bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MEDITERRANEAN REFUGEE TRAFFIC: MAIN ROUTES AND PROBLEMS OF CONTROL
Authors:   Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences RAS, Ostanin-Golovnya Vasily , Pavliukova Anna ,   State Academic University for the Humanities
Published: December 2024

The article analyzes the Mediterranean routes used by refugees from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on their way to the European Union. The authors cite data from reports by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the World Organization against Torture, and a number of other international institutions. The relevance of this area of research is due to the fact that today there are about 118.3 million refugees and internally displaced persons in the world, and their main countries of origin are in the MENA regions, including Afghanistan and Somalia. The article provides up-to-date information for 2022–2023, including data on the three most important refugee trafficking routes between MENA and Europe in the Mediterranean. The most popular of them is the Central Mediterranean route, which runs from Tunisia and Libya, then the Western Mediterranean route – from Morocco and Algeria. In addition, the West African route has recently become more popular due to the strengthening of the coast guard on the two previously mentioned routes. It is used to get to the Canary Islands. The authors also cited forecasts from the European Union Agency for the Security of its External Borders for 2023–2024, which say that the pandemic and the economic crisis have affected migration flows, which will grow in the near future. But, on the other hand, the European Union is actively developing cooperation with North African countries to prevent illegal migration, but different methods are used for this: strengthening the coast guard, allocating funds from the EU budget and individual countries «to combat illegal migration», developing a circular migration program aimed at attracting migrants for seasonal work.
STANDORT DIALOGUE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS IN THE CONTEXT OF POLYCRISIS IN GERMANY
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Belov Vladislav
Published: December 2024

By the end of 2024, Germany’s economic and political environment has continued to suffer a decline in competitiveness due to a series of overlapping crises. The risk of productive factors exiting the country has increased, a process commonly referred to as the «deindustrialization of the economy». This development impacts the interests of all key stakeholders involved in the formation of Germany’s Standort product – the nation’s economic-political and socio-economic space competing globally, especially with the United States and China. Both the government and business, represented by interest groups, are motivated to counteract these adverse trends by retaining capital and labor within Germany’s economic territory, as well as attracting them from other economic locations. Success in this endeavor largely depends on their interaction, rooted in dialogue and constructive exploration of Standort-related tools and policies. This article represents the first in domestic scientific literature to analyze the current interaction between Germany’s executive branch and business interest groups, aimed at steering the German Standort out of its polycrisis state and restoring its competitiveness. The article evaluates the effectiveness of these interactions and the potential for implementing the agreements reached.
CHINA’S ELECTRIC VEHICLES MANUFACTURERS’ EXPANSION IN THE EU: PATTERNS, BARRIERS, AND PROSPECTS
Authors:   P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Gomulina Аntonina , Gorshkov Ilya ,   P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University
Published: December 2024

The report examines the current situation regarding Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers entering the European market, including both investment and non-investment strategies used by these companies to expand abroad. The study identifies key partners from European countries who have facilitated the import of electric vehicles from China in recent years and summarizes the experience of direct investments by Chinese manufacturers and component suppliers in the European market. In this paper, we aim to systematically analyze the key barriers that hinder China’s entry into the European electric vehicle (EV) market. We examine customs, tariff, and administrative obstacles, as well as assess the potential for future growth of Chinese EV manufacturers in Europe. We consider factors such as the availability of critical raw materials and deepening cooperation between China and other BRICS countries. We have developed a simplified model that depicts China’s entrance into the European EV market at the expense of African resources. We posit that deepening collaboration between China and Africa, which is essential for supplying critical materials for EV production, will enhance China’s global dominance. This would also grant foreign manufacturers access to Chinese components, including batteries
Unlocking the potential of phytosomes: a review of formulation techniques, evaluation methods, and emerging applications
Authors: Kapse Mukesh Vinod , Mulla Jameel Ahmed S.
Published: December 2024

Phytosomes, a novel drug delivery system, have recently attracted substantial attention, because of their exceptional ability to increase the therapeutic efficacy and bioavailability of phytoconstituents. This review provides a thorough introduction to phytosomes, with emphasis on their formulation methods, assessment, and medicinal uses. Phytosomes are intricate structures that arise from the molecular complexation of phospholipids with phytoconstituents, and enhance phytoconstituent solubility and absorption. The factors influencing the formation of phytosomes, their characterization methods, and their formation mechanisms are discussed. Phytosomes show good safety profiles and minimal adverse effects, thus providing attractive options for medication delivery. Phytosomes have therapeutic uses in a wide range of medical concerns, such as liver conditions, cardiovascular health, inflammation, and dermatological conditions. Furthermore, potential synergistic effects of mixing phytosomes with pharmacological drugs or alternative drug delivery systems have been investigated. Overall, phytosomes offer enhanced bioavailability, effectiveness, and patient compliance, and provide a viable approach for maximizing the therapeutic potential of plant-based medications. Further study will be necessary to understand their modes of action and investigate new formulations for increased therapeutic outcomes.
Provenance marks and inscriptions on the books of the De Franceschi family library
Authors: Marin Anita
Published: December 2024

