scholarly journals On symbolon and synthēma in the Platonic Theology of Proclus

Author(s):  
Dmitry Kurdybaylo

Many recent studies propose that symbolon and synthēma are synonymous in the writings of Proclus. However, his Platonic Theology contains reliable evidence to put this opinion to doubt. The goal of this research is to determine the meaning of both terms from the contexts of their usage, engaging the textual analysis and the following philosophical reconstruction. As distinguished from a symbol, a synthēma has substantial nature, is stable and remains invariable when is discovered at different levels of the ontological hierarchy. In the Platonic Theology, a symbol is often considered in terms of the hierarchic level, where it appears: in the material world, it is corporeal; among numbers, it is ontologically irrelevant, the intelligible realm contains its proper symbols as well. A significant difference between symbolon and synthēma is related to the dialectics of participation: synthēma in an object keeps it on an unparticipated level, while a symbol implies further participation to a symbolic object. Finally, a synthēma is described as “disseminated,” “planted,” or in any other way hidden in the being; while a symbol is “discovered,” or found in the being, therefore synthēma may be considered an inner kernel of what is discovered as a symbol, and a symbol — as an outward expression of a synthēma. Such understanding of these terms agrees with both exegetical and theurgic contexts in Proclus’ Platonic Theology.

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 581-596

Technology plays a crucial role in the self-guided learning of a second language in general and English in particular. Nevertheless, many students in different contexts still ignore the application of technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) tools in enhancing their foreign language proficiency. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the attitudes towards the use of TELL tools in English-language learning (ELL) among English majors at one university in Vietnam. To collect data, 197 English majors participated in finishing the questionnaire, and 20 students were invited to join the interviews. The findings are that the majority of students have positive attitudes towards the use of TELL tools and the frequency of using these tools is very high. In addition, the results also reveal that there is no significant difference in attitudes towards and frequency of using TELL tools in learning English in terms of the year of study. However, students of different levels of academic achievements have different attitudes towards using TELL tools and use TELL tools to learn English differently. Received 2nd May 2019; Revised 16th July 2019, Accepted 20th October 2019


1967 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Jacob Koed ◽  
Christian Hamburger

ABSTRACT Comparison of the dose-response curves for LH of ovine origin (NIH-LH-S8) and of human origin (IRP-HMG-2) using the OAAD test showed a small, though statistically significant difference, the dose-response curve for LH of human origin being a little flatter. Two standard curves for ovine LH obtained with 14 months' interval, were parallel but at different levels of ovarian ascorbic acid. When the mean ascorbic acid depletions were calculated as percentages of the control levels, the two curves for NIH-LH-S8 were identical. The use of standards of human origin in the OAAD test for LH activity of human preparations is recommended.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 814.3-814
Author(s):  
A. Ben Tekaya ◽  
L. Ben Ammar ◽  
M. Ben Hammamia ◽  
O. Saidane ◽  
S. Bouden ◽  
...  

Background:Infectious spondylodiscitis is a therapeutic emergency and is a current problem. It can affect the different levels of the spine. Multifocal forms, touching several floors, however remain rare.Objectives:To compare the clinical, biological, radiological and therapeutic aspects of unifocal versus multifocal spondylodiscitis.Methods:This is a retrospective study of 113 patients admitted to our service over a period of 20 years [1998-2018]. The diagnosis of spondylodiscitis was made on the basis of clinical, biological, radiological and bacteriological data. We have divided our population into two groups: unifocal and multifocal spondylodiscitis.Results:Spondylodiscitis was more frequently unifocal (75.2%) than multifocal (24.8%). The average age of the patients was 55.8 years. There were 62 men and 51 women. There was no difference in age and sex between the two groups (p=0.5 and p=0.8, respectively).Diabetes was more frequent in the group of multifocal spondylodiscitis but with no statistically significant difference (p=0.4). No statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the start mode (p=0.7), the schedule (p=0.3), the presence of neurological signs (p=0.7), fever (p = 0.2), impaired general condition (p=0.6) and biological inflammatory syndrome (p=0.6).Cervical and dorsal spine involvement was more common in multifocal spondylodiscitis (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01; respectively). There were 11 spondylodiscitis involving 2 floors (cervical and dorsal: 2 cases, cervical and lumbar: 3 cases, dorsal and lumbar: 6 cases) and 3 spondylodiscitis involving 3 floors.Radiologically, the presence of vertebral fracture and involvement of the posterior arch was more frequent during the multifocal form (p=0.03 and p=0.001; respectively). The frequency of para-vertebral abscesses, epiduritis and the presence of spinal cord compression were similar in the two groups (p=0.6; p=0.7 and p=0.2, respectively).Tuberculosis was more frequent during the multifocal form (p = 0.05) and brucellosis during the unifocal form (p = 0.03). Disco-vertebral biopsy was performed in 79 cases. It was more often contributory during multifocal spondylodiscitis (p = 0.03).The occurrence of immediate complications was more frequent in multifocal spondylodiscitis but with no statistically significant difference (p=0.2).Conclusion:Multifocal sppondylodiscitis is seen mainly in immunocompromised subjects. Our study found that diabetes is the most common factor in immunosuppression. Note also the predominance of involvement of the posterior elements, tuberculous origin and immediate complications.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-283
Author(s):  
Christoph Bartneck ◽  
Merel Keijsers

