20th Century Research Articles

The many sides to performativity

Performance will dominate the 20th and the 21st century just as discipline did in the 18th and 19th centuries. Performance can be seen as a global formation of power and knowledge, challenging us to perform . . . or else. The technology of performativity exposes the jargon and practices of efficiency, effectiveness, quality assurance, control, inspection, and accountability in contemporary education. Any undertaking must be justified by an increase in productivity, measured by a gain in time. The technology of performativity, based on systems of rewards and sanctions, makes us both perpetrators and victims. It erodes the professional soul of teachers and academics, with metric adequacy becoming the primary focus. Performativity leads to fabrications in which individuals present themselves in specific registers of meaning, valuing only certain possibilities of being and becoming. In this article, I argue that while the technology of performativity is dominant in universities and broader society, performativity does not have a single meaning. It is a polysemous term with many meanings. I discuss various meanings of performativity, including Edward Said's notion of performance as an extreme occasion, slow scholarship, Judith Butler's concept of gender performativity, the performativity of knowledge, the performativity of method, and posthuman performativity. These different meanings create alternative opportunities for being and becoming, suggesting that the dominance of the technology of performativity does not preclude other possibilities. I explore how these interpretations could counter the technology of performativity in the neoliberal university during a time of polycrisis.

Developmental studies of the sublingual and mandibular salivary glands in Japanese quails (Coturinx coturinx japonica).

The Japanese quail (Coturinx coturnix japonica) has a crucial role in the lives of humanity since the 12th century and continues to play main roles in our industry and scientific research. The advantages that the Japanese quail has, such as heavy egg production and high-quality meat with low cholesterol and fat contents, Moreover, the Japanese quail is easily managed, with high feeding conversion, low cost of investment, and high rate of returns. Salivary glands are a part of the lingual apparatus that secretes serios and mucous saliva. Whereas, the saliva secretions have different roles in the food variation, apprehension, and moisture of food bolus. The morphological and cytochemical analysis are done on 20 healthy Japanese quail embryos of 6th, 10th, 11th, and 13th days of incubation and 25 healthy quail chicks at hatching day old, 7th, 14th, 30th, and 60th days old. These samples are investigated histologically, histochemically, and scanned by electron microscopy serially. Our purpose of the study is to highlight the area of the oropharyngeal salivary glands and their role in food variation, as few studies spoke about that in Japanese quail. The primordia of the sublingual and mandibular salivary glands were noticed at the 6th and 10th days of the prehatching respectively as an epithelial bud. After hatching, both primordia were elongated and differentiated into secretory units. These glands were mucous polystomatic tubulo-alveolar paired glands, which were situated in the submucosa of the oropharyngeal floor (sublingual floor and paralingual grooves). The sublingual glands consisted of 3-5 lobes extended from the two Os ceratobranchial by their wide ends caudally, to beyond the median sulcus of the prefrenular part of the sublingual space rostrally. The taste buds were variable in size and position. The mandibular glands lay on the paralingual groove, which arose at the 10-day old embryo. The mandibular glands were located dorsomedial to the sublingual glands and extended longitudinally from the rostral border of the frenulum linguae to the caudal tips of the sublingual glands. The taste buds decreased in volume and number with advancing age. Overall, salivary glands increase in their alcianophilic activity of the secretions with advancing age, which indicates low PH within the secretory end pieces.

BLESSED MARCELINA DAROWSKA – A NOTABLE EXAMPLE OF POLISH MYSTICISM OF THE 19TH CENTURY

Blessed Marcelina Darowska (1827–1911), founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, stands out from the numerous Polish mystics of the 19th century primarily because of her rich experience of mystical life and the original theory of mysticism (mystology) contained in her writings. She left a two-volume ascetic-mystical treatise, spiritual notes (“Diary”), many letters to spiritual directors and some sisters, as well as texts of retreats that she preached to students and various people. She created her own mystical language.As an outstanding representative of 19th-century Polish mysticism, she stands out from other trends in mystical life, including: healthy patriotism, Marian piety with particular emphasis on the title of Mary Queen of Poland, apostolate in the education of girls and women, and the development of various forms of folk piety that strengthen National identity.It had a wide impact on Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian society, mainly through educational institutions for girls. She also maintained active contacts, including: with Saint archbishop Józef Bilczewski, Saint archbishop Szczęsny Feliński and other outstanding personalities of the spiritual and social life of those times.

