Sharif Digital Repository

In this paper, a new algorithm for solving the shortest loop design problem is presented. The shortest loop design problem is to find the shortest loop for an automated guided vehicle covering at least one edge of each department of a block layout. In this paper, first it is shown that this problem can be represented as a graph model. The properties of the presented model enable us to design a meta-heuristic based on ant colony system algorithm for solving the shortest loop design problem. Computational results show the efficiency of our algorithm in compare to the other techniques  

In a series of articles, Asbjorn Steglich-Petersen and Nick Zangwill argue that, since propositional attitude (PA) ascription judgements do not behave like normative judgements in being subject to a priori normative supervenience and the Because Constraint, PAs cannot be constitutively normative.1 I argue that, for a specific version of normativism, according to which PAs are normative commitments, these arguments fail. To this end, I argue that commitments and obligations should be distinguished. Then, I show that the intuitions allegedly governing all normative judgements do not even purport to hold for commitment-attributing judgements. Copyright © Canadian Philosophical Association 2020  

A number of philosophers have argued that there is a basic problem in the no-guidance argument against content normativism. The problem is that the argument restricts the essential normativity of intentional states to the formation of these states being guided by certain norms. But it is suggested that the essential norm-governedness of intentional states can be equally plausibly construed as the assessability of these states by norms, which does not imply complying with them. Although I concur with the problem diagnosed in the no-guidance argument, I take issue with the alternative conception of normativity which is put forward. In its stead, I argue that considering intentional states as... 

A number of philosophers have argued that there is a basic problem in the no-guidance argument against content normativism. The problem is that the argument restricts the essential normativity of intentional states to the formation of these states being guided by certain norms. But it is suggested that the essential norm-governedness of intentional states can be equally plausibly construed as the assessability of these states by norms, which does not imply complying with them. Although I concur with the problem diagnosed in the no-guidance argument, I take issue with the alternative conception of normativity which is put forward. In its stead, I argue that considering intentional states as... 

Abraham’s Dilemma is the conjunction of three jointly inconsistent propositions: (i) God’s commands are never morally wrong, (ii) God has commanded Abraham to kill his innocent son, and (iii) killing innocent people is morally wrong. Drawing on an overlooked point from the Qur’an regarding the content of the command as well as a conceptual analysis of intentional action, this paper proposes a novel solution to the dilemma by discarding proposition (ii) in a new way. Current approaches to rejecting proposition (ii) tend to appeal to epistemic failure on the side of Abraham. In my approach, which draws on the so-called accordion effect in intentional action, God’s command is interpreted in... 

In what sense can one claim that intentional explanations are essentially normative, given that people’s actions and thinking are replete with various irrationalities, yet are still pretty well explained by this explanatory framework? This article provides a novel response to this enduring objection. First, following Brandom, it is suggested that, to understand the normativity of intentional states, we should countenance and distinguish between two normative categories of commitment and entitlement, only the former of which is argued to be essential for intentional explanations. Conflating these two normative dimensions is noted to be one of the main sources of the objections leveled against... 

Abraham’s Dilemma is the conjunction of three jointly inconsistent propositions: (i) God’s commands are never morally wrong, (ii) God has commanded Abraham to kill his innocent son, and (iii) killing innocent people is morally wrong. Drawing on an overlooked point from the Qur’an regarding the content of the command as well as a conceptual analysis of intentional action, this paper proposes a novel solution to the dilemma by discarding proposition (ii) in a new way. Current approaches to rejecting proposition (ii) tend to appeal to epistemic failure on the side of Abraham. In my approach, which draws on the so-called accordion effect in intentional action, God’s command is interpreted in... 

In what sense can one claim that intentional explanations are essentially normative, given that people’s actions and thinking are replete with various irrationalities, yet are still pretty well explained by this explanatory framework? This article provides a novel response to this enduring objection. First, following Brandom, it is suggested that, to understand the normativity of intentional states, we should countenance and distinguish between two normative categories of commitment and entitlement, only the former of which is argued to be essential for intentional explanations. Conflating these two normative dimensions is noted to be one of the main sources of the objections leveled against... 

Neglecting actuator dynamics in control of rigid manipulators can degrade performance and stability of the system. However, consideration of actuator dynamics usually requires measurement of joint torque or armature currents. In this paper, we present an adaptive controller for motion tracking of an n-DOF manipulator without using joint torque measurement. Semi-global convergence of motion and torque tracking errors to zero is proven. We show that the use of non-minimal representation of manipulator dynamics significantly simplifies its linear parametrization. Simulation example shows that avoiding joint torque measurement reduces system sensitivity to sensor failure and noise  

In this paper, the production of lactic acid from deproteinized whey, using immobilized Lactobacillus casei on wood chips is investigated. The immobilization process was considered on various supports like wood chips, brick particle and porous glass by adsorption and on eggshell with glutaraldehyde by covalent bonding. Wood chips demonstrated the highest adsorption among all the supports and, therefore, was chosen as the best support for production. Batch production was studied at four temperatures and three different pH after five days. The highest concentration of lactic acid (16 g/1) was observed at T = 28°C and pH = 5.5. The optimum condition of temperature and pH for the continuous... 

This study aimed to investigate the leadership roles of subsidiary board chairpersons (SBCs). To this end, the study focused on the effect of the context of the parent company on the roles of SBCs in enhancing board effectiveness. This can be a response to the call for further investigation on the role of contextual and institutional factors in board effectiveness. An embedded multiple-case study design was used to compare the leadership role of chairpersons of the two groups of boards with high and low effectiveness in a corporation assessed via a multi-source appraisal method. Based on a series of interviews, we compared the mechanisms that differentiated the two groups of boards. Managing...