Ancient Research Articles

Moringa oleifera and its Secondary Metabolites: Chemistry, Properties and Antidiabetic Potentiality

Abstract: Secondary metabolites present in different natural resources possess multiple biological activities. Diabetes is one of the leading disease all over the world in current time, and higher in numbersthan the deadliest cancer disease. According to the WHO about 422 million people are suffering from diabetes and most of them are even unaware that they are living with the condition. In recent times research in natural medicinal plants has achieved a great success in the management of different diseases and disorders. Moringa oleifera is one of the most common medicinal and nutritious plant among the family of moringaceae, found in almost all over India. The tree with it's almost every edible part makes it a versatile natural medicinal source. The secondary metabolites present within it make this plant a rich biological resource. Among various classes of secondary metabolites alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, sterols etc. are present in moringa tree. The principle potent compound responsible for emerging antidiabetic property of Moringa is 4-(α-Lrhamnopyranosyloxy) benzyl glucosinolate. In this review we summarise specifically the antidiabetic activity of this multipurpose natural plant and it's phytochemistry. Since ancient times this plant has been used as anti-diabetic agent in sub continental regions. Mostly phytoconstituents obtained from leaves are responsible for its outstanding antidiabetic property. Research on antidiabetic property of M. oleifera by different scientists proved that Moringa is one of the finest natural medicinal plants in the management of diabetes with least toxicity.

Cultural entrepreneurship in Shakespeare’s Italy

This study deals with Shakespeare's work in Italy and how it has been used today in the form of cultural entrepreneurship. The three famous works he inspired and wrote about the Veneto region, namely "The Merchant of Venice", "Romeo and Juliet", and "The Taming of the Shrews" have been a trigger for many travelers to visit Italy since ancient times even in the context of the "Big Tour". Today the cities mentioned in the works and especially Verona have developed cultural entrepreneurship in the footsteps of "Romeo and Juliet".

The Archaeology and Cultural Heritage of the Mafia Archipelago, Tanzania: Recommendations for Conservation and Management

ABSTRACT This paper reflects on the status of conservation and management of the cultural heritage of the Mafia archipelago, Tanzania, by examining six sites: the stone town sites of Kisimani Mafia and Kua, Ukunju Cave, Mwamba Ukuta, Chole Island ruins, and Bwejuu Island. These sites constitute a rich archaeological record, extending from ancient time through the medieval to the recent past. Mafia’s rich cultural heritage has attracted multiple phases of archaeological research since the mid-1950s. Despite being well known, the archipelago’s heritage places face serious conservation and management challenges of both natural and anthropogenic origins. Natural challenges include severe wave erosion, while anthropogenic ones include looting and relentless pressure from development projects. We propose specific recommendations for addressing these challenges, underpinning the need to develop sustainable heritage tourism that will stimulate community heritage awareness and promote conservation.

Neurorhetoric: Rhetoric Intersection with Neuroscience

Abstract: Neurorhetoric examines the cognitive and neurological underpinnings of successful persuasive communication. This article seeks to examine the convergence of rhetoric and neuroscience by looking at the rhetorical framework established by Aristotle, which includes ethos, pathos, and logos. The assumption is that the integration of rhetoric with neuroscience has the potential to greatly enhance the practical relevance of rhetoric approaches in fields such as education, politics, marketing, healthcare, etc. The study employs methods of desk research and critical review of foundational and contemporary scientific publications in the fields of rhetoric, neurorhetoric, and psychology. Future studies should prioritize the advancement of the theoretical and empirical foundations of neurorhetoric. Collaboration between experts in rhetoric, linguistics, and neuroscience among others, will facilitate the achievement of this goal. Collective efforts like this will enhance our comprehension of the complex interaction between the brain, lan¬guage, and persuasion. Exploring the neural mechanisms of persuasion is a rela¬tively new field of research, even though the art of persuasion and argumentation, known as rhetoric, has been practiced since ancient times. Neurorhetoric explores the intersection between different rhetorical canons, such as ethos, pathos, and logos, and specific brain functions. This investigation focuses on both real-world and virtual communication contexts. Keywords: rhetoric, persuasion, cognitive processes, neuroscience, neu¬rorhetoric.

