Eliminating Human Agency: Why Does Japan Abandon Predictive Simulations?

2021 ◽  
pp. 016224392110517
Author(s):  
Shin-etsu Sugawara
Keyword(s):  
Japanese Society ◽  
Human Agency ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Quantitative Prediction ◽  
Political Judgment ◽  
Human Judgment ◽  
Empirical Observation ◽  
Cultural Specificity ◽  
Distinct Character ◽  
Predictive Simulations

Prediction plays a vital role in every branch of our contemporary lives. While the credibility of quantitative simulations through mathematical modeling may seem to be universal, how they are perceived and embedded in policy processes may vary by society. Investigating the ecology of quantitative prediction tools, this article articulates the cultural specificity of Japanese society through the concept of Jasanoff’s “civic epistemology.” Taking COVID-19 and nuclear disasters as examples, this article examines how predictive simulations are mobilized, contested, and abandoned. In both cases, current empirical observation eventually replaces predictive future simulations, and mechanical application of preset criteria substitutes political judgment. These analyses suggest that the preferred register of objectivity in Japan—one of the constitutive dimensions of civic epistemology—consists not in producing numerical results, but in precluding human judgment. Such public calls to eliminate human agency both in knowledge and in policy-making can be a distinct character of Japanese civic epistemology, which may explain why Japan repeatedly withdraws from predictive simulations. It implies the possibility that Western societies’ faith in human judgment should not be taken for granted, but explained.

The Role of the CIO

2010 ◽  
pp. 190-216
Author(s):  
Petter Gottschalk ◽  
Hans Solli-Saether
Keyword(s):  
Computer Software ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Digital Government ◽  
Empirical Observation ◽  
Public Agency ◽  
Direct Reports ◽  
Chief Officer ◽  
Information Technology Executive ◽  
The Government ◽  
Ranking Information

The CIO can be defined as the highest-ranking IT executive who typically exhibits managerial roles requiring effective communication with top management, a broad corporate perspective in managing information resources, influence on organizational strategy, and responsibility for the planning of IT. This definition is in line with research; which applied the following criteria when selecting CIOs for empirical observation: i) highest-ranking information technology executive; ii) reports no more than two levels from the CEO, that is, either reports to the CEO or reports to one of the CEOs direct reports, iii) areas of responsibility include information systems, computer operations, telecommunications and networks, office automation, end-user computing, help desks, computer software and applications; and iv) responsibility for strategic IS/IT planning. The CIO plays a vital role in every interoperability project in digital government. There may be a CIO in each involved public agency as well as a CIO for the whole of government. For example in Hong Kong, there is an office of the government chief officer, which developed the interoperability framework for all agencies and other public organizations to follow (2007).

Securitizing cyberspace: Protecting political judgment

2021 ◽  
pp. 175508822110464
Author(s):  
Hedvig Ördén
Keyword(s):  
National Security ◽  
Incomplete Information ◽  
Blind Spot ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Political Judgment ◽  
Human Judgment ◽  
Contemporary Debate ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Communication Environment ◽  
Information And Communication

The contemporary debate in democracies routinely refers to online misinformation, disinformation, and deception, as security-issues in need of urgent attention. Despite this pervasive discourse, however, policymakers often appear incapable of articulating what security means in this context. This paper argues that we must understand the unique practical and normative challenges to security actualized by such online information threats, when they arise in a democratic context. Investigating security-making in the nexus between technology and national security through the concept of “cybersovereignty,” the paper highlights a shared blind spot in the envisaged protection of national security and democracy in cyberspace. Failing to consider the implications of non-territoriality in cyberspace, the “cybersovereign” approach runs into a cul de sac. Security-making, when understood as the continuous constitution of “cybersovereign” boundaries presumes the existence of a legitimate securitizing actor; however, this actor can only be legitimate as a product of pre-existing boundaries. In response to the problems outlined, the article proposes an alternative object of protection in the form of human judgment and, specifically, “political judgment” in the Arendtian sense. The turn to political judgment offers a conceptualization of security that can account for contemporary policy practises in relation to security and the online information threat, as well as for the human communicating subject in the interactive and essentially incomplete information and communication environment.

