Broadening “in situ” for improving argument evaluation?

The psychology of argumentation (PSA), has added new insight into argumentation theory and informal logic, fields that so far have been strongly influenced by the philosophy of argumentation (PHA). One assumption with regard to the PSA is that reasoning is argumentative and constructed to persuade. Thus, the successful outcome of reasoning is the ability to persuade for action to adapt to specific situations. Whereas biased beliefs – generated by mechanisms such as confirmation bias and motivated reasoning – might sway production and evaluation of arguments significantly. Arguers do not primarily activate reasoning for logical purposes; they do so rather to justify particular beliefs as well as actions. In contrast, from a critical PHA-perspective, reasoning is analyzed and corrected as fallacious and slippery communication in line with a normatively demanding perspective of the PHA. Insight from the PHA on smooth, manipulative, and outsmarting dialogue shifts might be decisive for understanding the outcome of a debate or group work. Another way in which the PSA and the PHA can complement each other concerns the fact that the PSA gathers data in the lab (cf. in vitro/”in glass”, referring to a lab) while the PHA does so by field studies (cf. in vivo). In this paper I will indicate how knowledge from the PSA and the PHA might be complementary approaches

Transformational and Transactional Leadership Behaviors of Administrators of Performing and Visual Arts Schools

This study examined the extent to which administrators in performing and visual arts schools demonstrate transformational and transactional leadership behaviors. Administrator self-perceptions and teacher perceptions of transformational and transactional leadership behaviors of administrators in performing and visual arts schools were compared. Eight transformational and transactional leadership behaviors and four leadership effects were examined. The eight leadership behaviors examined were attributed charisma, idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individual consideration, contingent reward, management-by-exception active, and management-byexception passive. The four leadership effects examined were laissez-faire, extra effort, effectiveness, and satisfaction. Data were collected by obtaining responses to a survey instrument mailed to one administrator and two teachers in 93 performing and visual arts schools which were members of the International Network of Visual & Performing Arts Schools. Sixty-nine percent of the schools responded for a total of 63 administrator surveys returned and 87 teacher surveys returned. Data for answering the research questions were analyzed by utilizing t tests. The probability for significance was set at the .05 level. Performing and visual arts schools have unique organizational characteristics which may require specialized types of leadership. The leadership behaviors and effects associated with transformational and transactional leadership theory were used to determine administrator and teacher perceptions of leadership in performing and visual arts schools. Administrator responses were compared to teacher responses to determine the extent to which administrators have been effective in using these behaviors. The findings of the study indicated that while both administrators and teachers in performing and visual arts schools believed that the administrators in such schools used transformational leadership behaviors more frequently, there were significant differences between administrator and teacher perceptions of the frequency of use of the transformational leadership behaviors of attributed charisma, idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration. These differences in perceptions were found throughout the study, but the greatest differences in perceptions were in magnet schools. There were no significant differences in administrator and teacher perceptions regarding the use of transactional leadership behaviors

Hydrogen masers with cavity frequency switching servos

The stability of the free-running hydrogen maser is limited by pulling of the unperturbed hydrogen transition frequency due to instability of the cavity resonance frequency. While automatic spin-exchange tuning is in principle the more basic and accurate method, the required beam intensity switching and the long servo time constant result in reduced stability for measuring intervals up to 10(exp 6) seconds. More importantly, the spin-exchange tuning method requires a second stable frequency source as a reference, ideally a second hydrogen maser, to get the best results. The cavity frequency switching servo, on the other hand, has very little effect on the maser short term stability, and is fast enough to correct for cavity drift while maintaining the cavity at the spin-exchange tuned offset required to minimize instability due to beam intensity fluctuations. Not only does the cavity frequency switching servo not require a second stable frequency source, but the frequency reference is the atomic hydrogen radiated beam signal, so that no extra RF connections need be made to the cavity, and externally generated signals that would perturb the hydrogen atom need not be transmitted through the cavity. The operation of the cavity frequency switching stabilization method is discussed and the transient response of the servo and certain other aspects of the technique that have potential for achieving improved basic accuracy are illustrated

