Beyond Posthuman Theory: Tackling Realities of Everyday Life

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed us all in front of an existential mirror: Who am I? Who are we, as a society, as a species, as a planet? Many of the old anthropocentric habits based on the foundational myth of human mastery of the world no longer work. The Anthropocene, and all the related environmental emergencies that are happening, are co-caused by the unbalance created by human unsustainable practices of living, behaving and trading. We are at the forefront of a paradigm shift, which is calling all of us to action. Academics have the duty to confront themselves on these issues: Thinking must be followed by actual change. The actualization can be challenging and intense, but is also cathartic, regenerative and empowering. In this text, we will address compelling questions for the 21st century, related to posthuman economics and emerging technologies, sustainable ways of living and existential praxis.

Comparison between the change in total corneal astigmatism and actual change in refractive astigmatism in transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (tPRK), laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and femtosecond laser assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FsLASIK)

Purpose To compare changes in astigmatism by refraction and total corneal astigmatism after tPRK, LASIK and FsLASIK. Setting Specialty Eye Hospital Svjetlost, Zagreb, Croatia. Design Partially masked, semi-randomized, prospective, case-by-case, interventional, clinical study. Methods Patients with a stable refraction (-0.75DS to −8.00DS, astigmatism ≤1.00DC) underwent tPRK, LASIK or FsLASIK without complication. Astigmatism was measured at both corneal surfaces over the central 3.2 mm zone (approximately using Pentacam HRTM) preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Pentacam and refraction data were subjected to vector analysis to calculate the surgically induced changes in i) total corneal astigmatism (SIATCA) ii) any astigmatism by refraction (SIAR) and the vectorial difference (DV) between SIATCA and SIAR. Results Reporting key findings (p < .01), there was a significant difference between mean SIATCA and SIAR powers after tPRK (75eyes) but not after LASIK (100eyes) or FsLASIK (100eyes). Mean (±sd,95% CIs) values for DV powers were, tPRK −1.13DC(±0.71, −1.29 to −0.97), LASIK −0.39DC(±0.23,-0.44 to −0.34), FsLASIK −0.55DC(±0.38,-0.62 to −0.47). The differences were significant. For the tPRK and FsLASIK cases, linear regression revealed significant associations between I) SIATCA (x) &DV (z) powers (tPRK z = 1.586x-0.179, r = 0.767, p < .01; FsLASIK z = 0.442x-0.303, r = .484,p < .01), II) sines of SIATCA (x1) &DV (z1) axes (tPRK, z1 = 0.523 × 1 + 0.394, r = .650,p < .01; FsLASIK z1 = 0.460 × 1-0.308, r = .465,p < .01). Conclusions tPRK is more prone to unintended changes in astigmatism. The difference between SIATCA & SIAR after tPRK or FsLASIK is mediated by SIATCA. Photoablating deeper regions of the cornea reduces the gap between SIATCA & SIAR.

Evaluating a Group-Based Sustainability Intervention Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour

<p>Meeting the challenge of anthropogenic climate change will require widespread adoption of more sustainable behaviours. However, although attitudes towards sustainable behaviours are positive, actual change is lagging behind. Three studies explored the success of a classroom intervention programme that was intended to support individual change towards more sustainable behaviour in the domains of energy conservation and consumer responsibility. It was expected that identification with the small action groups used in the programme would have a positive effect. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1977) and the social identity perspective (Turner, 1999) were used as a framework for analysis. Studies one and two examined the success of the intervention programme across two iterations. Behaviour measures used in study one were inadequate but effective measures were developed for the second study. The intervention programme was very successful in achieving behaviour change and improving attitudes towards and intentions to perform sustainable behaviour. The TPB was supported by both studies, although there were unexpected inconsistencies in the variables predicting intent. Contrary to expectations, there was no effect found for group identification. Differences were also found between those participants who chose to focus on energy conservation and those with a focus on consumer responsibility, suggesting that the consumption group approached environmental behaviour in a more holistic way. Study three was a qualitative analysis of diary entries by participants in study one. A participant narrative of sustainable behaviour was constructed and related to attribution theory, particularly the Martinko and Thomson (1998) synthesis model. The narrative substantially matched the TPB but some problematic aspects of the intent construct in the TPB were identified. There was also evidence of a positive effect of group membership that had not been captured by the group identification variable. Potential interpretations and consequences of these findings were discussed.</p>

Evaluating a Group-Based Sustainability Intervention Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour

