bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conspiracy Theory Goes to Hollywood: An Audiovisual Analysis of the Documentary Film Plandemic
Authors: Bondt Matthias De , Aupers Stef , Winkel Roel Vande
Published: November 2024

abstract: This study focuses on how conspiracy theories are formally constructed, as we argue that there is a distinct need to look at the mediatized form that conspiracy theories take on. Within this research gap, we undertake a close reading of Plandemic , a conspiracy documentary film series that went viral in 2020. Focusing on its cinematic form, our close reading shows that Plandemic draws on several audiovisual strategies that operate according to a Holly-wood mode of storytelling. We conclude that by using these strategies, Plandemic advances its critical, anti-mainstream ideology, paradoxically, through mainstream cinematic strategies that grant it narrational authority.
Projection Instructions and the Distribution of Expanded Cinema
Authors: Guilford Josh
Published: November 2024

abstract: This article examines expanded cinema's relationship to distribution by analyzing the rental histories of early works of expanded cinema that are distributed through the Film-Makers' Cooperative (FMC) and which were designed to circulate with written projection instructions. The FMC's archival records demonstrate that projection instructions enabled these works to travel to a range of exhibition venues across the continental United States during expanded cinema's period of emergence. Examining these records reveals new aspects of expanded cinema's history, geography, and politics.
The Revolt of the "Blind Slave": White Oversight in "The Bell-Tower"
Authors: Ross Kelly
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This essay reads Melville's "The Bell-Tower" in light of James Madison's theorization of enslaved people's legal status as a "mixed character of persons and property." Melville leaves the bell-ringer's ontological status ambiguous to underscore the absurdity of this legal notion of enslaved persons' "double character." "The Bell-Tower" troubles "mixed character" discourse by undercutting the explanatory narrative that stabilizes the bell-ringer's ontological ambiguity. Moreover, Melville couples the legal fiction of enslaved personhood with the power relations of racialized surveillance, indicating how the law and visuality work in tandem to uphold slavery's system of domination. Attending to the competing versions of surveillance and vision in the story reveals Bannadonna's "white oversight" in providing the racialized bell-ringer access to an elevated panoptical perspective that is normally the domain of whiteness. Whereas the logic of slavery insists that these racialized positions of visual power are fixed, "The Bell-Tower" destabilizes them, demonstrating that the racialized figure's access to an elevated perspective facilitates violent resistance.
Attitudes Toward Witchcraft and Sorcery in Middle English Literature: The Ayenbite of Inwit (1340) and Dives and Pauper (Circa 1405)
Authors: Gasse Rosanne
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This article compares attitudes toward magic in two very different works: the mid fourteenth-century Ayenbite of Inwit and the early fifteenth-century Dives and Pauper . Both works touch upon witchcraft and sorcery to a substantial degree. However, they take very different tacks. Dives and Pauper provides a detailed argument against magic, the first written in English, and has an unusually wide definition of witchcraft. As a community problem, witchcraft is matched to criminality, simony, and usury. Citations of civil and canon law advocate for a strong legalistic response to reverse England’s moral and spiritual decline. The earlier Ayenbite of Inwit , a close translation of the 1279 Somme le Roi by Frere Laurent, is less clear. Its range of concerns about magic is narrower, concentrated upon pride and avarice, and it matches witchcraft to heresy. Yet, the text’s attitude is opaque, allowing for the possibility that the magician’s intentionality matters. Ayenbite calls for strong faith; Dives and Pauper demands law. Historically, and unfortunately, Dives and Pauper ’s approach won out.
Revolt and Revolution: On the Political Mobilization of the Peasant in Georg Büchner’s “The Hessian Messenger” (1834)
Authors: Schildmann Mareike
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This article takes Georg Büchner’s pamphlet “The Hessian Messenger,” written in 1834 in collaboration with the theologian and revolutionist Friedrich Weidig, as a starting point to explore the literary forms of peasant agitation and mobilization in the context of the German Vormärz (c. 1830–1848). Against the background of the conceptualization of the peasant as a genuinely conservative and anti-revolutionary force in the theory of the mid-19th century, elaborated by such different thinkers like Karl Marx and Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl, this article focuses on the possibilities that writers of the radical and progressive opposition like Büchner opened for the integration of peasants into the (liberal) revolutionary project. What is the function of literature in negotiating the political agency of the peasant and what literary forms, aesthetics, and strategies does it generate to portray and influence the peasant’s perspective on the political conflicts of its time? In a close textual analysis, I explore, how, by implementing specific rhetorical means (statistics, agrarian references, biblical narratives), the text first places the peasant world and the interests and problems of the rural population at the center of its argumentation. Second , I show how the pamphlet connects the disclosure of the peasants’ social and economic grievances inevitably with a discussion of the constitution and the institution of the state. The abstract liberal question of human rights is thus derived directly from power relations and economic exploitation in the countryside. By referring to those seemingly traditional ‘characteristics’ of the peasant, which until then and later influenced the dominant image of the peasant as conservative, that Büchner and Weidig were able to constitute the peasant as a political, powerful collective and revolutionary disruptive force.
Enfermements, errrances, et rencontres : L’esthétique de performance dans Humus de Fabienne Kanor
Authors: Magavern Anna
Published: November 2024