Purpose. The De Franceschi family owned a property and library in Gologorica, near Pazin. After the capitulation of Italy in 1943, they moved from Istria. Most of their books and archival material were transferred to the National and University Library, where they remained unprocessed and inaccessible to users for decades. The aim of this paper is to present the results of an analysis of data on previous ownership and dedications found in the Library of the De Franceschi family, recorded in the bibliographic descriptions during the cataloguing process, and to argue their importance in the context of preserving and valorising the cultural heritage of Istria.
Approach/Methodology/Design. The analysis of provenance marks and inscriptions of the Library was preceded by extensive bibliographic processing and cataloguing of the materials in the Aleph library system. Data on provenance marks (ex libris and autographs) and inscriptions were entered in the bibliographic notes field. The field is searchable, which allows easy and quick data collection. Using the catalogue's advanced search options, the Library's material is selected by entering the location tag, PDF (Gift to De Franceshi), and typing the words ex libris, autograph or dedication in the note field. The data obtained in this way, repeated for each word, had to be further refined because there are also copies that are not from the De Franceschi Library. The collected quantitative data were further analysed qualitatively.
Results. The Library contains 29 publications containing ex libris marks and 190 autographed publications. The De Franceschi family did not have their own ex libris but used an autograph to indicate provenance, usually in the form of C. De Franceschi. If we take into account the entire collection of the library, only slightly more than 9% of the books have this mark. Furthermore, there are 72 inscriptions in the library, often authored by the writers or editors of the donated works. Often there are several provenance marks on the book or a combination of provenance mark and inscriptions, which makes such an edition more interesting and valuable for bibliophiles.
Limitations. The book material has been processed on several occasions. Systematic data entry for provenance marks and inscriptions was only implemented in the most recent and extensive phase.
Practical implications. The value of recording data on ownership marks and dedications on books in the bibliographic description is presented and argued.
Originality/value. While provenance marks and inscriptions have traditionally been documented for rare or old books, the research highlights the importance of recording these data for other types of material as well, especially for those associated with legacies.
DWORKIN’İN HUKUKİ POZİTİVİZM ELEŞTİRİSİNDE TEORİK UYUŞMAZLIK VE SEMANTİK İĞNE ARGÜMANLARI
Authors: Çil Yusuf Umur
Published: December 2024

Bu çalışma Dworkin’in Hukukun Hükümranlığı eserindeki hukuki pozitivizm eleştirisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu eleştiri Dworkin’in önceki eleştirilerinden farklıdır. Dworkin, Hart’ın hukuki pozitivizminin temelinde yer alan tanıma kuralının konvansiyonelliğini hedef almaktadır. Buna göre yargıçlar arasında konvansiyon yoktur. Tersine, yargıçlar arasında bir hukuk önermesinin doğruluğunu belirleyecek kriter konusunda tartışmalar çıkmaktadır. Dworkin bunu teorik uyuşmazlık olarak adlandırmaktadır. Hukuki pozitivizm ise Dworkin’e göre semantik yaklaşımından dolayı bu uyuşmazlığı anlayamamaktadır. Bize göre Dworkin’in bu eleştirisi tanıma kuralının kapsamını aşan bir yoruma dayanmaktadır. Tanıma kuralının geçerlilik kriterleri yanında yorum kriteri de içerdiğini varsaymaktadır. Bu Dworkin’in kendi hukuk anlayışının ürünüdür. Hukuki pozitivizm için yorumlama sorunu geçerlilik sorunundan ayrılabilir bir sorundur. Bununla beraber, Dworkin’e verilen yanıtlar hukuki pozitivizmin kap-samının darlığının da bir göstergesidir.
Flavonol assisted extraction of divalent and trivalent metal ions
Authors:   Research Institute of Chemistry at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody Sq., Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine., Demidov O.O. , Krasnopyorova A.V. ,   Research Institute of Chemistry at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody Sq., Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine., Yukhno G.D. ,   Research Institute of Chemistry at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody Sq., Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine., Efimova N.V. ,   Research Institute of Chemistry at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody Sq., Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine., Roshal A.D. ,   Research Institute of Chemistry at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 4 Svobody Sq., Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine.
Published: December 2024

