ACP-based social computing and parallel intelligence： Societies 5.0 and beyond

Social computing, as the technical foundation of future computational smart societies, has the potential to improve the effectiveness of opensource big data usage, systematically integrate a variety of elements including time, human, resources, scenarios, and organizations in the current cyber-physical-social world, and establish a novel social structure with fair information, equal rights, and a flat configuration. Meanwhile, considering the big modeling gap between the model world and the physical world, the concept of parallel intelligence is introduced. With the help of software-defined everything, parallel intelligence bridges the big modeling gap by means of constructing artificial systems where computational experiments can be implemented to verify social policies, economic strategies, and even military operations. Artificial systems play the role of ＂social laboratories＂ in which decisions are computed before they are executed in our physical society. Afterwards, decisions with the expected outputs are executed in parallel in both the artificial and physical systems to interactively sense, compute, evaluate and adjust system behaviors in real-time, leading system behaviors in the physical system converging to those proven to be optimal in the artificial ones. Thus, the smart guidance and management for our society can be achieved.

David Hume＇s Notion of Personal Identity： Implications for Identity Construction and Affective Communal Living in Africana Societies

The notion of personal identity is a topic that is widely discussed in all philosophical traditions-western, African, Asian, and Caribbean. The thread that runs through the different conceptions of personal identity is that the notion is linked with self-consciousness, whether in the metaphysical, epistemological, religious, or social contexts. In this paper, I shall focus attention on Hume＇s conception of personal identity drawing from it, and certain implications for affective communal life in Africana societies. It is a common knowledge among philosophers that Hume denies the ontological and independent existence of the self. For Hume, the self is a bundle of perception. However, in another section of the Treatise of Human Nature, Hume examines the development of what could be considered as self, placing it in a broad social context in which mirroring fellow minds have a critical role. What is significant in Hume＇s conception of personal identity is that the self is the locus of multifarious experiences and the social context in which it is placed enables us to relate the self to affective and relational construction of identity. It is then argued that this conception of identity can be used to stress the need for affection, love, compassion, sympathy, and empathy among persons, which in turn can promote societal transformation in Africana societies.

Dynamic aggregation evolution of competitive societies of cooperative and noncooperative agents

We propose an evolution model of cooperative agent and noncooperative agent aggregates to investigate the dynamic evolution behaviors of the system and the effects of the competing microscopic reactions on the dynamic evolution. In this model, each cooperative agent and noncooperative agent are endowed with integer values of cooperative spirits and nonco- operative spirits, respectively. The cooperative spirits of a cooperative agent aggregate and the noncooperative spirits of a noncooperative agent aggregate change via four competing microscopic reaction schemes： the win-win reaction between two cooperative agents, the lose-lose reaction between two noncooperative agents, the win-lose reaction between a coop- erative agent and a noncooperative agent （equivalent to the migration of spirits from cooperative agents to noncooperative agents）, and the cooperative agent catalyzed decline of noncooperative spirits. Based on the generalized Smoluchowski＇s rate equation approach, we investigate the dynamic evolution behaviors such as the total cooperative spirits of all coop- erative agents and the total noncooperative spirits of all noncooperative agents. The effects of the three main groups of competition on the dynamic evolution are revealed. These include： （i） the competition between the lose-lose reaction and the win-lose reaction, which gives rise to respectively the decrease and increase in the noncooperative agent spirits; （ii） the competition between the win-win reaction and the win-lose reaction, which gives rise to respectively the increase and decrease in the cooperative agent spirits; （iii） the competition between the win-lose reaction and the catalyzed-decline reaction, which gives rise to respectively the increase and decrease in the noncooperative agent spirits.

Sense-Oriented Reasoning at Three Progressive Levels in Tribal and Modem Societies

