Weak Position Research Articles

Examination of the structural components of the Abilitator-A self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning aimed at the population in a weak labour market position.

According to the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) panel, structural validity describes how well Patient-Reported Outcome Measures' (PROM) scores reflect the dimensions of the measured construct. The main purpose of this study was to examine the structural components of the Abilitator, a co-developed self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning for the population in a weak labour market position. We examined to what extent the Abilitator has reflective and formative elements in its five summary scales: "C. Inclusion", "D. Mind", "E. Everyday life", "F. Skills", and "G. Body". The Abilitator data sample (n = 4555, men 51%, mean age 37 years) was collected in 2017-2022 by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in cooperation with the European Social Fund Priority 5 projects in which the participants have multiple challenges to gain employment. For the structural components and validity analysis we implemented both Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Based on the COSMIN criteria for structural validity, the Abilitator reached approximate model fit with CFA when we analysed the different concepts of the questionnaire separately rather than in one unified model. An exception was "E. Everyday life" which was a formative summary scale, and it did not reach approximate fit. EFA showed that the items in the Abilitator's summary scales loaded on ten factors. The Abilitator had both reflective and formative elements in its structure. It reached structural validity in those separate concepts that were based on a reflective model. This study revealed interesting connections between different aspects of the Abilitator and produced valuable information for further modification of the questionnaire.

Semantic differentiation in the linguistic examination of trademarks

INTRODUCTION. The controversial issues of trademark examination are considered. The analysis of the ways of comparing single-word and compound commercial designations is given. A universal method for identifying a strong element in a composite designation has not yet been developed. The purpose of the study is to identify the semantic potential of non-identical concepts: a strong element and the main word in the phrase of a trademark or commercial designation.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Using a specific example from the experience of conducting linguistic examinations (comparison of the WHITE AURORA and AVRORA designations), the methodology for identifying a strong element of a composite designation is illustrated and the origins of typical errors in determining a strong element are analyzed. When developing the mentioned methodology, it is proposed to be guided by the following considerations: the concept of a strong element of designation and the main word of the corresponding phrase are concepts that are not common; the method of identifying a strong element in a phrase differs from the method of identifying the main word in a phrase; the phenomenon of a strong element correlates with the linguistic idea of a strong and weak lexical position in the text; a strong element can be located both in the first and second place in a phrase, including a trademark or other commercial designation.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. It is shown that due to the semantic potential of a strong element of a composite designation, it becomes possible to transfer to the consumer the necessary information about the object of nomination. That is why the definition of an element bearing the main disti nguishing features must be carried out in the context of a situation or a communicative task. Based on the material of a specific example of linguistic expertise, it is shown that the element white of the designation WHITE AURORA in the context of the provision of dental services and dental care services can be interpreted as a strong element. This becomes a serious factor preventing the appearance of confusingly similar designations for WHITE AURORA on the one hand, and AVRORA on the other.CONCLUSION. Semantic differentiation is the main criterion for distinguishing strong and weak elements in the linguistic examination of trademarks. The very concept of a “strong element” of a designation can be considered a relative concept; the definition of an element bearing the main semantic features must be carried out in the context of a situation or a communicative task.

Marketing Channel Analysis, Marketing Margins, and Farmer's Share Cinnamon Commodity in Sungai Penuh City, Jambi Province, Indonesia