V. S. Kozlov and his Tsifrar-diagrammometer

In the late 19th century a military statistician and a pioneers of the Russian cooperative movement, Viktor Semyonovich Kozlov (1842–1920), designed and built a unique mechanical analog computing device he named “tsifrar-diagrammometer”. It was intended for operational visual presentation of numerical results of observations, calculations, experiments, etc. (tsifrar) and for calculating their statistical characteristics (diagrammometer). At the 1889 Paris Exposition this device that represented Russia was awarded the bronze medal. Drawing on the archival records and the materials from the Russian and European periodicals, the history of the inventor’s work on this device is reconstructed for the first time and some facts from his biography are described. The authors also attempt to describe the design of the device and analyze the mechanism of its functioning. Since no sources contain a detailed description of the design with the diagrams, charts, etc. or the mechanism of its functioning while available information is often contradictory, the authors present their own version of the device’s description and operation. The tsifrar-diagrammometer aroused much interest among the most prominent Russian and French scientists of the time, including P. L. Chebyshev, D. I. Mendeleev, E. Lucas, and many others. They viewed Kozlov’s device as a forerunner of a future universal instrument for numerical data analysis and for discovering new laws of nature. The appraisals of the device by the contemporaries are also given and analyzed in the article.

Archaeocytes in sponges: simple cells of complicated fate.

Archaeocytes are considered a key cell type in sponges (Porifera). They are believed to be multifunctional cells performing various functions, from nutrient digestion to acting as adult stem cells (ASCs). Thus, archaeocytes are mentioned in discussions on various aspects of sponge biology. As presumed ASCs of an early-diverged animal taxon, archaeocytes are of great fundamental interest for further progress in understanding tissue functioning in metazoans. However, the term 'archaeocyte' is rather ambiguous in its usage and understanding, and debates surrounding archaeocytes have persisted for over a century, reflecting the ongoing complexity of understanding their nature. This article presents a comprehensive revision of the archaeocyte concept, including both its historical development and biological features (i.e. taxonomic distribution, characteristics, and functions). The term 'archaeocyte' and its central aspects were introduced as early as the end of the 19th century based on data mainly from demosponges. Remarkably, despite the general lack of comparative and non-histological data, these early studies already regarded archaeocytes as the ASCs of sponges. These early views were readily inherited by subsequent studies, often without proper verification, shaping views on many aspects of sponge biology for more than a century. Taking into account all available data, we propose considering the archaeocytes as a cell type specific to the class Demospongiae. Clear homologues of archaeocytes are absent in other sponge classes. In demosponges, the term 'archaeocytes' refers to mesohyl cells that have an amoeboid shape, nucleolated nuclei, and non-specific inclusions in the cytoplasm. The absence of specific traits makes the archaeocytes a loosely defined and probably heterogeneous cell population, rendering the exhaustive characterisation of the 'true' archaeocyte population impossible. At the same time, the molecular characterisation of archaeocytes is only beginning to develop. Stemness and almost unlimited potency have always been at the core of the traditional archaeocyte concept. However, currently, the most consistent data on archaeocyte stem cell function come only from developing gemmules of freshwater sponges. For tissues of adult demosponges, the data favour a two-component stem cell system, in which archaeocytes may cooperate with another stem cell population, choanocytes. Simultaneously, cells with archaeocyte morphology function as macrophages in demosponges, participating in the food digestion cycle and immune defence. Such cells should be denoted with the more neutral term 'nucleolar amoebocytes', as the term 'archaeocyte' not only describes the morphology of a cell but also introduces the proposition of its stem nature. Thus, the future usage of the term 'archaeocyte' should be limited to cases where a cell is shown or at least presumed to be a stem cell.

