Modern Version Research Articles

For the Freedom of Zion: The Great Revolt of Jews against Romans, 66–74 CE. By Guy MacLean Rogers

This is a fine specimen of narrative history. After a tribute to the late Sir Fergus Millar, Rogers cruises through the story in twenty-four chapters bearing curious titles: “The Owl and the Golden Chain,” “The Camel’s Hump,” “The Son is Coming.” Since chapters rarely exceed twenty pages and frequent subtitles combine with lively prose, arresting vignettes, and plentiful images, the journey is easy going. Rogers adopts the needed confidence, declaring what happened and dismissing what did not. He notes occasional debates, usually to say that however one resolves them, “we know” X. For more enquiring minds, he includes sixteen appendices on technical questions and eighty-two pages of endnotes. Five topographical maps, twenty-three images, and a granular index complete the support suite. This is the work of a skilled researcher and communicator. What story does he tell? Its main lines have been familiar since they congealed in nineteenth-century scholarship: Jews could not abide Roman rule and fought tenaciously for independence. Because we have an ancient eyewitness narrative in Josephus’s War, Antiquities, and Life, modern versions are more or less critical retellings of Josephus. A standard view, shared by Rogers, holds that Josephus, harboring a post-war antipathy toward rebels, obscured their aims and the nobility of their values. Nevertheless, one can see through his account to their righteous desire for freedom. Already in 6 CE, Judas the Galilean seeded a biblically grounded freedom movement in Judea. After six decades—though Rogers insists on the contingency of events at each point—Judas’s heirs persuaded a sufficient number of compatriots to confront Rome.

Infinitesimal Transformations of Riemannian Manifolds—The Geometric Dynamics Point of View

In the present paper, we study the geometry of infinitesimal conformal, affine, projective, and harmonic transformations of complete Riemannian manifolds using the concepts of geometric dynamics and the methods of the modern version of the Bochner technique.

The Monetary Economics of the Austrian School and the Chicago School

To what extent is there complementarity or agreement between Austrian economics and the Chicago school on monetary issues? Both Austrians and Chicagoans would agree that monetary expansion has real effects in the short run, though they emphasize different variables. In the long run, Austrians argue that there is a lasting real effect of monetary expansion—money is not neutral—but Chicagoans too argue that economic activity is less efficient even if people correctly forecast the rate of inflation. Regarding the balance of payments, both the Austrian and Chicago school lead to the conclusion that there can be no balance-of-payments problem. Both are modern versions of the classical price specie flow theory. Perhaps the Austrian approach to monetary economics and the Chicago school approach are more compatible than is commonly thought.

Jadidism as a New Type of Religiousity: Essay on Preliminary Conceptualization

The present article focuses on understanding the phenomenon of Jadidism in the context of the global Islamic renewal movement. It consists of an introduction, two paragraphs and a conclusion. In the introduction, the author indicates the relevance and extent of discussion of the topic. It emphasizes the admissibility of various approaches to the thematization of this phenomenon. The first paragraph deals with some modern concepts in the historiography of the Jadid issue. It also criticizes an attempt to shut down this issue with a revisionist deconstruction of the opposition between Jadidism and Kadimism as presented in the works of D. DeWeese and some of his Russian supporters. The author argues for the absence of serious grounds for rejecting this opposition, for the rhetorical nature of its criticism and for the irrelevance of the revisionists’ arguments. In the second paragraph, the author shifts the focus from criticism of opponents to a “positive” presentation of some of the fundamental theses that must be taken into account when studying the Jadid movement. Based on the conceptual distinction between religiosity and religion, the author describes Jadidism as a new type of religiosity that has emerged as a result of responding to the challenges of modernity. At the same time, the term “modernity” itself is interpreted in the light of the theory of multiple versions of modernity. This helps to avoid an overly facile evaluation of Islamic modernism as an inherently Eurocentric phenomenon. Furthermore, the second paragraph points out that Islamic modernism, including Jadidism, is deeply rooted in the Islamic tradition of tajdid. The author concludes with his interpretation of the essence of the Jadid project.

