AbstractThe modern project of creating human-like artificial intelligence (AI) started after World War II, when it was discovered that electronic computers are not just number-crunching machines, but can also manipulate symbols. It is possible to pursue this goal without assuming that machine intelligence is identical to human intelligence. This is known as weak AI. However, many AI researcher have pursued the aim of developing artificial intelligence that is in principle identical to human intelligence, called strong AI. Weak AI is less ambitious than strong AI, and therefore less controversial. However, there are important controversies related to weak AI as well. This paper focuses on the distinction between artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial narrow intelligence (ANI). Although AGI may be classified as weak AI, it is close to strong AI because one chief characteristics of human intelligence is its generality. Although AGI is less ambitious than strong AI, there were critics almost from the very beginning. One of the leading critics was the philosopher Hubert Dreyfus, who argued that computers, who have no body, no childhood and no cultural practice, could not acquire intelligence at all. One of Dreyfus’ main arguments was that human knowledge is partly tacit, and therefore cannot be articulated and incorporated in a computer program. However, today one might argue that new approaches to artificial intelligence research have made his arguments obsolete. Deep learning and Big Data are among the latest approaches, and advocates argue that they will be able to realize AGI. A closer look reveals that although development of artificial intelligence for specific purposes (ANI) has been impressive, we have not come much closer to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI). The article further argues that this is in principle impossible, and it revives Hubert Dreyfus’ argument that computers are not in the world.
Abstract In the digital education era, artificial intelligence has developed rapidly in education in China, and hybrid teaching models have become popular. This study aims to explore whether college students’ enjoyment in online classes influences their learning interest and achievement of learning goals, and to examine the moderating role of teacher-student interaction in the realization of learning goals. We conducted an online questionnaire survey of 1736 college students in China to explore the relationships among enjoyment, learning interest, teacher-student interaction, and the achievement of learning goals of online classes. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0 and Mplus 8.0. These findings show that college students’ enjoyment influences the achievement of learning goals through the mediating role of learning interest in online classes. The high level of teacher–student interaction is conducive to the transformation of students’ enjoyment into learning interest and the achievement of learning goals. Our study is expected to serve as an important reference for increasing students’ learning interest and achieving their learning goals in online classes.
History of scholarship and learning. The humanities, Social Sciences
This article examines the essence of the concept and categories of persons prone to committing offenses. Also, the necessity of the work being carried out was analyzed by dividing crime prevention work into groups using available literature.
Simone Figorilli, Lavinia Moscovini, Simone Vasta
et al.
Recently banana plantations have been affected by the Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD), producing streaks, lesions and yellow and brown spots on the leaves until the appearance of entire dead parts. The disease causes reductions in yield making it essential to assess infection by monitoring plants status and implementing agronomical measures. This work aims to develop a physical field device to identify the BSD presence. It consists in a 3D printed prototype embedding a smartphone acquiring and processing banana leaves images. An advanced Artificial Intelligence model was trained and implemented for real-time processing. The algorithm is a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) able to classify the samples into 6 classes representative of different BSD stages infection. The trained model, showing an accuracy of 82 % in training and 78 % in validation, was integrated into a specifically developed mobile application for field use. The Android app allows to acquire, identify the georeferenced infection stage, sync all to a remote dedicated host from which the results can be mapped and exported to a .csv file for easy data management. The distinction between healthy and diseased leaves can be achieved using the Smart BSD device for real-time acquisition, establishing the right intervention strategy.
Saskia Denecke, Felix Strakeljahn, Antonia Bott
et al.
