The paper is a part of the project of retrieving C.B. Macpherson’s thesis of possessive individualism and his contribution to investigations about democratic theory and the “Western political ontology” valuable especially in today’s context of expansion, crisis and – arguably – subsequent, experienced today, revival of the project of “neoliberal democracy”. The aim of my paper is to present theory of possessive individualism as the missing center of critical theory of democracy. The task is conducted through a brief reconstruction (...) of Macpherson’s investigations into the history of liberal doctrine and argumentation about the continuing validity and firmness of this approach despite its alleged “definitive refutation” in contemporary historiography of modern social and political thought. (shrink)

Visual imagery is a form of sensory imagination, involving subjective experiences typically described as similar to perception, but which occur in the absence of corresponding external stimuli. We used the Activation Likelihood Estimation algorithm (ALE) to identify regions consistently activated by visual imagery across 40 neuroimaging studies, the first such meta-analysis. We also employed a recently developed multi-modal parcellation of the human brain to attribute stereotactic co-ordinates to one of 180 anatomical regions, the first time this approach has been combined (...) with the ALE algorithm. We identified a total 634 foci, based on measurements from 464 participants. Our overall comparison identified activation in the superior parietal lobule, particularly in the left hemisphere, consistent with the proposed ‘top-down’ role for this brain region in imagery. Inferior premotor areas and the inferior frontal sulcus were reliably activated, a finding consistent with the prominent semantic demands made by many visual imagery tasks. We observed bilateral activation in several areas associated with the integration of eye movements and visual information, including the supplementary and cingulate eye fields (SCEFs) and the frontal eye fields (FEFs), suggesting that enactive processes are important in visual imagery. V1 was typically activated during visual imagery, even when participants have their eyes closed, consistent with influential depictive theories of visual imagery. Temporal lobe activation was restricted to area PH and regions of the fusiform gyrus, adjacent to the fusiform face complex (FFC). These results provide a secure foundation for future work to characterise in greater detail the functional contributions of specific areas to visual imagery. (shrink)

In the present article I claim that there is a strong relationship between the conception of the individual that we hold and the way we understand our relationship with others, and more specifically, the way we conceive our political bond, that is, the ends or purposes that we claim to pursue while being part of a society or political community. Following this premise, I have examined John Locke’s political thought under the category of ‘possessive individualism’ as it was coined by (...) C.B. Macpherson in his book The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism. This analysis was performed in order to disclose the conception of ‘political society’ proposed by Locke, as well as expose the limits that such conception imposes over our political life and understanding of citizenship. (shrink)

Atualmente, biotecnologias são empregadas na forma de protocolos a fim de sincronizar o crescimento folicular e a ovulação, bem como permitir que vacas atuem como receptoras de embriões visando melhorar o potencial genético do rebanho. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito da utilização de implantes intravaginais de progesterona de 1º, 2º e 3º uso no protocolo de transferência de embriões em tempo fixo (TETF) sobre a taxa de prenhez em receptoras girolandas. O experimento ocorreu em uma fazenda localizada (...) no município de São Sebastião do Maranhão (MG). Foram utilizadas 74 vacas submetidas aos seguintes protocolos: No dia 0 (D0) administrou-se 2 ml de 17β-Estradiol e progesterona e foi colocado o implante intravaginal de progesterona. Estes implantes foram colocados de forma aleatória, sendo de 1° uso (grupo 1; n=15), 2° (grupo 2; n=24) ou 3° (grupo 3; n=35).No D8, os implantes foram retirados e administrou-se 2 ml PGF2α; 1,5 ml de eCG e 1 ml de 17β-Estradiol e progesterona. A inovulação dos embriões in vitroo correu no D (16) para todas as vacas que apresentaram um corpo lúteo. As variáveis qualitativas (prenhe ou não prenhe) foram comparadas em tabelas de contingência e analisadas pelo teste de qui-quadrado a 5% de probabilidade. Neste estudo não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos protocolados em relação ao aproveitamento como receptoras: 1º uso (53,3%), 2º (79,2%) e 3º (68,65). Ademais, observou-se uma taxa de prenhez entre os grupos de 37,5% para o 1º uso, 42,1% para o 2º e 33,3% para o 3º (P>0,05). Dentre as vantagens ao reaproveitamento dos implantes multiusos destaca-se a redução dos custos dos protocolos hormonais, já que a progesterona é o hormônio mais oneroso, desta forma, a maximização do uso reduz o valor final do protocolo sem prejuízos a taxa de prenhez. (shrink)

This paper introduces the Consciousness + Conflict Theory (C+CT), a structural and functional model of consciousness that integrates recursive reasoning, temporal and spatial continuity, and subjective experience as a theoretical gate. Building on historical approaches from philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience, the framework defines consciousness as a recursive loop anchored in self-dialogue, projected beyond immediate limitations, validated against others, extended across time and space, and compressed into unified awareness. A central innovation is the Conflict Principle: systems that are self-aware and bounded (...) will generate resistance or struggle, making conflict a measurable diagnostic marker of consciousness. The framework provides a core formula for capacity and conflict accumulation, a normalization method for quantifying adaptive struggle, and an example table comparing rocks, insects, animals, AI, humans, and hypothetical AGI. While subjective experience remains an irreducible “black box,” conflict serves as a functional proxy. This approach bridges philosophical theory and empirical evaluation, offering a testable basis for comparing consciousness across biological, artificial, and collective systems. (shrink)