A readiness assessment of an Indonesian pilot project: Case study Kedungputri, a premium irrigation area, Central Java

AbstractModernization in irrigation has finally touched down in Indonesia with better efforts in technological advancement, institutional strengthening and human resource enhancement. The current project in Kedungputri has proven to hold the potential for modernization. This paper answers how ready the irrigation area status is for the modernization ideal. The ambitious project is performed on a premium irrigation area, an irrigation area with a reservoir as its water source, or in this case potential reservoir as the dam is still under construction. It is a strategic project, with its upstream Bener Dam constructed by the Government of Indonesia with financing of the World Bank's SIMURP (Strategic Irrigation Modernization and Urgent Rehabilitation Project). The analysis uses purposive sampling and qualitative methodology based on existing documents and evidence of the ongoing modernization project since 2019. This readiness status is based on five pillars of the Indonesian version of irrigation modernization. The findings show that the conditions of institutional arrangements have unique and significant impacts on the readiness status, which is covered under the soft components. We urge that modernization efforts should start with the soft components.

Physical Mechanisms Underpinning the Vacuum Permittivity

The debate about the emptiness of space goes back to the prehistory of science and is epitomized by the Aristotelian ‘horror vacui’, which can be seen as the precursor of the ether, whose modern version is the dynamical quantum vacuum. In this paper, we suggest to change a common view to ‘gaudium vacui’ and discuss how the vacuum fluctuations fix the value of the permittivity, ε0, and permeability, μ0, by modelling their dynamical response by three-dimensional harmonic oscillators.

Optimal Subsampling Bootstrap for Massive Data

The bootstrap is a widely used procedure for statistical inference because of its simplicity and attractive statistical properties. However, the vanilla version of bootstrap is no longer feasible computationally for many modern massive datasets due to the need to repeatedly resample the entire data. Therefore, several improvements to the bootstrap method have been made in recent years, which assess the quality of estimators by subsampling the full dataset before resampling the subsamples. Naturally, the performance of these modern subsampling methods is influenced by tuning parameters such as the size of subsamples, the number of subsamples, and the number of resamples per subsample. In this article, we develop a novel hyperparameter selection methodology for selecting these tuning parameters. Formulated as an optimization problem to find the optimal value of some measure of accuracy of an estimator subject to computational cost, our framework provides closed-form solutions for the optimal hyperparameter values for subsampled bootstrap, subsampled double bootstrap and bag of little bootstraps, at no or little extra time cost. Using the mean square errors as a proxy of the accuracy measure, we apply our methodology to study, compare and improve the performance of these modern versions of bootstrap developed for massive data through numerical study. The results are promising.

Self-Knowledge as self-improvement in Plato’s dialogues and cognitive behavioural therapy

Some researchers who examine the similarities between philosophy and psychology conclude that engaging in philosophy can improve one’s mental health, instead of, or in addition to, traditional forms of therapy. This article reinforces this by establishing the relationship between self-knowledge as self-improvement in Plato’s dialogues and in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Despite multiple important points of congruence, some authors have rejected the idea that self-knowledge in Plato can be assimilated to self-knowledge in psychotherapy. Here, I argue against this criticism by focusing on three key areas of interest: (a) self-knowledge as improving one’s beliefs via objective (nonsubjective) means, (b) self-knowledge as resulting in objective (nonsubjective) outcomes, and (c) self-knowledge as progress towards the Good. I reinforce the link by demonstrating that CBT uses methods which are equally objective as those of the Platonic dialogues. I then continue by claiming that the outcome of self-knowledge in both is also equally objective. Finally, I explore the nature of their relationship. Instead of arguing that self-knowledge in CBT is a modern version of Platonic self-knowledge, I propose that although not intended to, it functions as a preparatory process for one to be able to participate in Platonic self-knowledge.