Steering of Frequency Standards by the Use of Linear Quadratic Gaussian Control Theory

Linear quadratic Gaussian control is a technique that uses Kalman filtering to estimate a state vector used for input into a control calculation. A control correction is calculated by minimizing a quadratic cost function that is dependent on both the state vector and the control amount. Different penalties, chosen by the designer, are assessed by the controller as the state vector and control amount vary from given optimal values. With this feature controllers can be designed to force the phase and frequency differences between two standards to zero either more or less aggressively depending on the application. Data will be used to show how using different parameters in the cost function analysis affects the steering and the stability of the frequency standards

Ripple effects of EUs taxonomy regulation 2020/852 on Norwegian SMEs

Background: Norwegian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are left behind in the sustainability transition arena, even though they represent a significant proportion of the Norwegian market. EUs new environmental information regulation (EIR), the Taxonomy Regulation 2020/852 (TR), is on the brink of implementation and has the potential to accelerate this trend further. The regulatory effort is targeting large actors (>500 employees) and actors in capital markets by mandating annual reporting on a paramount of non-financial information (NFI). However, SMEs seem to end up as the end-users of the new EIR as the targeted actors are not able to report on the TR without obtaining NFI from actors in their value chains. Therefore, SMEs are an indirectly targeted group. Furthermore, EIR are prone to organizational decoupling which in turn holds the potential to increase the administrative complexity without creating any value. This can further the administrative burden falling on SMEs – who are already struggling to keep up with the changing regulatory landscape. This ripple effect of the TR on Norwegian SMEs has not been examined, representing a knowledge gap this study aims at investigating further. Objective and research questions: This study explores how Norwegian banks are implementing the TR and how they are relaying the institutional pressure onto SMEs in their value chains. This is investigated through the following RQs; 1) How are banks planning to implement the TR, and how do they intermediate between the policy aims and their own interests?, 2) How are banks forwarding the TR to their SME-loan takers?, and 3) Considerations of improvements and design criteria for the next iteration of the TR. Method: This is a qualitative interview study into organizational decoupling, examining how six leading Norwegian banks are implementing the TR, and thus identifying potential ripple effects on Norwegian SMEs. The study is carried out through semi-structured interviews with Heads of Sustainability in the respective banks. Results: Signs of means-ends decoupling are observed in all six banks. The study identified increased complexity on the managerial level in the banks, whereas the operational level appeared to be less included in the implementation process of the TR. Furthermore, the interviewees in all the banks are incentivized to ‘greening’ the banks portfolios. Accordingly, banks provide a) incentives to SMEs, in the form of cheaper capital for those that can provide NFI with ‘green’ attributes, but there is b) little emphasis on the quality of the NFI obtained. Consequently, SMEs are deemed to provide NFI even though the majority of Norwegian SMEs do not currently have a practice for collecting, structuring, and reporting on such matters. Conclusion: For the TR to become the powerful transition-tool it sets out to be, this study suggests an increased emphasis on SMEs, and their ability to collect, structure, and report the NFI through tools, education, funding, and audit schemes. A letter to the TR working group including design criteria can be seen in the attached document. To ensure a successful implementation of EIR, more focus on those actors that provide the NFI appears reasonable to minimize the risk of organizational decoupling. Theory on organizational decoupling proposes a lens to identify the phenomena This study suggests this as a point of departure for further investigations

Å bli sin egen kostholdsveileder: En kvalitativ studie av hva mennesker med systemisk lupus erythematosus (SLE) opplever har betydning for å endre egne kostholdsvaner etter å ha deltatt på kostholdsveiledning basert på tradisjonell kinesisk medisin (TKM).