Abstract Aetiological models of delusions propose a broad range of predictors. The extent to which these predictors explain variance in persecutory beliefs across the continuum requires systematic investigation. As part of a previous review, 51 aetiological models of delusions were identified in a systematic literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases. Omitting repetitions, 66 unique postulated predictors of delusions and persecutory delusions were extracted from these models, of which 55 met our inclusion criteria and were assessed in a cross-sectional online sample stratified by delusion severity (N = 336) using self-report and behavioural measures. Utilising machine learning (i.e., random forests with nested cross-validation), we investigated the extent to which the model-based predictors explain self-reported persecutory beliefs, identified the most relevant predictors, and investigated their specificity in explaining persecutory beliefs as opposed to delusional beliefs or psychopathological symptoms in general. The machine learning model explained 31% of the variance in persecutory beliefs, 47% of delusions in general, and 77% of general psychopathology. The ten predictors with the most influence on predicting persecutory beliefs included negative beliefs about mistrust, cognitive fusion, ostracism, threat anticipation, generalised negative other beliefs, trust, aberrant salience, hallucinations, stress, and emotion regulation difficulties. The limited explanatory power of the proposed predictors raises questions about the validity of existing models and suggests that crucial predictors specific to persecutory delusions may be missing. Our findings highlight the importance of investigating, refining, and cross-validating theoretical aetiological models to improve our understanding of the aetiology of delusions.
Ugur Korkut Pata, Mustafa Tevfik Kartal, Zahoor Ahmed
et al.
Abstract This study analyzes the influence of green bonds on carbon neutrality. It examines the daily data of sectoral CO2 emissions of the top five CO2-emitting nations from January 2, 2019 to December 30, 2022 using wavelet transform coherence, quantile-on-quantile regression, Granger causality in quantiles, and quantile regression approaches. The results revealed that (i) green bonds are strongly related to sectoral CO2 emissions; (ii) green bonds reduce transport sector CO2 emissions in China, the US, and Japan while causing an upsurge in India and Russia; (iii) green bonds reduce industrial sector CO2 emissions only in the US; (iv) green bonds have a declining influence in energy sector CO2 emissions at lower quantiles in India, China, and the US, whereas the impact increases at higher quantiles; and (v) green bonds decrease residential sector CO2 emissions in the US, Russia, and Japan. The study revealed that green bonds help reduce CO2 emissions in the residential sector in various quantiles. Therefore, the US, Russia, and Japan should raise household awareness of green energy utilization by promoting them with green bonds. In addition, green bonds can effectively reduce transportation sector CO2 emissions in China and the US. Therefore, the policymakers of the two global powers should contribute to global CO2 reduction by promoting green transportation and clean energy transition in the transportation sector through green bonds. Thus, green bonds can play an effective role in the fight against global warming.
Dino Skupnjak, Marijana Neuberg, Sonja Obranić
et al.
Understanding the frequency of abuse suffered by older individuals proves challenging when attempting to link it to everyday social issues due to variations in the interpretation and comprehension of this form of mistreatment. This cross-sectional study conducted in May and June of 2023 aimed to investigate the perceptions and attitudes of the general population in the Republic of Croatia regarding the abuse of older individuals. The research included 822 volunteers aged from 18 to 64 who actively engaged in social media. A self-developed, structured questionnaire (based on an exhaustive review of the relevant literature) that underwent a thorough pilot testing phase to confirm clarity, coherence, and respondent comprehension was used to collect the study data. The data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests for associations between variables, and Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests to assess the relationships between correct answers and observed indicators, with a significance level set at p < 0.05 (two-tailed). It can be concluded that there was a statistically significant difference in knowledge of possible causes of abuse depending on the age groups of the respondents (p = 0.001) and their present employment within the health or social system (p < 0.001). A prevailing neutral stance was observed among the majority of the surveyed population regarding the attribution of responsibility to older individuals themselves for any mistreatment they face. When confronted with scenarios illustrating abusive behaviour towards older individuals, the participants exhibited nuanced recognition across different forms of abuse, with the exception of financial abuse, where most participants indicated that there was no abuse or possible abuse. These findings underscore the need for enhanced public education initiatives concerning the diverse manifestations of abuse and neglect within the community of older individuals in the Republic of Croatia. Additionally, there is a pressing need for counselling services aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the unique needs of older individuals and the underlying factors contributing to abusive behaviour. Through such measures, societal awareness and support mechanisms can be fortified, fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and protection for older adults.
