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Theory
Scientonomy (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Community Is a Subtype of Epistemic Agent (Barseghyan-2018) Individual Epistemic Agent Is a Subtype of Epistemic Agent (Patton-2019)
Explicit Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Mirkin-2018) Implicit Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Mirkin-2018) Question Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Rawleigh-2018) Theory Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Barseghyan-2015)
Compatibility Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Fraser-Sarwar-2018) Norm Employment Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2018) Question Acceptance Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Rawleigh-2018) Theory Acceptance Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2015) Theory Pursuit Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2015) Theory Use Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2015)
The First Law (Barseghyan-2015)
The First Law for Theories (Barseghyan-2015)
The First Law for Methods (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Stances Towards Epistemic Elements - Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
The Second Law (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
The Law of Method Employment (Rawleigh-2022)
The Law of Norm Employment (Rawleigh-2022)
The Law of Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
The Law of Question Acceptance (Barseghyan-Levesley-2021)
Scientific Mosaic (Rawleigh-2022)
Theory Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Method Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Question Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-Levesley-2021)
Pursuit as Distinct from Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015)
Normative Theory Is a Subtype of Theory (Sebastien-2016)
Synchronism of Method Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
One-sided Authority Delegation (Patton-2019)
Asynchronism of Method Employment theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Question Acceptance Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Rawleigh-2018)
Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Publishing Modification Comments (Shaw-Barseghyan-2019)
Method Is a Subtype of Normative Theory (Barseghyan-2018)
Compatibility Criteria are Part of Method (Barseghyan-2015)
Outcome Satisfied (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
Definition Is a Subtype of Theory (Barseghyan-2018) Descriptive Theory Is a Subtype of Theory (Barseghyan-2015) Normative Theory Is a Subtype of Theory (Sebastien-2016)
The Law of Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018) is Not Tautological (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Definition (Barseghyan-2018)
Theory Exists
Indicators of Method Employment (Barseghyan-2015)
Compatibility Criteria (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Discipline (Patton-Al-Zayadi-2021)
Scope of Scientonomy - Implicit and Explicit (Barseghyan-2017)
Community Exists
Outcome Inconclusive (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
Error Rejection by Replacement (Machado-Marques-Patton-2021)
Epistemic Presupposition Exists
Theory Use (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Stances Towards Normative Theories - Norm Employment (Barseghyan-2018)
Individual Level (Barseghyan-2015)
Individual Epistemic Agent Exists
Theory Assessment Outcomes (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
Explicable-Implicit (Mirkin-Barseghyan-2018)
Procedural Method Is a Subtype of Method (Barseghyan-2015) Substantive Method Is a Subtype of Method (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Stance Exists
Scope of Scientonomy - Descriptive (Barseghyan-2015)
Multiple Authority Delegation (Patton-2019)
Response to the Argument from Bad Track Record (Barseghyan-2015)
Individual Epistemic Agent Is a Subtype of Epistemic Agent (Patton-2019)
Epistemic Agent (Patton-2019)
Allow Modification Reformulations (Shaw-Barseghyan-2019)
Epistemic Element Exists
Acceptance Criteria are Part of Method (Barseghyan-2015) Compatibility Criteria are Part of Method (Barseghyan-2015) Demarcation Criteria are Part of Method (Barseghyan-2015)
Demarcation Criteria (Barseghyan-2015)
Compatibility Corollary (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Descriptive Theory (Sebastien-2016)
Question Can Presuppose Theories (Barseghyan-Levesley-2019) Theory Answers Question (Rawleigh-2018)
Response to the Argument from Nothing Permanent (Barseghyan-2015)
Mosaic Split (Barseghyan-2015)
Multiple Authority Delegation Is a Subtype of Authority Delegation (Loiselle-2017) Singular Authority Delegation Is a Subtype of Authority Delegation (Loiselle-2017)
Response to the Argument from Social Construction (Barseghyan-2015)
Method Is a Subtype of Normative Theory (Barseghyan-2018)
Hierarchical Authority Delegation (Patton-2019)
Technological Knowledge as Part of Mosaic (Mirkin-2018)
Explicit Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Mirkin-2018)
Group (Overgaard-2017)
Acceptance Criteria are Part of Method (Barseghyan-2015)
Theory Acceptance (Barseghyan-2018)
Theory Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Barseghyan-2015)
Assessment of Scientonomy - Relevant Facts (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Community Exists
Norm Employment Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2018)
The Zeroth Law (Harder-2015) is Tautological (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
