Early 20th Century Research Articles

Study of Toned Photographs of the Late 19th and Early 20th Century Using Multispectral Imaging and SEM/EDS Analysis

Abstract Toned photographs became popular in the second half of the 19th and early 20th century, either as stand-alone photographic images or as part of representative cards such as cabinet cards or cartes de visite. Still, further research is desirable to deepen our understanding about materials and techniques that had been used to create toned photographs. This study focusses on toning processes and is based on the analysis of 16 historical photographs from that period. To understand the toning process, information was collected from historical literature, while multispectral techniques and SEM/EDS analysis were applied to the sixteen photographs. Multispectral techniques, both macroscopic and microscopic, provide valuable information on surface and texture, damage phenomena and the photograph’s stratigraphy. SEM/EDS analysis yields information on the elements found in the studied photographs and their stratigraphy. This combination of the evaluation of historical written sources and scientific analysis provided an insight into the materials and techniques used in the toning of photographs.

“All is withered and burnt”

In the years 1923-1929 the Clanwilliam Ring of the Dutch Reformed Church was struck by a drought that left the area’s traditionally rural and agricultural population struggling with issues of food security, unemployment, and bankruptcy. Occurring in the early 20th century, the still nascent Union government was unwilling to dedicate the resources to direct food assistance schemes under flawed sociological reasoning and lacked the institutional capacity necessary to provide direct alleviation for the impacts of the drought. Consequently, the Dutch Reformed Church became the main overseer of food provision and charitable relief efforts among stricken communities through its Algemene Armesorg Kommissie. Local Dominees, deacons and elders of the church bodies in the arid Karoo acted as a grass roots organization in the monitoring and distribution of assistance (primarily through clothing and food donations) for local communities. This article focuses on the social and political realities that led to the Dutch Reformed Church playing a central role in combating the impact of the 1923–1929 drought in the ring of Clanwilliam. The study made use of archival primary sources mostly from the Dutch Reformed Church Archive in Stellenbosch, with additional sources from the Western Cape Archival Repository System and the National Archive of South Africa. Secondary research sources such as published journal articles and books, as well as unpublished dissertations were used to contextualize primary information and to add previous studies’ discussions on the topic. The study proves that the church, through its well-organized Algemene Armesorg Kommissie charity wing, acted as a much-needed intermediary often organizing and distributing donations of food, clothing and money from donors in other congregations to drought-stricken areas in a time when the government could not or would not provide such assistance.

De Kaapsche Kerk, the British Empire, slavery, and the discourses of good and evil

It is a well-known history that the Dutch church in South Africa’s Cape colony up until the early 19th century had readily accommodated the institution of slavery as commonly practiced within Cape Dutch society. Slavery was not seen as “good” but generally accepted as an unfortunate reality of life. Some groups of people, particularly those of non-European heritage, were seen within this colonist society as naturally predisposed for slavery. Biblical arguments regarding examples of the non-denunciation of slavery in both Old and New Testament scriptures could easily be mustered in defence of the institution against the rare voices protesting the practice. In that sense the Cape Church was not any different from most other Christian churches in colonial societies worldwide. Yet the Cape church also had some strong antislavery statements and advocates from within its ranks since at least the first half of the nineteenth century. As seen for example in Dreyer’s collection of documents under the title, “Die Kaapse Kerk en die Groot Trek”, several high placed church leaders opposed the migration of Dutch farmers from the Cape colony in the 1830s on the basis that the migration occurred in disobedience to British colonial legislation that were effectively seen as seeking to stamp out slavery and associated practices. The Dutch farmers tended to see the British Empire as an evil empire. The Cape Church leadership, to the contrary, which by then included a number of abolitionist Scottish pastors in its ranks viewed their emigrating members, at least initially, as being in rebellion not only against the civil rulers but also against the church, and they, albeit for the most part unsuccessfully, sought to dissuade the emigrants from abandoning their chosen paths. In the subsequent decades a number of Cape Church pastors sought contact with the migrants with the intent of bringing them back into the fold. This article presents the case of a noteworthy equalisation campaigner in this regard, Rev. D.P.M. Huet. Another episode occurred later in the 19th century in the mission fields associated with the Cape Church in central Africa, Nyasaland as it was known at the time. Again, it is a well-known story that some of the early Christian missionaries in these areas, most notably David Livingstone, confronted slave traders and agitated against the practice which was still rife throughout the region during much of the 19th century. Yet, as far as the Cape Church and Afrikaners more generally were concerned, historical accounts often suggest that particularly the northern Boers were more often themselves involved in the slave trade rather than acting against it. Yet, as this article will indicate the early missionary enterprise of the Cape Church in central Africa actively engaged in anti-slavery activities with a central character in this being missionary, William Hoppe Murray who served as leader of the mission in Nyasaland for a substantial period.The article finally discusses the case of De Kaapsche Kerk (the Dutch Reformed Church in the Cape Colony) in relation to slavery and empire with reference to notions of good and evil.

