History of science and technology

160-162

Authors: Oleh Pylypchuk, Oleh Strelko, Yulia Berdnychenko

The year 2020, verging to a close, is one of the most difficult and hardest years in the life of mankind over the last century. Unfortunately, it is in the 20th year of each century for the last several hundred years that human civilization has been suffering from another global pandemic (to say nothing of local and regional pandemics)… Several pandemics of plague killed at least 300 million people, and the highest incidence in Europe occurred in 1720‒1722. In 1817‒1824, the First Cholera Pandemic spread across the world. One hundred years later, in 1918‒1920, fifty million lives worldwide were claimed by the Spanish flu (H1N1). For a year now, starting in December 2019 and throughout 2020, the entire world is fighting the 21st century pandemic – the global COVID-19 outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Despite all the difficulties that humanity faces today, life goes on, and the world scientific community is persistently looking for ways to get out of the latest pandemic trap. The world has learned the lessons of pandemics and learned to use the acquired knowledge and scientific legacy of past generations. This led to a quick response to the challenges that life presents us. In December 2020, at this writing, several pharmaceutical companies have already announced the invention of vaccines and the final stages of their trials. We hope that our esteemed authors and readership will witness yet another victory of science over the world's evil. 10 years ago to the day, creation of the History of Science and Technology journal began. Therefore, we would like to summarize some of the work undertaken over the years. The first issue of History of Science and Technology was published in 2011. The founder of the journal was the State Economy and Technology University of Transport. State Economy and Technology University of Transport was one of the three universities in Ukraine that mainly trained specialists for the railway industry. It is the teachers, students and staff of the State Economy and Technology University of Transport who became the primary authors of the first journal issues. Therefore, in the first years after the journal was created, its focus on the study of the history of the development of railway transport and related areas was apparent. Back then the journal was titled History of Science and Technology: Collection of scientific papers of the State Economic and Technological University of Transport. Printed versions of the journal were regularly distributed in libraries of higher educational institutions and research institutions of Ukraine. The electronic version of the full-text issue of the journal (without division into separate articles) was posted on the University library website. Gradually, the journal began to gain popularity, and as far back as in 2013‒2015 it received a large audience of readers and authors across regions and organizations from all over Ukraine. Accordingly, the themes of the articles changed, being no longer limited to rail transport, but extended to the study of the history of all branches of science and various technologies instead. In 2016, the journal History of Science and Technology replaced its founder. It was the State University of Infrastructure and Technologies which was established through the decree of Ukrainian government dated February 29, 2016 by way of merger of two metropolitan higher educational institutions – Kyiv State Maritime Academy named after hetman Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachnyi and State Economy and Technology University of Transport. Accordingly, the name of the journal has changed into History of Science and Technology: Collection of scientific papers of State University of Infrastructure and Technologies. The next stage in the life of the journal was the creation of its separate website in March 2018. Since then, work has begun on a deeper reform of the journal, which continues to this day. History of Science and Technology journal is constantly changing. Thus, steps have been taken to improve the design of the journal and bring it into line with internationally recognized standards. The composition of the journal's editorial board has undergone significant personnel changes. In April 2019, it underwent state re-registration of the print media and acquired its current name – History of Science and Technology journal. However, fundamental steps have been taken towards filling the journal with original and high-qualty scientific content that would be of interest not only to the Ukrainian reader but also to foreign reader. Strict analysis in the selection of articles, strict plagiarism policy, independent double-blind peer review, as well as numerous other steps and innovations, have affected the number of published articles. If in 2019 approximately 25% of submitted articles were rejected, in 2020 this figure reaches almost 60%. Although hopefully, a change in quality of articles for the better followed the change in their number. They have really become interesting to the international world community, as evidenced by statistics on daily visits to the journal's website by representatives from around the world. The journal generated interest among authors from different countries and continents. In the first issue of History of Science and Technology for the year 2020, articles by authors representing universities and research organizations from Ghana, Canada, USA, Spain, Russia and Ukraine were published. Thus, in the second issue of 2020, History of Science and Technology journal introduces its readers to articles by authors from around the world, namely Azerbaijan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Spain and Ukraine. While summing up our 10 years’ work, we would like not to be limited to bare figures. Thus, History of Science and Technology has published 10 volumes and 17 issues over the years, which include more than 400 articles by various authors. And of course, each of these published articles has undergone a great deal of work by authors, editors, reviewers, proof-readers, print workers, etc. All these people primarily have always been trying to make History of Science and Technology journal interesting for you, our Readers! Our team will keep working enthusiastically and persistently on it!

