bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flying in air ducts
Authors: Martin Thomas , Guénard Adrien , Tempez Vladislav , Renaud Lucien , Raharijanona Thibaut , Ruffier Franck , Mouret Jean-Baptiste
Published: October 2024

Air ducts are integral to modern buildings but are challenging to access for inspection. Small quadrotor drones offer a potential solution, as they can navigate both horizontal and vertical sections and smoothly fly over debris. However, hovering inside air ducts is problematic due to the airflow generated by the rotors, which recirculates inside the duct and destabilizes the drone, whereas hovering is a key feature for many inspection missions. In this article, we map the aerodynamic forces that affect a hovering drone in a duct using a robotic setup and a force/torque sensor. Based on the collected aerodynamic data, we identify a recommended position for stable flight, which is not the center of a circular duct. We then develop a neural network-based positioning system that leverages low-cost time-of-flight sensors. By combining these aerodynamic insights and the data-driven positioning system, we show that a small quadrotor drone (here, 180 mm) can hover and fly inside small air ducts, starting with a diameter of 350 mm. These results open a new and promising application domain for drones.
Monitoring of Drip Irrigation With Autonomous Photovoltaic Pumping
Authors: KEPP NAILA CRISTINA , BOAS MARCIO ANTONIO VILAS , COSSICH VINICIUS , LOPES ALLAN REMOR , HAUPHENTAL SONI
Published: October 2024

The performance of new irrigation system configurations can be assessed by applying statistical process control techniques. The aim of this research was to use statistical process control to investigate variations in the application uniformity of three irrigation systems that differed according to the manufacturer and, above all, the thickness of the hose. The research was carried out in a protected environment at the Irrigation and Fertigation Laboratory (LIF), Cascavel - PR. The experiment was conducted in a DIC, in which three dripper models were evaluated (P1 from Irritec 2.1 L.h-1; Aries from Netafim and P1 from Irritec 1.1 L.h-1) powered by solar energy. The results show that when sizing a drip irrigation system with direct, autonomous photovoltaic pumping, it is advisable to design a higher working pressure than that recommended by the manufacturer, and that hoses with a thicker wall are more suitable for this design configuration. Therefore, the hydraulic power values must be taken into account in conjunction with the application uniformity values.
Knowledge Mapping for Prediction of Spontaneous Preterm Birth
Authors: Shen Hui , Zhang Lihe , Bai Han , Wu Lihong , Du Liu , Xie Hongning
Published: October 2024

Background
Preterm birth (PTB) before 37 weeks gestation, especially spontaneous premature birth (sPTB), poses significant global health challenges, with rising rates linked to advanced and multiple pregnancies. Despite efforts to understand sPTB and biomarkers like cervical length and fetal fibronectin, accurate prediction is still difficult to achieve. Recent research in academic journals has focused on sPTB prediction, prompting our bibliometric analysis to understand the current situation and explore the new research direction.
Methods
We used keywords in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) to search for articles related to sPTB prediction from 2004 to 2023. Subsequently, we primarily employed three distinct software tools (VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Python) for conducting this bibliometric analysis.
Results
Focusing on sPTB as the primary subject, a total of 647 papers have been published in 136 academic journals. There are the most publications from The United States (n = 245, 39.26%), and the University of London contributed the most publications (n = 57, 8.81%). The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology is the most productive academic journal on sPTB prediction [n = 74, 11.44%; impact factor (IF) = 8.7]. Through the co-occurrence and cluster analysis, we found that recent research has focused on is “pamg-1”, “uterocervical angle”, “twin pregnancy”, “quantitative ultrasound”, and “lactobacillus iners”.
Conclusion
We utilized bibliometric software to perform a comprehensive analysis of the literature concerning sPTB prediction. Broadly, the primary focus of future sPTB prediction lies in the application of novel ultrasound and biological markers, as well as in predicting sPTB in twin pregnancies.
Oregano essential oil has the potential to reduce the virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in Penaeus vannaei
Authors: Rodríguez Jenny , Domínguez-Borbor Cristóbal , Gallardo-Matus José , Sánchez-Rodríguez Aminael , Salinas Jaqueline F. , Sonnenholzner Stanislaus
Published: October 2024

Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND), caused by various species of Vibrio, results in significant mortality rates in global penaeid shrimp aquaculture. While antibiotics are commonly employed to combat this disease, concerns about the rapid emergence of resistant strains and their potential adverse effects on human health and the environment are rising. In this context, plant-derived essential oils have shown promising potential for controlling vibriosis in shrimp farming. This study investigated the antivirulence effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) at sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) on three virulence phenotypes (exopolysaccharide production, biofilm formation, and swarming motility) in V. parahaemolyticus the causative agent of AHPND. The antivirulence effect of OEO was validated through a challenge test by infecting Penaeus vannamei with V. parahaemolyticus cultured with and without OEO. Additionally, a transcriptomic analysis was performed to compare the transcriptional regulation of V. parahaemolyticus with and without OEO addition to identify therapeutic targets at the molecular level. The three virulence phenotypes were significantly inhibited (P < 0.05), with their effect being concentration-dependent. In the in vivo challenge, shrimp mortality infected with V. parahaemolyticus cultured with OEO (56 ± 5%) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in the control group (93 ± 5%). Transcriptomic analysis revealed 89 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) downregulated, associated with membrane integrity, ribosomes, motility, transport, type VI secretion system (T6SS), and enzymes involved in energy metabolism, and 94 DEGs upregulated, linked to biosynthetic processes, regulatory proteins, osmoadaptation, multidrug efflux transporters, ABC transporters, and zinc and nitrogen transport. These findings suggest that OEO targets multiple therapeutic pathways, inhibiting V. parahaemolyticus virulence. Our study demonstrates the significant antivirulence effect of OEO on V. parahaemolyticus, underscoring OEO's potential as a viable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional antibiotics for controlling AHPND in shrimp aquaculture.
Multi-scale Feature Enhancement Pyramid,Enhance the detection capability for small targets.
Authors: shi jin yu , chen hao
Published: October 2024

Underwater object detection has emerged as a pivotal technological challenge, playing an indispensable role in various application fields such as underwater structure maintenance, marine ecological protection, and ocean engineering projects. However, in practical application scenarios, underwater images are often complex and variable, with target objects typically being small in size. In light of this, this paper optimizes the general lightweight object detection model RT-DETR, addressing the issue of poor detection performance for small targets on traditional detection layers P3, P4, and P5. Traditional methods tend to add a P2 detection layer to enhance the detection capability for small targets, but this also introduces a series of problems, such as increased computational burden and longer post-processing time. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an effective feature pyramid structure specifically tailored for small targets. Based on the original Continuous Convolutional Feature Fusion (CCFF), this paper proposes an improved Multi-scale Feature Enhancement Pyramid (MFEP). Unlike the traditional approach of adding a P2 detection layer, we utilize the P2 feature layer to extract features rich in small target information through Spatial Pyramid Depthwise Convolution (SPDConv) and fuse them with the P3 and P4 layers. Subsequently, the fused feature maps undergo processing by a meticulously designed Small Object Enhancement Module. Experimental results on the DUO and RUOD datasets demonstrate that the proposed model exhibits excellent performance in underwater small object detection.
The Multifaceted Role of Epicardial and Pericardial Adipose Tissue in Human Health: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Li Fuhai H , Ma Kezhong , Luo Wei , Liu Wenheng , Zhang Jidong , Zhang Wenzhong , Zhu Tongjian , Guo Mengqi Q , Xu Yan
Published: October 2024

Background
The influence of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on cardiovascular health appears to be modulated by age, metabolic status, and underlying cardiac pathology.The relationship between EAT and pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) remains unclear.The impact of epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue (EPAT) on human health remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the causal relationships between EPAT and various health outcomes using large-scale genetic data.
Methods
We conducted phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) using data from FinnGen (n = 412,181) and UK Biobank (n > 500,000) to identify EPAT-associated traits. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed to assess causal relationships between EPAT and identified outcomes. Mediation analyses explored potential pathways through which EPAT exerts its effects.
Results
PheWAS revealed 171 and 181 EPAT-associated traits in FinnGen and UK Biobank, respectively, including cardiovascular, metabolic, psychiatric, and respiratory diseases.EPAT showed protective causal relationships with type 2 diabetes (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.96, P = 0.0009), high cholesterol (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.99, P = 0.04), adult-onset asthma (OR 9.49×10⁻⁴¹, 95% CI 8.98×10⁻⁴⁷ to 1.00×10⁻³⁴, P = 9.14×10⁻³⁹), and bipolar disorder (OR 3.61×10⁻⁴¹, 95% CI 2.91×10⁻⁴⁷ to 4.47×10⁻³⁵, P = 1.09×10⁻³⁸). EPAT was also associated with increased testosterone levels (β = 0.25, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.46, P = 0.02) and enhanced right ventricular ejection fraction (β = 7.26, 95% CI 1.34 to 13.18, P = 0.02). Mediation analyses revealed that these effects were partially mediated by various factors, including plasma proteins (e.g., LRRN1 for type 2 diabetes), sex hormone-binding globulin (for high cholesterol), insulin-like growth factor 1 (for testosterone levels), specific immune cells (for asthma), and cerebrospinal fluid metabolites (for bipolar disorder).
Conclusion
This study reveals a complex and multifaceted role of EPAT in human health, extending beyond its established role in cardiovascular disease. Our findings indicate that EPAT could be a promising therapeutic target for multiple diseases. Potential drug development strategies include reversing harmful EPAT to a beneficial state or maintaining its beneficial properties long-term.
Combining prismatic adaptation and digital cognitive training: preliminary evidence on cognitive and biological effects in patients with mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Danesin Laura , D'Este Giorgia , Barresi Rita , Piazzalunga Elena , Garbo Agnese Di , Semenza Carlo , Bottini Gabriella , Oliveri Massimiliano , Burgio Francesca
Published: October 2024

