Pragmatic truth and approximation to truth

1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Mikenberg ◽  
Newton C. A. da Costa ◽  
Rolando Chuaqui

There are several conceptions of truth, such as the classical correspondence conception, the coherence conception and the pragmatic conception. The classical correspondence conception, or Aristotelian conception, received a mathematical treatment in the hands of Tarski (cf. Tarski [1935] and [1944]), which was the starting point of a great progress in logic and in mathematics. In effect, Tarski's semantic ideas, especially his semantic characterization of truth, have exerted a major influence on various disciplines, besides logic and mathematics; for instance, linguistics, the philosophy of science, and the theory of knowledge.The importance of the Tarskian investigations derives, among other things, from the fact that they constitute a mathematical, formal mark to serve as a reference for the philosophical (informal) conceptions of truth. Today the philosopher knows that the classical conception can be developed and that it is free from paradoxes and other difficulties, if certain precautions are taken.We believe that is not an exaggeration if we assert that Tarski's theory should be considered as one of the greatest accomplishments of logic and mathematics of our time, an accomplishment which is also of extraordinary relevance to philosophy, as we have already remarked.In this paper we show that the pragmatic conception of truth, at least in one of its possible interpretations, has also a mathematical formulation, similar in spirit to that given by Tarski to the classical correspondence conception.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Surman ◽  
Sylwia Kędracka-Krok ◽  
Dorota Hoja-Łukowicz ◽  
Urszula Jankowska ◽  
Anna Drożdż ◽  
...  

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is an aggressive type of skin cancer for which effective biomarkers are still needed. Recently, the protein content of extracellular vesicles (ectosomes and exosomes) became increasingly investigated in terms of its functional role in CM and as a source of novel biomarkers; however, the data concerning the proteome of CM-derived ectosomes is very limited. We used the shotgun nanoLC–MS/MS approach to the profile protein content of ectosomes from primary (WM115, WM793) and metastatic (WM266-4, WM1205Lu) CM cell lines. Additionally, the effect exerted by CM ectosomes on recipient cells was assessed in terms of cell proliferation (Alamar Blue assay) and migratory properties (wound healing assay). All cell lines secreted heterogeneous populations of ectosomes enriched in the common set of proteins. A total of 1507 unique proteins were identified, with many of them involved in cancer cell proliferation, migration, escape from apoptosis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis. Isolated ectosomes increased proliferation and motility of recipient cells, likely due to the ectosomal transfer of different cancer-promoting molecules. Taken together, these results confirm the significant role of ectosomes in several biological processes leading to CM development and progression, and might be used as a starting point for further studies exploring their diagnostic and prognostic potential.


2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-408
Author(s):  
Diana Aparaschivei ◽  
Anamaria Todea ◽  
August E. Frissen ◽  
Valentin Badea ◽  
Gerlinde Rusu ◽  
...  

Abstract 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid and itaconic acid are both important biobased platform chemicals and their terpolymer with 1,6-hexanediol (HDO) can be the starting point for a new class of reactive polyesters, with important applications. The green synthetic route developed in this study involves a biocatalytic condensation polymerization reaction of dimethyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (DMFDC) and dimethyl itaconate (DMI) with HDO in toluene at 80°C, using commercial immobilized lipases from Candida antarctica B. In the best conditions, the formed polymer product was isolated with more than 80% yield, containing about 85% terpolymer with average molecular mass of about 1200 (Mn, calculated from MALDI-TOF MS data) and 15% DMFDC_HDO copolymer. Considering the higher reactivity of DMFDC, the composition of the synthesized polymer can be directed by adjusting the molar ratio of DMFDC and DMI, as well as by extending the reaction time. Structural analysis by NMR demonstrated the regioselective preference for the carbonyl group from DMI adjacent to the methylene group. The biocatalyst was successfully reused in multiple reaction cycles.


1907 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 100-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred Harker

The voyage of the “Beagle ” in 1831–6 was not only the starting-point of Charles Darwin's scientific career, but also, and more particularly, it laid the foundation for the whole of his geological work, as embodied in the well-known series of volumes. The collections which, he gathered during that prolonged voyage of exploration have therefore no small interest of a historical and sentimental kind. It is believed that they possess also a certain intrinsic value; inasmuch as an examination of these original specimens, with the advantages conferred by modern petrographical methods, may sometimes help towards a better understanding of the recorded observations. Owing to his choice of plain language in preference to the now antiquated terminology of his time, Darwin is seldom obscure to a modern reader; but his characterization of the ‘igneous rocks which he observed is necessarily crude and vague. Not a few passages may be considerably elucidated by merely indicating the nature of the rocks which are designated by such old-fashioned comprehensive names as ‘porphyry,’ ‘greenstone,’ and ‘basalt.’