Genotypic and phylogeographic insights into a pre-epidemic variant of Wesselsbron virus detected in sylvatic Aedes mcintoshi from Semuliki Forest, Uganda.

Wesselsbron virus (WSLV) is a neglected mosquito-borne virus within the yellow fever subgroup in the genus Orthoflavivirus of the Flaviviridae family. Despite being primarily a veterinary pathogen able to cause stillbirths, congenital malformations, and mortality in ruminants, WSLV also infects humans, causing a usually self-limiting febrile illness, or may lead to neurological complications in rare cases. WSLV causes sporadic outbreaks in Southern Africa, but findings in mosquitoes from other African countries suggest a wider distribution. Here, we report the detection and isolation of WSLV from an Aedes mcintoshi mosquito collected in a pristine ecosystem within Semuliki National Park, western Uganda. The detected strain M5937-UG-2018 was impaired in infectivity, replication, and production of infectious particles in cell lines derived from different hosts compared to an epidemic reference strain, SA H177. Full-genome sequencing by next-generation sequencing from the mosquito homogenate revealed a maximum nucleotide identity of 98.1% to a WSLV isolate from a human sample collected in South Africa in 1996. M5937-UG-2018 grouped in phylogenetic analyses with strains from South Africa and Senegal. Reconstruction of the temporal and spatial dispersal of WSLV across Africa estimated a likely origin of WSLV in South Africa in the early 19th century and spread in Southern Africa in the following decades. Long-distance movement toward Western and Eastern Africa was modeled to have occurred in the early 21st century. However, displacing the origin of M5937-UG-2018 did not decrease the likelihood of the model supporting the hypothesis that WSLV is widely distributed in Africa.IMPORTANCEWSLV is a neglected mosquito-borne virus causing teratogenicity in ruminants and febrile illness in humans. WSLV is mainly endemic to Southern Africa, but findings in other regions suggest a wider distribution on the continent. Knowledge of the distribution of WSLV is impaired as differential diagnostics are rarely performed in livestock and humans presenting with symptoms compatible with WSLV infection. Our work investigating viral infections in mosquitoes from a remote tropical rainforest region demonstrates that WSLV is endemic in Uganda. The isolated virus was less infective and showed lower replication ability in vitro compared to an epidemic isolate from South Africa. Phylogeographic reconstruction of spatial and temporal movements, along with the displacement of the origin of the newly detected strain, suggests that WSLV may be widely distributed across Africa. Our data show that the geographic distribution of WSLV and its impact on human and animal health are likely underestimated.

Studies in Neotropical Araliaceae. X. Four new species of Sciodaphyllum P.Browne from Ecuador, each named in honor of a Danish botanist

Four new species of Sciodaphyllum (Araliaceae) from Ecuador are described, S. balslevii, S. borchsenii, S. oellgaardii and S. pedersenii, each named in honor of a Danish botanist who collected extensively in the country in the late 20th century while contributing to the multi‐decade collaborative botanical research program run by Aarhus University, the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, and the Universidad Nacional de Loja. These new taxa increase to 27 the total number of described species in Ecuador belonging to Sciodaphyllum (whose members were formerly included in Schefflera J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.), which also has an additional 75 new species that remain to be described. Color photos are provided for three of the species along with a scan of the holotype of the fourth taxon. Distribution maps are provided along with preliminary risk of extinction assessments (following the IUCN Red List criteria); S. balslevii is assessed as Least Concern (LC), whereas S. borchsenii and S. oellgaardii are Endangered (EN), and S. pedersenii is Vulnerable (VU).