This study explored the efficacy of a new rehabilitation tool that combines prismatic adaptation (PA) and cognitive training through serious games (SGs) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to two aetiologies: prodromal to Alzheimer’s dementia or consequent to Parkinson’s disease. We investigated whether this tool could improve cognitive performances, with effects at least similar to programs used in clinical practice. Leveraging studies suggesting a neuromodulatory effect of PA, we explored if the PA+SGs combined treatment could influence plasticity-related mechanisms assessed through brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serum levels, compared to cognitive training with only SGs and standard cognitive rehabilitation (SCR).
23 MCI patients were randomized into three intervention groups: PA+SGs, SG-only, and SCR, completing 10 treatment sessions. Before and after the treatment, patients underwent neuropsychological assessment and blood sampling acquisition.
At baseline, all groups showed similar demographic, clinical, and biological characteristics. Post-treatment, the PA+SGs group improved in memory, executive function, and visuospatial abilities, although these changes were not statistically different from the control groups. Increased BDNF serum levels were observed only in the PA+SG group and were positively correlated with improved memory and language performance.
Our findings suggest that combining PA with cognitive training may improve cognitive functioning in MCI patients, with results similar to SCR. Further, PA seems to enhance neuroplasticity mechanisms that may support the behavioral improvements of cognitive training. Future research should confirm these findings and delve deeper into the relationship between cognitive impairment and its rehabilitation, based also on the underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
Trial registration number(Clinicaltrials.gov): NCT05826626
Multi-material 3D printed composites inspired by nacre: a hard/soft mechanical interplay
Authors: Curto Marco , Dowsett Jack , Kao Alexander Peter , Tozzi Gianluca , Barber Asa Hilton
Published: October 2024

Structural materials are used extensively in nature where mechanical function is required. These structures are composites consisting of soft and, in some cases, hard phases precisely distributed over different length scales. Bio-inspiration aims at producing materials with structure, design and/or mechanical properties adopted from biological tissues. To reproduce complex structures found in nature, additive manufacturing (AM) using three-dimensional printing (3DP) is an attractive method to assemble complex topologies with resolutions approaching the micro and nano-composition. Specifically, high-resolution MultiJetPrinting (MJP) 3D printing allows the simultaneous deposition of soft and hard photo curable plastic resins. Nacre is a prevalent example of a complex biological composite material organization that can test the ability of MJP to manufacture a bio-inspired engineering structure, where the organization of materials in nacre is optimized to avoid catastrophic failure. However, the compositional and organization information translated from biology to an engineered composite is lacking. The aim of this study was to develop a novel digital workflow for the generation of hybrid composites inspired by nacre. The interplay between a number of manufacturing parameters including material volume fraction in the composite, printing direction and resultant mechanical behaviour was evaluated. Stress transfer mechanism during mechanical loading was shown to dictate overall composite mechanics of the nacre inspired composite and optimized to enhance work of failure compared to the base materials. The use of generative design and MJP produced effective nacre with enhanced mechanical properties. In addition, the tough composites herein reported are sufficiently flexible to output any biologically inspired material with improved mechanical performance for engineering applications.
ANALYTICAL STUDY ON FACTORS AFFECTING THE ATTITUDE AND PERSPECTIVES OF FEMALE PATIENTS ON THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE ASSESSMENT OF SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS
Authors:   Physician MDRD, Specialist, Dept. of Radiology, Al Adan Hospital, Kuwait., Mathai MD Sajji , Rajan MD Aji ,   MBBS, Associate Professor, Dept. of Radiodiagnosis, Mount Zion Medical College, Adoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala., Sukumaran Nair MD Naveen ,   MBBS, Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Mount Zion Medical College, Adoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala.
Published: October 2024