Revolutionizing medicine: Recent developments and future prospects in stem-cell therapy.

Stem-cell therapy is a revolutionary frontier in modern medicine, offering enormous capacity to transform the treatment landscape of numerous debilitating illnesses and injuries. This review examines the revolutionary frontier of treatments utilizing stem cells, highlighting the distinctive abilities of stem cells to undergo regeneration and specialized cell differentiation into a wide variety of phenotypes. This paper aims to guide researchers, physicians, and stakeholders through the intricate terrain of stem-cell therapy, examining the processes, applications, and challenges inherent in utilizing stem cells across diverse medical disciplines. The historical journey from foundational contributions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to recent breakthroughs, including ESC isolation and iPSC discovery, has set the stage for monumental leaps in medical science. Stem cells' regenerative potential spans embryonic, adult, induced pluripotent, and perinatal stages, offering unprecedented therapeutic opportunities in cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular ailments, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, and tissue damage. However, difficulties, such as immunological rejection, tumorigenesis, and precise manipulation of stem-cell behavior, necessitate comprehensive exploration and innovative solutions. This manuscript summarizes recent biotechnological advancements, critical trial evaluations, and emerging technologies, providing a nuanced understanding of the triumphs, difficulties, and future trajectories in stem cell-based regenerative medicine. Future directions, including precision medicine integration, immune modulation strategies, advancements in gene-editing technologies, and bioengineering synergy, offer a roadmap in stem cell treatment. The focus on stem-cell therapy's potential highlights its significant influence on contemporary medicine and points to a future in which individualized regenerative therapies will alleviate various medical disorders.

Hysterical Women: The Fight for an Expanded British Franchise at the Turn of the 20th Century

This project argues that in the United Kingdom at the turn of the 20th century, social and medical claims of female hysteria worked as a way of confining women to the domestic sphere. To explore the social implications of feminine hysteria in this region, the medical legitimacy of these claims is analyzed through looking at the texts of various surgeon generals of the late 19th and early 20th centuries while placing them in conjunction with the rapidly changing world. This world was filled with suppressors who worked toward maintaining established social norms. The group analyzed in this project, women, were most prominently suppressed through the negative rhetorical use of medical terms such as female hysteria in pursuit of maintaining the status quo of the early 1800s. This umbrella term was historically used to describe any and all afflictions of women but morphed into ammunition for medical professionals and the general public alike to contain unruly women. This project contextualizes women’s health issues encapsulated by this umbrella term (hysteria) and others with the prevailing thoughts on women’s suffrage of the time to argue the above claim.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Complicated by Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Severe Heart Failure: A Case Report

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a connective tissue disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies, can affect all organ systems. Cardiac involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been documented since the early 20th century. The manifestations may be diverse and may affect any portion of the heart, including the pericardium, the conduction system, the myocardium, the valves, and the coronary arteries. The incidence of cardiomyopathy associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that is clinically manifested is rare; the majority of studies have indicated a prevalence of approximately 10%. Echocardiography has offered insights into cardiac anatomy and function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with and without cardiac involvement. Endomyocardial biopsy is considered as the gold standard for diagnosis; however, its low sensitivity and risk of complications have limited its application. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging offers a promising alternative to myocardial biopsy. We present the case of a 57-year-old female with a history of lupus since 2010, who presented with an acute inaugural decompensation of dilated cardiomyopathy, with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 28%.

Cinie Louw

As part of a growing scholarly interest in the history of women in the field of linguistics the life of Cinie Louw (1872–1935), a missionary in Mashonaland, is revisited. The focus is her groundbreaking work in the fields of linguistics, Bible translation and theological interpretation. Her contribution is revisited outside of the normative evaluation of women’s work in the early 20th century and therefore not just as an extension of that of her male counterparts and husband.

