bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Valour or Recklessness? The Emperor in Single Combats and Tournaments through the Eyes of Late Byzantine Writers
Authors:   Ural Federal University, Okhlupina Irina Sergeevna
Published: December 2023

This paper addresses the descriptions of single combats and tournaments with participation from the emperor as described by the Late Byzantine writers (George Akropolites, John Kantakouzenos, George Pachymeres, Nikephoros Gregoras). The research is aimed to define the features of the use of stories about the participation of Byzantine emperors in single combats on the battlefield, trial combats, jousts (gaming combats), and collective faceoffs (tournaments) in the historical writings of Late Byzantine authors and to observe the authors’ value judgments about these cases. It has been taken into account that the Byzantine historians often applied traditional rhetorical models, imitated the language and style of ancient Greek and Roman authors, and used the allusions to the texts of the Holy Scripturee, and the works of other historians in their written works. It has been established that the descriptions of the eagerness of Michael Palaiologos to clear his name by judicial duel in connection with accusation of treason (1253) allowed Pachymeres to present Michael in a favorable light and deflect an accusation of treason from him. It has been shown that the writers used the stories regarding the participation of emperors in single combat on the battlefield (or their eagerness to participate) and in sports games (“jousts” and “tournaments”) to present the rulers in positive or negative way. Late Byzantine writers paid special attention to the characterization of manifestations of courage and other military virtues of Byzantine emperors, and to the correspondence or inconsistency of their actions with the imperial dignity. The influence of the imperial propaganda on the works of the authors, as well as the reflection in them of some features of the self-consciousness of the Byzantine aristocracy of that time, has been established.
Byzantine Riddle of the Council of Constance: The Problem of the Motives of Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos
Authors:   Ural Federal University, Pashkin Nikolai Gennadievich
Published: December 2023

This article discusses the aims and means of the Byzantine diplomacy at the initial stage of the Council of Constance. Shortly before the opening of the Council, the Roman King Sigismund of Luxembourg and Venice concluded a truce, but the hidden struggle between them continued. At the Council Sigismund had for an object to create the anti-Turkish coalition for organising the Crusade which would be the means of peace enforcement of Venice on his terms. Analyzing the motives of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos, the author of this article denies his intention to achieve the alliance with the West against the Turks at the Council. The concept of the study is based on the assertion that Byzantium sought to occupy the central place in the interests of three key players (King Sigismund, Venice and the Turkish Sultan Mehmed I). The solution of the problem allowed the Byzantine emperor to bring all these forces into the state of equilibrium controlled by him. The author of the article reveals two main tools Byzantine diplomacy used to achieve its object. On the one hand, the Greeks deliberately provoked rumours in the West that the emperor had sympathies for the Church Union and alliance with the Roman king. On the other hand, they demonstrated the theoretical possibility of the alliance with the Ottoman Prince Mustafa. This way, the Byzantines simultaneously exerted the necessary influence on both Venice and the sultan. In result, they tied interests of all key players in the international arena to their ruler. From this point of view, the paper has revealed the reasons for the stay of Byzantine diplomat Manuel Chrysoloras at the Council of Constance. The massacre of Jan Hus is seen as an attempt by opponents of Sigismund, behind whom Venice stood, to prevent discussion of the issue of the Church Union with Byzantium.
Spanish Luxury Pottery from the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Century Excavated at the Genoese Castle of Cembalo
Authors:   The State Museum-Preserve “Tauric Chersonese”, Ginkut Nataliia Vitalievna ,   Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: December 2023

This paper analyses the Hispano-Moresque pottery with luster painting which was obtained by the castle of Cembalo from the second half of the fourteenth to fifteenth century. The excavation materials comprise of a few types of ceramic ware: pitchers, several types of bowls, and plates (dishes). The parallels to the ware in question appeared in a large tract of the Mediterranean and Black Sea, Eastern Europe, and the Golden Horde lands. The said vessels were popular on such a wide territory due to their unusually picturesque ornamental design. Parade Spanish ceramic ware appeared in the castle of Cembalo in result of the Genoese merchants’ active trading in the Black Sea area, where it was used as present and commodity. This ware penetrated into the area in question from the mid- or the second half of the fourteenth century on, according to the finds of the Pula group. The most of the fragments excavated dates from the fifteenth century. The Spanish ceremonial ware continued to penetrate to the Crimea, the castle of Cembalo in particular, even after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. The latest finds date from the third quarter or late fifteenth century.
Claude-Charles De Peyssonnel as a Researcher of the Crimean Past
Authors:   V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Khrapunov Nikita Igorevich
Published: December 2023