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among Indian women, with an incidence of 25.8 per 100,000 women according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Late detection is responsible for poor quality of life (QOL), and it is the leading cause of death. Studies have shown that people are positive towards AI performing assessment tasks in healthcare in general and in mammography screening. Moreover, it is challenging to implement strategies based on self-breast inspection or do mammography in rural regions or low and middle income nations for a variety of reasons. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the perception and attitude of various female patients reporting to the radiology unit of a tertiary care centre regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence in routine mammogram screening. Study Design: A cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted female patients attending the radiology unit of a tertiary Care Centre in Central Kerala. Methods: After obtaining, informed written consent was taken from the study participants. A predesigned, pretested, validated checklist was used to collect the required data. The Knowledge, attitude and practice was ascertained through Likerts scale and scoring done accordingly. Statistical tests of significance was employed to assess the possible associations between various variables with the knowledge, attitude and perceptions regarding Artifical Intelligence based Mammogram Results: Among the 170 study subjects analysed, 68.6% had a satisfactory knowledge about Artificial intelligence. Among the 170 study subjects analysed, 86% had a good attitude about being screened through AI enabled mammogram techniques. 92% of the total study subjects registered for mammogram had done it based on self choice. The association between age and willingness to get screened was found to be statistically significant. It was also seen that there was a statistically very high significance between Knowledge regarding AI and the independent decision to get screened. There was also a statistically significant association between age and scores >60% regarding knowledge and attitude regarding the vaccination among the study subjects. Conclusions: Majority of the study population was having a satisfactory knowledge regarding AI usage in healthcare.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HIGHER STUDIES: USE OF AI-BASED TOOLS BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND ITS CHALLENGES
Authors:   Assistant Professor DAV University, Jalandhar., Ralhan Priya
Published: October 2024

The students of the 21st century study in exclusive ways. While some students rely on experiments, facts, and data, others use techniques and tools of artificial intelligence.AI-based tools are transforming higher education by improvising learning experiences, personalizing instruction, and administrative efficiency. Adaptive learning platforms, for example, are AI-driven systems that personalize instructional content to each students needs, accommodating a wide range of learning styles and speeds. Intelligent tutoring solutions help studentsgain a deeper understanding of difficult subjects by offering them specific guidance and feedback. It undertakes several artificial intelligence methodologies and learning style models to ascertain the mastering styles of university students. Artificial intelligence approaches in higher education generate effective learning environments for university students development.To create an empirical basis for this, a survey of students was carried out to analyze the use of AI-based tools that are important to students. This quantitative paper aims to highlight the various AI tools used by university students and the challenges they face while utilizing such tools. For data collection, 60 students were interviewed by the investigator. The simple random technique of sampling will be used and the resultsof the study reveal that university students are facingvarious challenges while using AI tools.
REVOLUTIONIZING ONCOLOGY IMAGING: A PARADIGM SHIFT THROUGH STANDARDIZED MRI PROTOCOLS: VOLUME 2
Authors:   Scientific Officer-SB, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Center, Varanasi., Gupta Karan , Chavhan Arvind ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Center, Varanasi., Narayan Singh Satyendra ,   Prof. and Head of Department of Radiodiagnosis, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Center, Varanasi.
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Oncology imaging is always developing, thus rapid and precise diagnosis are essential for cancer therapy. Recognizing the importance of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, our Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre is standardizing MRI protocols to improve inspection and interpretation. This project aims to standardize, eliminate variance, and speed up patient care choices. Methods: Our standardized MRI procedures summarize scan parameters, sequences, modes, matrix and other data by body part. A 3 Tesla MRI machine was used to study how scanner differences affect parameters. Detailing appropriate pathological visualization sequences allowed diagnostic versatility. Localiser or scanogram was emphasized for exact scan plane alignment, ensuring uniform pictures for smooth comparisons. Results:Specific procedures were established for certain anatomical locations, with a focus on precise patient placement. Optimizing the localizer setup and selecting the appropriate coil can enhance the quality of images and increase diagnostic accuracy. Discussion: The conversation emphasizes the crucial need of standardizing MRI methods to ensure prompt and precise cancer diagnosis. The benefits of using this technology, such as maintaining consistency, saving time, and improving picture quality, help speed up the diagnostic process and lead to better outcomes for patients. Conclusion: Standardizing MRI procedures is a major step toward efficient and patient-centered cancer imaging, addressing varied oncological issues and improving consistency, time efficiency, and picture quality. Staff training and cooperation put our institution at the forefront of technology advances to improve cancer patient outcomes. We aim to enhance cancer care and treatment via cooperation, improvement, and a patient-centric approach.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Pleurotus nebrodensis extract : application in a functional tea
Authors:   Association for International Tea Culture, Lee Hee-kyung , Yu Kwan-jong
Published: October 2024

This study was designed to examine the nitric oxide production, hyaluronidase, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibitory activities for the anti-inflammatory effect and DPPH and ABS radical scavenging activities for antioxidant effect using Pleurotus nebrodensis mycelium extract for a functional tea development. The cell viability was confirmed that all extracts were not cytotoxic to RAW264.7 cell within a concentration of 90 μg/mL irrespective of solvent extracts. The nitric oxide inhibitory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells was the highest at 43.6% using 90 μg/mL of hot water extract. The PGE2 inhibitory level was the highest 32.9% of 90 μg/mL of hot water extract. The hyaluronidase inhibitory activity as the highest 53.5% using 90 μg/mL of hot water extract. On the other hand, in the case of antioxidant activity, the maximum DPPH radical scavenging activity using 90μg/mL of ethanol extract obtained 69.6%. The maximum ABS radical scavenging activity using 90μg/mL of ethanol extract obtained 71.3%. When hot water extract was mixed in green tea, they was considered an excellent extract because the sensory evaluation showed a relatively high value. Based on the results of these experiments, it was possible to confirm the possibility of the functional material development of the tea beverage for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents using the hot water and ethanol extract of P. nebrodensis mycelium.
Model study on transmission loss of the split-stream rushing exhaust muffler for diesel engine
Authors: Zhang Haijun , Su He
Published: October 2024

