Historical Events Research Articles

A consequential one-night stand: Episodic historical hybridization leads to mitochondrial takeover in sympatric desert ant-eating spiders

Disentangling the genomic intricacies underlying speciation and the causes of discordance between sources of evidence can offer remarkable insights into evolutionary dynamics. The ant-eating spider Zodarion nitidum, found across the Middle East and Egypt, displays yellowish and blackish morphs that co-occur sympatrically. These morphs additionally differ in behavioral and physiological features and show complete pre-mating reproductive isolation. In contrast, they possess similar sexual features and lack distinct differences in their mitochondrial DNA. We analyzed both Z. nitidum morphs and outgroups using genome-wide and additional mitochondrial DNA data. The genomic evidence indicated that Yellow and Black are reciprocally independent lineages without signs of recent admixture. Interestingly, the sister group of Yellow is not Black but Z. luctuosum, a morphologically distinct species. Genomic gene flow analyses pinpointed an asymmetric nuclear introgression event, with Yellow contributing nearly 5 % of its genome to Black roughly 320,000 years ago, intriguingly aligning with the independently estimated origin of the mitochondrial DNA of Black. We conclude that the blackish and yellowish morphs of Z. nitidum are long-diverged distinct species, and that the ancient and modest genomic introgression event registered resulted in a complete mitochondrial takeover of Black by Yellow. This investigation underscores the profound long-term effects that even modest hybridization events can have on the genome of organisms. It also exemplifies the utility of phylogenetic networks for estimating historical events and how integrating independent lines of evidence can increase the reliability of such estimations.

Drink and drive? Understanding the dynamics of youth risk-taking.

We exploit a reduction in the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) in New Zealand from 20 to 18 to study the dynamics of youth risk-taking. Using the universe of road accidents over 15years and an event history approach, we find no evidence that lowering the drinking age increased alcohol-related accidents among teens. Complementary results of a cohort analysis suggest that reducing the drinking age even led to a short-term decline in risky driving among youths directly affected by the MLDA change but had no longer-run impacts on youth risky driving and drinking behaviors.

Was Oleksandr Dovzhenko a Judophobe (According to the materials of the Soviet special services)

The submitted article is aimed at the revealing and representing previously unknown archival documents from the funds of the Soviet special services, concerning the non-conformist attitudes of Oleksandr Dovzhenko, his resentment towards the Jews in particular. The author’s task is directed at stimulating further studies and discussions in order to find means of depicting a realistic image of Dovzhenko. Methodological principles are based on the fundamentals of historicism and critical analysis of sources with a complex combination of the entire multiplicity of newly discovered historical facts and events in accordance with specific historical circumstances. The scientific novelty consists in the comprehension of the documents of the communist special services as a source component of unprejudiced research strategies of modern Dovzhenko Studies. Conclusions. Newly discovered archival documents prove that Dovzhenko’s critical attitude towards Jews is the result of complex and situationally determined attitudes and life experiences. This is why these cannot be simplistic and straightforward narratives. Communist special services have monitored closely Dovzhenko’s anti-Soviet sentiments, suspected him of «counter-revolutionary activities», and also recorded his statements directed at Jewish cinematographers. However, they haven’t given unequivocal assessments to such statements. Dovzhenko has collaborated and made friends creatively with many Jewish artists, and his critical attitudes have never turned into denunciation and other practical forms of revenge.

The evolutionary history of wild and domestic brown rats ( Rattus norvegicus )

The brown rat ( Rattus norvegicus ) occupies nearly every terrestrial habitat with a human presence and is one of our most important model organisms. Despite this prevalence, gaps remain in understanding the evolution of brown rat commensalism, their global dispersal, and mechanisms underlying contemporary adaptations to diverse environments. In this Review, we explore recent advances in the evolutionary history of brown rats and discuss key challenges, including finding and accurately dating historical specimens, disentangling histories of multiple domestication events, and synthesizing functional variation in wild rat populations with the development of laboratory strains. Advances in zooarchaeology and population genomics will usher in a new golden age of research on the evolutionary biology of brown rats, with positive feedbacks on their use as biomedical models.

