conditions take a very simple and attractive form.

Does remittance inflow influence energy poverty?

Energy poverty is a relevant issue in Africa, driven largely by income constraints. Eliminating or reducing this phenomenon could prove very vital in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 as well as sustainable development and inclusive growth. Remittances remain an important means of income support in developing and emerging economies. Even though remittance inflows to Africa have been rising significantly and are three-times higher than the official development assistance (ODA) inflows, it is still unclear how this income support system is impacting energy consumption and access to energy. This study investigates the short-run and long-run effects of remittances on energy poverty in both the strong form (multidimensional energy poverty) and the weak form (energy access and energy consumption). The study relies on an unbalanced annual panel dataset for 51 African countries from 1991 to 2017. The results of applying the dynamic common correlated effect pooled mean group instrumental variable (DCCE-PMG IV) estimator reveal that, for the weak form definition of energy poverty, remittances promote energy access and energy consumption mainly through the complementary channels of investment and consumption. The estimated mean marginal effects show that a one percent increase in remittance inflows will result in about 0.5 to 0.8 percent increase in electricity consumption when both complementary channels are considered. However, for the strong form definition of energy poverty, remittances reduce energy poverty, but little evidence is found on the complementary role of both investment and consumption activities. Thus, policies to reduce the cost of sending remittances and to target remittance-recipients' energy needs should be implemented to reduce energy poverty. Other policy implications are discussed.

Teachers’ Perception of the English Curriculum Change in Costa Rica: The Action-Oriented Approach

This qualitative study explores the perception of eight seventh-grade teachers from academic schools in the western region of Costa Rica about implementing the action-oriented approach (AOA). As the main objective, the researchers sought to assess the professors' perception of the execution of this approach in order to explore its precision regarding its principles and the guidelines of the Ministerio de Educación Pública de Costa Rica. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview and then coded considering three primary constructs: the participants’ definition of AOA, its strengths and weaknesses, and the continuities, variations, and innovations that arose with the change from the CLT to the AOA. Regarding the coding, the researchers carried it out under the principles of grounded theory to identify commonalities among participants. The results show a favorable perception of the approach, yet the individuals could not clearly define the AOA for they perceived the materials, the student, and the teacher’s roles as strengths; and tests, materials, and planning as weaknesses. The continuities and variations were not tied to the approach and the most salient innovations were the teacher’s guide and the mini-project. The researchers concluded that there exist discrepancies between the participants’ understanding of the AOA and the actual tenets of the approach.

The mountains are impure: the semantics of lexical plurality

This paper is concerned with the semantics of so-called plurals of extension, a class of lexical plurals such as mountains, cliffs, skies, Hebrides, and Pyrenees. While similar on the surface to regular plural nouns, they behave differently in certain regards, including their compatibility with determiners, interpretation in half of the N partitives and possibility to occur as weak definites. We will argue that plurals of extension denote predicates over impure atoms, predicting that theybehave as singulars from a semantic point of view and as plurals from a morphological point of view. The analysis will be extended to temporal plurals of extension and plural mass nouns.

The Puzzle of Anaphoric Bare Nouns in Mandarin: A Counterpoint toIndex!

Jenks (2018) argues that Mandarin bare NPs cannot be classified as definites simpliciter. Adopting the distinction between weak- and strong-article definites in Schwarz 2009, he proposes that Mandarin makes a lexical distinction between the two types of definites: bare nouns are weak definites, demonstratives are strong definites. He further proposes that their distribution is regulated by a principle called Index!. In this article, we first point out some problems with the empirical generalizations presented in Jenks’s description of Mandarin and then sketch an alternative approach to the distinction between Mandarin demonstratives and bare nouns. We end with some comments about the kind of further empirical work that needs to be done before definitive claims can be made about the competition between demonstratives and other types of definites.

Le genre comme fait de discours : pour une définition molle de la science-fiction

Cet article se propose d’engager une réflexion générale sur les genres médiatiques à partir du cas de la science-fiction. A travers l’étude des discours sur ce genre, nous tenterons de montrer que c’est comme pratique collective, résultat de la sédimentation des pratiques sérielles et des usages, que l’on peut penser un genre. Élaboré collectivement au gré des échanges dans la sphère publique à travers une superposition de définitions légèrement différentes, le genre doit être pensé au niveau des pratiques des producteurs et des récepteurs. Déplier les définitions superposées du genre permet ainsi de comprendre l’ensemble des significations culturelles qui le constituent. Dès lors, parvenir à la bonne définition d’un genre n’a pas grand sens, puisqu’il n’est rien d’autre que le résultat de définitions fragmentaires sédimentées et évoluant au fil des nouvelles actualisations. Car c’est dans les écarts de définitions que se joue en contexte la signification individuelle et collective de la science-fiction.