Sense-oriented reasoning （SOR） was analyzed by comparing the reasoning of tribal and modem societies on a specific subject, the conception and birth of a child. Tribal societies have beliefs, which are difficult to understand by modem societies. Their reasoning becomes understandable only when considering that their observations are limited to the macrocosm. Modem societies have access to the microcosm with a microscope, where different biological mechanisms for the conception of a child were discovered. Since the tribes＇ macroscopical observations were different, their conclusions became necessarily different. The inheritance problem can only be solved by genes at the microscopic level, to which tribal societies had no access. With observations limited to the macrocosm, tribes logically invoked invisible child-spirits of ancestors wanting to be reincarnated in children of the same tribe. Besides the different access to observation, the reasoning of both societies is similar and built around the investigation of a final sense. Reasoning progresses after a phase without any quest for sense through three progressive levels： （1） primary sense, （2） corrected sense, and （3） verified sense. In tribal societies, reasoning is interrupted at the primary sense level when it seems consistent with their general beliefs and traditions. This resembles coherentist theories of epistemic justification, in which justification is only a function of coherence between beliefs. Tribal societies realize the input problem of these theories, since they have no access to the microcosm and also illustrate the Gettier problem. Modem societies progress to the higher levels of corrected and verified sense reasoning, even if inconsistent with their prior beliefs. They initially imagined genes as a hypothetic missing link for inheritance, which relies on a start observation concerning the character of ancestors to the target observation, the similarity with the character of children. If the missing link is definitely verified, it shows a chain of justified beliefs between both observations, allowing the initially hypothetic missing link to be retrospectively considered as the real cause. The SOR of modem societies resembles the extemalist version of foundationalism of epistemic justification, in which the necessary non-inferential justification is represented by the target observation.

Constraints Hindering the Adoption of Scientific Dairy Farming Practices by Members and Non-members of Dairy Co-operative Societies （DCS）/Milk Producer Institutions （MPI）

The present study was conducted in four districts of Telangana State of India with 120 respondents in which 60 were members and other 60 were non-members of DCSs （Dairy Co-operative Societies）/MPIs （Milk Producer Institutions）. Constraints perceived in dairy farming and suggestions elicited by members and non-members were noted, tabulated and analyzed. The major constraints perceived by half or more than half of members were scarcity of water （91.67%）, lack of green fodder （88.33%）, preferring NS （natural service） than AI （Artificial Insemination） （83.33%）, negligence in feeding pregnant and dry animals （81.37%）, insufficient loan amount （78.33%）, tendency to feed only grass and brans （71.67%）, lack of availability of sufficient labour （70.00%）, lack of remunerative price for milk （66.67%）, high cost of feed （61.67%）, lack of fodder conservation （55.00%） and high cost of animals （50.00%）. Whereas major constraints perceived by non-members were scarcity of water （96.67%）, lack of green fodder （93.33%）, preferring NS than AI （88.33%）, lack of availability of sufficient labour （85.00%）, negligence in feeding pregnant and dry animals （83.33%）, tendency to feed only grass and brans （78.33%）, high cost of animals （75.00%）, complex procedure for obtaining loans （71.67%） and high cost of feed （66.67%）. Suggestions elicited by members majorly were providing subsidy for purchase of animals/providing loans on par with the cost of animal （81.67%）, enhancing the procurement price （70.00%）, providing more incentives （60.00%）, encouraging calf rearing （58.33%） and conducting frequent animal health camps （50.00%）. In case of non-members major suggestions elicited were conducting frequent animal health camps （68.33%） and providing subsidy on purchase of animals/providing loans on par with the cost of animal （58.33%）. Considering the above constraints perceived and suggestions elicited by dairy farmers a proper linkage strategy should be developed among private and public sectors in providing need based services to the dairy farmers.

Modern British Scientific and Technological Societies and Agricultural Development

In modern Britain,the scientific and technological societies represented by the Royal Society and the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society were extremely prosperous.Their series of activities provided scientific and technological support for the development of British industry and agriculture.Based on the detailed case studies of the Royal Society and Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society and other societies from domestic and foreign academic circles,this paper summarized the development status of modern British scientific and technological societies as a whole,sorted out the history of societies participating in British agriculture,and analyzed the contribution of scientific and technological societies to the development of modern British agriculture.

The Impact of the GST on Mortgage Yield Spreads of Australian Building Societies

Australia has experienced significant rises in mortgage costs and sharp declines in housing affordability in the last few decades, particularly since it implemented a new tax system of Goods and Services Tax （GST） in July 2000. Prior research has attempted to examine the influence of the GST on general price levels, but little research effort has been directed to investigate the impact of the GST on mortgage costs. Using proprietary data of major building societies in Australia for 36 months, this paper examines the changes of mortgage yield spreads in the pre-and post-GST periods for building societies. Results suggest that the lenders significantly increased their mortgage charges in the post-GST periods, For example, the increase is found to be, on average, 59.0 basis points which are much higher than that of banks.

