Academic literature on the topic 'New thinking'

This thesis explains theoretical issues concerned with paradigm incommensurability and the solutions offered by various critical systems writers. The problems of "imperialism" are outlined together with an analysis of the meta-theoretical views which purport to avoid imperialism. It is suggested that researchers attempting to understand alien or incommensurable paradigms or cultures often succumb to imperialism in its various guises. Three models of methods used by such researchers are described. The last of these, the model of critical appreciation, incorporates two crucial components advocated by Habermas and endorsed by Bernstein: critical self-reflection based upon an analogy of Freud's model of dream analysis, and an explicit critique of ideology. Methodological guidelines are offered which draw on an analogy of dream-analysis and on historical reconstruction as ideology-critique. It is suggested that any social inquiry must contain elements of "reflexive" (philosophical) and "scientific" (practical) inquiry together with ideology-critique and critical self-reflection in order to bring about the emancipation of individuals and groups. A model of self-society dynamics reveals the need for reflexive inquiry, discourse and action (as exemplified in the critical appreciation process) in any efforts to transform 'self' or 'society'. Consideration turns to the relationship between critical thinking and pluralism. The enriched version of critical appreciation is shown to require an a prior commitment to a new, discordant pluralism, which it also suggests in its modus operandii. In particular, the 'either/or' problematique presented by many writers is transformed into a 'both/and' juxtapositioning which lends its support to the form of pluralism involving both critical self-reflection and ideology-critique. The fully elaborated model of critical appreciation will finally be shown to fulfil the demands of the commitments of critical systems thinking.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The complexity of adopting a new crop-based biodiesel feedstock into South Africa given the prevailing environmental, economic and social concerns facing the country are addressed in this study by utilising a Systems Thinking approach. Solaris is a new variety of Tobacco developed specifically as an energy crop over the last twelve years by Italian companies Plantechno and Sunchem. Small-scale trials have been underway over the last year in the Loskop Valley farming community in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. These trials have been managed by the newly-formed local entity, Toboil (Pty) Ltd. In order to assess the viability of introducing Solaris into Loskop in terms of addressing the current diesel and electricity needs of the community and larger over-arching biofuel goals of South Africa, the full System Dynamic Modelling process was employed. This included significant research, stakeholder engagement, a Systems Thinking workshop as well as model development and simulation using the System Dynamics programming tool, Vensim. Following the simulation of various scenarios, it was determined that in order for Solaris implementation to have the greatest impact on the diesel and electricity independence desires of the community, as well as maximising job creation and avoided greenhouse gas emissions, the first five to ten years of implementation may only achieve low to moderate profitability. It was further concluded that if crop-based biofuels are to help meet the rural development goals of South Africa then significant investment and skills transfer is required. In order to address both of these, a modular development process is advocated and should be aided and mentored by members of the commercial farming industry.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kompleksiteit van die aanvaarding van ‘n nuwe oes-gebaseerde bio diesel roumateriaal in Suid-Afrika in die heersende omgewings-, ekonomiese- en sosiale kommer wat die land ervaar, word in hierdie studie aangespreek deur gebruik te maak van ‘n Sistemiese Denke Benadering (Systems Thinking approach) Solaris is ‘n nuwe variasie Tabak wat deur twee Italiaanse maatskappye Plantechno en Sunchem oor die afgelope twaalf jaar spesifiek as ‘n bron van energie ontwikkel is. Kleinskaalse proewe is gedurende die afgelope jaar in die Loskop Vallei Landbougemeenskap in die Limpopo-provinsie van Suid-Afrika gedoen. Hierdie proewe word onder die toesig van die nuut gevormde plaaslike entiteit, Toboil (Pty) Ltd uitgevoer. Aansienlike navorsing, die aktiewe deelname van die onderskeie belanghebbende partye, ‘n Sistemiese Denke werkswinkel sowel as die ontwerp van ‘n simulasie model deur die gebruik van Sisteem Dinamieke Programerings program, naamlik Vensim, is ingespan om die lewensvatbaarheid van die moontlike aanplanting van Solaris te beoordeel. Die spesifieke gemeenskap se huidige behoeftes aan diesel en elektrisiteit sowel as Suid-Afrika se breër doelwitte aangaande bio-brandstowwe was as die grondslag gebruik waarop die volle Sistemiese Denke Benadering toegepas is. In Loskop omgewing was verskeie moontlike scenarios beproef en daar is op grond daarvan vasgestel dat ten einde die grootste moontlike inpak te maak op die afhanlikheid van diesel en elektrisiteit behoeftes van die gemeenskap, sowel as om die grootste moontlik werkskepping potensiaal te verwesenlik – terwyl die afskeiding van kweekhuis gasse verhoed word - die eerste vyf tot tien jaar van implementering baie lae winsgrens tot gevolg sal hê. Daar is ook verder afgelei dat afsienbare beleggings en opleiding benodig gaan word indien aangeplante bio-brandstowwe aangewend sou word om die landelike ontwikkelingsdoelwitte in Suid-Afrika te verwesenlik. Ten einde beide hierdie doelwitte aan te spreek, word ‘n modulêre ontwikkelings proses aanbeveel waar gevestigde lede van die kommersiële lanbou industrie, bystand en leierskap voorsien.

