Construction Of Consciousness Research Articles

A Review on Utilization of Plastic Waste as Aggregate in Construction Materials

In a construction material in a modern construction if we look the major component includes concrete and steel reinforcement. However, in recent studies it showed the replacement of steel bars by the different material like bamboo etc. and in concrete there is fiber, red mud and fly ash is been deployed as the replacement for the binding material say cement.In today’s scenario the utilization of plastic in day-to-day life is showed the substantial growth but the associated problem with the plastic is their environmental impact as they cannot get easily decomposed. So, if we utilize this plastic waste in a construction works as a construction materialmay lead to the significant reduction in its waste foot print. In recent literature, significant strides have been made in the development of concrete mixtures that integrate plastic waste as a partial substitute for traditional aggregates during the concrete manufacturing process. Some recent studies show that it can be used construction industry due to some of its properties like inert behaviour, resistance to degradation etc. Also, use of waste plastic can help in reducing plastic waste. This emerging trend reflects a broader commitment to sustainability, aiming to mitigate plastic pollution while fostering environmentally conscious construction practices.

Recycling lithium slag into eco-friendly ultra-high performance concrete: Hydration process, microstructure development, and environmental benefits

To ascertain the viability of utilizing lithium slag (LS) in the development of eco-friendly ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), this paper provides a detailed analysis of the effects of LS on UHPC. Specifically, the hydration and microstructural changes in UHPC containing LS (LS-UHPC) were comprehensively examined. Based on the results of isothermal calorimetry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), LS primarily acts as a filler, promotes nucleation, provides internal curing, and participates in the pozzolanic reaction. Significantly, the internal curing effect and the pozzolanic reaction enhanced the strength development of LS-UHPC. UHPC with 20 % LS exhibited the highest 28 d compressive strength at 134.48 MPa and presented the densest microstructure. However, approximately 4 % of the calcium hydroxide in LS-UHPC would not be involved in the pozzolanic reaction. The presence of gypsum in LS led to increased ettringite formation in LS-UHPC. Although LS extended the induction period of UHPC, it intensified the hydration degree of cement. In LS-UHPC, the molar ratio of Ca/Si of C-(A)-S-H decreased, whereas the molar ratio of Al/Si increased, implying that the dissolved aluminum from LS was incorporated into the C–S–H chains. The integration of LS not only considerably reduced the carbon emissions and energy consumption of UHPC but also optimized LS recycling. Overall, the development of a sustainable UHPC by incorporating LS is both practicable and advantageous for environmentally conscious construction practices.

Effectiveness of areca fiber and cement on the engineering characteristics of compressed stabilized earth blocks

This study investigates the potential of integrating areca fiber as a reinforcement agent in Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEBs), used in combination with cement. Traditional earth-based construction methods, once prevalent, have seen a decline in industrialized nations with the advent of modern building materials. However, there is a growing resurgence in the use of earth-based materials, motivated by their economic, social, and environmental sustainability benefits. This renewed interest in CSEBs is primarily due to their superior energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions, especially when compared to conventional materials like fired clay bricks or concrete blocks. Areca catechu, widely recognized as the areca palm, thrives in the tropical regions of the Pacific, Asia, and East Africa. The fibers derived from areca nutshells, often regarded as agricultural waste, present an intriguing material for study. While the application of areca fiber in soil reinforcement has been previously acknowledged in scholarly literature, its specific role in enhancing the engineering properties of CSEBs represents a novel area of exploration, which this research aims to address comprehensively. In this research endeavor, CSEBs were manufactured with varying proportions of areca fibers, spanning from 0 % to 3 %, based on the dry mass of soil. Subsequently, these blocks underwent comprehensive testing to assess their strength and durability characteristics. Strength properties were evaluated through unconfined compression, split tensile strength, and flexural strength tests, while durability was meticulously examined using wet strength, water absorption, submersion, and efflorescence tests. Here, CSEBs displayed increases in compressive strength (107.04–436.38 %), split tensile strength (208.66–358.08 %), and flexural strength (16.49–82.47 %). Durability tests revealed enhanced wet compressive strength (up to 100.42 % increase) and optimized water absorption rates. A notable finding is identifying 2 % areca fiber content as optimal, yielding significant improvements in strength and durability parameters. Microstructural analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) further confirmed the benefits of 2 % fiber content, showing a compact and cohesive internal structure with reduced voids and fissures. This microstructural integrity underlines the enhanced bonding and stability imparted by the areca fibers. Another essential aspect of the study was evaluating the compliance of CSEBs with various international standards on earthen construction. The fiber-reinforced blocks met or exceeded several standards, demonstrating their suitability for broader construction applications. Finally, this study underscores the promise of areca fiber as a valuable reinforcement material in CSEBs stabilized with cement. This innovative approach offers a sustainable and eco-friendly building material option, aligning with the growing emphasis on environmentally conscious construction practices.