AbstractIt is not uncommon for humans to exhibit abusive behaviour towards robots. This study compares how abusive behaviour towards a human is perceived differently in comparison with identical behaviour towards a robot. We showed participants 16 video clips of unparalleled quality that depicted different levels of violence and abuse. For each video, we asked participants to rate the moral acceptability of the action, the violence depicted, the intention to harm, and how abusive the action was. The results indicate no significant difference in the perceived morality of the actions shown in the videos across the two victim agents. When the agents started to fight back, their reactive aggressive behaviour was rated differently. Humans fighting back were seen as less immoral compared with robots fighting back. A mediation analysis showed that this was predominately due to participants perceiving the robot’s response as more abusive than the human’s response.


Author(s):  
Ibrahim Darwich ◽  
Mohammad Abuassi ◽  
Christel Weiss ◽  
Dietmar Stephan ◽  
Frank Willeke

Purpose: The advent of robotic surgery has highlighted the advantages of articulation. This dry-lab study examined the dexterity and learning effect of a new articulated laparoscopic instrument: the ArtiSential® forceps (LIVSMED, Seongnam, Republic of Korea). Methods: A peg board task was designed. Three groups of volunteers with varying levels of laparoscopic expertise were organized to perform the task: expert, intermediate and novice. The participants performed the task using articulated and straight instruments, once before a 30-min training session and once afterwards. The times required to perform the task were recorded. The performances were analyzed and compared between the groups as well as between the straight and articulated instruments. Results: The experts were significantly faster than the novices with both instruments before the 30-min training session (p = 0.0317 for each instrument). No significant time difference was found among the three groups after the 30-min training session. The decrease in the time required to perform the peg-transfer task with the articulated instrument was significantly greater in the novice and intermediate groups (p = 0.0159 for each group). No significant difference in time reduction was observed between the groups with the straight instrument. Regardless of the user, the articulated device was associated with faster task performance than the straight device after 8 hours of training (p = 0.0039). Conclusion: The ArtiSential® articulated device can improve dexterity. A significantly greater learning effect was observed in the novice and intermediate groups in comparison with experts. A plateau in the learning curve was observed after a few hours of training.


2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Bowles-Terry

Abstract Objectives – This study examines the connection between student academic success and information literacy instruction. Locally, it allowed librarians to ascertain the institution’s saturation rate for information literacy instruction and identify academic programs not utilizing library instruction services. In a broader application, it provides an argument for a tiered program of information literacy instruction and offers student perspectives on improving a library instruction program. Methods – Focus groups with 15 graduating seniors, all of whom had attended at least one library instruction session, discussed student experiences and preferences regarding library instruction. An analysis of 4,489 academic transcripts of graduating seniors identified differences in grade point average (GPA) between students with different levels of library instruction. Results – Students value library instruction for orientation purposes as beginning students, and specialized, discipline-specific library instruction in upper-level courses. There is a statistically significant difference in GPA between graduating seniors who had library instruction in upper-level courses (defined in this study as post-freshman-level) and those who did not. Conclusions – Library instruction seems to make the most difference to student success when it is repeated at different levels in the university curriculum, especially when it is offered in upper-level courses. Instruction librarians should differentiate between lower-division and upper-division learning objectives for students in order to create a more cohesive and non-repetitive information literacy curriculum.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Carlota Nery ◽  
Hilton Morbeck de Oliveira ◽  
Amauri Alves de Alvarenga ◽  
Sara Dousseau ◽  
Evaristo Mauro de Castro ◽  
...  

Ecophysiological studies under semi-controlled conditions in nurseries and greenhouses are essential to enable the use of native species to recover degraded areas and for commercial planting. Talisia subalbens (Mart) Radlk, 'cascudo', is a native fruiting species of the Cerrado on the verge of extinction. The ecophysiological performance of this species was evaluated in nursery conditions under different levels of shading (full sunshine, 30%, 50% and 70%). Initial growth, biomass allocation, gas exchange and chlorophyll content of the plants were analyzed. Full sunshine cultivated plants showed a higher accumulation of total, shoot, and root dry biomass. There was no significant difference in the root/shoot ratio among the treatments. Seedlings cultivated under full sunshine and 30% shading showed higher values for height, basal diameter, and leaf area. Differences in stomata conductance and photosynthesis rate were not observed among the different shading levels. Plants cultivated under 70% of shading had higher contents of chlorophyll a, b, and total. During the initial phase with higher levels of radiation were fundamental for the development of T. subalbens seedlings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-168
Author(s):  
S. M. Odeyinka ◽  
A. A. Ademosun

