Date Back Research Articles

Cultural and Historical Considerations of Traditional Eco-Friendly Persimmon Juice Dyeing in Korea and Japan

By reviewing the cultural and historical literature on persimmon juice dyeing and Galot in Korea and Japan, this study aims to show the similarities and differences between the traditional and eco-friendly persimmon juice dyeing practices of these two countries and suggest a direction for the development of modern Galot. The root of persimmon dyeing in Korea is presumed to have begun around the 13<sup>th</sup> or 14<sup>th</sup> century; however, no documents or records have been found to support this notion. Meanwhile, there are records of persimmon dyeing in Japan that date back to around the 10th century, but that fact is rarely mentioned. The historical and folk cultural significance of traditional persimmon dyeing in Japan and Korea was different in terms of the use of persimmon dye and the wearing of Galot. In other words, in Korea, Galot was mainly used as work clothes for farmers and fishermen, who took advantage of the garment's functional strength, while kaki-tannin in Japan was applied to fishing tools and industrial materials. Furthermore, Japanese traditional Galot (Kakigoromo) was worn by monks. This was a remarkable difference in that the garments were used as clothing by a special class within society. There were also differences between the two countries in terms of their use of modern persimmon juice dye and Galot. Korea is currently developing and releasing a variety of modern Galots. Meanwhile, Japan is attempting to develop a feeling of relaxation by using the natural colors of Kakisibu dyeing and applying sophisticated traditional pattern printing techniques to modern Galot.

Dynamical Systems Research (DSR) in Psychotherapy: A Comprehensive Review of Empirical Results and Their Clinical Implications

In psychotherapy research, the first applications of dynamical systems research (DSR) date back to the 1990s. Over time, DSR has developed three main lines of research: the study of oscillations in synchronization; the study of oscillations between stability and flexibility of process variables (S–F oscillations); the mathematical modeling to analyze the evolution of psychotherapy process. However, the connections among the empirical results and their implications for psychotherapy practice are unclear. For this reason, for the first time in the literature, this work carries out a comprehensive review of all three lines of research, including the main scientific contributions from the 1990s to the present day. For each line of research, the work critically analyzes the results, proposes future developments, and underlines the connections between empirical results and implications for psychotherapy practice. Furthermore, the work highlights the model of change that emerges from the empirical results, and its clinical correlates. In the conclusions, the author summarizes the results and the evolution of psychotherapy process in accordance with the DSR.

A Bibliometric Review of the Business Platforming Literature: Theoretical Cornerstones and Research Trends

Scholarly interest in business platforms has risen consistently in the past 10 years. As a pervasive topic in the business literature, business platforms are addressed not only in the management field but also in domains, such as economics, strategy, marketing, engineering, and information technology. We provide a review of the literature on business platforms using a bibliometric methodology. In doing so, we extend the scope of research by including the closely related topic of business ecosystems. Bibliometric techniques allow consideration of a broad selection of papers with a consequent reduction in bias. We start with a selection of 1914 publications from 2009 to 2022. First, we identify the theoretical cornerstones employing cocitation analysis. This technique allows us to determine the fundamental literature, including documents that date back to previous decades. Then, we employ bibliographic coupling to determine the most recent research trends, limiting the span to the 2018–2022 period. Finally, we propose a research agenda based on the identified gaps in current research trends.

Maintaining collective memory existence through Gelumpai Manuscripts preservation at the South Sumatra Museum