Abstract: En tant que chercheuse et créatrice qui travaille dans plusieurs disciplines — la littérature, la recherche, le cinéma, la performance — Fabienne Kanor repense la façon dont nous transmettons les connaissances tout en valorisant le corps comme lieu de mémoire qui porte les traces du traumatisme historique de l’esclavage. Dans son roman Humus (2006), Kanor imagine les voix d’un groupe de quatorze femmes esclavisées qui ont résisté à leur emprisonnement en sautant du bateau négrier Le Soleil . Dans cet essai, je lirai le texte d’ Humus comme une performance dans laquelle Kanor emploie des énoncés performatifs et d’autres formes de « mise en scène » pour créer une triangulation entre elle-même, les femmes dont elle invoque les voix, et les lecteurs•trices qui sont sommé•e•s d’écouter ces voix. Le corps en tant que lieu de mémoire et de résistance — porteur de trauma et capable d’action libératrice — est mis en avant dans cette expérience partagée qui résonne dans les yeux, les oreilles, et tout le corps des lecteurs•trices.
Biochemical components of corneal stroma: a study on myopia classification based on Raman spectroscopy and deep learning methods
Authors: Yu Zhe , Li Yong , Xing Tingyan , Han Ming , Zhang Yaohua , Gao Jinrong , Du Jing , Li Jing , Zeng Qi , Chen Xueli
Published: November 2024

The study aimed to identify differences in the biochemical composition of corneal stroma lenses across varying degrees of myopia using Raman spectrum characteristics. Corneal stroma lens samples from 38 patients who underwent small incision lens extraction (SMILE) surgery, were categorized into low (n = 9, spherical power ≧ -3.00D), moderate (n = 23, spherical power < -3.00D and > -6.00D), and high myopia (n = 6, spherical power ≦-6.00D) groups. A custom-built microscopic confocal Raman system (MCRS) was used to collect Raman spectra, which were processed by smoothing, denoising, and baseline calibrating to refine raw data. Independent sample t-tests were used to analyze spectral feature peaks among sample types. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found in multiple Raman spectral characteristic peaks (854 cm-1, 937 cm-1, 1002 cm-1, 1243 cm-1, 1448 cm-1, and 2940 cm-1) between low and high myopia samples, particularly at 2940 cm-1. Differences were also found between low and moderate, and moderate and high myopia samples, although fewer than between low and high myopia samples. The three-classification model, particularly with PLS-KNN training, exhibited superior discriminative performance with accuracy rates of 95%. Similarly, the two-classification model for low and high myopia achieved high accuracy with PLS-KNN (94.4%) compared to PCA-KNN (93.3%). PLS dimensionality reduction slightly outperformed PCA, enhancing classification accuracy. In addition, in both reduction methods, the KNN algorithm demonstrated the highest accuracy and performance. The optimal PLS-KNN classification model showed AUC values of 0.99, 0.98, and 1.00 for ROC curves corresponding to low, moderate, and high myopia, respectively. Classification accuracy rates were 89.7% and 96.9%, and 100% for low and high myopia, respectively. For the two-classification model, accuracy reached 94.4% with an AUC of 0.98, indicating strong performance in distinguishing between high and low myopic corneal stroma. We found significant biochemical differences such as collagen, lipids, and nucleic acids in corneal stroma lenses across varying degrees of myopia, suggesting that Raman spectroscopy holds substantial potential in elucidating the pathogenesis of myopia.
High fidelity phase conjugation in a stimulated Brillouin scattering cell at 122 J
Authors: Humblot Raphaël , Stéphane Branly , Loïc Meignien , Patrick Audebert , Frédéric Druon
Published: November 2024

We demonstrate a passive and automatic correction of high-energy laser wavefront using stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) based phase conjugating mirror (PCM) establishing a new record in terms of input energy level of 122 J together with an extremely high reflectivity, leading to efficiencies of 99 % with both high temporal fidelity and good spatial profile conservation. For this achievement, we developed an innovative design of high-energy SBS-PCM based on high numerical aperture focusing and on the temporal shaping of the input pulse, guaranteeing good SBS initiation before the arrival of the main part of the pulse. An original approach was introduced compared to previous works where the temporal fidelity was a limitation for energy scale-up. This approach allows, for the first time in an SBS cell, perfect conservation of the input pulse temporal profile, demonstrated for several temporal pulse shapes of interest. Pulsed laser sources with nanosecond duration and energy levels above the kilojoule represent a crucial tool for a wide range of plasma and shock physics experiments. This work will unlock a crucial bottleneck by addressing the correction of the wavefront distortions due to the accumulating thermal load in these lasers and opens the way to higher repetition rate kilojoule systems.
Structured illumination microscopy using the anti-blaze condition of a digital micromirror device
Authors: Kim Jongwu , Kim Dug Young
Published: November 2024

