Scientific Ideas Research Articles

Magic Matters: Engaging with Nathan Sivin on the History of Divination, Medicine, and Popular Religion in China

Abstract In this essay, the author seeks to highlight some of the many ways that Nathan Sivin’s academic work and personal advice have helped to shape his current book project, titled Magic Matters: Science and Medicine in Chinese Popular Culture, 1800 to 1850). Smith’s essay discusses the conceptual framework of Magic Matters, focusing on the ways that Chinese commoners perceived, represented, and understood the natural world, in all of its variety and complexity. It identifies the historical and cultural context in which traditional Chinese medicine and the mantic arts flourished, even after the introduction of new scientific and medical ideas and practices from the West and Japan post-1850. Along the way, Smith identifies a number of Asian and Western scholars who, together with Sivin, have done extremely productive and stimulating work on Chinese science, medicine and technology. He also provides bibliographical suggestions for further China-focused and comparative research on these topics.

Стратегии научно-популярного педагогического интернет-дискурса

The article presents the results of a discursive analysis of online articles on foreign language learning. The analysis continues the study of the English popular science pedagogical discourse, complementing the number of already identified and characterized components with discourse strategies. The aim of the paper is to identify and analyze the strategies of the popular science pedagogical internet discourse which would expand scientific ideas about the interaction peculiarities between the pedagogical community and society. As practical material, the study uses one of the most famous English online magazines dedicated to language learning. By random sampling, 70 text fragments are selected from the magazine, exhibiting the whole variety of speech means the pedagogical community uses to cover its intentions and values. To achieve the aim set in the research, the authors use linguapragmatic, linguasemiotic, discursive analysis and descriptive, analytical, interpretive, statistical methods. As a result of the analysis, the strategies of attracting attention, modality, transmitting reliability, forming professional identity, solidarity, manipulation and consolidation have been established. Each strategy reveals its own means of speech implementation, among which we can name various verbal constructions, appealing constructions, constructions emphasizing causes and consequences of educational processes, evaluating lexemes, lexemes with semantics of inducement to action, etc. The range of communication strategies and means of their verbalization is not limited to those given in the paper. In order to describe the model of the popular science pedagogical discourse existing not only in the English internet space, the need for further analysis of the research subject is obvious.

РЕПРЕЗЕНТАЦІЇ ІГРОВОГО МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ ЖИТТЄДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ЛЮДИНИ В УМОВАХ НЕВИЗНАЧЕНОСТІ

Purpose. Features of modernity that correspond to the features of a world dominated by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, threats of using such features as means of geopolitical influence, conditions of a full-scale russian-ukrainian war, the necessity restoration for a safe environment throughout the territory of Ukraine requires effective proposals from domestic psychology to ensure human life in the given conditions. A well-founded system-forming position for this increasingly appears as a game as a universal socio-cultural phenomenon and an integral factor of human self-realization, and game modeling as a way and method of human life activity in uncertainty. The purpose of the article is a theoretical study of the psychological regularities of game representation in the aspects of modeling human life, substantiation of psychological content, functional essence, classification of representations as an attributive factor of game modeling of human life in uncertainty conditions. Methods. The research uses methods of analysis and systematization for psychological and interdisciplinary approaches in the study of representation and modeling of human life activities, theoretical reconstruction and classification of the psychological content and functional essence for the game modeling representation of human life activities in current living conditions. Results. Based on the results of the research, the categorical and conceptual content and functional essence for game modeling representations of human life activity in uncertainty conditions were specified. The attribution of representation in the game modeling aspects is updated and substantiated. The definition of "game modeling representations of human life activity in uncertainty conditions" and the corresponding classification are proposed. Scientific ideas about representation, game and game modeling are deepened. It was established that the game modeling representations of human life activity in uncertainty conditions is a universal, pragmatic, attributive phenomenon; non-specific mental formation; the way of life of a person and a social group, which occurs simultaneously in two complementary dimensions: a) the intrasubjective space of a person as an interiorizational mental representation and b) in the external activity dimension as a deed, activity representation of exteriorization. Conclusions. The results of the study allow us to draw conclusions about the relevance of continuing psychological explorations for game modeling representations of human life activity in uncertainty conditions. The clarifying regularities tasks of influence for representations on psychological well-being and productivity of individual and group activities are considered promising.