This research is based on the case of the well-preserved collection of Gelumpai Manuscripts, which is estimated to be centuries old and believed to date back to the year 1300 C. The manuscripts serve as authentic evidence of Islamic civilization in Palembang at that time and can strengthen historical value through the collective memory of the nation. The study aimed to determine the manuscript’s supporting factors and the Gelumpai Manuscript preservation process. The research method used was qualitative with a case study approach. The research object was the Gelumpai Manuscript, which used the Ka Ga Nga script. Data was obtained through interviews, field observations, and related documentation studies. The results showed that several supporting factors for the preservation of this manuscript included adequate humidity, ideal light intensity, and effective protection against pests and pollution. This means that the South Sumatra Museum has implemented the appropriate standard. The museum carried out preservation by coating the manuscripts with white oil and periodically cleaning and checking the collection in the storage room. Furthermore, this museum held conservation support activities such as Museum Goes to School, Museum Goes to Village, and Collaboration Exhibitions, which were held to educate the public about the specialty of the Gelumpai Manuscript. So, the society will work together to maintain the existence of the collective memory contained in the manuscript.

Minor intron-containing genes as an ancient backbone for viral infection?

Minor intron-containing genes (MIGs) account for <2% of all human protein-coding genes and are uniquely dependent on the minor spliceosome for proper excision. Despite their low numbers, we surprisingly found a significant enrichment of MIG-encoded proteins (MIG-Ps) in protein-protein interactomes and host factors of positive-sense RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, MERS coronavirus, and Zika virus. Similarly, we observed a significant enrichment of MIG-Ps in the interactomes and sets of host factors of negative-sense RNA viruses such as Ebola virus, influenza A virus, and the retrovirus HIV-1. We also found an enrichment of MIG-Ps in double-stranded DNA viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus, human papillomavirus, and herpes simplex viruses. In general, MIG-Ps were highly connected and placed in central positions in a network of human-host protein interactions. Moreover, MIG-Ps that interact with viral proteins were enriched with essential genes. We also provide evidence that viral proteins interact with ancestral MIGs that date back to unicellular organisms and are mainly involved in basic cellular functions such as cell cycle, cell division, and signal transduction. Our results suggest that MIG-Ps form a stable, evolutionarily conserved backbone that viruses putatively tap to invade and propagate in human host cells.

‘Property of the Nation’ - Resource Nationalism to Become a Political Doctrine in Contemporary Mongolia?

The proposed paper is a study of resource nationalism. Resource nationalism appeared in Mongolia in the post-Socialist period. In this paper, we understand resource nationalism as a wide spectrum of strategies domestic elites employ in order to increase their control of natural resources - definition by Paul Domjan and Matt Stone. After an analysis of legal materials, mass media articles and political rhetoric, the author of this paper concludes that the sources of resource nationalism should be searched in the texts that date back to the Socialist era. Also, the sources of resource nationalism can be found in the ideas about justice of those times. The idea that natural resources belong to the people has been fixed in mass opinion, while contemporary nationalists justify this idea from the standpoint of “blood and soil”. That creates serious problems for Mongolia, a country with resource economy. The matter is that economic growth driven with foreign investments has caused a deep social stratification. In its turn, social stratification gave birth to a social demand for fair profit distribution from natural resource extraction. In the political sphere, this social demand quickly received a reaction - in the form of resource nationalism rhetoric. In the paper, we notice that resource nationalism in Mongolia has not been formed as a vivid legal or political doctrine. Today, it is a set of populist rhetoric of current interest which are used both for lobbying future political decisions in mining and for legitimizing the decisions already made.

Compilation of Research Works that Contributed to the Development of Algerian Agricultural Nematology: A Review

Investigation on plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) in Algeria date back to the late 19th century. Important research has been performed since this period until currently generating significant information. The aim of this literature assembling is making available an outline of the current situation of plant nematology in the country. This review is based on the available information existing at universities’ libraries and research articles obtained by visiting web pages and Google Scholar. All pertinent information was collected from 2018 until today. This review article shows three periods for Algerian agricultural nematology: First period includes the years of French colonialism and two decades after independence. Publications on PPN started in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by French and Italian researchers, working in Algeria. The second period (1980-end 1990s) was characterized by the emergence of Algerian researchers. They successively became central academics having the responsibility to educate graduate students. Their research topics were studies on geographical distribution and evaluation of damage degrees of some PPN. The third period (2000 until today) is characterized by the progression in nematological research in the country; research topics expanded and became more diverse. Collaboration between universities, National Institute of Agronomic Research and National Institute of Plant Protection are the organisations contributing to the development of nematology. Till date, a total of 38 genera and 43 species of PPN including economically important nematodes were documented in Algeria.