185-216

Authors: Ángel Calvo

This article deals with the opening of telecommunications to competition and its determinants in Spain, a country seriously committed to the monopoly. It is framed in the general scenario of an accelerated technological change driven by new materials, components and transmission systems, a sharp regulatory change and an extension of the value chain with new products and services, in particular data, mobile telephony and cable. Such properties fit perfectly with the time axis chosen which comprises the two last decades of the 20th century and coincide with a phase in which the protagonist company is facing the challenge not only of liberalisation but also of a profound change in the parameters of the market. The study focuses on Telefónica's response to new regulatory and market requirements. Methodologically, it revolves around the multidisciplinary nature, which integrates the approach of the history of technology understood as a system (Thomas P. Hugues and Melvin Kranzberg) and the economic and business history (Nathan Rosenberg). The text is structured in four sections that examine the persistence of the monopoly of Telefonica and liberalisation, the axes of Telefónica's transformation through global and strategic plans and the broadening of the value chain, focussed on the cable market. Some preliminary historical and technical issues and key elements in the evolution of the sector are addressed. The text attends to the relations between the market structure inherited from the monopoly and the process, from which the advantages of Telefónica with the rest of the companies emanate. The research rests mainly on primary sources of the company studied, twice as valuable because they are difficult to access by researchers and perfectly determined to grasp the company's strategy, as well as on reports from major international institutions and secondary literature. The conclusion deals with the methodological consideration of the close link between supply and demand-related factors.

250-265

Authors: Hryhorii Luparenko

Based on the source and comparative analysis of the history of creation, design, and production of the Kyiv Motorcycle Works’ motorcycles, the value of the MT10-36 motorcycle as the landmark of science and technology has been determined. It has been shown that the development of a new engine and MT10-36 motorcycle was, first of all, the initiative of the plant’s engineers. Ovcharenko M. completed the development of a 650 cubic capacity boxer engine. The design of new units and a vehicle outpaced the technological capabilities of the plant. This led to a delay in introducing new technology into production. The involvement of the Foundry Department of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute under the leadership of K. Vashchenko made it possible to improve the production technology of the motorcycle engine. The reliability of the engine has increased. The design of the engine of the Kyiv Motorcycle Works was in line with the tendencies of the world motorcycle industry. On the basis of a comparative analysis of the MT10-36 motorcycle design and the Ural motorcycle of the Irbit plant (Russian Federation), the strengths and weaknesses of the vehicle design have been determined. Selected episodes of sales of the Kyiv Motorcycle Plant’s motorcycles within the country and abroad have been highlighted. It has been highlighted that the motorcycle was operated in conditions that did not reveal its speed and transport capabilities. The motorcycle’s design outpaced the pace of development of transport infrastructure (highways). The basic principles of museification of motor vehicles have been considered. It has been noted that one of the valuable qualities of the landmark of technology is the reflection of the peculiarities of the use of the object and its change after leaving the plants’ shop. Some aspects of the principles of technique restoration as a material historical source with the optimal preservation of the landmark and the information reflected in it have been considered. It has been concluded that the MT10-36 motorcycle meets the criteria of the landmark of science and technology in the broad sense of this concept. The motorcycle embodies the original technical solutions of native engineers, reflects the level of development of domestic technology and illustrates the practice of operating motorcycle technology.

281-292

Authors: Stefano Eramo, Giancarlo Barraco, Paolo Zampetti

Objectives: the name of Jan Evangelista Purkyně (Purkinje in German), born in Bohemia in 1787 and died in Prague in 1869, is mainly associated with discoveries in histology and specialist fields of Medicine like embriology, histological techniques, ophthalmology, cardiology and neurophysiology. This short article presents a brief account of his life, commemorates his achievements in biology and medicine but also in in the politics and literature of his Country (he was elected to the Diet of Bohemia but also he composed poems and important translations from German, French and Italian languages into Czech) and examines in depth his contribution to Dentistry. Materials and Methods: Purkyně’s major contributions to Dentistry, which focused on embryology and dental histology, endodontics and periodontology, are traced to two dissertations in Latin which were discussed by his pupils (Meyer Fraenkel and Isaac Raschkow), at Breslau University in 1835: we present a brief summary of each, with the major innovative findings highlighted. Results: the two dissertations contain remarkable, though often overlooked, contributions to Dentistry. Among these we can indicate the individuation of: the dental cement (substantia ostoidea), the acquired dental pellicle, the nature of optical illusion of Hunter-Schreger lines, the “enamel pulp” from which the enamel would evolve, the sub-odontoblastic nervous plexus which is the cause of tooth sensitivity, the predentine, the organic nature of the process of enamel formation, the dentine and enamel formation in opposing directions, the presence of alveolus membrane (id est: the periodontium). Conclusions: after reviewing the main innovations these two dissertations made to Dentistry, Purkyně’s personal share in both is very clear. Both the two his pupils acknowledged their debt to Purkyně and also famous contemporary Purkinje scientists such as Alexander Nasmyth, Sir Richard Owen, Sir James Paget had no doubt he is had generated the ideas expressed in the two little treatises.

