Critical Position Research Articles

ФОРМУВАННЯ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНОЇ КУЛЬТУРИ НАУКОВИХ ДОСЛІДЖЕНЬ ЗДОБУВАЧІВ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ

In the conditions of the information society, the modern education system must prepare conscious citizens of their country who are able to navigate in the information field, critically interpret what they hear, draw their own conclusions and seek answers to the questions posed. That is why higher education must contribute to the development of these skills and abilities. The purpose of the article is to find out the semantic meaning of the concept of “information culture” and to determine the methodology of its formation among students of higher education during scientific activity. During the writing of the article, general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis were used. The worldview and methodological principles of democratization, innovation, and flexibility of the educational process were also observed. The article defines the main approaches to understanding the essence of the concept of “information culture”. The importance of careful selection of information sources, the need for a critical understanding of the received information, and the importance of observing these principles in the course of scientific activity are emphasized. The obtained results of the research can be taken into account when planning training sessions, especially practical work. Conclusions. Thus, the concept of information culture has different definitions and is used for different fields of knowledge. The key feature of this concept is a critical attitude to the received information and its proper verification. The modern education system pays considerable attention to the formation of information culture, introducing special courses, including media education. Observance of information hygiene by students of higher education is an integral part of their educational process, especially during scientific activities. Completing a number of practical tasks for the development of critical thinking should contribute to the formation of the information culture of higher education graduates. Key words: information culture, information society, media education, critical thinking, scientific activity.

How Managers Experience Downsizing: Navigating among Professional, Loyal, Empathic, and Critical Positions

ABSTRACT Downsizing, a significant organizational change, is often entrusted to middle managers. These agents play a crucial role in navigating the complexities of downsizing, yet we know little about their downsizing experiences. In this study, our research question was: how do managers who have to lay off people experience downsizing. We used discourse analysis to describe what we refer to as ‘discursive positions’ adopted by downsizing agents in our interviews. Our research material comprises 21 interviews in a large Finnish manufacturing company that underwent a downsizing process. We show how 12 downsizing agents navigated among different discursive positions while serving many conflicting interests. The rationalistic positions of Professional and Loyal target the shareholders, other business professionals, and the employer. The position of Empathic addresses subordinates, and the position of Critical is directed at top management and human resource professionals. We show how discursive positions are divided into rational and emotional spheres and examine the strong tensions between them. It appears that middle managers apply several often-contradictory discursive positions, struggle with satisfying conflicting expectations from top management and from their subordinates, and use several coping methods. MAD statement A common challenge for change managers is that they are brought in only after a downsizing decision has already been made. Sustainable change management requires ongoing preparation for change, regardless of whether downsizing or restructuring is imminent. This proactive approach helps all stakeholders to respond responsibly when an urgent situation arises. It also reduces the need for abrupt action and prevents reactive, high-speed learning that often accompanies such crises. We recommend that companies establish a cross-functional change team to develop long-term personnel reduction strategies. While constant change is often celebrated in management, we argue that many organizations would benefit from maintaining a reasonable degree of stability.

Micro-Scale Fracture Characteristics of Emulsified Asphalt Cold Recycled Mixture Based on Discrete Element Method

Asphalt pavement often experiences structural failure due to repeated vehicle loading. The discrete element method (DEM) model was established based on the semicircle bending test (SCB) to investigate the fracture damage mechanism of emulsified asphalt cold recycled mixture (CRME) under loading. The micro-mechanical parameters of CRME were determined through a reliable validation process using the uniaxial compression static creep test. The microscopic fracture characteristics of CRME were investigated through the load-displacement curve, stress distribution, and force chain distribution. The fracture energy was used as the evaluation index to analyze the influence of prefabricated notch length and aggregate gradation on the fracture performance of CRME. The results indicate that the emulsified asphalt mortar-aggregate interface was the critical weak position of the mixture fracture; the failure of the tension chain was the main destructional form of the SCB test. The development of cracks affected the stress concentration phenomenon and stress concentration level of the mixture. Fine-grained mixture exhibited crack resistance. The number and length of cracks were affected by gradation. As the prefabricated notch length increased, the influence gradually diminished. The research results could provide theoretical and data support for the design of CRME.

