The author reflects on the evaluation of the notion of money in history. In many situations coins and banknotes were a proof for the existence of local, independent, political power. People’s attitude toward money was quite an important matter, too; in many situations neither money nor those professionally dealing with money were appreciated socially. Numerous utopian movements disliked money. Communism was one of them. The communist economy was driven — at least in theory — by overwhelming planning rather than by the incentive of money. After the fall of communism a question arised whether all or nearly all public activity should be driven by money or whether some domains of social activity should rather be kept as public domains.

The study aims to examine the role of Self-Forgiveness in shaping the Human Flourishing of the adults. Two hundred fourteen participants (18 to 30 years) comprising 100 males (Mean Age = 22.15(1.61)) and 114 females (Mean Age = 22.00(1.95)) were chosen for the study. Self-forgiveness (Mudgal & Tiwari, 2017a) and Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (Keyes, 2005) were used as the tools. Self-forgiveness comprises Realization & Reparation, Guilt, Attribution and overall self-forgiveness (sum of the first three) while Human Flourishing consists of Hedonic and Eudaimonic (Social plus Psychological) Well-Being. The aggregate of Hedonic and Eudaimonic is overall Human Flourishing. The findings suggested no gender differences in Self-Forgiveness of the participants. Conversely, gender differences were observed in all the dimensions of Human Flourishing in favour of males. Irrespective of gender, Realization & Reparation was positively correlated with Hedonic, Social, Psychological and Eudaimonic Well-Being as well as Human Flourishing except for Guilt and Attribution that showed small positive or negative correlations. Irrespective of gender, Overall Self-Forgiveness correlated positively with all the dimensions of Flourishing. Gender and Realization & Reparation emerged as the significant predictors accounting for significant variance in all the dimensions of Flourishing while Guilt and Attribution did not. The findings suggested that remorse, easy acceptance of wrongdoing, repairing the relationship with self and others, ability to minimize negative emotions towards self, monitoring others’ positive behaviours and acknowledgements of valued and close relationships were the psychological mechanisms that may underlie the predictive strengths of self-forgiveness in regulating flourishing.

In this paper, it has been shown that any measuring process can be modeled as a process of sampling of signals. Also, a notion of a special kind of functions, called here functions with attributes, has been introduced. The starting point here, in the first of the above themes, is an observation that in fact we are not able to measure and record truly continuously in time any physical quantity. The measuring process can be viewed as going stepwise that is in steps from one instant to another, similarly as a sampling of signals proceeds. Therefore, it can be modeled as the latter one. We discuss this in more detail here. And, the notion of functions with attributes, we introduced here, follows in a natural way from the interpretation of both the measuring process as well as the sampling of signals that we present in this paper. It turns out to be useful.

The Sebatik Island is one of the main cocoa-producing regions in Indonesia, but its productivity has been reported to be below the potential production volume. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the sustainability index for smallholder cocoa plantations on the Sebatik Island using the multidimensional scaling (MDS), known as the RAP- SEBATIK (rapid appraisal for cocoa on Sebatik Island) that adopts from the RAPFISH (Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries). The MDS was used to evaluate the sustainability status of cocoa across six dimensions, while the leverage analysis was applied to identify the status of the most influential attributes of each dimension. The results showed that the average sustainability index value for such dimensions as ecological, economic, sociocultural, infrastructural and technological, law and institutional, as well as defence and security was 46.23, 48.58, 75.20, 40.49, 36.39, and 36.39%, respectively, based on the current conditions. According to these findings, only the sociocultural dimension was sustainable in smallholder cocoa plantations on the Sebatik Island. The main attributes that need improvement for the sake of sustainability apply to the following dimensions: ecological, economic, sociocultural, infrastructure and technology, law and institutional, as well as defence and security. Attributes that need intervention are the average age of cocoa, the community’s level of formal education, fertilisers application for cocoa, the operation of a shop for agricultural production facilities, and defence and security facilities and infrastructure.

The recently proposed q-rung orthopair fuzzy set (q-ROFS) characterized by a membership degree and a non-membership degree is powerful tool for handling uncertainty and vagueness. This paper proposes the concept of q-rung orthopair linguistic set (q-ROLS) by combining the linguistic term sets with q-ROFSs. Thereafter, we investigate multi-attribute group decision making (MAGDM) with q-rung orthopair linguistic information. To aggregate q-rung orthopair linguistic numbers ( q-ROLNs), we extend the Heronian mean (HM) to q-ROLSs and propose a family of q-rung orthopair linguistic Heronian mean operators, such as the q-rung orthopair linguistic Heronian mean (q-ROLHM) operator, the q-rung orthopair linguistic weighted Heronian mean (q-ROLWHM) operator, the q-rung orthopair linguistic geometric Heronian mean (q-ROLGHM) operator and the q-rung orthopair linguistic weighted geometric Heronian mean (q-ROLWGHM) operator. Some desirable properties and special cases of the proposed operators are discussed. Further, we develop a novel approach to MAGDM within q-rung orthopair linguistic context based on the proposed operators. A numerical instance is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiorities of the proposed method.