This thesis examines some of the most important policies encompassed within Mikhail Gorbachev's 'new thinking'. The author explores the economic incentives and shifting Soviet view of international relations which led Gorbachev to introduce his groundbreaking reforms. Primary emphasis is given to an in-depth analysis of the 'defensive doctrine and how the issues surrounding that doctrine will impact upon the future U.S.-Soviet security relationship. Special topics include: increasing evidence of changes under way in the structure of Soviet forces stationed in Eastern Europe; possible future Soviet force deployments inside the USSR, including the construction of 'fortified regions,' and the evolving U.S.-Soviet relationship in the most important theater of relations between the two countries--Europe. It is the author's contention that the central driving forces behind all of Gorbachev's reforms was, and remains, a resuscitation of the Soviet economy. The author concludes that ultimate Soviet objectives under 'new thinking' will remain uncertain, and that the only prudent U.S. policy is to bargain in a vigorous but businesslike manner with Gorbachev to further reduce the Soviet threat, while retaining defenses sufficient to react to possible future Kremlin backtracking

This thesis generates insights into the re-conceptualisation and revaluation of industrial policy (IP) as a legitimate tool of economic policy in the context of developing countries. It draws upon what I call the New Industrial Policy (NIP) thinking, which is based on institutionalist and evolutionary economics concerned with both 'the innovation, learning and knowledge triad' and the spatialisation of IP The NIP thinking asserts the importance of learning and innovation, the 'power of economies of association' and 'the power of place' as key sources of competitive advantage. These three propositions are evaluated through empirical research which is based on the Argentinean experience in light of the failure of the last neoliberal programme implemented in the country (1991-2001). Specifically, the research focuses on a regional economy in which there exists both a cluster of SMEs and a group of institutions concerned with firm competitiveness. This thesis makes three main contributions to re-conceptualise the NIP thinking in the context of economies affected by economic decline. First, it identifies key factors that explain why the learning and innovation economy has less relative importance in these economies (if compared with firms in more developed economies), by arguing that the learning and innovation require a minimal threshold of resources and accumulated capabilities that the SMEs in development countries often do not have. Secondly, it explains why the powers of place and the economies of associations are only marginally exploited by firms due to the marked influence of restrictions at micro-, meso- and macro-economic levels. Finally, despite these restrictions, this research reveals that some emerging processes of change in individual firms and institutions have recently occurred which are in line with the assumptions forwarded by the NIP thinking. I conclude that in the interstices of the Argentine economic policy there is a case to consider the new IP ideas.

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2009.<br>"June 2009."<br>Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-98).<br>Most of the roads built over the last century in the US were built assuming that efficient mobility for drivers was most important without considering impacts to the natural or built environment. Urban neighborhoods were severed, ecologically sensitive areas were disrupted, and pedestrian, bicycle and transit accommodation was ignored. Public offense at this approach to road-building led to new policies and practices for more open, locally-based decision-making. Road construction is now subject to a higher level of scrutiny, yet investment is preserving existing roads is assumed with little public discussion even though preservation represents the majority of transportation expenditures. As public priorities shift toward favoring sustainable development and transforming out of auto-dependency, road preservation can be either a barrier or an opportunity. This study examines whether and how road preservation investments support these new priorities. I use the Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) as a case study. As a national leader in context-sensitive solutions and in commitment to sustainable development, MSHA is expected to exhibit innovative use of system preservation expenditures to support local plans for more balanced, less auto-intensive transportation systems. I find that rather than integrate context -sensitivity and sustainability into all transportation programs, Asset Management-based preservation programs focus almost exclusively on cost-efficiency while alternate programs are created to address broader concerns.<br>(cont.) Policies for context-sensitive solutions, flexible transportation investment, and sustainable development have little bearing on Asset Management -based preservation investments. MSHA's Neighborhood Conservation program offers a good model for locally-based, flexible preservation investment, though the fund has been susceptible to budget cuts. Asset Management systems are an important tool for managing risk and cost associated with an aging transportation system. However, as reliance on Asset Management-based investment grows, the narrow scope of these projects will undermine commitment to responsive, sustainable transportation investment. The decision-making process for these investments should be supplemented through small-area preservation planning, incentive funds for preservation project enhancements, and performance measures that focus investment on broad transportation goals in order to achieve reduced auto-dependency and transportation investment that supports public priorities.<br>by Kathleen R. Sylvester.<br>M.C.P.