Шанс России на обновление глобальной современности

The social utopia of Modernity was embodied in the form of a basic liberal consensus in the value-institutional system of modern society, but in the course of implementation it revealed its natural limits associated with inflated expectations of endless progress, the expansion of universal rights, access to resources and opportunities. In the situation of the world capitalist system decline and achievement of many limits to growth, the alignment of technological and economic development of societies in the West and East, South and North, as well as the end of Western hegemony, the search for the construction of the latest versions of Modernity, explaining and legitimizing the changes taking place in the global world, is being activated. Russian society is interested in creating and scaling its version of Modernity, focused on explaining patterns, removing accumulated conflicts and initiating overdue value-institutional transformations that are in fundamental contradiction with the “disenchanting” ideology of the Western mainstream, built on double standards. From the standpoint of the mainstream, the observed strengthening of non-market and undemocratic social regulation, the revival of national sovereignty can only be described as archaic, deviation, pathology and a return to the past. However, the scientific discourse of the West itself increasingly appears only as a historical analogy of unconvincing moral justifications of the feudal order, which at one time was abolished by bourgeois revolutions. The newest version of Russian Modernity can become tempting and convincing for the global world if it ensures the leveling of double standards and clear-cut principles of a new social harmony within Russian society.

Review: Nicholas L. Danforth, The Remaking of Republican Turkey: Memory and Modernity since the Fall of the Ottoman Empire, Cambridge 2022: Cambridge University Press, pp. 251.

Nicolas Danforth’s book The Remaking of Republican Turkey is a fine guide to delve deeper into the issue of the Turkish modernity. A major insight of the book concerns the logic of modernization – full of multi-layered paradoxes, political inconsistence and social tensions. Moreover, the book tells the story of perpetual struggle between different versions of modernity: authoritarian and democratic, imposed and adjusted. The main theme, besides modernity, is memory culture that demonstrates contrasting representations of the national past by consciously created continuities as well as ruptures with the historical legacy.

Intelligent Agribusiness System-An Echo Friendly IOT based Approach

Internet of Things (IoT) innovation is one of the fastest growing fields in various regions or aspects which include irrigation. IoT works on the character of our lives by way of bringing and cultivating modifications in many fields of exercises to motive them to come to be convenient, savvy and enriched with the aid of adequate guy-made recognition. As a result of this innovation, smart cultivating frameworks recognize a social trade towards current agri-business that is more useful, consumes less water, and is extraordinarily less luxurious. The primary goal of this paper is to make use of IoT within the agribusiness subject to accumulate facts right away (soil Moister, temperature), with a purpose to help one with staring at a few climate situations distantly, effectively and improve massively the creation and thus the pay of ranchers. The modern version is created utilizing NodeMCU innovation, which contains express sensors, and a Wifi module that assists with amassing moment records on the internet. It is worth concentrating on the testing of this model created, profoundly precise data in light of the fact that any herbal changes were outstanding in a flash and taking into consideration to decide. This paper speculating about integrating the IoT with different other technologies.

Supporting young children’s learning from science objects: the importance of play on gallery

Experiences during the early years shape our lives as adults, including our appreciation and understanding of science. Even though early years audiences make up a significant number of visitors in many museums, they are an under-researched age group, particularly in science museums. This paper addresses this gap by considering young children’s learning at the Science Museum in London. Two approaches to support learning from unfamiliar objects were tested with 4–7 year-olds in family groups. The first approach involved families creating a display that featured a small replica of the original object. The second approach involved displaying familiar objects or modern versions with conversation prompts next to the original objects. The testing included observations and semi-structured interviews with a total of 16 family groups. Findings show that families use play to create familiarity and context around objects. Guided play provides opportunities for families to tap into their existing understanding and interests, and in this way allows families to learn from objects. These findings highlight the importance of providing for and encouraging play on gallery to support young children’s learning from objects. Young children can successfully be supported to learn from unfamiliar objects in object-rich galleries in a science museum.

