Theory, Politics... and History? Early post-war Soviet Control Engineering

A fascinating feature of post-war control engineering in the former Soviet Union was the rôle played by the study of the history of the discipline. Even before and during World War II some Soviet control scientists were actively researching the history of their subject; while after the war, historical studies played an important part both in technical developments and in legitimating a native Russian tradition. Two of the most important figures in this historical activity were A. A. Andronov and I. N. Voznesenskii, whose contributions are briefly considered

PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN FORMAL MEDICINE: CURRENT CONTEXT

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To explore the current context and the main factors of public confidence in formal medicine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The article is based on the outcomes of a cross-sectional survey designed to reflect varied dimensions of individual/population' perception of healthcare services, namely: socio-demographic information, reflection on individuals' own health, confidence in healthcare services. A total of 2478 self-referred respondents took part in the survey. RESULTS: Results: The study outcomes evidenced that the vast majority of respondents trusted in formal medicine. High level of public confidence in formal medicine is correlated with the lack of confidence in alternative methods. Amongst the factors influencing formation of public confidence in formal medicine are "satisfaction of basic needs and physical condition of the body", as well as "healthy behavior". It was identified that the most significant influence on the level of public confidence in medicine is made by the individual's satisfaction with the level and quality of physical exertions, satisfaction with the individual's physical condition, and satisfaction with the quality of food. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The survey outcomes provide the background for outlining specific ways to enhance public confidence in formal medicine, contribute to optimization of funding provided to public health care projects and programs