Geographical Territory Research Articles

The Role of Social Group and Matriline on Fluctuating Asymmetry in Female Rhesus Macaques

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), or random deviations from symmetry, is typically thought to reflect stress during development. Therefore, FA has been used as a proxy for developmental instability in a wide variety of bilaterally symmetric organisms. The literature on FA explores a variety of environmental stressors that invoke mechanisms allowing developmental instability (temperature, food, etc.), but the role of heredity on developmental instability should not be discounted. We aimed to clarify the role of social group and matriline on FA, and thereby developmental stability, in female rhesus macaques. The Cayo Santiago macaques provide a unique opportunity to investigate the nuances of FA because of the wealth of information about the lives and deaths of each individual from the island. Further, in most cases, female rhesus macaques remain in the social group they were born into for their entire lives. We hypothesized that individuals in the same social group would exhibit similar levels of FA because they occupy similar geographical territory and are more closely related than females between social groups. Additionally, we hypothesized that individuals from higher ranking social groups will exhibit less FA than other social groups due to greater access to resources. Lastly, we hypothesized that individuals in the same matriline would exhibit more similar levels of FA to one another than other matrilines. We calculated craniofacial FA using 3D geometric morphometric techniques for 112 female macaques with known matrilines, 77 of which had known social groups. We used ANOVAs to compare mean FA between social groups and matrilines. No significantly different FA levels were observed between either (p=0.398 and p=0.752, respectively). These results indicate that genetic influence via relatedness may not have an impact on FA levels in a population and/or that FA is not distributed by social group or social group rank (though individual rank cannot be ruled out here). This work contributes to the FA literature by further parsing out the environmental and genetic influences affecting developmental instability.

The significance of Basiliea in political leadership in Nigeria

The Greek term Basiliea means the Kingdom of God. It is the reign of God and not a geographical location or territory. Basiliea is significant in the Bible considering the fact that God’s sovereign reign and dominion brought justice and peace. Therefore, the paper examined the significance of Basiliea in political leadership in the country with the view of encouraging political leaders to subject themselves to the reign and sovereignty of God in order to appropriate Christian leadership principles for good leadership to prevail. It engaged in a comparative analysis of Basiliea aimed at bringing the import of the Basiliea to the fore of political leadership in the country. The work adopted historical and phenomenological approaches. It made use of books like journals, bible commentaries and internet materials. The method for data analysis was descriptive and analytical. From the research, it was discovered that political leaders have neglected the values and principles of Basiliea which have occasioned bribery and corruption, embezzlement of public funds, electoral malpractice and selfish interests to mention just a few. The writer proffered solutions by making recommendations that arrested the situation.

The transnational politics of religion: Turkey's Diyanet, Islamic communities and beyond

ABSTRACT The article builds on current academic debates pertaining to the use of religion in global politics. By examining how and why religion is used as a tool for foreign policy aims as well as for perpetuating a state’s identity and institutional capacity at home and abroad; the article presents a theory-informed discussion on Turkey’s transnational politics of religion from a comparative perspective. The country’s use of religion as a political tool outside of its borders has been studied in Western Europe, Africa, Asia and the Balkans thanks to extensive fieldwork and interviews conducted between 2016 and 2020. The article investigates how and why Turkey has implemented similar policies with different aims in different geographic territories and the underlying material and normative motivations for this pursuit. The main argument presented in the article is that Turkey, under the rule of the AKP (Justice and Development Party), employs religion for three fundamental reasons: to bolster its regional and global influence, to access regions or groups that are difficult to reach through traditional foreign policy tools and to alter domestic political balances or amass power.