Health survey on anxiety, depression, and stress in Afghanistan: A large-scale cross-sectional study amid ongoing challenges

BackgroundOne of the most significant events in recent Afghan history is the rise of the Taliban and the war that followed, which had profound impacts on the lives of Afghans. The present study examined the mental health of Afghans living under the Taliban government.MethodsBetween June 5, 2023 and February 12, 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted among the Afghan population in three key regions of Afghanistan. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS-21) was utilized to assess depression, anxiety and stress of the Afghan population. Ethical permission for this study was granted by the Afghanistan Center for Epidemiological Studies (ACES). Logistic regression models were employed to explore the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and depression, anxiety, and stress among 2,698 participants.ResultsThe prevalence of depression was 72.05%, anxiety was 71.94%, and stress was 66.49%. Multiple regression analysis indicated that gender (being female), economic status (being poor), residency (living in rural areas), education level (being illiterate), being a cigarette smoker, and having experienced a bad event during the past month were significantly associated with depression, anxiety and stress.ConclusionThe findings of the present study show very high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, most likely reflecting the profound impact of recent political, social, and economic changes. Notably, a significant majority of participants, particularly females and individuals above 35 years of age, reported severe to extremely severe mental health symptoms. The mental health crisis in Afghanistan is a complex and urgent issue that requires a comprehensive and compassionate response.

Ejido El Porvenir en Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California. Trazas históricas de una comunidad agrícola

The founding and development of Ejido El Porvenir in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, is the topic of this article. This farming community is one of the Mexican government’s land redistribution projects. In the analysis, historic events of the community are analyzed along with the community’s expectations in this border region, the corporatism of the Mexican government, the pressures of the regional market, private enterprise, competition with neighboring communities, and weather events. The research draws on government and private archives, literature and newspapers, and memories and testimonies both physical and digital.

Social Role of the Tradition of Protest Song Tradition of Popular Music mid-20th century in the United States

Introduction. The article considers the integrating social role of the tradition of protest songs in the period 1950–1970 on the example of the United States of America. This period was characterized by a series of military conflicts against the background of geopolitical confrontation between the USSR and the USA, which was reflected in creative and sociocultural movements for peace and contributed to social and political changes in the USA. Protest music not only contributed to a positive influence on political decision-making, but also became a powerful means of expressing public opinion and feelings.Methodology and sources. The methodology and theory is based on comparative historical analysis of socio-cultural, political and historical events and facts related to the period covered. The material for the study was also made up of biographies, descriptions of events by eyewitnesses and documents of secondary analysis, telling about the social and musical impact of the phenomenon of protest songs of folk music and rock'n'roll counterculture on American society, as a reaction to the political decisions of the U.S. government to create hotbeds of military conflicts in the world.Results and discussion. The period from the late 1940s to the 1950s in the United States was marked by an acute confrontation between communism and capitalism, which was reflected in the culture and music of the time. The emergence and proliferation of protest songs, as well as other forms in the arts, occurs because of important crisis events on a global scale, or when people begin to see these events as such. Because of the impact the conflict between the two superpowers and their allies had on the world, people began to react to it in their own way. Music reacted to the events instantly and vividly. Although most protest songs were not a national success and their message was mostly appreciated by radicals, the songs united people and helped them express their discontent with what was happening.Conclusion. Folk and rock music became an integral part of life during the Cold War within the United States. Musicians and poets protested against the administration's policies, against unnecessary military conflicts, and warned against the possible destruction of the world. As a result, these genres became a powerful means of expressing public feelings, opinions, and influenced the formation of public consciousness right up to our time.

РАГУИЛ ДОБРЫНИЧ КАК ИСТОРИЧЕСКАЯ ЛИЧНОСТЬ

The article presents a historical reconstruction of the biography of one of the most prominent historical figures of Ancient Rus’ of the 12th century. – Novgorod boyar Raguil Dobrynich. During the research process, special methods of cognition were used (historical-analytical and problem-chronological). The materials that form the basis of the study were studied and analyzed taking into account the chronology of events and the need to obtain historical information from the scientific sources being studied. When comparing different theoretical views on the analyzed problems, the method of comparative and retrospective analysis was used.The authors conducted a historiographic analysis of the problem posed in the study and identified the main sources used in writing the article. Based on the texts of ancient Russian chronicles, as well as the contents of birch bark letter No. 831, the authors reconstructed the Novgorod period of the biography of Raguil Dobrynich, and also outlined his role in the historical events associated with the expulsion and murder of Prince Igor Olegovich.Particular attention in the article is paid to the analysis of the historical events of 1170 related to the revolt of the Novgorod squad against their prince Vladimir Mstislavich, in which Raguil Dobrynich played a key role.

