MOHIST APPROACH TO THE RULE-FOLLOWING PROBLEM

The Mohist conceives the dao-following issue as how we can put dao in words and speeches into practice. The dao-following issue is the Mohist counterpart of Wittgenstein\u27s rule-following problem. This paper aims to shed light on the rule-following issue in terms of the Mohist answer to the dao-following problem. The early Mohist takes fa(法, standard)and the later Mohist takes lei(類, analogy)as the key to the dao-following issue. I argue that the way of fa is not viable. Fa comes in various forms, but all of them are regarded as being cut off from everyday life and therefore subject to various interpretations and, hence, incapable of action-guiding. On the other hand, the Mohist lei represents a kind of life world action drama. A lei situates various elements of action in the context of an everyday life scene. I argue that lei is more qualified than fa in answering to the dao-following issue. I also show that lei substantializes what McDowell calls the course between a Scylla and a Charybdis hinted in terms of Wittgenstein\u27s idea of custom, practice, and institution in regard to the rule-following problem

"An Econometric Analysis of SARS and Avian Flu on International Tourist Arrivals to Asia"

This paper compares the impacts of SARS and human deaths arising from Avian Flu on international tourist arrivals to Asia. The effects of SARS and human deaths from Avian Flu will be compared directly according to human deaths. The nature of the short run and long run relationship is examined empirically by estimating a static line fixed effect model and a difference transformation dynamic model, respectively. Empirical results from the static fixed effect and difference transformation dynamic models are consistent, and indicate that both the short run and long run SARS effect have a more significant impact on international tourist arrivals than does Avian Flu. In addition, the effects of deaths arising from both SARS and Avian Flu suggest that SARS is more important to international tourist arrivals than is Avian Flu. Thus, while Avian Flu is here to stay, its effect is currently not as significant as that of SARS.

Broad boron sheets and boron nanotubes: An ab initio study of structural, electronic, and mechanical properties

Based on a numerical ab initio study, we discuss a structure model for a broad boron sheet, which is the analog of a single graphite sheet, and the precursor of boron nanotubes. The sheet has linear chains of sp hybridized sigma bonds lying only along its armchair direction, a high stiffness, and anisotropic bonds properties. The puckering of the sheet is explained as a mechanism to stabilize the sp sigma bonds. The anisotropic bond properties of the boron sheet lead to a two-dimensional reference lattice structure, which is rectangular rather than triangular. As a consequence the chiral angles of related boron nanotubes range from 0 to 90 degrees. Given the electronic properties of the boron sheets, we demonstrate that all of the related boron nanotubes are metallic, irrespective of their radius and chiral angle, and we also postulate the existence of helical currents in ideal chiral nanotubes. Furthermore, we show that the strain energy of boron nanotubes will depend on their radii, as well as on their chiral angles. This is a rather unique property among nanotubular systems, and it could be the basis of a different type of structure control within nanotechnology.Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures, 2 tables, Versions: v1=preview, v2=first final, v3=minor corrections, v4=document slightly reworke

Disentanglement of two harmonic oscillators in relativistic motion

We study the dynamics of quantum entanglement between two Unruh-DeWitt detectors, one stationary (Alice), and another uniformly accelerating (Rob), with no direct interaction but coupled to a common quantum field in (3+1)D Minkowski space. We find that for all cases studied the initial entanglement between the detectors disappears in a finite time ("sudden death"). After the moment of total disentanglement the correlations between the two detectors remain nonzero until late times. The relation between the disentanglement time and Rob's proper acceleration is observer dependent. The larger the acceleration is, the longer the disentanglement time in Alice's coordinate, but the shorter in Rob's coordinate.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures; typos added, minor changes in Secs. I and

Early utilization of hypertonic peritoneal dialysate and subsequent risks of non-traumatic amputation among peritoneal dialysis patients: a nationwide retrospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: The hemodialysis (HD) population has a particularly high incidence of amputation, which is likely associated with decreased tissue oxygenation during HD. However, information about the risk factors leading to amputation in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is limited. Here, we have investigated the association between the use of hypertonic peritoneal dialysate (HPD) and subsequent amputation in PD patients. METHODS: Based on the data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance research database, this observational cohort study enrolled 203 PD patients who had received HPD early during treatment and had not undergone amputation and 296 PD controls who had not undergone amputation. Subjects were followed through until the end of 2009 and the event rates of new non-traumatic amputation were compared between groups. RESULTS: The incidence of amputation was 3 times higher for the HPD cohort than for the comparison cohort (23.68 vs. 8.01 per 1000 person-years). The hazard ratio (HR) for this group, estimated using a multivariable Cox model, was 2.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06–5.79). The HR for patients with both diabetes and early adoption of HPD increased to 44.34 (95% CI = 5.51-357.03), compared to non-HPD non-diabetic PD controls. CONCLUSION: Early utilization of HPD in PD patients is associated with increasing risk of amputation; this risk considerably increases for those with concomitant diabetes