Scientific and Theological Responses for Evolution and Biological Complexity

The article analyzes aspects of the relationship between evolution and bio-logical complexity and the attempts made by scholars and theologians to interpret it within the limits of reductionist scientism or theism. For this purpose, firstly, attention is focused on explaining the meaning of the concept of «evolution» and its historical and philosophical transformation in the context of the idea of complexity. Secondly, the notion of complexity in theology is used as evidence to support teleology. This approach is criticized by some scholars who consider evolution as a random prosses. They give it the status of a universal metaphysical assumption in evolution. The scientists and theologists both formulate metaphysical assumptions differently to interpret evolution

Egzistencializmas literatūriniuose vaizdiniuose V. Pidmohylny’o ir M. Yatskivo novelėse

This article analyses little-known short stories of modern Ukrainian writers Valerian Pidmohylny and Mykhailo Yatskiv in the context of the 20th century existentialism. It can be considered as a cultural phenomenon which combines philosophy with literature. Pidmohylny’s short stories were significantly influenced primarily by the ideas of the European philosophers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Therefore, we can search for similar motives in the works of Pidmohylny and the existentialists, which developed under the influence of the ideas of Schopenhauer, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche. Also, the authors consider Yatskiv’s short stories through the prism of the core concepts of existentialism, namely, fate and death. Pidmohylny and Yatskiv can be assigned to existential writers on the basis of retrospective analysis of the themes of their short stories and the thematic areas of 20th century existentialism.Šiame straipsnyje XX amžiaus egzistencializmo kontekste nagrinėjamos mažai žinomų šiuolaikinių Ukrainos rašytojų Valeriano Pidmohylny’o ir Mykhailo Yatskivo novelės. Jos gali būti laikomos kultūriniu reiškiniu, sujungiančiu filosofiją ir literatūrą. Pidmohylny’o novelės visų pirma buvo ryškiai paveiktos XIX a. pabaigos ir XX a. pradžios Europos filosofų minčių. Todėl panašių motyvų galime ieškoti tiek Pidmohylny’o, tiek ir egzistencialistų, kuriuos paveikė Schopenhauerio, Kierkegaard’o ir Nietzschės idėjos, kūryboje. Be to, autoriai, pasitelkdami kertinių egzistencializmo sąvokų – likimo ir mirties – perspektyvą, nagrinėja Yatskivo noveles. Remiantis retrospektyvia novelių bei XX amžiaus egzistencializmo tematikos analize, Pidmohylny’ą ir Yatskivą galima priskirti egzistencializmo literatūrinei srovei

Updated analysis and minimization of dynamic loads in elastic elements of lifting equipment

Dynamic loads regularities in elastic elements of the load-lifting machines were analyzed, in conditions of actual use they should be minimized. An updated analysis of dynamic loads in crane ropes was conducted and conditions of loads minimization were determined. Modes of load movement on elastic rope of lifting crane were substantiated. In these modes dynamic factor Kd minimizes and drive mechanism performs optimum movements. At the same time methods of classical variational calculus and apparatus of differential equations (ordinary) were used, and the calculations were carried out for two classic ways of load lifting ("hanging" and "with pickup"). The updated dynamic analysis was conducted and loads that arise in elastic elements (ropes) of lifting equipment were minimized within the two-mass model. At the same time methods of load lifting "hanging" and "with pickup" were considered for various possible modes of drive mechanism motion in the starting area. Models for load lifting "hanging" and "with pickup" which minimizes the dynamic loads in the rope of the crane in its launching period were justified. The results obtained can later be used to update and improve existing engineering methods for movement mode`s calculation of lifting cranes and their components (when lifting is "hanging" or "with pickup"), these modes minimize the rope load at optimal modes of drive motion as at the design (construction) stage of such systems, as well during their real operation

Органічна хімія: методичні вказівки до лабораторного практикуму. Ч. 1.