Author(s):  
M J Darlington ◽  
S J Culley

The design requirement is a description of the desired solution to a problem. In engineering design, as in all other, a clear expression of a well-formulated design goal is vital for successful and efficient completion of the design task. The nature of the design requirement and the processes by which it is achieved have been the subject of a wide variety of research. The purpose of the paper is twofold. Firstly, it sets out to collate and discuss representative research in this area in order to give an overview of the current scope of the work. Secondly, it seeks to draw a comparison with the task of developing the design requirement for software and information systems and to initiate a discussion that considers to what extent the substantial body of research in software requirements engineering might help to give an understanding of the design requirement for the engineering design domain. A tentative characterization of the differences between the tasks in the two domains is presented, and representative papers from requirements engineering are used to suggest areas of overlap as a starting point for further investigation.


Author(s):  
José Miguel Sagüillo Fernández-Vega

I discuss Putnam’s conception of logical truth as grounded in his picture of mathematical practice and ontology. i begin by comparing Putnam’s 1971 Philosophy of Logic with Quine’s homonymous book. Next, Putnam’s changing views on modality are surveyed, moving from the modal pre-formal to the de-modalized formal characterization of logical validity. Section three suggests a complementary view of Platonism and modalism underlying different stages of a dynamic mathematical practice. The final section argues for the pervasive platonistic conception of the working mathematician.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Raimundo Ribeiro dos Santos ◽  
Elisângela Aparecida Aparecida Pereira de Melo

Este trabalho é proveniente de um estudo desenvolvido na Comunidade Indígena Itxala, município de Santa Terezinha, Estado de Mato Grosso, acerca das práticas socioculturais empreendidas pelos indígenas Iny-Karajá em distintas atividades cotidianas que contemplam as paisagens de manifestações culturais e originárias do povo das águas. Como ponto de partida, trazemos a seguinte indagação: Em que termos é possível etnografar os saberes originários do povo Iny-Karajá na perspectiva de mobilizar e potencializar ações educativas para a sala de aula? Nesse sentido, objetivamos descrever as práticas socioculturais que podem mobilizar e potencializar atividades para o ensino de Ciências e Matemática. O estudo pauta-se na abordagem qualitativa de cunho etnográfico, permitindo evidenciar as impressões e as percepções dos professores, por meio da entrevista narrativa e da participação para observar o cotidiano desses indígenas no decurso da realização de suas práticas socioculturais, com destaque para as pinturas corporais e as ações educativas. Nossas reflexões evidenciam, dentre outras possibilidades, o compartilhar de novos conhecimentos e de atividades escolares na e para a sala de aula mediadas por elementos socioculturais do contexto comunitário, emergindo a negociação de significados como estratégia mediadora e potencializadora do aprendizado de Ciências e Matemática no contexto escolar local.Palavras-chave: Práticas socioculturais. Atividades educativas. Ensino de Ciências e Matemática. Abstract: This work comes from a study developed in the Itxala Indigenous Community, located in the municipality of Santa Terezinha, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. It is focused on addressing socio-cultural practices of the Iny-Karajá indigenous people during their different daily activities, which include cultural and original manifestations of the people of the waters. As a starting point, we bring the following question: How is it possible to know, through ethnography, the knowledge originating from the Iny-Karajá people in the perspective of mobilizing and enhancing educational actions for the classroom? So, we aim to describe the socio-cultural practices that can mobilize and enhance activities for the teaching of Science and Mathematics. This study is based on a qualitative ethnographic approach, allowing to evidence the impressions and perceptions of teachers through narrative interview and participation, with the intention of observing the daily lives of these indigenous people during the performance of their socio-cultural practices, with emphasis on body paintings and educational actions. Among other possibilities, our reflections show the sharing of new knowledge and school activities in and for the classroom, mediated by sociocultural elements of the community context, making the negotiation of meanings emerge as a mediating and enhancing strategy for the learning of Sciences and Mathematics in the local school context.Keywords: Sociocultural practices. Educational activities. Science and Mathematics Teaching.