The work is devoted to investigations of extraction methods for the isolation and accumulation of divalent and trivalent metal ions Mn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Y3+ and Ce3+ in the absence and presence of flavonol derivatives with different numbers and locations of complexation sites. Two extraction methods were used and compared: the classical LL – water-organic phase (octanol) and the ATPS method – with two separated aqueous phases in the presence of polyethylene oxide 4000. It was shown that the presence of flavonols in the extraction system leads to a significant increase in the extraction efficiency with the exception of Ni2+ ions. It turned out that the most effective concentration of Zn2+ ions can be achieved using LL extraction, for other ions ATPS extraction is more effective. The use of flavonols to increase the efficiency of metal ion extraction allows increasing the sensitivity and selectivity of methods for quantitative analysis of the studied metal ions.
Tratamiento conservador de una lesión PASTA (partial articular supraspinatus tendon avulsion) en una paciente con alta demanda funcional. Presentación de un caso con un seguimiento de 6 años
Authors: Bonadiman João Artur , Mejía Sabando Italo José , Oliveira Moura Marcos David , Faiad Piluski Paulo César , Castillo Rodríguez Carlos Humberto , Lech Osvandré
Published: December 2024

Las lesiones PASTA son una de las lesiones parciales del manguito rotador más comunes. Se presenta a una paciente de 30 años con alta demanda funcional, que tenía dolor y disfunción según las escalas funcionales, a quien se le diagnosticó una lesión PASTA. Se optó por un tratamiento conservador, que incluyó medicación y fisioterapia adaptada a la evolución, con controles clínicos y por imágenes durante 6 años. La evolución del tratamiento conservador, monitoreado por resonancia magnética seriada, mostró que la lesión no progresó y la función mejoró significativamente. Este caso resalta la necesidad de realizar más investigaciones que comparen las intervenciones conservadoras y las quirúrgicas.
Presentación del caso
Authors: Ramírez Suárez Reynier , Tan Suárez Norys , Pagés Morales Nidhessy
Published: December 2024

Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 54 años de edad que acudió a la consulta por dolor en la articulación temporomandibular izquierda. Luego del examen clínico, se solicitaron estudios por imágenes y, en las radiografías, se observaron calcificaciones nodulares en la región interna de la rama mandibular izquierda. Se decidió indicar otros estudios por imágenes.
Fraters' Learning Approach for Understanding English Philosophical Texts Through the MOOC
Authors: Seva Kristining
Published: December 2024

This study examines the impact of the Frater learning approach through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in enhancing the reading comprehension skills of philosophy students tackling English-language philosophical texts. By integrating pre-tests, post-tests, and qualitative feedback, the research highlights how MOOCs address challenges in understanding dense and complex philosophical material. The findings reveal a significant 11% improvement in reading comprehension after MOOC participation, emphasizing its effectiveness in breaking down intricate concepts into manageable components. Key elements contributing to this success include segmented video content, which facilitates focused learning, and interactive assessments that reinforce comprehension in real time. This research underscores the potential of the MOOC-based Frater approach as an innovative solution for bridging language and content barriers in the study of philosophy.
Trends in biotechnology: Vibrio natriegens as potential micro-factory for valorization of crustacean waste
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Hung , Tran Thi Van Anh , Dam Thuy-Hang , Pham Tuan-Anh , Le Thanh Ha , Le Tuan
Published: December 2024

Vibrio natriegens has recently been identified as a promising host for the biotechnology industry thanks to its inherent qualities, which include its fast growth rate, non-pathogenicity to humans, and versatility in using substrates. These advantages have led to the potential use of V. natriegens in the biosynthesis of several products. Basically, the industrial scale requires fermentation or cultivation processes to be conducted at high substrate or biomass concentrations to maximize the final retrieved product. However, studies on V. natriegens at high cell density are limited. Besides, the potential of V. natriegens to convert recalcitrant substrates such as chitin derivatives into biological products has not yet been understood. This review summarizes up-to-date information on the physiological characteristics, metabolism, genome, and genetic modification tools of V. natriegens. Subsequentially, statistics and analysis of research trends related to V. natriegens was presented. Finally, a discussion on the role of V. natriegens in converting chitin waste from the seafood processing industry into a culturing feedstock to achieve a circular economy and net zero emissions was provided.
On the Issue of the Radon Activity of Tectonic Faults on the Qatar Peninsula
Authors: Ulyanov V. Y. , Bilyk V. V.
Published: December 2024

Purpose. The paper aims at providing the modern evaluation of radon activity in identified tectonic faults of the earth's crust based on archival data of radon measurements in groundwater which previously have been performed in the northern and eastern parts of the Qatar Peninsula. Methodology. The paper presents an additional extended justification for the application of an innovative technique for these conditions to identify the activity rate of tectonic faults in the rock foundation under the geological conditions of the Qatar Peninsula based on third-party measurements of radon in groundwater and using own universal Evaluation scale. Findings. A modern analysis of previously obtained results of radon measurements in groundwater of the Qatar Peninsula allowed us to suggest the orientation of tectonic fault directions in its northern and eastern parts and to additionally reveal the rate of their radon activity within the peninsula with a preliminary magnitude evaluation of displacement along the faults. A similar assumption was also proposed in the western part of the UAE adjacent to the peninsula, where the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) is located. This assumption is based on a certain similarity in the geological and tectonic conditions of the region. Originality. For the first time, the authors proposed the location of tectonic faults within the northern and eastern parts of the Qatar Peninsula according to radonometry performed for other purposes. We estimated their radon activity and the magnitude of movement along the faults. This implies increased safety during the construction and operation of various facilities, including a high degree of responsibility, particularly pipeline systems and transport communications that are important for the country's economy. Practical value. This technique can also be used in seismic monitoring for construction sites and in adjacent territories of other countries where similar explorations have not been conducted before.
Selection of Components and Methods of Modification of Soil Cement to Improve the Performance Properties of Subgrade
Authors: Hromova O. V.
Published: December 2024