The contribution of Amir Ali Sher Nawayi and Khushal khan Khatak in relation to nation-building: A comparative study

The distance between Amir Ali Sher Nawayi and Khoshal Khan Khattak is about two centuries. In the realm of poem, politics, and civil activities both of these two personalities have joint aspects which have been recognized by the eastern cultures. They have involved and connected poems, societies, and have religious, cultural and literature values in the community. Their speeches themes which are joint and mutual are the main components of eastern culture understanding and nurturing the nation-building concepts. For instance, justice, equality, humanity, confidence, taste, etiquette, spirituality, commitment and humanitarianism. These are the main components on which nations are connected through politics, culture, and art as Amir Ali Shir Nawayi, Khoshal Khattak and other poets have done. It is clearly understood that our languages and cultures are connected and cannot be disconnected. As per linguistic, the languages spoken in this region, are connected to each other at some extent. This connection causes to understand and learn these languages easily. Moreover, preservation of culture, religion, and politics connect nations and state their identity. Common culture, and especially folkloric values preserve the connection between different nations and they consider each nation as their own. For example, we can say ‘storytelling’. If an Uzbeki Story is read or heard by any of the Pashtoon or Tajik, so, he will see him/herself in it. This is the real picture and proof of unity among the nations. The advocacy and struggle of Amir Ali Sher Nawayi and Khoshal Khan Khattak reminds us that these nations are not torn, nor spate, but ONE. They have one wish and one common objective. Their wish is serving human’s growing and developing, unity among nations and unity concepts. Their objective is unity and making one united nation. Geographical territory is the bases for nation-building. Afghanistan is the place where it is the home of all nations, a resort of economic resources, businesses, joint cultures, and nation-building.

Forbidden Melodies: Music and Arab-Jewish Identity in Contemporary Mizrahi Cinema

This article explores the role Arab music has played in forming Mizrahi identity in contemporary Israeli cinema, focusing on the films “The Ballad of the Weeping Spring”, “Testimony” and “Three Mothers”, which second and third generation Mizrahi filmmakers born to Jewish immigrants from Arab and Muslim countries made in Israel. Using Arab music, these films display the vast array of historical and imaginary relations between the Jew and the Arab, West and East, Israel and the Middle East. Memory of the Arab-Jewish past is a place that cannot be revisited, even if one can travel to the geographical territory that appears to be a place of ‘origin.’ As members of the second and third generations born in Israel, these Mizrahi filmmakers cannot reclaim the Arab-Jewish past of which they never really were a part, and so they try to trace musical routes that will take them to places, histories and encounters with people they have not known before. The grounded certainty of their Mizrahi roots is replaced in the films by the contingencies of the routes that the music enabled.

Legal framework for the protection of foreign employees in China

PurposeThis study aims to examine the adequate application of rights and protections granted to employees under labor laws and regulations to foreign employees working in China.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyzed applicable laws, regulations and related literature on the employment of foreigners in China and employed quantitative and qualitative methods to scrutinize the features of labor disputes involving foreign employees, to assess claims of inconsistencies. A group of judges and labor arbitrators were also interviewed.FindingsThe inconsistencies between Chinese immigration and labor laws, and between applicable laws and court enforcement, result in a considerable gap in employment protection for foreign employees. They have grown over the last two decades, in a changing legal environment of labor protection and labor market for foreigners.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focused on documented foreign employees' labor litigations from 2017 to 2020 in people's courts in China's five most economically developed regions. Future studies could cover a wider geographic territory and labor disputes of undocumented foreign employees to provide an even more comprehensive picture of the challenges and potential solutions.Practical implicationsThe inconsistency between immigration and labor law regarding employment protection for documented foreign employees requires legal clarification and regulation to ensure equal employment protection of both Chinese and foreign employees.Originality/valueThere are limited studies using empirical data from different regions in China to document and understand the gap between the statutory labor protections and the labor protection granted to foreign employees in law as well as in court practice.

Inequalities in the face of COVID-19 - Geographical territory profiles

In the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis, the Regional Health Observatories (RHO) and the National Federation of RHOs have chosen to make available their expertise regarding development and production of health indicators to support local and national public policies available, in order to plan for the lifting of population lockdown measures. To characterize as finely as possible the geographical territories, including overseas territories, using indicators to describe both the population potentially at risk of presenting serious forms of COVID-19 and the demographic and social situations that could favor the circulation of the Sars-Cov-2 virus. 1,250 profile sheets, one for each public establishment of intermunicipal cooperation in the French departments (excluding Mayotte) presenting 34 indicators were produced. A national synthesis including a typology of these territories in seven classes was also produced. This work shows the possibility of describing a series of indicators linked to a specific theme systematically and at fine geographical scales. Along with a typology of territories, this tool can contribute with others to the management of a health crisis.