The cinnamon commodity is quite significant in the economy of Sungai Penuh City, but farmers have not felt its role in improving welfare. The fundamental problems faced by cinnamon farmers in Sungai Penuh City are the weak bargaining position of farmers in the pricing process due to lack of access to price information, the attachment of farmers to collecting traders, and the limited ability of farmers to develop processed cinnamon products allegedly resulting in farmers only getting a small profit from sales. Traders, collectors, and exporters process more to meet domestic and foreign market demand. For this reason, an analysis of the existing condition of marketing margins and farmers' share of cinnamon commodities in Sungai Penuh City is needed. The purpose of this study is to analyze cinnamon marketing margins between farmers, collecting traders and exporters in each marketing channel in Sungai Penuh City, analyze the amount of farmers share obtained by farmers in each cinnamon marketing channel in Sungai Penuh City, and analyze cinnamon marketing functions in the form of physical functions, exchange functions and facility functions between farmers, Collecting traders and exporters in Sungai Penuh City. To answer the study's objectives, the author uses marketing margin analysis methods, profit margin analysis, farmer's share analysis, and marketing function approaches in physical, exchange, and facility functions. This research method uses a qualitative descriptive approach, and the informants in this study are determined by purposive sampling. The results showed that as many as 60 percent of cinnamon farmers in Sungai Penuh City chose and 40 percent chose the two-actor marketing channel. In contrast, the cinnamon marketing channel involving three marketing actors showed that the marketing system was inefficient. In contrast, the cinnamon marketing channel involving two marketing actors showed that the cinnamon marketing system in Sungai Penuh City was efficient.

Tanggungjawab Pelaku Usaha Bagi Konsumen Terhadap Keamanan Pangan Dalam Prespektif Hukum Perlindungan Konsumen

Food safety in Indonesia is still far from safe, we often see food poisoning incidents that occur a lot nowadays. In general, this often results in consumers being in a weak and disadvantaged position, so there is a need for regulations that can bridge the interests of business actors and the interests of consumers without harming either party. Forms of responsibility of a business actor towards consumers in the legal order in Indonesia Civil liability based on legal events can be divided into two, namely: liability based on fault, namely liability that can arise due to breaches of contract or unlawful acts, whether caused by careless actions or intentional actions. Responsibility based on risk is the responsibility that must be borne by a business actor for his business activities which cause losses to consumers.

Phonological impairments in Hindi aphasics: Error analyses and cross-linguistic comparisons

ABSTRACT We assessed phonological and apraxic impairments in Hindi persons with aphasia (PwA) and compared them to Italian PwA reported in previous studies. Overall, we found strong similarities. Phonological errors were present across production tasks (repetition, reading and naming), most errors were non-lexical and, among those, a majority involved individual phonemes. There were significant effects of length, but not frequency. Hindi PwA, like the Italian PwA, showed strong effects of syllabic structure, with most errors occurring on consonants and weak syllabic positions, preserving syllable structure and simplifying phonemes or syllabic templates. These similarities were modulated by some language-specific patterns. Vowel insertions were more common in Hindi, possibly due to the presence of a central vowel, and segmental simplifications concentrated on marked aspiration and retroflection features. We hope our study will encourage further research in Hindi and other Indian languages. This will improve clinical diagnosis and our understanding of cross-linguistic differences.

Джибути в геополитической стратегии Турецкой Республики (2012–2020 гг.)

The presented article provides comprehensive analysis of bilateral relations between Turkey and Djibouti for the period of 2012–2020. The author has identified Ankara’s economic and geopolitical interests in Djibouti, taking into account Turkey’s foreign policy strategy in Somalia. Particular attention is paid to the humanitarian component of bilateral relations with Djibouti. For the purpose of comparison, the article also examines the policies of other regional players, such as China, Japan, the USA, as well as the EU and Middle East countries. Conclusion dwells upon the fact that Ankara’s economic and humanitarian projects in Djibouti have been car-ried out over the 2012–2020 period, with the main geostrategic objective being to strengthen its position near the Gulf of Aden-Bab el-Mandeb Strait strategic logistics hub. Due to the presence of foreign bases of other countries in Djibouti, Ankara is inferior to its competitors in military-political terms. Despite the weak economic position due to the presence of Chinese projects, the economic and humanitarian direction of bilateral relations between Turkey and Djibouti showed positive dynamics.

Syncopation as structure bootstrapping: the role of asymmetry in rhythm and language.