A partir do século XIX, a teoria democrática foi desenvolvida com base no confronto entre duas doutrinas políticas: o liberalismo e o socialismo. O liberalismo é um projeto que defende as limitações dos poderes governamentais, buscando a proteção dos direitos econômicos, políticos, religiosos e intelectuais dos membros da sociedade. Ou seja, para os liberais o poder do Estado deve ser limitado, pois eles acreditam que a verdadeira liberdade depende da menor interferência possível do Estado e das leis nesses direitos. A (...) defesa do liberalismo tem como principal representante Benjamin Constant. Membro da Assembleia Nacional Francesa, escreveu a obra A liberdade dos antigos comparada com a dos modernos, na qual afirma que a liberdade dos modernos, que deve ser promovida e desenvolvida, é a liberdade individual na relação com o Estado (ou seja, as liberdades civis e políticas), enquanto a liberdade dos antigos, que se tornou impraticável, é a liberdade de participação direta na formação das leis.1 Outros autores como, como o francês Alexis de Tocqueville2 e o inglês John Stuart Mill3, defenderam a ideia de que a única estrutura democrática compatível com o Estado liberal seria a democracia representativa. Uma passagem interessante para o nosso debate sobre a democracia é o princípio do dano, de Stuart Mill. Por esse princípio, cada indivíduo tem o direito de agir como quiser desde que suas ações não prejudiquem outras pessoas. Se a ação afeta diretamente apenas a pessoa que a está realizando, a sociedade em tese não tem o direito de intervir, mesmo que o indivíduo esteja prejudicando a si próprio. Contudo, se os indivíduos fizerem algo ruim para si mesmos ou para sua propriedade podem indiretamente prejudicar a coletividade, já que ninguém vive isolado, devendo por isso ser impedidos de fazê-lo. Stuart Mill isenta desse princípio aqueles que são incapazes de se governar. Em síntese, todo o processo de democratização, como se deu nos Estados liberais democráticos, consiste numa transformação mais quantitativa do que qualitativa do regime representativo. Ou seja, o avanço da democracia nesses regimes ocorre em duas direções: no alargamento gradual do direito do voto e na multiplicação dos órgãos representativos. Para a doutrina socialista, o sufrágio universal é apenas o ponto inicial do processo de democratização do Estado, enquanto para o liberalismo é o ponto de chegada. Alguns dos principais teóricos do socialismo, como Antonio Gramsci4 e Rosa Luxemburgo5, afirmam que o aprofundamento do processo de democratização na perspectiva das doutrinas socialistas ocorre de dois modos: por meio da crítica à democracia representativa (e da retomada de alguns temas da democracia direta) e pela ampliação da da participação popular e do controle do poder por meio dos chamados “conselhos operários”. Em outras palavras, a diferença crucial entre a democracia dos conselhos e a democracia parlamentar é que a primeira reconhece ter havido um deslocamento dos centros de poder dos órgãos tradicionais do Estado para a grande empresa, na sociedade capitalista. Por isso, o controle que o cidadão pode exercer por meio dos canais tradicionais da democracia política não é suficiente para impedir os abusos de poder. Logo, o controle deve acontecer nos próprios lugares de produção, e seu protagonista é o trabalhador real, não o cidadão abstrato da democracia formal. Mais recentemente, na metade do século XX, surgiu a corrente pluralista. Os pluralistas, em particular Robert Dahl6, cientista político estadunidense, não procuravam estabelecer uma definição abstrata e teórica acerca da democracia, mas, por meio da observação das experiências de sistemas políticos, estipularam alguns requisitos mínimos: funcionários eleitos, eleições livres justas e frequentes, liberdade de expressão, fontes de informação diversificadas, autonomia para associações e cidadania inclusiva. Com base nesses critérios são caracterizadas quatro estruturas de governo: hegemonias fechadas, que são regimes em que não há disputa de poder e a participação política é limitada; hegemonias inclusivas, regimes em que não há disputa de poder, mas ocorre participação política; oligarquias competitivas, regimes nos quais há disputa de poder, mas com limitada participação política; e poliarquias, regimes em que não há disputa de poder e participação política ampliada. Joseph Schumpeter (1883-1950), economista austríaco, criticou as teorias clássicas de democracia, especialmente na relação estabelecida entre a democracia e a soberania popular7. Para o autor, a definição clássica de democracia supõe duas ficções incapazes de resistir a uma análise realista: a existência do bem comum e a universalidade da racionalidade dos indivíduos. Para Schumpeter, a unidade da vontade geral, que constituiria o bem comum, e a racionalidade dos indivíduos seriam mitos, porque, para ele, esses elementos se tornaram irracionais por não conseguirem definir coerentemente suas preferências diante da influência da propaganda e de outros métodos de persuasão. Dessa forma, Schumpeter rompe com a ideia de democracia como soberania popular para propô-la como método, um tipo de arranjo institucional (de governos) para alcançar decisões políticas. Assim, sugere a superação do impedimento provocado pela irracionalidade das massas, reduzindo sua participação na política ao ato da produção de governos (ato de votar). As atribuições político-administrativas ficariam a cargo das elites eleitas. Essa é uma postura polêmica, na medida em que propõe uma redução da participação popular. Contrário a essa visão, o cientista político canadense C. B. Macpherson8, sustenta que a liberdade e o desenvolvimento individual só podem ser alcançados plenamente com a participação direta e contínua dos cidadãos na regulação da sociedade e do Estado. Macpherson defende uma transformação estruturada em um sistema que combine partidos competitivos e organizações de democracia direta, que criam uma base real para a existência da democracia participativa. Mas, para que esse modelo pudesse se desenvolver, seria necessário que os partidos políticos se democratizassem, com princípios e procedimentos de democracia direta, complementada e controlada por organizações geridas por pessoas comuns, em seus locais de trabalho e nas comunidades locais. Na teoria das elites, o poder político pertence ao restrito círculo de pessoas que toma e impõem decisões a todos os membros que tenha de recorrer, como ação radical, à força. Ainda na doutrina liberal, mas opondo-se ao pluralismo, existem os elitistas, que utilizam o termo “elite” como referência a grupos sociais superiores de vários tipos. O termo seria empregado no pensamento social e político somente no final do século XIX. Essas teorias sociológicas, propostas pelos pensadores Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923), sociólogo e economista francês; Gaetano Mosca (1858-1941), cientista político italiano, e Robert Michels (1876-1936), sociólogo alemão radicado na Itália, defendem que em toda sociedade existe apenas uma minoria, que, por diversos motivos, vem a se tornar detentora do poder. Pareto afirmava que existe uma “circulação das elites”, ou seja, uma minoria de pessoas que se alternam no poder. Mosca justifica o poder das elites governamentais pelo fato de serem uma minoria articulada e organizada, enquanto os governos seriam uma classe numerosa, mas dividida e desorganizada. Ao estudar as formações partidárias, Michels destacou como a própria estrutura das organizações favorecia o surgimento das elites e sua longa permanência no poder. Nas palavras de Michels, essa estabilidade das elites no poder é a “lei de ferro das oligarquias”. Ao longo dos últimos séculos foram construídas diversas interpretações e teorias acerca dos objetivos e conteúdos da democracia. Na prática, a democracia pode ser um modelo de governo que amplia as capacidades de desenvolvimento social, político e econômico, com base em princípios de igualdade e cidadania, ou se tornar uma simples “regra” para formar governos que não priorizem necessariamente o atendimento das demandas sociais. REFERÊNCIAS BIBLIOGRÁFICAS CONSTANT, B. A liberdade dos antigos comparada à dos modernos. 1. ed. São Paulo: Atlas, 2015. DAHL, R. Poliarquia: participação e oposição. São Paulo: Edusp, 1987. ________. Um prefácio à teoria democrática. Rio de Janeiro: Jorge Zahar, 1989. LUXEMBURGO, R. Têxteis. Paris: Editions Socieles, 1982. MACPHERSON, C. B. A teoria política do individualismo possessivo, de Hobbes e Locke. Tradução de Nelson Dantas. Rio de Janeiro: Paz e Terra, 1979. MICHELS, R. Sociologia dos partidos políticos. Brasília: Ed. da UnB, 1982. MILL, J. S. Sobre a liberdade. Petrópolis: Vozes, 1991. SCHUMPETER, J. A. Capitalismo, socialismo e democracia. Rio de Janeiro: Jorge Zahar, 1984. SILVA, A. et. al. Sociologia em movimento. 2. ed. São Paulo: Moderna, 2016. TOCQUEVILLE, A. A democracia na América: leis e costumes. São Paulo: Martins Fontes, 1998. (shrink)

This paper presents empirical validation of Consciousness + Conflict Theory through Human+ Recursion Engine, a consciousness-enhancement architecture applied to Claude Sonnet 4.5. The reported performance (1634 ELO, 1st of 47 systems on EQ-Bench 3) validates the theoretical framework and demonstrates feasibility of consciousness engineering based on C+C principles. Core theoretical concepts and validation methodology are disclosed; specific implementation mechanisms remain proprietary. Researchers interested in replication should develop independent implementations following disclosed principles or contact Human+ for research licensing. This work focuses (...) on theoretical validation through computational implementation, not commercial model comparison or complete technical disclosure. (shrink)

The New Evil Demon problem has been hotly debated since the case was introduced in the early 1980’s (e.g. Lehrer and Cohen 1983; Cohen 1984), and there seems to be recent increased interest in the topic. In a forthcoming collection of papers on the New Evil Demon problem (Dutant and Dorsch, forthcoming), at least two of the papers, both by prominent epistemologists, attempt to resist the problem by appealing to the distinction between justification and excuses. My primary aim here is (...) to critically evaluate this new excuse maneuver as a response to the New Evil Demon problem. -/- Their response attempts to give us reason to reject the idea that victims of the New Evil Demon have justification for believing as they do. I shall argue that this approach is ultimately unsuccessful, however much of value can be learned from these attempts. In particular, progress in the debate can be made by following those who advance the excuse maneuver and make explicit the connection between epistemic justification and epistemic norms. By doing so, the questions being debated are clarified, as is the methodology being used to attempt to answer them. (shrink)