Причины модификации внешнеполитических усилий Турецкой Республики в отношении государств Центральной Азии в 1991–2022 гг.

The article analyzes the reasons behind the modification of the foreign policy efforts of the Republic of Turkey towards Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) from 1991 to 2022. During this period, Turkey’s efforts were modified due to several general factors: global historical events, shifts in international relations, the emergence or decline of new actors in international relations, the evolution of ideas within the state’s political framework, rapid scientific and technological advancement, increased accessibility to information, and the development of new methods of societal engagement. The analysis identifies specific reasons for these modifications: the diversification of Turkey’s foreign relations aimed at enhancing its geopolitical role in the world, the resurgence of Pan-Turkism in Turkey’s foreign policy, the variability and frequent changes in the ruling parties within the country, the absence of foreign policy invariants and constants in the execution of its foreign policy course, the political struggle between pro-Islamic parties and Kemalists, and the multi-vector nature of the country’s foreign policy from 1991 to 2022. The results obtained may assist Central Asian states in formulating strategies and tactics for their international relations with Turkey and other actors.

Chronotopes of home and dislocation: recognising the lived experiences of refugees

ABSTRACT Forced migrants are often presented in public and private discourse from a reductive perspective focusing solely on their vulnerability and their status as refugees, without acknowledging other aspects of their identity and life history. This article investigates how refugee-background participants in qualitative research interviews drew on the chronotopes of home to construct a narrative of origin that foregrounded diverse aspects of their identity and emphasised their lived experiences in a fuller sense. In their narratives, participants contested representations of their home countries and of historical events, as well as representations of themselves, to challenge reductive identity constructions. Further, the narratives suggested that while widely known, mass-mediated chronotopes may assist in initial orientation to a location and event or time period, these generally provide a limited, and sometimes a highly contestable, representation of reality.

Diversity of ethnomycological knowledge and mushroom foraging culture in a small nation: case of Lithuania

BackgroundEven in mycophilic nations, mushroom foraging and use traditions may vary from region to region, making it part of cultural diversity and a source of traditional knowledge even in modern and changing societies. The main objective of our study was to investigate mushroom foraging and use traditions in major ethno-regions of Lithuania, to record and analyse whether and how biogeographical and ethno-cultural features influence these traditions, what is their biocultural significance, and whether they persist in the face of societal and environmental change.MethodsThe study conducted a survey among 106 respondents from eleven administrative units of Lithuania, representing four ethno-regions (Žemaitija, Suvalkija, Dzūkija and Aukštaitija, the latter divided into North and East). The age of the respondents ranged from 32 to 97 years (mean 70 years, median 68 years). Each respondent was asked six questions about mushroom species and mushroom foraging. The interviews were accompanied by 50 photographs of different mushroom species. The similarity between mushroom foragers' preferences in ethno-regions and the sets of mushroom species used for food and medicine was tested using cluster analysis. Clustering was carried out using Sørensen distances and the method of cluster mean linkage method.ResultsThe number of mushroom species recognised per respondent was quite similar, with the lowest number of mushroom species recognised in Žemaitija and the highest in Eastern Aukštaitija. Species of no economic or other importance were not well recognised in any of the regions. The number of names applied to mushroom species varied from region to region and did not coincide with the popularity of mushrooms among mushroom pickers. The number of mushroom species used for food was also similar between regions, except for Dzūkija, which had the lowest number of species collected. Nine mushroom species were identified by respondents as medicinal mushrooms, the most popular being Amanita muscaria and Inonotus obliquus. When analysing the similarity of mushroom species collected for food and medicine, it was found that ethno-regions clustered into three distinct groups. Two groups depended on the prevailing forest types, while Žemaitija formed a separate cluster defined only by local traditions.ConclusionsThe work represents the largest study of ethnomycological tradition in Lithuania, covering major ethno-regions. We have found that ethnomycological knowledge and tradition are not influenced by any long-term historical events, ethnicity or religion, but rather by the prevailing forest types and regional ethno-culture. Knowledge of edible mushrooms is considered to be inherited from the older generation and is conservative regarding the changes in the set of species consumed and mushroom-related gastronomy. This is also reflected in the safety of mushroom consumption, as mushroom poisoning was very rare among the respondents. Economically insignificant mushrooms are not distinguished and overlooked by traditional mushroom pickers who are not a good source of information on rare or otherwise noteworthy species. However, from a biocultural point of view, mushrooms and mushroom-related traditions remain important for linguistic diversity, traditional knowledge systems and their transmission.