Exposure to domestic violence (EDV) is a constant threat to social stability and global solidarity and may be associated with an increased risk of depression in later life. This study assessed the association between EDV during childhood and depressive symptoms in middle and older age. A total of 10,521 respondents obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were enrolled in our analysis. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale, and EDV included parental conflict and corporal punishment. A random-effects linear regression was used to assess associations. The results showed positive relationships between “not very often” (β = 0.862; 95% CI:0.512 to 1.211; p < 0.001), “sometimes” (β = 1.692; 95% CI:1.227 to 2.158; p < 0.001) and “often” (β = 2.143; 95% CI:1.299 to 2.987; p < 0.001) in parental conflict and the CES-D scores, compared with that of those reported “never” in parental conflict. Similarly, positive relationships between “sometimes” (β = 0.389; 95% CI:0.091 to 0.687; p = 0.011) and “often” (β = 1.892; 95% CI:1.372 to 2.413; p < 0.001) in corporal punishment and the CES-D scores were observed. EDV is associated with an increased risk of depression in later life. Future research could develop interventions that target EDV and explore the mechanisms in China to further decrease lifetime depression risk and improve the population’s mental health.
Ethnovisual tourism explores a destination's cultural heritage through visual means, generating economic benefits and encouraging investment in cultural infrastructure and heritage conservation projects. Assessing the social, economic and environmental impacts of tourism activities is essential to ensure sustainability and preserve local communities. In Adjara, Georgia, an ethnovisual tourism atlas can provide an immersive experience of local culture and heritage. Community engagement and participation are essential for the preservation of cultural heritage and for the benefit of the local community. Environmental sustainability should be prioritised through responsible tourism practices, such as reducing waste and energy consumption. The National Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development has published booklets and collections on pilgrimage tourism, such as "Orthodox Pilgrimage to Georgia" and "Georgia for the Jewish Travelers". These publications serve as reference materials for tourists, but are of limited use to guides and the general public. The Batumi Synagogue, for example, was built in 1904 by the Jewish community of Batumi and ceased operations in 1929. These publications can serve as reference materials and should be supplemented with additional materials to better understand the sustainable development of tourism in Adjara. In 1993, the Batumi Synagogue was returned to the Jewish community after being illegally installed by European Jews. The government postponed the project three times, and the Jews turned to the rabbi of Kutaisi for help. The article presents and analyses the sustainability of tourism in the context of post-COVID-19 conditions in Adjara, examines the ethnocultural characteristics of some ethnic groups living in Georgia, and proposes a model route for pilgrimage tourism for tour operators. The characteristics of the creation of an atlas of ethnovisual tourism based on field research, video monitoring of ethno-cultural values and the main sources for structuring cartographic material are also described. The article examines the dynamics of tourism development trends in Adjara, their probable estimates and prospects, which will be of interest not only to tourists and guides, but also to stakeholders interested in inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations, as well as to the scientific community. The research task was to analyse the sustainability of tourism in Adjara, focusing on the ethno-cultural characteristics of Georgian ethnic groups, and to offer a model pilgrimage tourism route for tour operators. The main objective was to predict future development and define trends. The research methodology includes interviews, stories, video monitoring, statistical forecasting technical tools and moving average tools. In conclusion, the interests of the ethno-spiritual culture of a multiethnic society in terms of sustainable tourism development and economic prospects are substantiated with the help of a video atlas, and an original tourist product in the form of an ethno-tourist video atlas is created. Video monitoring of ethno-cultural values allows capturing traditional elements of everyday life, material culture, social and family life, and spiritual culture.