Numerical simulation was carried out on the transmission loss of the split-stream rushing exhaust muffler, and the accuracy of the simulation method was verified through experiments. Taking the transmission loss as the response value, the experiment was designed by using Box-Behnken module of Design Expert software. A mathematical regression model of transmission loss with experiment factors was established by using the Box-Behnken experimental design scheme, the experiment factors include the diameter of the interior pipe, the shape of the rushing hole, the center distance of the rushing hole, the cone angle of the interior pipe as well as the number of rushing holes, and the mathematical regression model's significance was tested. The response curvatures of second order interaction to the transmission loss by different variables were obtained and the interaction relationships among variables were analyzed. The results showed that the diameter of the interior pipe and the center distance of the rushing hole are the main factors that affect the transmission loss. The transmission loss increases with the increase of the diameter of the interior pipe. When the diameter of the interior pipe is between 70 mm and 80 mm, the transmission loss firstly increases and then decreases with the center distance of the rushing hole changes from Smin to Smax. When the diameter of the interior pipe is between 80 mm and 90 mm, the transmission loss decreases with the center distance of the rushing hole changes from Smin to Smax. The effect of the rushing hole shape on transmission loss is not significant. The transmission loss increases with the increase of the number of rushing holes, but the increase of transmission loss is not significant with the number of rushing holes changes from 4 to 6 groups. Taking the transmission loss as the optimization index, the better experimental condition was obtained. Compared to the not optimized muffler of the sample engine, the average transmission loss of the optimized muffler is increased by 48.70 % when the frequency is 0-1000 Hz, the average insertion loss of the optimized muffler is increased by 7.4 %. At inlet air velocity of 40 m/s, the pressure loss is reduced by 56.8 %.
Digital maturity of industrial enterprises: Evaluation experience
Authors:   National Research Mordovia State University, Krakovskaya Irina , Korokoshko Julia ,   National Research Mordovia State University, Slushkina Yuliana ,   National Research Mordovia State University
Published: October 2024

The article is devoted to the study of theoretical and practical aspects of assessing the digital maturity of enterprises and their readiness for digital transformation in accordance with the challenges of the digital economy. The purpose of the article is to determine the relationship between digital maturity and digital readiness of enterprises, prerequisites, factors and conditions for their improvement. The achievement of the goal is ensured by the use of methods of comparative analysis, a system-structural approach, theoretical analysis of publications, the use of empirical methods, in particular questionnaires, quantitative methods and qualitative expert assessment. The possibility of applying digital maturity assessment models to study the readiness of industrial enterprises for digital transformation is being investigated. The criteria for assessing the digital maturity and digital readiness of enterprises are highlighted. In the course of the study, hypotheses were confirmed that there is a direct dependence of the readiness of industrial enterprises for digital transformation on the achieved level of digital maturity of technologies and business processes in the company, as well as on the received and expected effects of digitalization, accumulated economic potential and projected risks. The main theoretical and methodological conclusions are outlined in the context of the identified factors, prerequisites, conditions for increasing digital maturity and readiness of enterprises for digital transformation. The necessity of a systematic study of the influence of digital potential factors, various external and internal risk factors on the digital readiness of industrial enterprises for the development of strategies, long-term plans and projects of digitalization and digital transformation is emphasized.
Philosophical Anthropology of B. V. Markov. Part 1. Philosophy of the Era of “the Death of Man”
Authors:   St. Petersburg Mining University, Dorofeev Daniil Yu.
Published: October 2024

The article is devoted to the study of the Philosophical Anthropology of the recently deceased famous St. Petersburg philosopher Boris Vasilyevich Markov (1946-2023). Thanks to him, Russian Philosophical Anthropology started to develop actively in the 1990s. It is the peculiarities and significance of the philosophy of that period, are analyzed in the article. The writings of French philosophers, primarily the concept of the “death of man” by M. Foucault, were of central importance for the new Russian philosophy and Philosophical Anthropology of that time. The works of the archaeological and genealogical stages by Foucault had a great influence on Markov. The author of the current article examines in detail the significance of Foucault’s concept of the “death of man” and, in general, the understanding of man in Postmodernism for the development of Philosophical Anthropology of B. V.Markov in his works of the 1990s. To do this, the genesis and features of the development of European, primarily French, philosophy of the second half of the 20th century, presented in such concepts as episteme, deconstruction, archeology of knowledge, genealogy of power, language, are critically touched upon and analyzed. Based on these principles, Markov’s philosophical anthropology can be characterized as an archeology and genealogy of power in relation to man in culture, society and everyday life. The author emphasizes that the development of Philosophical Anthropology in the era of the “death of man” was a complex and controversial process, since such critical analytics led to the depersonalization of human being. The research presented in the article seeks to critically reveal the foundations of such an essentially anti-anthropological philosophy. Analysis of philosophy of B. V. Markov allows us to reveal its great significance for the development of domestic Philosophical Anthropology in the era of the “death of man”.
Kant and the “New Brain Line” of Akim Volynsky
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Matveychev Oleg A.
Published: October 2024