A Newly Bio-Based Material for the Construction Industry Using Gypsum Binder and Rice Straw Waste (Oryza sativa)

Construction is one of the economic sectors with the greatest influence on climate change. In addition to working procedures, the primary carbon footprint is attributed to the choice of materials and the energy required for their manufacturing. The underlying idea of this study is to minimize the effects and offer new solutions to emerging problems in the quest for materials that can be deemed as natural, such as gypsum (calcium sulphate dihydrate) and rice straw (Oryza sativa). The acquisition of these materials involves a lower carbon footprint compared to the conventional materials. It is well known since ancient times that gypsum and cereal straw can be used in construction, with numerous examples still available. Cereal straw is one of the oldest construction materials, traditionally combined with earth and occasionally with certain binders, with it continuing to be employed in construction in many countries to this day. This work showcases the feasibility of producing stable prefabricated elements from straw waste with construction gypsum, addressing a significant environmental concern posed by the alternative of having to burn such materials. In this study, for the proposed bio-based material, specific tests, such as thermal conductivity, flexural and compressive strength, and fire resistance, were carried out to evaluate the principal physical and mechanical characteristics for different compositions of water, gypsum, and straw fiber samples. The results highlighted the good performance of the proposed materials in order to spread their use in the green building industry. The addition of straw fibers improved, in different ways, some important physical characteristics of these components so as to diminish environmental pollution and to obtain better material performance. The tests highlighted the different behaviors of the proposed material with respect to the different cuts of the straw and as well as the water/gypsum ratio; this is not very well understood and probably depends on the micro structure of the straw fibers. The blocks with raw straw showed a significant improvement in the breaking mechanism (1775.42 N) compared to the blocks with cut straw (712.26 N) when subjected to bending tests, and their performance in compression tests was also acceptable. Additionally, a very interesting reduction in thermal conductivity was achieved by incorporating rice straw (0.233 W/mK), and high fire exposure times were obtained, with gypsum preventing the spread of ignition in any type of fiber.

The concept of personality and national identity in contemporary Kazakh prose

Colonialism has had a profoundly negative impact on national consciousness. Although the Republic of Kazakhstan has gained independence, it has not yet fully overcome the adverse effects of colonialism on its national consciousness. A portion of the Kazakh people has been Russified. Meanwhile, the younger generation, raised in their native language, either lacks a deep understanding of or is gradually forgetting the foundations of national identity that date back to ancient times. During the Soviet era, communist ideology prevented the population from truly knowing their history, traditions, and beliefs. In this context, literature plays a crucial role in reviving national memory. This article examines the concept of personality in literary works and the uniqueness of national identity based on the works of several contemporary authors. The introduction provides an overview of researchers’ conclusions related to the concept of personality. The ancient origins of national identity—sacred elements, rituals, shamanism, and the mystical connections between humans, nature, and animals—as depicted in literary works are analyzed within the dynamics of the present day, alongside the fates of the characters. The desecration of sacred elements is not merely ignorance but a sign of the erasure of national memory; rituals are not just words but embody sacred concepts accumulated from centuries of the people’s experience, which are reflected in the works. Accordingly, the research article analyzes and provides examples from several literary works. In compiling conclusions about the concept of personality, the study utilized descriptive, biographical, and socio-psychological methods to describe national identity in literary works and its ancient manifestations, as well as the depiction of sacred elements and rituals.

