Epistemic Norms of Assertion and Their Intuitive Evaluation

, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology Abdolazizi, Shahed (Author) ; Taheri Khorramabadi, Ali (Supervisor)

Abstract

In this thesis I evaluate two rival accounts: the knowledge norm of assertion and the justification norm of assertion. The former posits that “S has warrant to assert P iff S knows P”, while the latter states that “S has warrant to assert P iff S justifiedly believes (or has justification for believing) P”. I conduct this evaluation by assessing their explanatory power in two types of cases. First, I examine cases that are allegedly evidence for the knowledge norm, such as: lottery cases, Moorean cases, and challenges. In this thesis I argue that justification norm can also account for these cases. Second, I consider cases that are purported counterexamples to the knowledge norm, such as:...

Toughening mechanisms of SiC-bonded CNT bulk nanocomposites prepared by spark plasma sintering

, Article International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials ; Volume 71 , February , 2018 , Pages 61-69 ; 02634368 (ISSN) Dolati, S ; Azarniya, A ; Eslami Shahed, H ; Madaah Hosseini, H. R ; Simchi, A ; Sharif University of Technology

Elsevier Ltd 2018

Abstract

In this work, silicon carbide (SiC) was utilized as a binding agent to fuse carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into highly tough dense CNT bulk nanocomposites through spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. Phase studies were performed using x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and obtained results were verified by the microstructural evolution. Also, the optimum processing temperature was determined as 1600 °C at which the undesired allotropic phase transformation of SiC (β) → SiC (α) was avoided and single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) were structurally preserved. Fracture toughness of the nanocomposite synthesized at optimum processing conditions was...

Pyrolytic carbon coating for cytocompatibility of titanium oxide nanoparticles: a promising candidate for medical applications [electronic resource]

, Article Nanotechnology ; February 2012, Vol. 23, No. 4, PP. 045102 Behzadi, S. (Shahed) ; Imani, Mohammad ; Yousefi, Mohammad ; Galinetto, Pietro ; Simchi, Abdolreza ; Amiri, Houshang ; Stroeve, Pieter ; Mahmoudi, Morteza ; Sharif University of Technology

Abstract

Nanoparticles for biomedical use must be cytocompatible with the biological environment that they are exposed to. Current research has focused on the surface functionalization of nanoparticles by using proteins, polymers, thiols and other organic compounds. Here we show that inorganic nanoparticles such as titanium oxide can be coated by pyrolytic carbon (PyC) and that the coating has cytocompatible properties. Pyrolization and condensation of methane formed a thin layer of pyrolytic carbon on the titanium oxide core. The formation of the PyC shell retards coalescence and sintering of the ceramic phase. Our MTT assay shows that the PyC-coated particles are cytocompatible at employed doses