The Dynamics of Using Euphemisms Related to Sexual Activity in Indonesian Online Social Media

This paper aims to explore the dynamics of using euphemisms related to sexual activity in Indonesian online social media reporting from 2022 to 2024. The unit of analysis consists of sentences containing expressions referring to sexual activity bersetubuh ‘intercourse’. The results show that reporting on topics related to sexual activity in Indonesian online social media is dominated by the use of dysphemism rather than euphemism. In this context, the dysphemistic style is realized through five linguistic mechanisms, resulting in 48 (56.4%) patterns or variations of expressions. The euphemistic style is realized through four linguistic mechanisms, resulting in 32 (27.2%) patterns or variations of expressions. Meanwhile, the orthophemistic style is realized through two linguistic mechanisms, resulting in 5 (5.8%) patterns or variations of expressions. This indicates that the drive for politeness in reporting taboo sexual topics is outweighed by the urge to show a highly critical attitude towards unlawful sexual acts, in addition to sensational motives. The orthophemistic style is also used to reveal the actual (unambiguous) events.

Approaching a substantive theory of moral reckoning in special education leadership: Innovative grounded theory methods using extant data on principals

This original grounded theory research addresses leading for inclusion within the context of special education services and the educative outcome of equity as a moral aim of schooling in the United States. We pinpoint the critical positionality of the principalship in realizing both the letter and spirit of special education law in the US and its consequent practice. Through a secondary analysis of extant qualitative data, we examine dis/ability in schooling and administrative decision making in the day-to-day reality of implementation and present a working substantive theory of moral reckoning for special education leadership. Principals’ thinking and professional praxis revealed the existence of varying layers of ethical deliberation, ranging from surface appraisals, partial judgments, and conflicting calculations to deep, soul-searching deliberation. We conclude with recommendations for future research and practice.

New effectual configuration of bistable nonlinear energy sink

The study presents a new configuration of nonlinear energy sinks (NESs) which is adaptable to function as either stable or bistable NES. The proposed NES is based on the spring-loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP) in which a torsional stiffness element couples the SLIP to the linear oscillator (LO). The bistable configuration provides a critically stable position when the SLIP is vertically aligned with respect to the LO motion. At this critical stability position, the SLIP NES incorporates pre-stored potential energy which generates the bistability characteristics resembling that of a stiffness-based bistable NES. The equations of motion of the coupled LO with the SLIP NES are derived based on the Euler–Lagrange method in non-dimensional form. The parameters of the considered SLIP NESs are optimized to achieve an optimum energy absorption from the LO. The proposed B-SLIP NES is also applied to suppress seismic ground motion and forced torsional vibrations. The obtained numerical simulation and analytical response results verify the robustness of the B-SLIP NES in vibration suppression performance compared with the tuned mass damper and the cubic stiffness NES.

Anthroponyms and Ethnonyms as Markers of the City Identity

Purpose. The article studies peculiarities of anthroponyms and ethnonyms in the city landscape. The purpose of the work is to analyze these components from the point of view of integral approach. The empirical material includes official and unofficial names of Moscow and Chelyabinsk received by continuous sampling from the city Internet sites, literary work illustrations, dictionaries.Results. Attributive phrases with anthroponyms and ethnonyms dominate in the analyzed minor place names. Anthroponyms and ethnonyms concretize the place, the attitude to city objects. Negative or ironical connotations are typical of unofficial minor place names with anthroponyms, while ethnonyms in unofficial minor place names are of-ten neutral. The names of famous politicians, mayors, governors often become the source of transonymization which reflects critical attitude of the city residents to their activity. Abbreviation and wrong usage of the names of admin-istration representatives help create negative connotations of the minor place name.Conclusion. The authors argue that transonymization of anthroponyms in the city linguistic landscape results in the lack of understanding of such minor place names by non-residents, but such rethought nominations of the city objects and phenomena are clear for the residents even when the inefficient representative of the city or region administration leaves the office. On the other hand, mainly the old and middle generations of the city residents recognize and use minor place names with ethnonyms.

Multiphysics Modeling of Heat Pipe Microreactor with Critical Control Drum Position Search

A multiphysics coupling methodology for heat pipe microreactors is presented in this work that includes a focus on a critical control drum position search routine and burnup capabilities. As the Serpent code is used for neutronics calculations, the recently developed GRsecant method for finding critical control drum positions is employed, which has explicit measures to manage the uncertainty introduced from the Monte Carlo calculation method. This work complements existing multiphysics modeling tools for heat pipe microreactors because it can be used to generate cross sections with fuel compositions determined by depletion with critical control drum positions. These methods are applied to a microreactor design motivated by the eVinciTM heat pipe microreactor. The convergence of the multiphysics coupling routine is analyzed at multiple burnup points. The multiphysics iterations with critical control drum search were observed to converge for all calculations performed in this work. Overall, the multiphysics coupling procedure enables the calculation of both thermal and neutronics characteristics with control drums in their critical positions for the core lifetime.

