Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Critical_Fallacy

The Event Horizon

Critical_Fallacy — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 11:16:01 +0800

Talk about lucky number seven. Astronomers have discovered not one, not two, but seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a star called TRAPPIST-1.

What’s more, three of them are in the habitable zone— the happy place where liquid water can exist on the surface of rocky planets, as it’s not too hot or cold. (Although liquid water could potentially exist on any of the seven, NASA said, it likes the odds on those three best.) The space agency calls the discovery of the fascinating solar system record-breaking.

“The discovery gives us a hint that finding a second Earth is not just a matter of if, but when,” Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, said at a news conference announcing the discovery.

This is the first time astronomers have found so many Earth-sized planets circling the same sun.

Read more @ http://www.foxnews.com/science/2017/02/22/...-announces.html

[YOUTUBE]bnKFaAS30X8[/YOUTUBE]

A Simple Approach to Higher-Order Thinking Skills

Critical_Fallacy — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 10:47:26 +0800

Here are some thought-provoking appetizers for students to improve decision making skills, increase intuition and think smarter. The riddles are typically related to Logical Reasoning, Operations Research and Constrained Optimization. The objective is not to provide a comprehensive treatment on HOTS. Rather, the objective is to make the young students aware of the Critical Thinking Skills for Overcoming Obstacles when faced with real HOTS-related problems in exams or in life.

The Bridge riddle, by Alex Gendler

[YOUTUBE]7yDmGnA8Hw0[/YOUTUBE]

The Hat riddle, by Alex Gendler

[YOUTUBE]N5vJSNXPEwA[/YOUTUBE]

The Passcode riddle, by Ganesh Pai

[YOUTUBE]7Vd1dTBVbFg[/YOUTUBE]

Image Integrity Violation in Research Publications

Critical_Fallacy — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 04:01:25 +0800

If you get involved in the peer review process, make sure that you do the job professionally in catching suspected data falsification before publication. One study finds that approximately 1 out of 25 papers contains inappropriately duplicated images.

In the past few days, a case of alleged dodgy data in four papers including one published in a relatively high impact journal, was actively discussed on Twitter. Many academics, including an expert in image integrity wondered how the papers passed three rounds of peer reviews.

https://microbiomedigest.com/2016/06/10/ima...cation-quartet/
by Elisabeth Bik

http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archi...tific-publisher
by Derek Lowe

https://forbetterscience.wordpress.com/2016...lls-and-images/
by Leonid Schneider

http://retractionwatch.com/2016/06/10/auth...nt-duplication/
@Retraction Watch

Drop! Cover! Hold On!

Critical_Fallacy — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 04:20:17 +0800

QUOTE(CyberSetan @ Jun 13 2015, 02:44 AM)

Damn... i was sitting next to my patient in OT.. suddenly ground shaking. Stopped operating for awhile... zzz...

Shaking around 10 seconds..

It is reported that a strong aftershock measuring 5.2 hit Ranau in Sabah around 2.30am.

Experts and rescuers agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes.

Protect yourself and spread the words.

http://www.dropcoverholdon.org/

If there is no furniture nearby, you can still reduce the chance of injury from falling objects by getting down next to an interior wall and covering your head and neck with your arms.

Based on years of research about how people are injured or killed during earthquakes, and the experiences of U.S. and international search and rescue teams, these three actions are not recommended to protect yourself during earthquakes:

DO NOT run outside or to other rooms during shaking: The area near the exterior walls of a building is the most dangerous place to be. Windows, facades and architectural details are often the first parts of the building to collapse. You are much safer to stay inside and get under a table.

DO NOT stand in a doorway: In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house, and the doorway does not protect you from the most likely source of injury- falling or flying objects. You also may not be able to brace yourself in the door during strong shaking. You are safer under a table.

DO NOT believe the so-called "triangle of life": In recent years, an e-mail has circulated which recommends potentially life threatening actions, and the source has been discredited by leading experts. Please click here for more details.

c.c. [@quadcube]

Car Thief demo how EASY it is to Steal Your Car

Critical_Fallacy — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 21:17:25 +0800

[YOUTUBE]pryM7EFRO2A[/YOUTUBE]

Full Story: http://www.carlist.my/news/video-malaysian...-your-car/14071

Ask a Lawyer

Critical_Fallacy — Sat, 16 May 2015 11:54:06 +0800

[center][/center]

Man Escapes Rape Charges Of A Minor Who Conceived His Child Because He Used His Finger

Girl withdrawn after rape acquittal

Uproar over man’s acquittal in child rape

Sarawak minister urges Putrajaya to redefine rape

We know that an independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should maintain and enforce high standards of conduct and should personally observe those standards, so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved. Some people, however say we have problems with our criminal justice system. Justice seekers claimed that too many criminal suspects are unfairly acquitted or have their charges dismissed because of loopholes in criminal justice system.

(1) How can we know the loopholes in our criminal justice system?

(2) How should people who have violated “moral laws” and manipulated loopholes in criminal justice system be treated?