The anti-blaze condition (ABC) is a recently introduced diffraction condition for digital micromirror devices to generate structured lights for optical metrology and imaging. Here, we present the detailed procedures and methods for applying the ABC in structured illumination microscopy (SIM). We introduce effective formulae that can be used to align the illumination optics of the ABC and a practical method to build a lookup table that can be used to find proper DMD patterns for SIM with a given objective lens. The feasibility of our proposed method is demonstrated by comparing fluorescence images obtained with and without structured lights.
High-capacity optical data storage by ultraviolet femtosecond laser writing in silica glass
Authors: Wang Qing , Lei Yu-Hao , Wang Yi , Liu Zi-Ting , Yu Yan-Hao , Liu Xue-Qing , Gao Bing-Rong , Xu Ke-Mi , Wang Lei
Published: November 2024

Multiplexed optical data storage with the merits of a long lifetime and high data capacity is considered to be a promising technology for storing huge amounts of data generated by human activities. However, practical applications have been limited by the current data capacity, which remains at just a few terabytes (TB) per disc. Here, we demonstrate high-density multidimensional optical data storage in silica glass by writing birefringent voxels using ultraviolet (UV) ultrafast laser pulses. The azimuth of slow axis of birefringent voxels is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the writing laser beam and their retardance can be modulated by pulse numbers or energies. The birefringence modification is attributed to the nanostructures induced by UV laser direct writing in silica glass. Furthermore, a digital document is recorded by this method with a capacity of 7.5 TB/disc and a readout accuracy of 100%.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in pregnancy: A systematic review
Authors: Morton Alison J. , Roddy Mitchell Alexandra , Melville Richard E. , Hui Lisa , Tong Steven Y. C. , Dunstan Sarah J. , Denholm Justin T.
Published: November 2024

Pregnancy may be associated with risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) in those infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The perinatal period could provide opportunities for targeted screening and treatment. This study aims to synthesise published literature on Mtb infection in pregnancy, relating to prevalence, natural history, test performance, cascade of care, and treatment. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase+Embase Classic, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on October 3, 2023, and 47 studies met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of Mtb infection was as high as 57.0% in some populations, with rates increasing with maternal age and in women from high TB-incidence settings. Five studies quantified perinatal progression from Mtb infection to active TB disease, with two demonstrating increased risk compared to non-pregnant populations (IRR 1.3–1.4 during pregnancy and IRR 1.9–2 postpartum). Concordance between Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and Interferon Gamma-Release Assay (IGRA) ranged from 49.4%-96.3%, with k-values of 0.19–0.56. High screening adherence was reported, with 62.0–100.0% completing antenatal TST and 81.0–100.0% of those positive having chest radiograph. Four studies of TB preventative treatment (TPT) did not find a significant association with serious adverse events. The antenatal period could provide opportunities for contextualised Mtb infection screening and treatment. As women with increased age and from high TB-incidence settings demonstrate higher prevalence and risk of disease, this cohort should be prioritised. TPT appears safe and feasible; however, further studies are needed to optimise algorithms, ensuring pregnant and postpartum women can make evidence-informed decisions for effective TB prevention.
Molecular identification of tick-borne Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia, and Colpodella in confiscated Malayan pangolins
Authors: Li Bing , Zhai Jun-Qiong , Wu Ya-Jiang , Shan Fen , Zou Jie-Jian , Hou Fang-Hui , Que Teng-Cheng , Chen Wu
Published: November 2024

The traditional concept of “tonic food” and demand for traditional Chinese medicine make pangolins the largest population of illegally smuggled mammals in the world. Illegal hunting and trade are not only responsible for the sharp decline in pangolin populations but also provide conditions for pathogenic transmission. In 2021, we rescued 21 confiscated unhealthy Malayan pangolins, none of which survived. This study aimed to investigate the reasons for their unexpected deaths and the potential pathogens that may be transmitted during smuggling. Physical examination found that more than 80% pangolins were parasitized with A. javanense ticks. Autopsy and pathological staining analysis revealed multiple organ damage in the deceased pangolins. Pathogens nucleic acid detection of 33 tick samples showed that the positive rate of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. Babesia spp., and Colpodella spp. were 90.91%, 6.06%, 6.06%, 15.15% and 18.18%, respectively. Furthermore, pangolin samples were positive for Rickettsia spp. (42.86%, 9/21), Ehrlichia sp. (4.76%, 1/21), and Babesia sp. (4.76%, 1/21). This study confirmed that spotted fever triggered by Rickettsia spp. from A. javanense might accelerate the most death of confiscated pangolins, while Ehrlichia sp., and Babesia sp. infection potentially accelerating a few deaths. Of note, A. javanense ticks carrying Colpodella spp. were detected for the first time in Malayan pangolins. However, whether Colpodella spp. are pathogenic to pangolins is unknown. Further research on the diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, and elimination of ticks and tick-borne diseases in humans, livestock, and wildlife should provide insight into wildlife conservation and zoonotic disease prevention.
Nurturing humanism and professionalism in a clinical setting: A multicenter study to develop a framework for a learning module for clinical students
Authors: Mustika Rita , Pinasthika Anyta , Greviana Nadia , Pamungkasari Eti Poncorini , Moelyo Annang Giri , Zhuhra Rahma Tsania
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Professionalism represents a contract between physicians and society, with humanism at its core. Humanism must be developed in medical education, especially in clinical settings, as students meet real-life professional situations. However, dynamic and unpredictable clinical settings might expose students to authentic yet unexpected far-from-ideal situations that might hinder the humanism and professionalism process. Furthermore, culture plays an influential role, highlighting the importance of developing an appropriate and contextual learning strategy. Hence, this study aims to conceptualize strategies to teach humanism and professionalism in high-power distance and collectivistic settings.