Syncopation - the occurrence of a musical event on a metrically weak position preceding a rest on a metrically strong position - represents an important challenge in the study of the mapping between rhythm and meter. In this contribution, we present the hypothesis that syncopation is an effective strategy to elicit the bootstrapping of a multi-layered, hierarchically organized metric structure from a linear rhythmic surface. The hypothesis is inspired by a parallel with the problem of linearization in natural language syntax, which is the problem of how hierarchically organized phrase-structure markers are mapped onto linear sequences of words. The hypothesis has important consequences for the role of meter in music perception and cognition and, more particularly, for its role in the relationship between rhythm and bodily entrainment.

Introducing the inverted Icarus paradox in business history – Evidence from David and Goliath in the Swedish telecommunications industry 1981–1990

Previous research in business and management history has identified the Icarus paradox, which describes how organisations may fall due to overconfidence and hubris. We build upon previous research on paradoxes in business history and introduce the notion of an inverted Icarus paradox. Using rich archival sources coded in a relational database, we show how an entrant firm, Comvik, outmanoeuvred an established government monopoly in the non-market domain from 1980 to 1990, despite inferior resources and a weak market position. The government monopoly Televerket faced an inverted Icarus paradox; it could not leverage its strengths and political connections as they were stuck in a David versus Goliath narrative where public opinion was more sympathetic to the entrant firm Comvik.

The ANC’s precarious majority ahead of South Africa’s national elections

The African National Congress has entered a national-election season in a historically weak position and risks losing its majority for the first time in South Africa’s post-apartheid history. The party’s decline may open the way to political realignment and potentially a more vibrant democracy, but it is not an immediate panacea for all of the country’s ills.

Strength Analysis and Research of Composite Material Bridge Deck

The strength of each layer of composite bridge deck under different load conditions is analyzed and studied by Tsai-Wu tensor theory. The results indicate that, the characteristic strength values calculated in the predetermined reinforcement fabric are significantly smaller than those in the E-glass fiber layer, and the damage will first occur in E-glass fiber layer. Under various operating conditions, the characteristic strength values in each layer of FRP bridge panel are smaller than 1, and have a certain safety factor. The weak positions of each layer are related to the configuration of bridge panel. Tsai-Wu tensor theory can accurately evaluate the status of each layer, and supervise the design work of GFRP bridge panel.

By-passing the National Level? Municipalities as Legal Actors in Multi-Level Governance in Norway and Sweden

This article aims at illuminating the role of Swedish and Norwegian municipalities as legal actors in multi-level governance. The research question is threefold: What is the role of Swedish and Norwegian municipalities as legal actors in relation to the European level? How do these roles affect local autonomy at the national level? What is the impact of the different affiliations at the European level, Sweden's full membership, and Norway only being a party to the EEA Agreement on these questions? Previous research has shown that municipalities have been able to magnify their influence, both externally and internally, through the intermediary of the European Union. The ability to magnify their influence will depend on the national constitutional framework and the formal affiliation to the European level, among other things. In this study, the role of the municipalities in Norway and Sweden is described by analysing the constitutional position of municipalities at the national level, the municipal influence on the drafting of EU legislation, the Nordic municipalities as actors before the ECJ and the EFTA Court and the municipal implementation of EU/EEA law. On a general level, the study found that the constitutional structures are mainly monolithic, although there are polycentric features. The ability of Norwegian and Swedish municipalities to by-pass national authorities is visible but cannot be described as strong. The role of the municipalities in acting at the European level is noteworthy, but the legal framework does not allow for a significant increase in local autonomy. The EEA affiliation of Norway implies that the municipalities have a weaker position at the European level.

