Original Concept Research Articles

Is AI image generation a creative or optimize tool in product design process?—The usage of AI image generation tools for vehicle shape as an example

This study explores the shape thinking processes and decision-making factors of designers when using AI image generation tools for conceptualizing the shapes of two-wheeled vehicles through four design tasks. Eight designers were invited to create hand-drawn sketches based on a specific aesthetic direction (technological geometry), followed by a shape divergence exercise using two AI graphics tools, Stable Diffusion and Vizcom, to generate images from text prompts. After selecting the designs closest to their original concepts and their favorite designs, the designers used an iPad to explore different shape directions (technological biology) for partial shape modifications. Finally, retrospective interviews were conducted to understand whether there were differences in designers’ thinking process regarding the use of various AI tools for shape conceptualization, as well as their focal points regarding design modification and shape thinking at different stages of the process. The research findings indicate that current AI tools are more suitable for shape divergence. If designers wish to achieve shape convergence, they need to be more familiar with the various settings of AI image generation tools and understand which prompts significantly influence specific shape characteristics. Designers’ perceptions of shape modification primarily revolve around: 1. Outline contours, 2. Parting lines, 3. Variations in surface curvature, and 4. The resulting features (light and shadow effects). Furthermore, it is recommended that future AI image generation tools, if developed as professional assistive tools for product design, should provide two modes—shape divergence and convergence—focusing on both the main shape and details. Additionally, it is suggested that developing AI-3D technologies should address the four key aspects of shape manipulation presented in this study, offering adjustments for overall appearance and detailing the contour lines of parts, including the manipulation of surface curvature and shape positioning.

Testing the Applicability and Transferability of Data-Driven Geospatial Models for Predicting Soil Erosion in Vineyards

Empirically based approaches, like the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), are appropriate for estimating mass movement attributed to rill erosion. USLE and its associates become widespread even in spatially extended studies in spite of its original plot-level concept, as well as with certain constraints on the supply of suitable input spatial data. At the same time, there is a continuously expanding opportunity and offer for the application of remote sensing (RS) imagery together with machine learning (ML) techniques to model and monitor various environmental processes utilizing their versatile benefits. The present study focused on the applicability of data-driven geospatial models for predicting soil erosion in three vineyards in the Upper Pannon Wine Region, Central Europe, considering the seasonal variation in influencing factors. Soil loss was formerly modeled by USLE, thus providing non-observation-based reference datasets for the calibration of parcel-specific prediction models using various ML methods (Random Forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, Regularized Support Vector Machine with Linear Kernel), which is a well-established approach in digital soil mapping (DSM). Predictions used spatially exhaustive, auxiliary, and environmental covariables. RS data were represented by multi-temporal Sentinel-2 satellite imagery data, which were supplemented by (i) topographic covariates derived from a UAV-based digital surface model and (ii) digital primary soil property maps. In addition to spatially quantifying soil erosion, the feasibility of transferring the inferred models between nearby vineyards was tested with ambiguous outcomes. Our results indicate that ML models can feasibly replace the empirical USLE model for erosion prediction. However, further research is needed to assess model transferability even to nearby parcels.

‘While Strictly Speaking It Is Illegal, You Can Work as Long as You Want’: How Platform Facades Enable Gig Workers to Comply With, Bend and Break Migration Rules

ABSTRACTMigrant workers are frequently viewed as passive recipients of immigration controls. Bringing together three strands of the migration literature, namely the structuralist, agency and temporal perspectives, we analyse how migrant workers in the Australian gig economy navigate immigration controls and labour market barriers, thereby advancing debates on gig work and migration. We examine migrant workers' (non)compliance with working rights restrictions and their adherence to, or disregard for, local rules and regulations. Drawing upon 38 interviews with 30 migrants working via ‘emerging’ food‐delivery platforms, which use ‘platform facades’—an original concept this article develops—rather than comprehensive algorithmic architectures, we find these workers use these platforms' relative lax compliance regimes, independent contractor engagement‐model and work practices to circumvent migration restrictions, with co‐ethnic networks playing a facilitative role. The findings highlight the importance of temporal orientations and migration intentions for understanding migrant gig workers' (non)compliance behaviours.