scholarly journals The state-of-the-art of soot load estimation in diesel particulate filters: A review

2021 ◽  
Vol 268 ◽  
pp. 01021
Author(s):  
Fuwu Yan ◽  
Zhizhou Cai ◽  
Jie Hu
Keyword(s):  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Particulate Filter ◽  
Quantitative Prediction ◽  
Load Estimation ◽  
Diesel Particulate ◽  
Particulate Filters ◽  
Soot Distribution ◽  
Reliability And Robustness ◽  
Tier 3

Diesel particulate filter (DPF), as part of aftertreatment system of internal combustion engine, is considered to be the only feasible way to prominently lessen particle emissions under the requirement of today’s strict regulations such as Euro Ⅵ, US Tier 3 and China Ⅵ. This paper gives a brief introduction of the mechanism and regeneration approaches of DPF, with emphasis on soot load estimation inside the filters, which plays a vital role in formulating regeneration control strategy and ensuring exhaust systemic dependability. Various methods are covered according to different principles, including differential-pressure based methods, which are mostly used nowadays, novel model-based methods and also several newfangled soot sensors, which are progressively developed to meet the increasingly stringent on-board diagnosis (OBD) requirements. The focus of future soot detection and quantitative prediction is to improve accuracy, reliability and robustness, which may necessitate consideration of soot distribution, ash effect, failure identification and fault tolerance handling.

Ultrastructure of Lymphatic Capillaries in the Transport of Colloidal Particles

1967 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 186-187
Author(s):  
L. V. Leak ◽  
J. F. Burke
Keyword(s):  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Colloidal Particles ◽  
Ultrastructural Level ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Thorium Dioxide ◽  
Lymphatic Capillary ◽  
Tissue Area ◽  
Rapid Removal ◽  
Tissue Fluids

The vital role played by the lymphatic capillaries in the transfer of tissue fluids and particulate materials from the connective tissue area can be demonstrated by the rapid removal of injected vital dyes into the tissue areas. In order to ascertain the mechanisms involved in the transfer of substances from the connective tissue area at the ultrastructural level, we have injected colloidal particles of varying sizes which range from 80 A up to 900-mμ. These colloidal particles (colloidal ferritin 80-100A, thorium dioxide 100-200 A, biological carbon 200-300 and latex spheres 900-mμ) are injected directly into the interstitial spaces of the connective tissue with glass micro-needles mounted in a modified Chambers micromanipulator. The progress of the particles from the interstitial space into the lymphatic capillary lumen is followed by observing tissues from animals (skin of the guinea pig ear) that were injected at various time intervals ranging from 5 minutes up to 6 months.

Three-Dimensional reconstruction of isolated centrosomes by automated electron tomography

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 310-311
Author(s):  
M.B. Braunfeld ◽  
M. Moritz ◽  
B.M. Alberts ◽  
J.W. Sedat ◽  
D.A. Agard
Keyword(s):  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Microtubule Organizing Center ◽  
Nucleation Sites ◽  
Dimensional Reconstruction ◽  
Organizing Center ◽  
Resolution Model

In animal cells, the centrosome functions as the primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC). As such the centrosome plays a vital role in determining a cell's shape, migration, and perhaps most importantly, its division. Despite the obvious importance of this organelle little is known about centrosomal regulation, duplication, or how it nucleates microtubules. Furthermore, no high resolution model for centrosomal structure exists.We have used automated electron tomography, and reconstruction techniques in an attempt to better understand the complex nature of the centrosome. Additionally we hope to identify nucleation sites for microtubule growth.Centrosomes were isolated from early Drosophila embryos. Briefly, after large organelles and debris from homogenized embryos were pelleted, the resulting supernatant was separated on a sucrose velocity gradient. Fractions were collected and assayed for centrosome-mediated microtubule -nucleating activity by incubating with fluorescently-labeled tubulin subunits. The resulting microtubule asters were then spun onto coverslips and viewed by fluorescence microscopy.

