Home  About us  Contact
 

Problem Lies (problem + ly)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Humanities and Social Sciences37%
Earth and Environmental Science25%
Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting25%

Selected Abstracts

Change the Analyst and Not the System: A Different Approach to Intelligence Reform

FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS, Issue 2 2008
Uri Bar-Joseph
Recent intelligence failures, including first and foremost the mistaken estimate of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) prior to the war, show that a prime source of such failures is the adherence by analysts to preconceptions (or mind-sets) which entail the rejection of new information that contradicts it. The source of this kind of problem lies in well known psychological mechanisms. Yet official investigations into intelligence blunders have typically ignored this problem or have not suggested an appropriate solution thus far. Our paper suggests an original approach based on the fact that certain types of personalities are more likely than others to fall victim to these biased judgments. Existing psychological tests can help determine individual susceptibility to such tendencies. Therefore we suggest that intelligence organizations should pay far more attention to these personality characteristics, especially an analyst's level of openness, in recruitment, training, and promotion. Such attention would help create more effective reforms in intelligence than organizational models which advocate "devil's advocate" kind of solutions. [source]

A non-linear fin design problem in determining the optimum shape of spine and longitudinal fins

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2003
Cheng-Hung Huang
Abstract A non-linear fin design algorithm is applied to estimate the optimum shapes for the spine and longitudinal fins by using the conjugate gradient method (CGM) based on the desired fin efficiency and fin volume. One of the advantages in using CGM in the inverse design problem lies in that it can handle problems having a large number of unknown parameters easily and converges very fast. The validity of the present algorithm by using the CGM to solve the non-linear fin design problem is justified based on numerical experiments. Results show that the optimum fin shapes can always be obtained. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

A miniscule optimized visual system in the Lower Cambrian

LETHAIA, Issue 3 2009
BRIGITTE SCHOENEMANN
Simultaneously with the development of animal body plans, probably before the Precambrian, there was an explosive diversification of visual systems. Competition of performance in these visual systems was a critical factor in the evolution of life systems. Here we analyse the visual system in the lobopod Miraluolishania haikouensis (Liu et al., 2004) from the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte, Kunming, China. It consists of a very small eye with a miniscule lens. A physical problem lies in the fact that due to the usual refractive conditions of such a lens, it hardly represents an improvement of the visual quality over the basal pit- or pinhole camera eyes. To develop such a lavish visual system, however, would not have been of any value, if it achieved no more than an equal level or represented even a retrograde step in evolutionary progress. We show how this system may have allowed pattern recognition even under poor light conditions. Optimization of such a tiny eye is costly but is not ,a wasted effort' in evolution. In M. haikouensis (Liu et al., 2004), an excellently adapted miniscule visual system has become possible. [source]

Unapocalyptic Theology: History and Eschatology in Balthasar's Theo-Drama

MODERN THEOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
Steffen Lösel
In this essay, I evaluate the claim that Hans Urs von Balthasar's interpretation of trinitarian doctrine undermines the importance of history for the Christian God. Where other critics argue that the very distinction between immanent and economic Trinity robs the economy of salvation of theological significance, I contend that the underlying problem lies in how Balthasar restricts the theo-drama to an event between heaven and earth on the cross of Golgotha. Through this limitation of God's active involvement in history to a single event, Balthasar's theo-drama becomes an "unapocalyptic theology", which devalues God's salvific history with the world and the biblical expectation of an eschatological end of history. Furthermore, Balthasar underplays the messianic-political dimension of the Christian concept of salvation and thereby cements the status quo of a yet unredeemed world. [source]

Governance in Africa and Sino-African Relations: Contradictions or Confluence?