Crocuses dyes in ancient Mediterranean World

In this study we look at some of the different plants that produce the colours of saffron: yellow and red-orange. These autochthonous plants of the Mediterranean regions, such as saffron, safflower, reseda, celandine, etc., are described in ancient written sources as P.Holm. and P.XLeid. for dye wool in yellow imitating the gold colour, the solar star colour (symbol of power) or the fire colour. crocuses colours highly appreciated in ancient times for their symbolic and ritual connotations. Some of the prescribed preparations at written sources quoted above will be seen and analysed here. Likewise, we will verify the influence of the cultural geographic territory and the tradition of dyes use a certain plant or another in a certain culture, since early ancient times.

Politics of Placemaking and Positions of the Musahars at Jamdaha-Golbazar

A certain unity of place and people have been long assumed in the anthropological concept of culture. The association between a particular geographical territory and a cultural group has been studied by classical anthropologists. The taken-for-granted logic was that the Madhesi live in Madhes, 'the Nuer live in Nuerland', 'the Andamanese' are the indigenous peoples of the 'Andaman Islands, and the Musahar live in Musahari. The places are named behind the name of the first settler. The clearest illustrations of these kinds of thinking are the classic 'ethnographic map' that purported to display the spatial distribution of peoples, tribes, and cultures. Place itself becomes a neutral grid on which cultural differences, political identity, historical memories, and societal organizations are inscribed. This assumed isomorphism of place and culture results in some significant problems. The place is not natural, rather it is cultural construction of peoples and it has no singular narratives. This article represents a modest attempt to deal with the issues of interrelation between people and place, displacement and crisis of place-based identity at Golbazar-Jamdaha in Siraha. The Musahar, the first settler of the Jamdaha, are not only marginalized from socioeconomic positions but also displaced from the placemaking process. The history of the Musahar and their places have been refigured in favor of the dominant community. The fundamental question is on the anthropological practices of captivating the association of a culturally singular group and its territorial location as natural. For me, places with cartography are always imagined in the context of political-economic privileges that have a logic of their own.

АНАЛИЗ ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЯ ПРИРОДНЫХ ФАКТОРОВ НА ЦИРКУЛЯЦИЮ ВИРУСА БЕШЕНСТВА СРЕДИ РЕЗЕРВУАРНЫХ ХОЗЯЕВ

Wildlife is a reservoir for many pathogens, including the rabies virus. While carnivores (Carnivora) and bats (Chiroptera) are the main orders of mammals acting as natural reservoirs of rabies virus (RABV), the role of most other orders of mammals remains less well known. As a result of the evolution of the pathogen, climatic, landscape changes, anthropogenic impact on wildlife, the characteristics of the main hosts of the rabies virus change, new reservoirs of the virus appear. It has been established that environmental factors affect the circulation of the rabies virus among reservoir hosts in various zones of the global nosoareal of the disease. RABV strains circulate in most terrestrial reservoirs of lissavirus. In North and South America, all variants of the causative agent of the disease are currently strains of rabies virus (RABV). Here, bats are an autonomous source of rabies in humans and pets. There is no RABV in bats on other continents. RABV strains circulate in most terrestrial reservoirs of lissavirus, with the exception of Africa, where IKOV and MOKV have been detected in addition to RABV. Western and part of Central Europe, North America are considered to be free of terrestrial RABV among dogs and foxes as a result of actively implemented national vaccination programs for these animal species, the impact of climatic conditions has affected the survival tactics of the rabies virus. As an adaptation to real conditions, both a slowdown in virus replication and an increase in the number of viral generations due to the growth of the host population can be observed. The adaptation of the virus to the ecology of susceptible animals is manifested in the peculiarities of the pathogenesis of the disease, in the spread of the virus to new geographical territories, in the activation of RABV in previously prosperous territories and in the expansion of the potential range of reservoirs. Currently, RABV is being activated in previously safe territories and the expansion of the modern nosoareal of rabies of wild animals is taking place. New animal species are increasingly being included in the epizootic and epidemic processes of rabies. The problem of unrecognized reservoir species present in the mammalian animal population may have negative consequences for the prediction, prevention and control of rabies.