Methods

This multicenter qualitative phenomenological study used maximum variation sampling to recruit participants, consisting of clinical students, teachers, and coordinators from three medical schools in Indonesia. Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted using the steps of coding and theorization methods.

Results

A total of 15 FGDs and one in-depth interview were conducted with 57 students, 39 teachers, and 18 coordinators. Socialization theory was used to analyze themes, leading to a culturally related approach to learning. Professional identity formation (PIF) was highlighted as the center of learning humanism and professionalism, with character building as the main principle. Designing a curriculum for humanism and professionalism for clinical learning should consider the longitudinal nature of PIF and ensure that professionalism explicitly exists in the curricula. As cultural impact might pose challenges, it must also be acknowledged and addressed. Meaningful integrated learning experiences, patient exposure, and reflection serve as the cornerstones of teaching–learning strategies while considering longitudinally explicit assessments.

Conclusion

Nurturing humanism and professionalism in undergraduate clinical settings is a longitudinal character-building process, with PIF as its center. Longitudinal, explicit, and dynamic strategies should be considered as part of the framework of teaching–learning and assessment of humanism and professionalism, as well as faculty development efforts with close attention to cultural factors.
Experiencias de inclusión educativa de estudiantes universitarios con discapacidad. Metasíntesis
Authors: González Garrido Griselda Benita
Published: November 2024

De acuerdo con información oficial, en el Perú, solo el 11 % de las personas mayores de 15 años con discapacidad están siguiendo educación superior, situación que es preocupante. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar artículos científicos que describen experiencias inclusivas en Universidades para estudiantes con discapacidad (ECD) que permitan identificar acciones implementadas y lecciones aprendidas. La metodología aplicada fue la metasíntesis, que recayó sobre 11 artículos de revista seleccionados de las bases de datos Scopus y Scielo. Los resultados fueron organizados a partir de las barreras para el aprendizaje que se desprenden del modelo social de la discapacidad, destacando la insuficiencia de los ajustes en infraestructura, el interés por implementar el Diseño Universal para el Aprendizaje (DUA) y los ajustes razonables, la necesidad de generar normativa ad-hoc que respalde la inclusión y la importancia de promover una actitud favorable hacia la inclusión, como principal facilitador del proceso de aprendizaje. Como conclusión, se destacaron las coincidencias entre los resultados y los antecedentes, planteándose interrogantes que pueden dar lugar a nuevas investigaciones.
Treatment of moderate-severe pain associated with early stage endometriosis; a consensus panel summary
Authors: McCarus Steven , Jalloul Randa , Stockwell Erica , Brotherton Joy , Chaudhari Angela , Parnell Laura
Published: November 2024

Few chronic diseases carry such a personal and societal burden as endometriosis. Amultitude of symptoms similar to other diseases and various contributors to the diseasecompounds its complexity and perpetuates the delay in diagnosis and treatment. Thisliterature review and consensus panel synthesized the current research and clinicalpractices to develop a clinical algorithm to reduce symptoms, minimize time to diagnosis,and improve patient quality of life outcomes. Evaluating patients at earlier stagedendometriosis using best clinical practice should speed diagnosis but also intervene inthe disease process to better manage the chronicity. Treatment of the disease andsymptoms by modulating estradiol levels through medical therapy provides noninvasivepain relief. Initial evaluation with detailed patient history, examination, and utilizing paindiaries determine the course of action. The use of intentional medical therapy andscheduled follow-up provides structure for future clinical decisions to be based on. Shareddecision making between clinician and patient is important to ensure patient goals andbest clinical options are utilized. Surgical intervention should be used strategically andcombined with medical therapy to provide morepredictable patient outcomes with longerlasting results than surgery alone.
EMBRACING LIFESTYLE MEDICINE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE
Authors: Akinyemi Oluwaseun
Published: November 2024