Collective Human Agency in the Context of Organizational Participation

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Georg Weber ◽  
Hans Jeppe Jeppesen
Keyword(s):  
Collective Efficacy ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Work Motivation ◽  
Human Agency ◽  
Employee Participation ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Organizational Decision Making ◽  
Organizational Participation ◽  
The Social

Abstract. Connecting the social cognitive approach of human agency by Bandura (1997) and activity theory by Leontiev (1978) , this paper proposes a new theoretical framework for analyzing and understanding employee participation in organizational decision-making. Focusing on the social cognitive concepts of self-reactiveness, self-reflectiveness, intentionality, and forethought, commonalities, complementarities, and differences between both theories are explained. Efficacy in agency is conceived as a cognitive foundation of work motivation, whereas the mediation of societal requirements and resources through practical activity is conceptualized as an ecological approach to motivation. Additionally, we discuss to which degree collective objectifications can be understood as material indicators of employees’ collective efficacy. By way of example, we explore whether an integrated application of concepts from both theories promotes a clearer understanding of mechanisms connected to the practice of employee participation.

Asiana Airlines Flight 214

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Chow ◽  
Stephen Yortsos ◽  
Najmedin Meshkati
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Aviation Safety ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Flight Crew ◽  
Pilot Performance ◽  
Engineering Designs ◽  
Flight Deck

This article focuses on a major human factors–related issue that includes the undeniable role of cultural factors and cockpit automation and their serious impact on flight crew performance, communication, and aviation safety. The report concentrates on the flight crew performance of the Boeing 777–Asiana Airlines Flight 214 accident, by exploring issues concerning mode confusion and autothrottle systems. It also further reviews the vital role of cultural factors in aviation safety and provides a brief overview of past, related accidents. Automation progressions have been created in an attempt to design an error-free flight deck. However, to do that, the pilot must still thoroughly understand every component of the flight deck – most importantly, the automation. Otherwise, if pilots are not completely competent in terms of their automation, the slightest errors can lead to fatal accidents. As seen in the case of Asiana Flight 214, even though engineering designs and pilot training have greatly evolved over the years, there are many cultural, design, and communication factors that affect pilot performance. It is concluded that aviation systems designers, in cooperation with pilots and regulatory bodies, should lead the strategic effort of systematically addressing the serious issues of cockpit automation, human factors, and cultural issues, including their interactions, which will certainly lead to better solutions for safer flights.

Haunted by a Doppelgänger

2014 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina von Helversen ◽  
Stefan M. Herzog ◽  
Jörg Rieskamp
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Information ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Human Judgment ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
New Employees ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Facial Similarity ◽  
Similarity Effect ◽  
Judgment Strategy

Judging other people is a common and important task. Every day professionals make decisions that affect the lives of other people when they diagnose medical conditions, grant parole, or hire new employees. To prevent discrimination, professional standards require that decision makers render accurate and unbiased judgments solely based on relevant information. Facial similarity to previously encountered persons can be a potential source of bias. Psychological research suggests that people only rely on similarity-based judgment strategies if the provided information does not allow them to make accurate rule-based judgments. Our study shows, however, that facial similarity to previously encountered persons influences judgment even in situations in which relevant information is available for making accurate rule-based judgments and where similarity is irrelevant for the task and relying on similarity is detrimental. In two experiments in an employment context we show that applicants who looked similar to high-performing former employees were judged as more suitable than applicants who looked similar to low-performing former employees. This similarity effect was found despite the fact that the participants used the relevant résumé information about the applicants by following a rule-based judgment strategy. These findings suggest that similarity-based and rule-based processes simultaneously underlie human judgment.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document