Spherical fuzzy sets (SFSs) provide more free space for decision makers (DMs) to express preference information from four aspects: approval, objection, abstention and refusal. The partitioned Maclaurin symmetric mean (PMSM) operator is an effective information fusion tool, which can fully capture the interrelationships among any multiple attributes in the same block whereas attributes in different block are unrelated. Therefore, in this paper,we first extendPMSM operator to spherical fuzzy environment and develop spherical fuzzy PMSM (SFPMSM) operator as well as spherical fuzzy weighted PMSM (SFWPMSM) operator. Meanwhile, we discuss some properties and special cases of these two operators. To diminish the impact of extreme evaluation values on decision-making results, then we integrate power average (PA) operator and PMSM operator to further develop spherical fuzzy power PMSM (SFPPMSM) operator and spherical fuzzy weighted power PMSM (SFWPPMSM) operator and also investigate their desirable properties. Subsequently, a new multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) method is established based on SFWPPMSM operator under spherical fuzzy environment. Finally, two numerical examples are used to illustrate the proposed method, and comparative analysis with the existing methods to further testy the validity and superiority of the proposed method.

In this paper, a new set of intuitionistic fuzzy aggregation operators have been introduced under the environment of intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs). For this, firstly focused on some existing aggregation operators and then new operational rules known as Dombi operation have been pro- posed which make the advancement of flexibility behavior with the parameter. Based on Dombi operation laws, some new averaging and geometric aggregation operators namely, intuitionistic fuzzy Dombi weighted averaging, ordered weighted averaging and hybrid weighted averaging operator, classified as IFDWA, IFDOWA and IFDHWA operators respectively and intuitionistic fuzzy Dombi geometric, ordered weighted geometric and hybrid weighted geometric operators, labeled as IFDWG, IFDOWG and IFDHWG operators respectively have been proposed. Further, some properties such as idempotency, boundedness, monotonicity and commutative are investigated. Finally, a multi-attribute decision-making model has been developed for the proposed operators to select the best mutual fund for investment. The execution of the comparative study has been examined with the existing operators in this environment.

Clean and cheap device, namely dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using a natural dye extracted from Sambucus ebulus. We prepared five sample solutions with various pH in the extraction process to improve power conversion efficiency. The UV–visible absorption investigation of sample solutions and on photoanode show the dyes from J-type aggregation on a photoanode substrate. Redox properties of all sample solutions certify thermodynamically a charge transfer from excited state to conduction band TiO₂. The optical properties of various dye solutions were investigated and results showed darkness and bluish tint effect of dye solutions extracted in basic environment rather than those extracted in acidic condition. Moreover, in comparison to the basic condition, the dye solutions extracted in acidic environment were more saturated and colorimetrically less different from that one which extracted in neutral condition. Photophysical and photoelectrochemical performance of natural extraction dyes have been studied in dye-sensitized solar cell devices. The results show the rather high conversion efficiency of 0.57%, 1.15%, 1.02%, 0.35% and 0.15% of each individual dye extraction, respectively.

In this paper I take up one of the fundamental themes of ontology concerning the proper understanding of such ontological objects as ideal qualities, properties (features) and tropes. These objects, i.e. properties, qualities and tropes, help us understand more fully what an object in itself (substance, being, object) happens to be. The aim of this work is to present Ingarden’s position on this subject, but also to present a certain new formal solution that uses tools of topological ontology. The background for the problems here is to be found in the works of Aristotle, Ch. Wolff and N. Hartmann.

When patterns to be recognised are described by features of continuous type, discretisation becomes either an optional or necessary step in the initial data pre-processing stage. Characteristics of data, distribution of data points in the input space, can significantly influence the process of transformation from real-valued into nominal attributes, and the resulting performance of classification systems employing them. If data include several separate sets, their discretisation becomes more complex, as varying numbers of intervals and different ranges can be constructed for the same variables. The paper presents research on irregularities in data distribution, observed in the context of discretisation processes. Selected discretisation methods were used and their effect on the performance of decision algorithms, induced in classical rough set approach, was investigated. The studied input space was defined by measurable style-markers, which, exploited as characteristic features, facilitate treating a task of stylometric authorship attribution as classification

This article attempts to refute the generally accepted view that Jan Wojciech (Albert) Łubieński, Pantler of Sieradz, was the patron of Piotr Baryka,, the author of the comedy Z chłopa król ( The Peasant Become King), first staged in 1633 (editio princeps, 1637). The attribution results from a conjecture, which has never been properly verified, formulated by Ludwik Bernacki in 1904. Yet in the 1630s Jan Wojciech Łubieński held no public office (he was probably completing his education) and, crucially, did not become Pantler of Sieradz until 1643. In consequence, we presume that Baryka's patron may well have been Łubieński's uncle, a wealthy man renowned for his generosity, who had the same first name.

The Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences (Bull.Pol. Ac.: Tech.) is published bimonthly by the Division IV Engineering Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, since the beginning of the existence of the PAS in 1952. The journal is peer‐reviewed and is published both in printed and electronic form. It is established for the publication of original high quality papers from multidisciplinary Engineering sciences with the following topics preferred: Artificial and Computational Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, Civil Engineering, Control, Informatics and Robotics, Electronics, Telecommunication and Optoelectronics, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Thermodynamics, Material Science and Nanotechnology, Power Systems and Power Electronics.

Journal Metrics: JCR Impact Factor 2018: 1.361, 5 Year Impact Factor: 1.323, SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) 2017: 0.319, Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP) 2017: 1.005, CiteScore 2017: 1.27, The Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education 2017: 25 points.

Abbreviations/Acronym: Journal citation: Bull. Pol. Ac.: Tech., ISO: Bull. Pol. Acad. Sci.-Tech. Sci., JCR Abbrev: B POL ACAD SCI-TECH Acronym in the Editorial System: BPASTS.

The ability of q-rung dual hesitant fuzzy sets (q-RDHFSs) in dealing with decision makers’ fuzzy evaluation information has received much attention. This main aim of this paper is to propose new aggregation operators of q-rung dual hesitant fuzzy elements and employ them in multi-attribute decision making (MADM). In order to do this, we first propose the power dual Maclaurin symmetric mean (PDMSM) operator by integrating the power geometric (PG) operator and the dual Maclaurin symmetric mean (DMSM). The PG operator can reduce or eliminate the negative influence of decision makers’ extreme evaluation values, making the final decision results more reasonable. The DMSM captures the interrelationship among multiple attributes. The PDMSM takes the advantages of both PG and DMSM and hence it is suitable and powerful to fuse decision information. Further, we extend the PDMSM operator to q-RDHFSs and propose q-rung dual hesitant fuzzy PDMSM operator and its weighted form. Properties of these operators are investigated. Afterwards, a new MADM method under q-RDHFSs is proposed on the basis on the new operators. Finally, the effectiveness of the new method is testified through numerical examples.

This paper aims to propose a new multi-attribute decision making (MADM) method in complicated and fuzzy decision-making environment. To express both decision makers (DMs’) quantitative and qualitative evaluation information comprehensively and consider their high hesitancy in giving their assessment values in MADM process, we combine q-rung dual hesitant fuzzy sets (q-RDHFSs) with uncertain linguistic variables and develop a new tool, called the q-rung dual hesitant uncertain linguistic sets (q-RDHULSs). First, the definition, operations and comparison method of q-RDHULSs are proposed. Second, given the interrelationship among multiple q-rung dual hesitant uncertain linguistic variables (q-RDHULVs) we introduce some aggregation operators (AOs) to fuse q-rung dual hesitant uncertain linguistic (q-RDHUL) information based on the Muirhead mean, i.e. the q-RDHUL Muirhead mean operator, the q- RDHUL weighted Muirhead mean operator, the q-RDHUL dual Muirhead mean operator, and the q-RDHUL weighted dual Muirhead mean operator. To cope with MADM problems with q-RDHUL information, we propose a new method based on the proposed AOs. Afterwards, we apply the proposed method to an enterprise informatization level evaluation problem to verify its effectiveness. In addition, we also explain why our proposed method is more powerful and flexible than others.

The recently proposed q-rung dual hesitant fuzzy sets ( q-RDHFSs) not only deal with decision makers’ (DMs’) hesitancy and uncertainty when evaluating the performance of alternatives, but also give them great liberty to express their assessment information comprehensively. This paper aims to propose a new multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) method where DMs’ evaluative values are in form of q-rung dual hesitant fuzzy elements ( q-RDHFEs). Firstly, we extend the powerful Schweizer-Sklar q-norm and t-conorm (SSTT) to q-RDHFSs and propose novel operational rules of q-RDHFEs. The prominent advantage of the proposed operations is that they have important parameters q and r, making the information fusion procedure more flexible. Secondly, to effectively cope with the interrelationship among attributes, we extend the Hamy mean (HM) to q-RDHFSs and based on the newly developed operations, we propose the q-rung dual hesitant fuzzy Schweizer-Sklar Hamy mean ( q-RDHFSSHM) operator, and the q-rung dual hesitant fuzzy Schweizer-Sklar weighted Hamy mean ( q-RDHFSSWHM) operator. The properties of the proposed operators, such as idempotency, boundedness and monotonicity are discussed in detail. Third, we propose a new MADM method based on the q-RDHFSSWHM operator and give the main steps of the algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness, flexibility and advantages of the proposed method are discussed through numerical examples.