History of Scientific Change (Barseghyan-2015)
Scientonomic Workflow (Barseghyan et al.-2016)
Question Can Presuppose Theories (Barseghyan-Levesley-2019) Theory Answers Question (Rawleigh-2018)
Mosaic Merge (Barseghyan-2015)
Handling Ripple Effects - Editorial House Keeping (Shaw-Barseghyan-2019)
Question Acceptance Exists
Compatibility Criteria Exists Demarcation Criteria Exists
Inexplicable (Mirkin-Barseghyan-2018)
Question (Rawleigh-2018)
Definition Is a Subtype of Theory (Barseghyan-2018)
Scope of Scientonomy - Appraisal (Barseghyan-2015)
Methodology (Barseghyan-2018)
Hierarchical Authority Delegation Is a Subtype of Multiple Authority Delegation (Loiselle-2017)
Sociocultural Factors in Theory Acceptance theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Implicit Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Mirkin-2018)
Outcome Not Satisfied (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
Scope of Scientonomy - Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015)
Community Can Delegate Authority to Another Community (Loiselle-Overgaard-2016)
Scientific Change (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Stances Towards Questions - Question Acceptance (Rawleigh-2018)
Acceptance Criteria Exists
Error (Machado-Marques-Patton-2021)
Logical Presupposition Exists
Resolution to the Paradox of Normative Propositions (Sebastien-2016)
Question Exists
Theory (Sebastien-2016)
Descriptive Theory Exists
Dogmatism No Theory Change theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Logical Presupposition (Barseghyan-Levesley-2021)
Methodology Can Shape Method theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Agent Exists
Implicit (Mirkin-Barseghyan-2018)
Theory Acceptance Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2015)
Demarcation Criteria Exists
Question Acceptance (Rawleigh-2018)
Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Pursuit (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Use (Barseghyan-2015)
The Second Law (Barseghyan-2015) is Tautological (Barseghyan-2015)
Normative Theory (Sebastien-2016)
Compatibility Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Scope of Scientonomy - All Fields (Barseghyan-2015) Scope of Scientonomy - All Scales (Barseghyan-2015) Scope of Scientonomy - All Time Periods (Barseghyan-2015)
Mutual Authority Delegation (Patton-2019)
Theory Pursuit Exists
Indicators of Theory Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015)
Theory Use Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2015)
Possibility of Scientonomy (Barseghyan-2015)
Non-Hierarchical Authority Delegation (Patton-2019)
Necessary Method theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Normative Theory Exists
Epistemic Presupposition (Barseghyan-Levesley-2021)
Goals of Peer Review - Pursuitworthiness (Shaw-Barseghyan-2019)
Demarcation Criteria are Part of Method (Barseghyan-2015)
Accidental Group (Overgaard-2017)
Epistemic Community Is a Subtype of Epistemic Agent (Barseghyan-2018)
The Second Law (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017) is Not Tautological (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
Theory Pursuit Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2015)
Community (Overgaard-2017)
Question Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Rawleigh-2018)
Necessary Mosaic Split theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Possible Mosaic Split theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Split Due to Inconclusiveness theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Social Level (Barseghyan-2015)
Subdiscipline (Patton-Al-Zayadi-2021)
Scientific Underdeterminism theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Underdetermined Method Change theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Underdetermined Theory Change theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Theory Acceptance Exists
Norm Employment (Barseghyan-2018)
Scope of Scientonomy - Social (Barseghyan-2015)
Definition Exists
Singular Authority Delegation (Patton-2019)
Method (Barseghyan-2018)
Descriptive Theory Is a Subtype of Theory (Barseghyan-2015)
Response to the Argument from Changeability of Scientific Method (Barseghyan-2015)
Explicit (Mirkin-Barseghyan-2018)
Theory Use Exists
The First Law (Barseghyan-2015)
The First Law (Barseghyan-2015)
The First Law (Barseghyan-2015)
The First Law for Theories (Barseghyan-2015)
The First Law for Theories (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Stances Towards Epistemic Elements - Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Epistemic Stances Towards Epistemic Elements - Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Epistemic Stances Towards Epistemic Elements - Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Epistemic Stances Towards Epistemic Elements - Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Epistemic Stances Towards Epistemic Elements - Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
Epistemic Stances Towards Epistemic Elements - Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
The Second Law (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
Epistemic Stances Towards Epistemic Elements - Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
The Second Law (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
The Third Law (Sebastien-2016)
The Third Law (Sebastien-2016)
The Third Law (Sebastien-2016)
The Third Law (Sebastien-2016)
The Third Law (Sebastien-2016)
The Third Law (Sebastien-2016)