Purpose. The main objective of the scientific article is a reasonable selection of soil-cement reinforcing structural elements and methods of modifying the soil-cement structure to strengthen the subgrade for railroad tracks. Methodology. For the construction of soil-cement reinforcing elements for a combined railway track using drilling and mixing technology, a number of tasks were solved, including: a reasonable selection of the components and modifiers of the soil-cement element; determination of the properties of the components; establishment of operational requirements for soil-cement and its composition; design of optimal compositions with specified performance characteristics, taking into account the properties of soils and operating modes. Findings. The influence of soil-cement components on the rheological properties of soil-cement mixtures and the physical and mechanical properties of soil-cement was studied. Based on the data processing by statistical analysis, the optimal content of the constituent components of soil-cement mixtures was selected to ensure the technological and operational performance of soil-cement for different types of soils and to strengthen the soil base during track construction. The influence of mineral granular, fibrous and chemical modifiers on the properties of soil cement was investigated. Originality. The possibility of using vertical reinforcing elements made of soil cement with the necessary technological and operational parameters obtained by drilling and mixing technology to strengthen the subgrade, taking into account the stress-strain state and morphology of the soil bases, has been determined. Based on the study, the author made an attempt to select the components and develop optimal soil cement compositions for strengthening the subgrade of a railroad for a combined track. The directions of modification of soil cement with mineral, fiber and chemical additives are also considered. Practical value. The study makes it possible to obtain soil-cement elements of optimal composition and properties for different types of soils and stress-strain states in order to vertically strengthen the soil bases for the railway track. To modify the structure of soil cement and minimize cement consumption, it is proposed to use fiber fibers as modifying reinforcement components. To increase the density, crack resistance, strength, and modulus of deformability and improve the plasticity of the mixture, it is recommended to use chemical modifiers up to 0.3 % and to save cement – particles of fine industrial waste in the form of ground slag or stone grinding screenings in the amount of 20...30 %.
Fate of the Stereotypical Images of the Nomads in Ammianus Marcellinus’ Res Gestae
Authors:   Ural Federal University, Kozlov Aleksandr S.
Published: December 2024

This article proceeds from the fact that the main task of Ammianus Marcellinus’ account on the nomads in book XXXI of the Res Gestae was as not an adequate representation of them as a force completely alien to ancient civilization, but an image of one of the root causes of the chain of events that led to the catastrophe of the Roman Empire near Adrianople in 378. The author of the article believes that, in order to solve such a literary and propaganda task, the historian not only dehumanized the Huns, presenting them as a monstrous alternative to the Classical civilization, but also used a rich set of stereotypes describing the barbaric world that began to shape in the age of Homer and Herodotus and consolidated in the age of Tacitus and Virgil. Moreover, the author of the Res Gestae does not even attempt to rank such passages and characteristics according to the principle of the level of reliability, by genre origin, and so on. Additionally, Ammianus rejected the ideas typical of these stereotypes of idealizing the primitive barbarian life, devoid of the desire for excesses. All the qualities of the pastoral and temperate life of primitive ethnic groups are presented in the Res Gestae negatively to hyperbolize the alienness of these peoples. Based on similar principles, the idea of the possibility of using stereotypes as a crooked mirror added unpredictability to the perception of the barbaric world. In part, this unpredictability (even greater strangeness) was determined by the lack of agriculture, laws, civilized housing, royal power, and so on, which made these nomads akin to the Cyclopes depicted by Homer. All these qualities combined excluded the possibility of agreements with barbarians of this type. Against the background of the disaster at Adrianople, the statement of such a fact made the future of the empire even more uncertain.
Costume of the Population of the Cimmerian Bosporos in the Hunnic Period
Authors:   Collège de France, Kazanski Michel , Mastykovа Anna V. ,   Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this work is to determine the main features and characteristics of the costume of the sedentary population of the Cimmerian Bosporos in the Hunnic Period (last third of the fourth to mid-fifth century). The elements of men’s costume comprise mostly of metal parts of belt sets and shoes. Women’s costume from the period features several traditions: Pontic, Germanic, and Ponto-Germanic. The Pontic tradition is typical of the presence of elements of women’s attire (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, metal appliques) with the absence of brooches, usual for the Germans. The costume of the Germanic tradition shows two paired brooches placed on the shoulders or in the pectoral area. The Ponto-Germanic costume includes both Germanic brooches and the elements of the Pontic costume. The main artifacts determining the specificity of the costume of the Cimmerian Bosporos from the Hunnic Period are some types of belt and shoe sets, brooches featuring the local tradition, metal appliques, metal wide-opening beads, necklaces with cone-shaped and lunular pendants, crescent-shaped or three-partite earrings, metal mirrors with a central loop, and bracelets with zoomorphic endings. The Bosporan costume from the Hunnic Period also contains other elements, which distribution area covers vast territories, so they cannot be considered typically Bosporan. Among these there are fly brooches, earrings with a multifaceted pendant on one ending, bracelets with widened ends, buckles with elongated tongues, and so on. Simultaneously, the artefacts typical of the Pontic / Bosporan costume also widely distributed in Europe during the Hunnic Period. All these factors supplied the Bosporan costume from the Great Migration Period with fully international character, typical of the sedentary population both on the territory of the Roman Empire and in the adjacent regions of the Barbaricum.
Rare Capitals from the Southern Coast of the Crimea
Authors:   Institute of Archaeology of the Crimea of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kirilko Vladimir P.
Published: December 2024