“The 21st century professionalization?”: online education as an instrument for bolstering individual welfare and societal equality

Abstract Since the start of the last decade of the 20th century, the application of digital technologies with the potential of making substantial contributions to a community’s welfare have led to the creation of the literature of Public Interest Technologies and reinvigorated many areas of focus in the social sciences. A relevant subfield of this literature has been the application of new technologies to education to increase social public benefits. The traditional literature on higher education seems to agree that the expansion of this good throughout a society is desirable because it generates direct and indirect individual gains, as well as aggregate level social benefits in the form of positive externalities. However, some authors have argued that the acquisition of postsecondary education has its own drawbacks: unwanted intellectual influence of instructors on students, barriers to access for students of historically vulnerable sociodemographic groups, as well as students’ perception of a reduced pay-off from going to college. While there have been some indices that online higher education could abate many of these issues, there has been relatively little formal research to test this tool’s impact. Using a quantitative approach, via cross-section and time-series data analysis, the text finds some evidence that online higher education could solve many of higher education’s drawbacks, while also being a feasible approach given the current technological environment of the United States. The text concludes outlining future research using a mixed-methods approach that could be highly valuable to acquire a more comprehensive view and robust evidence of online higher education’s potential of expanding social public benefits.

Differences in Patient Access to Newly Approved Antibacterial Drugs in EU/EEA Countries

The introduction of antibiotics in the beginning of the 20th century was one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in history. However, in recent decades, the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has shown the limitations of the current research and development programs for new antimicrobial drugs. In the last decade, 20 antibiotics, 7 β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) combinations and 4 non-traditional antibacterial drugs have been launched worldwide. Methods: This study aimed to assess the time to patient access for new antibacterial drugs in countries in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Time differences in marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Agency (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) were also described, as well as the availability of each drug in the countries in the EU/EEA according to the national competent authorities. Results: Substantial differences between countries were observed, with no or only one new drug available in some countries. Conclusions: Improving pricing and reimbursement timelines and fostering collaboration between national health authorities and market authorization holders can enhance timely and equitable patient access to new antibacterial treatments in Europe. Equitable and sustainable access to antibacterial drugs is a cornerstone in the battle against AMR.

On Certainty, Proper Confidence, and Doubt: A Postfoundationalist and Critical Realist Epistemology for Doing Constructive Theology

ABSTRACTThe present essay1 seeks to focus on the meaning and challenges of doubt and lack of certainty in the context of doing academic theological work, whether in a Seminary setting such as my own, Fuller Theological Seminary, or in a “secular” university setting such as the University of Helsinki, my other institution. Throughout, I am raising questions such as whether any kind of certainty or confidence is available in the work of theology, particularly constructive theology, my own particular area of interest. Speaking of constructive theology, reflecting on the issues of doubt, certainty, and confidence is particularly important for the simple reason that it typically engages some non‐theological disciplines such as natural sciences with their own criteria for truth. And in my case, dialogue with some other faith traditions, including Islam, further makes the issue of doubt pertinent. To make my inquiry manageable—and hopefully also dynamic—I am carrying critical conversation with two thinkers of the 20th century, namely the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and the missionary bishop and cultural critic of the West, Lesslie Newbigin. Whereas the mature Wittgenstein was in search of certainty towards the end of his life, Newbigin sought for proper confidence. Both of them rejected the Cartesian indubitable certainty of modernity, on the one hand, and the dismissal of the possibility of truth in many streams of late modernity on the other. While critically affirming some key arguments of these two diverse thinkers, I also see the importance of buttressing their emerging epistemological programs with the help of insights from postfoundationalist and critical–realist epistemologies. It is clear without saying that this big task can only be outlined and sketched rather than scrutinized in any detail within a 1‐h talk! My presentation is more an invitation to conversation and less any kind of finished project. I will first engage the two protagonists. Thereafter, before the summative and concluding reflections in terms of implications to theology and faith, a brief look at the meaning and nature of postfoundationalism and critical realism is attempted.