Pathophysiology, oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory diet, cognitive behavioral therapy, patient outcomes, SCD complications.
Accessible Nutrition Education for the Food-Insecure College Student
Authors: George Gretchen L. , Alexander Melanie
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this pilot study was to understand the effectiveness of a four-week food pantry-based nutrition education series on changes in food literacy and skill within food insecure college students. A sample of sixty students were randomized into three study groups which received
varying levels of engagement with material while all receiving the same content over the series. Evaluation consisted of a pre-post survey including the validated Food Skills Questionnaire. A non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test revealed statistically significant differences in Total Food
Skills Score between the cooking demonstration group and the handout only group, and between the cooking class group vs. the handout only group. Time commitment and accessibility are concerns in college student participation in nutrition education classes as are effectiveness of interventions.
The findings underscore that brief engaging interventions influence food literacy and skill improvement.
Artificial Intelligence Integration in Academic Writing
Authors: Abdulah Deldar M. , Zaman Burhan A. , Mustafa Zuhair R. , Hassan Lokman H.
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies among academics at the University of Duhok (UoD), focusing on their perspectives, preferences, and intentions toward integrating AI within academic and research environments. A survey was conducted through Google Forms, targeting postgraduate students, recent alumni (since 2020), and faculty members of UoD in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. A total of 674 participants, aged 22–70 years, responded. The findings indicate that only 36.94% had employed AI technologies. Among AI users (n = 249), primary sources of information were friends or colleagues (46.59%) and social media (35.74%). Younger individuals and those holding master’s degrees exhibited a stronger tendency toward AI usage (p < 0.0001), whereas gender and academic discipline had minimal influence. ChatGPT was the most widely used tool (70.68%), followed by Quill Bot (42.17%), Grammarly (34.94%), and Google Bard (29.32%). The main AI applications were text paraphrasing (33.73%) and information retrieval (15.26%). Notably, 47.58% of respondents recommended AI for various academic tasks, including scientific research and idea generation. In conclusion, the study shows that only one-third of UoD faculty members utilize AI, predominantly for text paraphrasing. Nearly half of the participants suggested the adoption of AI by postgraduate students and academic staff.
Inteligencia artifical y gamificación en educación. Revisión sistemática
Authors: Lautaru Oana Gabriela , Lores-Gómez Beatriz
Published: November 2024

Oana Gabriela Lautaru y Beatriz Lores-Gómez
Advancements and challenges in onion phytopathogens management: A comprehensive review
Authors: Yazhini P , Angappan K , Karthikeyan M , Anandham R , Anita B , Nivedha M
Published: November 2024

Onion (Allium cepa L.) stands as a vital commercial vegetable globally, ingrained in the culinary practices of homemakers worldwide. Beyond its culinary significance, the organosulfur compounds found in onions provide a solution for managing plant diseases. Onions face escalating disease challenges despite various antimicrobial properties due to climate fluctuations and pathogen evolution. Biotic factors, including fungi, bacteria, viruses and insects, contribute to pre-harvest and postharvest losses, accounting for nearly 50% yield reduction in fields and 10-30% loss in storage conditions. The importance of integrated disease management practices, such as early detection using e-nose, conventional methods, biological control and novel biotechnological tools, including CRISPR/Cas, were explained. Therefore, implementing effective control measures at the field level is crucial to mitigating these losses. This review emphasizes the need for continued research to provide more practical and long-lasting solutions for controlling onion phytopathogens.
Spin-priming - A novel and a crucial treatment to enhance the seed quality of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seeds
Authors: Mullai T , Malarkodi K , Sasthri G , Visalakshi M , Anand T , Kavitha S , Bhaskaran M , Natarajan K
Published: November 2024

Seed vigour being an important physiological parameter is important indeed in medicinal plant like roselle in which it is increased significantly by standardization of conventional priming (hydro-priming) duration and spin-priming duration of (Hibiscus sabdariffa) then compared with the non - primed seeds. The standardisation of hydropriming was performed by soaking of seeds in equal volume of water for various soaking durations viz., 2-5 h and restored to its initial state of moistness revealed that hydropriming of roselle seeds for 5 h registered higher physiological seed quality parameters. The best performed hydropriming duration of 5 h was taken for standardisation of spin - drying duration by adopting several drying timings viz., 1-5 min. The results indicated that the seeds hydro-primed (5 h) and spin-dried for 4 min had a significant improvement in physiological parameters, seed anatomical structure namely length (8.4 cm) and width (2.33 cm) of the embryo and root growth was seen evident through root architecture analysis. The % increase in germination over control in hydro-priming and spin-drying for 5 h and 4 min was 51 and the expresses the maximum vigour index of 1612.
Quantitative evidence on reduction of CMD virus inoculum as influenced by management practices in cassava
Authors: Bhaargavi R , Latha TKS , Makeshkumar T , Harish S , Velmurugan M , Saravanan PA
Published: November 2024

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) poses a substantial challenge to the success of cassava cultivation in India, primarily attributed to the Indian cassava mosaic virus (ICMV) and the Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus (SLCMV). This study examines the impact of diverse management techniques on diminishing CMD viral load in cassava plants, employing quantitative PCR (qPCR) as the principal measurement instrument. The experiment was conducted in a cassava field, with treatment plots assigned in a randomized block design (RBD). The research evaluated the effectiveness of different nutrient applications and insecticidal treatments. Results indicated that treatments, such as fish oil rosin soap and Cassava Booster, significantly reduced CMD viral concentrations 14 days post-application. The qPCR results showed a substantial decrease in virus copy numbers following these treatments. The study highlights the importance of integrated disease management strategies for CMD control, demonstrating how these practices can lead to healthier cassava crops, increased yields, and sustainable crop protection.
Conquest, holy war, and crusade. The plan of the military campaign against the Slavs. A new interpretation of the so-called Magdeburg Letter of 1108
Authors: Dragnea Mihai
Published: November 2024

