scholarly journals Problems and Prospects with the Scientonomic Workflow

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Jamie Shaw ◽  
Hakob Barseghyan

While the scientonomic workflow guiding the development of a general theory of scientific change has been practiced for nearly four years, it has yet to be formally evaluated. The goal of this paper is to fill this gap with a critical appraisal of the practice and theoretical underpinnings of the workflow currently used in scientonomy. First, we consider the traditional workflow which uses publications as the primary vehicle for substantive epistemic change and find that it fails to be sufficiently transparent or inclusive and is ambiguous at decisive points. Conversely, as we argue, the scientonomic workflow has the potential to succeed where the traditional workflow fails and thus provides a promising alternative workflow. We then go on to note a number of practical and theoretical problems that have arisen upon reflection on the scientonomic workflow and suggest some modifications to the workflow and to our practices. This paper takes the first steps in improving the workflow to reach its maximum potential. Suggested Modifications [Sciento-2019-0001]: Accept that the goal of peer-reviews in the scientonomic workflow is evaluation for pursuitworthiness rather than acceptability. [Sciento-2019-0002]: Accept that the discussions concerning a suggested modification are to be published once a communal verdict is available. The discussions are to be published in the journal as special commentary articles co-authored by all participants of the discussion or in special edited collections. [Sciento-2019-0003]: Accept that the commentators of suggested modifications are allowed to suggest reformulations of the original formulations. Also accept that, by default, the new formulation should bear the original author’s name, unless the author decides to give credit to those who significantly contributed to the new reformulation. This should be decided collegially by the author, the commentators, and the editors on a case-by-case basis.  [Sciento-2019-0004]: Accept that an annual book prize is to be offered for extensive participation on the encyclopedia. The winner(s) are to be decided by the encyclopedia editors. [Sciento-2019-0005]: Accept that star-ratings are to be introduced for commentators who comment on suggested modifications on the encyclopedia. [Sciento-2019-0006]: Accept that the encyclopedia editors are to be granted official housekeeping rights to handle the ripple effects. Also accept that if the additional required changes are implicit in the suggested modification, the editors should create and alter encyclopedia pages to ensure that the accepted body of scientonomic knowledge is properly documented; if it is conceivable to accept the modification without accepting the ripple effect change in question, the editors should register these changes as new suggested modifications so that the community can discuss and evaluate them in an orderly fashion. [Sciento-2019-0007]: Accept that the verdict on suggested modifications is to be decided by a communal vote that will follow the discussion period. Have a communal discussion and decide as to what percentage of votes it should take for a modification to be accepted – a simple majority (50% +1), or supermajority of three fifths (60%), two thirds (67%), or three quarters (75%). Also discuss to decide as to how long the discussion period and the voting period should be. This modification is incompatible with modification [Sciento-2019-0008]. [Sciento-2019-0008]: Accept that a countdown mechanism is to be introduced, where a modification is accepted by default if there are no objections within a 90-day period following its publication. This modification is incompatible with modification [Sciento-2019-0007].

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengtao Zhang ◽  
Ning Li ◽  
Wei Xie ◽  
Yu Liu ◽  
Jieling Feng ◽  
...  

Abstract. The total losses caused by natural disasters have spatial heterogeneity due to the different economic development levels inside the disaster-hit areas. This paper uses scenarios of direct economic loss to introduce the sectors' losses caused by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (2008 WCE) in Beijing, utilizing the Adaptive Regional Input–Output (ARIO) model and the Inter-regional ripple effect (IRRE) model. The purpose is to assess the ripple effects of indirect economic loss and spatial heterogeneity of both direct and indirect economic loss at the scale of the smallest administrative divisions of China (streets, villages, and towns). The results indicate that the district of Beijing with the most severe indirect economic loss is the Chaoyang District; the finance and insurance industry (15, see Table 1) of Chaowai Street suffers the most in the Chaoyang District, which is 1.46 times that of its direct economic loss. During 2008–2014, the average annual GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate of Beijing was decreased 3.63 % by the catastrophe. Compared with the 8 % of GDP growth rate target, the decreasing GDP growth rate is a significant and noticeable economic impact, and it can be efficiently mitigated by increasing rescue effort and by supporting the industries which are located in the seriously damaged regions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Lucio Naccarella ◽  
David Pickering-Gummer ◽  
Dimity Gannon ◽  
Catherine Dell'Aquila ◽  
Alyssa Huxtable ◽  
...  

Professional sporting organisations can provide lifestyle-based community health improvement programs. Since 2014, the Western Bulldogs Australian Football League Club, through its Western Bulldogs Community Foundation (WBCF), has invested with community partners in the Sons of the West (SOTW) Program, a 10-week program targeted at hard-to-reach men aged ≥18 years living in Victoria’s West. The SOTW Program aims to increase its participants’ physical activity, social connectedness and overall health. Evaluations by the WBCF revealed the SOTW is positively contributing to improved healthier lifestyles and health of participants. Anecdotal reports revealed the SOTW was creating ripples far beyond the Program’s expectations. In 2016–17, the WBCF funded the University of Melbourne to evaluate the SOTW Program ripple effects. An adapted ‘Ripple Effect Mapping’ approach was used, including 13 focus group discussions with 100 SOTW participants. The SOTW Program is improving men’s social connections, health promoting behaviours, health literacy and creating ripple effects including: local community participation; increased volunteerism; enhanced reciprocity; and increased leadership. Community capacity-building frameworks can explain the SOTW Program ripple effects. Professional sporting organisations can provide lifestyle-based health improvement programs and empower men to contribute to building community capacity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 222-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Seob Lee