No Poor among Them: Poverty and Mormonism's Trek toward Secularism

No Poor among Them: Poverty and Mormonism's Trek toward Secularism

Some fragments from the writings by Cyril of Scythopolis in the extensive edition of the Life of Makarij of Kaljazin

This article is devoted to the problem of borrowings from authoritarian writings in the original works of Russian hagiographers. The material of the study is the Extensive edition of the Life of Makarij of Kaljazin, compiled around 1547 by an anonymous Russian hagiographer, who belongs to the literary circle of metropolitan Makarij. The study solves some source-study problems, in particular establishment of literary sources of additions to the Extensive edition and definition of a specific version of the translated text used by Russian author in his work, as well as analysis of changes in the source when including borrowings in the text. The most significant result is discovery of the borrowings from the Life of Euthymius the Great (BHG 648) and the Praise of Euthymius the Great and Sabas the Sanctified (lost in Greek); both of these works were written by Cyril of Scythopolis, the famous Byzantine hagiographer of the 6th century. Russian hagiographer uses the Life of Euthymius the Great in the version of the text prepared by Nil Sorsky, which was the very modern in creation of the Life of Makarij of Kaljazin. In his choice of a literary model and source, Russian author is not original and follows the long literary tradition. But the combination of the old version of any text (the Praise of Euthymius and Sabas) and the modern version of any text (the Life of Euthymius), devoted to the same saint, seems to be an important novelty in the technique of Russian hagiographers.

A brief analysis of the breakthrough and innovation of directing art in the 2000 version of drama Sunrise

Cao Yu's classic trilogy "Thunderstorm", "Sunrise" and "The Wilderness" have always been classic dramas rehearsed and performed by theaters in big cities and drama clubs of colleges and universities, and how to deeply interpret and interpret the classics, how to further excavate deeper cultural and philosophical connotations, and how to conform to the spirit of the times in the current society, these have become the focus and starting point of drama writing, directing and acting in the new era. In 2000, the Beijing People's Art Theater appointed director Ren Ming to rearrange the drama "Sunrise", and this article interprets this version. The modern version of "Sunrise" is a bold breakthrough and innovation in the style of the classic version of "Sunrise", through the re-direction and rearrangement of the play, it skillfully breaks through the thinking pattern of stage imagery, and innovatively integrates traditional and modern elements, giving "Sunrise" a new artistic posture, deepening the connotation interpretation of "Sunrise" in the current era, and narrowing the distance with the audience.

Competition and integration in the search for a new paradigm for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability

Modern researchers in the humanities and natural sciences hold different and sometimes opposite views on the status of natural objects. The anthropocentric point of view prevails, considering man as the center of the universe and the goal of nature, which originates in the traditions of the Renaissance and the Christian Middle Ages about the transcendence of man and domination over nature. In modern versions of anthropocentrism, human needs and interests have an independent value, and people are regarded as exceptional beings with reason and morality. However, anthropocentrism is negatively perceived in many environmental and ethical discussions, as it has led to an ecological crisis, attributing instrumental value to nature. The biocentric approach, which gives moral status to all living beings, is becoming increasingly common in environmental ethics, and it is based on the principle of "reverence for life". With this approach, nature becomes a goal, not just a means, and all living organisms are considered the highest value. The ecocentric approach recognizes the moral status of ecosystems as a whole, denying the privileged status of people and emphasizing the responsibility of people for a responsible and careful attitude to the world around them.