The historical evolution of the crime of hooliganism

The foundation of a harmonious community is the mutual respect offered by each individual, right as a sign of recognition of the existing values within the society. Respect is one of the most important moral values of every human being, because it is the key to a harmonious social interaction. However, in recent decades there has been an alarming increase in the rate of violation of the rules of social coexistence, through demonstrations and brutal actions to disturb public order, a fact that denotes a lack of respect and good sense towards the moral norms promoted by society. The first legislative acts in which some regulations of acts of hooliganism were found date back to ancient times.

A Danish Fool at Elsinore?

Abstract This article discusses the clowning element of a German version of Hamlet believed to date back to the time of Shakespeare. Der bestrafte Brudermord is noted as an adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy which incorporates a lot more low comedy than any extant version of Hamlet and provides opportunity for contemplating the reason why Hamlet has no explicit clown character. The article focuses especially on a character appearing very briefly in the German play, a rustic buffoon called Jens, and his affinity with the rustics and comic servants of other Shakespeare plays and other Elizabethan plays. It is particularly asserted that this role shows signs of the involvement of the clown Will Kemp at some stage of the writing of Hamlet, or of touring continental Europe with an adaptation of it that puts the clowning element at the forefront.

“Romans Divers”: The Novel, Its Earliest Classifications, and the Early Modern Peripheries of the Genre

The first classifications of the novel date back to the early 18th century. Then, the novel was still a new genre and was defined in relation to ancient Latin or Hellenistic models and to their narrative variations from the 17th century. By analyzing the first works that try to trace a history of the new genre and a taxonomy of the various types of novels, penned by authors such as Nicolas Lenglet Du Fresnoy, James Beattie and Clara Reeve, this paper argues that the works seen as peripheral in relation to a canonical, archetypal narration, which is typical of the novel, are in themselves illustrative of a wider phenomenon – the marginalization of those narratives which do not fit a current and implicit definition of a genre. Using Corin Braga’s concept of “anarchetypal narrative”, this paper discusses the works to be found at the peripheries of the novel in the 18th century and the explicit and implicit reasons for their theoretical dismissal.

The earliest fossil mosquito

Female mosquitoes are among the most notorious blood-feeding insects, sometimes causing severe allergic responses or vectoring a variety of microbial pathogens.1,2 Hematophagy in insects is likely a feeding shift from plant fluids, with the piercing-sucking mouthparts serving as suitable exaptation for piercing vertebrates' skin. The origins of these habits are mired in an often-poor fossil record for many hematophagous lineages,3,4 particularly those of sufficient age, as to give insights into the paleoecological context in which blood feeding first appeared or even to arrive at gross estimates as to when such shifts have occurred. This is certainly the case for mosquitoes, a clade estimated molecularly to date back to the Jurassic.5 The known Mesozoic Culicidae are Late Cretaceous, assigned to the modern Anophelinae or to the extinct Burmaculicinae, sister to other Culicidae, all with mouthparts of a modern type. Here, we report the discovery, in Lower Cretaceous amber from Lebanon, of two conspecific male mosquitoes unexpectedly with piercing mouthparts, armed with denticulate sharp mandibles and laciniae. These male fossils were likely hematophagous. They represent a lineage that diverged earlier than Burmaculicinae, extending the definitive occurrence of the family into the Early Cretaceous and serving to narrow the ghost-lineage gap for mosquitoes.

Taxonomic revision of the troglophile Spariolenus spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae) in South and West Asia.

