GENERAL V(λ) MISMATCH INDEX - HISTORY, CURRENT STATE, NEW IDEAS

The general V(λ) mismatch index, f_1^' quantifies the mismatch between the spectral responsivity of a photometer, s(λ), and the spectral luminous efficiency function, V(λ). A short review of its historical development is given to explain the reasons for the current definition and which adjustments may be useful for the future. The properties of the current definition are described in detail. It is very likely that in the future, calibration of photometers will be done with a white LED light source as reference. It might involve the need for a more adequate definition of the general V(λ) mismatch index, either by using a different normalization in f_1^' for the spectral responsivity of the photometer or by introducing a different type of function for assessing the mismatch. On the other hand, the measurement of coloured LEDs is also becoming increasingly important. Is a single quality index for white and coloured light sources sufficient?

The proliferation of secular religions

The term ‘secular religion’ first appeared in the description of modern totalitarian ideologies but soon became a general category applied to other political, socio-economic and cultural phenomena. The first problem with this approach is the inherent contradiction of the term, since ‘secular’ by all modern definitions means ‘non-religious’, making a secular religion something like a ‘nonreligious religion’. The second is the wide range of examples from communism to liberalism, from capitalism to ecology, or from transhumanism to social media, which suggests that with some creativity almost anything can be described as secular and religious at the same time. The first part of the paper deals with the terminological difficulties, while the second outlines the history of drawing secular-religious analogies, concluding that the ultimate failure to give a coherent narrative of secular religions is rooted in the impossibility of giving an adequate definition of religion in the first place.

Aljamiado Literature: The Problem of Definition

The scope of the term “aljamiado literature” is still open to discussion because it is defined differently by scholars in Russia and beyond. In the ‘strict’ literal meaning, the term “aljamiado literature” covers the literature in Spanish written in Arabic script. Its texts were mostly created by the Moriscos (or crypto-Muslims for Spanish people) after the Reconquista and before their expulsion (1609–1614), i. e. mainly during the 16th century.In a broader sense, “aljamiado literature” is defined as the literature of Spanish Muslims in general, and in this case it is meant to include both Arabic and Latin scripts. And it refers therefore not only to the literature of the Moriscos before their expulsion, but also relates to that written after their expulsion in Latin script, as well as to the texts produced, also in Latin script, by the Spanish Muslims before the Reconquista known in literary culture as Mudéjars. This broader definition covers the period from the mid-15th century until late 17th century.Sure, using the term “aljamiado literature” to denote the texts of both the Mudéjars and the Moriscos, i. e. all the texts of Spanish Muslims that had to live outside Al-Andalus, is absolutely correct, but at the same time this raises doubts about whether we may employ the terms “aljamiado literature” or “aljamiado literature of the Moriscos” for describing all the phenomena mentioned above. In this article, taking into account relevant cultural and historical circumstances which shaped this literary phenomenon and related concepts we have described in detail this contradictory usage of the term “aljamiado literature” and suggested a more adequate definition of its scope.

Paradygmat analiz ubóstwa i wykluczenia społecznego

Poverty and social exclusion are notions present in the public sphere, as well as in scientific analysis. Their application is usually not accompanied by adequate definition. This article formulates the thesis that there is one (it is debatable) complex paradigm of poverty and social exclusion. It consists of four levels (called as paradigm elements in this article): (1) history and culture, (2) political concepts, (3) new concepts and attempts of their operationalisation, and (4) discursiveness. This division is based on the multidisciplinary criterion, which means that it may not be quite precise. The development of potential effective programmes to combat poverty and social exclusion requires prior (conceptually appropriate and taking into account their complex nature) defining these phenomena.

How Ontic Structural Realism would Formalize Scientific Progress

This essay tries to make a tangential cut between the debate that seeks the most adequate definition of scientific progress (involving authors such as K. Popper, T Kuhn, A Bird or J Saatsi) and the debate on the viability of structural realism to be considered the best epistemological approach to the understanding of nature (B van Fraassen, J Ladyman, J Worrall, S Psillos...). Thus, we will first connect both debates by showing that they shared a common problem before their progressive distancing. Finally, we will outline a formulation of scientific progress inferred from the structural realism approach; in particular, our definition will be based on J. Ladyman’s proposal in Every Thing Must Go as we will emphasize that it also provides an answer to the aforementioned original problem. Our conclusion is that this formulation of scientific progress differs from the three main ones, namely, truthlikeness, problem-solving, and accumulation of knowledge. This fourth form is necessarily linked to a speculative approximation of reality. Moreover, we want to suggest that this fourth conception is articulated under the shadow of the ideas of CS Peirce. Keywords: structural realism, scientific progress, J Ladyman, speculative realism