Some necessary constructs of consciousness as defined in the dynamic organicity theory

The Dynamic Organicity Theory (DOT) explains consciousness as a process that cannot be reduced to a thing or a structure. This process, called the Polanyian process, involves the evolving diachronic boundary conditions of our experienceability. These boundary conditions are ontologically intertwined with higher-level boundary conditions, which lead to physiological nonlocal cause-and-effect relationships. Thus, adaptive changes occur when self-referential causal closure transforms syntactic structures into experienceable forms. Self-referential causal closure is a causal agent for diachronic boundary conditions that majorly structure intrinsic information in ways that experienceabilities are across time, suggesting that consciousness is not driven by an “internal clock” or regular biological rhythm but rather by intrinsic intentionality preceding path selection through a non-mechanical force of hidden thermodynamic energy that cascades to form a volitional agency of information-based action due to the gain of hidden intrinsic information. The process of transforming syntactical structures to experienceable forms in intrinsic informational pathways is conflated with nonlinear time, and its structuring defines the functionality of the brain. Consciousness-in-the-moment is an “averaging out” between different informational pathways involved across such nonlinear time. The transduction of quantum potential information as negentropic action is a motif for “potential complexity” to decrease the maximum complexity (derived from the brain structure, dynamics, and function) due to the reduction of uncertainty. Given that the functionality of maximum complexity lacks the self-referential causal closure to be a volitional agent needed for precognitive consciousness, it is proposed that negentropic entanglement unifies experienceabilities so that the functionality of multiscale complexity is greater than the functionality of maximum complexity. This may be enough to produce consciousness in organic systems.

Missed opportunities and implementational spaces for developing critical consciousness: Three case studies in secondary Mandarin Chinese dual language bilingual education

ABSTRACT In response to the call for centering critical consciousness as a foundational goal in dual language bilingual education (DLBE), this article explores secondary Chinese teachers’ instructional practices in Utah Mandarin Chinese DLBE programs and how their instructional practices reflect the missed opportunities and implementational spaces for developing critical consciousness in the backdrop of anti-Asian sentiment. Drawing on theoretical constructs of critical consciousness and using a narrative inquiry approach with ethnographic methods, this study focused on three secondary Chinese DLBE teachers’ reported and observed classroom practices concerning the development of critical consciousness. Findings reveal the different ways in which three Chinese DLBE teachers addressed critical topics in classrooms shaped by their attitudes toward the importance of promoting critical consciousness. Their classroom practices demonstrate the missed opportunities as well as implementational spaces to cultivate critical consciousness within the Mandarin Chinese DLBE curriculum. This study provides examples for DLBE teachers to implement critical pedagogies toward the critical consciousness goal and has implications for teachers, educators, families, and communities to support critical consciousness actions in and out of the classroom.