Artificial Intelligence and Originality in Design

The Purpose of the Study: This paper addresses how artificial intelligence (AI) plays a role in the world of design and how it affects the concept of originality. The paper examines the use of AI in areas such as graphic design, logo design, painting, original designs and web design, and discusses the innovations that this technology brings to design processes. The paper also considers the positive and negative effects of AI on designers. Positive effects include the acceleration of design processes and the access to a wider creative spectrum. On the other hand, the impact of AI on originality is a controversial issue. It is questioned how original the designs produced with AI are and whether these designs have artistic value. Literature Review/Background: The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the field of design and the reconsideration of the concept of originality are mentioned. While AI offers speed and efficiency in design processes, creative solutions have been addressed through learning from data and algorithms. While the innovations and efficiency advantages offered by AI expand the creative capacities of designers, the concepts of originality and personal expression are evaluated. Methodology: The research design of the study was qualitative, document scanning method was used as the data collection method, and content analysis method was used to analyse the data. Using the document scanning method, the effects of artificial intelligence in design and the concepts of originality were discussed. Findings: The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the field of design necessitates a reconsideration of the concept of originality. While AI offers speed and efficiency in design processes, it produces creative solutions through learning from data and algorithms. However, originality in this process can often be derived from existing data or based on style transfers. While the innovations and efficiency advantages offered by AI expand the creative capacities of designers, it may cause you to question the concepts of originality and personal expression. Conclusion: the paper suggests that AI is an important tool in the design world and predicts that this technology will become even more widespread in the future. However, it is emphasised that AI should be used carefully and consciously in creative processes.

Institutional Economics in the Mirror of 2023 Publications

Bibliographic studies of scientific publications have become popular nowadays. This paper attempts to answer the question – what is happening with institutional economics in Russia. The empirical base is data from the scientific electronic library Elibrary.ru on articles of 2023. At the first stage of the study, a selection of journals was carried out (76 in total). The selection criterion was belonging to Q1 of the Higher Attestation Commission list and inclusion in the top 100 journals according to the Science Index rating (Economics, Economic Sciences). The selected journals are characterised by their founders, place of publication and year of foundation. It is revealed that institutional economics is mentioned in the editorial policy of nine journals. At the second stage, we selected articles published in 76 journals by the presence of the terms "institution" and "institutional" in their titles and keywords (a total of 191 articles). We found a rather high concentration of these articles in the core of journals whose editorial policy either mentions institutional issues or whose thematic orientation is extremely broad. At the third stage, articles were sorted by annotations and keywords by expert means, and publications related to economic institutionalism (96 in total) were singled out. The distribution of these articles across journals and affiliations is shown, and the characteristics of co-authorship and collaborations are identified. The metadata of the articles was then used to conduct a content analysis of the nature and thematic focus of the articles, the data and methods used, and the terminology of the research. To better understand the nature of the research being conducted, the content analysis was supplemented by reviewing the content of the articles. The analysis made it possible to draw a conclusion about the predominance of empirical studies. Among theoretical articles there is an orientation towards the formation of original author's concepts on the basis of "synthesis" and "interdisciplinarity", as well as the so-called "conceptual creativity". In a significant part of empirical works the elaboration of theoretical foundations of research is insufficient.