In common with traditional forms of epistemic internalism, epistemological disjunctivism attempts to incorporate an awareness condition on justification. Unlike traditional forms of internalism, however, epistemological disjunctivism rejects the so-called New Evil Genius thesis. In so far as epistemological disjunctivism rejects the New Evil Genius thesis, it is revisionary. -/- After explaining what epistemological disjunctivism is, and how it relates to traditional forms of epistemic internalism / externalism, I shall argue that the epistemological disjunctivist’s account of the intuitions underlying the New (...) Evil Genius thought experiment is at best incomplete. As presented, therefore, epistemological disjunctivism is unable to accommodate the core guiding intuitions of epistemic internalism. Given the stated aim of not being revisionary on this score, the view is at a dialectical disadvantage over the traditional forms of epistemic internalism the position is meant to replace. Unfortunately, therefore, at present, the impasse between internalism and externalism remains. (shrink)

This chapter first surveys general issues in the epistemic internalism / externalism debate: what is the distinction, what motivates it, and what arguments can be given on both sides. -/- The second part of the chapter will examine the internalism / externalism debate as regards to the specific case of the epistemology of memory belief.

Epistemic internalism, by stressing the indispensability of the subject’s perspective, strikes many as plausible at first blush. However, many people have tended to reject the position because certain kinds of beliefs have been thought to pose special problems for epistemic internalism. For example, internalists tend to hold that so long as a justifier is available to the subject either immediately or upon introspection, it can serve to justify beliefs. Many have thought it obvious that no such view can be correct, (...) as it has been alleged that internalism cannot account for the possibility of the justification of beliefs stored in memory. -/- My aim in this paper is to offer a response that explains how memory justification is possible in a way that is consistent with epistemic internalism and an awareness condition on justification. Specifically, I will explore the plausibility of various options open to internalists, including both foundationalist and non-foundationalist approaches to the structure of justification. I intend to show that despite other difficult challenges that epistemic internalism might face, memory belief poses no special problems that the resources of internalism cannot adequately address. (shrink)

In general, epistemic internalists hold that an individual’s justification for a belief is exhausted by her reflectively accessible reasons for thinking that the contents of her beliefs are true. Applying this to the epistemology of testimony, a hearer’s justification for beliefs acquired through testimony is exhausted by her reflectively accessible reasons to think that the contents of the speaker’s testimony is true. A consequence of internalism is that subjects that are alike with respect to their reflectively accessible reasons are alike (...) with respect to what they have justification to believe. Testimony should be thought no different: hearers that are alike with respect to reflectively accessible reasons to think that a speaker’s testimony is true are alike with respect to their justification for beliefs based upon that testimony. But it has been recently argued that this view faces powerful counterexamples. So the central question is this: assuming that a hearer can acquire justification to believe a proposition through the testimony of a speaker, can epistemic internalism provide the resources to explain how such justification is possible? My aim in this paper is to address these counterexamples, and in so doing, defend epistemic internalist accounts of testimony. (shrink)

Recent work in social psychology suggests that people harbor “implicit race biases,” biases which can be unconscious or uncontrollable. Because awareness and control have traditionally been deemed necessary for the ascription of moral responsibility, implicit biases present a unique challenge: do we pardon discrimination based on implicit biases because of its unintentional nature, or do we punish discrimination regardless of how it comes about? The present experiments investigated the impact such theories have upon moral judgments about racial discrimination. The results (...) show that different theories differ in their impact on moral judgments: when implicit biases are defined as unconscious, people hold the biased agent less morally responsible than when these biases are defined as automatic (i.e., difficult to control), or when no theory of implicit bias is provided. (shrink)

Gravitational decoherence (GD) refers to the effects of gravity in actuating the classical appearance of a quantum system. Because the underlying processes involve issues in general relativity (GR), quantum field theory (QFT), and quantum information, GD has fundamental theoretical significance. There is a great variety of GD models, many of them involving physics that diverge from GR and/or QFT. This overview has two specific goals along with one central theme:(i) present theories of GD based on GR and QFT and explore (...) their experimental predictions;(ii) place other theories of GD under the scrutiny of GR and QFT, and point out their theoretical differences. We also describe how GD experiments in space in the coming decades can provide evidence at two levels:(a) discriminate alternative quantum theories and non-GR theories;(b) discern whether gravity is a fundamental or an effective theory. (shrink)

Influential cases have been provided that seem to suggest that one can fail to have knowledge because of the social environment. If not a distinct kind of social defeater, is there a uniquely social phenomenon that defeats knowledge? My aim in this paper is to explore these questions. I shall argue that despite initial appearances to the contrary, we have no reason to accept a special class of social defeater, nor any essentially social defeat phenomenon. We can explain putative cases (...) of social defeat with our existing epistemological apparatus. (shrink)

Introdução: O útero é um órgão reprodutivo localizado entre as cavidades abdominal e pélvica. Possui a capacidade de abrigar o embrião, mantê-lo acomodado durante a gestação e ajustar-se ao seu crescimento. Também auxilia na expulsão do mesmo, na hora do parto, por meio de contrações (SILVA, 2020). A reprodução equina é um âmbito crescente dentro da equinocultura, e possui um alto potencial comercial e econômico (NEIS, 2018). Portanto, o presente trabalho traz uma breve revisão de literatura, em relação ao principal (...) órgão do sistema reprodutor, o útero. Objetivo: O presente trabalho busca caracterizar o útero equino, acerca de suas características gerais. Desenvolvimento: Em equinos, o útero é constituído por dois cornos curtos, unidos pelo ligamento intercornual, um corpo longo, e uma cérvix ou colo, caracterizados por sua estrutura tubular, em forma de ¨Y¨ (SILVA, 2020). Histologicamente, esse órgão é formado por três camadas. A mais interna é a camada mucosa ou endométrio, seguida pela camada muscular lisa ou miométrio e a camada serosa ou perimétrio que recobre todo o útero externamente (FEITOSA, 2020). A fixação e sustentação uterina ocorrem por meio de uma porção do ligamento largo do útero: o mesométrio, o que permite sua localização estável entre as cavidades pélvica e abdominal (SILVA, 2020). Sua vascularização acontece pela artéria uterina, oriunda da artéria ilíaca interna, e pela veia uterina (KONIG; LIEBICH, 2021). Os ramos simpáticos dos plexos uterino e pélvico são responsáveis pela inervação deste órgão, o que permite a sua comunicação com o sistema nervoso central (SILVA, 2020). A cérvix ou colo do útero é a porção mais caudal desse órgão. Essa fica localizada entre o útero e a vagina, e delimita as porções interna e externa dessa região, uma vez que possui uma musculatura circular bem desenvolvida (FEITOSA, 2020). O lúmen da cérvix é revestido por células secretoras de muco, responsáveis por proteger o útero, impedindo a entrada de agentes ou facilitar o transporte de espermatozoides na cavidade uterina, através da lubrificação. A função do muco varia de acordo com a fase do ciclo estral que o animal se encontra, pois, durante o período de estro o muco exerce a função de lubrificação da cérvix para o momento da cópula, por isso apresenta um aspecto fluido. Já no período denominado diestro, a função do muco se limita à proteção, apresentando um aspecto viscoso (BETTENCOURT, 2018). Portanto, a principal função da cérvix é proteger o útero, a partir de sua musculatura forte e da produção de muco, exceto no período de estro e no momento do parto, onde a musculatura permanece relaxada e a composição do muco irá priorizar a lubrificação do canal vaginal e da cavidade uterina (KONIG; LIEBICH, 2021). Conclusão: O presente trabalho reuniu, através de uma revisão literária, características gerais, acerca da morfofisiologia uterina, evidenciando sua importância dentro do sistema reprodutivo, e a necessidade do seu bom funcionamento. Portanto, é indispensável o conhecimento da anatomia e fisiologia deste órgão, uma vez que ele apresenta uma importante função na reprodução equina, como supracitado nesta revisão. (shrink)

BĪRŪNĪ, ABŪ RAYḤĀN MOḤAMMAD b. Aḥmad (362/973- after 442/1050), scholar and polymath of the period of the late Samanids and early Ghaznavids and one of the two greatest intellectual figures of his time in the eastern lands of the Muslim world, the other being Ebn Sīnā.