Investigation on the potential of Eulaliopsis binata (babiyo) as a sustainable fiber reinforcement for mortar and concrete

The production of synthetic materials emits harmful gases, driving researchers to seek eco-friendly alternatives, leading to increased demand for natural fiber-based composites in various industries. With advantages like cost-effectiveness, renewability, and biodegradability, natural fiber reinforced composites gain popularity in concrete applications. Their use in concrete has gained global acceptance for its smaller carbon footprint, reduced energy consumption, and minimized wastage. This research aims to evaluate the suitability of Eulaliopsis binata (EB) fiber in mortar and concrete applications. Mortar samples were prepared using different proportions of alkaline-treated EB fibers (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1% and 1.25% by total weight of mortar) in a cement-sand-water mixture with a 1:1:0.35 ratio. Additionally, concrete with a mix proportion of 1:2.15:3.13 (cement: fine aggregate: coarse aggregate) and a water-cement ratio of 0.618 was prepared. The flexural strength test was conducted using plain concrete as well as concrete with untreated and epoxy-treated EB fiber bars of varying diameters. The results revealed that EB fiber-reinforced mortar exhibited a notable increase in flexural and splitting tensile strength, with a 10.85% and 6.23% improvement compared to plain mortar at 0.75% EB fiber content, while compressive strength decreased. Similarly, concrete reinforced with untreated and epoxy-coated EB fiber bars of 14 mm diameter demonstrated 12.32% and 13.27% higher flexural strength, respectively, than that of unreinforced concrete. These results highlight the potential for affordable green concrete production, supporting sustainable infrastructure development. The EB fiber usage presents an encouraging pathway for environmentally conscious construction practices with reduced environmental impact.

Extrapolating animal consciousness

I argue that the question of animal consciousness is an extrapolation problem and, as such, is best tackled by deploying currently accepted methodology for validating experimental models of a phenomenon of interest. This methodology relies on an assessment of similarities and dissimilarities between experimental models, the partial replication of findings across complementary models, and evidence from the successes and failures of explanations, technologies and medical applications developed by extrapolating and aggregating findings from multiple models. Crucially important, this methodology does not require a commitment to any particular theory or construct of consciousness, thus avoiding theory-biased reinterpretations of empirical findings rampant in the literature.

An application of psychology of working theory to chronic health issues: Importance of decent work

AbstractThis paper presents psychology of working theory (PWT) as a framework for addressing career concerns faced by those with chronic health issues. PWT is a relevant framework for contextualizing the lived experiences of clients navigating work and chronic illness. Specifically, individuals with chronic health conditions may face additional barriers to their career development and are at risk for higher incidences of workplace discrimination, job stress, and job loss. Core elements of PWT outlined in this paper are applied to a case study of a client with breast cancer. More specifically, the constructs of decent work, critical consciousness, and career adaptability are applied at the level of the individual and systemic interventions. Issues of equity, access, intersectionality, power, and privilege are highlighted as they relate to the context of work. We offer suggestions for advocacy for career counselors working with clients with chronic illness navigating work and careers.

Experimental investigation of eco-friendly fiber-reinforced concrete using recycled and natural fibers, integrated with recycled aggregates

This study investigates the integration of recycled and natural fibers with recycled concrete aggregates to develop environmentally friendly fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC), with a primary aim of maintaining or enhancing its properties. Four concrete mixtures, namely plain concrete (C-Plain), recycled steel fiber-reinforced concrete (C-RSF), recycled plastic fiber-reinforced concrete (C-RPF), and kenaf fiber-reinforced concrete (C-KF), were formulated and analyzed for their fresh, hardened, and durability characteristics. A 50% replacement of natural coarse aggregates’ weight with recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) was implemented. By standardizing fiber volume fractions at 1.0% for all FRC mixtures, the study evaluated properties such as workability, dry density, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, post-cracking flexural performance, modulus of rupture, flexural toughness, splitting tensile strength, and freeze-thaw resistance after 100 and 300 cycles. Testing involved three specimens for each parameter at 7 and 28 days. The results indicated positive effects on post-cracking flexural performance, modulus of rupture, flexural toughness, splitting tensile strength, and durability with the incorporation of recycled and natural fibers. Notably, C-RSF demonstrated the highest compressive strength (46.63 MPa), flexural toughness (64.35 kN-mm), and modulus of rupture (7.46 MPa) compared to other FRC composites. Additionally, it exhibited minimal weight loss (2.18% and 3.07%) after freeze-thaw cycles, indicating exceptional durability. C-RSF exhibited superior performance, while C-KF showed enhancement slightly below that of C-RSF. Although not reaching the level of C-RSF, C-RPF positively influenced concrete performance. Compressive response either maintained performance or exhibited marginal reduction. The findings carry significant implications for developing environmentally conscious construction materials with enhanced mechanical and durability properties, thereby advancing sustainable construction practices.