A Paradigm Shift in Relations in the Northeastern Area of the Ukrainian-Russian Borderlands

The theoretical and applied perspectives on the study of neighborhood as a socio-cultural, socio-political, and geographical phenomenon relevant to contemporary ethnology are submitted in the article. The aspects under consideration are dictated by the realities of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which, with its tools, has changed radically the paradigm of coexistence of the communities in the bordering territories, led to a reassessment of relations and formed a new perception of those on the other side of the frontier. Taking into account empirical, statistical, and numerous audiovisual sources, as well as the reflection on the authoress’s own experience of living in the studied space, the researcher presents her original concept of understanding the process of neighborly ties and relations destruction caused by aggression. The main efforts are aimed at showing the changing nature of relations in the borderland amid the war. Focusing specifically on the northeastern area, we have managed to find out that the inhabitants of the territory lost their deep-rooted ethnic complementarity and tolerance for their Russian neighbors mainly after experiencing their hostility. The full-scale invasion, despite years of armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, has become a turning point. Only personal losses and feelings caused by the events that turned a peaceful space of coexistence into a zone of confrontation polarized communities and forced them to build boundaries in their relationships. The social closeness natural to the borderland environment and the fake kinship imposed at the same time, which gave rise to a false sense of a safe neighborhood, are described in the paper. Significant attention is paid to war narratives reflecting the tendencies of dividing into “us” and “them”, contain expressive verbal formulas that transmit opposition and negative emotions as a response to aggression. The submitted model of analysis begins the consideration of issues that are extremely acute in the context of studying the anthropology of conflicts.

От «азиатского способа производства» к «политаризму»: становление историософской концепции Ю.И. Семенова

The article examines the origin of the concepts of ‘politarism’ and its derivatives ‘political mode of production’, ‘political society’, which are quite often used in the Russian domestic socio-historical and socio-philosophical literature. It is shown that the immediate predecessor of this concept was the ‘Asian mode of production’ and its various analogues (‘Eastern despotism’, ‘the era of Asian kings’ etc.) in the works of K. Marx, which remained mainly in manuscript form. The fi rst discussion around the Asian mode of production (AMP), which unfolded in the USSR in the 1920s, although it was suppressed by harsh administrative methods, nevertheless brought a significant revival to the Soviet social philosophy, which was already under the powerful pressure of the dogmas of the ‘historical materialism’ and the so-called five-term scheme of socio-economic formations. A second similar discussion, which took place in the 1950s and 1960s, also played such a role, prompting, among other things, a significant part of professional orientalists to large-scale and conceptual socio-historical generalizations. The activities and works of the recently deceased professor Yu. I. Semenov, whose name is directly related to the appearance of the term ‘politarism’ in Soviet and then Russian social philosophy, are specially considered. Y.I. Semenov’s original historiosophical concept, created and developed by its author in the conditions of his conscious opposition to the aggressive ideological environment and administrative dictate, has become a valuable component of the conceptual and scientific understanding of the historical process, retaining its heuristic significance to this day. The concepts used by Y.I. Semenov and, in general, his very approach to understanding social and political reality deserve attention as one of the versions of non-dogmatic, creative Marxism, which occupies a noticeable niche in modern domestic and foreign academic discourse.

«Душа моя Павел» Алексея Варламова: роман и постановка в РАМТе

The article examines A. Varlamov’s novel “My Soul Pavel” and its production at the Russian Academic Youth Theater (RAYT). The research methodology is based on the hermeneutical approach, and also relies on the techniques of narratological and intertextual analysis. As a result of the analysis, the features of the genre nature of the work are established; its mythopoetic basis; the functioning of the intertext in the novel; the ratio of the author and the hero. The author shows a change in the dramatization of the original conception of the novel by his grandmother. In the structure of the novel, the author refers to the artistic possibilities of such techniques as intertextuality and autocitation. These techniques are aimed at an educated audience and connect the text with routine postmodern poetics. Varlamov’s scientific erudition and writing professionalism are manifested in a demonstrative reliance on a liminal plot and an initiation scheme. The genre characteristic of the work given by the author is ‘the novel of growing up’. In addition, the novel uses the plug-in genre of vision. In the image of the main character Pavel Nepomiluyev, such important features of the Russian mentality as the traditional idea of wandering and the cult of power formed by the Soviet era are combined. The relationship between the author and the hero is considered through the prism of M. M. Bakhtin’s concept and is classified as characteristic of romantic literature. The hero’s growing up implies his discovery of the negative aspects of Soviet reality: such as irresponsible management, theft, national problems, and the death of the village. The novel establishes an understanding of the elite of society as people who are first and foremost distinguished by their love for their Motherland. In the play “My Soul Pavel” in RAYT, playwright Polina Babushkina changed the concept of the novel, shifting the focus to criticism of the Soviet way of life. The mystical storylines of the text have been eliminated from the production, including an important episode of the vision for the meaning of the whole. However, there are interesting staging solutions in the play: reading a fragment of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign”, an independent musical series involving a variety ensemble. As a conclusion, it is said about the modernity and artistic independence of the novel, as well as that the play is able to live on the stage of the theater, having internal resources for modification.