Методичний посібник містить робочий план лабораторного практикуму та методичні розробки лабораторних робіт з навчального курсу "Органічна хімія". Для студентів спеціальності 6.070300 - "Хімія", викладачів та лаборантів, які проводять лабораторні заняття

Analys Fatty-Acid Content of Butter from the Seeds of Silybum marianum L., which in the Volyn Region

Методом газорідинної хроматографії визначено жирнокислотний склад олії з насіння розторопші плямистої (Silybum marianum L.), що культивується на Волині. Переважають такі кислоти: лінолева (55,91 %), олеїнова (18,08 %) і пальмітинова (15,29 %). У меншій кількості містяться стеаринова (7,19 %), міристинова (2,32 %) та ліноленова (1,21 %) кислоти. Fatty-acid content of butter from the seeds of Silybum marianum L., which is cultivated in the Volyn region, was determined by gas-liquid chromatographic analysis. The major fatty acids are linoleic (55,91 %), oleic (18,08 %) and palmitic (15,29 %). The minor fatty acids are stearic (7,19 %), myristic (2,32 %) and linolenic (1,21 %)

Isothermal Section of the Quasiternary Cu2Se−Ga2Se3−GeSe2 System at 770 K

За результатами ДТА, РФА, МСА побудовано ізотермічний переріз квазіпотрійної системи Cu2Se−Ga2Se3−GeSe2 при 770 К. Підтверджено існування тернарних сполук Cu2GeSe3, Cu8GeSe6, CuGaSe2. Встановлено існування дефектних фаз Cu0,24Ga1,61 0,15Se2 та CuGaGeSe4 і твердих розчинів на основі тернарних, тетрарної сполук і Ga2Se3. The isothermal section of the quasiternary Cu2Se−Ga2Se3−GeSe2 system at 770 K has been constructed using the methods of differential thermal, X-Ray phase and microstructural analysеs. The existence of ternary compounds Cu2GeSe3, Cu8GeSe6, CuGaSe2 has been confirmed. The existence of defect phases Cu0,24Ga1,61 0,15Se2, CuGaGeSe4 and solid solutions on the base of ternary, quaternary compounds and Ga2Se3, has been determined

Enfoques de sistemas socioecológicos, esenciales para comprender y responder a los impactos complejos de COVID-19 en las personas y el medio ambiente

La pandemia de la enfermedad del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) está impactando dramáticamente los sistemas sociales planetarios y humanos que están inseparablemente vinculados. Las enfermedades zoonóticas como la COVID-19 exponen cómo el bienestar humano está inextricablemente interconectado con el medio ambiente y con otras crisis socioecológicas convergentes (impulsadas por los humanos), como las pérdidas dramáticas de biodiversidad, el cambio en el uso de la tierra y el cambio climático. Argumentamos que el COVID-19 es en sí mismo una crisis socioecológica, pero hasta ahora las respuestas no han incluido la resiliencia ecológica, en parte porque la metáfora de la “Antropausa” ha creado una sensación poco realista de comodidad que excusa la inacción. Las narrativas de la antropausa desmienten el hecho de que la extracción de recursos ha continuado durante la pandemia y que los negocios como de costumbre continúan causando una degradación generalizada del ecosistema que requiere atención política inmediata. En algunos casos, las medidas de política de COVID-19 contribuyeron aún más al problema, como la reducción de los impuestos ambientales o la aplicación de las normas. Mientras que algunos sistemas socioecológicos (SSE) están experimentando impactos reducidos, otros están experimentando lo que llamamos un "Antrochoque", con más visitantes y un uso intensificado. Las diversas causas e impactos de la pandemia se pueden comprender mejor con una lente socioecológica. Los conocimientos socioecológicos son necesarios para planificar y desarrollar la resiliencia necesaria para enfrentar la pandemia y futuras crisis socioecológicas. Si nosotros, como sociedad, nos tomamos en serio la reconstrucción mejor de la pandemia, debemos adoptar un conjunto de respuestas de investigación y políticas informadas por el pensamiento SSE

Engaging at the science-policy interface as an early-career researcher: experiences and perceptions in biodiversity and ecosystem services research