The study evaluated the effects of level of feed offer on dry matter intake (DMI) , digestibility, the parts of plants selected and on the growth rate of West African dwarf (WAD) goats without resulting in toxicity. Seven different levels of feed offer ranging from 40g/kg0.75/day to 130Wkg0.75/day in increments of 15g/kg0.75) were fed to two groups of goats. The first group was fed 100% Gliricidia while the while the second was fed 50% Gliricidia and 50% Leucaena diet (50/50). The level of feed offer had significant effect on the DIM and digestible DMI (DDMI) of the goat (P < 0.01). The Leucaena intake in a 50/50 diet was always higher than the Gliricidia intake except at 55g1kg0.75 offer level. The level of feed offer had significant effects on the parts of plants selected (P < 0.01.) and on the growth rate. The leaf intake was statistically higher than the stem intake (P < 0.01). All the goats on 40g/kg0.75 and 55g/kg0.75 on a 100% Gliricidia diet lost weight while only those on 40g/kg0.75 lost weight on a 50/50 diet. There was no significant difference in the growth rate of goats on feed offer levels of 70g to 130g/kg0.75 (P > 0.05). The study indicate that goats performance was higher on a mixed browse diet than on Gliricidia alone. Goats performed best at 100g/kg0.75 offer level.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-89
Author(s):  
N.M. Abdulrahman ◽  
I.H. Al-Refaiee ◽  
H. Ali Mutter

Abstract. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the replacement of different levels of animal protein concentrate (APC) with a commercial dry yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in diets on common carp performance. The experiment was conducted in the fish laboratory of the Department of Animal Production, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sulaimani in Kurdistan region of Iraq for the period from 25.07.2015 to 15.10.2015. Starting with a period of acclimatization for 21 days, to test the efficiency of using commercial dry yeast S. cerevisiae as alternative protein source to APC used in the manufacturing of diets for common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) by using 90 fish at weights ranged 22-42g divided into 15 groups distributed randomly on 15 plastic containers by five treatments with three replicates per each variant. The treatments contain different levels of APC and yeast S. cerevisiae as follows: first treatment (Control T1): 100% APC / 0.00% yeast S. cerevisiae; second treatment (T2): 75% APC / 25% yeast S. cerevisiae; third treatment (T3): 50% APC / 50% yeast S. cerevisiae; fourth treatment (T4): 25% APC / 75% yeast S. cerevisiae and fifth treatment (T5): 0.00% APC / 100% yeast S. cerevisiae. There was no significant difference observed in the value of biological indices for some physiological organs, spleen and Hepatic pancreases and also in the value of the condition factor (CF) between carps from different treatments. The results of the chemical composition of the fish flesh showed significant difference in the moisture of individuals from T4 as compared with these from T2 and T5, T2 was significantly increased in crude protein as compared with other treatments, T5 had significant differences in fat crude as compared with other treatments, T1 and T2 were significantly different in ash as compared with other treatments, T1 was significantly different in carbohydrates as compared with other treatments. The results showed no significant differences observed among experimental treatments in Panel test of tenderness, color, juiciness, flavor and overall acceptance for fish meat.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roghieh Nazari ◽  
Saeed Pahlevan Sharif ◽  
Kelly A Allen ◽  
Hamid Sharif Nia ◽  
Bit-Lian Yee ◽  
...  

Introduction: A consistent approach to pain assessment for patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) is a major difficulty for health practitioners due to some patients’ inability, to express their pain verbally. This study aimed to assess pain behaviors (PBs) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients at different levels of consciousness. Methods: This study used a repeated-measure, within-subject design with 35 patients admitted to an ICU. The data were collected through observations of nociceptive and non-nociceptive procedures, which were recorded through a 47-item behavior-rating checklist. The analyses were performed by SPSS ver.13 software. Results: The most frequently observed PBs during nociceptive procedures were facial expression levator contractions (65.7%), sudden eye openings (34.3%), frowning (31.4%), lip changes (31.4%), clear movement of extremities (57.1%), neck stiffness (42.9%), sighing (31.4%), and moaning (31.4%). The number of PBs exhibited by participants during nociceptive procedures was significantly higher than those observed before and 15 minutes after the procedures. Also, the number of exhibited PBs in patients during nociceptive procedures was significantly greater than that of exhibited PBs during the non-nociceptive procedure. The results showed a significant difference between different levels of consciousness and also between the numbers of exhibited PBs in participants with different levels of traumatic brain injury severity. Conclusion: The present study showed that most of the behaviors that have been observed during painful stimulation in patients with traumatic brain injury included facial expressions, sudden eye opening, frowning, lip changes, clear movements of extremities, neck stiffness, and sighing or moaning.


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