The Construction of Body and Consciousness in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

The Construction of Body and Consciousness in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

GENDER-SPECIFIC LIFE SCENARIOS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TOLERANCE TO UNCERTAINTY

Purpose. Currently, the scenario line of research in personality psychology seems to be particularly promising, since this line of research allows us to identify the specific features of the transformation of the conscious construction of human life paths under changing conditions of uncertainty. The aim of the study is to determine the gender specificity of life scenarios in individuals with different levels of tolerance to uncertainty.
 Materials and Methods. The sampling consisted of 200 people with different levels of tolerance towards uncertainty. The methods of the study included the semantic differential Lifestyle by V.P. Serkin and the New Questionnaire of Tolerance Towards Uncertainty by T.V. Kornilova. The data obtained were processed by means of factor analysis with the help of the program IBM SPSS Statistics 23.
 Results. The results showed that the life scenarios of people with different levels of tolerance to uncertainty are gender-specific: men with a high tolerance to uncertainty show predominant characteristics of the scenario associated with an active life position and the search for novelty, whereas women show a scenario aimed at activity in the social sphere (the desire to actively participate in the fate of others, to help and support). Men with a low tolerance towards uncertainty show such scenario patterns as striving for security, stability and predictability of events, while women – in addition to striving for a convenient, comfortable life – show tactical patterns: emotional restraint and calculation.
 Field of results application. The results of the study can be used in socio-psychological training and counselling to identify and correct an individual’s life scenario.

Research on National Cultural Consciousness Construction and Strategy of Chinese New Mythological Animated Films--Taking Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child as an Example

Chinese neo-mythological films are emerging as a new genre of cinema, attracting more and more creators and audiences. Taking Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, a representative of the new mythology animated films, as an example, this paper analyses the national cultural awareness embodied in the characterisation and social identity of Chinese new mythology animated films through a documentary research method, and points out that Chinese new mythology animated films can only be better developed if they take into account the nation-al culture and the characteristics of the times. That is, on the basis of preserving the tradi-tional group memory of the nation, creative adaptations are made using a modern vision to gain contemporary popular recognition. The author believes that valuing the uniqueness and value of China's new mythological films in the construction of national cultural awareness will lead to more masterpieces in the future, contributing to the development of the Chinese film industry and even the world's animated films.

Del's Growth: A Typical Example of Construction of Female Self-consciousness—A Postmodern Feminist Analysis of Lives of Girls and Women

Alice Munro is a famous contemporary Canadian women writer and the winner of 2013 Nobel Prize in literature. She is known as the ""master of contemporary short stories"". Munro is very concerned about the life experience of ordinary women. She always focuses on the daily trifles and details of ordinary women and describes their journey from a girl to a wife in detail, especially focusing on the psychological fluctuations and twists and turns of women. They seem fragile, but they are persistent. Munro's works are full of postmodern feminism, focusing on women's self-awareness and subjective conscious construction.
 From the perspective of postmodern feminism, the thesis focuses on the gradual formation and evolution of the heroine's self-consciousness in Alice Munro's only ""full-length"" novel Lives of Girls and Women in the process of growing up from a girl to a woman, and how female images to jump out of the hierarchy, logical structure and linear narrative surrounded by men's words and begin to express own world.
 The introduction gives an overview of Alice Munro and the novel Lives of Girls and Women, literary reviews at home and abroad, some key elements in postmodern feminism, and the significance of this thesis.
 The body section consists of three chapters: Chapter One focuses on ""Del observes the adult life"". Through Del's observation, the life of Uncle Benny's wife, two aunts, her mother and the teacher unfolded. Chapter Two analyzes ""Self-consciousness of Del begins to construct"". Del gradually began to grow up. The awakening of sexual consciousness, the doubt of belief and the excavation of herself have gradually become the theme of this adolescent girl's life. Chapter Three revolves around ""Establishment and Perfection of her self-consciousness"". Finally, she got rid of her fantasy and self-deception, her past mistakes and perplexity, and left home to start her real life.
 The conclusion part summarizes that from the perspective of postmodern feminism, the self-growth and consciousness awakening of Del is how women break away from the role of ""good women"" who meet the social expectations and find their own real nature. Munro challenges the forces we take for granted and shakes the foundations of our lives. Women perceive the world in a way different from men and resist the grandeur of history with daily trivialities. Munro constructs women's value expresses her voice and embodies her choice of will by transcending feminism and returning to women's ontological experience.