Effective knowledge exchange at science-policy interfaces (SPIs) can foster evidence-informed policy-making through the integration of a wide range of knowledge inputs. This is especially crucial for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services (ES), human well-being and sustainable development. Early-career researchers (ECRs) can contribute significantly to knowledge exchange at SPIs. Recognizing that, several capacity building programs focused on sustainability have been introduced recently. However, little is known about the experiences and perceptions of ECRs in relation to SPIs. Our study focused on SPI engagement of ECRs who conduct research on biodiversity and ES, as perceived and experienced. Specifically, we addressed ‘motivations’, ‘barriers’ and ‘opportunities and ‘benefits’. A total of 145 ECRs have completed the survey. Our results showed that ECRs were generally interested to engage in SPIs and believed it to be beneficial in terms of contributing to societal change, understanding policy processes and career development. Respondents perceived lack of understanding about involvement channels, engagement opportunities, funding, training, perceived credibility of ECRs by other actors and encouragement of senior colleagues as barriers to engaging in SPIs. Those who have already participated in SPIs generally saw fewer barriers and more opportunities. A key reason for dissatisfaction with experience in SPIs was a lack of impact and uptake of science-policy outputs by policymakers–an issue that likely extends beyond ECRs and implies the need for transformations in knowledge exchange within SPIs. In conclusion, based on insights from our survey, we outline several opportunities for increased and better facilitation of ECR engagement in SPIs. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Navigating the science policy interface: a co-created mind-map to support early career research contributions to policy-relevant evidence

The interface between science and policy is a complex space, in theory and practice, that sees the interaction of various actors and perspectives coming together to enable policy-relevant evidence to support decision-making. Early Career Researchers (ECRs) are increasingly interested in working at the science-policy interface to support evidence-informed policy, with the number of opportunities to do so increasing at national and international levels. However, there are still many challenges limiting ECRs participation, not least how such a complex space can be accessed and navigated. While recommendations for engaging at the science-policy interface already exist, a practical ‘map’ of the science-policy interface landscape which would allow for ECR participation in evidence co-production and synthesis in science-policy is missing. With the purpose of facilitating the engagement of ECRs producing biodiversity and ecosystem services policy-relevant evidence at the interface between science and policy, the authors have co-created a ‘mind-map’—a tool to review the landscape of and leverage access to the science-policy interface. This tool was developed through reviewing published literature, collating personal experiences of the ECR authors, and validating against wider peer perspectives in an ECR workshop during the 7th Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This co-created tool sees ECR engagement in (co-)producing evidence at the science-policy interface as an interaction of three main factors: the environment of the ECR, which mediates their acts of engagement at the science-policy interface leading to outcomes that will ultimately have a reciprocal impact on the ECR’s environment

Standards of conduct and reporting in evidence syntheses that could inform environmental policy and management decisions

Accurate, unbiased and concise synthesis of available evidence following clear methodology and transparent report‑ ing is necessary to support effective environmental policy and management decisions. Without this, less reliable and/ or less objective reviews of evidence could inform decision making, leading to ineffective, resource wasteful inter‑ ventions with potential for unintended consequences. We evaluated the reliability of over 1000 evidence syntheses (reviews and overviews) published between 2018 and 2020 that provide evidence on the impacts of human activities or effectiveness of interventions relevant to environmental management. The syntheses are drawn from the Col‑ laboration for Environmental Evidence Database of Evidence Reviews (CEEDER), an online, freely available evidence service for evidence users that assesses the reliability of evidence syntheses using a series of published criteria. We found that the majority of syntheses have problems with transparency, replicability and potential for bias. Overall, our results suggest that most recently published evidence syntheses are of low reliability to inform decision making. Reviews that followed guidance and reporting standards for evidence synthesis had improved assessment ratings, but there remains substantial variation in the standard of reviews amongst even these. Furthermore, the term ‘system‑ atic review’, which implies conformity with a methodological standard, was frequently misused. A major objective of the CEEDER project is to improve the reliability of the global body of environmental evidence reviews. To this end we outline freely available online resources to help improve review conduct and reporting. We call on authors, editors and peer reviewers to use these resources to ensure more reliable syntheses in the future