CRITICAL PEDAGOGICS IN THE VIEW OF H.A.R TILAAR AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR NATIONAL EDUCATION

The research was conducted to find out how the critical pedagogic concept in the view of Prof. H.A.R. Tilaar and its relevance to national education. The purpose of conducting this research is because nowadays, on this day of a very fast globalization, besides its usefulness, it also causes several problems, including the loss of direction from national diversity and dehumanization. It is challenging to require a form of critical reflective attitude that is presented to the community. This effort can very effectively occur if there is a transformation in education. The change from traditional pedagogy to critical pedagogy is an alternative way of dealing with globalization. The methodology used is descriptive qualitative methodology which makes literature study and document collection the primary thing in data collection. The findings of this critical pedagogic research are in fact still very much needed and further encouraged in its concrete application to answer the challenges of globalization and to meet the golden Indonesia 2045.

Numerical investigation on effect of non-parallelism on natural transition in boundary layers around underwater axisymmetric bodies

For both fluid mechanics and practical engineering problems, it is important to study the effect of non-parallelism on the natural transition in boundary layers around underwater axisymmetric bodies. This paper develops the method of harmonic linearized Navier–Stokes (HLNS) equations for such boundary layers. The method can be used to study the evolution of small disturbances considering the non-parallelism of the basic flow. Based on the results of the HLNS equations, the transition positions of the boundary layers are predicted by the eN method. Because traditional linear stability theory (LST) neglects non-parallelism, the difference between the results using the HLNS method and those given by LST represents the effects of non-parallelism. Numerical calculations are performed for five classical forebody shapes, and the effect of non-parallelism is identified. (i) At each streamwise location, non-parallelism suppresses low-frequency disturbances while promoting high-frequency ones. The influence on high-frequency disturbances is more obvious. (ii) The effect of non-parallelism on the neutral curve focuses on the region near the critical instability position. Non-parallelism slightly delays the critical instability position for most forebody shapes and pushes the unstable zone toward the high-frequency direction while broadening its frequency bandwidth. (iii) The streamwise range at each growth-rate level is widened, implying that non-parallelism destabilizes the boundary layers. (iv) The transition occurs earlier, indicating that non-parallelism promotes the transition. (v) Non-parallelism shifts the dangerous frequency band toward the high-frequency direction. (vi) Non-parallelism enhances the wall pressure fluctuations (WPF) in the unstable laminar zone.

Coupled critical plane-pseudo excitation method for multiaxial fatigue analysis of structures under random vibration

This study proposes a coupled critical plane–pseudo excitation method for assessing multiaxial fatigue damage in mechanical structures subjected to random loads. Within the modal coordinate framework, we derive an expression for the spectral moment of the structural stress response using the pseudo excitation method, which facilitates the decoupling of spatial characteristics from frequency domain properties. For the input power spectral density, represented as an integer power function, we employ eigenvalue decomposition and the residue theorem to derive an analytical expression for the spectral moment of the modal displacement response. By constructing equivalent stress modes based on the maximum shear stress and normal stress criteria, we obtain an expression for the equivalent stress variance. Intelligent optimization algorithms are utilized to determine the critical plane position and the corresponding equivalent stress spectral moments, followed by the application of the Dirlik method for fatigue assessment. A numerical example involving random vibration multiaxial fatigue analysis of an L-shaped thin-walled plate demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed coupled critical plane–pseudo excitation method in comparison to the traditional critical plane method that relies on the stress covariance matrix for calculating equivalent variance. The results confirm the accuracy and efficiency of our approach, and we further explore the impact of different forms of the excitation power spectral density and the damping ratios on the computational outcomes.

Preserving reason: a rationalist defense of the ‘Western telos’ in social science and the humanities

I discuss some of the current challenges to the social sciences/humanities and contend that their impact, marked by epistemological confusion and ill-founded accusatory discourse against the basics of open scientific debate and empirical methods, is damaging and undermining rational exchange. There is notable variety across disciplines, but contestation is rife. I affirm the existence and value of a historical Western telos, as a scientific-epistemological ‘project’ driven both by basic curiosity and (material) interests. In the face of some justified but also some grossly overstated accusations of science, especially during the past two decades, I plead for renewal and recalibration of such a telos (be it Western or other) based on the intrinsic value of sound, evidence-based science and non-justificationist critical rationalism, not the least because the proposed alternatives – slighting evidence-based reasoning and advocating the use of personal experience/bias as authoritative, like in ‘identity politics’– hold little promise.