So far there are known two rare capitals found on the Southern Coast of the Crimea. E. A. Parshina discovered scattered fragments of one capital in 1978–1980 when excavating the so-called Big House in Laspi. This capital of light grey calcareous marl is of the two-zone type and is easily reconstructible. It ended with a square slab with edges showing truncated corners and arc-shaped in plan front sides, each decorated with carved stylized leaves and having a rectangular protrusion in the middle, in the form of eight-petalled flower. The ends of the abacus were supported by identical figures of eagles from below. The birds are depicted in high relief with extreme anatomical accuracy. It is worth mentioning the sculptures’ deep emotional content and exceptional artistic expressiveness, as well as the careful elaboration of their details. The lower tier of the capital was decorated with four large leaves of fine-toothed acanthus, showing greatly bent outward, solid upper edge, and arched framing. Below, there was a border of astragal decorated with carved floral ornament. A large fragment of the second capital was discovered by the painter D. M. Strukov in 1871 during the excavations of SS Apostles Peter and Paul’s Basilica in Partenit. This find do not survive. According to Strukov’s drawing, the architectural detail ended with an abacus, supported by sculptured images of cherubs at the corners. In between the latter there were relief figures of animals holding books, the Lion and the Ox, one on each side. It seems quite possible that the lost parts of the capital were decorated with symbols of other Evangelists, the Eagle and the Angel. The two capitals in question probably date from the tenth century. Today no parallels to these capitals are known in the Crimea or outside its borders.
Theodore Metochites’ Political Views: An Echo of the Tritheism or a Harbinger of the Baroque?
Authors:   Ural Federal University, Makarov Dmitrii I. ,   Sociological Institute, Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: December 2024

In Chapters 93 to 98 of the Sententious Notes (1320s), Theodore Metochites put forward an idea that the basic social and political agents in the society, i. e. emperor, aristocracy, and the people, belonged to different natures. Such a consideration, which was also uttered in passing by Shakespeare in Hamlet (1599–1601), meant theologically a transposition into the political philosophy of some tenets of the heresy of Tritheism, which was known to have emerged in the sixth century AD and to have become the target of polemics lead by Leontios of Byzantium, some Fathers of the Church, and anonymous polemists. In the late-thirteenth century, some allegations of this heresy came to be rejuvenated by John XI Bekkos in his messy theological system. Evidently, Metochites reinvigorates those Latinophile statements that already in the last third of the thirteenth century had been close to his father George Metochites, who had been condemned at the Council of Blachernai in 1285 together with John Bekkos and Constantine Meliteniotes. Metochites was certain to recognize aristocracy as the entelechy of the people and its political role, in compliance with a tenet of Theodore II Laskaris’ (1254–1258) Neoplatonism, to wit, that entelechy and difference are the two principles which govern all the beings. This article also considers some partly similar ideas about the role of the people and of the aristocracy in the social structure from the Foreigner (Forestiero) by Giulio Capaccio (1560–1634), a baroque thinker from Napoli. Capaccio was closer, than Metochites, to the concept of the people’s representation in the authorities, working on a regular basis. But Capaccio was also too close to the aforementioned notions of the Mediaeval Neoplatonism. Therefore, we believe, unlike Eva de Vries – van der Velden, that Metochites’ political views should be compared not with those of Montesquieu, but with those notions and concepts which were characteristic for the representatives of the Renaissance and Early Baroque world from the fourteenth to seventeenth century. Simultaneously, the idea of maintaining social harmony, which was conceived as similar to the musical one, was proffered as early as in the first century BC in the Confucian treatise Records of Music. Consequently, this concept goes beyond the Indo-European civilizational community.
Participation of Byzantium and Venice in the Organization of the Crusade of Varna in 1443–1444
Authors:   Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Zhigalova Natal’ia E. ,   Ural Federal University
Published: December 2024