The exosome journey: from biogenesis to uptake and intracellular signalling

The use of exosomes in clinical settings is progressively becoming a reality, as clinical trials testing exosomes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications are generating remarkable interest from the scientific community and investors. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles secreted by all cell types playing intercellular communication roles in health and disease by transferring cellular cargoes such as functional proteins, metabolites and nucleic acids to recipient cells. An in-depth understanding of exosome biology is therefore essential to ensure clinical development of exosome based investigational therapeutic products. Here we summarise the most up-to-date knowkedge about the complex biological journey of exosomes from biogenesis and secretion, transport and uptake to their intracellular signalling. We delineate the major pathways and molecular players that influence each step of exosome physiology, highlighting the routes of interest, which will be of benefit to exosome manipulation and engineering. We highlight the main controversies in the field of exosome research: their adequate definition, characterisation and biogenesis at plasma membrane. We also delineate the most common identified pitfalls affecting exosome research and development. Unravelling exosome physiology is key to their ultimate progression towards clinical applications.

Optimal control of nonlocal fractional evolution equations in the α-norm of order $(1,2)$

This paper investigates the optimal control for a class of nonlocal fractional evolution equations of order $\gamma \in (1,2)$ γ ∈ ( 1 , 2 ) in Banach spaces. An adequate definition of α-mild solutions is obtained and the existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence of α-mild solutions for the presented control system are also established. The existence of optimal pairs of nonlocal fractional evolution systems is also demonstrated with a view on the construction of the Lagrange problem. Finally, an example is propounded for the presentation of optimal control.

Astroturfing Technologies on a Point of Law

Introduction: in the social conditions that are changing under the influence of information and communication technologies, it is of particular importance to protect the interests of consumers from illegal actions of unscrupulous market participants. Increasingly, astroturfing technologies are becoming an integral part of marketing and trading strategies, which make it possible to provide distorted data to the general public under the guise of objective information. The purpose of the study is to find an adequate definition of astroturfing on a point of law; to distinguish legitimate marketing practices from illegal acts that distort perceptions of a product or company; to identify the law enforcement practices in foreign countries; to evaluate the existing approaches to solving the problem in order to correct the Russian legislation. The paper uses the methods of description and interpretation; normative-value, system, logical, dialectical, structural-functional approaches. Results: the forms and features of astroturfing are considered in order to develop its definition; the ways to counteract such technologies are studied and compared; there is a need for amendments that could fill the gaps in the legal regulation of astroturfing. Conclusions: the term “astroturfing” is formulated and its possible forms are listed. It is proposed to investigate the possibility of recognizing contractual relationships, whose subject is online publishing of fabricated reviews, cheating likes, bot mailing via chats, etc. as anti-social transactions. It is considered appropriate to tighten responsibility for the use of astroturfing technologies.

The Use and Meaning of the Past in Plato

This essay is based on two premises. The first concerns the vision of writing proposed by Plato in Phaedrus and especially the conception of philosophical writing as a maieutic game. The structurally polyvalent way in which Plato approaches philosophical issues also emerges in the dialogues. The second concerns the birth and the development of historical analysis in parallel with the birth of philosophy. On this basis the text investigates a series of data about the relationship between Plato and "the facts". 1) If we compare the Apology of Socrates with other sources, we discover a series of important “games” that Plato performs to achieve the results he proposes. 2) The famous passage of Phaedo 96A-102A, which concludes with the Ideas and with a reference to the Principles, expresses definite judgments on the Presocratics. 3) In his works Plato attributes to the sophists some merits, even if the outcome of their contri-bution is overall negative. 4) However, in the fourth complicated diairesis of the Sophist, there is a "sophist of noble stock", an educator who can only be Socrates. 5) Plato in the Sophist shows the weakness of the Gigantomachy, and proposes an adequate definition of the beings: the power of undergoing or acting. This reveals, before the Philebus and the Timaeus, the dynamic and dialectical nature of his philosophy In summary, a multifocal vision emerges, adapted to an intrinsically complex reality.

Cluster-Based Method to Determine Base Values for Short-Term Voltage Variation Indices

This paper proposes a methodology for establishing base values for short-term voltage variation indices. The work is focused on determining which variables best describe the disturbance and based on that, establish clusters that allow a more adequate definition of base values for the indices. To test the proposed methodology, real data from 19 distribution systems belonging to a Brazilian electricity utility were used and consequently the index presented in the country standard was considered. This study presents a general methodology that can be applied to all distribution systems in Brazil and could serve as a guide for the regulatory agencies in other countries, to establish base values for their indices. Furthermore, the objective is to show through the results that, with the database used is possible to establish clusters of distribution systems related to the voltage sag and with these establish a base impact factor, distinct for each distribution system.