The article examines the views on the history, archaeology, and historical geography of the Crimean Peninsula of Claude-Charles de Peyssonnel, a famous French diplomat, traveller, and writer of the second half of the eighteenth century. The Russian and Ukrainian scholarships use the treatises by the former consul to research the Crimean Khanate, the peoples of the Northern Caucasus, and even the Zaporozhian Cossacks, while de Peyssonnel’s historical studies are left aside from the analysis. It has been stated that the Frenchman’s works present one of the first attempts in the Modern Pe- riod to investigate the antiquities of the Crimean Peninsula. De Peyssonnel showed his knowledge of ancient and mediaeval written sources, contemporary cartography and scholarship, as well as the knowledge he got during his diplomatic service at the court of the Crimean Khan. He was particularly interested in the ancient topography of the Crimean Peninsula. Despite his vast knowledge, erudition, and practical wit, the Frenchman’s reflections may not always be called “academic” in the modern sense, for the basic methods and principles of current historical and linguistic research were not yet discovered in his age. Nevertheless, the Frenchman mapped many cities, towns, and settlements, which names he learned from ancient and mediaeval writers. De Peysson- nel’s memoires influenced the next generation of travellers and “armchair” researchers, whose works appeared after the annexation of the Crimea by Russia in 1783, particular- ly influential encyclopaedic travelogues published by Matthew Guthrie, Ebenezer Hen- derson, and Frédéric Dubois de Montpereux in the first half of the nineteenth century.
History, citizenship and recent past in times of dictatorship
Authors: Matos Sérgio
Published: December 2023

The aim of this paper is to provide a contribution to the study of the conditions of production of Portuguese historiography in a context of restricted citizenship during the 20th century Iberian dictatorships, with particular emphasis on the complex relationship between present, past, and future expectations. At the fore of this paper is the case of the Portuguese dictatorships (1926-1974), while other national examples are recalled for comparative purposes. Different ways of establishing relations with time are observed, multiple temporalities experienced by different historians from different historical and political backgrounds. Taking into account several individuals - among others, V. Magalhães Godinho, António Borges Coelho and José Tengarrinha and in contrast, João Ameal and Alfredo Pimenta who were supporters of the regime -, to what extent did their life experiences marked by the imposed conditions of the dictatorial regimes restrain their work? How did they experience the tension between political engagement and historiographical practice? Organic historians tried to mobilize their nationals for apologetic and militant causes, assuming their partisanships. Others, more autonomous towards the authorities, inspired by the Annales or somehow marked by Marxism, expressed a tension between the demands of the historian’s work and the urge for political action. A tension between the historian’s professional ethics which demanded critical distance and the challenges posed by their civic duty.
O labirinto ou a lógica do tempo sem sentido em Alexandre Koyré
Authors: Salomon Marlon
Published: December 2023

A França do entreguerras foi frequentemente caracterizada por seus contemporâneos como um período de profundas crises. Para os historiadores que viveram nessa época, havia uma “crise da história”. Essa crise era identificada ao desmoronamento das noções de determinismo e de sentido histórico. O futuro e, com ele, a temporalidade histórica tornavam-se incertos, imprevisíveis. A posição de A. Koyré, no contexto dessa problematização, merece destaque na medida em que ele buscava inscrever em uma nova historiografia das ciências esse tempo histórico indeterminado e sem direção prévia, mas, concomitantemente, extrair dele sua nova filosofia. De um lado, ele assimilava o tempo histórico à imagem do labirinto, uma figura importante que circulou intensamente nesse período por diversos domínios, transitando entre as vanguardas artística e epistemológica. De outro, procurava definir, nos termos de uma filosofia da história, a natureza dessa nova temporalidade histórica. Daí seu interesse pela filosofia da história, pelo existencialismo e por autores como Hegel e Heidegger. Pretendo mostrar como há em Koyré, nesse período, uma tentativa de compreender filosoficamente a lógica do tempo aberto e sem sentido e como essa compreensão se encarna em seus trabalhos de história do pensamento.
Synthesis and characterisation of supersulfated cements from kaolin, quartz and sodium hydroxide
Authors: Peng Meixun , Zhang Yuanpeng , Liu Wenjuan , Song Fei
Published: December 2023

Supersulfated cements (SSCs), as potential green alternatives to Portland cements, are in demand for developing new kinds of precursors instead of blast-furnace slag. A mixture of kaolin, quartz and sodium hydroxide was calcined to prepare SSC by grinding clinkers with lime and gypsum. Preparation factors were investigated and multiple characterisation methods were adopted to explore the calcination and hydration mechanisms. The sodium hydroxide additive was found to reduce the activation temperature of the kaolin and a moderate addition of sodium hydroxide improved the compressive strength of SSC made from calcined kaolin. Quartz added into the kaolin calcined with a moderate amount of sodium hydroxide also promoted the compressive strength. Comprehensive characterisations indicated that the alkali-added calcination of the kaolin generated pozzolanic zeolite and sodium aluminosilicates along with inert nepheline at a calcination temperature ≤950°C. The hydration of SSC pastes tended to produce C(N)–A–S–H/N(C)–A–S–H gels and crystalline ettringite. During sodium hydroxide-added calcination, quartz added into the kaolin hindered the generation of inert nepheline and produced cementitious N–S gels. The research facilitates the utilisation of the massive discharged coal gangues rich in kaolinite and quartz by synthesising SSCs economically.
A review of fracture propagation in concrete: fundamentals, experimental techniques, modelling and applications
Authors: Barbhuiya Salim , Das Bibhuti Bhusan , Kanavaris Fragkoulis
Published: December 2023