Disparity and Fragmentation of Formal and Non-Formal Education in Men's Prisons in the Metropolitan Region, Chile

Objective: The goal of this study is to map the education provided in contexts of confinements in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. This article focuses on the manners in which formal and non-formal education is developed in male penitentiaries, those with the largest prison population. Theoretical Framework: The concepts of legal prison and real prison, as well as theories on the purposes of prison education, serve as a basis for the study, giving rise to various ways of implementing education. Method: The methodology is qualitative and the sample includes the total of the prisons in the Metropolitan Region. The sequential design includes a survey in prisons, semi-structured interviews and discussion groups from 68 institutions that provide education in prisons. Results and Discussion: A great disparity and fragmentation of formal and non-formal education in prisons, lack of articulation, low coverage and solitary work are revealed. No planning of the offer or the interests of those deprived of liberty was found. The real prison does not materialize the current public policies in terms of education, maintaining practices from the 19th century. Implications of the research: The results demonstrate the need to articulate public policies in an inter-ministerial plan that incorporates qualitative dimensions, beyond the fulfillment of goals and decisions of each prison. Originality/Value: This research is relevant because there are few studies of the actual functioning of formal and non-formal education in prisons.

Useless Math – The Complex Untold Story

If you don't understand mathematics, ask yourself if I'm right, because others don't understand mathematics either. By useless mathematics we mean incomplete mathematical spaces of a classical 3D+t variety that are inadequate for generating well-defined definitions and hypotheses as well as time-dependent partial differential equations. The current classical discrete 3D+t space PDE, in which time is an external controller and not integrated into the 3D geometric space, cannot be integrated digitally. This space is logically incomplete and misleading in the production of definitions and hypotheses as well as in the resolution itself of time- dependent PDEs. No wonder these definitions/assumptions are ugly and result in weak or intractable mathematics, leading to all kinds of misunderstandings, from horrible notations to undisciplined length of theorems containing a considerable amount of black magic and ending with a gray nature of the mathematical result obtained. In this article we present some of the most catastrophic inaccurate assumptions existing in current classical mathematics, resulting from the use of 3D+t manifold space to specify initial conditions, boundary conditions and the source/sink term. Fortunately, these inaccurate assumptions that start with an ugly space for boundary conditions, initial conditions and source/sink term can be spotted and analyzed via 4D unitary numerical statistical theory called Cairo techniques in the format of transition chains of matrix B to complete what is missing. In other words, we present how to spot some of the ugliest mathematical conclusions of classical 3D geometry plus t as an external control numerical space, and then show how to correct them via the 4D unit space of statistical transition matrix chains. By complex and untold history, we mean that useless and misleading mathematics dominated scientific research and education throughout the 20th century, so much so that the accumulated legacy of misconceptions became a huge, complex mountain, almost impossible to eliminate. Fortunately, the numerical theory of Cairo techniques and the Laplacian theorem constitute an advanced and exhaustive form of the energy continuity equation and thus can create new logical mathematics. This is also the case of the famous Schrödinger time- dependent PDE.  The Laplacian theorem is one of the most important products created by the numerical statistical theory called Cairo techniques. In previous articles we introduced and briefly explained the so-called Laplacian theorem in the 4D x-t unit space, while in this article we highlight its importance and how it can generate new mathematics in more detail. The Laplacian partial differential equation that interests us is the one having a well-defined exclusive form and living in an isolated sample spatial control volume surrounded by a closed surface (A) and subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions. This very particular case of Laplacian PDE is always treated mathematically in a classical D^4 variety which is lazy and misleading. Finally, this article collects, studies, identifies and analyzes the dozen most common current useless mathematical events and presents an effective and adequate alternative.