This article analyzes Byzantium and Venice’s participation in the organization of the anti-Ottoman Crusade of 1443–1444, which was prepared by Pope Eugenius IV to assist Byzantium and prevent further Ottoman expansion on the Balkans. Based on the Byzantine and Italian, Polish and Ottoman sources, this article examines the involvement of Byzantium and Venice in the affairs of the crusaders and the reasons and consequences of the Byzantines and Venetians’ actual non-participation in the Crusade. The research undertaken has uncovered that the Venetian Republic, despite her active participation in the negotiations, did not provide any noticeable assistance to Pope Eugenius IV for the organization of the Crusade. Venice delayed with the promised ships alleging non-payment, so the crusaders did not have secure rare at the Straits. In their turn, the Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaiologos (1425–1448) and the Despotes of the Morea Constantine Palaiologos conducted active negotiations with the leaders of the Crusade, especially in the summer 1444, thus demonstrating the Byzantines’ high degree of involvement and extreme interest in the resumption of military operations by the crusaders against the Ottomans after the conclusion of the Peace of Szeged in 1444. The research has also uncovered the connection between the Crusaders’ actions on the Balkans and Despotes Constantine military expansion in Greece in 1443–1444, which stopped when the crusaders’ army was defeated at Varna in 1444.
Searching for Christian Antiquities: Rethinking the Mediaeval Monuments of the Crimea in the Modern Period
Authors:   V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Khrapunov Nikita I.
Published: December 2024

This article examines the interpretations of some architectural and archaeological heritage sites in the Crimea that appeared from the seventeenth to nineteenth century. It was the period when the travellers who described the Crimean Peninsula concluded that the most outstanding Friday mosques initially were the churches that experienced Muslim reconstruction. The travellers with their speculative ideas about architecture thought that the Muslims were unable to create these magnificent buildings. The speculations of the kind got an additional impetus when the Crimea was unified with Russia. The lack of knowledge on the early Christian history of the region and the history of architecture in general had an effect. Following the unification of the Crimea with Russia, some authors independently produced the idea that mediaeval “cave” towns and monasteries formed a link in the cultural and religious connections between Byzantium and Russia. This conclusion was based on the visual “similarity” between the artificial caves in the Crimea and the Sviatogorskii and Kiev-Pecherskii monasteries. The cases under analysis uncover the attempts of finding the “most ancient past” of Crimean Christianity, which, however, had no relation to historical realities. Nevertheless, the conclusions under analysis are typical of the thinking of the intellectual elite of the Modern Period.
Fabricating a spiral of Islamophobia through Kashmir issue. A Critical Discourse Analysis on two Bollywood films
Authors: Mustafiz Muhammd
Published: December 2024

Since the 1930s, India, one of the worldly recognized democratic countries, has been successfully developing its film industry. Nowadays, Indian films, namely Bollywood films, are being watched throughout the world. But this industry has been noticed an aberration from its history of highly acclaimed film creation. Many films are banned in many Muslim countries, and many are taking part in widely controversial talks from internationally recognized film experts. As a national film industry, Bollywood is trying to show the problems existing in the disputed land of Kashmir. Apparently, the films are exploring what is happening in Kashmir and what has already happened there against the Hindu community, but the narrative and visuals of the film are explicitly Islamophobic. Here, the researcher has selected two Kashmir-related films purposively. This study will try to explore both the text and signs of the selected films in the light of critical discourse analysis. How used contents (signs and text) narrative, i.e., storyline are fabricating Islamophobic discourses will be examined critically to prove relationship among text, social condition, ideologies, and power.
Impactos psicossociais da ausência de aleitamento materno adequado em crianças ou adolescentes: uma revisão integrativa
Authors: Teodoro da Silva Maria Gabriela , Caroline Coimbra Coutinho Júlia , De Paula Rodrigues Lucas , De Morais Filho Rômulo , Ranielly de Godoi Sousa Thalyta , Schmitt Mendes Moreira Elisângela
Published: December 2024

O aleitamento materno é amplamente reconhecido como essencial para o desenvolvimento físico, cognitivo e psicossocial de crianças e adolescentes. No entanto, muitos indivíduos não têm acesso ao aleitamento materno adequado, resultando em consequências significativas nesses domínios. Esta revisão integrativa tem como objetivo identificar e analisar os impactos psicossociais em crianças ou adolescentes que não receberam amamentação adequada. A análise incluiu 20 artigos das bases de dados Scopus, Web of Science e BVS (Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde) que abordam os efeitos da ausência de aleitamento materno em áreas como cognição, comportamento e saúde emocional e que foram selecionados com base na estratégia PICo, no qual: P refere-se aos participantes (crianças ou adolescentes), I ao fenômeno de interesse (impactos psicossociais), e Co ao contexto (ausência de aleitamento materno adequado). Os resultados evidenciam que a amamentação inadequada está potencialmente associada a maiores riscos de problemas cognitivos, comportamentais e emocionais, contudo não se pode afirmar que ela impacta significativamente no psicológico e/ou no convívio social de crianças ou adolescentes.
Predicting the impact of climate change on building energy consumption by using data-driven approaches
Authors: Khalil Mohamad , Akhlaghi Yousef G. , Ben Hui , Royapoor Mohammad , Walker Sara
Published: December 2024