Jorge Cárdenas-Rangel, German Osma-Pinto, Julián Jaramillo-Ibarra
Governments have established regulations to reduce energy consumption and polluting gas emissions from buildings. In Colombia, the government issued Resolution 0549 in 2015, a regulation that imposed savings percentages on different types of buildings. Builders have had to improve their designs to meet this standard. However, this task requires a detailed understanding of the energy behaviour of buildings. In the absence of follow-up data, this study performed energy characterisations of a group of 20 residential and office buildings located in a tropical climate using DesignBuilder software. The simulations show a notable influence of plug-in loads on energy consumption as well as favourable thermal comfort conditions for all categories except for the low-income category. Solar radiation through windows is the largest source of heat in buildings. Additionally, the study shows the impact of a set of energy-saving measures on energy consumption. The results of this study can help designers reduce the energy consumption of tropical buildings and/or meet energy performance standards.
Édgar Alonso Villabona Rangel, Raquel Méndez Villamizar
Este artículo analiza las transformaciones en el capital social (en adelante CS) de los pobladores del municipio de California, Santander, a raíz del conflicto socioecológico sobre el proceso de delimitación del uso del suelo del páramo de Santurbán. Se identificaron tres subcategorías del CS: cooperación, tipo de reciprocidad e interacción horizontal. La investigación, mediante un análisis cualitativo, buscó reconstruir la realidad observada por los actores desde sus percepciones y creencias. Los resultados permiten identificar que los conflictos no se producen por discrepancias dentro de un sistema de interpretación homogéneo, sino que existen percepciones culturales que se expresan en lenguajes de valoración diferentes (sea estética, moral, ambiental, económica, social). La comunidad fortaleció su CS al integrarse, definir objetivos y generar confianza entre ellos respecto de una amenaza común. De igual forma, la identidad, los valores y las percepciones desempeñan un papel fundamental, y los esquemas de compensación técnicos o monetarios no son suficientes para resolver el conflicto. El trabajo define la línea de evolución del proceso, mediante testimonios en grupos focales y entrevistas. El resultado fue un análisis del comportamiento de la comunidad que permitió entender sus formas de relacionamiento, identidad y cooperación.
La comunidad fortaleció su CS a través de acciones colectivas; se reforzaron los lazos de trabajo en equipo, las redes de confianza y la gestión de propuestas para el territorio. Este estudio brinda orientaciones para futuros procesos de ordenamiento territorial y ayuda a entender las implicaciones socioculturales y organizativas de las decisiones políticas sobre el territorio.
This article explores the philosophical and psychoanalytic trajectories of conceptualizing the Covid-19 pandemic as ‘collective trauma’, and considers what would be the risks, but also productive possibilities, of such a theoretical move. the context of this inquiry is the so-called ‘shadow pandemic’ – the drastic increase in domestic violence globally, which accompanied introduction of lockdowns as a measure of containing the impact of Covid-19 on public health infrastructures. For the women who were victims of violence during the lockdowns, the discourse of ‘sheltering’, ‘isolation’ and ‘staying home’ has carried antithetical meanings to the o6cially sanctioned ones – those were meanings of threat, danger, harm, and death. Drawing on the work of two feminist psychoanalytic thinkers, Julia Kristeva and Jacqueline Rose, and on installations by bio-artists Anna Dumitriu and Flo Kasearu, I argue against notions of the pandemic as an external traumatic event that disrupted societies and communities worldwide. Rather, the ‘shadow pandemic’ suggest that there is a more complex, even intimate, relation between the pandemic, violence, and gendered productions of sociality.
The Covid‐19 pandemic has catalyzed irreversible structural changes in education systems worldwide. One key development is the broad utility of remote digital e‐learning modalities for learning and instruction that could jeopardize social inclusion if digital in(ex)clusion is left unaddressed. This study assembles a two‐step mixed method research design and conducts a case inquiry of Shaanxi Province in China by leveraging policy document analysis and rapid survey methodology in examining how transitions to remote digital e‐learning may introduce learning barriers to children from vulnerable backgrounds. Findings reveal that children’s access to remote digital e‐learning devices during the rapid transition to e‐learning has a close association with their backgrounds. Key policy implications include utilizing multimodal hybrid technology in diversifying content delivery and maximizing e‐learning coverage, developing open learning platforms, expanding access to e‐learning resources, and collaborating with industry partners to bring tangible support to families and realize meaningful e‐learning at home.