Delay is one of the major factors in the cost overruns that affect construction projects. Furthermore, delay may cause a cumulative impact or ripple effect on productivity. Even though there are various methods proposed in previous researches that are considered applicable for analyzing the damages resulting from delay, there are some limitations to previous approaches. Notably, they do not consider the realistic production rates of activities over time. Moreover, they do not reflect the ripple effects on the performance of the work remaining, after the completion of delay events. This paper, therefore, proposes a method, which is referred to as the COME method (combination of measured mile analysis and earned value management (EVM) incorporating probable production rates) that can reasonably calculate the cumulative damages due to delay, considering the feasible rates of production over time, and the ripple effects on productivity. The COME method includes the ‘learning curve’, and the ‘earned value analysis’ as research methodologies. Earned value management was utilized, to demonstrate and calculate the effects of the cumulative loss of productivity on the remaining work, as well as on the impacted work due to delay. An example analysis showed that the COME method is a feasible choice for damages calculation, considering probable production rates over activity progress, and indirect impacts on performance changes, after the completion of delay events. It is noted, however, that the COME method relies on the use of a subjective or availability of an estimated production rate for the estimate to complete calculations.


2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 3246-3252 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Sánchez-Brunete ◽  
M. A. Dea ◽  
S. Rama ◽  
F. Bolás ◽  
J. M. Alunda ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hydrophilic albumin microspheres are proposed as a new delivery system for amphotericin B (AMB; AMB microspheres). The acute toxicity of AMB microspheres was lower than that of the AMB-deoxycholate (AMB-Doc) reference formulation in hamsters. Lethal doses in healthy and infected animals were improved at least eight times. Intravenous bolus administration of doses of AMB microspheres up to 40 mg/kg of body weight did not produce acute symptoms of toxicity. The efficacy of this new formulation was tested against Leishmania infantum-infected hamsters at doses of 2, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg. With the 2-mg/kg dose, the activity of AMB, as assessed through the parasite load reductions in the liver and spleen and the evolution of antibody levels, was also improved (P < 0.05) by use of the AMB microsphere system. At the higher doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, reductions in parasite levels of more than 99% were achieved in the liver and spleen after the administration of AMB microspheres. A pharmacokinetic study was performed to study the serum, liver, and spleen AMB concentrations after administration of AMB microspheres and the reference formulation. Interestingly, a significant accumulation of AMB in the spleen and liver was observed after AMB microsphere administration. Our results suggest that this new formulation is a promising alternative to the conventional AMB-Doc formulation for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
John James Cater III ◽  
Brent Beal

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the experiences of family business owners in an externally induced crisis from a resource-based perspective. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a qualitative case study approach involving 22 firms. Findings – In the aftermath of the BP oil spill, a series of ripple effects impacted family firms both negatively and positively. The paper outlines five ways that family firms may improve company performance in crisis situations. Research limitations/implications – Although our study is rich in qualitative detail, it is important to recognize that the BP oil spill represents a unique crisis context and caution should be exercised in generalizing the study's findings. Practical implications – While ripple effects may be powerful at the industry and industry sub-group level, the paper provides evidence that family firms may overcome these external effects using one or more of five strategic initiatives: strong networking relationships, idiosyncratic local knowledge, flexibility, rapid response, and exercising trust with caution. Originality/value – The study validates the potential utility of a ripple effect model in the study of family businesses and externally induced crises. It has the potential to contribute to improving management response.


Author(s):  
Rick L. Vaughn ◽  
Shailendra K. Saxena ◽  
John G. Sharp

We have developed an intestinal wound model that includes surgical construction of an ileo-cecal patch to study the complex process of intestinal wound healing. This allows approximation of ileal mucosa to the cecal serosa and facilitates regeneration of ileal mucosa onto the serosal surface of the cecum. The regeneration of ileal mucosa can then be evaluated at different times. The wound model also allows us to determine the rate of intestinal regeneration for a known size of intestinal wound and can be compared in different situations (e.g. with and without EGF and Peyer’s patches).At the light microscopic level it appeared that epithelial cells involved in regeneration of ileal mucosa originated from the enlarged crypts adjacent to the intestinal wound and migrated in an orderly fashion onto the serosal surface of the cecum. The migrating epithelial cells later formed crypts and villi by the process of invagination and evagination respectively. There were also signs of proliferation of smooth muscles underneath the migratory epithelial cells.


1968 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Gill ◽  
Charles I. Berlin

The unconditioned GSR’s elicited by tones of 60, 70, 80, and 90 dB SPL were largest in the mouse in the ranges around 10,000 Hz. The growth of response magnitude with intensity followed a power law (10 .17 to 10 .22 , depending upon frequency) and suggested that the unconditioned GSR magnitude assessed overall subjective magnitude of tones to the mouse in an orderly fashion. It is suggested that hearing sensitivity as assessed by these means may be closely related to the spectral content of the mouse’s vocalization as well as to the number of critically sensitive single units in the mouse’s VIIIth nerve.


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