(3) Should citizens be expected to obey a society's laws even if they believe the laws to be unjust?

(4) What is the core meaning of the concept of justice?

(5) Does society have a responsibility to protect and support its less advantaged members?

(6) To what extent should individual judges be expected to sacrifice their individual interests to support the general public interest?

(7) In what ways can citizens influence the policies and laws?

Critical’s Forecast Question :: 5¢ and 50¢

Critical_Fallacy — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:20:14 +0800

|MATHEMATICS|

Suppose that a 5 sen with diameter 16 mm rolling completely along the circumference of a 50 sen with diameter 28 mm. How many rotations did the 5 sen make? (Round your answer to two decimal places).

PT3, SPM, Pre-U, and College students are encouraged to work out this problem.

[@Flame Haze], [@maximR], [@kingkingyyk], [@ninty], [@v1n0d]

Would you be so kind as to pm the solution to me, please?

Enneagram

Critical_Fallacy — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 13:24:20 +0800

Enneagram (pronounced ANY-a-gram) is a system, represented by a circle containing a nine-pointed star-like shape for distinguishing nine different patterns of motivation that give rise to nine personality types. It explains why we behave the way we do, and it points to specific directions for individual growth. Each point on the enneagram circle represents one of the types. Each of the types can be described in many ways, depending on our purpose.

Finding your "energy center" is a key to finding your type. While each type has its own distinctive energy, the type energy arises out of one of three energy centers: the Body / Instinctive Center (Types 8-9-1), the Heart / Feeling Center (Types 2-3-4), or the Head / Thinking Center (Types 5-6-7).

Your personality may blend into or be influenced by the types on either side of yours. These neighbor are called your wings. Studying the wing types gives us a way to make finer-grained distinctions of within-type differences. Usually, one of those wings will exert a stronger influence than the other. So if a person is a Three, he’s probably a hard worker. But if he has a strong Two wing, he’s probably more attracted to working with other people; if he has a strong Four wing, he’s probably more attracted to working independently.

Another way to study the sub-type is by looking at how different people of the same type seek fulfillment in life. Some people are extremely independent (inner band). They enjoy doing things on their own, and like their own space. Others are intensity-seekers (mid band) who are inspired by the thrill of romance, the fascination of the deep, or the dizzying heights of the spiritual transcendent. Yet others are focused on social relations (outer band), and are at their best when participating in group activities like social galas, community work, or political activism.

As you learn the Enneagram, you will readily begin to “type” people you know. Adults usually do not change from one basic personality type to another, but children may. By working with the Enneagram, we develop a deeper understanding of others and learn alternatives to our own patterns of behavior. We break free from worn-out coping strategies and begin to see life from a broader point of view. Enneagram is certainly an indispensable instrument for improving relationships with family, friends and coworkers, as well as unlocking the secrets of your personality to find your perfect career path.

Ask an Accountant

Critical_Fallacy — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 23:01:00 +0800

I always prepared well for an accounting exam. Yet, no matter how well I prepared I always used to panic when my ‘balance sheet’ doesn’t balance due to few hundreds ringgits. Well, I might take 10-15 minutes to find the ‘number bug(s)’ and as a result, I lost a lot of time to tackle the next question. Though I made a distinction in accounting, I, as well as some SPM / ACCA students might want to ask: “What should I do if my statement of financial position doesn’t balance?”

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Permanent Magnet Brushless DC Motor Drives and Controls
Chang-liang Xia | ISBN: 978-1-118-18833-0 | 304 pages | April 2012
http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/pr...ectCd-EE70.html

Electromechanical Motion Systems: Design and Simulation
Frederick G. Moritz | ISBN: 978-1-119-99274-5 | 308 pages | November 2013
http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/pr...1119992745.html

Design of Rotating Electrical Machines, 2nd Edition
Juha Pyrhonen, Tapani Jokinen, Valeria Hrabovcova | ISBN: 978-1-118-58157-5 | 612 pages | October 2013
http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/pr...ectCd-EE40.html

Analysis and Synthesis of Fault-Tolerant Control Systems
Magdi S. Mahmoud, Yuanqing Xia | ISBN: 978-1-118-54133-3 | 480 pages | November 2013
http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/pr...ectCd-EE30.html

Aircraft Flight Dynamics and Control
Wayne Durham | ISBN: 978-1-118-64681-6 | 306 pages | August 2013
http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/pr...1118646819.html

Aerospace Propulsion
T. W. Lee | ISBN: 978-1-118-30798-4 | 316 pages | November 2013
http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/pr...1118307984.html

Satellite Technology: Principles and Applications, 3rd Edition
Anil K. Maini, Varsha Agrawal | ISBN: 978-1-118-63647-3 | 872 pages | May 2014
http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/pr...ectCd-ME70.html

Photovoltaics: Fundamentals, Technology and Practice
Konrad Mertens | ISBN: 978-1-118-63416-5 | 296 pages | December 2013
http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/pr...1118634160.html