A comprehensive overview of fracture propagation in concrete, covering various aspects ranging from fundamentals to applications and future directions, is presented. The introduction presents an overview of fracture propagation in concrete, emphasising its importance in understanding the behaviour of concrete structures. The fundamentals of fracture propagation are then explored, including concrete as a composite material, crack initiation and propagation mechanisms, types of fractures and the factors that influence fracture propagation. Next, experimental techniques for studying fracture propagation are discussed, encompassing both destructive and non-destructive testing methods, such as acoustic emission, ultrasonic testing, digital image correlation and advanced imaging techniques like X-ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. Modelling approaches, including continuum damage mechanics, the finite-element method, the discrete-element method, the lattice discrete particle model and hybrid models, for simulating and predicting fracture propagation behaviour are then reviewed. The applications of fracture propagation in concrete are highlighted, including structural health monitoring, design optimisation, failure analysis and repair and rehabilitation strategies. Research opportunities for further improvement are addressed. This article should serve as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers and professionals in the field, providing a comprehensive understanding of fracture propagation in concrete and guiding future research endeavours.
Suriyelilerin Ulusötesi İlişkilerinde ve Göç Sonrası Uyum Süreçlerinde Sosyal Medyanın Rolü
Authors: SÜTLÜOĞLU Tuba , VESEK Sait
Published: December 2023

Bu çalışma, Suriyelilerin ulusötesi ilişkilerinde ve göç ettikleri yerdeki sosyal uyum süreçlerinde sosyal medyanın rolüne odaklanmaktadır. Araştırmanın amacı, Gaziantep’te yaşayan Suriyelilerin göç öncesi ve göç sonrası deneyimlerine sosyal medya kullanımının nasıl eşlik ettiğini keşfetmektir. Nitel yöntem ve fenomenolojik desenin benimsendiği araştırmada, Gaziantep’te yaşayan geçici koruma statüsündeki 12 Suriyeli ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmada, yeni medya araç ve ortamlarının Suriyelilerin göç etme kararlarındaki etkisi ile, bu araç ve ortamların diasporik alandaki kullanımlarının göç sonrası sosyal uyum süreçlerindeki etkisi irdelenmiştir. Ulusötesi alanlarda, Suriye ile olan bağlantıların devam ettirilmesi noktasındaki sosyal medya pratikleri de araştırmaya dahil edilmiştir. Araştırma sonuçları, sosyal medyanın göçe karar verme ve göç sonrası uyumun sağlanması süreçlerinde Suriyeliler için önemli rol oynadığını göstermektedir. Sosyal medyanın göç sonrası uyumun sağlanmasında oynadığı rol; dil öğrenmeyi, işgücü piyasasına katılmayı, bilgi edinme ile dayanışma ve yardımlaşma ağlarına dahil olmayı kolaylaştırma işlevleri üzerinden somutlaşmaktadır.
The population migration attitudes in the Arctic territories of the Komi Republic and their spatial differentiation
Authors:   Institute of Economics of the Karelian Research Centre of the RAS, Volkov Alexander D.
Published: December 2023

Introduction: the task of maintaining control over the geostrategic territory of the Russian Arctic requires dealing with problems of population outflow and reduced reproduction of human capital. The need to develop appropriate management mechanisms makes it relevant to form the scientific foundations for regulating migration processes. In this context, supplementing the existing statistical information with data on the migration attitudes of the population of the Arctic regions, in particular the Arctic territories of the Komi Republic, becomes of paramount importance. Objectives: to determine the reasons for migration attitudes formation among the population in the Arctic territories of the Komi Republic; to identify their spatial differentiation and differences between social groups. Methods: the research was based on the results of a population survey in the Komi Republic Arctic territories (n = 651, 2021), as well as Rosstat data. Methodological approaches of spatial economics and sociology were used. Results: data on migration processes were analyzed; migration attitudes and their specificity were identified in the spatial context, as well as within the framework of age, educational and income groups of the population. The intention to leave the Arctic territories of the region is most pronounced among the residents of Vorkuta: 47.4 % of respondents have certain plans to relocate or are considering opportunities for this; in Inta, this indicator reaches 36.1 %. The most significant reasons for migration intentions for the residents of the Komi Republic Arctic territories are: the desire to change the climatic conditions (important and very important for 62.4 % of those wishing to leave the subregion), the desire to ensure the future of children (58.1 %), as well as the need to improve medical care (51.2 %). Conclusions: the article proposes an analytical basis of a point and spatially differentiated impact on the most important causes and factors of population migration in the Arctic territories of the Komi Republic. The factors providing the strongest influence on the population outflow in certain territories and requiring relatively small organizational and financial costs to overcome them should be leveled first. This approach is most relevant in the context of severe resource constraints on the country’s development.
GLOBAL PEACE AND FRONTLINE WOUNDS: CREATING OF THE SOVIET COMMITTEE OF WAR VETERANS AND THE CONTRADICTIONS OF THE MEMORY POLICY IN THE USSR OF THE 1950s
Authors:   Institute of World History, Russian Academy of Sciences, Sak K. V. ,   V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Popov A. D. ,   V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University
Published: December 2023