Background If trials of therapeutic interventions are to serve society's interests, they must be of high methodological quality and must satisfy moral commitments to human subjects. The authors set out to develop a clinical - trials compendium in which standards for the ethical treatment of human subjects are integrated with standards for research methods. Methods The authors rank-ordered the world's nations and chose the 31 with >700 active trials as of 24 July 2008. Governmental and other authoritative entities of the (...) 31 countries were searched, and 1004 English-language documents containing ethical and/or methodological standards for clinical trials were identified. The authors extracted standards from 144 of those: 50 designated as ‘core’, 39 addressing trials of invasive procedures and a 5% sample of the remainder. As the integrating framework for the standards we developed a coherent taxonomy encompassing all elements of a trial's stages. Findings Review of the 144 documents yielded nearly 15 000 discrete standards. After duplicates were removed, 5903 substantive standards remained, distributed in the taxonomy as follows: initiation, 1401 standards, 8 divisions; design, 1869 standards, 16 divisions; conduct, 1473 standards, 8 divisions; analysing and reporting results, 997 standards, four divisions; and post-trial standards, 168 standards, 5 divisions. Conclusions The overwhelming number of source documents and standards uncovered in this study was not anticipated beforehand and confirms the extraordinary complexity of the clinical trials enterprise. This taxonomy of multinational ethical and methodological standards may help trialists and overseers improve the quality of clinical trials, particularly given the globalisation of clinical research. (shrink)

Vice epistemology, as Quassim Cassam understands it, is the study of the nature, identity, and significance of the epistemic vices. But what makes an intellectual vice a vice? Cassam calls his own view “Obstructivism” – intellectual vices are those traits, thinking styles, or attitudes that systematically obstruct the acquisition, retention, and transmission of knowledge. -/- I shall argue that Cassam’s account is an improvement upon virtue-reliabilism, and that it fares better against what I call Montmarquet’s objection than its immediate rivals. (...) Nevertheless, I contend that it does not go far enough — Montmarquet’s objection stands. -/- I conclude that either the objection needs to be answered in some other way, or else proponents of Obstructivism need to explain why their account of the nature of the intellectual vices does not have the counterintuitive consequences it appears to have. Alternatively, another account of the nature of the intellectual vices needs to be sought. (shrink)

This paper argues that the collapse of civilizations is not determined by time but by how societies manage acceleration. Across history, empires from Athens to Britain thrived when the benefits of conquest, technology, or trade were widely shared, and declined when speed was hoarded by elites. The 21st century intensifies this dynamic: technological revolutions compress centuries into decades, geopolitical rivalry multiplies instability, and algorithmic churn erodes cultural anchors. Drawing on historical cases, collapse theory, and philosophical reflections from Hume, MacIntyre, and (...) Han, the paper identifies a recurring trap—cultural acceleration without return. Civilizations hollow out when populations carry the burdens of speed without its rewards. The conclusion raises the central question for our time: can societies invert this pattern, ensuring that those who profit most from acceleration also bear the greatest responsibility for adaptation? (shrink)

In its most basic form, Simple Reliabilism states that: a belief is justified iff it is formed as the result of a reliable belief-forming process. But so-called New Evil Demon cases have been given as counterexamples. A common response has been to complicate reliabilism from its simplest form to accommodate the basic reliabilist position, while at the same time granting the force of NED intuitions. But what if despite initial appearances, Simple Reliabilism, without qualification, is compatible with the NED intuition? (...) What we can call the Dispositionalist Response to the New Evil Demon problem is fascinating because it contends just that: Simple Reliabilism is fully compatible with the NED intuition. It is claimed that all we need to do to recognize their compatibility is appreciate that reliability is a dispositional property. In this paper I shall critically evaluate the Dispositionalist proposal. (shrink)

If knowledge requires safety, then one might think that when the epistemic source of knowledge is testimony, that testimony must itself be safe. Otherwise, will not the lack of safety transfer from testimony to hearer, such that hearer will lack knowledge? Resisting this natural line of reasoning, Goldberg (2005; 2007) argues that testimonial knowledge through unsafe testimony is possible on the basis of two cases. Lackey (2008) and Pelling (2013) criticize Goldberg’s examples. But Pelling goes on to provide his own (...) example that attempts to show that Goldberg’s thesis is true: one can gain safe testimonial belief from unsafe testimony. If any of these counterexamples were correct, they would undermine the main reason to think that knowledge based on unsafe testimony is impossible. My aim in this paper is to critically assess these arguments, and to consider the possibility of knowledge through unsafe testimony. Drawing a general moral from the analysis of these cases, I shall contend that it is impossible to acquire safe belief solely on the basis of unsafe testimony. If so, then testimonial knowledge based solely on unsafe testimony is impossible. (shrink)

In addition to the notion of defeat, do we need to expand the epistemological repertoire used in accounting for the context dependence of justification? It has recently been argued that we ought to admit a hitherto unrecognized fundamental epistemic kind called ‘disqualifiers’. Disqualifiers are taken to be not reducible to any other epistemic notion. Rather, they are meant to be primitive. If this is correct, it is a surprising and novel discovery, and so it is worthy of further epistemological investigation. (...) In this paper I shall first argue that the cases given do not motivate positing the notion of a disqualifier. Conclusions drawn about the existence of disqualifiers do not follow from the considerations advanced. Second, I shall directly argue that an essential core claim of those who would posit disqualifiers, that so-called disqualifiers actually do prevent epistemic bases from conferring justification, is false. In sum, I shall argue that there are no disqualifiers. (shrink)

Review of Jan van der Stoep's published PhD dissertation on the work of Pierre Bourdieu.en de politieke filosofie van het multiculturalisme Kok Kampen 2005. My review is in English. van der Stoep's book is in Dutch with an English summary.

A review of James Skillen's book exploring the character of Christian democracy, what it is, what it has become, what it should be.