The article treats the specific reception of I. Kant’s ideas by an eminent Russian philosopher, literary critic and art critic at the turn of the 19th–20th century Akim L. Volynsky. Unlike G. W. F. Hegel and F. W. J. Schelling, I. Kant did not enjoy popularity in Russia until the very end of the 19th century. The appearance of A. L. Volynsky’s work ‘Critical and Dogmatic Elements in Kant’s Philosophy’ (1889) became an important event in Russian cultural life. In this article A. L. Volynsky announced the inevitability of “the power of religious belief over all questions of life.” In so doing, he had set vector of the development of literature, philosophy and social consciousness in Russia and prepared a religious and philosophical renaissance of the turn of the century. I. Kant’s philosophy, which stands against dogmatism in thought and also establishes unbendable moral values, became a worldview ground for A.L.Volynsky in his struggle with Positivism, atheism and Utilitarianism that dominated over the society and literature at the time. However, his enthusiasm was not appreciated by his contemporaries — representatives of the Silver Age of Russian culture, among whom F.Nietzsche began to come into vogue. A. L. Volynsky was not a pioneer of Russian Kantianism. His article on Kant had only an indirect influence on his contemporaries. However, it was the first sign of Russian Kantian studies, ahead of the works by A. I. Vvedensky, V. S. Solovyov, I. I. Lapshin, N. Ya. Grot, F. A. Stepun, and others.
Bio-Logic: Does the Living Realize Operations of Logical and Computational Type?
Authors:   Perm State University, Zhelnin Anton I.
Published: October 2024

The article provides a critical analysis of the representation of the Living as a subject that implements operations of logical and computational type. It is shown that the foundations for transferring the predicate ‘logical’ to the Living are not only general trend for objectification of logic (its embodiment in physical processes of computing machines) but also explicit informational and teleonomic aspects of its existence, which create the appearance that it calculates the direction and result of its actions, implements behavioural algorithms etc. Cases of genome and brain are considered as the most obvious contenders for organic logico-computational systems. It is shown that, despite some analogies (partially discrete character, ‘program-like’ determinism of functioning, similarity of some bioprocesses with logical connectives and inferences), there are not enough reasons to recognize the presence of the logical in the biological. Two main counterarguments are proposed: 1. Ontological one: these systems belong to the living matter, for which any algorithmization is an inevitable simplification. Life is an autopoietic continuum, where the components are in indissoluble totality. 2. Epismetological one: nevertheless, logic is an attribute of human abstract thinking, and its extrapolation to the living is an implicit return to anthropomorphism. It is concluded that the concept of ‘bio-logic’ is relevant if it is understood as a concretization of reasoning modes that take into account qualitative specifics of the life as its object, and is irrelevant as an explicit hypostasis of logico-computational phenomena as its ontological properties.
The Phenomenon of Tradition as a Factor of the Dialogue of Cultures: Philosophical-Religious Aspect
Authors:   National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek, Karimov Rakhmat R. , Bekbaev Rauf R. ,   Tashkent International University of Education,   Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies
Published: October 2024

The article analyzes the phenomenon of tradition from position of its understanding as a factor of intercultural and interreligious dialogue. At the same time, the very concept of ‘tradition’ is considered by the authors through the prism of the philosophy of Rene Guenon’s traditionalism, for whom tradition is a connecting factor between cultures. The authors determine that in the Genonian understanding, tradition has exoteric and esoteric sides, and it is through the latter that there are coincidences between religious traditions of different cultures. The true essence of such a tradition is comprehended through intellect and intuition, which lay outside the framework of rational thinking, but get to the level of the spiritual and irrational, which in fact leads to intellectual intuition and reveals the esoteric essence of tradition. Considering the exoteric side, the authors establish its focus on maintaining social order, because not every individual can have the necessary ‘qualifications’ to comprehend the essence of tradition. For Guenon, both sides of the tradition, despite their differences, have similarities in the cultures of the East and the West, but it is Western civilization at the present stage of its development that is undergoing a state of severe spiritual crisis, the loss of the traditional path of development. Thus, the teachings of Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, and also Thomas Aquinas, were of the traditional nature, but with the beginning of the Renaissance they were completely lost. The authors conclude that the Western anti-traditionalism, expressed in materialism, egalitarianism, and individualism, tends to extrapolate its worldview to all other cultures, resulting in a confrontation with the East. In this sense, the spiritual crisis is transformed into a whole civilizational crisis of the West, the only way out of which is the revival of tradition in the form of religion based on the Eastern experience.
Citharodic Nomos and Prooimion
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Almazova Nina A.
Published: October 2024