Uncovering the Secrets of Motion: A Literature Review of Lagrange and Newtonian Mechanics

Physics is a branch of natural science. Since ancient times, humans have been interested in the movement of objects around them and motion is an area studied in mechanics. This research aims to understand the principles of mechanics in Lagrange and Newtonian mechanics for solving motion problems and their applications. The method used is the literature review method. Literature is a comprehensive overview of previous research on a particular topic. Literature review is a systematic process for identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing previously published scientific works on a particular topic. There are 20 sources used, consisting of books and scientific journals. The research results show that motion is an object that experiences movement from one place to another. Problems of motion of objects can be solved using the laws and principles of Newtonian and Lagrange mechanics. Lagrange mechanics is used to solve complex problems that cannot be solved with Newtonian mechanics. Lagrange mechanics focuses on the forces that cause objects to move, while Newtonian mechanics focuses on the energy that causes objects to move.

Investigation of Higher Education Students' Computational Thinking Skill Levels

Computational thinking skill is a skill that has its origins in ancient times but has gained importance today. The competences provided to individuals by computational thinking skills are also of great importance for the education system. Therefore, it is important for students to acquire and develop these skills in order to adapt to the requirements of the modern world. Based on this, in this study, the level of information processing thinking skills of higher education students was examined and the level of this skill was investigated in line with different variables. 'Computational Thinking' scale was used as a data collection tool in the study. Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale. 96 was calculated as. Demographic characteristics such as gender, department, class and education level were taken into consideration. Quantitative research method was used in the study. The research was conducted with 298 participants studying in higher education. In the analysis of the data, independent t-test and ANOVA analyses were applied to determine the score differences between the groups. As a result of the study, higher education students were found to have high levels of computational thinking skills. Gender was found to be effective on computational thinking skills. As the level of education increased, it was determined that computational thinking skills increased. It was seen that the education given in different departments had an effect on computational thinking skills. Finally, it was found that there were significant changes in students' computational thinking skills as their grade level increased.

Stick Fighting and Stick Fencing in Ancient Egypt and Their Impact On the Present Day

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of stick fighting or stick fencing-like activities in ancient Egypt on modern sport. In the study, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to investigate stick fighting and fencing activities in ancient Egypt and their impact on contemporary sport. The literature review focused on historical documents, tomb paintings, hieroglyphs and archaeological findings from the ancient Egyptian period from 3000 B.C. In ancient Egypt, stick fighting was a widely practised sport alongside wrestling. In ancient Egypt, stick fighting was a rivalry between two players. Although stick fencing is a very popular attraction for exhibition fights, it is sometimes not seen as a fight against an opponent, but rather as a dance performance. It is said that the stick or club wielders wore masks during the matches. The fencers had to bow to the audience before the fight. They then held their sticks in a crossed position. It is assumed that there was a scoring system for fighting with sticks. Although in ancient Egypt fighting with sticks or acrobatic movements with sticks were used for demonstration purposes such as dance events, this could have been the origin of modern fencing and combat training. The aesthetic movements and manoeuvres with sticks and the wearing of masks by the athletes are similar to today's fencing. In ancient Egypt, stick fighters can be seen as stick fencers. In African and Middle Eastern cultures, stick fencing is still widespread and is reflected in the traditions.

Recent Advancements in Production and Extraction Methods of Phycobiliprotein C-phycocyanin by Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis: A Mini Review.

Arthrospira platensis has been utilized as a food source since ancient times due to its rich nutrient profile. In recent years, its popularity as a dietary supplement has soared, especially due to the presence of a water-soluble phycobiliprotein, C-phycocyanin C (C-PC), which is abundant and notable for its fluorescent properties. C-PC contains the chromophore phycocyanobilin B (PCB-B), a tetrapyrrole molecule, that is why it plays a dual role as a food colorant and as nutraceutical. However, comprehensive studies have mostly evaluated C-PC's broader health-promoting properties, particularly its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, which are linked to its ability to contrast oxidative stress and related pathological conditions. That is why this review explores recent advancements in optimizing culture conditions to enhance C-PC and PCB-B production, with a particular emphasis on novel extraction and purification techniques that increase yield and bioactivity. This focus on efficient production methods is crucial for expanding the commercial and therapeutic applications of C-PC, contributing to its growing relevance in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Functional, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activity of Edible Flowers