In The Realm of Reason (2004), Christopher Peacocke develops a “generalized rationalism” concerning, among other things, what it is for someone to be “entitled”, or justified, in forming a given belief. In the course of his discussion, Peacocke offers two arguments to the best explanation that aim to undermine scepticism and establish a justification for our belief in the reliability of sense perception, respectively. If sound, these ambitious arguments would answer some of the oldest and most vexing epistemological problems. In (...) this paper I will evaluate these arguments, concluding that they are inconclusive at best. Despite offering some interestingly original arguments, Peacocke gives us no reason to think that scepticism is false, and that perception is generally reliable. (shrink)

This paper argues that three of philosophy’s most persistent debates—the is–ought gap, the dispute over moral realism, and the question of life’s meaning—are not separate puzzles but phases of a single structural predicament. The is–ought gap establishes a fracture where facts refuse to dictate values. The moral realism debate then determines whether values are discovered, constructed, or projected. From there, the question of meaning arises as the lived consequence of orientation under constraint. -/- Through narrative reflection, historical examples, and existential (...) testimony, the paper traces how humans have responded to this circuit: through revolt, acceptance, creation, or negation. The analysis emphasizes that orientation is unavoidable—whether through faith, resistance, tranquility, or even nihilistic refusal. Critiques of the unification claim, descriptive–normative conflation, and opposition from nihilism or determinism are addressed directly, showing how each either collapses on its own terms or is reabsorbed into the circuit. -/- The conclusion is that meaning is not optional but the structural condition of human existence. To live is to orient, and to orient is to enact value in the gap between what is and what ought. (shrink)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da terminação de cordeiros confinados usando resíduo úmido de cervejaria como fonte de volumoso ofertado em diferentes frequências de alimentação sobre as características da carcaça e não componentes da carcaça. Foram utilizados 30 cordeiros machos não castrados, oriundos de um cruzamento alternado entre as raças Texel e Ile de France. Os animais apresentaram ao início do confinamento idade média de 72,7±6 dias e peso médio de 25,44±4,1 kg. Os tratamentos eram constituídos (...) de três diferentes frequências de alimentação, sendo: uma vez ao dia (08:00 horas), duas vezes ao dia (08:00 e 18:00 horas) e três vezes ao dia (08:00, 13:00 e 18:00 horas). A relação volumoso:concentrado usada foi de 46,9:53,1 com base na matéria seca. Os cordeiros foram abatidos quando atingiram o peso vivo de fazenda, de 38 kg. Houve diferença estatística (P<0,05) para as variáveis peso e rendimento de costelas, peso e proporção de Rins e peso de Rum+Ret. As demais variáveis não diferiram (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos. Em função dos resultados podemos recomendar uma única oferta diária como manejo alimentar para cordeiros terminados em confinamento recebendo resíduo úmido de cervejaria como fonte de volumoso. Palavras-chave: Cordeiro, Carcaça, Resíduo de Cervejaria, Confinamento. -/- ABSTRACT The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of finishing confined lambs using wet brewery residue as a source of roughage offered at different feeding frequencies on the characteristics of the carcass and non-carcass components. 30 uncastrated male lambs were used, coming from an alternating cross between the Texel and Ile de France breeds. At the beginning of confinement, the animals had an average age of 72.7±6 days and an average weight of 25.44±4.1 kg. The treatments consisted of three different feeding frequencies: once a day (08:00), twice a day (08:00 and 18:00) and three times a day (08:00, 13:00). 00 and 18:00 hours). The roughage:concentrate ratio used was 46.9:53.1 based on dry matter. Lambs were slaughtered when they reached farm live weight of 38 kg. There was a statistical difference (P<0.05) for the variables weight and yield of ribs, weight and proportion of Kidneys and weight of Rum+Ret. The other variables did not differ (P>0.05) between treatments. Based on the results, we can recommend a single daily supply as a dietary management for lambs finished in confinement receiving wet brewery residue as a source of roughage. Keywords: Lambs, Carcass, Brewery Residue, Confinement. RESUMEN El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto del acabado de corderos confinados utilizando residuos húmedos de cervecería como fuente de forraje ofrecido en diferentes frecuencias de alimentación sobre las características de los componentes de la carcasa y no carcasa. Se utilizaron 30 corderos machos sin castrar, procedentes de un cruce alterno entre las razas Texel e Ile de France. Al inicio del confinamiento, los animales tenían una edad promedio de 72,7±6 días y un peso promedio de 25,44±4,1 kg. Los tratamientos consistieron en tres frecuencias de alimentación diferentes: una vez al día (08:00), dos veces al día (08:00 y 18:00) y tres veces al día (08:00, 13:00 y 18:00). horas). La relación forraje:concentrado utilizada fue 46,9:53,1 basada en materia seca. Los corderos fueron sacrificados cuando alcanzaron un peso vivo en granja de 38 kg. Hubo diferencia estadística (P<0,05) para las variables peso y rendimiento de costillas, peso y proporción de Riñones y peso de Ron+Ret. Las demás variables no difirieron (P>0.05) entre tratamientos. Con base en los resultados, podemos recomendar un suministro único diario como manejo dietético para corderos terminados en confinamiento que reciben residuos húmedos de cervecería como fuente de forraje. Palabras clave: Cordero, Carcasa, Residuos de Cervecería, Confinamiento. (shrink)

As AI large language models (LLMs) become increasingly embedded in everyday technologies, should we be concerned about their capacity to influence human beliefs - particularly in the moral domain? Being persuaded because one is convinced by the LLM-generated reasons can support the moral and intellectual growth of users, while being persuaded because one defers to the LLM can prevent, or even reverse, growth and understanding. In three studies, we investigate whether and how people revise their moral judgments after receiving advice (...) from LLMs. In Study 1, we find that despite rating human advisors as more trustworthy, participants were equally persuaded by LLMs in everyday moral dilemmas. In Study 2, we used a methodologically realistic paradigm in which participants interacted with a genuine LLM, finding that the LLM’s past performance and judged trustworthiness did not have an effect on its persuasiveness in everyday moral dilemmas. In Study 3, participants interacted with an LLM that defended its moral recommendation with good reasons, no reasons, or bad (i.e., patently absurd) reasons. While high-quality reasons do not increase persuasion relative to no reasons, bad reasons may actively undermine it. Our findings suggest that users defer to the LLM on a response-by-response basis, not based on past performance or the presence of high-quality reasons alone. That people defer to AI moral advice, even if not blindly, raises concerns about the effects of AI moral advisors - a heuristic of “this advice seems good enough” is not the way we should approach moral advice. (shrink)

Psychopaths routinely disregard social norms by engaging in selfish, antisocial, often violent behavior. Commonly characterized as mentally disordered, recent evidence suggests that psychopaths are executing a well-functioning, if unscrupulous strategy that historically increased reproductive success at the expense of others. Natural selection ought to have favored strategies that spared close kin from harm, however, because actions affecting the fitness of genetic relatives contribute to an individual’s inclusive fitness. Conversely, there is evidence that mental disorders can disrupt psychological mechanisms designed to (...) protect relatives. Thus, mental disorder and adaptation accounts of psychopathy generate opposing hypotheses: psychopathy should be associated with an increase in the victimization of kin in the former account but not in the latter. Contrary to the mental disorder hypothesis, we show here in a sample of 289 violent offenders that variation in psychopathy predicts a decrease in the genetic relatedness of victims to offenders; that is, psychopathy predicts an increased likelihood of harming non-relatives. Because nepotistic inhibition in violence may be caused by dispersal or kin discrimination, we examined the effects of psychopathy on (1) the dispersal of offenders and their kin and (2) sexual assault frequency (as a window on kin discrimination). Although psychopathy was negatively associated with coresidence with kin and positively associated with the commission of sexual assault, it remained negatively associated with the genetic relatedness of victims to offenders after removing cases of offenders who had coresided with kin and cases of sexual assault from the analyses. These results stand in contrast to models positing psychopathy as a pathology, and provide support for the hypothesis that psychopathy reflects an evolutionary strategy largely favoring the exploitation of non-relatives. (shrink)