Underground parts of fence fortifications in Siberia in the late 16th – early 18th century

The article presents the results of a study in the design of the underground part of the fence walls in wooden defensive structures. It was established that to date this issue has not been properly developed. The source base consists of the results of archaeological research and data from written sources. The paper provides information on the depth and width of the fence grooves, their shape and the interdependence of these parameters. The author established the fact that there existed a standard for deepening fence into the ground. The issue of the multiple fence walls is considered in detail. It is proved that such fence structures did not exist, but the “multiple fence” pattern recorded on some sites is only a reflection of repairs of fence walls as well as the presence of retaining walls and supporting structures of platforms. It was found that the fence posts were dug into the ground rather than clogged. The latter technique was typical for the pillars of auxiliary structures at the fence.

Postmodern Vision of Absolute Truth in "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

This paper explores Ian McEwan's "Atonement" and its postmodern interpretation of the concept of ultimate truth. The novel, which takes place in the early 20th century, examines the difficulties associated with memory, narrative, and the search for the truth. This essay examines how the novel reflects the postmodern rejection the idea of ultimate truth through a study of the text. It is possible to see the novel "Atonement" as a postmodern attack on the idea of ultimate truth. It is proposed that the novel's postmodern is a conception of reality highlights the importance of memory and narrative in the construction of truth. This paper is important because it applies postmodernism theory to the novel "Atonement" by Ian McEwan, giving it a fresh viewpoint. The study underlines the significance of subjective experiences and viewpoints in our perception of reality and underscores the function of memory and narrative in truth construction. Postmodernism theory is used as a literary movement that rejects the conventional belief in objective truth and emphasizes the importance of subjectivity and fragmentation in understanding of reality. This paper attempts to analyze the notion of absolute truth in Ian McEwan's novel. The primary aim of this paper is to examine the postmodern vision of absolute truth in "Atonement" and its implications for our understanding of truth and reality. This paper aims to demonstrate how the novel challenges traditional notions of truth and offers a vision of truth that is subjective and fragmented.

Optimizing Wing-In-Ground Effect UAVS for Enhanced Search and Rescue Operations: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract: Wing-In-Ground Effect (WIG) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) represent a unique convergence of aerodynamic principles and unmanned systems technology, offering promising solutions for maritime operations. This paper explores the historical development, theoretical foundations, and potential applications of WIG UAVs. The phenomenon of ground effect, which enhances lift and reduces drag when flying close to water surfaces, has been observed since the early 20th century. Soviet engineer Rostislav Alexeyev's pioneering work on the Lun-class ekranoplan in the 1960s demonstrated the viability of WIG technology for military logistics. Advancements in materials science, propulsion systems, and computer-aided design have further refined WIG vehicle performance. The integration of autonomous capabilities has expanded the operational scope of WIG UAVs, enabling missions in challenging maritime environments. The aerodynamic investigation of WIG vehicles reveals the complex interplay between the vehicle's wings and the water surface, leading to enhanced lift-to-drag ratios and improved efficiency. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel experiments have provided valuable insights into the optimization of WIG UAV designs. The potential applications of WIG UAVs span maritime surveillance, coastal patrolling, search and rescue operations, and cargo transportation. Their ability to collaborate with other unmanned systems, such as aerial drones and surface vessels, enhances overall mission effectiveness. As the demand for sophisticated maritime capabilities grows, the development of WIG UAVs presents a promising frontier for innovation, offering unique solutions to address evolving challenges in maritime security and operational effectiveness

Who are the people of Cyprus? The national identity building process in Cyprus from the late 19th to the early 20th century

Abstract This article offers a nuanced examination of the complex identity dynamics among the Christian and Muslim communities in Cyprus during the late 19th and early 20th century, particularly in the aftermath of British administration replacing Ottoman rule in 1878. The article draws attention to the profound impact of this historical transition on the identity formation processes of both communities. Despite the shared wartime experience of the First World War, the Christian and Muslim communities in Cyprus failed to construct a cohesive identity rooted in their common geographical space. Drawing on Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of ambivalence, the article explores the complex process by which Cypriot communities sought to align their identity with larger nations, namely Greece and Turkey, rather than grounding it in their local context. The article contends that the genesis of their ambivalence can be traced back to 1878 when British administration replaced Ottoman rule on the island.