The article examines the background and process of creating the Soviet Committee of War Veterans (SKVV) in 1956, as well as its activities in the first years of its existence in the context of international peacekeeping and internal socio-cultural changes. Since 1945, this marked the first attempt to create a public organization that united all major-categories of Soviet veterans of the Great Patriotic War. The Soviet leadership’s desire to join international federa-tions of former World War II participants became primary motivation behind the SKVV’s formation in the mid-1950s. The leadership of the USSR wanted to use the memory of the war in peacekeeping discourse as one of the relevant and effective tools of public diplomacy. To achieve this, they made previously undesirable compromises. For example, they agreed to intensify the exchange of veteran delegations with foreign countries and recognized the veteran status of former Soviet prisoners of war who participated in the resistance movement in Europe. In parallel with international activities in the internal political conditions of the “thaw”, the structures of the SKVV became the environment for the emergence of numerous grassroots initiatives among veterans in social and memorial spheres. As a result, the state-party leadership received not only a new collective actor for public diplomacy, but also a for-malized community of former war veterans who proposed various initiatives and were ready to participate in their implementation. The paper is based on little-known documents from the federal archives, including the Archive of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation, State Archive of the Russian Federation, and Russian State Archive of Contemporary History.
THE “LAST EPIDEMIC”: USSR AND “INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF NUCLEAR WAR” IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 1980s
Authors:   National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Pivovarov N. Yu. ,   Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Shok N. P. ,   Privolzhsky Research Medical University
Published: December 2023

The paper analyzes the history of Soviet initiatives within the movement “International Physicians for the Pre-vention of Nuclear War” (IPPNW) in the first half of the 1980s. Drawing on documents from the Russian State Ar-chive of Modern History and periodicals, the authors state that the emergence of this movement was connected with the settlement of relations between the USSR and the USA in the field of disarmament, particularly with the signing of the SALT-1 Treaty in 1972. This led to the development of professional and personal ties between doctors from both countries, laying the foundation for a fruitful dialogue within the IPPNW framework. Employees of the Interna-tional Department of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR played a significant role in establishing the new movement and opening the Soviet IPPNW committee. The authors argue that the Soviet IPPNW committee, headed by Evgeny I. Chazov, had a certain administrative and even intellectual free-dom. This was expressed in the international public initiatives proposed by Chazov to the Soviet leadership. Through the analysis of narrative sources, the authors conclude that the success of IPPNW was attributed to its effective inclu-sion in the media space and the use of language and images accessible to a wide audience.
HISTORICAL RESEARCH IN THE CONTEXT OF DATAISM: METHODOLOGICAL ASPECT
Authors:   Moscow State University, Volodin A. Yu. ,   Siberian Federal University
Published: December 2023

The paper examines the methodological aspect of using data in historical research. In the context of dataism, discussions are presented about the features of formalizing information from historical sources in data models. To-day, in debates about the principles of using information technologies in historical research, one can encounter many contradictions related to the complexities of interaction between the approaches of computer, historical and social sciences. There are still oppositions between qualitative and quantitative approaches, despite the widespread use of “mixed methods” and Digital Humanities research approaches, as well as the differences between the goals of the information technology industry and academia. Data becomes the commonplace of such discussions because actual research relays on it. The paper examines the features of data in historical research, which make it possible to abstract from the original historical sources and collect systematic, formalized observations. Such data features as format, memory and passivity are considered. Attention is paid to such properties of research data as volume, velocity, varie-ty, veracity, variability, visualization, value (7Vs). It argues that historical data, in a semiotic sense, performs three functions: naming the properties of objects in the real world (nomination), connecting the named properties (predica-tion), and locating the named objects in space and time (location). From a methodological perspective, data in histor-ical research is viewed as a method of abstract observation. It involves systematically and strictly formalizing obser-vations from various historical sources. Despite the established disciplinary differences in digital approaches within history and digital humanities, data becomes a common basis that expands the researcher’s toolbox.
SYSTEM OF FINANCING OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE GRAND LIVADIA PALACE IN 1910–1912
Authors:   St. Petersburg Institute of History, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yefimov A. A.
Published: December 2023