Measuring The Effectiveness of Private Electronic System Organizers Regulations In Developing Social Media Equilibrium

Technological developments, especially social media, potentially have a negative impact that pretend to social disintegration and instability. To prevent and create a healthy and conducive digital space, the Government issued the Minister of Communication and Information Regulation No.5/2020 concerning Private ESOs. This regulation gives the government authority to supervise Private ESOs and protect social media content. This research aims to examine ministerial regulation effectiveness in realizing social media equilibrium and its impact on digital democracy in Indonesia. This is a sociolegal research. The data was obtained from observation, expert interviews, and literature studies which were analyzed qualitatively. Normatively, restrictions and supervision to the right to use social media through private ESOs can be carried out to be in line with Pancasila’s Spirit. However, there are fundamental errors in ministerial regulation: (1) multiple interpretations norm; (2) unclear parameters of supervision; and (3) weak legal position of ministerial regulations in law enforcement. Sociologically, the presence of ministerial regulations is weak and ineffective because they are: (1) rejected by stakeholders; (2) easy to change; and (3) slowly responded in socialization process and community compliance. More comprehensive implementation regulation is required with, supervision through an electronic system approach to increase the role and participation of community.

A Wide-Band Magnetoelectric Sensor Based on a Negative-Feedback Compensated Readout Circuit.

Magnetoelectric (ME) sensors cannot effectively detect broadband magnetic field signals due to their narrow bandwidth, and existing readout circuits are unable to vary the bandwidth of the sensors. To expand the bandwidth, this paper introduces a negative-feedback readout circuit, fabricated by introducing a negative-feedback compensation circuit based on the direct readout circuit of the ME sensor. The negative-feedback compensation circuit contains a current amplifier, a feedback resistor, and a feedback coil. For this purpose, a Metglas/PVDF/Metglas ME sensor was prepared. Experimental measurements show that there is a six-fold difference between the maximum and minimum values of the ME voltage coefficients in the 6-39 kHz frequency band for the ME sensor without the negative-feedback compensation circuit when the sensor operates at the optimal bias magnetic field. However, the ME voltage coefficient in this band remains stable, at 900 V/T, after the charge amplification of the direct-reading circuit and the negative-feedback circuit. In addition, experimental results show that this negative-feedback readout circuit does not increase the equivalent magnetic noise of the sensor, with a noise level of 240 pT/√Hz in the frequency band lower than 25 kHz, 63 pT/√Hz around the resonance frequency of 30 kHz, and 620 pT/√Hz at 39 kHz. This paper proposes a negative-feedback readout circuit based on the direct readout circuit, which greatly increases the bandwidth of ME sensors and promotes the widespread application of ME sensors in the fields of broadband weak magnetic signal detection and DBS electrode positioning.

Ecological Virtuous Selves: Towards a Non-Anthropocentric Environmental Virtue Ethic?

Existing predominant approaches within virtue ethics (VE) assume humans as the typical agent and virtues as dispositions that pertain primarily to human–human interpersonal relationships. Similarly, the main accounts in the more specific area of environmental virtue ethics (EVE) tend to support weak anthropocentric positions, in which virtues are understood as excellent dispositions of human agents. In addition, however, several EVE authors have also considered virtues that benefit non-human beings and entities (e.g., environmental or ecological virtues). The latter correspond to excellent character dispositions that would extend moral consideration and care for the benefit of non-human beings, entities, or entire ecosystems. In this direction, a few authors have argued that EVE could be considered non-anthropocentric insofar as it could: (a) promote non-human ends, well-being, and the flourishing of non-human beings and entities; (b) involve significant relations to non-humans. Drawing from different traditions, including ecofeminism and care ethics, we argue for a broader notion of self and a decentered notion of virtues. The broader notion of selfhood corresponds to the “ecological self”, one that can be enacted by both human and non-human beings, is embedded in a network of relations, and recognizes the more-than-human world as fundamental and yet indispensable otherness. We suggest that this broader notion of agency allows for an expansive understanding of virtues that includes a-moral functional ecological virtues, which can be exercised not only by humans but also by certain non-human beings. This alternative understanding of selfhood and ecological virtues within EVE could have several theoretical and practical implications, some of which may enable different types of agencies and transform collective action.