<p>Meeting the challenge of anthropogenic climate change will require widespread adoption of more sustainable behaviours. However, although attitudes towards sustainable behaviours are positive, actual change is lagging behind. Three studies explored the success of a classroom intervention programme that was intended to support individual change towards more sustainable behaviour in the domains of energy conservation and consumer responsibility. It was expected that identification with the small action groups used in the programme would have a positive effect. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1977) and the social identity perspective (Turner, 1999) were used as a framework for analysis. Studies one and two examined the success of the intervention programme across two iterations. Behaviour measures used in study one were inadequate but effective measures were developed for the second study. The intervention programme was very successful in achieving behaviour change and improving attitudes towards and intentions to perform sustainable behaviour. The TPB was supported by both studies, although there were unexpected inconsistencies in the variables predicting intent. Contrary to expectations, there was no effect found for group identification. Differences were also found between those participants who chose to focus on energy conservation and those with a focus on consumer responsibility, suggesting that the consumption group approached environmental behaviour in a more holistic way. Study three was a qualitative analysis of diary entries by participants in study one. A participant narrative of sustainable behaviour was constructed and related to attribution theory, particularly the Martinko and Thomson (1998) synthesis model. The narrative substantially matched the TPB but some problematic aspects of the intent construct in the TPB were identified. There was also evidence of a positive effect of group membership that had not been captured by the group identification variable. Potential interpretations and consequences of these findings were discussed.</p>

A System for the Remote Monitoring of Vehicle Technical Condition: Kirovets Tractor Gearbox Case Study

The authors noted that in order to increase the energy-saturated equipment technical readiness, reduce its operation costs and ensure full use of the resource, it is necessary to quickly assess the current technical condition. The authors have created a counter-indicator prototype for high-precision control of gearbox technical condition. (Research purpose) To formulate a proposal for developing a system for the remote monitoring of gearbox technical condition applicable to the Kirovets tractor family. (Materials and methods) To increase the precision level of traceability and technical condition detection, a system of diagnostic tools was proposed based on the developed counters-indicators, which take into account design features when determining diagnostic parameters. (Results and discussion) It was shown that to assess the gearbox technical condition, it is necessary to use additional monitoring systems, obtain information for calculating the residual life, when using direct measurements and having a possibility of the ongoing monitoring over the actual change in the gearbox units diagnostic parameters. The authors studied the options for using meter-indicators to minimize group II and III failures during operation.(Conclusions) It was identified that in order to increase the level of gearbox operational reliability, it is necessary to introduce a system of counters-indicators. The authors revealed the possibility of monitoring the individual unit technical condition in accordance with the specified indicators, as well as in order to prevent operation in emergency (abnormal) modes.

Validation of Self-Monitoring Devices Supporting Sodium Intake Reduction: An Experimental Feeding Study Using Standardized Low-Salt and High-Salt Meals among Healthy Japanese Volunteers

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Although several approaches for approximating daily Na intake and the Na/K ratio using casual urine are available, the most useful method remains unclear during daily practice and at home. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Twenty-seven participants measured their casual urinary Na/K ratio repeatedly using a Na/K ratio monitor and also measured overnight urine once daily using a monitoring device which delivers on-site feedback to estimate their salt intake under unrestricted, low-salt (LS) (6 g/day), and high-salt (HS) (12 g/day) diets. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The monitoring method utilizing overnight urine to estimate daily Na remained insensitive, resulting in significant overestimation during the LS diet and underestimation during the HS diet periods; estimated salt intake during the LS and HS diet periods plateaued at 7–8 g/day and 9–10 g/day within 3 day; mean estimated salt intake was 11.3 g/day, 7.9 g/day, and 9.8 g/day on the last day of the unrestricted, LS, and HS diets; the coefficient of variation (CV) of the estimated Na intake was 0.23 and 0.17 in the latter half of the low- and high-salt diet periods, respectively. The mean urinary Na/K molar ratio was 5.6, 2.5, and 5.3 on the last day of the unrestricted, LS, and HS diets; the CV of the daily mean Na/K ratio was 0.41 and 0.36 in the latter half of the LS and HS diet periods, respectively. The urinary Na/K ratio during the LS and HS diet periods plateaued within 2 days. The monitoring method based on the daily mean of the casual urinary Na/K ratio reflected the actual change in Na intake, and the estimated value tracked the actual changes in salt intake with smaller difference than the overnight urine estimates when using the estimation coefficient set at 2; estimated salt intake during the LS and HS diet periods plateaued at 5–6 g/day and 10–12 g/day within 2–3 day; mean estimated salt intake was 11.0 g/day, 5.7 g/day, and 10.7 g/day on the last day of the unrestricted, LS, and HS diets, respectively. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Estimates of daily Na intake derived from overnight urine may remain insensitive during dietary interventions. The urinary Na/K ratio reflects the actual change in Na intake during dietary modification and may serve as a practical marker, particularly during short-term interventions. Conversion from the urinary Na/K ratio to estimated salt intake may be useful, if the coefficient was set appropriate by further investigations.