The article deals with an important aspect of the history of constructing and reconstructing imperial palace com-plexes in Crimea. Using materials from the Ministry of the Imperial Court’s archives at the Russian State Historical Archive, the author analyzes the financing of architect N. P. Krasnov’s major project – the construction of the Grand Livadia Palace and several service buildings attached to it. The article notes the exceptional organizational, adminis-trative, and financial status of these works from the beginning. The architect personally managed the work and inter-acted with contractors, forwarding payment invoices to V.N. Kachalov, the manager of the Livadsko-Massandrsky appanage administration. Kachalov then requested appropriations from the Main Directorate of Appanages, which, in turn, sought allocations from the Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty. The multi-stage financing system often caused delays in processing requests from the Crimea and insufficient funds to pay the bills of contractors and suppliers re-ceived from Krasnov. Additionally, the duality of administration hampered the issue of the source of funds to pay for single purchases, and failures in communication between responsible persons led to conflicts in using amounts received from the sale of used materials. The author emphasizes that the established financing scheme allowed the ar-chitect to exceed the preliminary estimate several times when constructing the new palace for the emperor in Livadia. Officials in St. Petersburg did not pay attention to cost overruns for a long time, becoming concerned only at the pro-jec’s final stages, when completing the construction became the only option, despite significant unplanned expenses.
ANTHROPOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF THE LATE SOVIET ECONOMY: DIRECTOR, PLANNER, WORKER IN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDIES FROM THE 1950S TO THE 1980S
Authors:   Perm State National Research University, Smetanin A. V. , Kimerling A. S. ,   National Research University “Higher School of Economics”
Published: December 2023

The anthropological understanding of the Soviet economy began during its existence, drawing from various sci-ences, including ethnography. The relationship between Soviet ethnography and economic anthropology remains a topic of debate, as there was no consensus on this issue within Soviet science itself. Ethnographic science, for ideo-logical and methodological reasons, did not associate itself with Western anthropology. There was a conscious dis-tancing of ethnography from academic economics, which made it difficult to form economic anthropology in the modern sense. At the same time, from the 1950s to the 1980s, the ethnographers succeeded in uncovering a number of important issues, for example the multi-structural nature of the Soviet economy and the functioning of archaic production practices and relations within the planned economy. Much attention was paid to the consumer behavior of citizens in different parts of the country and the changes in everyday life. Collective values, intended to be strength-ened on the path towards communism, were also a focal point. The studies covered the diversity of economic prac-tices, but encountered challenges due to the absence of a language for describing strategies and tactics of economic behavior in Soviet reality. Instead, people used euphemisms, adapted ideologemes, figures of silence relating to cer-tain production and consumption practices that were not entirely legal. The issues of planning, motivation, exchange, perception of economic reality, and informal relations, important for economic anthropology, remained largely unex-plored. Moreover, there was a giant bias towards rural residents and archaic practices.
TRANSFORMATIONS AT THE ST. PETERSBURG GYMNASIUM BY SERGEY UVAROV AS A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE OF SCHOOL REFORM
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Pustovoit I. S.
Published: December 2023

At the beginning of 1811, the young and yet unknown Sergey S. Uvarov was appointed to the prestigious posi-tion of curator of the St. Petersburg Educational District. In this role, Uvarov established himself as a successful re-former and supporter of the European education system. However, the full scope of his activities as a curator from 1811 to 1821 has been largely underestimated, which has had a significant impact on historiographical understanding of Uvarov's political and ideological trajectory as a prominent statesman during the reigns of Alexander I and Nicho-las I. The article uses archival and published sources to examine one of the directions of Uvarov's reform activities – the comprehensive reorganization of the St. Petersburg provincial Gymnasium. After finding the capital's gymnasium in a difficult financial situation, with a poorly designed curriculum and lacking public appeal, Uvarov brought it into a “flourishing” state a few years later through consistent and coordinated measures. The number of students enrolled in it doubled, and it was decided that students should remain at the gymnasium until the end of the entire course. By establishing the gymnasium economic committee, streamlining financial statements, and proposing the reform of the gymnasium curriculum in 1811, Uvarov not only led the gymnasium budget to a surplus, but also set an experience that spread later. The privileges and advantages granted to the St. Petersburg Gymnasium, the completed training cycle, and the updated teaching staff increased its prestige in the eyes of the metropolitan nobility, putting it on a par with the universities of that time.
Polychlorinated biphenyls as a cause of ecological problems and development of remediation technologies based on biological agents
Authors:   Perm State University, Egorova Darya O. ,   Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms UB RAS
Published: December 2023