In the early twelfth century, it was possible to justify (morally and legally) the conquest of a neighbouring non-Christian territory using theological arguments from the Bible and Christian authors, including various narratives about the torture and suffering of Christians. Such conflicts were legitimised as holy wars fought for defensive purposes. This study will show that waging war against the neighbours, seen as “enemies of Christ”, was quickly associated with a crusade, and conveyed through preaching. The plan is included in the Magdeburg charter. The document believed to have been written in 1108 emphasizes the reconquest of a lost territory which previously held an ecclesiastical organization. The repercussions of the conquest of the Holy Land could be felt in Magdeburg. The event became a flexible model which could have been adapted according to the regional interests.
Kobiety z warstwy rycerskiej w dokumentach wielkopolskich z okresu rozbicia dzielnicowego
Authors: Teterycz-Puzio Agnieszka
Published: November 2024

In the paper, a question is posed about the legal status of knighthood women in Wielkopolska during the country’s fragmentation from the 12th century to the early 14th century. The conclusions have been drawn on the basis of documents written in Wielkopolska and in the lands governed by the dukes nof the Wielkopolska line of the Piast dynasty, documents issued by the rulers of Wielkopolska or diplomas concerning people connected with Wielkopolska through offices or estates. Sixty-nine documentshave been analysed. Most often, women are referred to in the body of the document (in the disposition), nrarely in the intitulation (in two cases they appeared as co-authors of documents), and in the testation only as an exception. There are several types of documents in which women are referred. From the documents we learn that women disposed of their property. Estates could be a part of a woman’s marriage settlement; widows also made donations to pass on their daughters’ dowries. Knights also secured the fortunes of their wives, daughters, and mothers by document, especially through endowments to monasteries. Women were given a certain amount of property for life but were also placed under the protection of the Church. Quite a number of documents mention the salvation of the soul of the donor and his wife. The analysed documents from the 12th to the beginning of the 14th century include diplomas regulating family situations, i.e. not issued for ecclesiastical institutions, although the latter are nevertheless predominant. In the light of the documents analysed, various issues concerning the fate of women are also apparent, e.g. the situation of women following their husbands in the 13th century, or their status after the execution of their husbands. Compared to the neighbouring districts of Mazovia and Krakow and Sandomierz Principalities, Wielkopolska boasts a larger number of documents with mentions of women. An analysis of the documents indicates that women’s rights to property and the possibility of disposing of it were recognised in Wielkopolska, although the confirmations of dukes (issued frequently) may suggest that the dispositions made by women were questioned.
Stefan Parnicki-Pudełko w świetle dokumentów z Archiwum Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego
Authors: Żmudziński Mateusz
Published: November 2024

The Archives of the University of Wroclaw have preserved folders with documents related to the studies, the defense of the doctorate and the employment at the University of Wroclaw of S. Parnicki-Pudełko. They show the unconventional character and unusual career path of the young scientist. By the way, through these documents we get to know him as a committed patriot and social activist. Already at that time, his significant intellectual potential was noted, his enthusiasm for work and his excellent development was rightly predicted. Living in extremely difficult times, he knew how to maintain decency. In the later years of his life and career, he was associated with the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw and then the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan where he spread his wings as a professor and head of the Novae archaeological expedition.
Studnia z Dąbrówki koło Poznania. Nowe źródła do badań nad początkami osadnictwa grodowego w Wielkopolsce
Authors: Pawlak Ewa , Pawlak Paweł , Makowiecka Marzena , Makowiecki Daniel , Milecka Milecka , Rennwanz Joanna
Published: November 2024

In 2021, research was carried out which, despite its small scope, yielded a number of interesting discoveries related to Dąbrówka stronghold settlement. The most significant was the discovery of a well with preserved oak casing, built no earlier than in 870 and no later than in the mid-870s. This sequence of dates, however, covers a long period from 855 (-0/+8) to 878 (-7/+8) and indicates the use of raw material for developments of much greater scope. The only project that involved the use of such masses of wood at the time was the construction of a stronghold. From within the casing comes a wooden bucket with hoops, the ends of which are decorated with representations of animal heads. The research has also revealed a piece of an axe, related to a bradatica-type double-edged weapon, and an appliqué in the form of a rosette with numerous parallels among products of the Avar culture and assemblages of mixed Avaro-Slavic nature.
Archeologia o kulturze elitarnej wczesnośredniowiecznego Santoka. Wybrane zagadnienia
Authors: Kara Michał
Published: November 2024