Bakgrunn: Litteraturen avdekker at selv med god dokumentasjon om at kosthold fremmer helse og forebygger kroniske sykdommer, er det fortsatt mangelfull forståelse for hvorfor mennesker ikke følger anbefalte kostholdsråd. Det er begrensede studier om hvordan kostholdsveiledning basert på tradisjonell kinesisk medisin (TKM) oppleves for mennesker med kronisk sykdom i forhold til å endre egne kostholdsvaner, derfor denne studien. Hensikt: Å utforske og forstå hva mennesker med systemisk lupus erythematosus (SLE) opplever har betydning for å endre egne kostholdsvaner etter å ha deltatt på TKM basert kostholdsveiledning. Teoretisk forankring: Det er et satsningsområde innen folkehelsen i Norge å utarbeide strategier for å bedre utfallet av helsefremmende aktiviteter. I denne sammenhengen er en helsefremmende tilnærming valgt, med fokus på salutogenese og empowerment, som anses å være to sentrale aspekter i helsefremming. Metode: Studien har en hermeneutisk tilnærming med dybdeintervju med 10 mennesker med SLE to måneder etter at de har deltatt på TKM basert kostholdsveiledning. Resultater: I arbeidet med funn og fortolkninger fremkommer fire temaer som opplevdes betydningsfulle for å endre kostholdsvaner: 1) kunnskapsforståelse gjennom dialog, 2) dialog med egen kropp 3) anerkjennelse av egne valg og 4) støtte. Konklusjon: Respondentene i denne studien opplevde at å anerkjenne og anvende deres egne erfaringer og ekspertise om egen sykdom og kostholdsvaner som en integrert del av kostholdsveiledningen hadde betydning for å endre kostholdsvaner. De opplevde at det styrket deres egne ressurser til selv å regulere sine kostholdsvaner. De opplevde videre at støtte hadde betydning for å gjennomføre, opprettholde og utforske nye muligheter for å endre kostholdsvanerMaster i helse og empowermen

The teleost polymeric Ig receptor counterpart in ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) differs from pIgR in higher vertebrates

As mucosal barriers in fish are the main sites where pathogens are encountered, mucosal immunity is crucial to avoid infection in the aquatic environment. In teleost fish, immunoglobulins are present in gut, gill and skin mucus, although not in the same amounts as in higher vertebrates. In mammals, the poly-Ig receptor (pIgR) is synthesized in epithelial cells and mediates the active transport of poly-immunoglobulins (pIgs) across the epithelium. During transport, a component of the pIgR, the secretory component (SC), is covalently bound to pIgs secreted into the mucus providing protection against proteases and avoiding degradation. The teleost pIgR gene does not show synteny to higher vertebrates, the overall structure of the protein is different (comprising two Ig domains) and its functional mechanisms remain unclear. The J-chain which is essential for pIgR-mediated transport of IgA and IgM in higher vertebrates is absent in teleost fish. The aim of the present study was to characterize the ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) pIgR and use it as a marker for further studies of mucosal immunity in this species. The pIgR gene was unambiguously identified. Unexpectedly, reverse transcription real time PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed highest abundance of pIgR mRNA in liver and significantly lower expression in mucosal organs such as foregut, hindgut, and skin. In situ hybridization showed pIgR-positive cells dispersed in the lamina propria while it was undetectable in epithelial cells of foregut and hindgut of ballan wrasse. A similar pattern was observed in Atlantic salmon. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of IgM enriched mucus samples from gut, gill, skin, and bile gave relatively few matches to wrasse pIgR. Notably, the matching peptides were from the transmembrane (TM) and cytoplasmatic (Cy) region as well as the putative SC, indicating leakage from lysed cells rather than covalent bonds between IgM and SC. Altogether, the results indicate that pIgR has another (or at least an additional) function in wrasse. Another pIgR-like molecule (pIgRL) in ballan wrasse (comprising three Ig domains) was analyzed to see if this could be an alternative functional pIgR homolog. However, the presence of pIgRL mRNA in blood leukocytes and a relatively high expression in immune organs like spleen and head kidney pointed to a receptor function on a circulating leukocyte population. As significant amounts of IgM were found in bile of ballan wrasse further studies should consider the hepato-biliary route regarding IgM delivery to the gut lumen.publishedVersio

Alternatives to Mineral Oil Adjuvants in Vaccines Against <i>Aeromonas salmonicida</i> subs. <i>salmonicida </i>in Rainbow Trout Offer Reductions in Adverse Effects

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