Computer representation of human knowledge must be approached using the human ability to assign different meanings to information according to our perceptions, which at the same time are constructed and constitute the interpretative context in which possible meanings acquire varying degrees of validity. This work proposes that humans construct our perceptions based on the context of our past ex...

Applying the generalised extension principle within the area of Computing with Words typically leads to complex maximisation problems. If distributed quantities—such as, e.g., size distributions within human populations—are considered, density functions representing these distributions become involved. Very often the optimising density functions do not resemble those found in nature; for instan...

A national, representative survey of the U.S. public found that Americans have moderate climate change risk perceptions, strongly support a variety of national and international policies to mitigate climate change, and strongly oppose several carbon tax proposals. Drawing on the theoretical distinction between analytic and experiential decision-making, this study found that American risk percep...

Health care delivery competence and accountability have typically been defined from providers' perspectives, rather than those of consumers as purchasers of services. In 1999, in the face of broad public concern about nursing competence the Alabama Board of Nursing developed an accountability model that established consumers at the center of the model and placed accountability for competent nur...

Outdoor emergency sirens are used as a major component of the Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Alert and Notification System in tornado-prone Alabama and many other areas of the U.S. This study examines public perceptions and reactions to the sirens for notification of tornadoes as well as perceptions of the usefulness of alternative means of notification. In April 2011 a major tornado s...

the present article aims to explicate the difference between perceptions of conceptual relations governing the public in different eras. therefore, this can be achieved through considering ancient greece as the birthplace of western traditions and deciphering the mythological meaning of governance in that era. to this end, it takes advantage of a hermeneutical-historical point of view to review...

The South African labour market is characterised by a diversity of ethnic and cultural groups. The public sector is experiencing pressure from social, economic, political and legislative circles to make the workplace more representative of the population. This study investigated the affirmative action process in a national public sector department in terms of its employees' perceptions of that ...

The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released in 2014 states that warming of the climate system is “unequivocal,” and it is “extremely likely” that human influence has been the dominant cause. However, public perceptions of anthropogenic climate change have varied widely, and indeed may have been significantly influenced by a disproportionate...

Organizations are introducing biometric devices into various sections of the economy for various reasons. What began as a security feature for a limited number of government organizations has been adapted to such diverse uses as paying for school children’s lunches to tracking employees’ work attendance. From an organizational perspective, justifications for use of biometric devices are plentif...

The damaging effects of human activities on marine ecosystems suggest that a major shift is required in the way marine resources and systems are viewed and used by individuals. Identifying how to engage society in this shift is an ongoing debate. This includes strengthening the positive connections between society and the sea. Currently, the major focus of research in this area is on coastal ar...