The review presents an analysis of currently pressing problems associated with environmental pollution by polychlorinated biphenyls – compounds included in the list of Persistent Organic Pollutants under the international con-vention. The structural features of the polychlorinated biphenyl molecule and their interaction with the environment and living organisms are shown. The main attention is paid to aerobic bacteria, one of the main components of soil microbi-ocenosis. It was shown that long-term exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls led to the preferential selection in contaminated microbiocenosis of bacteria capable of using polychlorinated biphenyls as a source of carbon and energy. The most active strains served as the basis for biotechnological preparations aimed at removing PCBs from the environment.
Evaluation of conservation significance of protected area (example of «Visherskiy» state nature reserve)
Authors:   Perm State University, Sannikov Pavel Yu. , Bakharev Pavel N. ,   Visherskiy State Nature Reserve
Published: December 2023

There are many ways to assess the impact of protected area (PA) in the conservation of the natural environ-ment. Some of them are based on information about the flora and fauna, soils, water bodies, climatic processes and phe-nomena; others – on landscape, spatial, ecosystem data. The generalization of the existing approaches into a single scheme for assessing the environmental significance of protected areas is considered as an urgent task, both from a theoretical and practical point of view. The proposed methodology is based on a set of typical open data sources, including both research by inside and outside scientific teams, and stock, statistical information published by government authorities. It allows to apply the methodolody to any protected area with an average and high degree of knowledge’s state. The im-portance of each protected area is proposed to be considered at least at 3 levels: regional, national and global. The pro-posed methodology includes the identification of the value of protected areas in terms of conservation of biota, abiotic components, natural complexes, maintaining ecological balance. In the second part of the article, the approach is applied on the example of the «Visherskiy State Nature Reserve». At the regional level, the «Visherskiy State Nature Reserve» is the most valuable protected area in the Perm region. For example, more than 30% of all species of fungi, vascular plants, fish and more than 50-60% of lichens, bryophytes and mammals found in the Kama region, live in the «Visherskiy» State Nature Reserve. In Russia and Europe, the role of Visherskiy Reserve can be characterized as significant, and in certain parameters (for example, as a site for the conservation of the largest group of Thymallus thymallus), as crucial. At the world level, the «Visherskiy State Nature Reserve» is distinguished by the preservation of the natural environment of the Urals montane tundra and taiga of the Global200 ecoregion, the southern part of a large intact forest landscape and the presence of three globally rare species (Hucho taimen, Emberiza rustica, Rangifer tarandus). There are few promising directions for the development of the methodology: improvement of approaches to the assessment of natural complexes in climate formation, the identification of valuable hydrological (surface and underground) objects. It is also interesting to carry out assessments of other reserves, national parks, and other large protected areas, which will make it possible to compare them in detail with each other. Inflow by some new information (the distribution of rare ecosystems, numerical data on the intensity of material circulation, some poorly studied groups of biota) in the future will provide an opportunity for a more complete assessment of the conservation significance of the «Visherskiy» State Nature Reserve.
Análise de um fragmento florestal em Sorocaba/SP para criação de uma área protegida
Authors: Martins Daniele Lages , Purificação André Fogaça , Cardoso-Leite Eliana
Published: December 2023

O estudo foi realizado na área de fragmento florestal localizada na divisa entre os bairros Parque Três Meninos e Jardim Gramados de Sorocaba, na zona leste do município, com o objetivo de analisar a integridade biótica (qualidade) do mesmo. O método utilizado foi um Índice de Integridade Biótica (IIB) adaptado para Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, composto por 11 indicadores portadores de escalas de integridade. Os resultados permitiram discutir a importância ecológica e potencial da área para efetiva proteção. Para tanto, foram alocadas seis parcelas do tamanho 10x10m, distribuídas aleatoriamente na área, onde o IIB foi aplicado. O resultado deu-se através da média atribuída a cada parcela e determinou que a área possui boa integridade biótica. Estudos similares realizados anteriormente em áreas de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual foram citados, discutidos e comparados, assim como a proposta da proteção da área em questão. Considerando a nota do IIB atribuída à área, as características da mesma, que é relativamente pequena (31,14ha), e o anseio dos cidadãos envolvidos em atividades promovidas por uma ONG que atua no local, além das propostas desta, categorias de Unidades de Conservação foram sugeridas como possibilidade de conservação, uso público voltado ao lazer, recreação e contemplação, assim como a possibilidade de desenvolvimento de pesquisas e manejo de recursos.
Análise das Condições Ambientais em Córregos Urbanos na Bacia Hidrográfica do Córrego do Veado, em Presidente Prudente (São Paulo, Brasil)
Authors: Jesus Laura Rubim do Monte , Ziliotto Beatriz Garcia , Costa Giuliana Maria , Romero Danielli Cristina Granado
Published: December 2023