Accentuation Networks of IT Students, Managers and Journalists: an Interdisciplinary Approach in Comparative Analysis

Introduction. Network diagnostic methods have an important advantage, which is the ability to integrate data from various scientific studies. In particular, the potential of the possibility of conducting diagnostics aimed at identifying the connectedness of the social and psychological characteristics of the accentuations of students of various fields of study is relevant.Methodology and sources. The conceptual ideas of various sciences involving the construction of a synthetic research methodology are used. The provisions of sociological science, social psychology and psychology on the nature, factors of formation and features of the manifestation of personality accentuations, as dependent on a wide variety of conditions, are integrated.Results and discussion. The obtained research results are presented in the form of accentuation networks, reflecting some features of the connectedness of accentuations. The main hypotheses of the study were confirmed, networks of accentuation of student journalists are built around mobile-emotional accentuations; networks of student managers are formed around aspirations to lead; networks of IT students are the most dense among the intellectual qualities and characteristics of students.Conclusion. Building networks of accentuation of students of various training profiles has a good prospect for the practice of diagnosis and correction of the educational process. Network modeling of the dynamics of the formation of students' accents as they study at the university provides a reliable basis for evaluating and managing the educational process.

Why an Alignment of Hypothesis-Formulation and Theorization with Cultural and Cross-Cultural Frames of Reference is Required: A Rough Guide to Better Hypothesis-Formulation and Theorization

In this paper, we proposition and champion the idea that theorization and hypothesis building, both of which form an intrinsic and a crucial part of formal scientific method, must be linked and tied to the concepts of cultural frame of reference, and cross-cultural frames of reference, two concepts that we had mooted in our previous papers. This approach, we argue, is necessary, in order that scientific concepts be better grasped and more thoroughly understood by the masses, and by the common public. We therefore, present a brief recapitulation of these two concepts besides introducing, and briefly explaining the twin ideas and the twin concepts of ideological frame of reference, and epistemological frame of reference as well. We also recapitulate and overview our earlier concepts of irreducible simplicity, “Continuous zero-based reassessment of assumptions, hypotheses and methods”, and structured apperception tests for socio- cultural change, and integrate them into the tenets of this paper. Last but not the least, we explain how all these concepts can lead to a percolation of scientific ideas, and a scientific temper among the masses, and lead us to what we have always called, “scientific progress at the speed of light.” These approaches and techniques must be followed as far as practically possible, and exceptions justified on a case to case basis.

Promotional language and the adoption of innovative ideas in science

How are the merits of innovative ideas communicated in science? Here, we conduct semantic analyses of grant application success with a focus on scientific promotional language, which may help to convey an innovative idea's originality and significance. Our analysis attempts to surmount the limitations of prior grant studies by examining the full text of tens of thousands of both funded and unfunded grants from three leading public and private funding agencies: the NIH, the NSF, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, one of the world's largest private science funding foundations. We find a robust association between promotional language and the support and adoption of innovative ideas by funders and other scientists. First, a grant proposal's percentage of promotional language is associated with up to a doubling of the grant's probability of being funded. Second, a grant's promotional language reflects its intrinsic innovativeness. Third, the percentage of promotional language is predictive of the expected citation and productivity impact of publications that are supported by funded grants. Finally, a computer-assisted experiment that manipulates the promotional language in our data demonstrates how promotional language can communicate the merit of ideas through cognitive activation. With the incidence of promotional language in science steeply rising, and the pivotal role of grants in converting promising and aspirational ideas into solutions, our analysis provides empirical evidence that promotional language is associated with effectively communicating the merits of innovative scientific ideas.

IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND: ON THE HISTORY OF MIND AND OTHER MATTERS

ABSTRACTIn The Primacy of Method in Historical Research: Philosophy of History and the Perspective of Meaning, Jonas Ahlskog presents a critical and lucid engagement with contemporary philosophies of history and makes a sustained case for a return to the ideas of history and social science as developed by R. G. Collingwood and Peter Winch. What philosophy needs again is, first, a recognition of the “primacy of method”—that is, the insight that what one knows about reality depends on how one knows it. Second, philosophers need to take “the duality of method” seriously again and to recognize that the modes of explanation in the human sciences and the natural sciences are categorically different from each other—especially now that this difference has been blurred in recent debates about the Anthropocene. Ahlskog's book is thus also a contribution to the classical debate about causal explanation versus meaningful understanding. On closer analysis, however, Ahlskog's “untimely meditations” on “historical method” suffer from an insufficient engagement with counterarguments. A first line of critique challenges the idea that human action cannot be explained causally. A second line of critique challenges the idea that all aspects of human action can be “understood,” because the unintended aspects and consequences of individual actions cannot. These require causal explanation. A third line of critique concerns Ahlskog's denial of the fundamental plurality of ideas of history and the social sciences. Squeezing this plurality into one philosophical mold comes at a price. Unintentionally, Ahlskog's “untimely meditations” also show that much.

Relation Between Personal Value and Need Satisfaction: Theoretical Review

The problem of values ​​is eternally relevant, has a long history of study and is of a pronounced interdisciplinary nature. This means that values ​​are not the subject of a purely psychological analysis, but without psychology there cannot be a comprehensive study of the values ​​that belong to both society and a specific individual at the same time. A broad introduction of the concept of value into the psychological lexicon and research practice naturally leads to a certain rethinking of many psychological terms and, above all, such fundamental categories as the psyche, consciousness, personality, activity, needs, meanings, emotions, etc. In real life and in the entire psyche there is nothing that does not have some value. The issue of criteria and diversity of value has been and remains hotly debated. Therefore, at the moment, the psychology of personal values ​​is an actively developing area of ​​scientific research and it is undoubtedly waiting for its researchers. This is one of the obvious ways to humanize scientific ideas about the living human psyche. Keywords: value system, need satisfaction, human actions, need hierarchy

Folk orthology in the digital environment

In the digital era, folk orthologs (language normalizers who are not professional in the quality of speech, the choice of criteria, and the codified norm) have received unlimited access to the electronic publication of their opinions, which has come to the attention of scientists. The relevance of the proposed topic is determined by the need to popularize traditional cultural values, in particular, knowledge of the Russian language. The purpose of the study is to find out the motives of folk orthologs and the norm criteria used in their rulemaking, degree of objectivity, the correspondence of their opinions to scientific ideas and the level of literacy in their statements. The research material was based on judgments about the language of non-professional linguists available at online forums (public dialogues) about the Russian language. The method of content analysis was used, including the search and selection of judgments of folk orthologs, as well as the analysis of linguistic material from the perspective of compliance with norms in linguistic dictionaries. The results of the study showed both the lack of knowledge of folk orthologs about the Russian language and their demand for this knowledge. The motives for their activities were identified - interest in the language and its protection, self-realization, leisure time, and also the main areas of activity of folk orthologs - rulemaking, and the search for norms in spelling, vocabulary and grammar. This knowledge made it possible to propose recommendations for a possible dialogue between scientists and folk orthologs.

Yury Nikolaevich Stolyarov: Remains in the memory…

The article is dedicated to the memory of Yury N. Stolyarov, an outstanding Russian library scholar. Through personal memories, the image is drawn of an enthusiastic scientist, a man of extensive knowledge, true culture and modesty. The impact of Stolyarov’s scientific ideas of Yury N. Stolyarov is demonstrated through the analysis of citations of his works using the RSCI information retrieval tools.