A METHOD TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF CYCLING OPERATION AND CARBON EMISSIONS

In developed countries, the average daily variation in hourly demand for electric power is about 40% of the peak demand. To meet the variation in hourly demand, the steam power plants must vary the generation using cycling operation. Many large countries such as USA, Russia, and European Union use multiple time zones in their territory to match their standard time with the daylight hours. However, these time zones do not focus on reducing the cycling operation of steam power plants. This model proposes the use of a precise algorithm in setting up multiple time zones in a territory to reduce the cycling operation of steam power plants. It recommends setting up multiple time zones in any geographic territory across the globe with an integrated power grid where the longitude difference between the Far East and Far West is more than an hour of solar time. It has been demonstrated by applying this model that the differential between peak and off-peak electrical power demand in the target territory can be reduced. This has a direct influence on the load following operations of steam power plants and shall reduce carbon emissions from the target territory.

Escolas, territórios e afirmação cultural em periferias urbanas no Sul do Brasil

Abstract This article analyzes the contemporary relationship established between schools and territories based on the experiences of school actors working in urban peripheries in the south of Brazil. Founded on the conceptual category of “urban-educational experiences” inspired by the sociology of experience, the study examines and problematizes the political views and sociocultural logics that are present in the pedagogical action of teachers who teach in primary education in schools located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. From the methodological viewpoint, data were built from interviews with 66 selected school actors and were complemented with the analysis of institutional documents. As for results, three analytical perspectives were identified: (a) schools as territories of cultural affirmation through pedagogical actions developed by teachers teaching in the early grades of primary education, who mobilize learning about the history and geography of municipal territories, considering urban contexts marked by inequalities, migration and intercultural encounters; (b) schools as active agents in processes of recognition of cultural heritage, particularly in urban contexts where there is no official heritage listing, registration or other similar governmental procedure; and (c) the school’s permeability to cultural practices developed by independent collectives and community associations dedicated to the political-cultural education of students in urban peripheries.

The Geography of Resources, Conflict, and Territory in Hominins

The Geography of Resources, Conflict, and Territory in Hominins

Podeželska območja, podeželsko prebivalstvo in podeželski prostor v srednji Evropi (države JCEA): vizualizacija raziskovanja v citatnih zbirkah Scopus and Web of Science

This study, based on bibliometrics (related to scientometrics) and science mapping, along with some sociological analytical insights, assesses contexts of the concept 'rural' in articles written by authors affiliated to JCEA (Journal of Central European Agriculture) member countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia (with addition of Austria because of geographical proximity and historical ties), using citation databases Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), and visualization software VOSviewer. Most papers are published outside the scope of agricultural production studies, clustered strongly in the fields of medicine, physical environment, social sciences, and ecological interactions. A small proportion of the reference to “rural” in agricultural science seems self-assumed in the general association of agricultural production with rural space. The papers mainly refer to geographical area, space or territory where interactions between specific social and natural processes take place. Topics tackling rural space as a societal form and arrangements, e.g. sustainable rural development and transformation, are the most recent. National and regional journals show strong recent presence but papers are also published in principal international journals. Co-author networking (countries / institutions / affiliations) indicates strong regional co-operation which is strongest in the immediate neighborhood. Co-authorship based on spatial proximity can be partly explained by less ambitious internationalization of research activities. Although publication patterns in both databases show similar traits, some database effect can be observed, also due to the inclusion of ESCI (Emerging Sources Citation Index) in 2015.

Acute Hemorrhagic Fever: Clinical, Epidemiological and Laboratory Aspects in São Tomé and Príncipe