Low-Energy Lunar Trajectory Design
Jeffrey S. Parker, Rodney L. Anderson | ISBN: 978-1-118-85387-0 | 404 pages | February 2014

Algebraic Identification and Estimation Methods in Feedback Control Systems
Hebertt Sira-Ramírez, Carlos García Rodríguez, Alberto Luviano Juárez, John Alexander Cortés Romero | ISBN: 978-1-118-73060-7 | 400 pages | May 2014

Ask a Biologist

Critical_Fallacy — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:03:51 +0800

I'm puzzled about a topic in biology called Mendelian inheritance, or particularly Mendel’s Laws, which are more familiar to the SPM students from Science Stream. You might be wondering if this is about Mendel’s Pea Stories, but it is difficult to overstate the impact of Mendel’s research on the history of genetics. Gregor Johann Mendel published his research in 1865 and 1866 but they were ignored and rediscovered in 1900. In my understanding, he only published two fundamental laws for which they became the core of classical genetics.

Mendel’s First Law (Law of Segregation) states that “One allele of each parent is randomly and independently selected, with probability ½, for transmission to the offspring; the alleles unite randomly to form the offspring’s genotype.”

Mendel’s Second Law (Law of Independent Assortment) states that “The alleles underlying two or more different traits are transmitted to offspring independently of each other; the transmission of each trait separately follows the first law of segregation.”

Today Mendel’s Laws can be derived directly from our understanding of Meiotic cell division or Meiosis, which is the cell division that produces gametes, either sperm or ova; the union of a sperm and an ovum produces the fertilized egg cells called zygotes. However, some writings outline three laws instead of two, where Mendel’s Third Law is known as the Law of Dominance. And so, I need a biologist or biology expert like [@olkooi], [@Farmer_C], and [@PF T.J.] to answer my question:

Why do some writings mention only two laws while others have three laws?

Ask a Mathematical Physicist

Critical_Fallacy — Tue, 06 Aug 2013 19:47:14 +0800

https://www.symbolab.com/
http://onsolver.com/

Original First Post

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College Algebra

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Calculus :: Early Transcendentals

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Advanced Engineering Mathematics

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Numerical Methods (a.k.a. Computational Methods for Applied Sciences)

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Euler Angles

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Surviving 100 Centuries

Critical_Fallacy — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 05:55:13 +0800

This is a serious contemporary scientific thread. I went to a bookstore and one book caught my eyes with the intriguing title 《继续生存10万年:人类能否做到?》, which literally means “Surviving 1,000 Centuries: Can we do it?” Some of us may recall one of Stephen Chow's most famous line in his filmography in “A Chinese Odyssey” <西遊記>, where the he played as the Monkey King, who reflected at the moment before he put on the magical headband that, maybe there was hope for him to confess his love to fairy Zixia (played by Athena Chu) with a time limit of 10,000 years. And that's exactly 100 Centuries.

Following the advancements of celestial physics and space explorations, the authors provide valuable reference for the future of humanity, reviewed the achievements in various disciplines of the last century, highlighted the critical issues humanity have to face during the progress of technological and social developments, and pointed out the path of sustainable development for human being.

The authors argue that there is indubitable evidence that our Solar System and the Mother Nature are the hotbed of life and the cradle of humanity, but not the perfect paradise. They claim humanity encountered and will continually encounter disasters, hardships and risks in human being’s history of survival and progress. Thus, they contend that facing the uncontrolled growing population, human beings should not be blindly optimistic because we cannot afford to leave the future and destiny of mankind to the free will of individual or small groups. Only the scientific decision-making, scientific management and scientific and technological progress could guarantee the safety of human being and the survivability of our future generations.

So what? I wonder if all the facts claimed by the authors were taken together, would you share with me the wider implications of the developmental strategies and the enhancement of abilities for a country to defend against the natural disasters (e.g. 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor strike) and calamities imposed by human being for 100 Centuries, let alone 1,000 Centuries as investigated by the authors?

[YOUTUBE]dBvotWfR3j4[/YOUTUBE]

What is Philosophy?

Critical_Fallacy — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:00:15 +0800

What do you hope to learn? These monolithic human statues (called Moai) from Easter Island suggest the contemplative nature of philosophy, which can help us grapple with the big questions of life. The study of philosophy provides us with a unique opportunity to respond to Socrates’ challenge by inspiring us to explore profound ideas and develop powerful intellectual abilities, as well as to make better personal decisions.

This thread is a personal invitation for you to begin or continue your own personal philosophical journey. You can think about some philosophical themes and then explain your personal goals for the pursuit of wisdom. We can then discuss the insights and knowledge you would like to achieve and the ways you would like to develop your mind.

QUOTE

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
— Socrates

Socrates’ clear-cut challenge is that, if we live our lives unreflectively by simply reacting to life’s circumstances and not attempting to delve into its deeper meanings, then our lives have diminished significance. When our minds are unreflective, we are not utilizing the distinctive human mental capacity to think critically about imperative issues and develop astute conclusions about ourselves and our world.

Branches of Philosophy

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