The taxonomy of the genus Spariolenus Simon, 1880 (Heteropodinae) is updated in its entire distribution range in South and West Asia. Newly collected specimens and historical museum material were studied, some date back to more than 124 years. Four new species are described as Spariolenus omidvarbrothers sp. n. (male, female) from southeastern Iran, S. baluchistanicus sp. n. (female) from Pakistan and, S. bakasura sp. n. (male, female) and S. kabandha sp. n. (female) from the Western Ghats and northern regions of India, respectively; specimens of the latter three species had been previously incorrectly identified as S. tigris Simon, 1880. Spariolenus lindbergi (Roewer, 1962) comb. nov. is transferred from the genus Heteropoda Latreille, 1804. We discovered and described its male for the first time, along with redescription of the female using recently collected material near the type locality from Afghanistan. Two species, Spariolenus mansourii Moradmand, 2017 (Iran) and S. secundus Jger, 2006 (Oman) are recorded from new geographic localities. A distribution map of all extant Spariolenus species with updated records is presented.

Time to complete contemporary dental procedures – estimates from a cross-sectional survey of the dental team

BackgroundThere are few contemporary studies on the time taken to complete dental procedures, those most heavily relied on in the United Kingdom date back to 1999.ObjectivesThis work aimed to establish how long members of the dental team took to complete specific dental procedures, relevant to their scope of practice.MethodsData were collected via a purposive sample of 96 dentists, dental hygienists/therapists and dental nurses. Via an online survey, participants were asked to state the mean, minimum and maximum time they estimated that they took to complete individual dental procedures.ResultsThe mean time taken to complete procedures common to both dentists and dental hygienists/therapists ranged from 3.7 to 4 min respectively for clinical note reading prior to seeing patients to 30.1 and 28 min to undertake root surface debridement. There were no significant differences between the time taken by dentists and dental hygienists/therapists to treat adult patients. However, in all but one procedure, dental hygienists/therapists reported taking longer (p = 0.04) to treat child patients.ConclusionsThe data provided here represent an up to date assessment of the time taken to complete specific tasks by different members of the dental team. These data will be of value to service planners and commissioners interested in evolving a dental care system that employs a greater degree of skill-mix and preventively oriented care.

Vitrectomy Devices: Bausch &amp; Lomb Stellaris PC System and Bausch &amp; Lomb Vitesse Hypersonic Vitrectomy

Considering that the beginning of modern vitrectomy is thought to date back to the 1970s, the progress made in vitreoretinal surgery in such a short period of time is remarkable, thanks to the dedication of surgeons and advancements in technology. There have been developments that have allowed for more practical, safer, and more effective surgeries with wider indications. These advancements have not only been seen in vitrectomy probes that tend to be smaller, faster, and safer, but also in all other instrumentation. In 2010, the Bausch &amp; Lomb Stellaris PC system joined the vitreoretinal surgery family. The updated Stellaris Elite device in 2017, along with the Vitesse Hypersonic vitrectomy system introduced to our practice, has been revolutionary after years of using pneumatic guillotine vitrectomy. The aim was to explain the recent developments that have been incorporated into our practice through this system.

From Local to the State: Acknowledging the Cult of Qiansui Baozhang in the Chan Historiography