Research ethics and diversity of worldviews: Integrated worlds and ubuntu

Many scholars have argued for inclusion of indigenous knowledges in all levels of teaching, as well as a re-thinking of research approaches in African and other southern contexts. However, methodology in indigenous knowledge research in southern Africa over the past few years shows only a few examples of an actual change in approach, genre, data collection or ethical considerations. This paper deals with just one of these aspects: research ethics. I argue that ethical considerations affect all aspects of the research process and hence affect how we construct and validate new knowledges. The paper aims to disrupt conventional ethical assumptions through illustrative research examples. It draws together three frameworks into a synthesised model to clarify different worldview perspectives that may be applied to research. The discussion and model may serve as an educational tool for researchers, particularly in the global South. I draw on both indigenous knowledge literature and three research projects located in rural South Africa to argue for the need to reconsider standard ethical norms. Standard ethical protocols are inadequate in providing guidance to students and researchers for complex contexts and diverse cultural values and indigenous worldviews.

Representing and Reasoning with Event Models for Epistemic Planning

The standard representation formalism for multi-agent epistemic planning has one central disadvantage: When you use event models in dynamic epistemic logic (DEL) to describe the action of one agent, the model must specify not only the actual change and the change of that agent's knowledge. Also required is the epistemic change of any agents that may be observing the first agent performing the action, plus the epistemic change for any further agents that failed to observe that anything had taken place. To overcome the gap between this complex DEL notion of events and a more commonsense notion of actions, we propose a simple high-level action description language for multi-agent epistemic planning domains with just one type of effect laws: a causes x if y. Effect x can either be a physical effect, or an observation from an independent set that is specific to individual agents. We formally prove that any DEL event model can be described in this way. We show how this language provides a framework for expressing a variety of executability and action models; such as describing actions that are both ontic and epistemic, partially observable, or nondeterministic. We further combine our representation of event models with a description language for finitary initial epistemic theories, and we show how this allows us to reason about the effects of a sequence of actions in a multi-agent epistemic domain by updating a single multi-pointed epistemic model.

The Impact of Incentives on Employees to Change Thermostat Settings—A Field Study

When looking for energy-saving solutions, one should bear in mind the savings that can be obtained through behavioral changes. The article shows that a simple incentive can have a statistically significant impact on employees’ pro-ecological behavior. First, the introduction refers to the general perspective of striving for a global implementation of the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs). Additionally, the stakeholders’ point of view is presented, based on reports submitted to the Responsible Business Forum competition (Poland). The two motivating trends are referenced, which include increasing the contribution of powering office buildings to the overall energy demand and increasing the appreciation of behavioral changes as alternatives or complements to technological solutions in pursuit of the SDGs. The following sections of the article present an experiment carried out at one faculty of the University of Warsaw, which consisted of checking the effect of the incentive to lower the temperature in offices after working hours on the actual change in the behavior of the employees. After several weeks of observation of end-of-day thermostat settings in several dozen offices, a statistically significant effect was found. This proves that even simple incentives can lead to pro-ecological behavioral changes.

Preference Change and Behavioral Ethics: Can States Create Ethical People?

Law and economics scholarship suggests that, in appropriate cases, the law can improve people’s behavior by changing their preferences. For example, the law can curb discriminatory hiring practices by providing employers with information that might change their discriminatory preference. Supposedly, if employers no longer prefer one class of employees to another, they will simply stop discriminating, with no need for further legal intervention. The current Article aims to add some depth to this familiar analysis by introducing the insights of behavioral ethics into the law and economics literature on preference change. Behavioral ethics research shows that wrongdoing often originates from semi-deliberative or non-deliberative cognitive processes. These findings suggest that the process of preference change through the use of the law is markedly more complicated and nuanced than previously appreciated. For instance, even if an employer’s explicit discriminatory stance is changed, and the employer no longer consciously prefers one class of employees over another, discriminatory behavior might persist if it originates from semi-conscious, habitual, or non-deliberative decision-making mechanisms. Therefore, actual change in behavior might necessitate a close engagement with people’s level of moral awareness. We discuss the institutional and normative implications of these insights and evaluate their significance for the attempt to improve preferences through the different functions of the legal system.