“THE SERMON ON THE DEC EASED” BY HRYHORII TSAMBLAK: RECENSIONS, POETICS, AND STYLE

The copy of “The Sermon on the Deceased” by Hryhorii Tsamblak, preserved in the library of the Kyiv Cave Monastery, was written in the 16th or early 17th century at the Belarusian Suprasl Monastery. This sermon is a part of the so-called “Hryhorii Tsamblak’s Book,” which may have been compiled by the author himself during his tenure as Kyivan metropolitan. The examined copy of the “The Sermon on the Deceased” and the copy of the same work kept in the scientific library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences in Vilnius are of Belarusian origin and differ significantly from the copies created in the Moscow principality. Therefore, it can be assumed that the Kyiv and Vilnius codices originate from a common protograph that was modified either by the author himself or by a scribe in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In “The Sermon on the Deceased,” Hryhorii Tsamblak shares his thoughts on the Christian custom of commemorating the dead. The preacher optimistically proclaims an eschatological perspective for Christians. The didactic purpose of Tsamblak’s sermon is to illuminate the futility of earthly concerns and efforts. The ontological perspective for the righteous pertains to the hope of the resurrection of the dead and eternal life. Based on numerous examples of human activity, such as the hard lives of warriors, farmers, sailors, and ore miners, the preacher attempts to illustrate the concept of “the vanity of vanities” and “the hurricane of human life that passes quickly.” Tsamlak argues that the Christian’s axiology should oppose the cult of enrichment, power, and vanity. Metaphorically and symbolically, he portrays the work of a farmer hoping for a good harvest, which represents the imperishable — eternal life in Christ. “The Sermon on the Deceased” was influenced by the sermons of John Chrysostom and, probably, by one of the works of Macarius the Great. The style of Tsamblak’s sermon can be defined as emotionally expressive.

The Economic Life of Sevastopol During the Late 18th and Early 19th Centuries

The Economic Life of Sevastopol During the Late 18th and Early 19th Centuries

Cultural implications of the liberties and guarantees bourn of Magna Carta

This text seeks to trace a broad outline of the circumstances under which the Magna Carta was originally conceived in England in the early 13th century. It also aims to identify the forces and inspiration that drove those who conceived of its form and imposition to act in the manner they and the legacy it has had on ensuing generations. While the great charter was not always fully respected, it did enjoy a revival owing to the scholarly diligence of Sir Edward Coke and this initiative paved the way for its permanent fixture as part of the architecture of liberty in England and the settlers of the American colonies who took inspiration from it. Attention is also given to the fundamental role played by rhetorical discourse in the advancement and preservation of the spirit of freedom originally inspired by content of the original charter.

Sources of Silver in North-Eastern Rus in the 10th–13th centuries ad according to lead isotope analysis

The article discusses the results of lead isotope analysis of 54 silver objects from the 9th–13th centuries AD from rural sites of Suzdal Opolye and villages around Murom. As a result of comparing the obtained data with the available databases for Pb-Pb isotopic values of archaeological objects from various collections and ore samples, it was established that in the second half of the 10th – early 11th century AD, Samanid dirhams were used in Opolye as a raw material for jewellery making. In the 11th century, silver from European sources began to flow into the region via the Baltic, becoming dominant by the end of the century. In Opolye and Murom of the 12th century, adornments were made from European raw materials.

A Century of Surgical Quality: Origins, Evolution, and Future Directions.

Over a century has passed since Ernst A. Codman's pioneering call for surgeons to take open responsibility for patient care, a concept integral to the emergence and leadership of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Codman's End Result Idea, originating in the early 20th century, laid the groundwork for professional responsibility and accountability in surgical practice, catalyzing the formation of the ACS. His innovative use of the "end result" technique at Massachusetts General Hospital highlighted significant variability in surgical outcomes, spurring debates on specialization and accountability. The ACS, under John Bowman's leadership, aimed to ensure optimal care through defined standards and verification mechanisms. Codman's Bone Sarcoma Registry, initiated in 1920, marked an early attempt at quality assessment and improvement through data collection. Despite facing resistance, Codman's vision laid the foundation for modern quality initiatives in surgical care. ACS programs, spanning trauma care to cancer treatment and beyond, have significantly enhanced patient outcomes while reducing costs. Looking forward, advancing surgical quality requires measuring quality, leveraging trusted data, embracing change management, fostering collaboration, and empowering specialists. The future of surgical care depends on collective efforts to uphold standards that ensure optimal care for all.

