Folklore Activities of Ukrainians in Canada in its Multicultural Space

The article considers the folk culture of Canadian Ukrainians as a social institution. It has undergone changes in the information field of multiple cultures and foreign language culture, compared to the social institution of the folk culture which existed in its historical homeland. The institutional approach allows us to transform the theory of institutionalism into the ethnic culture of the Ukrainian diaspora community. This social institution of the folk culture of Ukrainians abroad falls under the concept of the traditional “institution”, possessing such features: the mass behavior of the community members and their awareness. The folklore of Canadian Ukrainians as a social institution, having a common historical and cultural foundation with the community dating back to the ancient Rus’ times, is now distinguished by a superstructure, whose model and specifics are determined by the information and communication of the multicultural Canadian space. The article raises the problem of the inevitable interference of the folk culture of the Ukrainian diaspora, which is under the direct influence of language interference, the inevitable interference of cultural worlds and phenomena in the interethnic environment. This statement can be projected on all foreign regions inhabited by Ukrainians.

Properties of Mass Consciousness in the Digital Economy

The article considers the theoretical aspects of mass consciousness and its forms, the essential characteristics of mass behavior, as a result of which the definition of this term is formulated and corrected. The authors analyze the evolution of concepts of mass consciousness in historical retrospect and at the present stage, its features in the conditions of transition to the digital economy. A fresh look at the problem of mass manipulation in a digital society through various mechanisms is given, and the transformation of mass behavior in the 21st century is analyzed by comparison.

Neural network modeling of jointed rock mass behavior in topocentric terrestrial field: A case study of Oktyabrsky deposit

The article addresses a promising geomechanical trend connected with Big Data processing. Using helium release observation results, the jointed rock mass behavior in the terrestrial field is studied. The terrestrial field is assumed as a variable value governed by the positions of the major planets in the Solar system, as well as by the positions of the Moon and Sun. The observation data are used for neural network learning. The total bulk of the learning data was more than 95 thousands of observations. After learning, the neural network decision-making algorithm was analyzed, and the studies were compared with the rock mass jointing analysis data from 3D modeling of Oktyabrsky and Talnakh deposits. Interpretation of frames of faults in the study area produced more than 206 thousands of measurements of precise dip angles and strike orientations with their distribution in depth and along the horizontal. Alongside with the fault frame interpretation, helium release data were compared with roughness of walls in a vertical opening sunk in the close vicinity of the measurement site. As a result of long-term operation, the shape of the opening repeats the block structure of enclosing rock mass and, thus, can inform on its initial jointing. The wall roughness data were obtained using laser scanning and contained more than 106 thousands of measurements. The analysis and processing of all data reveals the dependence between the planetary positions in the Solar system, helium release, orientation of the main joint system and surface roughness in underground openings. In this manner, it is possible to assess deformation processes in the crust and to find their influence on rock mass behavior.

The L.I. Petrazhitskiy’s Psychological Theory of State

According to L.I. Petrazhitsky, the doctrine of the state should be based on the method of introspection (self-observation), as only it allows us to study the emotional and intellectual processes of the human psyche that determine individual and mass behavior of people, including their association in unrelated independent social unions, that include the state. The author considers that the main feature of the state is the presence of power, which interpreted as an emotional projection of legal emotional and intellectual experiences of individuals. According to L.I. Petrazhitsky, the means of legitimation of state power is the unity of emotional experiences of subordinate subjects that form the peoples’ legal psyche. Under the state, L.I. Petrazhitsky means the power-political organization of an unrelated social group, which is an emotional projection of solidary imperative-attributive (legal) experiences of subordinate subjects in order to serve the Law. The significance of this concept lies in the formulation of the problem of the legitimacy of state power, the interpretation of everyday consciousness as a source of external authorities that often prevent the realization and the demonstration of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, the idea of the official nature of state power in relation to the Law.

An Alternative Approach of the Dark Energy Beyond the Equation of State

Several concepts have been proposed to explain the mystic nature of dark energy and the accelerating universe. Among them, geometrical dark energy is one such class that is based on the scalar curvature, and another type is based upon the “equation of state”. Also, another model suggests that neutrino rest-mass interaction is responsible for the “equation of state” with constant energy density. In this work, we have investigated another dark energy approach which is based on the illusive mass of the photon and a new geometrical perspective. Photon reveals its illusive mass behavior when it interacts with the surface of matter, i.e., photon manifests itself into different forms of mass. Hence, photon might hide some of its energy due to this new characteristic. This photon’s energy is embedded in the form of a curvature dependent complex number and could be considered as the new form of dark energy. Hence, we propose that the dark energy might be hiding in the photon’s illusive form and could pave the way towards unravelling the secrets of the dark energy of the universe and hence the accelerating universe.

The Challenges of Open-Pit Mining in the Vicinity of the Salt Dome (Bełchatów Lignite Deposit, Poland)

The extraction of the Bełchatów lignite deposit located in the vicinity of the Dębina salt dome requires careful planning that considers the influence of mining projects on the slope and salt dome stability conditions. The instability problem is directly related to horizontal and vertical displacement, as well as the complex geological and mining conditions. These conditions are very unique with regard to the co-occurrence of the salt dome and lignite deposits in the same area, as well as the large scale of the pit wall slope. Thus, predicting rock mass behavior and ensuring the safety of mining operations are important issues. The presented analysis focused on the influence of long-term lignite extraction on the western pit wall slope of the Bełchatów field and the salt dome’s stability conditions. This study offers a comprehensive approach to a complex geotechnical problem defined by large-scale, complex geometry, and geological conditions. The rock mass behavior and stress conditions are simulated in numerical modelling. The results of the presented analysis will be useful not only for present mining activities but also for future developments related to post-mining and recultivation plans.