Background: In the last 6 months, cases of acute hemorrhagic fever (AHF) have been recorded in Sao Tome and Principe (STP). Objective: To identify the clinical, epidemiological and laboratory parameters associated with AHF cases found in patients hospitalized in STP. Methods: Descriptive and quantitative analysis of AHF cases hospitalized in STP in the period December 2021 to May 19, 2022 through the variables: demographic data; clinical data; laboratory data and clinical outcome. Results: Analyzed 18 of 22 AHF cases, 50% of them male, mean age 33.7 years, 85.7% residing in the 2 largest districts of the country, 66.7% rural workers, administrative near maritime areas, sailors and domestics. 66.7% were healthy individuals. ≥50% had a fever, asthenia/weakness, myalgia, headache, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. 22.2% to 33.3% had retro-orbital pain, abdominal pain, decreased consciousness, dyspnea/hypoxia, and cough. In a smaller register (5.6% - 11.1%), exanthema, convulsion, arthralgia, low back pain, chills, and chest pain. Bleeding from the digestive tract was found in 72.2%, followed by vaginal (33.3%), urethral (27.8%), nasal (22.2%), and oral (16.7%). 50% had laboratory confirmation for dengue, and another 50% with suspected clinical diagnosis without laboratory confirmation of the etiologic agent. Despite hemorrhage, 66.7% of confirmed cases were hemodynamically non-severe, and 88.9% of suspected cases were severe. Coinfection with malaria is evidenced in 11.1% of cases. 72.2% recovered and 27.8% died (deaths in 55.5% of suspected cases). Case deaths were male (100%), resident foreigners (40%), tool store employees, sailors and students, healthy (80%), and residing in the largest district in the country (60%). All deaths were hospitalized in serious condition, 80% were hospitalized for hemorrhage and shock, with bleeding arising between day 4 - 5 of illness in 60% and hospitalization on day 5 of illness. 60% died within ≤24 hours of hospitalization. 80% died from shock and multi-organ dysfunction and 20% from respiratory failure. Deaths had thrombocytopenia (100%), renal dysfunction (100%) and significantly increased transaminases (100%), anemia (75%) and leukocytosis (66.7%). 20% had a radiological change of pulmonary infiltrates. Conclusion: Our data reveal the complexity of the pathogens causing AHF and suggest the possible presence of other human pathogens usually unknown in the Santomean geographical territory.

Territorial nature protection system of Siberia and Mongolia

The large territory, including Mongolia and Russian Siberia, discussed in the article, has similarities in physical, geographical, and socio-demographic parameters, as well as the attitude to them as "resource colonies". But these Siberian and Mongolian components differ significantly politically, which affects their institutional and managerial characteristics, which in turn affects the process of forming the structure of territorial nature protection. The article analyses the existing systems of protected areas in Siberia and Mongolia, their structure, and legislative bases. In this study, Siberia is considered within the boundaries of the natural geographic territory between the Urals and the Far East and includes 14 regions of Russia. Of these, the Siberian Federal District includes the Altai Republic, Altai Krai, Irkutsk Oblast, Kemerovo Oblast, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Novosibirsk Oblast, Omsk Oblast, Tomsk Oblast, Tuva Republic, Khakassia Republic. The Far Eastern Federal District includes the Buryatia Republic, the Trans-Baikal Krai, Sakha (Yakutia) Republic; the Tyumen Oblast is located in the Ural Federal District.

Interpretation of Road Network using QGIS

Road networks are the key element for economic growth in every country. It is essential for project a strategic and sustained expansion and an adequate maintenance of these networks to guarantee quality connections between the different parts of a geographical territory. Road enables the supply of goods and services around the world and it connect the people to workplaces, schools, hospitals and some other places in the geographical area. Road infrastructure improves the effectiveness and efficiency of all the countries and increases the standard living of people, making their lives easier. In this paper we proposed to design the road network map for Erode district using QGIS (Quantum Geographic Information System). We identified and classified various type of road network for that particular area. In this map we include what kind of road network is available and also explained the purpose of the each type of road network.

Characteristic of herd immunity among the population of Stavropol region amid the COVID-19 epidemic