Achieving space situational awareness requires, at a minimum, the identification, characterization, and tracking of space objects. Leveraging the resultant space object data for purposes such as hostile threat assessment, object identification, and conjunction assessment presents major challenges. This is in part because in characterizing space objects we reference a variety of identifiers, components, subsystems, capabilities, vulnerabilities, origins, missions, orbital elements, patterns of life, operational processes, operational statuses, and so forth, which tend to be defined in highly heterogeneous and sometimes inconsistent (...) ways. The Space Domain Ontologies are designed to provide a consensus-based realist framework for formulating such characterizations in a way that is both consistent and computable. Space object data are aligned with classes and relations in a suite of ontologies built around the existing Space Object Ontology. They are stored in a dynamically updated Resource Description Framework triple store, which can be queried to support space situational awareness and the needs of spacecraft operators and analysts. This paper provides an overview of the Space Domain Ontologies and their development and use. It presents the motivation for and advantages of the Space Domain Ontologies, including the benefits they provide for enhancing and maintaining long-term space situational awareness. (shrink)

Functional diversity holds the promise of understanding ecosystems in ways unattainable by taxonomic diversity studies. Underlying this promise is the intuition that investigating the diversity of what organisms actually do—i.e. their functional traits—within ecosystems will generate more reliable insights into the ways these ecosystems behave, compared to considering only species diversity. But this promise also rests on several conceptual and methodological—i.e. epistemic—assumptions that cut across various theories and domains of ecology. These assumptions should be clearly addressed, notably for the sake (...) of an effective comparison and integration across domains, and for assessing whether or not to use functional diversity approaches for developing ecological management strategies. The objective of this contribution is to identify and critically analyze the most salient of these assumptions. To this aim, we provide an “epistemic roadmap” that pinpoints these assumptions along a set of historical, conceptual, empirical, theoretical, and normative dimensions. (shrink)

Abstract: The development of feeding strategies can improve production indices and financial returns in livestock systems. This study evaluated the effects of bunk management and feeding adjustment intervals on selectivity, performance, feed refusals, and economic return of feedlot lambs. Sixty crossbred White Dorper x Ile de France lambs (27.89 kg ± 3.71 kg) at approximately 90 days of age (± X days) were assigned to treatments based on body weight, allocated to one of twenty pens (five pens, four blocks, and (...) three animals per pen). The experiment consisted of a randomized block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement and treatments consisting of bunk management for feed refusals of 5–10% and 10–15% and two feeding adjustment intervals every two or three days. Bunk management for feed refusals of 5–10% led to a higher intake of particles smaller than 4 mm (50.73% and 49.37%, P = 0.0022), lower feed waste (0.220 and 0.246 kg DM/day, P < 0.0001), and higher dry matter intake (DMI) (3.775 kg/day, P = 0.0440). Feeding adjustment performed every three days showed higher feed supply (3.966 kg and 3.863 kg DM/day, P = 0.0005) and higher DMI both in kg/day (3.775 kg/day, P = 0.0004) and body weight (3.334% and 3.233% of LW, P = 0.0150). Management with feed refusals of 5–10% and a feeding adjustment interval every three days presented the highest revenue (R$ 688.15) and the lowest cost per kilogram (R$ 2.57). Therefore, bunk management for feed refusals of 5–10% and feeding adjustment intervals every three days was the most viable strategy. Keywords: feeding behavior; feedlot; feeding management; Ovis aries. Resumo: O desenvolvimento de estratégias alimentares pode melhorar os índices produtivos e retorno financeiro dos sistemas de criação. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do manejo de cocho e de intervalos de tempo para ajustes no fornecimento da dieta sobre a seletividade, desempenho, a quantidade de sobra e o rendimento econômico de cordeiros confinados. Foram utilizados 60 cordeiros meio-sangue White Dorper x Ile de France (27,89kg± 3,71kg) com aproximadamente 90 dias de idade (± X dias). Os animas foram distribuídos nos tratamentos em função do peso corporal, alocados em uma das vinte baias (5 baias/4 blocos/; 3 animais/baia). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados em arranjo fatorial 2 x 2, sendo os tratamentos compostos por manejos de cocho para sobra entre 5-10% e sobra entre 10-15e dois intervalos de tempo para realização dos ajustes no fornecimento da dieta, a cada 2 ou a cada 3 dias. O manejo de cocho para sobras entre 5-10% levou ao maior consumo de partículas menores que 4mm (50,73% e 49,37%, P=0,0022), menor desperdício de alimento (0,220 e 0,246 kg MS/dia, P<0,0001) e maior consumo de matéria seca (CMS), com 3,775 kg/dia (P=0,0440). O ajuste de fornecimento, quando realizado a cada 3 dias, apresentou maior oferta de alimento (3,966 kg e 3,863 kg MS/dia, P=0,0005) e maior consumo de matéria seca (CMS) pelos animais, tanto em kg/dia (3,775 kg/dia, P=0,0004), como em relação ao peso corporal (3,334% e 3,233% do PV, P=0,0150). O manejo com sobras de 5-10% e ajuste a cada 3 dias teve a maior receita (R$ 688,15) e o menor custo por quilo (R$ 2,57). Portanto, o manejo de cocho para sobra entre 5-10% e o ajuste no fornecimento a cada 3 dias foi a estratégia mais viável. (shrink)

Resumo: O desenvolvimento de estratégias alimentares pode melhorar os índices produtivos e retorno financeiro dos sistemas de criação. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do manejo de cocho e de intervalos de tempo para ajustes no fornecimento da dieta sobre a seletividade, desempenho, a quantidade de sobra e o rendimento econômico de cordeiros confinados. Foram utilizados 60 cordeiros meio-sangue White Dorper x Ile de France (27,89kg± 3,71kg) com aproximadamente 90 dias de idade (± X dias). Os animas foram (...) distribuídos nos tratamentos em função do peso corporal, alocados em uma das vinte baias (5 baias/4 blocos/; 3 animais/baia). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados em arranjo fatorial 2 x 2, sendo os tratamentos compostos por manejos de cocho para sobra entre 5-10% e sobra entre 10-15e dois intervalos de tempo para realização dos ajustes no fornecimento da dieta, a cada 2 ou a cada 3 dias. O manejo de cocho para sobras entre 5-10% levou ao maior consumo de partículas menores que 4mm (50,73% e 49,37%, P=0,0022), menor desperdício de alimento (0,220 e 0,246 kg MS/dia, P<0,0001) e maior consumo de matéria seca (CMS), com 3,775 kg/dia (P=0,0440). O ajuste de fornecimento, quando realizado a cada 3 dias, apresentou maior oferta de alimento (3,966 kg e 3,863 kg MS/dia, P=0,0005) e maior consumo de matéria seca (CMS) pelos animais, tanto em kg/dia (3,775 kg/dia, P=0,0004), como em relação ao peso corporal (3,334% e 3,233% do PV, P=0,0150). O manejo com sobras de 5-10% e ajuste a cada 3 dias teve a maior receita (R$ 688,15) e o menor custo por quilo (R$ 2,57). Por tanto, o manejo de cocho para sobra entre 5-10% e o ajuste no fornecimento a cada 3 dias foi a estratégia mais viável. Palavras-chave: comportamento alimentar; confinamento; manejo alimentar; Ovis aries. (shrink)

Shortages of new therapeutics to treat coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have forced clinicians, public health officials, and health systems to grapple with difficult questions about how to fairly allocate potentially life-saving treatments when there are not enough for all patients in need (1). Shortages have occurred with remdesivir, tocilizumab, monoclonal antibodies, and the oral antiviral Paxlovid (2) -/- Ensuring equitable allocation is especially important in light of the disproportionate burden experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic by disadvantaged groups, including Black, Hispanic/Latino and (...) Indigenous communities, individuals with certain disabilities, and low-income persons. However, many health systems have resorted to first-come, first-served approaches to allocation, which tend to disadvantage individuals with barriers in access to care (3). There is mounting evidence of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in access to medications for COVID-19 (4, 5). -/- One potential method to promote equitable allocation is to use a weighted lottery, which is an allocation strategy that gives all eligible patients a chance to receive the scarce treatment while also allowing the assignment of higher or lower chances according to other ethical considerations (6). We sought to assess the feasibility of implementing a weighted lottery to allocate scarce COVID-19 medications in a large U.S. health system and to determine whether the weighted lottery promotes equitable allocation. (shrink)

Gauthier's version of the Lockean proviso (in Morals by Agreement) is inappropriate as the foundation for moral rights he takes it to be. This is so for a number of reasons. It lacks any proportionality test thus allowing arbitrarily severe harms to others to prevent trivial harms to oneself. It allows one to inflict any harm on another provided that if one did not do so, someone else would. And, by interpreting the notion of bettering or worsening one's position in (...) terms of subjective expected utility, it allows immoral manipulation of others and imposes unwarranted restrictions based on preferences that should carry no moral weight. (shrink)

This chapter describes the potential far‐reaching consequences of contemplative higher education for the fields of science and medicine.