Analysis of the Electric Power Distribution System Service Reliability Index at PLN Lancang Garam

The level of electrical energy demand in an area reflects the welfare of that community. The greater the use of electrical energy, the higher the community's standard of living, followed by the public's critical attitude towards everything that happens and influences lives, including electricity services. Generally, a network's reliability level can be seen from the size of the SAIDI and SAIFI values on the PLN (state electricity company) side. The calculation and reliability analysis results of the Lhokseumawe ULP above show that the total SAIFI index value is 2.68 times/year. The SAIFI Rayon Lhokseumawe reliability index is categorized as reliable because its value does not exceed the standard set by PLN in SPLN 68-2 of 1986, namely 3.2 times/year. The total value of the SAIDI index is 45.30 hours/year. The Lhokseumawe Rayon SAIDI reliability index is categorized as unreliable because its value exceeds the standard set by PLN in SPLN 68-2 of 1986, namely 21 hours/year. There are certainly differences in infrastructure, electrical equipment, and number of customers in 1986 compared to current years; this has a different influence on electricity reliability values such as SAIDI and SAIFI.

Language is a “quite useless” tool: A rejoinder to Fedorenko, Piantadosi, and Gibson’s “Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought”

Contrary to the prevailing assumption that language is “primarily a tool for communication rather than thought”, I argue that language is, to invoke Oscar Wilde, “quite useless”. Arguing from aesthetic philosophy and the minimalist program for linguistic theory, I conject that language, like art, is not “for” anything—it simply is, conforming to aesthetic rather than utilitarian principles. Of course, like art, language can be a powerful instrument of communication, but its function is not that of expressing thought; it creates thoughts, “primarily” for communicating with oneself, engaging in Popperian critical rationalism, making thoughts (e.g., sentences, constructive proofs) to match Platonic objects (e.g., propositions, classical proofs).

The characteristics, challenges, and opportunities of China’s food safety inspection supervision in the distribution sector

Concerns about public food safety are comparatively common in the Chinese food distribution industry. A dearth of expertise and scarce resources lead to frequent instances of incapacity and inadequate oversight, which negatively affect stakeholders in the circulation industry. The main challenges to food supervision are the need for more alignment between the technical specifications, comprehensiveness, and continuity of the existing food safety supervision legislation and the real circumstances facing the regulatory agencies. Despite the circulation field’s critical position in food safety regulation, its complex and variable characteristics make it challenging to implement and manage. There exist notable concerns over inadequate food safety standards and supervisory frameworks, vagueness in enforcing rules, and insufficient workforce and technical know-how in food safety supervision. The opportunities for regulating the food business with the government’s focus and attention considerably outweigh the obstacles that lie ahead. The growth of the food business needs to be viewed in the larger framework of the country’s economic development. Professional involvement and collaboration with technical departments can help regulatory bodies tackle non-compliant actions in the market circulation process in a timely way, resulting in a more evidence-based and responsive regulatory approach. Establishing a healthy equilibrium and elucidating the relationship between oversight and the food business will be crucial in the future.

Pochwała człowieka poszukującego w monografii D. Kuboka pt. "Krytycyzm, sceptycyzm i zetetycyzm we wczesnej filozofii greckiej", Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego, Katowice 2021.

D. Kubok’s monograph entitled Krytycyzm, sceptycyzm i zetetycyzm we wczesnej filozofii greckiej (Criticism, Skepticism and Zeteticism in Early Greek Philosophy) addresses the issue of critical themes in early Greek thought. The work aims not to discuss skeptical antecedents but to find critical attitudes and motives in Greek literature (from Homer to the Sophists) using the author’s understanding and typology of criticism, skepticism and zeteticism.

SIFT-ing Through Misinformation

Background: The COVID-19 infodemic revealed nurses are not immune from disseminating health misinformation. Furthermore, the 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials require competency in social media literacy. Nurse educators need to prepare students to identify credible information online for safe and ethical practice. Problem: Vertical reading, a traditional evaluation strategy used in nursing education, is insufficient for identifying online health misinformation. Approach: A librarian and nursing faculty member developed an innovative reflection notebook assignment to teach lateral reading—a professional fact-checking technique—and facilitate critical self-reflection among RN-to-BSN students. Outcomes: Reflection notebook responses demonstrated that students use online information in various ways; online information habits require active, ongoing professional development; and lateral reading can promote a more compassionate approach to patient education. Conclusions: The reflection notebooks equip students with critical knowledge, skills, and attitudes to practice safely and ethically while demonstrating some of the AACN Essentials requirements.