The aim of this study is to present the results of an analysis of selected archaeological sources from early medieval functional-stratigraphic units discovered at site No. 1 in Santok (Poland, Lubusz Region), within are No. 297 (trench II). The finds come from archaeological excavations carried out between 1958 and 1961 of a multi-stage market settlement from the late 8th and 9th centuries, transformed into a fortified settlement in the late 9th or early 10th century. A comparative analysis of the individual sets of exclusive material culture has resulted in classifying the luxury objects discovered at Santok into several distinct macro groups of finds, differentiated in terms of chronology and cultural-spatial relationships. During the operation of the three oldest ‘open’ settlements in Santok (late 8th-2nd half of the 9th century), these relations were marked by contacts with the cultural population of the Feldberg-Bardy-Kędrzyno zone and with the artisanal and trading settlement at Menzlin (Germany, Mecklenburg NE).From the late 9th century onwards, contacts with Wolin started to prevail in Santok’s network of trans-regional links, evident in the material culture of Santok settlement No. IV. In the 10th century, it was probably extended to include relations with Szczecin. From the late 9th century onwards, in the elite culture of the Santok people relatively few exclusive objects marked their presence, typical of the culture of the Tornow-Klenica settlements, especially from the area of the middle Oder basin and the neighbouring Obra basin. On the other hand, finds from the relics of a younger castle stronghold in Santok – probably a Piast investment made after 970 on the remains of the so-called fortress No. 1 – document chronological and cultural similarities both with economically developed settlements in the Oder estuary region and with early Piast strongholds in central Wielkopolska (especially Poznań).
Odcięte stopy, odpiłowane kopyta… W kręgu rozważań nad metodami badań archeologicznych śladów obrzędowości funeralnej dawnych Słowian
Authors: Kajkowski Kamil
Published: November 2024

The research potential of archaeology in investigating ancient religiosity remains a topic of enduring debate involving both proponents, sceptics and (hyper)critics of the validity of such an approach. The result of this discourse is the emergence of a separate research discipline: archaeology of religions. It has developed its own technique to better understand and interpret traces of ritual practices. However, the research methods used by archaeologists of religion are still not widely applied to the studies of early medieval Slavdom. Clearly, there have been difficulties in understanding phenomena that escape the methods of traditional archaeology. These phenomena include horse burials found within sepulchral areas. While all these objects show a number of similarities to human graves interpreted as atypical and perceived as evidence of ritual activities, they are generally considered to be either alien to Slavic communities or a manifestation of utilitarian activities. What is forgotten is that both phenomena were identified in cemeteries, i.e. areas characterised by the sacred thus, by definition, dedicated to the celebration of various ritual scenarios, whether related to the burial sphere or to images of eschatological nature. The aim as set out by the author of this article is to compare the two types of objects and to determine whether the place and manner of their deposition and the diagnostic features associated with them are different enough to link the former with abstract thinking and the latter with utilitarian practices.
Re-evaluating ‘Silkworm’ Cocoons in Early Medieval Poznań: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Kurzawska Aldona , Antowska-Gorączniak Olga , Baraniak Edward
Published: November 2024

We provide a comprehensive re-examination of the early medieval cocoons unearthed during archaeological excavations in the Cathedral Square at Ostrów Tumski, Poznań, Poland, in the 1950s. We challenge previous identifications, in particular the misidentification of these cocoons as Bombyx mori (silk moth) which influenced the interpretation of sericulture practices in the region. Comprehensive comparative microstructural analyses, including digital microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, as well as the association of the cocoons with structures, validate our revised identification as Hymenoptera (possibly parasitic wasp) cocoons. While silkworm breeding and silk production did not occur in 11th-century Poznań, our meticulous review of the historical records highlights the appearance of silk fabric as early as the 9th and 10th centuries in Poland trough trade routes likely originating in China and Byzantium. We underline the significance of Hymenoptera cocoons, a rarity in archaeology. In addition to contributing to a more accurate understanding of the history of silk textiles in early medieval Poland, and enriching knowledge of global trade contacts and cultural connections, our study emphasizes the importance of challenging and updating scholarly findings as the research methods improve.
O pochodzeniu wczesnośredniowiecznych szklanych paciorków z metalową tuleją z wczesnośredniowiecznych ośrodków grodowych w Wielkopolsce i na Ziemi Lubuskiej
Authors: Sawicka Joanna
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a small collection of characteristic early medieval glass beads with a metal sleeve around the duct. They come mainly from the pre-Piast settlement levels of Połupin, Gostchorze, Santok, Kruszwica, Giecz, and Gniezno. The results of the physical and chemical analyses (SEM-EDS and SEM-WDS) have identified the two main types of glass, namely sodium glass of the (Na2O-CaO-Al2O3-SiO2) mineral variety and potassium glass of the CaO-K2O-MgO-Al2O2-SiO2 variety and has allowed a general identification of the sources of raw material for the local Central European workshops producing such beads.
Should we Distinguish Between Repugnant and Non-Repugnant Unreasonable Views?
Authors: Nuti Alasia
Published: November 2024