The cult of Qiansui Baozhang, a legendary Indian monk, gained prominence during the Song dynasty. He has been revered as the founding patriarch of Hangzhou’s Zhong Tianzhu monastery ever since. Although accounts of Baozhang’s travels in China date back to the third century, records about him primarily emerged during the Song dynasty. The earliest known account of Baozhang can be found in the Jiatai kuaiji zhi, where he is described as a Daoist alchemist. Subsequently, his hagiography was compiled in the Chan historiography Jiatai pu denglu. Selected as the first figure in the “Yinghua shengxian” section, Baozhang is portrayed as a divine monk who traveled to many locations which are significantly important to Chan Buddhism. My research suggests that Baozhang’s cult initially gained popularity in the Pujiang, Zhuji, and Kuaiji regions. During the mid-Southern Song dynasty, the abbot of the Zhong Tianzhu monastery played a pivotal role in spreading Baozhang’s cult among high literati. With the dissemination of the Jiatai pu denglu, Baozhang’s account was included in multiple monastic gazetteers, and he himself was revered as the founding patriarch in several monasteries. Examining Baozhang’s various records from diverse sources, this paper aims to delineate his transformation from a local cult figure to a Chan ideal promoted in imperial-sanctioned Buddhist historiography. I argue that the recognition of Baozhang’s cult demonstrates the Chan school’s acknowledgment and response to prevalent folk Buddhist cults at the time. By incorporating Baozhang’s cult into their narratives, the Chan school actively engaged with and adapted to the religious landscape of the Song dynasty.

Investigation of the burial mounds of early nomads of the Irtysh river region of Semey

The article introduces materials of monuments studied in the Semeytau and Kokentau mountain ranges. During the period 2014–2018, the research team has unearthed 13 burial mounds, distributed across six burial grounds and groups of burial mounds. The accompanying artifacts comprise iron rods (pins?) and the tail vertebrae of a ram. In three cases (Karatobe burial ground, mounds no. 2 and 3; Karasu-Ushtobe burial ground, mound 1), necklaces crafted from semiprecious stones have been discovered. Armament items are represented by a set of bone and one bronze arrowheads. In general, the ground and inside burial mounds find analogies in the materials of the Kulazhorga type (3rd century BC – 1st century AD) within the Upper Irtysh region, as well as in burial mounds from the early stage (3rd–2nd centuries BC) of the Wusun archaeological culture in the Ile River valley. It is worth noting the proximity of the design features of the burial structures and the subject complex of most of the described mounds with the monuments of Saryarka, first of all, the greatest parallels can be traced among the materials of the monuments of the Karamola type. According to the results of radiocarbon analysis, the objects studied date back to the 5th–3rd centuries BC.

BEYOND APPEARANCE

The history of dentistry has origins that are lost in time, with ancient records that date back to the manufacture of dental prostheses. In the contemporary scenario, dentistry has experienced remarkable progress, especially in the field of dental prostheses, where new materials have emerged with the aim of harmoniously integrating with the natural structure of the teeth. One of the notable advances is the innovation of alternatives for Removable Partial Dentures, moving away from conventional metallic components and adopting plastic materials. These polymeric options provide greater flexibility, minimize allergy risks, and facilitate adaptation. From a methodological perspective, an extensive literature search was undertaken, using the renowned PUBMED database, covering the time interval between 2013 and 2023. The chosen keywords, “Dentistry”, “dental prosthesis” and “partial prosthesis flexible”, were adopted to guide the consultation. By compiling the samples extracted from the examined literature, it is possible to deduce that flexible prostheses inherently offer superior aesthetic and comfort attributes to patients, thus surpassing conventional alternatives. Despite the ergonomic and aesthetic advantages that they present, the use of flexible prostheses as a permanent prosthetic solution lacks justification, due to the potential harmful impact on periodontal support, mainly associated with the lack of occlusal support. Therefore, it is undeniable that flexible prostheses provide remarkable comfort and admirable aesthetics, which puts them in an advantageous position compared to traditional alternatives. However, there are still intrinsic aspects that deserve attention and improvement. In this context, the continuous search for excellence in the balance between the desired aesthetics and the necessary durability is evident, aiming to offer patients a complete and satisfactory prosthetic experience. The present work proposes to elucidate the advantages and permanence inherent to flexible partial dentures, in addition to making a comparison regarding their quality and durability as opposed to conventional partial dentures. This analysis is primarily based on the review of the relevant scientific literature, thus allowing a grounded and objective approach to the subject in question.