Non-Maximal Definites in Romance

Mainly based on data from Old Spanish and Modern Francoprovençal, this paper discusses a hitherto underresearched use of the Romance definite article that cannot straightforwardly be explained by recurring to any of the standard analyses of semantic definiteness, i.e., maximality and/or familiarity. We show that such weakly referential definites are definites with representative object interpretations licensed by the kind-oriented mode of talk and not short weak definites. They denote inherently non-specific, semantically number neutral regular objects whose only co(n)textual relevance is their being typical instantiations of their corresponding kind. Representative object definites are shown to be favored by ‘habitual’ readings of the predicate (and text genres like recipes, treatises, narratives about what people used to do in former times, etc.). In Francoprovençal, this is the case especially in the scope of non-perfective verb tenses in prepositional or presentational complements and sometimes in direct objects. In Old Spanish, non-maximal definites often occur in the scope of non-assertive mood (imperative/subjunctive, due to the genre of recipes), while, at the same time, introducing important discourse referents. In addition, in the latter language such definites are demonstrated to be positively susceptible to priming by preceding non-maximal definites.

An analysis of embedded weak discontinuity approaches for the finite element modelling of heterogeneous materials

This paper analyses in detail the use of the Embedded Finite Element Method (E-FEM) to simulate local material heterogeneities. The work starts by a short review on the evolution of weak discontinuity models within the E-FEM framework to discuss how they account for the presence of multiple materials within a single element structure. A theoretical basis is introduced through some mathematical weak discontinuity definitions and the Hu-Washizu variational principle, for then establishing a set of requirements for retaining variational and kinematic consistency for any weak discontinuity enhancement proposal. From a general definition of a displacement enhancement field, two particular enhancement functions are derived by considering different consistency requirements: one which has been typically used in previous works and other which truly possesses variational consistency. A discussion is held on enhancement stability properties and the impact to global finite element solution processes. In the end, numerical simulations are made to assess the performance of each of these enhancements on the task of modelling a classical bi-material layered 3D tension problem and a more realistic heterogeneous sample having spherical inclusions of different radii. The final discussion evaluates both model performance and ease of implementation.

Decomposing definiteness: Evidence from Chuj

AbstractThis article explores the realization of definiteness in Chuj, an underdocumented Mayan language. I show that Chuj provides support for recent theories that distinguish betweenweakandstrongdefinite descriptions (e.g., Schwarz 2009, 2013; Arkoh and Matthewson 2013; Hanink 2018; Jenks 2018). A set of morphemes called “noun classifiers” contribute a uniqueness presupposition, composing directly with nominals to form weak definites. To form strong definites, I show that two pieces are required: (i) the noun classifier, which again contributes a uniqueness presupposition, and (ii) extra morphology that contributes an anaphoricity presupposition. Chuj strong definites thus provide explicit evidence for a decompositional account of weak and strong definites, as also advocated in Hanink 2018. I then extend this analysis to third person pronouns, which are realized in Chuj with bare classifiers, and which I propose come in two guises depending on their use. On the one hand, based on previous work (Postal 1966, Cooper 1979, Heim 1990), I argue that classifier pronouns can sometimes be E-type pronouns: weak definite determiners which combine with a covert index-introducing predicate. In such cases, classifier pronouns represent a strong definite description. On the other hand, I argue, based on diagnostics established in Bi and Jenks 2019, that Chuj classifier pronouns sometimes arise as a result of NP ellipsis (Elbourne 2001, 2005). In such cases, classifier pronouns reflect a weak definite description.

Reconsidering inalienable possession with definite determiners in French

In many Romance and Germanic languages, definite determiners can indicate possession for a subset of nouns that have often been called nouns of ‘inalienable’ possession. This paper addresses the question of why and how the definite determiner contributes to the interpretation of ‘inalienable possession’. Following Freeze (1992) and others, I argue that ‘inalienable possession’ cannot be properly characterized as inalienable and does not involve possession. Relevant ‘inalienably possessed’ nouns are not restricted to body parts, but include a broader set of nouns that are commonly expected to be located in or on the possessor: mental or physical faculties, facial expressions, as well as articles of clothing, protection, and adornment. I argue that the relevant cases are best captured in terms of an analysis that combines a syntactic configuration for locative prepositions (RP in den Dikken’s 2006 sense) with the semantics of weak definites for the ‘inalienable’ use of the definite determiner. All observed restrictions derive from the requirement that the semantic properties of weak definites and the syntactic configuration of the RP need to be compositionally respected. Finally, I propose some ideas about how this analysis can be extended to crosslinguistic variation in German and English.