Построение санкций за преступления, связанные с незаконным оборотом психоактивных веществ, содержащие признаки основного состава: оценка сквозь призму справедливости

Abstract. The issues caused by problem of developing an algorithm for constructing sanctions under the Special Part of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, considering the principles of justice, inevitabil-ity of punishment, and differentiation of criminal liability, have come to the forefront in the modern criminal law doctrine. The article presents an analysis of such issues as the casuistry of sanctions for crimes related to the illegal trafficking of psychoactive substances, the problem of “systemic balance” in constructing sanctions in Part 1 of Art. 228, Part 1 of Art. 228¹, Part 1 of Art. 229¹, Part 1 of Art. 234¹ of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation; the prospect of implementing the “point system” in Russian legislation. Based on the system analy-sis of statistical indicators characterizing persons using narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the need to exclude a fine from the sanction of Part 1 of Art. 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is sub-stantiated. Following an examination of the interpretation of such categories as “nature of public danger” and “degree of public danger”, as presented in the resolutions of the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, a conclusion is drawn regarding their legal nature and significance in the construction of sanctions in the Special Part of the Criminal Code. Furthermore, the article posits that the motivation behind a crime plays a crucial role in shaping the sanction of the norm. Additionally, an original concept of “average pun-ishment” is presented, which serves as a reference point for subsequent increases in responsibility concerning qualified and particularly qualified compositions of the aforementioned crimes.

Back catalogue touring and the ephemeral archive: personal memory and popular music heritage

ABSTRACT Among the waves of new popular music disseminated via live music tours globally, a distinct pattern of live touring based primarily on back catalogue material is increasingly evident. This article takes a closer look at recent practices of music reissue and revival, which point to a movement beyond the traditional processes of popular music ‘heritagisation’ at a time when pop music’s recent past now plays a significant role in production and consumption. This article reflects on artist perspectives in theorizing the popularity of back catalogue touring with its nostalgic effects. Drawing on concepts from music heritage and memory studies, the article first makes a case for an original concept of the ‘ephemeral archive’: the flood of personal memories that can occur during live music performance, contributing to ‘lifetime soundtracks’ for both artists and audiences. To elaborate on manifestations of the ephemeral archive, the authors present a case study on the Australian band Regurgitator, who have a tour history of over 30 years, including recently completed anniversary tours of their widely successful albums Tu Plang (1996) and Unit (1997).

Revealing preferential circulation—how the use of places serves localized entrepreneurs’ capabilities

Abstract With the aim of fostering innovation, many cities have promoted places to provide resources for entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, little work has been done to determine how these resources are mobilized by entrepreneurs, and how a collection of places in a given city-region can support their efforts. In this article, we argue that entrepreneurs attend different resource-producing places, and that the pattern thus drawn, called preferential circulation, reveals the ongoing entrepreneurial process. Based on network theory, we offer an original concept to better understand how cities can support entrepreneurial dynamics and suggest new insights for local innovation policy design.