Heavy metals in human bones from the Roman Imperial Period

Background/Aim: Heavy metals are elements known for their toxic effects even at low concentrations, and human exposure to these elements spans history. This study aimed to investigate trace element levels in the bones of individuals from the Roman Imperial Period. The objectives were to determine the values of specific metals, including heavy metals, make a rough comparison with present-day values, and gain insights into the environmental conditions of that era. Methods: Due to the use of dry bone samples, ethical committee approval was not required for this research. The study analyzed element levels in human bones dated back to the Roman Imperial Period (218-244 AD), unearthed in 2018 during excavations in Turkey-Kayseri. Only bones that archaeologists verified to belong to the specified period were included, while those with uncertain origins were excluded. The samples were taken from os coxae of 15 individuals (eight males and seven females) to analyze Ca, P, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Hg levels. Instrumental techniques such as Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (WDXRF) (X-ray fluorescence) and ICP-MS (Inductive Coupling Plasma-Mass Spectrometer) were used to determine element concentrations. The Ca/P ratio was assessed for diagenesis evaluation, and statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 22.0, with a significance threshold set at P-value &lt;0.05. Results: The Ca/P ratio for the general population was calculated as 2.34 (0.10). The mean concentrations of heavy metals in the bones were as follows: Cu 18.27 (11.04) ppm, Pb 13.30 (5.66) ppm, Zn 27.22 (13.84) ppm, and Hg 2.45 (2.86) ppm. The corresponding P-values for Ca, P, Ca/P, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Hg were 0.109, 0.120, 0.104, 0.063, 0.113, 0.089, and 0.070. No statistically significant difference emerged when comparing elemental accumulations between males and females. Notably, copper and mercury levels were higher in Roman Imperial Period bones than contemporary ones, whereas zinc levels were lower, and lead concentrations aligned with reference values. Conclusion: The study results underscore the historical exposure of Roman Imperial Period individuals to heavy metals. These findings suggest that environmental health concerns related to heavy metal exposure date back millennia, emphasizing the long-standing nature of this issue.

Current Status and Promotional Strategies of Millets: A Review

Millets or nutri-cereals are high-energy foods, its domestication and cultivation date back at least 10,000 years. Millets are typically grown on degraded, marginal terrain that receives little rainfall and has low soil nitrogen concentration. Finger millet, Pearl millet, Foxtail millet, Barnyard millet, Proso millet, Kodo millet, and Tiny millet are the seven major millets grown around the world. In the case of India, millet output peaked in the 1980s and then steadily fell as a result of a substantial fall in the area that was being grown. The abundance of dietary fibres, antioxidants, minerals, phytochemicals, polyphenols, and proteins in millets makes them special in the fight against diseases. Millet is currently addressing an essential field of research for food scientists because to their considerable engagement in nutritional security and potential growing health consequences. Millets' nutritional value can be further enhanced by using appropriate and efficient processing techniques. Given the numerous health advantages and environmental benefits of millets, it is urgently necessary to create millet-based government policies that acknowledge their contributions to achieving nutritional security and bring them back into agricultural production in order to create cropping systems that are climate resilient.

Turkey-Africa Relations and Turkey’s National Role Conception as the Centre Country: Continuity or a Break with the Past?

ABSTRACT The increase in Turkey’s visibility and power in Sub-Saharan Africa has attracted great attention. The rise of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AK Party, the story goes, engendered an abrupt shift from a cautious to a proactive foreign policy. We posit, however, that the seeds of Turkey’s opening to Africa date back decades and are an extension of its centre country (merkez ülke) national role conception. Turkey only appeared cautious prior to the 2000s because of resource constraints. Instead, Ankara’s political leaders of all stripes have shared a common conception of Turkey as something far bigger than the nation-state, and have fostered policies aimed at enhancing its agency of action (limited by structural and resource constraints) so as to resume Turkey’s role as Afro-Eurasia’s centre country. This national role conception coupled with an increase in Turkey’s national power since the 1980s have resulted in its opening to and subsequent engagement with Sub-Saharan Africa.