La present tesi doctoral tenia com a objectiu complementar el coneixement actual sobre l’eficàcia de la vacuna enfront a PCV2 en condicions d’infecció subclínica i explorar dos conceptes nous (en quan a estratègies de vacunació enfront a aquest patogen) que poguessin augmentar l’eficàcia d’aquest tractament. El primer estudi pretenia avaluar la possible interferència de la presència de diferents nivells d’anticossos d’origen maten (AOM) en el moment de la vacunació, en l’evolució del guany mig diari de pes (GMDP). En aquest estudi, només es va detectar una possible interferència en l’eficàcia de la vacuna sobre el GMDP, quan es va considerar la subpoblació d’animals amb els valors S/P més alts. Per tant, l’impacte d’aquesta possible interferència en condicions de camp es probablement negligible en la majoria d’animals i de les granges. En el segon estudi, es va avaluar la viabilitat d’eradicar la infecció de PCV2 en una granja convencional infectada subclínicament amb PCV2 mitjançant una estratègia de vacunació en massa. L’aplicació durant una any de la vacunació en massa enfront a PCV2 (sense implementar mesures específiques de maneig o de bioseguretat) no va ser capaç d’eliminar l’infecció per PCV2. De fet, un cop la vacunació es va aturar, el virus es va detectar de nou. De totes maneres, la disminució dels nivells d’anticossos i la no detecció del virus durant la segona meitat del període de vacunació en massa deixa entreveure que la eradicació de la infecció de PCV2 mitjançant un programa de vacunació més llarg i més extensiu podria ser possible.<br>This thesis aimed to complement the current knowledge on PCV2 vaccination efficacy under subclinical infection conditions and give new creative concepts (“thinking out of the box”) for future related studies. The first study had the objective to assess the putative interference of different maternally derived antibody (MDA) levels at the time of vaccination on the average daily weight gain (ADWG) evolution. In this study, an apparent interference of vaccine efficacy on ADWG was noticed only when a small subpopulation of pigs with the highest ELISA S/P ratios was considered, Therefore, the impact of this possible interference under field conditions is probably negligible for most of the animals and farms. In the second study, the feasibility to eradicate PCV2 in a conventional PCV2 infected farm by using a mass vaccination strategy was assessed.. One year period of mass PCV2 vaccination (without implementing further farm management practices or biosafety measures) was not able to clear out PCV2 infection. Indeed the virus became detectable again when vaccination was stopped. However, the decreasing antibody levels and the lack of viral detection during the second half of the vaccination period shed a light on eradicating this virus by applying a longer term vaccination in a wider area would be feasible.

COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DO PESSOAL DE ENSINO SUPERIOR<br>Neste trabalho abordam-se questões relativas a como a noção de Inserção Social tem sido interpretado pelos profissionais do Campo da Assistência em Saúde Mental. Inicialmente, é feita uma apresentação da formação do Campo Social e das mudanças que nele têm ocorrido a partir das últimas décadas. A nova questão social que é a exclusão social é apresentada, mas também o contrato social e a cidadania que lhes fazem contraponto. A partir desta realidade introduz-se o Campo da Saúde Mental, sua constituição, e suas questões de base, a tutela, periculosidade e cuidado. Em seguida, a discussão é trazida para o contexto brasileiro e discute-se a Reforma Psiquiátrica Brasileira, forma mais atual do Campo da Assistência em Saúde Mental,e como se pensa a Inserção Social em seu contexto. Finaliza-se com a apresentação do percurso feito para se constituir uma Rede Municipal de Assistência em Saúde Mental.<br>In this work some of the questions related to how the Social Insertion notion has been used by the professionals on the Psychiatric Reform Field. First, a presentation of the Social Field constitution and the changes that have happened in it on the past decades is presented. The new social question which is the social exclusion is presented, and also the social contract and citizenship which oppose it.Based on that reality, the Mental Health Field is introduced, its constitution and its basic questions: dangerousness, tutelage and the care. Then, the discussion is presented about the Brazilian context and the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform, the Mental Health Field's new face, and how the Social Insertion on the former context has been thought. Finally, a presentation of the paths that have been followed so that a local Mental Health Help Net is presented.