Edible flowers have been used since ancient times, but their potential for improving human health has not been explored. This study aimed to evaluate the profile of bioactive compounds (organic acids, phenolics, and carotenoids) and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of nine flower varieties with high concentrations of carotenoids or total phenolic compounds. Ninety-three edible flowers were analysed for physicochemical characteristics, total phenolic and carotenoid concentrations, and antioxidant activity (ABTS). Bioactive profiles were determined by rapid resolution liquid chromatography (RRLC), and antimicrobial activity was determined against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Chrysanthemum x hybrid orange, Helianthus annuus yellow, Tagetes patula orange, Canna indica red, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (orange1 and yellow) showed significant concentrations of total carotenoids. In contrast, Pelargonium hortorum orange2, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis red1, and Rosa x hybrid variety medium yellow showed high levels of total phenolics. The predominant compounds in these species were citric acid (991.4 mg/g DW in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis red1), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (936.2 mg/100 g DW in P. hortorum orange2), kaempferol (971. 9 mg/100 g DW in T. patula orange), quercetin glucoside (958.8 in C. x hybrid), quercetin (919.3 mg/100 g DW in T. patula), α-carotene, and β-carotene in T. patula orange (989.5 and 601.2 mg/100 g DW, respectively). Regarding antimicrobial activity, T. patula orange and P. hortorum orange2 inhibited bacterial growth, while C. x hybrid orange and P. hortorum orange2 inhibited Candida albicans, and the latter inhibited Candida tropicalis. These results indicate the potential of edible flowers as a natural source of bioactive compounds and as a tool in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

MÜASİR DÖVRDƏ UŞAQ BAĞÇALARINDA FOLKLOR NÜMUNƏLƏRİNDƏN İSTİFADƏNİN ƏHƏMİYYƏTİ

The people of Azerbaijan have been formed on the basis of high aesthetic values due to their national origin and historical roots. A child starts learning his mother tongue with his mother's lullaby. Children's folklore is an important part of centuries-old oral creativity of our people, how to raise a child, what to teach him and how. Children's folklore is rich in material that covers their field of interest. Here, their requirements and needs of all age stages are satisfied in a certain way. The reason for folklore examples to live and reach the present day is to justify and maintain the power of education. Folklore examples have been a means of educating the young generation of our ancestors since ancient times, and the educational ideas reflected here meet the requirements of today. The people approached the aesthetic education of the growing generation with aesthetic requirements and gave importance to it at all stages of life.

A brief review on Antibacterial activity of Citrullus Colocynthis

Due to contamination or the rapid microbial growth that happens naturally in fish, seafood is very poorly preserved. Fish storage facilities commonly employ artificial preservatives to guarantee quality and safety while prolonging shelf life. Natural preservatives originating from plants, animals, and microbes have been shown to have the ability to take the place of synthetic antimicrobials. The bitter fruit Citrullus colocynthis has been used as a natural preservative. It belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. The wild melon species also known as colocynth produces cantaloupe-sized fruits with a bitter flavor and seeds that are high in protein and oil. It is a prolonged perennial that thrives in xerophilic environments on sandy shores. When young, fruits are plump and speckled with dark green; when ripe, they typically become yellow. Since ancient times, the fruit of colocynthis has been used medicinally. The current study intends to investigate antibacterial properties of C. colocynthis on gram-negative bacteria E.coli & gram positive bacteria S.aureus. Natural antimicrobials derived from plants, animals, and microbes have the potential to replace chemical antimicrobials. Utilizing UV spectrometery, the chemical characterization of extracts was accomplished. Nile tilapia fish species was used for this experiment to determine antibacterial potential of C. colocynthis.