Idiosyncracies of Democracy： Islamic Societies

The supposedly unique impact of Islamic culture on democracy has been debated by various scholars. While some argue that it has a deleterious effect, others explain why its effect is not any more negative than other religions. Some even argue that there is no reason to assume Islam has a negative impact on democracy at all. The results of empirical studies are equally confusing. While some support the negative view of Islam, others actually demonstrate its positive effect on democracy. This article contributes to this debate by focusing its attention on the often-neglected distinction between electoral and liberal democracies, comparing Islamic societies with the rest of the world. Its findings demonstrate that the religion of Islam cannot be used to explain the seeming lack of the growth of democracy among Islamic societies.

＂Mass Production＂ in the Mass Consumption Societies The Case of Male Bodybuilding

Nowadays, the body seems to be the perfect object of consumption. People use it to define themselves but also as a vehicle that can send signs to others in the hope that their body will be a factor of social integration and social recognition. Hence we can observe the development of practices of body transformations which go along with the philosophy of the society in which everything seems possible for everybody, with no limit whatsoever. Indeed, if you want your body to be seen, you have to ＂produce＂ it before. The practice of bodybuilding sustains efforts in that direction： historically born and developed along with the consumption society, it came to embody its values. The analysis is based on qualitative methodology that is observations in three bodybuilding Gyms and 30 interviews with bodybuilders in France. The results show that bodybuilding reflects the consumption society＇s norms, that is a practice in which the body is in tension between imitation and distinction, hence showing the will to be ＂like others but in better＂ thanks to the production of a nice and ＂massive＂ body. Such a dimension could sometimes be dialectical, when the body becomes a source of alienation.

A Letter to Member Societies of WFAS

Dear/Sir,World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion（WJAM）has published for nearly 4 years.The journalaims“to promote understanding and cooperation among acupunctue-moxibustion societies around theworld,to strengthen international academic exchanges and to develop the sciences of acupuncture-moxibustion,thereby to contribute to health for mankind”.We hope that each member of WFASshould make full use of the Journal to exchange clinical experiences,to publicize achievements in ex-perimental researches and acupuncture education and to introduce your acupuncture group andacupuncturist’s individual career to the world.All contributions from any country are welcome.

A Letter to Member Societies of WFAS

World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion（WJAM）has published for nearly 4 years.The journalaims″to promote understanding and cooperation among acupunctue-moxibustion societies around theworld,to strengthen international academic exchanges and to develop the sciences of acupuncture-moxibustion,thereby to contribute to health for mankind″.We hope that each member of WFASshould make full use of the journal to exchange clinical experiences,to publicize achievements in experimental researches and acupuncture education and to introduce your acupuncture group andacupuncturlst’s individual career to the world.All contributions from any country are welcome.

A Letter to Member Societies of WFAS

World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibust ion (WJAM ) has published for nearly 3 years. The journalaims' to promote understanding and cooperation among acupunctue-moxibust ion societies around theworld, to strengthen international academic exchanges and to develop the sciences of acupuncture-moxibustion, thereby to contribute to health for mankind', We hope that each member of WFASshould make full use of the journal to exchange clinical experiences, to publicize achievements in ex-perimental researches and acupuncture education and to intreduce your acupuncture group andacupuncturist’s individual career to the world. All contributions from any country are welcome.

The Role of Traditional Leaders in Governance Structure Through the Observance of Taboos in Cape Coast,Kumasi and Teshie Societies of Ghana

The specific objective of the study was to identify the role of traditional leaders in Cape Coast,Kumasi and Teshie in the governance structure of their societies through the observance of taboos.It was to have a good understanding of what constitutes governance and good governance in the context of the indigenous set-up;to assess the current nature of governance related taboos;and to evaluate the impact of contemporary society on taboos and the consequence of any impact of contemporary society on the taboos on indigenous governance.The research was guided by Creswell’s knowledge on research paradigm to describe a researcher’s philosophical view and conceptualization of reality.The research adopted mixed method approach in achieving the objective of the research by obtaining empirical data for the research questions.Two sets of instruments were adopted for data gathering.The first instrument was an interview guide that was used to solicit structured data from the respondents in order to elicit more candid and objective replies.The second instrument was a questionnaire,which was used in order to gather the exact responses relevant to the research from participants.The study found out that traditional rulers occupy unique position,hence in order to maintain certain standards to please their subjects on whose authority they rule,they cannot avoid observing taboos.It further showed that the Chieftaincy institution is an institution that cannot be done away with.It is recommended that both citizens and non-citizens in these traditional societies should be made to appreciate,respect and observe taboos associated with taboo days as a means to promote unity,peace and governance.