Latent class analysis of attitudes towards drug use and well-being among South Korean young adults

Abstract Background The surge in drug use and lack of awareness about drug-related dangers among young adults have become major public health concerns in South Korea. According to the Theory of Planned Behavior, understanding attitudes towards drugs is crucial, as permissive attitudes may lead to drug use. Thus, the study aims to identify latent classes of drug use attitudes among Korean young adults and evaluate how their well-being influences each class. Methods A total of 301 college students in Seoul, South Korea, participated in the study. Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to identify unique patterns of attitudes towards drug use. Subsequently, we examined the relationships between auxiliary variables (i.e., well-being, including life satisfaction, self-control, quality of life, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, childhood trauma, self-esteem, stress, family strengths, perceived social support, and stigmatization) and latent classes (i.e., attitudes towards drug use subgroups) by conducting multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results LCA categorized attitudes towards drug use into three groups: Class 1 (Permissive Drug Attitude Group), Class 2 (Moderate Drug Attitude Group), and Class 3 (Critical Drug Attitude Group). Class 2 showed a particularly permissive view on marijuana legalization. In multivariate logistic regression, higher stigmatization (β = .900, p < .05) was associated with membership in Class 1 compared to Class 3. Furthermore, being male (β = 2.272, p < .001) and having higher self-esteem (β = .989, p < .05) were linked to membership in Class 2 compared to Class 3. Conclusions The study enhances understanding of the complex relationship between Korean young adults’ well-being and their drug use attitudes. Effective interventions by frontline social workers aimed at preventing drug use should continuously monitor and address social stigmatization and self-esteem while providing accurate information and education regarding drug use. Key messages • Latent Class Analysis sorted drug attitudes into three groups: ‘Permissive,’ ‘Moderate,’ and ‘Critical’ Attitude Groups. • Individuals experiencing social stigmatization had a higher risk of permissive attitudes, while higher self-esteem increased the likelihood of being in the moderate group over the critical group.

EUROPEAN SCEPTICISM AND ANTI-AMERICANISM IN THE EURO-ATLANTIC POLITICAL PROCESS IN THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY

The article is devoted to a comparative analysis of the development of European scepticism and anti-Americanism in the public political process in the United States and the European Union. In the countries of the European Union, the term European scepticism refers to a negative attitude towards the process of European integration and its functional result in the form of the European Union. In the United States, mostly in ultra-conservative circles, European scepticism refers to a critical attitude towards the EU as the embodiment of the liberal democracy project. Anti-Americanism as an ideological attitude is present not only in European far-left political circles, but also in European far-right political circles. In the United States, the ideology of anti-Americanism was clearly manifested in the Black Lives Matter movement. European scepticism and anti-Americanism are actively used by Russian and Chinese propaganda as signs of an allegedly inevitable crisis of the ‘collective West’ and a ‘natural transition’ to a multipolar world in which Western democracies will not be crucial for further development. The conclusions emphasise that populist diseases of liberal democracies are actively used by autocracies to discredit the democratic experience of political life. At the same time, Russia, Iran, and China are trying to take advantage of discourses on scenarios of the US isolation from active foreign policy and the European Union's self-restrictions in pursuing its own common foreign policy and impose their own versions of ‘hybrid wars’, pushing Western influence out of key regions of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In view of this, the transfer of ideas of anti-Americanism and European scepticism from the circle of leading trends in public political life to its deep periphery can actually ensure greater stability not only for liberal democracies, but also for modern international relations.

The Role of Religious Education in Dealing with the Issue of Radicalization among Students

Radicalization has become a serious threat in the world of education, especially among students who are in the developing stage of self-identity search, where curiosity and emotional instability make them vulnerable to the influence of radical ideology. Religious education, in this context, plays a central role in shaping students' character by instilling values of moderation, tolerance, and respect for diversity. This study aims to explore the role of religious education in preventing radicalization, using a descriptive qualitative method with data collection techniques through in-depth observation and interviews involving teachers, students, principals, and parents. The focus of the research is on the implementation of religious moderation values in schools as an effort to build students' critical attitudes towards extremist ideologies. The results of the study show that inclusive, interactive, and collaborative teaching approaches in religious education, both in the classroom and by involving the external community, play an important role in fostering tolerant characters and being able to reject radical narratives. The study highlights the importance of collaboration between schools and families, as well as the need for digital literacy education to strengthen students' resilience to exposure to extremist content on social media. The implications of this study include the need to integrate materials relevant to actual issues in the religious education curriculum, as well as the development of community-based educational programs that involve families and communities as additional bulwarks of protection for students.