POLITICS, Issue 3 2007
Ian Taylor
China's expansion into Africa has attracted a great deal of criticism, particularly regarding its implications for human rights on the continent. However, the nub of the problem is found within Africa itself, within the neo-patrimonial regimes that dominate the continent. Obviously, there is justifiable disquiet that Beijing's Africa policies may undermine political and economic reform on the continent. Nevertheless, the reasons for Africa's current predicament are complex and erecting a potential scapegoat to blame for Africa's woes makes little sense. Before critiquing China's role in Africa vis-à-vis governance and human rights, analysts need to understand both China's particular human rights discourse and the nature of most African states, for it is here that the real problem lies. [source]

2D data modelling by electrical resistivity tomography for complex subsurface geology

GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 2 2006
E. Cardarelli
ABSTRACT A new tool for two-dimensional apparent-resistivity data modelling and inversion is presented. The study is developed according to the idea that the best way to deal with ill-posedness of geoelectrical inverse problems lies in constructing algorithms which allow a flexible control of the physical and mathematical elements involved in the resolution. The forward problem is solved through a finite-difference algorithm, whose main features are a versatile user-defined discretization of the domain and a new approach to the solution of the inverse Fourier transform. The inversion procedure is based on an iterative smoothness-constrained least-squares algorithm. As mentioned, the code is constructed to ensure flexibility in resolution. This is first achieved by starting the inversion from an arbitrarily defined model. In our approach, a Jacobian matrix is calculated at each iteration, using a generalization of Cohn's network sensitivity theorem. Another versatile feature is the issue of introducing a priori information about the solution. Regions of the domain can be constrained to vary between two limits (the lower and upper bounds) by using inequality constraints. A second possibility is to include the starting model in the objective function used to determine an improved estimate of the unknown parameters and to constrain the solution to the above model. Furthermore, the possibility either of defining a discretization of the domain that exactly fits the underground structures or of refining the mesh of the grid certainly leads to more accurate solutions. Control on the mathematical elements in the inversion algorithm is also allowed. The smoothness matrix can be modified in order to penalize roughness in any one direction. An empirical way of assigning the regularization parameter (damping) is defined, but the user can also decide to assign it manually at each iteration. An appropriate tool was constructed with the purpose of handling the inversion results, for example to correct reconstructed models and to check the effects of such changes on the calculated apparent resistivity. Tests on synthetic and real data, in particular in handling indeterminate cases, show that the flexible approach is a good way to build a detailed picture of the prospected area. [source]

Consumers' knowledge on sizing and fit issues: a solution to successful apparel selection in developing countries

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 3 2008
Anne Mastamet Mason
Abstract A study was conducted in the Nairobi, Eldoret and Kisumu regions of Kenya with the objective to determine and describe the role that Kenyan female consumers' sizing and fit knowledge play in the problems that they experience when selecting apparel. The study was cross-sectional and 201 female teachers between the ages 25 and 55 years were involved. Participants completed a questionnaire and were measured wearing body suits. Results revealed that most Kenyan female consumers frequently experience problems in getting the right size apparel items, while more than 90% of the consumers are also unsatisfied with the fit of their clothes. It was clear that most Kenyan female consumers are familiar with the non-informative lettered and numbered size labels as well as with the size label terms that represent established body types. However, the consumers lack knowledge of the meanings of various size label descriptions used on labels of ready-made apparel and also lack knowledge of their own key body dimensions. They are also confused as to where the cause of their problems lies and therefore blame their bodies as well as the apparel industry for their problems. The importance of knowledge in consumers' selection of apparel that would fit their specific proportions should not be underestimated. Industry should take notice that it is of no use to present consumers with size label information that is not clear, informative and understandable, as currently the case with the use of non-informative lettered and numbered size codes. [source]

Valuing the Gilbert Model

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2006
An Exploratory Study
Leaders such as Thomas Gilbert, Geary Rummier, and Edward Deming have argued that the greatest leverage for solving performance problems lies with solutions targeted at system or environmental factors (those under the control of management) versus individual performer factors. A 12-item research instrument titled Achieving Productive Performance (APP) was developed based on the six variables that make up Gilbert's human performance model. MBA candidates whoworkfull-time primarily in middle management positions were asked to make value judgments on strategies for producing productive performance (where value for the performance exceeds the costs), Results support the concept of leverage espoused by Gilbert, Rummier, and Deming. Implications for workplace learning and performance professionals are discussed. [source]