A citharodic performance typically included a προοίμιον that preceded a νόμος. Theoretically, there are three possible options: a prooimion (1) was an inseparable introduction to a specific main part; (2) was not performed independently, but could precede various main parts; (3) was an independent piece. Most evidence points to option 2. Standard circumstances of performance must have stereotyped the subject matter that appeared in the introduction, so the proem became an autonomous song that could precede any narrative part, and even be performed independently (if there were no agonistic connotations and transitional formulas). Pseudo-Plutarch’s notions of ancient citharody (De mus. 1132В–С; 1132D; 1133B–C) are interpreted as follows: a proem addressed to the gods was a citharode’s own composition (hence ὡς βούλονται, despite its formal character and epic metre). It was immediately followed by a nome, whose epic narration could be either original or taken from Homer and other poets and set to music according to one of melodic patterns systemized by Terpander. Terpander’s proems likely offered two proofs of this theory: they ended with a formula of transition to another song, which itself did not follow. Apparently, the option to use someone else’s poetry in the main body led to the practice of writing down the proems without the subsequent nomes, so that they were seen as independent works. It is likely that Pseudo-Plutarch’s source was referring to minor Homeric hymns, since they correspond perfectly with the information that we have about citharodic proems.
Object Incorporation in Latin: Towards Macro- and Micro-Typology of Incorporation
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Zheltova Elena V. , Zheltov Alexander Yu. ,   St. Petersburg State University
Published: October 2024

In this paper, the Latin language is analyzed in the context of typology of object incorporation. The authors draw on the research of Mithun, who considers incorporation on the basis of two obligatory conditions: first, the noun must be embedded in the verb, and second, the language must have parallel syntactic paraphrases with non-incorporated noun. The second criterion is so important that the phenomenon of incorporation is acknowledged to exist even in those languages where there is no complete integration of the noun into the verb, but only a certain syntactic compactness, provided there are parallel constructions. The latter type has been coined “noun stripping” and has launched the division of incorporation into two types, viz. “strong” and “weak” incorporation. Another important point of divergence between the incorporating languages is the change of the argument structure of the source verb, namely, the preservation or loss of transitivity of the incorporated complex. Taking all these parameters into account, the authors propose a new typology of object incorporation, including languages that have not previously been considered in the context of this phenomenon. This typology is not based on a strict opposition of incorporating and non-incorporating languages, but represents a kind of continuum in which the place of a language depends on whether it demonstrates: 1) full incorporation or only a close syntactic Noun–Verb compactness; 2) the presence of parallel syntactic paraphrases; 3) the detransitivisation of the resulting compound verb. The authors examine each criterion in detail as applied to Latin and show the place of Latin in this typology.
Whatever You Bestow on Him, You Will Bestow on Me: Key Motifs of Early Byzantine Letters of Recommendation
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Chernoglazov Dmitrii
Published: October 2024

The letter of recommendation was known in Antiquity as a separate genre of letter writing for which a certain set of compositional techniques and formulae were developed. In Byzantium, too, the letter of recommendation was in great demand: letters in which the author presents his protégé to the addressee and, as a rule, asks him to perform something for him are not difficult to find in the epistolary collections of many authors from the 4th to the 15th century. Meanwhile, while the ancient letter of recommendation is well studied, the etiquette of this genre in the Byzantine tradition has hardly been investigated yet. The purpose of this piece is to characterize the etiquette norms of Greek letter of recommendation in the early Byzantine period (4th — early 7th centuries). The subject of the study are, first of all, literarische Privatbriefe, belonging to Libanius, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, Synesius of Cyrene, Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Procopius of Gaza and others, but also private papyrus letters. Their analysis leads to the conclusion that there is a wide variability of the canons of the letter of recommendation, the absence of any rigid scheme that presupposes a clear sequence of structural elements. At the same time, it reveals six recurrent etiquette motifs, all of which are subordinated to a single goal — to persuade the addressee to patronize the recommended person. These motifs are analyzed in detail, and stable formulas are indicated for some of them. An attempt is made to determine to what extent the canons of Greek letters of recommendation of the 4th–7th centuries go back to the ancient tradition. The letters of recommendation of Cicero and Pliny the Younger, as well as letters preserved on late antique papyri, are used as material for comparative analysis.
“Ratio Quique Reddenda” — what did Sweerts mean?
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Barysheva Olga I. , Korolev Alexander V. ,   Institute of Art History of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Zubov Institute), Pozdnev Michael M. ,   St. Petersburg State University
Published: October 2024

