ConGen—A Simulator-Agnostic Visual Language for Definition and Generation of Connectivity in Large and Multiscale Neural Networks

An open challenge on the road to unraveling the brain's multilevel organization is establishing techniques to research connectivity and dynamics at different scales in time and space, as well as the links between them. This work focuses on the design of a framework that facilitates the generation of multiscale connectivity in large neural networks using a symbolic visual language capable of representing the model at different structural levels—ConGen. This symbolic language allows researchers to create and visually analyze the generated networks independently of the simulator to be used, since the visual model is translated into a simulator-independent language. The simplicity of the front end visual representation, together with the simulator independence provided by the back end translation, combine into a framework to enhance collaboration among scientists with expertise at different scales of abstraction and from different fields. On the basis of two use cases, we introduce the features and possibilities of our proposed visual language and associated workflow. We demonstrate that ConGen enables the creation, editing, and visualization of multiscale biological neural networks and provides a whole workflow to produce simulation scripts from the visual representation of the model.

Foreign but Familiar

The global rise of the South Korean entertainment industry, commonly described as the Korean wave or hallyu, has been the subject of scholarly study because it presents a challenge to Western media hegemony. This chapter uses mixed methods to assess how hybridized genre conventions and familiar storytelling structures in South Korean television dramas create a media product that is accessible to a diverse fandom. The Korean drama fandom extends beyond Eastern Asia and the Asian diaspora, and there is a dearth of research on this larger global audience. Theories of cultural proximity are insufficient to explain a popularity that transcends culture and language. The importance of a media text's structure is also under-studied in research on fandom. By combining survey data from Korean drama fans living outside of South Korea with a critical assessment of the use of melodrama and other genre conventions in Korean dramas, this chapter argues that the shared symbolic language of genre plays an important role in building a global fanbase.

The Metaphysical Quality that gives a Visual Identity Mark its Sway.

Addressing a specific aspect of visual communication, the focus of this paper is to examine the connection between elemental nature-inspired archetypal symbols and contemporary Visual Identity Marks, for example the archetypal Solar Cross to the BP VIM, Helios, by establishing the existence of a contextual relevance and relationship. It furthermore analyses the fundamental influence of these archetypal symbols upon the viewer/user (internal and external audiences), no matter what level of sophistication the viewer’s/user’s society has achieved. To build an appreciation of the continuity and effectiveness of the use of elemental nature-inspired archetypal symbols within a contemporary context, areas of expertise not traditionally utilised within visual communication, such as sociology, archaeology, theology and folklore were engaged. While being defined as “a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art or mythology” (Random House Dictionary, 2012), an archetypal symbol also possesses a metaphysical quality. This metaphysical quality enables the symbol to act as a galvanising and motivating force, which re-enforces individual and group identity, and ultimately transmit a sense of the sacred and the institutional within a mutable world. The archetypal (natural) symbol is the response of the psyche reflecting the ‘internal truth’. The VIM (cultural) symbol is a vehicle to maintain power for financial or political profits as well as sustain group coherency, and individual identity. Encoded within both a ‘natural’, and a ‘cultural’ symbol, is a deep spiritual quality tapping into a deeper symbolic language which evolved from humanity relating back to nature. Drawing upon notions of individual interpretation, the paper analyses the very idea of personal and/or subjective mental constructs related to visual identity marks.

The Effect of Arabic-Supported Educational Game on the Success of 9th-Grade Syrian Students in the Symbolic Language of Chemistry: Example of Turkey

This study was carried out with a total of 75 students attending 9th grade in two high schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Reyhanlı district, which hosted many Syrian refugees in Hatay province in the spring semester of 2018-2019 academic years and lasted for three weeks. A total of 75 students, 43 from two different 9th grade classes taught by the same teacher from the first high school, and 32 from the other high school, participated in the study. Two of these classes were assigned as the control group and one as the experimental group. While the symbolic language of chemistry was taught with the traditional teaching method in the control groups, an educational game with Arabic support was used in the experimental group based on the constructive learning approach. Prior knowledge, attitude-perception towards chemistry, and chemistry achievement tests were applied to all three groups before the implementation in order to control their prior knowledge and attitude and perception towards chemistry; the chemistry success test was applied again after the implementation. ANCOVA analysis was used to evaluate the data obtained from the tests. As a result of the study, it was concluded that High school 9th-grade students studying with the educational game based on constructivist learning approach had significantly higher mean score in the chemistry achievement test on the symbolic language of chemistry than the students studying with traditional teaching method, they relate the concepts more accurately, and performed more meaningful learning.