Buildings are complex thermodynamic entities that account for a large proportion of energy consumption. This work explores the application of data-driven models in order to forecast the building energy consumption over long time horizons. Long Short-Term Memory and Random Forest are used to forecast hourly heating and cooling energy consumption in the Urban Sciences Building, which is located in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. A synthetic time-series dataset is constructed using (a) a validated EnergyPlus model and (b) operational data hosted by Newcastle Urban Observatory. The energy consumption forecast is made using future climate data that represent a high emission future scenario during a typical year, that is 2030, and 2080. The experimental results suggest that, on average over the next six decades, there will be a 45% reduction in annual heating load, accompanied by a 680% increase in annual cooling load. These early findings indicate a notable shift in building thermal performance, a rise in overall building energy demand under the more drastic future weather scenarios, and a sharper emphasis on designing building envelopes and energy systems to include decarbonised cooling solutions.
Functionalization of titanium using KR-12 peptide: antibacterial and osteogenic properties
Authors: Demirci Emine Afra , Önder Sakip , Acar Tayfun , Büyük Nisa Irem , Sunar Selin Zeynep , Köse Gamze Torun
Published: December 2024

Titanium implants are widely used in orthopedic and dental applications owing to their biocompatibility and mechanical stability. Nonetheless, they encounter significant challenges pertaining to infection and poor osteointegration. We investigated the feasibility of two different coating strategies for titanium with the antimicrobial peptide KR-12: direct binding by way of carbodiimide chemistry and indirect attachment through a polydopamine (PDA) layer, comparing these approaches in a comprehensive study. This study assessed the immobilization efficiency, antibacterial efficacy, and osteogenic capability of both coating techniques. The findings indicated that PDA-mediated immobilization achieved greater KR-12 binding efficiency (36.80%) compared with direct covalent binding (24.08%) and enhanced antibacterial effectiveness against Staphylococcus aureus, with colony counts decreasing by 98% for the Ti-PDA-KR12 group and by 95% for the Ti-KR12 group compared with the control group. In vitro investigations utilizing rat bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells demonstrated that PDA-KR12-coated surfaces markedly enhanced cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation, as indicated by elevated alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin synthesis, and upregulation of osteogenesis-associated gene markers. Our findings indicate that PDA-mediated peptide immobilization is a superior approach for augmenting both the antibacterial characteristics and osteogenic potential of titanium implants, presenting a possible method to enhance implant performance.
IN SEARCH OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE: “DISCUSSIONS ON MIRACLES” IN THE INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE OF BRITAIN AT THE TURN OF THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES
Authors:   Ural Federal University, Vysokova V. V.
Published: December 2024

The article focuses on the analysis of the growing dramatic gap between the spiritual and the material in the consciousness of a man in Early Modern Europe, using the example of the practices and mechanisms that led to the formation of rationalistic knowledge in the English intellectual discourse during the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century. The focus is on the discussion between natural philosophers and theologians regarding the Reasonableness of Christianity in the search for true knowledge. The discourse on miracles in this intellectual field became a kind of “litmus test” for checking the truth of the Holy Scripture. The author states that Hobbes, following Descartes and Spinoza, was the first to raise this topic in English intellectual discourse, and Locke provided a detailed argumentation about the “Reasonableness of Christianity”. The author finds that the peak of the discussion on miracles occurred in the second half of the 1690s, and was associated with the response of Anglican theologians such as Edwards and Stillingfleet to natural philosophers. The main argument of the anti-Locke position was based on the idea of miracles as a form of divine revelation. Scientific discoveries were seen in this light as an act of divine providence. The main miscalculation of the new natural philosophy, according to Anglican theologians, was the ignoring of a substance such as the soul, which they placed above reason. As a third and balanced point of view, the article cites the position of the natural philosopher Boyle, based on his work “The Excellence of Theology, compared with Natural Philosophy”. Despite the fact that Locke felt defeated in this intellectual struggle, Hume ensured the victory of the rationalistic point of view on miracles in the 18th century, by completely dismissing them as “fables” and “tales” of ignorant people.
“THE THINKER OF THE WORLD SCALE”: VASILY MAKLAKOV ABOUT LEO TOLSTOY
Authors:   Orel Branch of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Vostrikova V. V.
Published: December 2024