Chinese Ethnic Coffee Shop Adaptation in Riau through Inclusivity in Malay Society

This article focused on non-Muslim Chinese ethnic coffee shop entrepreneurs, aiming to discover and analyse forms of adaptation that have led to the survival of these coffee shops and their acceptance by the Malay-Muslim community. This qualitative research, utilising an ethnographic approach, is situated in Pekanbaru. Data was collected through observation and interviews with 11 predetermined informants, including entrepreneurs from second and third-generation Chinese families, Malay Riau cultural figures, historians, tourism advocates, coffee enthusiasts and customer informants. Documentary data in the form of autobiographies/biographies of the early founders of coffee shops. This study identified forms of adaptation, including the coffee shop managers’ identification with the community, continuity of family management adhering to halal and hygienic standards, prioritising honesty to gain community trust, forming partnerships and employing Muslim-background workers, and fostering communication, organisation, social engagement, and philanthropy. The adaptation of coffee shop entrepreneurs was expedited by the openness and acceptance of Muslim traders in Pekanbaru since the early 20th century. The presence of these coffee shops, deeply rooted in the social and cultural life of the Malay-Muslim community, manifests inclusivity. This encompasses accepting the halal aspect of the coffee shops’ offerings, managed by non-Muslim Chinese ethnic groups.

Lay Religious Associations in Extractive Zones: A Case Study of Diamantina, Brazil

This article considers religion in extractive zones by focusing on a religious practice in an extractive zone, namely, an Afro-Brazilian Irmandade (Catholic lay religious association) devoted to Our Lady of Mercy in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It adopts approaches from history and cultural studies to examine art, architecture, archives, and material culture, and brings these methodologies into conversation with Mary Louis Pratt’s notion of contact zones, Charles Long’s connection between these zones and new religious practices, Eduardo Gudynas’ definition of extraction, and Macarena Gómez-Barris’ decolonial methodologies for approaching the study of extractive zones. This study is contextualized in the history of mining in Brazil, the connection between mining and enslavement of Africans in the Americas, and the enduring legacy of lay religious associations in Brazil. The article then examines the association’s church, focusing on its late 18th and early 19th century façade and the statues at its main altar, and its 19th and 20th century maintenance records. It suggests that the Irmandades are engaged in a unique religious practice that arises within an extractive region because of specific historical, political, and social reasons, and that they give their members a place within the existing structures even as they challenge them.

The dawn and twilight of Old Irish scholarship

ABSTRACT Even though the publication of Johann Kaspar Zeuss’s monumental Grammatica Celtica (Zeuss 1853) marks the beginning of the modern, scientific study of the Old Irish language, short excerpts of the most important textual witnesses of Old Irish, the so-called Old Irish glosses, preserved in 8th–9th-century manuscripts on the European Continent, had appeared in print since the early 18th century. This article gives an overview of these early publications from the 18th and early 19th century by Johann Georg von Eckhart, Domenico Vallarsi, Lodovico Antonio Muratori, and Vittorio Amedeo Peyron, and assesses their role as early trailblazers in the study of Old Irish.

A 2000-year record of fecal biomarkers reveals past herbivore presence and impacts in a catchment in northern Yellowstone National Park, USA.

Molecular biomarkers preserved in lake sediments are increasingly used to develop records of past organism occurrence. When linked with traditional paleoecological methods, analysis of molecular biomarkers can yield new insights into the roles of herbivores and other animals in long-term ecosystem dynamics. We sought to determine whether fecal steroids in lake sediments could be used to reconstruct past ungulate use and dominant taxa in a small catchment in northern Yellowstone National Park. To do so, we characterized the fecal steroid profiles of a selection of North American ungulates historically present in the Yellowstone region (bison, elk, moose, mule deer, and pronghorn) and compared them with those of sediments from a small lake in the Yellowstone Northern Range. Analysis of a set of fecal steroids from herbivore dung (Δ5-sterols, 5α-stanols, 5β-stanols, epi5β-stanols, stanones, and bile acids) differentiated moose, pronghorn, and mule deer, whereas bison and elk were partially differentiated. Our results show that bison and/or elk were the primary ungulates in the watershed over the past c. 2300 years. Fecal steroid influxes reached historically unprecedented levels during the early and middle 20th century, possibly indicating high local use by ungulates. Comparison of fecal steroid influxes with pollen and diatom data suggests that elevated ungulate presence may have contributed to decreased forage taxa (Poaceae, Artemisia, and Salix), relative to long-term averages, and possibly increased lake production. Our results reflect past change within a single watershed, and extending this approach to a network of sites could provide much-needed information on past herbivore communities, use, and environmental influences in Yellowstone National Park and elsewhere.