O crescimento das áreas urbanas tem desencadeado várias transformações no ambiente natural, como o aterramento de nascentes, o aumento da impermeabilização do solo, bem como a canalização de rios e córregos. Somado a isso, o aumento na demanda por água, sua contaminação e outros fatores, como o desperdício e a redução na capacidade de produção dos recursos hídricos, gera preocupações significativas, em relação à sustentabilidade do abastecimento público. Diante desse cenário de degradação e poluição, surge a necessidade de desenvolver metodologias para avaliar a saúde dos ecossistemas aquáticos e monitorar as mudanças ambientais e seus impactos nos recursos hídricos. Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar as condições ambientais de córregos pertencentes à bacia hidrográfica do Córrego do Veado, localizado em Presidente Prudente por meio de um Protocolo de Avaliação Rápida de Rios (PAR) adaptado. O protocolo foi aplicado em treze trechos pré-selecionados. Os resultados indicaram a presença de alterações ambientais distintas, em todos os trechos, sendo que a maioria das áreas foram evidenciadas com significativa interferência antrópica. O PAR adaptado foi considerado uma ferramenta viável e eficiente para o diagnóstico dos trechos para avaliação das condições físicas e relacionadas à diversidade de habitats dos trechos estudados.
Dinâmica das Cavas de Extração de Areia no Município de Seropédica -RJ: Um Estudo Diacrônico das Alterações no Espaço Geográfico
Authors: Ayoubi Souhayl , Silva Rhiane de Assis
Published: December 2023

Este estudo tem como propósito analisar a evolução das cavas de extração de areia na Zona de Interesse Mineral no município de Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro. Através da utilização de imagens aéreas e de satélite, busca-se compreender as transformações no espaço geográfico, avaliando as dinâmicas presentes e futuras, além de identificar tendências e padrões de uso do solo resultantes da extração de areia. A metodologia foi estruturada em três etapas. Inicialmente, realizou-se a coleta de dados geográficos. Em seguida, procedeu-se à análise diacrônica de imagens de satélite referentes a quatro períodos distintos (2005, 2010, 2015 e 2020), permitindo a observação das mudanças ao longo do tempo. Simultaneamente, conduziu-se uma análise estatística, avaliando as dinâmicas presentes e futuras, bem como identificando tendências e padrões. Por fim, as áreas de extração foram representadas por meio de mapas diacrônicos, proporcionando uma visão espacial abrangente e dinâmica. Os resultados da análise das imagens de satélite evidenciaram uma notável evolução, tanto na quantidade de cavas quanto na extensão das áreas de extração ao longo dos períodos estudados. Dessa forma, os mapas diacrônicos se destacam como ferramentas cruciais para a compreensão detalhada da dinâmica espacial na região. Por meio dessas representações, é possível visualizar de maneira clara e objetiva as alterações que ocorreram ao longo do tempo, contribuindo substancialmente para o entendimento das transformações no espaço geográfico
Modern dynamics of water levels and their flood rises in the upper reaches of the Prut River within the Chornohora Landscape (Ukrainian Carpathian)
Authors:   Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod, Ukraine, Karabiniuk Mykola M. , Hnatiak Ihor S. ,   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine, Burianyk Olesya O. ,   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine, Gostiuk Zoriana V. ,   “Hutsulshcnyna” National Park, Kosiv, Ukraine, Karabiniuk Yana V. ,   Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod, Ukraine
Published: December 2023

This article presents the results of the analysis of modern water levels of the upper reaches of the largest river named Prut in the mountain landscape of Chornohora for the period from 2010 to 2019, based on data from own long-term hydro-meteorological observations on the basis of Landscape Monitoring Laboratory of Ivan Franko National University. The studied river is characterized by a dense river network, a peculiar hydrological regime and periodic formation of heavy floods, as well as the presence in its basin of valuable landscape complexes and environmental facilities, high landscape diversity and recreational and tourist potential, which determines the relevance of this study. As a result of the study, the peculiarities of the formation and modern features of the hydro network of the Prut river basin were established, its heterogeneity in the mid-mountain and high-mountain landscape tiers was characterized. It is established that during the period 2010-2019 in the upper reaches of the Prut River there was an increase in river water levels, as well as identified the main factors and their impact on current changes in the hydrological regime of the river. The annual changes in the water level in the upper reaches of the Prut River for the period 2010-2019 were also analyzed and it was found that its mountainous nature causes high dynamics of river water levels at different times of the year and in certain months. It was important to identify the relationships between their indicators and the characteristics of the annual distribution of precipitation and snowmelt during studying the annual cycles of water level fluctuations. Particular attention is paid to the study of the formation and spread of floods as the most dangerous hydrological phenomenon of the upper reaches of the Prut River, characterized by a sharp rise in water levels, high erosion capacity, etc. The study found that more than 75 % of floods occur during the spring snowmelt in April and May where the average daily river water levels usually do not exceed 60-70 cm. The analysis of flood rises in terms of years and months shows that the most severe catastrophic floods are formed in November-December due to heavy rains, which cause the formation of powerful destructive water flows and catastrophic growth of river water levels over 90-100 cm. The total annual number of flood rises in the Prut River was also analyzed according to certain categories of indicators (over 60 cm, 70 cm, etc.) and it was found that the total number of floods in the upper reaches of the river is increasing.
COMPARISON OF THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE WAR OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AND THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF UKRAINE
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, Sarapin Alexander
Published: December 2023