Auxiliaries in Old Dutch

Abstract This study explores the use of auxiliaries in the oldest text available for Old Dutch, the Wachtendonck Psalter, dating from the 10th century. Our aim is to understand why there are so few different auxiliaries in this text in comparison to other texts in Old Dutch. We tackle this question by taking a historical comparative perspective, using methodological insights and techniques from corpus-based contrastive linguistics and typology. More specifically, we build a diachronic parallel corpus of psalm translations and compare the contexts in which auxiliaries and inflectional alternatives are used in these parallel texts by means of multidimensional scaling. Our historical comparative method results in five proximity maps which allow us to explore and compare the inventory of verb constructions of the Wachtendonck Psalter both retrospectively, with its source text in Latin, and prospectively, with later translations in Dutch. Our analysis examines the role of grammaticalization as well as the specific nature of the text as an interlinear translation as possible motivations for the presence and absence of auxiliaries in the Wachtendonck Psalter.

The Barbara Procession Among Burgenland Croats in Horvátkimle in the 20th and 21st Centuries

AbstractThe term “Burgenland Croats (Gradišćanskih Hrvati)” was coined by vicar, poet and scholar Mate Mersich Miloradić in 1921, after the majority of Western Hungary's Croatian population became annexed to Austria. By the interwar period an extended use of the term became the norm – it had come to refer to all Croatians living in the remaining areas of the Croatian diaspora, such as Western Hungary, Western Slovakia and Moravia, who had settled in these parts after fleeing the ravages of the anti-Ottoman wars of the 16th century. Worries about the mere existence and survival of the identity of the Burgenland Croat population has been a concern for well over two hundred years. It is fair to ask the question what kind of traditions the collector can expect to find and whether traditions are still in a collectable state in the 21st century, as we approach the 500th anniversary of the re-settlement of this population in Western Hungary. In the present paper I take the example of a specific custom, the Barbara procession of Horvátkimle, to show what it means for a community if one of their practices comes to be included on the ethnographic map of the country. We explore what sort of chances a community has to revive traditions that it had believed to be lost time and time again, and how it affects the life of the community if it succeeds in breathing new life into old traditions by accepting and adapting to the spirit of the times. The paper focuses not on the vanishing traditions, but on resilient tradition constructs that have proved flexible enough to survive. It concentrates not on the signs of the disappearance and assimilation of an ethnic community, but on the scenes and means of preserving such identity. I shed light on the role of individuals and of ethnographic scholarship in the process of preserving traditions.

Differences in the cartographic presentation of contemporary Polish western and northern territories in European cartography of the 20th and 21st centuries

Differences in the cartographic presentation of contemporary Polish western and northern territories in European cartography of the 20th and 21st centuries

Acute Decompensation of Chronic Cardiac Failure in Elderly and Senile Persons: Focus on Renal Dysfunction

The heart and kidneys, as well as their synergy, are necessary conditions for maintaining hemodynamic homeostasis in the human body. Since the beginning of the 19th century, it has been recognized that cardiovascular and renal diseases often coexist and have a mutually aggravating effect on each other. During the aging process, involutive changes in organs and body systems, especially the cardiovascular and urinary systems, lead to many physiological and functional changes that can increase the risk of developing acute complications, including acute decompensation of chronic heart failure (CHF). The prevalence of CHF is increasing among the population of older age groups all over the world, which is explained not only by involutive changes in the cardiovascular system of the body, but also by the high frequency of concomitant diseases, in particular chronic kidney disease. Age-related changes in the urinary system also play an important role in maintaining homeostasis of the body, however, during the aging process, along with a decrease in the number of nephrons, a decrease in the concentration function of the kidneys is observed, as well as a change in their structural integrity. These involutive changes in renal tissue may complicate the diagnosis and treatment of conditions associated with acute decompensation of CHF. Therefore, consideration of age-related changes in the cardiovascular and urinary systems and their contribution to the development of acute decompensation of CHF represents an important area for further research and practical applications aimed at improving medical care and quality of life in older people. The review article examines scientific literature data on cardiorenal relationships in acute decompensation of chronic heart failure in elderly and senile people.

