Discerning Meaning and Producing Information: Semiosis in Knowing the Past

This article explores how the meaning of information related to things, people, events, and processes in the past is discerned and interpreted to satisfy some current purpose. Starting from the premise that Information about the Past results from a cognitive construction, it considers factors that affect the probability of success in producing Information about the Past. The article analyzes the process, components, and products of learning about the past, building on Constructed Past Theory and applying concepts from semiotics. It identifies characteristic ways in which things in the past are misinterpreted.

Mirror world and planetary orbit distribution in the solar system（Geometric derivation and physical significance of the distribution law of the orbits of the solar and solar-like planets）

There are different opinions on the distribution formula of the distance between Titius-Bode's planets [1,-5] Some people use this theory to prove that exoplanet systems have the same regularity [4] , But the emergence of the Hot Jupiter has made many people less convinced of the empirical formula Titius-Bode law. The explanation of the Titius-Bode law in our past theory is not convincing because of the incorporation of too many traditional theories and concepts, and almost all the papers that explain the distribution of planets are in the present theoretical framework [2-5] To explain. In fact, the distribution law of the distance of planets is related to the cause of gravitation. I dont know the cause of the gravitation and the process of action. The "planetary distance distribution rule" cannot be interpreted correctly. To use "six-level multidimensional symmetric complex geometry" [7] to understand the genesis of the derivation of the solar system's orbit, the actual application is a simple and easy-to-understand explanation of the "gravity of six-level multidimensional symmetric complex geometry" [8] , so understanding this article requires understanding" Six-level symmetry theory of gravity' [7, 8] .

Ontology-Mediated Historical Data Modeling: Theoretical and Practical Tools for an Integrated Construction of the Past

Building upon the concepts of constructed past theory, this paper introduces the outcome of ontology-mediated data modeling developed by the authors within the last 15 years. Assuming that the past is something constructed through reflection of former times, one of our major concerns is guaranteeing the traceability of the construction process of an integrated historical discourse built from all available sources of information, regardless of their origin or nature. Therefore, by means of defining key concepts such as ‘unit of topography’ and ‘actor’, we created an information system for data gathering and exploitation and applied it to some experiences of construction of the past. When applied within the archaeological domain, the result is an archaeological information system interoperable with other sources of historical information. Its strength is that it ensures the traceability of the process from the beginning avoiding the introduction and repetition of errors within the system. Along with the main case example developed in this paper, we also summarize some other data modeling examples within the same conceptual framework.

Developing a Scalable Dynamic Norm Menu-Based Intervention to Reduce Meat Consumption

How can we curb the current norm of unsustainable levels of meat consumption? Research on dynamic norms finds that learning that others are starting to eat less meat can inspire people to follow suit. Across four field experiments, we test efforts to scale dynamic-norm messages by incorporating them into restaurant and web-based menus. Studies 1–3 find increases in vegetarian orders when dynamic norms are included in menus (1–2.5 percentage points), although this effect does not always reach statistical significance and varies across populations and analytic models. In Study 4, dynamic norms significantly reduced vegetarian orders. These results raise two critical questions. First, where and with whom should a dynamic norm message reduce meat consumption? Our field data and past theory point to non-high socioeconomic contexts, and contexts where the reference group of people who have changed is meaningful to consumers. Second, how can the treatment be strengthened? Over five online experiments, we find that the visibility of the messages can be greatly improved, and more relatable norm referents can be selected. Although impacts on food orders appear modest, the minimal costs of scaling menu-based dynamic norm messages and the possibility of improving effect sizes make this a promising approach.

The Construction of the Past: Towards a Theory for Knowing the Past

This paper presents Constructed Past Theory, an epistemological theory about how we come to know things that happened or existed in the past. The theory is expounded both in text and in a formal model comprising UML class diagrams. The ideas presented here have been developed in a half century of experience as a practitioner in the management of information and automated systems in the US government and as a researcher in several collaborations, notably the four international and multidisciplinary InterPARES projects. This work is part of a broader initiative, providing a conceptual framework for reformulating the concepts and theories of archival science in order to enable a new discipline whose assertions are empirically and, wherever possible, quantitatively testable. The new discipline, called archival engineering, is intended to provide an appropriate, coherent foundation for the development of systems and applications for managing, preserving and providing access to digital information, development which is necessitated by the exponential growth and explosive diversification of data recorded in digital form and the use of digital data in an ever increasing variety of domains. Both the text and model are an initial exposition of the theory that both requires and invites further development.

Developmental Pathways Towards Crime Prevention: Early Intervention Models

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">In examining the role of early intervention in children&rsquo;s social development, the authors discuss the results of five broad-based intervention programs based on the Healthy Families model originated in the State of Hawaii. These programs were directed toward families at moderate levels of risk when dealing with the arrival their first child and were situated in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Whitehorse, Yukon, and at three sites in Edmonton, Alberta. The authors state that their experiences with this project have led them to question a number of traditional assumptions regarding past theory and research in this area as it pertains to crime prevention. More specifically, they </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';" lang="EN-US">discuss how the developmental model helped to identify the various developmental pathways of positive change that were being demonstrated by families in the Healthy Families Program sites. They agree with other researchers that </span><span lang="EN-US">early childhood intervention is viewed most appropriately as an individualized strategy and not as a developmental panacea.</span></span></span></p>