Sovereignty in the Age of Globalization

States have always had unchallenged sovereign power, but in the present time, this power is collapsing due to the emergence of international organizations, regional organizations, international courts, and tribunals, NGOs & MNCs. Sovereignty and globalization are both concepts that are looked into in this paper through the application of a methodical framework. Global factors influence the internal matters of a state, ultimately affecting the effectiveness of the state's sovereign powers. Furthermore, the paper talks about the challenges faced by the state due to this increased involvement. And opportunities. Undoubtedly, nationalism has risen across the globe because of global expansion. Migration is on the rise due to globalization, and along with it, the nationalistic sentiment has also increased. Numerous nations are facing severe difficulties owing to migration, resulting in a direct impact on state sovereignty. In regards to challenges faced by the sovereignty of the state, the paper even highlights futuristic aspects, keeping in mind the past and historical events that helped mankind throughout this challenging journey.

The Influence of Colonial Trauma on the Masculine Characteristics of Georgian Identity

The present paper explores two Georgian literary texts written at the beginning of the twentieth century, at the early stage of Sovietization: Sanavardo by Demna Shengelaia, and Jaqo’s Dispossessed by Mikheil Javakhishvili. I aim to explore the traumatic effects of colonization on Georgian national consciousness and analyze its influence on the masculine characteristics of the Georgian identity. The issue of national self-identification has been raised, with all its sharpness, at every stage of fundamental historical and political changes in Georgia. The permanency of the issue is an indication of the fact that the national self-identification process has been associated with certain historical facts and events that have not been fully realized and existed as not overcome trauma, by society. Such an event is the Russian occupation of Georgia at the end of the nineteenth century. Based on trauma theory, the research shows that in both novels, the writers describe the lives of the main characters who lost their abilities and were unable to make purposeful use of their potential. Therefore, their political and social functions were represented by disregarding reality and distancing themselves from the present. The reasons for the negation of the present refer to the so-called existential fear of reality, which has caused a weakening or disappearance of masculine characteristics of identity such as power, assertiveness, desire to own and control, and individual initiative.

Mitochondrial markers revealed genetic panmixia in the data-deficient yellowfin snapper, Lutjanus xanthopinnis (Actinopterygii: Eupercaria: Lutjanidae), from a hotspot of the southern region of the South China Sea

Understanding the genetic structure and diversity of marine fish is crucial for a sustainable management program. We examined the genetic diversity and historical demographics of the yellowfin snapper, Lutjanus xanthopinnis Iwatsuki, Tanaka et Allen, 2015, in the coastal waters of east Peninsular Malaysia which is bordered by the southern part of the South China Sea using the mitochondrial genes (mtDNA) D-loop and Cytochrome b (Cyt-b). A total of 99 (D-loop) and 78 (Cyt-b) specimens of L. xanthopinnis were successfully sequenced from six locations within the range of species distribution along the Malaysian South China Sea. In the presently reported study, the lack of genetic differentiation among populations can be attributed to historical demographic events, eggs and planktonic larvae’ ability to disperse, spawning patterns, and the absence of physical barriers in the geographical landscape. Maximum likelihood gene trees demonstrated that the populations under study had limited structuring and formed a panmictic population that lacks support for internal clades. The AMOVA (Analysis of Molecular Variance) and population pairwise ФST values indicated high genetic exchange between the study areas. A high level of haplotype diversity (D-loop: 0.948–1.000; Cyt-b: 0.542–0.928), low nucleotide diversity (D-loop: 0.0095–0.0159; Cyt-b: 0.0022–0.0049) and starlike haplotype network indicates a recent expansion of L. xanthopinnis populations in Malaysian South China Sea. However, neutrality and goodness of fit tests revealed non-significant values. Furthermore, the BSP (Bayesian skyline plot) analysis estimated population expansion events during the late Pleistocene. During this epoch, the fluctuation in sea level may have led to an increase in the abundance of resources and favorable habitats for the yellowfin snapper. The presently reported findings could initiate efficient management strategies for L. xanthopinnis along the coastal areas of the Malaysian South China Sea and other nearby nations that share the same waterways.