The Portrait of a Young Man, or Self-Portrait, by Michael Sweerts, remains poorly studied, although this is one of the two known works, dated by the master himself, and dated 1656, a pivotal year in his biography. Beside the date the sheet pinned to the green tablecloth displays the signature and the moralizing motto: Ratio Quique [sic!] Reddenda. Titled as “The Bankrupt” the painting appeared in the collection of I. I. Shuvalov and with this apparently false title went first to the St Petersburg Academy of Arts, then to the Hermitage. The reading of it as belonging to the vanitas genre also leads away from the point. That the Young Man is not a frivolous embezzler, but a calculating businessman follows from parallels in Flemish and Dutch art. Neither is he a “melancholic”, however similar his posture may be to many of them. The key to Sweerts’ message is the Latin pinacogram, of which each word is capitalized and one is spelled in a somewhat extravagant manner (dat. quique). Rationem reddere evokes associations with the Gospel debt parables. Flemish painters had turned to this subject already in the early 16th century; Van Hemessen’s depiction of the Unforgiving Slave is likely to be one of Sweerts’ direct sources. The parallelism of earthly and heavenly “banking” is emphasized in Th. Halle’s engraving Redde rationem being part of Veridicus Christianus by J. David. The engraving and the portrait have a number of details in common, and the relative comment abounds in references to the debt parables. The Young Banker of the Hermitage portrait puts aside his counting and muses that the same debit-credit law operates in the other world, and that the list of debtors includes every one of us: to get that message across was so important to the fanatically catholic Sweerts that he styled the Latin inscription as the title of this list.
Latin in Soviet Secondary Schools (1948–1954): Philology and Ideology
Authors:   nstitute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Skvortsov Artyom M. ,   Chelyabinsk State University
Published: October 2024

In the years between 1948 and 1954, several schools in the Soviet Union incorporated Latin into the curriculum for high school students. To implement the reform, S. P. Kondratyev and A. I. Vasnetsov developed a textbook that has gone through four editions. The textbook includes chrestomathic materials with excerpts from Latin texts and methodological recommendations. The manuals were compiled hastily without adequate discussion of their content. The innovation, which consisted in the reorganization of grammatical material, the different selection of original Latin texts (extracts from the works of Herodotus, Justin, and Maciej Miechowita describing the ancient state of territories that were part of the Soviet Union), and an increase in the proportion of historical and linguistic material in the explanation of grammar rules, met with disapproval from the professional community of classical philologists, who criticized the teaching and methodological approach of the course. Kondratyev and Vasnetsov only made concessions by 1953, but they tried to strengthen the ideological and educational components in the teaching of Latin in schools. The adapted texts and proverbs chosen for the students demonstrated those characteristics of the Romans that corresponded with the ideal of a Soviet person (collectivism, courage, determination in overcoming difficulties, humility, comradeship, selflessness, etc.). A number of historical and linguistic references in textbooks allude to contemporary events and, consequently, play the role of political education. For example, the preservation of the Roman vocabulary in conditions of dependence on the Etruscans can be compared to the resistance of the Slavic population in Bulgaria. However, the experiment was abandoned in 1954. This article considers the teaching and methodology of Latin as a marker of ideological processes. The introduction of this subject in secondary schools fits within the general context of late Stalinist classicism.
Participation of Jewish Citizens in the Government Bodies of the USSR
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Mironov B. N.
Published: October 2024

There is a widespread opinion about the predominance of Jews in party and Soviet government bodies, especially the Cheka, in 1917–1939. New sources introduced in post-Soviet historiography does not confirm the fact of Jewish dominance either in the Russian revolutionary movement or in the administration of the USSR in the pre-war period, although they indicate a significant presence of Jews in the ranks of Russian revolutionaries, and from 1917 to the end 1930s — among Soviet officials. During the thaw years (mid-1950s — mid-1960s), discrimination was mitigated, but in a hidden form it existed informally until the collapse of the USSR. Infringement of the rights of Jews was observed in all spheres of life, but especially in the political one. Most discriminatory measures did not have clear legislative or administrative formalization and were disguised as a fight against bourgeois nationalism, cosmopolitanism or Zionism. The correction of the role of Jews in power is based on numerous data, but due to their fragmentation and incomparability, it is not systemic in nature, leaving open the question of the dynamics and scale of Jewish participation in the governance of the USSR not only after 1953, but also in the pre-war period. Turning to mass statistical data from population censuses, containing information on employment, sectoral and professional structure of the employed population at a national level, helps to close this gap. The analysis carried out leads to the conclusion: there is no reason to talk about Jewish dominance in any government body either in the pre-war or post-war period. The presence of Jews in power and their influence is often exaggerated for the reason that the percentage of Jews in leadership was transferred to the entire administrative apparatus.