ПУТЬ ДЛИНОЙ В СТОЛЕТИЕ: ОТ БЮЛЛЕТЕНЯ "СИБАРХИВ" 1920-Х ГГ. ДО НАУЧНО-ИСТОРИЧЕСКОГО ЖУРНАЛА СИБИРСКИХ АРХИВИСТОВ "СИБИРСКИЙ АРХИВ"

The article presents results of the analysis conducted on the basis of archival materials of the bulletin “Sibarchiv” – the first in Siberia periodic information archival publication, which played an extremely important role in establishing the information exchange of archival institutions in the vast territories of the Siberian Region, in popularizing archives, attracting them to scientific work. All three and a half years’ worth of issues of the bulletin are considered in detail and the most important topics and questions raised in it since 1928 highlighted. The outstanding role of V.D. Wegman, the head of the Sibarchive in saving documentary and archival materials from plunder and destruction, in organizing provincial archival departments, in attracting scientifically erudite, dedicated archiving specialists for work in the archives of Siberia is indicated. It is shown how the experience of the bulletin “Sibarchiv” turned out to be in demand by archivists of the late 20th century – early 21st century. The examples given in the article prove that modern versions of the periodic archival press – the bulletin “Novosibirsk Archival Bulletin” and the scientific and historical electronic journal “Siberian Archive” – have absorbed interesting and effective forms and methods of work from their predecessors, revived and preserved the best traditions, remained in line with the current concerns of the professional community of historians and archivists in Siberia.

Micro Enterprise Retailer Salespeople’s Self-Evaluations of Sales Performance: A study of two countries, one from Central America and one from Western Africa


 Salespeople are crucial piece of the puzzle in micro business retailing environments of developing countries. With no formal training and education in salesmanship, they practice the modern version of the customer relationship management to achieve success. However, empirical studies regarding the salesperson’s performance in such environments in developing countries are scarce. We contribute to the existing literature by extending the application of the behaviour-based salesperson self-evaluation into micro enterprise environments of under-researched countries in Central America and Western Africa. Using an empirical data collected from two developing nations, we examined the importance ratings of the Bush et al. (1990) behaviour-based scale dimension in micro enterprise retail shops in Ghana and Guatemala. Our results indicate that the dimensionality of the behaviour-based salesperson performance evaluation scale holds in both countries. In addition, the importance of some of the performance evaluation dimensions differed in the countries studied.

Revisiting Homosociality and Homosocial Spaces in Pre-Modern Ottoman Society

This paper examines diverse conceptions of homosociality in pre-modern and modern societies, and discusses how these conceptions are politically, socially, culturally and spatially constructed and transformed throughout history, particularly during the modernization processes of the mid-19thcentury. Concentrating on two significant homosocial spaces, men’s coffeehouse and women’s section of the Ottoman-Turkish baths, it aims to demonstrate how homosociality is spatialized through the dissolution of the public/private dichotomy, as well as constructions of functionality in pre-modern Ottoman society. The paper follows a historical interpretative research methodology. Based on data derived from the second-hand sources available in the literature, the privatized public, complex, homoerotic and multi-functional characteristics of these homosocial spaces and their extensions towards and reflections on the Ottoman urban neighborhoods are critically analyzed and interpreted. The dissolution of the public/private dichotomy in these spaces also exemplifies the Foucaultian concept of heterotopia. The paper concludes that these traditional spaces and their modern versions demonstrate the constructedness of both gender categories and patriarchal structures.

China`'s Breakout from Encirclement: Belt and Road Initiative

China is a country with unique geographic position surrounded by twenty nations big and small (including Taiwan) around its periphery. China`s greatest security concern has always been a strategic encirclement – its neighbors aligning with one another or with strong powers such as the United States to isolate China. How does this sense of encirclement influence China’s strategic behavior? China`s central geographic position between Russia and the United States makes it hard for Beijing to maneuver its foreign policy in the region. Thus, China`s current leader came up with the idea of implementing a project, a modern version of the ancient Silk Road, whose specific function is to link countries of the world by the different types of infrastructure. Emerging as a feature of China`s so-called peaceful development, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a manifestation of its aspiration for connecting itself to the countries of the great Afro-Eurasian landmass by railroads, highways, shipping routes and communication networks. This article portrays the BRI as Chinese strategy of a breakout from encirclement. It argues that China is employing the BRI to pursue its strategic interests of enhancing its influence in its peripheral areas and extending its strategic reach further beyond its traditional periphery by gaining control over strategically important lands and ports.