Fighting A New Front On An Old Battlefield: Examining the Development of Topical Antimicrobial Care to Control Burn Wound Sepsis.

Recognition of invasive burn wound sepsis as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in burn injured patients has profoundly changed the management of burn wounds and its associated complications. The development of effective topical antimicrobial therapy is one of the last major developments of modern burn care and has been driven by major world events and scientific breakthroughs. Topical antimicrobial burn care has evolved from the use of anecdotal remedies to scientific breakthroughs such as Moyer's successful dilution of silver nitrate solution, Fox's described benefit of silver sulfadiazine use in animal models, and Pruitt's dramatic improvement in post-burn mortality using topical mafenide acetate in burn wounds. The objective of this manuscript is to review the definition of burn wound sepsis and highlight the major developments and breakthroughs in topical burn wound care throughout history. This includes historical events like major wars or domestic fires that have influenced or impacted the understanding and treatment of burn wounds. Newer advances in topical antimicrobial care such as nanosilvers and dressing technologies that improve the morbidity and mortality associated with burn wound sepsis and novel approaches to management will also be discussed. To improve burn care, it is prudent to look to the past and learn from the experiences of those who contributed to the control of burn wound sepsis.

You don’t understand me! But, I do! Awareness of cross-generational differences in collective remembering of national historic events

ABSTRACT Collective memories refer to a group’s shared representation of the past, which are slow to change over time. In this study, representative samples of American and German Younger Adults (YAs) and Older Adults (OAs) rated the emotional valence of 12 national historic events. Critically, both age groups were also asked to take on the perspective of the other: OAs imagined how YAs feel, whereas YAs imagined how OAs feel about the same events today. The results replicated previous findings that OAs and YAs hold differing opinions on numerous events. Both age groups successfully recognised these different collective perceptions between generations to some extent. Yet, OAs were more accurate in the perspective-taking task, with YAs consistently underestimating the intensity of OAs’ emotional valence. Self-reported perspective-taking strategies suggest that OAs relied more on stereotypes and considered education, while knowledge from specific people was universally used to rate the other age group’s perspective.

Criticality of Nursing Care for Patients With Alzheimer's Disease in the ICU: Insights From MIMIC III Dataset.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) exhibit varying survival outcomes due to the unique challenges in managing AD patients. Stratifying patient mortality risk and understanding the criticality of nursing care are important to improve the clinical outcomes of AD patients. This study aimed to leverage machine learning (ML) and electronic health records (EHRs) only consisting of demographics, disease history, and routine lab tests, with a focus on nursing care, to facilitate the optimization of nursing practices for AD patients. We utilized Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III, an open-source EHR dataset, and AD patients were identified based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. From a cohort of 453 patients, a total of 60 features, encompassing demographics, laboratory tests, disease history, and number of nursing events, were extracted. ML models, including XGBoost, random forest, logistic regression, and multi-layer perceptron, were trained to predict the 30-day mortality risk. In addition, the influence of nursing care was analyzed in terms of feature importance using values calculated from both the inherent XGBoost module and the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) library. XGBoost emerged as the lead model with a high accuracy of 0.730, area under the curve (AUC) of 0.750, sensitivity of 0.688, and specificity of 0.740. Feature importance analyses using inherent XGBoost module or SHAP both indicated the number of nursing care within 14 days post-admission as an important denominator for 30-day mortality risk. When nursing care events were excluded as a feature, stratifying patient mortality risk was also possible but the model's AUC of receiver operating characteristic curve was reduced to 0.68. Nursing care plays a pivotal role in the survival outcomes of AD patients in ICUs. ML models can be effectively employed to predict mortality risks and underscore the importance of specific features, including nursing care, in patient outcomes. Early identification of high-risk AD patients can aid in prioritizing intensive nursing care, potentially improving survival rates.