Dual panic theory: new Insight into moral panics

Objective: to comprehensively analyze the moral panic concept, developed in the works by S. Cohen, and to elaborate, on its basis, a new concept – the dual panic theory. Methods: dialectical approach to cognition of social phenomena, allowing to analyze them in historical development and functioning in the context of the totality of objective and subjective factors, which predetermined the following research methods: formal-logical, sociological. Results: Moral panics have been broadly discussed in the public discourse since S. Cohen’s (1972) seminal text on the topic. Despite copious research, we believe that the theory is in need of expansion due to the increased complexity of societal interactions. Through the lens of an increasingly polarizing American culture, we believe the original concept of moralpanics is overly simplified and no longer encompasses the intricacies of American society. Using the story of the McCloskey family’s 2020 interactions with Black Lives Matter protestors and Goode and Ben-Yehuda’s (1994) definitional criteria, we propose a new, expanded theory of moral panics – Dual Panic Theory. Scientific novelty: based on the analysis of the existing approaches to the moral panic concept, the paper offers and elaborates a new concept – the dual panic theory. It suggests that an event can happen that causes a competing panic by two opposing sides of an issue. Different from a culture war, dual panics are genuine panics about an action rather than a reaction to oppositional outrage from a competing interest group. Goode and Ben-Yehuda argue that researching moral panic cannot be complete without an examination of all societal levels, from elites to grassroots, and the full spectrum from ideology and morality at one end to crass status and material interests at the other. As society has evolved, so too must the theoretical explanations of societal reactions, moral panic or otherwise. Practical significance: the main provisions and conclusions of the article can be used in scientific, pedagogical and law enforcement activities when considering the issues related to the moral panic concept.

Morfologia plagiatu

Authorship, as a protected good, is never entirely secure. Plagiarism is a practice that has been perpetually present in human culture. This monographic essay dedicated to plagiarism offers a broad, panoramic view of its occurrence in science, art, and other creative fields. The author posits that the true subject of plagiarism is not the substance of the plagiarized text (words, sounds, images), but its essence, namely the original authorial thought – the original concept, idea, or creative vision contained within the structure of the original work.

Mind Maps: how to improve critical learning and creative thinking using geographic maps

The use of mind maps and geographic maps to promote creative thinking and critical learning is examined in this article. It emphasizes how maps and other visual aids can improve students' comprehension, organization, and ability to relate to the information. Students can investigate relationships within physical locations using geographic maps, particularly when they are utilized interactively. This promotes engagement and interest. Teachers can help students to think critically about a variety of issues, including environmental changes, spatial patterns, and global links, by introducing mind mapping techniques into geography lectures. Additionally, by coming up with original concepts and solutions,students are engaging in creative problem-solving when they make their own maps or examine geographic data. By encouraging both analytical skills and imaginative thinking, this method turns geographic maps from a source of factual knowledge into a platform for the development of critical cognitive abilities. The paper recommends a number of useful exercises, such as collaborative brainstorming sessions,GIS-based research projects, and interactive map analysis. By converting standard geography instruction into an interactive and thought-provoking activity, these techniques seek to enhance the educational process. Students acquire the abilities necessary for critical and creative thinking in practical settings while also gaining a deeper comprehension of geographical ideas thanks to these resources.

O wychowaniu żołnierskim w Dotzè llibre del Crestià Francesca Eiximenisa. Koncepcja, źródła, przekład fragmentów