KAPASITAS PENJAMIN PERORANGAN DALAM SENGKETA KEPAILITAN

The guarantor agreement/individual guarantor or personal guarantor often requires the guarantor to relinquish his rights as a personal guarantor so that the consequences of the personal guarantee result in bankruptcy. Various decisions on bankruptcy petitions state that the personal guarantor can be made bankrupt, so that the guarantor as referred to in article 1 paragraph 1 of the Bankruptcy Law must release all his assets into general confiscation to pay off creditor payments. The main problem that will be studied is the position of the guarantor, in this case the personal guarantee, which is used as a bankruptcy debtor. The purpose of writing this journal is to analyze the capacity of personal guarantees made by bankrupt debtors the same as the main debtor because at the time of making the guarantee deed the guarantor was willing to voluntarily relinquish all his privileges without waiting for the main debtor to default and his assets to be sold. This journal is normative juridical research, with a statutory approach and a case approach. In this journal, it was found that making a guarantee deed means that the position of a guarantor who can be made bankrupt is a weak position in an agreement, so the role of the notary must be to be able to provide legal counseling before the personal guarantor signs the guarantee deed. The result of this study is that Personal Guarantee as a guarantor of bankruptcy has an equivalent status with the main debtor because in making the deed of guarantee, the guarantor has agreed to release his privileges without waiting for the default of the main debtor. If the main debtor's debt is not met, the creditor can file bankruptcy against the guarantor (Personal Guarantee or Corporate Guarantee) in accordance with the bankruptcy law. In the agreement, it is important for all parties (creditor, notary and debtor) to understand the risks that may arise when the guarantor signs the deed of guarantee

Shallow vs. Deep Geoethics: Moving Beyond Anthropocentric Views

At its inception, geoethics was envisioned as a type of professional ethics concerned with the moral implications of geoscientific research, applications, and practices. More recently, however, some scholars have proposed versions of geoethics as public and global ethics. To better understand these developments, this article considers the relationship between geoethics and environmental ethics by exploring different aspects of the human-nature relation (i.e., the moral status and role of humans in relation to the non-human world). We start by noting that the main strains of geoethical thought elaborated so far represent examples of environmental virtue ethics and defend moral weak anthropocentric positions (e.g., “ethical”, “responsible” or “enlightened” anthropocentrism). Some scholars propose that such weak anthropocentric geoethics can synthesize the different positions in environmental ethics and move beyond them toward a novel and distinct approach. We compare the meaning and the use of the term “anthropocentrism” in both environmental ethics and geoethics, stressing that although geoethics is inevitably epistemically anthropocentric (i.e., anthropogenic), it does not need to be morally anthropocentric. We consider the compatibility of non-anthropocentric stances with current geoethical theory and argue for the integration of normative non-anthropocentric accounts (e.g., ecocentric) into geoethical debates and geoscience education.

Dynamic reliability analysis of Aerial Building Machine under extreme wind loads using improved QBDC-based active learning

Aerial building machine (ABM) is a new comprehensive construction equipment used for the construction of high-rise buildings, and the research of its wind-induced response is essential for structural safety. However, the traditional reliability estimation for complex structures is generally computationally expensive. This study proposes a novel and time-saving active learning (AL) approach to predict the structural time-variant response and calculate the reliability under extreme wind loads based on improved Query-by-Dropout-Committee (QBDC), Deep Learning (DL) and Probability Density Evolution Method (PDEM). To establish an effective training set, the load sample pool from the turbulent wind field is constructed by the number theory method (NTM). Then a DL surrogate model, aimed to simulate the excitation-response relationship of the structure, is well-trained from data calculated by the Finite Element Method (FEM) under the workflow of the improved QBDC-based AL approach. Lastly, the structural responses predicted by the surrogate model are used to solve the Generalized Density Evolution Equation (GDEE) to obtain the Probability Density Function (PDF) of the structural response. The dynamic reliability can be gained using absorbing boundary condition. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach, an ABM in China is taken as a case study. It is found that (1) The external trusses of the platform are weak positions under the horizontal wind loads. It is suggested to append the longitudinal (windward direction) trusses to reduce the local stress and deformation. (2) Under turbulent wind loads with the average speed of 40 m/s, the maximum structural response of the ABM will exceed the threshold value and the reliability is 0.932. (3) The reliability calculation error derived by the proposed approach and the traditional PDEM is within 0.5 % in this study, while the computational efficiency of the AL approach is 77.08 % higher than that of the traditional PDEM. The novelty lies in the proposed active learning approach that can easily obtain the stochastic response and dynamic reliability of the ABM, where the analysis workflow not only has a low computational cost but also maintains a high calculation accuracy.