Investments in Scientific Teaching Staff – Main Determinant of Quality Medical Education

Abstract Science has emerged as a powerful tool to facilitate researchers in conducting trustful summary of achievements in clinical practice. Science has a leading role in modern medicine as it allows prediction of the future development of new scientific ideas, formulating the prospects for future development. The purpose of the article was to make a comparative analysis and evaluation of the allocated funds for scientific and teaching staff hired under second employment contract in the university clinics or accredited teaching hospitals or departments for clinical training of the Medical University – Sofia for the period 2013-2022, and to show the effectiveness of investing in human capital. For the purposes of the research, the following were used: documentary method, analysis and synthesis and comparative method. During the analyzed period, a permanent tendency towards a decrease in the total number of clinical teachers in all clinical training centres was observed. The total amount of funds spent on the wage fund for the ten-year period increased by 35.7% compared to the beginning of the period. The increase in the funds for the salary fund of the clinical teachers stems from the policy that was introduced in 2016 with the Collective Labor Agreement – together with the social partners stimulation (bonus) for theoretical and practical training of medical students both in the Bulgarian language (state order), as well as payment for English language training. With a view to improving the quality of education of future healthcare Professionals, MU – Sofia continuously invests its own funds in its scientific and teaching staff. Proof of the effectiveness of the invested funds are the results of the last 10 years of the Rating System of the higher schools in the Republic of Bulgaria, in which MU – Sofia was ranked first in the five professional areas in which it conducts training.

Empirical Modeling of High-Performance Self-Compacting Concrete with Induction-Furnace Slag

Abstract This study led to the creation of empirical models of the properties of high-performance self-compacting concrete (HPSCC) with inductionfurnace slag (IFS) added as an extra cementitious ingredient. The ingredients were Portland cement, IFS ranging from 0 to 50% by cement weight, granite, river sand, water, and superplasticizer. Using a slump flow test, the filling-ability property of the newly produced HPSCC was investigated. Similarly, a compressive strength test was used to determine the hardened HPSCC's compressive strength. Using already established scientific ideas, the empirical model of the filling-ability characteristic of the fresh HPSCC was generated, on the basis of the slump flow and the volume of the paste of the fresh concrete. Likewise, the empirical model of the compressive strength of the hardened HPSCC was generated, based on the combination of the parameters of the strength developed over time, with the strength developed, due to the addition of the IFS. Based on these, the empirical model of the fillingability property of the fresh HPSCC was ρ r s f 2 = 0.002 ( 1 - V P ) - 11.34 {{{\rho _r}} \over {{s_f}^2}} = 0.002{\left( {1 - {V_P}} \right)^{ - 11.34}} , while that of the compressive strength of the hardened HPSCC was f c ( t ) = t 4.52 + 0.78 t ( − 0.0109 ( P i f s ) 2 + 0.2632 P i f s + 52.446 ) {f_c}\left( t \right) = {t \over {4.52 + 0.78t}}\left( { - 0.0109{{\left( {{P_{ifs}}} \right)}^2} + 0.2632{P_{ifs}} + 52.446} \right) . The empirical models were then validated using test data from this work. Strong links between the measured and the predicted values were identified by the empirical correlations, where the coefficient of determination (R2) value for the filling ability property, gave above 94% and the R2 value for the compressive strength, gave above 86%. The estimated slump flow and the compressive strength were approximately equal to the experimental values. The outcomes demonstrated that IFS may be utilized to produce an eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable HPSCC. The models can be adopted in designing HPSCC containing IFS as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) and in predicting its filling-ability and compressive strength, which will benefit the construction industry.

Designing exhibitions of Chinese art in Soviet Art Museums: from collectible to problematic method

The object of research is Chinese fine art presented in Soviet museums, museum practice and scientific discourse that has developed around the study of Chinese art in the USSR. The subject of the research is the specifics of designing exhibitions of Chinese art in Soviet art museums and the issues of its historical transformation. The analysis of a number of exhibition events held in Soviet museums and dedicated to Chinese fine art is proposed. During the consideration of the topic, such issues as the factors that influenced the methods of Soviet scientists in planning Chinese expositions, the degree of their effectiveness in relation to communication between the Soviet viewer and works of Chinese fine art are traced. This material is used to reconstruct the process of transformation of Soviet art critics' approaches to presentation and communication in the field of Chinese art. The comparative historical method is used to allow a comparative analysis of the Early Soviet and late Soviet periods in order to comprehend the issues of the evolution of scientific knowledge about Chinese art, approaches to its research, museum presentation and communication in this area. A descriptive method of analyzing exhibitions and collections of Chinese fine art in Soviet museums is used. For the first time, the nature of Soviet museum studies of Chinese fine art is generalized, the approaches of Soviet researchers to presentation and communication in the field of fine art in China are revealed, and their historical transformation is traced. The main conclusions of the study are as follows. The nature of the evolution of Soviet researchers' approaches to presentation and communication in the field of Chinese fine art in USSR museums is determined by the movement towards the development of deep scientific ideas, which in the late Soviet period provide a reliable basis for the effective implementation of certain approaches to exposition planning, the complication of exhibition events, the movement of Soviet museological theory from an ideologized view of exposition material as a means education of a citizen of a new formation, to the perception of an independent artistic idea of exposition works. Since the second half of the 1980s, new principles of artistic communication between the viewer and works of fine art have been formed in the USSR: an independent artistic idea of exposition works is brought to the fore, which provides favorable conditions for the Soviet viewer to perceive traditional Chinese aesthetics as a separate phenomenon of ancient and original Chinese culture.