Francesc Eiximenis, a Catalan polyhistor, Franciscan, and writer, left a significant mark on 14th-century literature in the Crown of Aragon. Well-educated in influential academic centres of pre-Renaissance Europe, he did not limit his treatises to religious matters alone. Instead, he explored a wide range of topics related to secular, everyday life. This paper examines one such theme: warfare, which was considered of prime importance during that time, and Eiximenis dedicated part of his most ambitious work, Lo Crestià (The Christian), to this subject. The paper consists of two parts: a translation of selected fragments from Dotzè llibre del Crestià (The Twelve Book of the Christian) and an introductory section, which discusses the style and sources of the text, as well as Eiximenis’ original concept of soldier training and its significance for the art of war. To facilitate analysis, the war-related portion of Dotzè (chapters 213 to 337) is herein separated and described as the Treaty on Military Affairs. This approach also highlights its strong reliance on ancient authors such as Vegetius (Epitoma rei militaris), Aristotle, and Ptolemy. The translation presented in the second part of the article is the first Polish version of the Treaty on Military Affairs’ fragments related to soldier training. The text consists of chapters 213, 217, and 222–227, accompanied by commentary notes that compare them to source fragments from Vegetius’ work, and explain passages that may pose challenges for contemporary readers. As there is no modern critical edition of this part of Dotzè, the basis for the translation is the incunabulum printed in 1484 by Lambert Palmart in Valencia.

The International System for Serous Fluid Cytopathology (TIS) survey in preparation for TIS 2.0.

The International System for Serous Fluid Cytopathology (TIS) has gained acceptance and has led to literature validating original concepts and suggesting refinements. In preparation for the second edition of TIS, editors generated a survey to solicit experience with and opinions about TIS. An online survey available from March 8 to June 15, 2024, included 56 questions, offered in 7 languages, related to the practice of serous fluid cytopathology. A total of 598 respondents accessed the survey. Information was collected regarding certification, work setting, work volume and years in practice. In the respondent group, 78% (401 of 513) were pathologists, 18% (92 of 513) cytologists of cytotechnologists, 2% (10 of 513) trainees, and 2% (10 of 513) medical scientists. A total of 23% of participants came from academia. Also, 59% of respondents were (280 of 474) from Asia, 17% Europe, 12% North America, and 10% South America. In all, 61% (287 of 474) have adopted TIS. Over 50% issue a preliminary report awaiting ancillary test results. Another 20% issue such a report depending on circumstance. The most frequent request for refinement of criteria centered around Atypia of Uncertain Significance (AUS). Only small numbers of participants provided data on diagnostic category percentage and risk of malignancy (ROM); however, those that did reported a decrease in nondiagnostic and atypical results with corresponding decreases in ROM for those categories. Variable use of cytochemical and immunocytochemical stains for resolving mesothelial proliferations was reported. Respondents indicated a desire for incorporation of recommendations on clinical management and extension of TIS into body fluid types beyond pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal. This survey examines acceptance of TIS and advice for future directions.

The symbolic potential of sound ornaments in “Hutsul triptych” of Myroslav Skoryk

Relevance of the study is related to the problem of the ornaments’ symbolic significance and, especially, their equivalent in music. This problem was repeatedly studied in art sciences. However, it was researched in the context of the modern Ukrainian music not enough. The main objective of the study is revealing a significance of ostinati in “Hutsul triptych” by outstanding Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk. The methodology is based on methods of textual analysis in music and, especially, analogy method. How the study was done: was asserted significant parallel among visual ornaments in many cultural traditions and ostinati in music as their equivalent; both demonstrate potential endless of Life and its processes. Such symbolic is common to different cultures, even geographically distanced, as Ukrainian and Australian aboriginal one. The score of “Hutsul triptych” by M. Skoryk was analyzed mainly in aspect of formal and semantic significance of its ostinati: melodic ostinato in the first part, “Childhood”, prevalently texture ostinati in the second part, “Ivan and Marichka” and only dramatic attempt to return to ostinati in the third part, “The Death of Ivan”. Findings and conclusions. “Hutsul triptych” is an evidence of powerful possibilities of ornament-like ostinati in music, including Ukrainian. This score includes not only main biographical moment of Ivan’s life, but also concerning permanent algorithms of national and, larger, all-human existence accordingly to certain folk tradition. In the first part of the "Hutsul Triptych", the melodic and thematic ostinati denotes the persistence of the child's involvement in Life, his assimilation of basic habits, observations of the surrounding world. In the second part, the multifaceted multifacetedness of ostinati embodies the very idea of Love as a harmonious combination, the interpenetration of multiple components of Life. The removal of the ornamental ostinato in the third part of the "Triptych" works as a "minus technique". The destruction of the pulsation of life processes becomes a symbol of death. Of course, figurations and ostinati are ancient and extremely common means of music. However, in the "Hutsul Triptych" they outgrow their formal and constructive meaning. So, significance of the study consists of revealing some important links between archaic and modern forms of culture (b) in discovering of principally original dramatic concept in music; step-by-step declining of Life’s patterns through the Death; (c) in idea of inclusion measured individual life in the potentially unmeasured and multiply returning in the space of art thinking. Among the Perspectives of this research is involvement an idea of replicators from Richard Dawkins’ “The Extended Phenotype” to the musical context