Essays of Chokan Valikhanov as a Reflection of the History of Central Asia in the Second Half of the 19th Century

Provides a comprehensive examination of the personal documents of Chokan Valikhanov, reflecting the rich history of Central Asia during the second half of the 19th century. Valikhanov, a prominent Kazakh scholar and explorer, significantly contributed to the understanding of this region through his extensive research and numerous expeditions. The article delves into Valikhanov's biography, highlighting the milestones of his academic journey and the critical impact of his work. Special emphasis is placed on the value of his personal documents in unveiling the ethnographic, geographic, and socio-historical nuances of Central Asia. These documents offer unique insights into the cultural and historical context of the time, providing a deeper understanding of the region’s development. The analysis underscores the scholarly importance of Valikhanov’s findings and their enduring relevance in contemporary studies of Central Asia. Furthermore, the article discusses the methodological approaches used by Valikhanov in his work, noting their innovation and relevance. In conclusion, the significance of Valikhanov's contributions to the historical narrative of Central Asia is affirmed, alongside the potential avenues for future research that his legacy opens up. The enduring value of his personal documents continues to influence modern scholarship, inviting renewed interest and further exploration in the field.

Anthropometric Studies of Schoolchildren During the First Decades of the 20th Century in Spain and Argentina.

The practice of anthropometry in schools at the beginning of the 20th century originated in Europe and Latin America in conjunction with the emergence of hygienism and epidemiological auxology. The aim of this work is to deepen the knowledge of these practices in Spain and Argentina and to compare the available growth data in order to identify possible differences between the populations. The anthropometric data of 1693 boys and girls aged 7-15 years (877 Spanish; 816 Argentinean) from the period between 1903 and 1913 were analyzed. The data were taken from the Reports and Memoirs of the School Colonies of the National Pedagogical Museum (Spain) and the Archives of Pedagogy and Related Sciences of the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences of the National University of La Plata (UNLP) (Argentina). The most pronounced differences in weight and height were observed between the ages of 11 and 12. The weight growth of Spanish schoolchildren was 22% (boys) and 24% (girls) lower than that of their Argentine counterparts, while linear growth was about 7% lower for both sexes. In addition, the Spanish had a lower body mass index up to the age of 12 years. Argentine boys and girls of La Plata were taller and heavier than their Spanish counterparts of Madrid during the same period (between 1903 and 1913). These results can be attributed to the higher standard of living that characterized the Argentine population at that time.

Analysis of Lucy’s Female Consciousness in A Room with a View

Edward Morgan Forster is one of the greatest British writers of the 20th century, and this paper explores the awakening of the protagonist Lucy in Forster's third novel, A Room with a View. Forster directly confronts the problem of female consciousness through this book, reflecting the living conditions of women in the Middle Ages and the spiritual predicament of the British middle and upper classes. Based on the careful reading of the text and the research on the related female consciousness theories, this paper conducts a specific analysis and research on the three stages of Lucy's female consciousness awakening—absence, budding, and awakening. In particular, it pays much attention to the internal and external causes of the suppression of women's consciousness, such as the fundamental suppression of women's self-consciousness by the background of that times and the patriarchal culture, and has a deep insight into the rational inner world of Forster's to deep the understanding of his thoughts and writing style. Finally, the conclusion shows that only by realizing the unity of inner self and outer self, can women truly realize their self-worth. At the same time, the paper hopes to help readers understand the true meaning and beauty of love.

Giants beasts updated: A review of new knowledge about the South American megafauna

ABSTRACTSince the publication of Megafauna: Giant Beasts of Pleistocene South America by Fariña et al. in 2013, much has been published on this fascinating subject. Here, we sum up those contributions according to their aim: taxonomic, geographical and phylogenetic novelty, new approaches to the natural history of those species, and extinction and its aftermath. The traditional centres of interest since the 19th century, especially the Río de la Plata region, have now been complemented as a source of information by many other regions in South America, and the remains are now being studied by biogeochemistry and molecular biology, as well as with finite element analysis and constantly refined statistics. Finally, scholars and the public are becoming more interested in the demise of the megamammals as the starting point of the current process of biodiversity loss.