The article offers an analysis of the anti-war rhetoric of the primates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The examples popular in the media of the negative perception of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and, accordingly, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in their attitude to the war are questioned. Verification of such receptions is carried out by analyzing the most important provisions of the social doctrines of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. We are talking about the "Basic Social Concept of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church" and "For the Life of the World. On the way to the social ethos of the Orthodox Church". It also reveals the features of the attitude of the primates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The issue of motivation of those appeals of the leaders of the Churches, in which the features of their attitude to the current Russian-Ukrainian war are revealed, is clarified in detail. Examples of the actions of the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine are given, which are considered in the perspective of radicalization of the official positions of both Churches. It is generalized about the similarity of the official positions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in their attitude to the war as to evil and violence. However, based on the analysis of the anti-war rhetoric of the primates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, it is argued that it is problematic perception of war by them as absurd.
NEO-THOMISM AFTER VATICAN II
Authors:   National Pedagogical Dragomanov University, Kyiv, Ukraine, Shymanovych Andrii
Published: December 2023

The article contains the author's analysis of the gradual loss of the dominant influence on Catholic theology and the educational system by the neo-Thomist intellectual project during the first decades after Vatican II. The study is primarily based on the thorough researches of such domestic and Western experts in the field of Catholic thought as A. Dakhniy, J. M. Bocheński, F. C. Copleston, G. A. McCool, F. Kerr, T. Rowland, P. D. Murray, R. J. Schreiter, B. J. Shanley and E. Lamberts. The article offers an overview of the successive rethinking of Thomism as a fixed system of ideas under the influence of postmodern relativization of generally recognized authorities, deconstruction of classical systems and concepts, and intensification the role of postmetaphysical patterns of philosophizing and theologizing. It was found out by the author that the importance of inclusiveness' strengthening within the neo-Thomist movement became possible due to the realization of the non-identity between the synthesis of St. Thomas himself and the systems that had been constructed during the period of second scholasticism (Th. Caetano, F. Suárez, D. Báñez). It is maintained that all various forms and subspecies of post-conciliar Thomistic theology are also irreducibly distinct between each other and can hardly be put together without preserving the inevitable dialectical tension between them. Such innovative term as "pluralistic complementarity", provided by Ukrainian philosopher Andriy Dakhniy, seem to be a good terminological solution for describing the possible way of overcoming the inner plurality of neo-Thomism, as well as its probable mode of existence in the context of postmodern ideological variety. The historical fact regarding the incompleteness of St. Thomas's "Summa Theologiae" – as well as K. Barth's "Church Dogmatics" – implicitly contains a hint of the potential openness of his great synthesis to the further addition and creative adaptation of Aquinas's writings in new intellectual and cultural-historical realities. In the conclusions of the article, it is substantiated that in order to maintain its own relevance in the modern ideologically pluralistic world, neo-Thomism will not be able to do without renovation processes aimed at strengthening its openness, dialogism, and ability to overcome the solidity characteristic of neo-Thomism.
Etiopathogenetic mechanisms of epilepsy and comparative characteristics of audiogenic epilepsy experimental models
Authors: Bazhanova Е. D. , Kozlov А. А. , Sokolova Yu. О.
Published: December 2023

Epilepsy is a widespread neurological chronic disease characterized by recurrent seizures, manifested as short-term partial or generalized convulsions and accompanied by loss of consciousness. To correctly select a treatment method for epilepsy, it is necessary to investigate the cues resulting in its development, but it is not always possible to identify a cause of the disease and chose proper treatment. Drug resistance remains one of the major issues in treatment of epilepsy, despite a great body of studies describing its nature. In this regard, it is necessary to select a model for examining epileptic seizures and underlying mechanisms, searching for genes involved in regulation of epilepsy as well as assessing effectiveness and safety of new antiepileptic drugs. It was noted that rodents, especially Krushinsky–Molodkina rat strain represent a suitable genetic model for audiogenic epilepsy to dissect the mechanisms of epileptogenesis, genetic basis of seizure susceptibility, development of drug resistance, and testing new antiepileptic drugs. Despite that the audiogenic form of reflex epilepsy is quite rare in humans, it was revealed that the same underlying genes, molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways are responsible for enabling audiogenic seizures in rodents and human epilepsy, additionally coupled to developing similar neuroanatomical anomalies.