Severe Coronary Artery Calcifications in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients, Coupled with Inflammation and Bone Mineral Disease Derangement, Promote Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events through Vascular Remodeling

Plain Language SummaryCardiovascular (CV) diseases persist as the foremost cause of morbidity/mortality among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This paper explores the predictive value of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and CV risk biomarkers, encompassing inflammation, disruptions in mineral metabolism, and molecules regulating bone, on major adverse CV events in non-dialysis CKD patients. It establishes that CAC significantly contributes to CV risk and is further intensified by inflammation, hyperparathyroidism, and the regulation of bone molecules implicated in calcification progression. This discovery aligns with the original concept of multiple hits. Consequently, addressing the detrimental environment that fosters plaque vulnerability, mitigating chronic low-grade inflammation, normalizing mineral metabolism markers (including vitamin D and parathyroid hormone) and bone-regulating molecules may emerge as a viable therapeutic strategy.

Religious Inflection in the Economy of Experience: The Concept of Atmosphere in Aesthetic and Phenomenological Thought of Hermann Schmitz and Gernot Böhme

The article offers a brief genealogy of the concept of atmosphere in the thought of Hermann Schmitz (New Phenomenology) and Gernot Böhme (Aesthetic Theory) to show that the concept takes on a quasi-religious appearance, especially in its design and economic applications. It is shown how a phenomenological concept of religious origin could become a pseudo-psychological marketing strategy. The article argues that the concept of atmosphere should not be applied too exclusively to the design of (interior) spaces, but that the sociality of atmospheres should also be taken into account. In this way, attention can be drawn to the manipulative power of the atmospheric.

Simplified design approach of a negative stiffness-based seismic base absorber via multi-objective optimization

In the field of seismic base absorption, the KDamper constitutes an innovative and effective vibration absorber, characterized by the incorporation of a negative stiffness element. Recent developments have introduced variants like the Extended KDamper (EKD) and the Seismic Base Absorber (SBA), elevating the performance and reliability of the original concept. However, the optimization of these devices relied exclusively on the application of the single-objective Harmony Search optimization algorithm. In this study, the EKD is optimized using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm type II (NSGA-II), which incorporates the crowding distance operator (CDO). The purpose of this multi-objective optimization is to explore the EKD’s full potential in simultaneously reducing the induced base displacements and superstructure’s dynamic responses. To simplify the design process and reduce computational complexity, a simplified design approach is introduced. According to this approach, the EKD device is integrated in the base of a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system with a variable natural period, ranging from 0.1 s to 2.0 s (SDOF-EKD system), representing multi-story buildings that range from 1 to 20 stories. In addition, a scaling method is employed, using the SDOF-EKD optimization results to guide the design of EKD for multi-story buildings (MDOF-EKD systems), constituting an indirect optimization of these systems. A comparison is conducted between the generated Pareto fronts as emerged from the simplified design approach and those obtained by optimizing the EKD directly installed in the base of multi-story buildings. Furthermore, a numerical case study is performed in a 3-story benchmark building and the proposed optimized vibration control system is compared in terms of superstructure’s dynamic responses and base displacements with a conventional and a highly damped base isolated building of similar characteristics.