Library Professionology in Masters of Library and Information Science Training: Methodological Approaches to the Development of the Thematic Structure

The article deals with current issues of theory and methodology of library and information education. Its purpose is to substantiate the expediency of forming the thematic structure of the course “Library Professionology”, based on generalization of scientific ideas about the subject of library professionology as the library science discipline. The publication analyzes the methodological approaches of specialists from the leading universities of culture (Moscow State Institute of Culture, Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, East-Siberian State Institute of Culture) to the construction of the content of one of the special academic disciplines – “Library Professionology”, – which is included in the curriculum for training Masters of Library and Information Activity.The author proposes one of the variants of the structural and logical model of the course “Library Professionology” – the complex theoretical and applied discipline that covers a wide range of problems related to the place and role of the library profession in the society. Mastering the essence and content of the library professionology by the Master students necessitates the acquisition of various professional competencies, with the general pedagogical competencies being the most significant among them. For this reason, the central place in the course should belong to the study of issues related to professional education – from history to current problems of organizing the library professionals training, content, methods and forms of training at the present stage.

More-energetic vapors of in situ plasmon-activated water as an environmentally friendly etchant

These days, environmental science and sustainable development issues are highly valued. Also, water is the most abundant and most easily recyclable substance on earth, and it is also the most environmentally friendly solvent and reactant in the fields of chemistry and physics. In this work, in situ vapor of plasmon-activated water (PAW) was first utilized to modify surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active Ag substrates by simple environmentally friendly etching. Compared to etching with conventional deionized water (DIW) vapor, higher SERS signals and lower relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the model compound, rhodamine 6G (R6G), were observed on PAW vapor-etched SERS-active Ag substrates. These developed SERS technologies were also effective for alternative detection methodologies of the pesticides tricyclazole (TC) and sulfoxaflor (SF) and for serum from patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Encouragingly, the limit of detection (LOD) of TC was determined to be extremely low at 5 ppb based on PAW vapor etching. The environmentally friendly etching strategies we developed provide innovative ideas for green science that avoid using harmful reagents.

A new chance for online science communication education and learning through TikTok

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The COVID-19 pandemic practice of social distancing has led to an increased usage of social media, which has highlighted the importance and potency of social media for effective science communication. As a result, it is now just as crucial to educate and acquire the skills necessary to use social media for science communication in an accurate and efficient manner. In response, we created a task that models and develops 21st century science communication abilities using the social media site TikTok. During the COVID-19 outbreak, TikTok, a platform for sharing short videos, had a dramatic rise in popularity. We demonstrated efficient social media science communication strategies by employing the condensed, targeted video format of TikTok to instruct students in fundamental science ideas and lab procedures. Students were then given the task of practicing excellent science communication at the conclusion of the semester by making their own educational and entertaining TikToks about the research projects that their teams had been working on. Here, we provide our methodology, a number of TikTok best practices, and sample videos made throughout the process for science communication education that are both effective and interesting.</span></p>