The geo-climatic setting of the Odisha coast is prone to natural calamities like cyclones, storm surges, inundation, along with changing sea level, which indicates a higher level of coastal vulnerability. Climate-induced natural hazards are frequent on the Odisha coast, which leads to adverse impacts on life and property and intensive crop damage. The frequent natural hazards and sea-level rise (SLR) are accelerating the probable impact from severe storm surges and high waves in the future. The futuristic projection of the cyclone, storm surge, inundation and SLR has been estimated. Also, their probable impact on the coastal community has been portrayed.
En América Latina, los conceptos de centralismo y formas de Estado evolucionaron conjuntamente; pero, si bien tienen vínculos entre ellos, la relación no es determinante. Resulta necesario preguntarse qué implica ser un país unitario o uno federal y cuál es la diferencia entre un proceso de descentralización y uno de desconcentración. A través de una revisión y consolidación bibliográfica, el objetivo general del artículo es determinar qué formas de Estado pueden asumir los países y cómo se vinculan con los procesos de reversión del centralismo. Los objetivos específicos son, primero, identificar cuáles son los procesos de reversión del centralismo y en qué se diferencian; segundo, establecer cuántas formas de Estado existen y qué caracteriza a cada una; y, tercero, observar cómo interactúan ambas tipificaciones. Como conclusión, el trabajo presenta una clara diferenciación y vinculación entre ambas clasificaciones, lo que permite analizar de mejor manera la configuración institucional de los países.
Зростаюча активність жінок у сфері релігії й пошуку духовної самореалізації актуалізувала тему вивчення жіночої релігійності, зростання рівня якої обґрунтовується в цій праці. Висновки з приводу вищої релігійності жінок здійснюються на основі кількісних методів соціологічного аналізу. Також з’ясовано, що нині в межах соціології релігії напрацьовано теоретичні підходи, які пояснюють відмінності в релігійності чоловіків і жінок (економічні теорії, марксистська теорія й психосоціальні теорії), але спроби емпірично їх перевірити не принесли однозначних висновків або були неуспішними.
O objetivo deste artigo é discutir, a partir de evidências empíricas sobre as elites jurídicas brasileiras, as relações dos juristas com a política em geral, e com o Estado, em especial, a partir do conceito de campo do poder. Utilizaremos ainda dados específicos sobre a atuação de juristas e de políticos na Reforma do Judiciário de 2004, como referência empírica para se compreender a interação entre atores e saberes especializados em um processo de reforma institucional estatal. À prosopografia de grupos de elites jurídicas brasileiras serão acrescidas análises de trajetórias individuais de juristas, como forma de demonstrar como se dão os trânsitos desses agentes entre o direito e a política. Ao final, se conclui que permanecem as relações estruturais entre direito e política, caracterizada recentemente por deslocamentos e reposicionamentos dos juristas, devido ao surgimento de expertises propriamente políticas e jurídicas, e da progressiva e relativa autonomização do campo jurídico em relação à política.
Inspired by recent Hungarian legislative developments that, in reference to the Roma minority, exchanged the term “ethnic minority” with “nationality”, by providing a detailed case study of the development and morphology of policy measures and frameworks in Hungary, the article provides a general assessment of the relationship between policy instruments and terminology: that is, definitions and conceptualizations in international and domestic legal and policy documents for minority groups. The author argues that while terminology in itself is not a reliable signifier for policy frameworks, it may reveal contradictory group conceptualization and inconsistent policy-making. In regards to the Roma, the author claims that the inconsistent labelling as an ethnic, racial and national minority reflects the lack of consistent conceptualization of who the Roma are, and what should be done with them.