Introduction. The first pandemic in the 21st century, caused by the pathogenic representative of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, began in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the first outbreak of coronavirus pneumonia was recorded in December 2019. The disease spread so quickly around the world that already on February 11, 2020, WHO was forced to declare a pandemic of the “coronavirus disease 2019” COVID-19. The first case of COVID-19 in the Stavropol Territory was registered on March 20, 2020, and three weeks later, starting from the 15th week of the year, a steady increase in the incidence began, which lasted until the 52nd week. During the study period, the incidence increased from 21.1 to 28.3 per hundred thousand of the population. Growth 1.3 times.Purpose: to determine the dynamics of population immunity among the population of the Stavropol Territory in 2020-2021. during the period of an epidemic increase in the incidence of COVID-19. Materials and methods. The SARS-CoV-2 study was carried out according to a unified methodology within the framework of the program for assessing the population immunity of the population of the Russian Federation, developed by Rospotrebnadzor with the participation of the St. Pasteur. In total, 2688 people were examined, divided into 7 age groups. In the examined individuals, the level of specific IgG to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid was determined by the enzyme immunoassay.Results. The level of seroprevalence among residents of the Stavropol Territory was 9.8%. The largest proportion of seropositive individuals was found in the age groups 1-6 and 7-13 years old (19.2% and 19.7%, respectively). Seroprevalence had no gender differences and ranged from 9.3% to 10.8%. When assessing the distribution of the proportion of seropositive persons in different geographic territories of the region, it was found that the maximum proportion was found in the Kochubeevsky district (23.1%), the minimum in Kislovodsk (7.7%). Among convalescents, the content of specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was noted in 73.3%, which is 7.8 times higher than the average population level. When conducting seromonitoring in the 2nd half of 2020, a 10-fold increase in seroprevalence was recorded, accompanied by a decrease in incidence from the 5th week of 2021. Among asymptomatic volunteers in whom SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by the polymerase chain reaction, antibody titers to viruses were found in 78.6%, which corresponds to the seroprevalence of convalescents. The proportion of seropositive persons among those who have come into contact with COVID-19 patients was 16.4%, (1.8 times higher than the average for the population). Out of 262 seroprevalent volunteers, the asymptomatic form of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 92% of the examined, which indicates a significant role of the number of asymptomatic forms of infection in the epidemic process of COVID-19.Conclusion. The results of assessing the population immunity of the population of the Stavropol Territory indicate that it has not yet reached the threshold level at which a decrease in the intensity of the COVID-19 epidemic process can be expected.

The role of geographical factor in the formation and development of human potential

This article summarizes the results of the study on development and analysis of the typology of Russian regions according to criteria for the quality of human potential. Prior to this, ten clusters of this typology were studied separately, exceptions from the typical entry into clusters with neighboring regions were considered. Although among the qualitative characteristics of human potential there was not a single one, reflecting the territorial location of the regions, but in the typology they were distributed precisely on the basis of geography. Unobserved factors, whose effects on human potential are mediated by study-driven indicators, played a crucial role in clustering regions. Such a result naturally brought us to the works of L.N. Gumilev, which were studied in terms of the role played by geography of territories, landscapes and climate in the formation of human potential. In many ways, geographical conditions also determine the nature of economic activities, which form the abilities and skills of the population that characterize human potential. It was concluded that the typology of regions obtained on the characteristics of human potential corresponds to the composition of federal districts, with the exception of four small clusters, three of which — with a pronounced raw material specialization and one — with the financial advantages of two capital cities. Accordingly, this implies the expediency of using the administrations of federal districts to solve the problem of improving the quality of human potential. The protracted process of giving administrative status to federal districts can be completed by setting them the important social task of developing and implementing a strategy for improving the qualitative characteristic of population.

Anastas Benderev's 1890 Ethnographic Maps

This article deals with a pair of old ethnographic maps made by a Bulgarian officer (bearing the rank of Captain at the time) named Anastas Benderev (1859–1946). The maps were first published as folding attachments in Benderev’s book Military Geography and Statistics of Macedonia and Its Adjacent Territories on the Balkan Peninsula (Voennaia geografiia i statistika Makedonii i sosednikh s neiu oblastei Balkanskago poluostrova), which itself was published in Russian in Saint Petersburg in 1890. The stated purpose of the maps was to elucidate certain passages from the book, particularly those pertaining to the population’s ethnic composition. One of the maps (Etnograficheskaya karta Balkanskogo poluostrova) depicts the ethnicities across the entire Balkan Peninsula, while the other (Etnograficheskaya karta Makedonii) focuses on those within the confines of the historical and geographical territory of Macedonia. Due to a confluence of events, the maps in question are barely known and hardly ever used nowadays, even though they represent valuable relics from the era. This article aims to reintroduce them into the scientific discourse as historical documents of note.