Shmuel Nili’s Philosophizing the Indefensible: Strategic Political Theory is a thought-provoking book, calling philosophers to arms in the effort of containing the spread of ‘unreasonable’ views characterising many contemporary societies. Nili argues that philosophers can play a distinctive role by arguing from premises they reject to show how those presumptions do not lead to upholding the ‘repugnant’ policies their interlocutors back up. This paper focuses on a distinction that is key to Nili’s argument, i.e. that between ‘repugnant’ and ‘non-repugnant’ unreasonable policies. According to Nili, philosophers should be under no obligation to engage discursively in the way he envisions when their interlocutors support policies that are repugnant, i.e. they clearly violate universal human equality. The paper argues that it does not make sense to treat repugnant unreasonable views as normatively different from non-repugnant premises. The repugnant/non-repugnant distinction is untenable and too subject to ‘reasonable’ disagreement to offer concrete normative guidance.
Response to My Critics
Authors: Valentini Laura
Published: November 2024

In Morality and Socially Constructed Norms, I argue that norms that exist as a matter of social fact have moral force, when they do, by virtue of what I call the ‘agency-respect principle.’ In what follows, I address the comments and criticisms of my view kindly offered by N. P. Adams, Åsa Burman, George Klosko, Katharina Nieswandt, and Titus Stahl, and which have appeared in a previous issue of this journal. My responses, just like the corresponding criticisms, will address some of the core themes of the book, including: the nature of socially constructed norms, the plausibility of the agency-respect principle, how to best understand and ground political obligation, and, in general, whether we should think that socially constructed norms have (primarily) moral normativity, as opposed to some other type of normativity.
Proportionality and Necessity in Israel’s Invasion of Gaza, 2023–2024
Authors: McMahan Jeff
Published: November 2024

This article seeks to show that Israel’s war in Gaza in 2023 and 2024 has been an unjust war because it has violated both the requirement of proportionality and the requirement of necessity. The article explains the nature of proportionality, arguing that the main form of proportionality in war is simply the limit to the amount of harm inflicted on innocent people that can be justified either as the lesser evil or, more plausibly, on the basis of the special relations between combatants and their fellow citizens. The argument of the article is that, even on the basis of assumptions about moral justification and the numbers of innocent people who have been killed or saved by the war that are highly favorable to Israel, the war has nevertheless been highly disproportionate and morally unnecessary.
Sediment accumulation in an 8 inch sewer pipe for a sample of various particles obtained from the streets of Karbala city, Iraq
Authors: Kokaz Mohammed Aswad , Nile Basim K. , Hassan Waqed H.
Published: November 2024

This work investigates the intricate interplay between particle size and water flow velocity in connection to sedimentation within the sewage systems. The experimental design involves simulating the sedimentation process in a laboratory setup using an 8 inch unplasticized polyvinyl chloride pipe with a controlled slope. Three factors of flow and discharge velocity detailed in this work are particle size, velocity, and sedimentation rate, which are determined through calculations based on the Manning equation. For the numerical simulations, the software packages Fluent and Rocky were used. Sediment transportation under laminar flow conditions can be analyzed by means of numerical simulation. The size, shape, and velocity of the fluid in which the particles are suspended are only a few of the variables taken into consideration while assessing the drag force acting on the particles. The results show that the smaller particles escape the entry further because they are more movable within the conduit. Conversely, it is demonstrated that increased settling pressures near the entrance increase the probability of larger particle sizes settling. Higher water velocities have been found to have a favorable effect on the sediment mobility, which decreases the particle accumulation. This study presents practical methods to mitigate sedimentation in sewage systems, including increasing water flow rates and employing filtration methods to keep larger particles out of the system. This work adds a great deal to the body of information previously known on sedimentation behavior in these systems with its incisive finds that may boost the longevity and efficiency of sewage systems. More research is required to determine the value of the proposed treatments.
Preparation of hydrophobic silicone rubber composite insulators and the research of anti-aging performance
Authors: Zhang Zhaohua
Published: November 2024

Series of Si75/nZ/tZ@SRHTV materials are prepared by dip-coating method to improve the hydrophobicity and breakage-resistant ability of high-temperature vulcanization silicone rubber (SRHTV) using ZnO particles as UV absorbent and bis(triethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide (Si75) as consolidant. The introduction of tetrapod ZnO can build a bramble structure and endow the SRHTV materials with excellent hydrophobicity. The combined utilization of nano-ZnO and tetrapod-ZnO can endow the SRHTV material well with anti-UV ability, while using Si75 gives the SRHTV materials favorable thermal reparability due to its reconfigurable disulfide bond. The optimal parameters are 10%-Si75, 1%-nZnO, and 50%-tZnO. After longtime UV radiation, this material still shows good hydrophobicity and intact surface. The FTIR and X-Ray diffraction analysis indicate the breakage of Si–O molecular chains and the exposure of inorganic fillers for SRHTV. Compared with the neat SRHTV, the mechanical property of the Si75/nZ/tZ@SRHTV material has no significant change. The research indicates the excellent comprehensive performance of Si75/nZ/tZ@SRHTV materials.