This article analyzes the public speeches and conferences dedicated to Leo Tolstoy given by Vasily Maklakov, an exceptional lawyer and liberal figure from the early 20th century. The long-standing friendship between Maklakov and Tolstoy, and the depth of understanding of the spiritual heritage of the great writer by one of the outstanding intellectuals of the Russian “Silver Age” determine the scientific significance of these sources. The paper demonstrates that the main objective of Maklakov’s presentations on Tolstoy was to identify the nature of his ideas and help his contemporaries and descendants to recognize him as a thinker of global significance. According to the politician, the writer’s original philosophy was a controversial combination of positive outlook and religious attitudes. He stated that the question of life’s meaning was a fundamental issue of the Tolstoyan movement. Tolstoy sought to find such a meaning in human life that would not be destroyed by the death of the latter and found the answer in the life of man not for himself, but for others in accordance with Christ's commandment on love of neighbour. Maklakov noted that Tolstoy was against any personal violence, which explains his anti-state views. Although the liberal did not support most of Tolstoy’s concepts, he determined the great significance of the moral message, reminding people of the independent power of goodness in writer’s thoughts.
“CIVIL WAR IS THE KEY WORD OF OUR DAYS”: THE TERM “CIVIL WAR” IN THE RHETORIC OF GRIGORY ZINOVIEV
Authors:   Historical and Cultural Museum Complex in Razliv, Samokhodkin V. N.
Published: December 2024

The article examines the usage of the concept of “civil war” by Grigory Zinoviev, one of the key figures in the Bolshevik Party during the 1914–1918 period. The article uses the approach proposed by scholars of the Cambridge History of Ideas and draws on a variety of sources, including Zinoviev's writings, stenographic records of his speeches at various meetings, and newspaper reports on these events. Bolshevik discursive practices differed from most such practices of other political forces at the time. Before World War I broke out, Zinoviev used the concept of “civil war” as a mere statement. However, from the end of 1914 he, following Lenin, produced a series of party slogans. The most famous of these was “the transformation of the imperialist war into a civil war”, which the Bolsheviks working in Russia adopted ambiguously. Recognizing its unpopularity, Lenin and Zinoviev removed it from the agenda by 1917. Upon his arrival in Russia, Zinoviev stopped using the term “civil war” in public speeches as well as in intra-party discussions, preferring related terms such as “revolutionary war” and “socialist revolution”. However, this changed by July 1917, when Zinoviev was engaged in polemics with spokesmen of other parties, denying their accusations of “fomenting civil war” against the Bolsheviks and delegating these accusations to his opponents. Zinoviev's use of this term in this context peaked in November 1917 – March 1918, during the discussions surrounding the Brest Peace. As a categorical supporter of the peace, Zinoviev used the term “revolutionary war”, which was popular among “left communists” and left SRs. He first peripheralized the Russian civil war, attributing it as a regional conflict in Finland and Ukraine, before internationalizing it. The term “civil war” was actively used by Zinoviev during a time when it was necessary to decisively separate from the Social Democrats who took a patriotic stance and put forward the slogan of “civil peace”. Later, after he returned to Russia from exile, Zinoviev avoided using the term “civil war” in explaining Bolshevik strategies and tactics. As chairman of the Petrograd Soviet, he legitimized mobilizations for the Red Army, constantly emphasizing the participation of foreign forces in the civil war against Soviet government. Using images and concepts from the language of the Russian Revolution, he referred Clemenceau as “the French Kornilov”.
BORIS OSIPOVICH BOGDANOV: THE “ARCHITECT” OF THE SOVIET POWER MODEL
Authors:   Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy, Papilin G. A.
Published: December 2024

This article explores the formation of the Soviet power model. It highlights that this problem was poorly studied in Soviet historical science due to various factors, and the theme remains undeveloped in contemporary historiography. The author examines the historical context surrounding the development of Soviet organizational structures from 1915, beginning with the establishment of a Working group within the Central War Industry Committee. This organization went beyond its nominal goal and orchestrated technical preparations for the anti-monarchist coup. The paper emphasizes the activities of one of the most active members of the Working group – Menshevik Boris Bogdanov. As head of the Secretariat of the Working Group of the Central War Industry Committee, Bogdanov directed organizational efforts and served as the second-in-command after the chairman. During the February Revolution of 1917, prominent members of the Working group became the actual founders of the Petrograd Soviet, with Bogdanov becoming “one of its pillars” throughout the pre-October period. Bogdanov made the most significant contribution to the formation of the future Soviet power model as the chairman of the Foreign Department of the Petrograd Soviet, where he ensured interactions with other local councils and led the organization of the All-Russian Council of Soviets and the All-Russian Congress of Soviets. The main historical outcome of his activities was the development of the organizational foundations for the Soviets’ activities, which was practically unchanged by the Bolsheviks after seizing power and laid the foundation for a new constitutional system that endured until the 1990s.