Analysis of Students Chemistry Laboratory Literacy in High School

This research aims to identify the laboratory literacy level of SMA/MA students in Mataram City and describe laboratory literacy in 4 aspects: context, content, competence, and attitude, in carrying out practicums in the laboratory. Laboratory literacy measurement techniques through stages pre-lab to measure the ability of the content aspect, namely identifying knowledge initial or basic concepts that support practicum, subsequent stage lab work to measure context aspects, namely problem identification, analysis objectives, and principles of analytical methods for testing scientific ideas, and attitude aspects during practicum. Stagepost lab measuring competency aspects related to data analysis from practicum results as a basis for decision making. The research data was analyzed descriptively. Research results show that value. The average student laboratory literacy in the context and attitude aspects is high, namely 78.22 and 86.8, but for the content and competency aspects, it is still low, namely 54.26 and 54.15. The conclusions of this research are as follows: (1)Ability The average laboratory literacy of SMA/MA students in the city of Mataram is a category enough, namely 67.71. (2) The ability to apply chemistry to real-life problems (Chemical Literacy) can be improved by optimizing the use of laboratories as chemistry learning centers

Biogeochemical Cycle of Acid Mine Drainage from Pyrite Mines and Its Environmental Impact

Acid wastewater from pyrite mines is a serious environmental pollutant, whose formation and evolution is a complex microbial ecology and biogeochemical cycle process. This paper reviews the research progress on the microbial classification and distribution, microbial diversity and abundance, biogeochemical cycle process of acid wastewater, etc., reveals the key role of microorganisms in the formation mechanism, environmental impact and utilization and treatment of acid wastewater, and provides theoretical basis and technical support for the monitoring, assessment and management of acid wastewater. The sustainable and ecological study of acid wastewater, etc., hoping to provide more scientific evidence and innovative ideas for the sustainable management and utilization of acid wastewater.

Правовое регулирование мер по предупреждению коррупции в России и за рубежом

The anti-corruption policy of most states shows the systematic activity aimed at eradicating corruption and the causes that give rise to it. Priority within the framework of these activities is given to measures aimed at preventing corruption. Such activities are a set of state and public measures aimed at eliminating or neutralizing the causes and conditions of corruption or contributing to the solution of this problem. Analysis of the legislation of the Russian Federation and some foreign countries made it possible to identify a number of the most common measures used to prevent corruption. Among them are: legal and anti-corruption education for citizens and officials, applying ethical standards, anti-corruption analysis of regulatory legal acts and its projects, development of measures to resolve conflicts of interest, active involvement of civil society institutions in combating corruption, etc. Finally, the author concludes that the effectiveness of measures aimed at preventing corruption directly depends on an integrated approach, which requires not only improvement of legal regulation, but also level increase of legal consciousness of citizens, as well as the introduction of the latest ideas in management science and digital technologies.

THE SOCIETY, THE SAVANTS, AND THE SCIENTIST: A GLIMPSE AT THE SOCIÉTÉ GÉOLOGIQUE DE FRANCE THROUGH THE ACTIVITY OF THE FOUNDING MEMBER NÉRÉE BOUBÉE (1830-1860)

ABSTRACT The relevance of the Société Géologique de France (SGF) in the geoscientific landscape is undoubtedly recognized, but the academic literature dedicated to its history is scarce. The present paper aims to portray some aspects of the SGF's ordinary functioning filtered through the eyes and experience of a first-time member during the years he was active in the Society's life—approximately from 1830 to 1860. The basic assumption is that the SGF, similar to the Geological Society of London and other (geo)scientific societies, was an “arena of geological debate in the early Nineteenth century” (Rudwick 1986). Within this arena, not only scientific cultures, ideas, and practices were confronted, but also savants, experts, and amateurs clashed with each other. The constant and often very intense participation of Nérée Boubée (1806-1862) reveals much about the SGF and himself. We will follow his footsteps as a guiding thread of the narrative. Not being a savant, nor part of the élite of geology at his time, neither was Boubée a typical amateur. As was the case of many other members of the SGF, he may be considered an “accomplished” member— i.e., a geologist specialist in a more restricted subject (Rudwick 1985, p. 120). Boubée's trajectory within the SGF is a good window to see the functioning of the SGF in more detail, as it may also exemplify the paths followed by other ordinary members like him, who constituted the majority of the membership. The article concludes that the SGF was indeed an “arena” both in terms of the construction of knowledge and practices, and at the personal level of intra-community interactions.