2014 ◽  
Vol 611-612 ◽  
pp. 883-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanja Mahovic Poljacek ◽  
Tamara Tomasegovic ◽  
Tomislav Cigula ◽  
Miroslav Gojo ◽  
Diana Milcic

Starting point of this paper is photopolymer printing plate used for flexographic printing. It is used for transfer of the printing ink onto the printing surface during the reproduction process. Photopolymer printing plate consists of several layers: polyester basis, photo sensitive polymer material and LAMS - Laser Ablation Mask. In the platemaking process the photosensitive material, which will form a printing plate, has to be several time exposed to different radiation in order to obtain a functional printability performance. LAMS layer has a role of masking in the exposure process. Upon pre-exposure, LAMS layer has to be removed by laser ablation only at the surfaces where photopolymer printing plate needs to be exposed. After ablation the exposures to UV lights follows and the plate will be finished with chemical removal of the unexposed parts of the polymer. Functionality of the finished printing plate has to be characterised and monitored in every procedure step because the formed image element on the printing plate has a major influence on the quality of the finished printed product. In this paper observing of the changes in the polymer material which is caused by exposure through LAMS layer will be performed. The aim is to measure the surface openings on the LAMS mask and to measure surface coverage (image elements) on the polymer material formed by exposure through the LAMS. Measuring will be made by image analysis software based on microscopic images of the control fields of differing halftone values. It is assumed that there will be a correlation between the LAMS openings and formed image elements on the printing plates. Preliminary results indicate that certain differences in image elements can be detected and are probably the consequence of the different amount of irradiated surface of the polymer material. Since the polymer material which forms the printing plate should be stable in the graphic reproduction process, results of the paper will explain the influence of UV exposures on polymerisation process and on the functional printability performance of the plates.


Author(s):  
Diego Gabriel Rossit ◽  
Sergio Nesmachnow ◽  
Jamal Toutouh

Enhancing efficiency in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management is crucial for local governments, which are generally in charge of collection, since this activity explains a large proportion of their budgetary expenses. The incorporation of decision support tools can contribute to improve the MSW system, specially by reducing the required investment of funds. This article proposes a mathematical formulation, based on integer programming, to determine the location of garbage accumulation points while minimizing the expenses of the system, i.e., the installment cost of bins and the required number of visits the collection vehicle which is related with the routing cost of the collection. The model was tested in some scenarios of an important Argentinian city that stills has a door-to-door system, including instances with unsorted waste, which is the current situation of the city, and also instances with source classified waste. Although the scenarios with classified waste evidenced to be more challenging for the proposed resolution approach, a set of solutions was provided in all scenarios. These solutions can be used as a starting point for migrating from the current door-to-door system to a community bins system.


Author(s):  
Lars Taxén

Complex systems theory (e.g. Bar-Yam, 1997) is a rich and vital research area that has a huge potential for organizational research (Lewin, 1999). In particular, the study of complex adaptive systems (CASs) provides many insightful results concerning the adaptability and strategic management of organizations in turbulent environments (ibid). In the following, I will take this characterization of CASs as a starting point for exploring possible connections between CAS and ADT. This is done against the background of the previously reported complexity inherent in both telecom systems and projects developing these systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 459-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna J Schulte ◽  
Matthias Mail ◽  
Lisa A Hahn ◽  
Wilhelm Barthlott

Angiosperms and their pollinators are adapted in a close co-evolution. For both the plants and pollinators, the functioning of the visual signaling system is highly relevant for survival. As the frequency range of visual perception in many insects extends into the ultraviolet (UV) region, UV-patterns of plants play an important role in the flower–pollinator interaction. It is well known that many flowers contain UV-absorbing pigments in their petal cells, which are localized in vacuoles. However, the contribution of the petal surface microarchitecture to UV-reflection remains uncertain. The correlation between the surface structure and its reflective properties is also relevant for biomimetic applications, for example, in the field of photovoltaics. Based on previous work, we selected three model species with distinct UV-patterns to explore the possible contribution of the surface architecture to the UV-signaling. Using a replication technique, we transferred the petal surface structure onto a transparent polymer. Upon illumination with UV-light, we observed structural-based patterns in the replicas that were surprisingly comparable to those of the original petals. For the first time, this experiment has shown that the parameters of the surface structure lead to an enhancement in the amount of absorbed UV-radiation. Spectrophotometric measurements revealed up to 50% less reflection in the UV-absorbing regions than in the UV-reflecting areas. A comparative characterization of the micromorphology of the UV-reflecting and UV-absorbing areas showed that, in principle, a hierarchical surface structure results in more absorption. Therefore, the results of our experiments demonstrate the structural-based amplification of UV-reflection and provide a starting point for the design of bioinspired antireflective and respectively strongly absorbing surfaces.


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