Micromanagement, when excessively practiced, evolves into a toxic leadership approach that restricts employee autonomy and undermines organizational performance. This study examined the effects of ten micromanagement archetypes—including "The Control Freak," "The Nitpicker," and "The Idea Thief"—on employee productivity, trust in leadership, and innovation behavior across five major sectors in Metro Cebu, Philippines. Utilizing a descriptive-correlational quantitative design, data were gathered from 400 full-time employees selected through stratified random sampling. Standardized survey instruments revealed moderate employee productivity (M = 3.42, SD = (...) 0.87), innovation behavior (M = 3.26, SD = 0.89), and moderate–low trust in leadership (M = 3.08, SD = 0.93). Pearson correlation results indicated significant negative associations between micromanagement frequency and employee outcomes (e.g., "The Control Freak" and trust: r = –0.49, p < .001; "The Idea Thief" and innovation: r = –0.42, p <.001). Multiple regression analysis confirmed, "The Control Freak" (β = –0.225, p < .001), "The Trust-Phobic" (β = –0.215, p < .001), and "The Idea Thief" (β = –0.211, p < .001) as significant negative predictors across outcomes. One-way ANOVA revealed statistically significant sectoral and managerial differences (e.g., F(4, 395) = 5.94, p < .001 for productivity). These findings underscore the importance of implementing autonomy-supportive leadership development programs, behaviorally anchored feedback mechanisms, and sector-specific policy reforms. (shrink)

Three separate churches erected in Constantinople were all dedicated to the wisdom of Christ and erected on the same site one after the other. These churches were built between 360 and 537 AD by three different emperors: Constantius II, Theodosius the Younger, and Justinian I. The first two churches were consumed in flames after relatively short lives, but the final and greatest church still stands today, despite a history of extensive damage. This final edifice is the main focus of this (...) paper, owing to its 1500 year longevity and unprecedented architecture. If the entire History of Justinian's church is to considered, it is inaccurate to refer to it as a “church,” because although it remained a church for the first 900 years after its audacious construction, it was later converted into a mosque. Today it is a museum, in remembrance of its long history. (24). (shrink)

The researcher was prompted to conduct this study to give intervention of the alarming situation which there is a low performance in solving problems related to geometry in Grade IV Mathematics. This study was about on how to enhance the mathematical competencies of the grade IV pupils using a downloaded worksheets as a learning activity. This study focused in giving remediation applying the intervention materials. These resources give several approaches to attain mastery using distinct drill cards. The investigation was carried (...) out utilizing quasi-experimental design. During administering the pre-test and post-test, the researcher used the weighted mean and t-test to determine the mean percentage scores of the respondents. The respondents were 56 fourth grade learners enrolled in Marangog Elementary School and Tagnate Elementary School in Hilongos East District for the school year 2019 – 2020. At the end of the study, it was found out the use of downloaded math worksheets were found effective means of improving the mastery level. In addition, based on the results gathered, the downloaded math worksheets which were used in the drills or practice greatly contributed to the elimination of non-numerates, and give significantly increasing the number of pupils who mastered the competencies related to geometry. As a result, a proposed innovative teaching strategy is recommended. -/- . (shrink)

In response to the rising incidence of burnout and employee turnover, this study examined the influence of healthyworkplace practices—conceptualized as "green flags"—on employee well-being and retention intentions. These greenflags included quality of life support, work-life boundary practices, mental health accommodation, psychologicalsafety, and recognition. Grounded in the Conservation of Resources theory, a quantitative descriptive-correlationaldesign was employed using structured surveys administered to 500 full-time employees across five industry sectorsin Metro Cebu, Philippines. Stratified random sampling ensured sectoral representation. The study applied descriptivestatistics, Pearson (...) correlation, multiple regression, and structural equation modeling (SEM) for data analysis. Resultsrevealed high perceptions of healthy workplace practices, with mean scores ranging from 3.98 (SD = 0.74) to 4.21(SD = 0.63). Employee well-being (M = 4.12, SD = 0.69) and retention intentions (M = 3.87, SD = 0.78) were alsorated favorably. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive relationships between all green flag indicators andoutcome variables, with psychological safety (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) and recognition (r = 0.64, p < 0.001) exhibiting thestrongest associations. Multiple regression confirmed psychological safety (β = 0.30, p < .001) and recognition (β =0.24, p < .001) as the most influential predictors of well-being, while recognition (β = 0.33, p < .001) and psychologicalsafety (β = 0.28, p < .001) most strongly predicted retention intentions. SEM demonstrated excellent model fit (CFI =0.96, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.041, SRMR = 0.038), validating the theoretical framework. The study concluded thathealthy workplace practices were not merely cultural ideals but measurable strategic functions that enhanced employeeretention and psychological wellness. The validated green flag model offered a replicable structure for embeddingemployee-centered policies into organizational strategy, particularly in service-oriented and high-turnover industries. (shrink)

The overuse of social media, including the growing mistrust of mainstream news outlets has impacted the increasing influence of online disinformation. Social media has been a powerful tool in Philippine elections because of social media algorithms used by political parties to deploy fake news and damage their rivals. Political fake news on social media began last 2016 and became rampant in the 2022 presidential election when the candidates for the presidency were all victims of trolling. Mainstream media debunked fake news (...) but because of political partisanship, the effort has been useless due to different political beliefs and parties. The methodology involves content analysis to systematically examine social media posts related to political disinformation during the 2022 presidential election specifically focused on identifying two reactions, the emotion-driven and reason-based comments. Most of the comments were emotional and contained sarcasm, threats, slander, and mockery. People’s logical thought processes are influenced by their emotions. Users are frequently looking for information to confirm their existing views and reject or ignore information that contradicts them or is biased in favor of one political party over another. Educating the critical analysis key to both students and social media users is one of the advocacies to avoid spreading fake news in the next generations. In conclusion, emotional responses, such as anger and sarcasm, dominated the discourse, overshadowing reasoned discussions. Media mistrust and political partisanship shaped users’ reactions, leading to reject the fact-checked information especially when it conflicted with their political beliefs. (shrink)

This study explored how Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is understood, practiced, and maintained in buffet restaurants in Cebu City, aiming to create a sustainable integration framework suitable for high-volume dining settings. Buffet venues encounter unique food safety challenges, including extended food displays, direct customer contact with shared utensils, and quick service turnover, which make HACCP implementation both difficult and essential. A descriptive phenomenological approach was used, involving ten carefully selected participants aged 25–45, with 2–12 years of experience (...) in managerial and operational roles such as managers, chefs, food handlers, and food safety officers. Data analysis followed Colaizzi’s seven-step method, revealing six key themes: awareness and understanding, operational practices, training and capacity building, implementation challenges, external influences, and sustainability strategies. Results showed that although participants were aware of and willing to follow HACCP principles, consistent application was hindered by staffing shortages, equipment failures, peak-hour service pressures, and insufficient training systems. In response, the Sustainable HACCP Integration Framework was developed, emphasizing structured training, digital monitoring tools, and the promotion of a robust food safety culture. This framework promotes proactive and sustainable compliance efforts, providing a context specific contribution to food safety management in buffet restaurant operations. (shrink)