The role of the notion of a proper answer in the logic of questions

The observations in the article mainly concern the role of the concept of the so-called right answer in question logic. The purpose of these remarks is to justify the postulate that any logic of questions should be based on a conception of the structure of questions and answers, in which the notion of a proper answer is strictly defined. This postulate is addressed to any question logic, although it is mainly supported and illustrated by analyses and comparative remarks referring to concepts based on Ajdukiewicz’s question theory and to recent approaches of inferential erotetic logic (IEL). The analyses confirm that the concept of proper answer is fundamental in question theories, as it is assumed in the definitions of almost all concepts relating to questions and answers. In Ajdukiewicz’s concept, it is used explicitly, for example, in the definitions of the conditions of proper questioning and of complete and exhaustive answers. In IEL, it appears explicitly in the definitions of: the pertinent question, the notion of the presupposition of a question (and its variations), the relations of evoking a question (by a set of indicative sentences) and implying a question (by another question), etc. This basic concept should therefore be well defined. This postulate applies especially to such theories of questions in which assertions about questions and answers are proved in symbolic language – as is the case in IEL, which, however, lacks a strict definition of the concept of proper answer (there are only vague, pragmatic terms formulated in natural language). There is, however, a definition that is closer to the idea of the proper answer, adopted by Ajdukiewicz as well as in the concepts related to it, that a proper answer is one the structure of which is determined by the scheme of the question structure. However, this definition should be complemented by an accurate and general conception of question structure, which is lacking in the existing concepts. In order to confirm the validity of the formulated postulate, the article proposes new results achieved in the theory of questions, in which Ajdukiewicz’s ideas are developed and supplemented by a full account of the structure of questions and well-defined, i.e. formulated in a general and strict way as is the idea of proper answer.

FUNCTIONS OF THE ETHNIC LANGUAGE IN THE MARI DIASPORA OF THE MOSCOW REGION

В статье приводятся результаты социолингвистического обследования, проведенного автором в марийской диаспоре московского региона с целью выявления и описания функционирования этнического языка. Один из аспектов исследования посвящен установлению функций, которые закреплены за этническим языком в условиях диаспорного проживания группы. Несмотря на незначительную степень использования марийского в московском регионе (ввиду повсеместной распространенности и доминирования русского языка) и тяготение к его употреблению в семейно-бытовой, дружеской, иногда — профессиональной сферах общения, марийский язык, тем не менее, выполняет в диаспоре ряд важных функций. В ходе обследования автором были определены следующие функции: коммуникативная, фатическая (контактоустанавливающая), функция тайного языка (используемая в общественном пространстве между носителями марийского языка, а также в семейно-бытовой сфере между некоторыми членами семьи), эмоциональная (на каком языке опрошенным доводится думать, видеть сны, ругаться, шутить), а также сакральная (язык обращения к божественным силам, а также язык религии и религиозных отправлений) и символическая (язык как символ групповой идентификации). В результате обследования было установлено распределение функций марийского языка по поколениям; в отношении набора функций языка у респондентов в выборке был выявлен ряд закономерностей, связанных, с одной стороны, со степенью владения ими марийским языком, с другой стороны, с принадлежностью тому или иному поколению диаспоры. Кроме того, были выделены факторы, препятствующие использованию марийского в той или иной функции. The article presents the results of a sociolinguistic survey conducted by the author in the Mari diaspora of the Moscow region aimed at identifying and describing the functioning of the ethnic language. One of the aspects of the study is devoted to the establishment of the functions, assigned to the ethnic language in the conditions of the diaspora residence of an ethnic group. Despite the insignificant degree of the Mari language use in the Moscow region (due to the ubiquity and dominance of the Russian language there) and its use mainly in family, household, friendly, sometimes professional communications, the Mari language, however, performs several important functions in the diaspora. The survey results revealed the following functions: communicative, phatic (contact-establishing), the function of a secret language (used in a public space between Mari speakers or in the home communication between some family members), emotional (which language the respondents are likely to think, dream, swear, joke in), sacred (the language of appeal to the divine powers, the language of religion and religious practices) and symbolic (language used as a symbol of group identification). As a result of the survey, the distribution of functions of the Mari language by generations was established, as well as some patterns, majorly related to the proficiency levels in the Mari language and the respondents’ belonging to the first or the second diaspora generation. Factors preventing the use of Mari in some functions mentioned above have been equally singled out.