Reconstructing a georeferenced inventory of flooding hazards in Raoping, Guangdong province, China, from 1492 to 1985

ABSTRACT In ancient times, there is a scarcity of instrumental water flow data, which challenges the hydrological science community to understand the evolution of flood risk under the changing climate over the centennial scale. Based on the historical records of flood events, the first spatio-temporal database of flood risk occurrence was established in Raoping county, Guangdong, China from 1492 to 1985 (a 494-year period), with intensive human interpretation and local investigation. Specifically, the spatially explicit flood events of the river network were provided for each flood episode. A detailed analysis of the database shows a high frequency of flood risk in summer and early autumn. Specifically, a significant (p < 0.05) increase has been found in flood risks since 1960. However, flooding decreased significantly in recent decades due to meteorological and hydrological factors, as well as the population density and migration during the 500-year period. A spatial clustering of flood events in the northern and southern parts is also confirmed, which shows an impact of population dynamics on a centennial scale. Such methods can be a reference for establishing China's flooding database for ancient periods, promoting a better understanding of natural hazards and associated human behaviors under the context of long-term climate change.

The Protective Role of Baicalin in the Regulation of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Different Diseases.

The NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome consists of pro-caspase-1, NLRP3 and apoptosis-related speckle-like protein (ASC). It can detect multiple microorganisms, endogenous danger signals and environmental stimulus including adenosine triphosphate (ATP), urate, cholesterol crystals, and so on, thereby forming activated NLRP3 inflammasome. During the course of the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, pro-caspase-1 is transformed into activated caspase-1 that results in the maturation and secretion of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18. The dysfunction of NLRP3 inflammasome participates in multiple diseases such as liver diseases, renal diseases, nervous system diseases and diabetes. Baicalin is the primary bioactive component of Scutellaria baicalensis, which has been used since ancient times. Baicalin has many types of biological functions, such as anti-bacterial, anti-tumor and antioxidant. More and more evidence suggests that baicalin regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in different diseases. However, the mechanism is still elusive. Here, we reviewed the progress of baicalin regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome in many kinds of diseases to lay a foundation for future researches.

Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Ethanolic Pot-Pollen Extracts of Melipona beecheii and Determination of the Major Components by GC-MS.

Melipona beecheii pot-pollen is a natural product that has barely been studied, unlike other hive products such as honey and propolis. Its application has been reported since ancient times in traditional Mayan medicine, and it is also a functional food with high nutritional value. In the present study, samples of ethanolic pot-pollen extracts from five locations in the Yucatán Peninsula were analyzed to determine their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. All the extracts showed activity against five medically important bacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes were the most susceptible bacteria in all samples. The evaluated antioxidant activity was higher than that reported by other studies. Palmitic, linoleic, and linolenic fatty acids and their respective ethyl ethers were detected by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in all samples in different concentrations. Based on these results, pot-pollen extract from Mama, Yucatán exhibited the best biological activities (Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) between 6 and 40 mg/mL, EC50 DPPH 28 μg/mL, EC50 RP 30 μg/mL), which could be related to a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids and their ethyl esters. The present study demonstrates that M. beecheii pot-pollen has therapeutic potential in addition to its benefits as a nutritional supplement.

Virtual cleaning of sooty mural hyperspectral images using the LIME model and improved dark channel prior

Murals, as important carriers of cultural heritage and historical records, showcase artistic, aesthetic, social, and political significance. In ancient times, religious activities such as burning incense and candles in temples led to many murals being polluted by soot, causing them to darken, lose details, and, in severe cases, completely blacken. As a result, the development of efficient virtual cleaning methods has become a key strategy for addressing this issue. In this study, we use synthetic true colour and false colour images in different bands of the hyperspectral spectrum, and use a guided filter fusion technique to fuse these two images into a new image of the sooty mural. Through analyzing the histograms and colour distribution scatterplots of the synthetic sooty mural images, we observed significant similarities to low-luminance images. To enhance the synthesized murals, we applied the LIME model. In addition, comparisons of the histograms and colour distribution scatterplots of the enhanced sooty mural images with those of haze images revealed notable similarities. Therefore, we applied the dark channel prior algorithm to remove soot from the mural images. Considering that soot particles are larger than haze particles, we introduced guided filtering to refine the transmission map and created a nonlinear transformation function to enhance its details. In terms of both visual perception and quantitative analysis, the proposed method significantly outperforms previous methods in the virtual cleaning of sooty murals. This technology can not only restore the colours and details of murals but also provide new clues for subsequent mural studies, allowing people to once again appreciate the true beauty of the murals.