The Third Law (Sebastien-2016)
The Law of Norm Employment (Rawleigh-2022)
The Law of Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
The Law of Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
The Law of Question Acceptance (Barseghyan-Levesley-2021)
Theory Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Theory Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Theory Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Method Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Method Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Scientonomic Workflow (Barseghyan et al.-2016)
Necessary Mosaic Split theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Possible Mosaic Split theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Split Due to Inconclusiveness theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Pursuit (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Use (Barseghyan-2015)
Possibility of Scientonomy (Barseghyan-2015)
Assessment of Scientonomy - Relevant Facts (Barseghyan-2015)
Technological Knowledge as Part of Mosaic (Mirkin-2018)
Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Pursuit (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Use (Barseghyan-2015)
Possibility of Scientonomy (Barseghyan-2015)
Possibility of Scientonomy (Barseghyan-2015)
Scientonomic Workflow (Barseghyan et al.-2016)
Scope of Scientonomy - Implicit and Explicit (Barseghyan-2017)
Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Pursuit (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Use (Barseghyan-2015)
Scientonomic Workflow (Barseghyan et al.-2016)
Possibility of Scientonomy (Barseghyan-2015)
Necessary Mosaic Split theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Possible Mosaic Split theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Split Due to Inconclusiveness theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Stances Towards Normative Theories - Norm Employment (Barseghyan-2018)
Theory Assessment Outcomes (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
Scientonomic Workflow (Barseghyan et al.-2016)
Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Pursuit (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Use (Barseghyan-2015)
Scientonomic Workflow (Barseghyan et al.-2016)
Possibility of Scientonomy (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Pursuit (Barseghyan-2015) Epistemic Stances Towards Theories - Theory Use (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Community Is a Subtype of Epistemic Agent (Barseghyan-2018) Individual Epistemic Agent Is a Subtype of Epistemic Agent (Patton-2019)
Question Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Rawleigh-2018) Theory Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Barseghyan-2015) Explicit Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Mirkin-2018) Implicit Is a Subtype of Epistemic Element (Mirkin-2018)
Theory Acceptance Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2015) Norm Employment Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2018) Question Acceptance Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Rawleigh-2018) Compatibility Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Fraser-Sarwar-2018) Theory Use Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2015) Theory Pursuit Is a Subtype of Epistemic Stance (Barseghyan-2015)
The First Law (Barseghyan-2015)
The First Law for Methods (Barseghyan-2015)
Epistemic Stances Towards Epistemic Elements - Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
The Second Law (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
The Law of Norm Employment (Rawleigh-2022)
The Law of Compatibility (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)
The Law of Question Acceptance (Barseghyan-Levesley-2021)
Theory Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Method Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Question Rejection theorem (Barseghyan-Levesley-2021)
Necessary Method theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Scope of Scientonomy - Social (Barseghyan-2015)
Theory Assessment Outcomes (Patton-Overgaard-Barseghyan-2017)
Scope of Scientonomy - All Fields (Barseghyan-2015) Scope of Scientonomy - All Scales (Barseghyan-2015) Scope of Scientonomy - All Time Periods (Barseghyan-2015)
Underdetermined Method Change theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Underdetermined Theory Change theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Scientific Underdeterminism theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Dogmatism No Theory Change theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Necessary Method theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Assessment of Scientonomy - Relevant Facts (Barseghyan-2015)
Necessary Mosaic Split theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Possible Mosaic Split theorem (Barseghyan-2015) Split Due to Inconclusiveness theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Necessary Method theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Scope of Scientonomy - Acceptance (Barseghyan-2015)
Methodology Can Shape Method theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Scope of Scientonomy - Appraisal (Barseghyan-2015)
Sociocultural Factors in Theory Acceptance theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Scope of Scientonomy - Implicit and Explicit (Barseghyan-2017)
Sociocultural Factors in Theory Acceptance theorem (Barseghyan-2015)
Scope of Scientonomy - Descriptive (Barseghyan-2015)