ANALISIS KEMAMPUAN KETERAMPILAN GENERIK SAINS PADA MAHASISWA CALON GURU PENDIDIKAN BIOLOGI FKIP UHAMKA

This study aims to determine the percentage of generic science skills in prospective students of biology education teachers at FKIP Uhamka. The subjects of this study were student teacher candidates for the 6th semester of the 2018/2019 academic year on blood coagulation practicum material. The type of research is descriptive analysis, using the test method. The sample of this study consisted of 3 classes with a total of 58 students in the class of 2016 obtained using the saturated sampling technique. The data collection technique used is a description test. Based on the results of direct observation of 98.83% (very good), Symbolic language 38.79% (very poor), Modeling 90.95% (very good), Logical Inference 39.51% (very poor), Logical framework 94.90% (very good). By analyzing the data, the overall average is 72.6% in the medium category. This is because some students are actively involved in the ongoing practicum process while some are passive in the ongoing practicum process so that it shows moderate results. ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui persentase keterampilan generik sains pada mahasiswa calon guru pendidikan biologi di FKIP Uhamka. Subjek penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa calon-calon guru semester 6 tahun ajar 2018/2019 pada materi praktikum koagulasi darah. Jenis penelitian yakni análisis deskriptif, dengan menggunakan metode tes. Sampel penelitian ini terdiri dari 3 kelas dengan jumlah 58 mahasiswa pada tahun angkatan 2016 yang diperoleh menggunakan teknik sampling jenuh. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan yaitu tes uraian. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian pengamatan langsung sebesar 98.83% (sangat baik), Bahasa simbolik 38.79% (kurang sekali), Pemodelan 90.95% (baik sekali), Inferensi Logika 39.51% (kurang sekali), Kerangka logika 94.90% (baik sekali). Dengan análisis data yang diperoleh rerata keseluruhan adalah 72.6% dengan kategori sedang. Hal ini karena sebagian mahasiswa aktif terlibat dalam proses praktikum berlangsung sedangkan sebagiannya pasif dalam proses praktikum berlangsung sehingga menunjukan hasil sedang.

Places of Memory: Holocaust Memorials in Vidzeme and Their Symbolic Language

In analysing the symbolic language of Holocaust memorials, the author uses the concept of lieux de mémoire, elaborated by the French historian Pierre Nora. Nora highlights the essential differences, even rupture, between history and memory and the growing importance of lieux de mémoire, places of memory that lie between memory and history. The task of these places is to return the event to the present, reviving it in both the individual memory and the memory of society. Therefore, a memorial can also be considered a lieu de memoire. Moreover, the memorial is a more complicated case with material, symbolic and functional significance, a lieu de mémoire and a historical text with changing relations between them. The paper will briefly describe the basic principles of Holocaust iconography and the history of the development of Holocaust memorials as a new genre of commemorative art. The author will look at the development of this genre in Latvia using the example of memorials dedicated to victims of Nazism in Vidzeme. The monument’s symbolic language and whether it has been influenced by the specific place and events or whether artists have followed a specific iconographic canon will be explained. The examples will also be considered from the point of view of the dialectics between a place of memory and a historical text, mentioned above.

A refugee to God. Aleksandr Vvedensky’s spiritual parables

The perception of A. Vvedensky’s work is prone to controversy: he is considered a precursor to absurdist literature; at the same time, his close friend, the poet Y. Druskin, insisted that Vvedensky was religious, and believed his absurdity, instead of representing a lack of meaning, points to a different kind of meaning. The article suggests an approach to the hermeneutic reading of the poet’s private symbolic language that helps to revise certain traditional assessments. The author argues that Vvedensky’s mature oeuvre consists of religious and philosophical allegories written in a most extremely absurdist form. At the core of the poet’s brilliant art of the cryptic portrayal of his innermost beliefs is the aesthetics of the absurd. Hence the alogical nature of his poetic dialogues and plays, semantic inversions and contaminations, paradoxes, allusions, aposiopeses, extended metaphors, etc. Subjected to ‘sweeping incomprehension’ are stereotypes of thinking and everyday language practices – from substandard vernacular and colloquialisms to philosophical discourse. Vvedensky’s ‘star of absurdity’ is seen as a symbol of revelation.