304-314

Authors: Olena Khramova-Baranova

The article, on the basis of a fundamental study of literature and its thorough analysis, highlights the importance of measurements in the cultural aspect of the development of the country and types of art. The analysis of literary sources is carried out, which confirms the influence of the formation of measurement standards on the development of the main types of art. The relevance of the topic is to show the connection between the development of technical thought and the formation of art forms, which has become one of the foundations of the general development of the culture of the state. I. Babenko, M. Bieliaiev, D. Mendelieiev, E. Kamentseva, B. Rybakov and others made a great contribution to the formation and development of measurement standards that influenced the cultural development of the state. In their fundamental works one can find information on the influence of measurement on formation and development of architecture, arts and crafts. But these materials do not give a complete picture of the conceptual significance of the influence of technical thought on art and the cultural development of the state. The purpose of the article is to show the influence of the technical thought development, namely the metrological foundations, on the development of the arts. The centuries-old history of metrology is useful for the development of society, although its origin and development are covered only in scattered sources. One of the fundamental studies of the origin of measures was the works of I. Babenko “Metrology”, M. Bieliaiev “On ancient and modern Russian measures of extension and weight”, and B. Rybakov in his writings presented fathoms as geometric lines of the calculation table of architects (Babylon). The history of measurements is highlighted in the literature and is mainly devoted to the processes on the formation of metrological concepts among the Skifiia, Sarmatiia, the Zarubinets and Cherniakhiv cultures, the Northern Prychornomoria, of Kyivska Rus, Moskoviia and other. Neither in the ancient world, nor in the Middle Ages there was a metrological service, but there is information about the implementation of standards and storage of measures, as well as about the verification of measuring instruments. Accurate measurements and calculations allowed the architect to achieve harmony in the creation of architectural monuments.

339-352

Authors: Vira Okorokova, Olha Likhachova

The article is devoted to the study of the formation of technical science in Ukraine in the second half of the XIXth century. The source of data for the research was found in the articles of the "Journal of the Ministry of Public Education" that was published in the 60‒70s of the XIXth century. This historical source explains the chronological boundaries of the research mentioned. The authors draw attention to the formation of technical science as to a complex process that developed from the historical and cultural transformations in the field of scientific research of Ukrainian society back in the days. Paradigmatic shifts in Western European science that penetrated the scientific circles of the Ukrainian social environment contributed to the intensification of scientific and technological progress. It is noted that the latter had a great influence on education which, as shown in the article, became one of the components in the forming process in the field of science and technology.In particular, we are talking about the active work of scientific and technical intelligentsia, which became the driving force in this process, which was expressed in the creation of a theoretical and methodological basis for scientific activities. Based on a wide range of methods derived from the historical research, the progress factors in this scientific field as well as the growth of scientific schools of leading mathematicians, physicists, and other representatives of technical science were discovered. On the basis of the biographical method of analysis the creative way of heads of known scientific schools (V. Ya. Buniakovskyi, I. O. Vyshnehradskyi, M. V. Ostrohradskyi, F. N. Shvedov and others) in line with the trends of the then Ukrainian scientific and technical industry.The research points out the importance and invaluable contribution made by scientists for further motivation and actualization of the research in subsequent years. It is emphasized that the emergence of scientific schools and modernization of the technical education system have become the main components in the formation of the scientific and technical elite. It was made through an active scientific activity that contributed to the formation of technical science at the theoretical and methodological levels.

368-382

Authors: Liubov Soloviova, Svitlana Hurinchuk, Yuliia Berdnychenko, Oleh Strelko

The name of Vsevolod Timonov, an outstanding scientist-engineer, teacher, public figure, and popularizer of science, doctor of technical sciences, Honored worker of science and technology of the RSFSR, professor, is well known to a wide range of domestic and foreign scientists and technicians. Nowadays, the creative worky of the extraordinary personality of the scientist is particularly interesting to researchers for its inexhaustibility and versatility. In his activity, V. Ye. Timonov showed the features of a talented researcher, experimenter, organizer of science, an innovator in solving important theoretical and applied problems of hydraulic engineering. The article covers his early life and activities. This period of life of V. Ye. Timonov allows us to understand and reflect the conditions of the formation of the scientists’ worldview, the factors that influenced the formation of his creative personality, and to analyze the main directions of his activity. And let us note that his 60 years of scientific, pedagogical, and social activity is characterized by exceptional versatility and depth. The outstanding scientist boundlessly devoted to science until the last day, V. Ye. Timonov is the author of more than 700 scientific papers. Among his works are a number of textbooks, manuals, and monographs, which have received wide recognition of scientists of our country and foreign researchers. Several finely written books showcase his multifaceted talent as a memoirist. For more than 50 years V. Ye. Timonov was engaged in pedagogical work at high school. His lectures (at institutes, universities, and in the general public) have always been a huge success. He brought up a whole galaxy of scientists. Vsevolod Yevhenovych devoted a lot of effort and time to the promotion of science, active, purposeful struggle with anti-scientific concepts in hydrobiology, hydrography, hydraulic engineering. Timonov's scientific and organizational activity was also fruitful. A man of great and versatile culture, an eager admirer, and a deep connoisseur of poetry and literature, V. Ye. Timonov himself was a gifted promoter of scientific knowledge.