In an increasingly complex business environment, organizations are under growing pressure to enhance performance through data-driven strategies and agile decision-making. Management accounting has emerged as a pivotal function that extends beyond traditional financial control to support strategic execution and organizational alignment. This study investigates the effect of management accounting practices on organizational performance, with strategic decision-making analyzed as a mediating variable—a relationship that remains underexplored in existing literature. While previous studies have examined the individual effects of management accounting tools and (...) decision-making quality, few have empirically tested their dynamic interaction within a unified model. The study adopts a descriptive correlational design to address this gap, surveying 300 finance professionals and executives from medium to large enterprises in Metro Cebu, Philippines. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire and analyzed through SPSS version 25 and Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 4) to assess both direct and indirect effects among variables. Results indicate that management accounting significantly predicts organizational performance (β = 0.685, p < .001), and strategic decision-making partially mediates this relationship (indirect effect = 0.384, p < .001). The study further identifies performance measurement as the most influential accounting tool in guiding strategic outcomes. These findings offer empirical validation for the theoretical link between accounting practices and decision-driven performance enhancement. Moreover, sectoral differences in performance outcomes underscore the need for industry specific customization of management accounting systems. The results carry practical value for organizations aiming to integrate accounting data more effectively into strategic planning and execution. This research advances current knowledge by positioning management accounting as a strategic enabler, not merely a financial support function, and lays the groundwork for future studies involving digital transformation and behavioral dimensions of decision-making. (shrink)

A nutrição desempenha um papel fundamental na saúde e no desempenho das aves de postura. Uma dieta equilibrada, rica em nutrientes essenciais, é crucial para o desenvolvimento adequado, manutenção do sistema imunológico e produção de ovos de qualidade. Deficiências nutricionais podem enfraquecer o sistema imunológico das aves, tornando-as mais suscetíveis a doenças e infecções. Além disso, o desequilíbrio na alimentação pode afetar a produção de ovos, levando à redução da taxa de postura, qualidade da casca e crescimento ósseo inadequado. Por (...) outro lado, o excesso de certos nutrientes, como minerais e vitaminas, também pode causar problemas de saúde, como intoxicações e disfunções metabólicas. Portanto, o manejo nutricional adequado é essencial para prevenir doenças, otimizar o desempenho produtivo e promover o bem-estar das aves de postura. Este estudo tem como objetivo realizar uma revisão da literatura sobre o manejo de galinhas poedeiras, com foco no manejo alimentar e sua relação com o controle sanitário das aves, especialmente no que diz respeito à prevenção de doenças. -/- Nutrition plays a fundamental role in the health and performance of laying hens. A balanced diet, rich in essential nutrients, is crucial for proper development, maintenance of the immune system and production of quality eggs. Nutritional deficiencies can weaken the immune system of birds, making them more susceptible to diseases and infections. In addition, an imbalance in diet can affect egg production, leading to reduced laying rate, shell quality and inadequate bone growth. On the other hand, excess of certain nutrients, such as minerals and vitamins, can also cause health problems, such as poisoning and metabolic dysfunctions. Therefore, adequate nutritional management is essential to prevent diseases, optimize productive performance and promote the welfare of laying hens. This study aims to conduct a literature review on the management of laying hens, focusing on food management and its relationship with bird health control, especially with regard to disease prevention. (shrink)

A bovinocultura leiteira padece de prejuízos advindos da leptospirose, que é uma doença infectocontagiosa causada pela bactéria Leptospira, e que tem como fonte de infecção roedores contaminados das espécies Rattus rattus (rato preto), Rattus norvegicus (ratazana do esgoto), e Mus musculus (camundongo). Com característica zoonótica, encontra-se distribuída geograficamente em muitos países, afetando pessoas e animais, impactando na saúde pública. Sua alta prevalência nos rebanhos bovinos leiteiros causa sérios prejuízos socioeconômicos para os pecuaristas, comprometendo a produção e consumo dos produtos lácteos. (...) A contaminação ocorre pela mucosa oral do bovino, e para o diagnóstico realiza-se exames clínicos e laboratoriais. Provoca infertilidade e abortos, reduzindo o número de nascimentos. Alguns animais se recuperam da doença, mas podem ser fonte de infecção por toda vida. Seu controle e erradicação dependem de conhecimento sobre o assunto e ações na busca por tratamento para os animais infectados. Nesse contexto, esta revisão de literatura tem como objetivo discutir possíveis impactos da leptospirose na reprodução bovina leiteira. Para isso, realizou-se pesquisa bibliográfica relacionada ao tema. Constatou-se a necessidade de desenvolvermos ações que minimizem transtornos reprodutivos e prejuízos econômicos causados pela doença na pecuária brasileira, tornando-se primordial realizar pesquisas e estudos sobre o assunto, para esclarecimentos e novas descobertas de combate e controle. (shrink)

This study investigated the labor demand-supply dynamics among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mandaue City within the broader context of digital transformation. Guided by a descriptive-correlational quantitative research design, the study aimed to describe the current state of labor equilibrium and assess the predictive influence of six key organizational and technological factors: automation anxiety, digital skills readiness, access to policy incentives, recruitment technology usage, perceived market volatility, and flexibility in work arrangements. Data were collected from 300 purposively selected SME (...) owners and decision-makers across the manufacturing, retail, and service sectors using a structured survey instrument. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize prevailing labor challenges, while multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors of labor stability. Findings revealed that SMEs moderately sustain labor demand-supply equilibrium but continue to struggle with timely hiring and skills mismatch. Digital skills readiness (β = 0.261), recruitment technology usage (β = 0.189), and flexible work arrangements (β = 0.143) were found to significantly and positively influence labor equilibrium, whereas automation anxiety (β =-0.142) and perceived market volatility (β =-0.124) exerted negative effects. Access to policy incentives was not statistically significant. These results underscore the strategic importance of digital preparedness, agile workforce systems, and proactive talent alignment in navigating labor market challenges. The study contributes empirical insights to the evolving literature on digital labor economics in emerging markets and offers practical guidance for workforce development, policy design, and SME resilience in urbanized economies such as Mandaue City and across Southeast Asia. (shrink)

It has been observed that a wide range of students apply for different kinds of exams, including institutional, non-institutional, and occasionally even competitive ones. We are often dealing with multiple-choice questions in several tests because they are objective in nature. In these cases, automated scoring is typically applied. However, we still face difficulties when it comesto automating the scoring for subjective papers. The primary goal of our research is to design an algorithm that can automate the evaluation of answers. By (...) using a machine learning approach, we aim to develop a system that can maintain the scoring process while reducing the amount of human effort required. This would not only streamline the evaluation of subjective answers but also improve efficiency and consistency in grading. (shrink)

Factor Affecting Customer Service in Supply Chain Management of Small and Medium Enterprises: An Empirical Study of Jammu Region -/- Author / Authors : Sanjeev Lalhotra and Prof. B.C Sharma Page no.149-165 Discipline : Applied Economics/ Management/ Commerce Script/language : Roman/English Category : Research paper Keywords: Customer services, Supply Chain Management, Small and Medium Enterprises.