Review of ethnomedicinal plant Helicteres isora Linn. and its traditional uses in India

This paper provides information on the ethnomedicinal and traditional uses of the medicinal plant Helicteres isora. Ethnomedicine has been used as a starting point in drug discovery, specifically pharmacological techniques. India has a rich tradition of plant-based knowledge of health care. A large number of plants, plant extracts, decoctions, and pastes are mostly used by tribal peoples for the treatment of various diseases. The uses of different plant parts by the local peoples in different aspects have been studied by several workers. The whole plant of Helicteres isora has excellent medicinal properties from ancient times. The parts of a plant that have been widely used in Ayurvedic medicine include roots, leaves, seeds, and fruits. Different types of pharmacological activities found are antidiabetic, anticancer, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-diarrheal, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, brain oxidant potency, etc. Helicteres isora is a rich source of antioxidants, carbohydrates, proteins, Fiber, phosphorus, calcium, and iron. The plant also exhibits the activity of demulcent and astringent activities. Every part of the medicinal uses of Helicteres isora Linn., having the above activities. In this study, we investigated the traditional uses of Helicteres isora plants. Ethnomedicinal data were collected by using semi-structured and open- ended questionnaires. Field excursions with expert lecturers and traditional healers were carried out. Descriptive statistics were used to present data.

Endogenous nege-like viral elements in arthropod genomes reveal virus-host coevolution and ancient history of two plant virus families.

Although negevirus is phylogenetically related to plant virus, the evolutionary history of negevirus-host and its relationship with plant virus remain largely unknown. In this study, we used endogenous nege-like viral elements (ENVEs) as the molecular fossil records to investigate the history of nege-like viral infection in arthropod hosts and the evolution of two related plant virus families (Virgaviridae and Kitaviridae). Our results showed the infection of nege-like viruses for over 60 My during the arthropod evolution. ENVEs highly homologous to viral sequences in Virgaviridae and Kitaviridae were present in a wide range of arthropod genomes but were absent in plant genomes, indicating that plant viruses in these two families possibly evolved from the nege-like virus ancestor through cross-species horizontal virus transmission. Our findings provide a new perspective on the virus-host coevolution and the origins of plant viruses.

Dyeing behaviour of iron(III)-gallic acid complexes on wool as function of pH-dependent iron(III)-complex stoichiometry

Iron complexes with polyphenolics e.g. gallotannins and flavonoids have been used since ancient times for coloration of textiles, painting and preparation of inks. The composition of iron gall inks on historical artefacts has been investigated with modern instrumental methods. However the dyeing behaviour of iron-complexes with polyphenols still bases on empirical knowledge. In this study Fe(III)-complexes with gallic acid were used as model system to elucidate their pH dependent sorption and dyeing behaviour on wool. At dyebath pH 3 high sorption of Fe(III)-gallic acid complexes was observed, however darker dyeings were obtained at dyebath pH 4. Model calculations for the complex species present in the dyebath indicated the presence of the binary complex [Fe(III)(GA2−)]+ as main species at pH 3, while at pH 4 the ternary species [Fe(III)(GA2−)2]- prevails. The dye sorption bases on Van-der-Waals forces, while ionic interactions between Fe(III)-complex and keratin are of minor relevance. The elaborated theoretical model also explains the influence of dyebath pH in dyeing with gallotannins, polyphenols and flavonoids in presence of iron salts and thus is of particular relevance for improved utilisation of these natural colorants.