On The Path towards Sustainable Construction—The Case of the United Arab Emirates: A Review

The construction sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expanding substantially due to many variables, including strong economic growth, a swiftly growing population, and continuous modernization endeavors. As a result, the development of the construction industry is leading to adverse impacts on energy consumption and environmental conditions. The UAE government and policymakers have implemented significant initiatives to advance sustainable infrastructure, promote clean energy utilization, effectively manage construction and demolition waste (CDW), and foster green building development. These measures follow the nation’s dedication to the Paris Agreement, which aims to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The article comprehensively examines the policies and practices implemented in this industrialized nation concerning sustainable construction. Moreover, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the UAE in comparison to other countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) concerning their accomplishments in sustainability. Additionally, the study seeks to integrate insights from the global community regarding sustainability policies, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the effective management of CDW, and the implementation of green regulations that govern environmentally conscious construction practices. A comprehensive analysis of information sources from official websites, particularly those of the ministry and key government agencies, is conducted to better understand the current sustainability policies and treatment methods related to the management of CDW and green building regulations.

Modelling the relationship between digital twins implementation barriers and sustainability pillars: Insights from building and construction sector

A Digital Twin (DT) is a digital copy of a real-world object or process. Although DT has gained traction in construction, its relationship with sustainable success remains insufficiently studied. This research addresses this gap by investigating barriers to implementing DT in sustainable construction. The study employs a hybrid approach involving literature review, expert interviews, and modeling techniques, with data collected from 108 construction experts based on a number of criteria, including the experience, degree, and familiarity of the experts about the Hong Kong building and construction sector Hong Kong. The findings reveal 45 barriers categorized into six clusters, including notable obstacles such as "legacy systems," "data uncertainties," and "connectivity." The key clusters identified are "performance" and "security," while the "social" aspect of sustainable success is least supported. Recognizing these challenges assists decision-makers in navigating obstacles and utilizing DT for environmentally conscious construction, streamlined processes, and positive societal impacts. Future research could delve into integrating sustainability throughout the project lifecycle using technology adoption theories.

Humanism or transhumanism? Scissions of thought and the technological drift of science, a crisis for psychology (¿Humanismo o transhumanismo? Las escisiones del pensamiento y la deriva tecnológica de la ciencia, una crisis para la psicología)

ABSTRACT This article argues that there is a crisis in the conception of what is human, resulting from the growing tendency to uncritically accept the assumptions of the technological paradigm or episteme and the model of the future that this approach takes for granted. In the authors’ opinion, this state of affairs derives from successive scissions that have taken place in the history of our development as a species (the scission of the cerebral hemispheres) and in the history of thought and science (first-order cybernetics versus second-order cybernetics; inert matter versus living matter; the technological versus the organic; natural intelligence versus artificial intelligence). In the face of the apparent triumph of the mechanistic assumptions that support transhumanism, the principles that have governed the origin and evolution of life are recalled, as well as the constitutive principles of the human psyche, among which the construction of consciousness and freedom, called for from Vygotskian Acmeist psychology, should be highlighted. These principles are those which, in the authors’ opinion, should govern any alternative for the future.