Nineteenth-Century Richard Wagner: Unconventional Female Roles and Emerging Feminist Discourse

Operas of the 19th century adhered to realism, often drawing inspiration from real-life situations. In the social context of the era, women were often relegated to positions of weakness and lacked societal status, rendering them subject to the scrutiny of male perspectives. However, Richard Wagner's operas distinguished themselves by endowing female characters with prominence and authority. This article seeks to investigate Wagner's effective empowerment of women, focusing on the plot and role analysis of Brnnhilde, the female character from "Die Walkre." Subsequently, a combination of document analysis and literature review are synthesized, showing the diverse perspectives of scholars who have examined Wagner's individualism and his portrayal of female characters in his operas. Ultimately, it is apparent that the formidable female figures in Wagner's operas boldly challenge prevailing social norms, embodying the essence of love and redemption. While scholars hold varying interpretations regarding Wagner's approach to feminism, it is irrefutable that these non-traditional female characters occupy central positions in his works, infused with profound emotions and at the core of dramatic storytelling.

World Literature and Defeat

This essay underscores the importance of seeking refuge in literary aesthetics by arguing that Goethe’s concept of world literature was formulated in compensation for the shock of military defeat, political collapse, and foreign occupation. The refugee became a figure of identification in Goethe’s writing in the 1790s and his Orientalist Nachdichtungen. The Goethean mode of reading distant literatures entails identifying with other writers who are often already marginalized within their own cultures. This manner of engaging with non-European texts refuses to establish a pantheon of great works precisely because it relies on a writerly interest in rediscovering one’s own identity by reading foreign literature from a position of insecurity and weakness. The goal of reading is always the reconstruction of the self through a strange text. With its eagerness to establish a monumental cultural figure, the nineteenth and early twentieth-century canon marginalized precisely those unGerman texts in which Goethe most effectively dismantled his own authorial status. Only with the demise of colonial empires and the defeat of Nazi Germany did a more modest, anti-hegemonic mode of reading remerge.

Networking capability as a moderator of resourced based view, market orientation, information technology, and effectuation on SMEs internationalization

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of resourced based view, market orientation, implementation of information technology, effectuation and networking capability on the internationalization of Small and Medum Enterprises (SMEs) and the indirect influence between these variables with networking capability as a moderator. The research method uses a quantitative approach. The population and sample in this study are SMEs throughout East Java, Indonesia that have made efforts to internationalize, with data obtained from the Export Center Surabaya office, which is an institution formed by the East Java Provincial Trade Service and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce. 1346 SMEs were recorded at the Export Center Surabaya office and a sample of 300 SMEs was obtained. The analysis technique used in this study is SEM PLS, which is to determine validity, reliability, and hypothesis testing. The results of the study show that resourced based view, market orientation, information technology implementation, effectuation and networking capability on SMEs internationalization have a positive and significant effect. Networking capability as a moderator can strengthen the influence of resourced based view and market orientation towards the internationalization of SMEs. Meanwhile, in the effectuation and implementation of information technology relationship with SMEs internationalization, networking capability as a moderator is in a weak position, that is it produces a negative coefficient, with a t-statistic value greater than the t-table.