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Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Scientonomy

the clearing house for the scientonomic knowledge on the process of scientific change that aims at

outlining the current state of our communal knowledge of the mechanism of scientific change;
tracing all suggested modifications to our communal knowledge;
documenting the open questions concerning the process of scientific change.

There are currently 3,650 pages in this encyclopedia.

Featured Article

How do methods become employed by an epistemic agent? In the scientonomic context, this question was first formulated by Hakob Barseghyan in 2015. The question is currently accepted as a legitimate topic for discussion by Scientonomy community. The Law of Method Employment (Rawleigh-2022) and The Law of Norm Employment (Rawleigh-2022) are currently accepted by Scientonomy community as the best available answers to the question. At the moment, the question has no accepted answer in Scientonomy.

In the news

This modification was one of the three introduced that superseded Oh’s original modification, given that members of the community wanted the option to vote separately on the three distinct modifications contained in the original proposed modification. The community found that, while there are intuitive reasons to accept element decay’s existence, the lack of observational evidence beyond Oh’s investigation of the episode of Cremonese violins brought many people pause. Rebecca Muscant noted that the risks of accepting the existence of a phenomenon prematurely overweigh the risks of keeping the question open, since showing the non-existence of a phenomenon is a much more arduous task. Deivide Oliveira suggested that, in spite of this risk, accepting the modification would allow for more instances of element decay to be identified. However, Landon See and Hakob Barseghyan pushed back, suggesting that the premature acceptance of the existence of element decay may in fact disencourage scholars from searching for other historical episodes involving element decay. They suggested that leaving the question open would be more conducive to future pursuit of the topic. It was also agreed that one clear-cut instance is necessary before the existence of element decay can be accepted. Concern about stakes more generally permeated the discussion. Although Jamie Shaw rightly identified that our community has safeguards against dogmatic practice, and is small enough that things do not slip through the cracks, concerns about premature acceptance persisted until the end of the discussion. Ultimately, then the community voted to keep the modification open by over a 2/3rds majority. 11 out of 15 votes supported keeping the modification open.

Prior to the 2024 workshop, several comments were left on the encyclopedia expressing a range of opinions regarding accepting the modification. Carlin Henikoff expressed an issue with expecting scientonomers to be responsible for making existential claims regarding phenomena which lie beyond the scope of scientonomy, and highlighted the lack of clear-cut case studies in Oh’s paper, although she did not take issue with the classification of element decay as non-scientonomic or its potential usefulness in explicating mosaic dynamics. Other commenters who supported accepting the modification still identified that further observational work needed to be done on certain aspects of the modification. For example, Joshua Allen believed that more work needed to be done on Oh’s proposed list of necessary indicators, the acceptance of which was entwined with the rest of the modification.