ADAPTIVE INTELLIGENCE: THE EXPERIENCE OF PHENOMENOLOGICAL SETTING OF THE DEFINITION

ThThe concept of adaptive intelligence is gaining ground in psychology. However, it is not clear why the term “adaptive intelligence” is needed, if the attribute of adaptability already occupies an important place in the semantics of the concept of “intelligence”. This article discusses the reasons for adopting this new concept. An important step in defining the 48 Научное мнение № 6 (2023) concept of adaptive intelligence is to justify the differences between practical intelligence (as a generic category) and adaptive intelligence (as its kind). Based on the ideas of R. J. Sternberg, a criterion was set to distinguish between these types of intelligence. These are situations with the task of surviving or minimising damage, which have the following features: a risk to the survival, integrity or stability of the subject, the limited time allotted by the situation conditions to solve the problem, and the demand for novelty, for creativity. The phenomenological study revealed constructs of everyday consciousness that are relevant to situations with the task of survival or minimising damage. The respondents (N = 107) were asked to read the description of problem solving in the indicated situations (12 samples), then answer questions regarding these situations. The processing of the semantic material was performed using content analysis. Based on the constructs with the highest semantic weight, the desired definition was proposed: adaptive intelligence is creativity, resourcefulness, ingenuity and skills, positively recognised by society, shown by an individual or a group in solving vital problems.

THE CONTENT AND COMPONENTS OF STUDENTS’ EARLY PROFESSIONAL SELF-DETERMINATION IN THE SYSTEM OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

In this article, the content and components of students’ early professional self-determination in the system of secondary education were studied. The theoretical analysis of the study’s main directions of professional self-determination – structural theories, motivational theories, theories of individuality – made it possible to define professional self-determination as a step-by-step process leading to a successful and conscious career building. It was revealed that the process of self-determination should be carried out in the middle level of the school. The authors proposed the definition of early professional self-determination as a process of personality development, expressed in the conscious construction of a future professional path, considering the needs, motives, interests and inclinations of students, in accordance with the socio-economic conditions of the professional environment. To determine the structure of early professional self-determination (its components), we conducted an online survey among secondary school students in Pavlodar region using a Google form. The survey involved 2968 students in grades 7-9, gender was not considered. Based on the results obtained, the components of early professional self-determination were identified: motivational-value component (personal interest, salary), reflexive-evaluative component (inclinations, abilities), social component (parents, teachers, friends, classmates, popularity of the profession). Thus, these components of early professional self-determination should be directly interconnected and complementary, resulting in a conscious, realistic, desired choice and a plan for immediate actions for personal and professional development.

Indigenous Māori Notions Of Consciousness, Soul, and Spirit

The Indigenous Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand have a knowledge system embedded with understandings related to consciousness, soul, and spirit. Although the effects of colonization are vast and ongoing, these knowledges have not been completely lost, and endure as an essential part of Māori comprehensions about the nature of everyday life and reality. We provide an overview of the socio-historical context of Māori, before briefly summarizing Māori cosmogony. We then discuss some of the more popularized ways the constructs of consciousness, soul, and spirit are interpreted from an Indigenous Māori perspective, while importantly highlighting that there are no single words in the Māori language that readily translate to these concepts, making the task of elucidating what the terms mean for Māori somewhat complex. Our articulations are intended as a brief overview, rather than an extensive extrapolation.

Analysis of the influence of Christianity on Current American Culture Wars

Although many who live in the United States may conclude the overturn of progressive policies as a representation of the cultural war, few can really specify the origin of the conflict. This paper focuses on the historical and sociological reasons behind the current American culture war. It can be concluded that the origin of the current culture war is heavily attributed to the influence of Christian, or specifically, Protestant ideology on the construction of American collective consciousness. Through analysis of research databases from the past, this research proposes that (a) the American state has never been separated from its church and (b) Protestantism is a result of old collective consciousness and a root for democracy, the new collective consciousness. Thus, (c) the cultural war in current American society is between two sets of collective consciousnessbetween Protestantism and universal democracy. In addition to research on the origin of the cultural war, this research also seeks to suggest the importance of understanding the context of a situation.