During the discussion at the 2024 scientonomy workshop, some participants raised a concern that the original modification makes several sufficiently distinct claims that must be evaluated separately. After brief discussion led by Paul Patton about non-scientonomic phenomena and whether we have a formal definition for them in scientonomy, Hakob Barseghyan highlighted that accepting that element decay exists and accepting that element decay is non-scientonomic was being coupled in the same modification. Thus, perhaps the modification should be split into two sub-modifications that could be individually voted on, which would also address Patton and Henikoff’s concerns. Then, Izzy Friesen suggested that the modification should in fact be superseded by three modification, as the original modification essentially consists of three suggestions:

accept the existence of element decay;
accept the indicators of element decay;
accept that element decay is a non scientonomic phenomenon.

After a brief discussion about the merits of splitting, the community voted on whether to split the modification two ways, three ways, or to keep it as is. The option to split the modification three ways reached a two-thirds majority.

Prior to the 2024 workshop, Hakob Barseghyan commented on the encyclopedia indicating his support for accepting this modification and noted its potential to underpin further work on discipline dynamics. In fact, a significant amount of observational scientonomy work has been carried out in the past few years (including the paper on the rejection of alchemy by Friesen and Patton (2023),1 as well as some more recent papers) that presupposes the acceptance of these definitions, despite the fact that the modification containing them formally remains open. There was very little discussion about the modification, beyond raising points for the community to look forward to in the future, like a brief discussion between Jamie Shaw and Paul Patton about the need for more research on the difference between disciplines and disciplinary communities. The modification was accepted unanimously with 18 votes.

Recent Suggested Modifications (all)

Recent Publications (check out the journal)

Abstract: This paper applies Patton and Al-Zayadi’s scientonomic framework for understanding disciplines to a case study of the development of the chemical discipline ("chymistry") from the 17th century through the early 18th century in Western Europe. Using evidence from the tradition of textbook publication that emerged in the seventeenth-century chymistry, we reconstruct the top-level of the question hierarchy of chymistry. Analyzing how these questions and their associated theories were received, we first show how, starting in the 1660s, alchemy transitioned from a synonym of chymistry to chymistry’s subdiscipline with a more limited scope. We identify that the rejection of alchemy's core questions occurred in the 1720s based on the reception of these questions in scientific publications and by academic institutions. Hence, we conclude that the subdiscipline of alchemy became rejected in the 1720s. In order to conduct our case-study, we closely follow Newman and Principe's research on early modern alchemy and chymistry in our reconstruction of the episode. However, using the scientonomic framework in analyzing this case study reveals the specific dynamics of this instance of sub-discipline rejection. Our deepened understanding of this hallmark historical episode of disciplinary rejection indicates the value of Patton and Al-Zayadi’s theoretical framework for observational scientonomic research.

Abstract: In a series of publications, Hasok Chang makes the case that activities carried out by epistemic agents form the basis of the scientific enterprise. This paper provides an action-based scientonomic perspective of scientific practice. I define epistemic action as an action of an epistemic agent that involves an epistemic element and highlight the difference between global and local actions. The availability of a local action to an epistemic agent amounts to the agent employing the norm that the local action is permissible/desirable. To unearth the mechanism by which local actions become available to epistemic agents, I derive the local action availability theorem, according to which, a local epistemic action becomes available to an agent only when its permissibility is derivable from a non-empty subset of other elements of the agent’s mosaic, i.e., from that agent’s employed norms and accepted theories. This framework is then applied to the emergence of the local action of determining the composition of chemical substances by weighing as practiced by Lavoisier and his followers; it is shown that the respective norm became employed in accord with the local action availability theorem.

Abstract: The paper investigates the applicability of corpus linguistics to the construction of a database of intellectual history. Working with the Royal Society Corpus (RSC), it presents a series of corpus queries that can aid with computationally identifying potential instances of communal theory acceptance in England during the period of 1665-1800. These queries allowed to identify a set of noun-adjective pairs potentially synonymous with “accepted theory” and retrieve around 1,400 excerpts potentially indicative of instances of communal theory acceptance. The paper also discusses some strategies for identifying the epistemic agent, as well as the RSC’s place within the broader historical context. Finally, I argue that, in addition to exploring corpus linguistics strategies, methodologies for interpreting computationally retrieved data should also be developed.

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