The Beginning of Writing Culture among Steppe Nomads

The present study focuses on the prerequisites for the periodization of writing in the culture of steppe nomads, the stages of development of pictographic subject and ideological writing are analyzed. Many petroglyphs, symbols left by steppe nomads, probably reflect their desire to understand the world around them. Authors of articles as part of several expeditions to the complex petroglyphs of Shiveet Khairkhan, Arshan Khad, Khoit-Tsenkher, Baga-Oygur in Mongolia; Bichikt-Bom, Karakol, Bizhikt-Khaya, Bii-Khem, Karasuk in Russia; Ak-Baur, Zhetysu, Tamgaly, Terekti in Kazakhstan. Based on written sources, as well as outdated creativity, commercial from generation to generation, the article analyzes the origins of written nomadic culture. The authors believe that some historical events are captured in the tradition of the Turkic chronology, such as “Koyan zhylgy ashtyk” (Famine in the year of the rabbit), “Meshin zhylgy sogys” (War in the year of the monkey) and are a reflection of the subject nomadic culture. In the process of research, it was established that the heritage of many petroglyphs and symbols with the ancient Turkic alphabet confirms the cultural and cognitive continuity of the written culture of the nomads.

PHENOMENA OF “MEMORY” AND “LOST GENERATION” IN BERNHARD SCHLINK’S NOVEL “THE GRANDDAUGHTER”

The purpose of this article is to consider the phenomena of “memory”, “lost generation”, as well as “national identity” in the work of the modern German writer Bernhard Schlink using the example of the novel “The Granddaughter”. His novel “The Granddaughter”, like most of Schlink’s works (a trilogy about Detective Selb, “Reader”, “Return”, “Olga”, etc.) is devoted to the attitude of Germans to the hard past of their country. The article reveals a whole series of deep psychological, social, political problems touched upon by the author in the work, including special attention to the problem of the emergence of a new “lost generation”, as well as collective memory about historical events of the past and nationalist views of the present time. Particular attention in the study is paid to the existence of penal colonies for minors on the GDR’s territory, which had first been mentioned by Schlink as part of his work. The article gives an understanding of the special figurative and historical value of the novel for German literature.

STRUCTURAL AND SEMANTIC ORIGINALITY OF THE SEMANTIC FIELD ‟POWER” IN VLADIMIR MAKSIMOV’S NOVEL ‟TO LOOK INTO THE ABYSS”

The article characterises the semantic field ‟Power” in the novel by the famous Russian prose writer of the 2nd half of the 20th century, Vladimir Maksimov (1930–1995). The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of the structural and semantic features of the field, determination of the originality of the textual functioning of its core components, which are the semantic dominants of the work, actively involved in the organisation of the narrative, in the artistic depiction of historical events and the creation of images of literary characters. The theoretical concepts of the semantic field and semantic space of the text, which unites its conceptual, denotative and emotive meanings, are defined. Linguistic modelling of the field structure is based on the principles of discourse analysis of the text and is determined by the specific linguistic personality of the writer, genre-stylistic and plot-compositional features of the work. Characteristic of component composition of the field, its core, centre and periphery, microfields is given. Semantic connections and intersections of field components are determined with contextual synonymy and antonymy revealed. The core of the field includes the key lexemes “power”, “strength”, “leader”, “will”. The semantic field unites five microfields: the central part of the field structure includes the microfields ‟White-Guard Power of Alexander Kolchak” and ‟Soviet Power of Vladimir Lenin”; the peripheral zone includes the microfields ‟Power of Social Elements”, ‟Military Force of Foreign Intervention” and ‟Power of Selfless and unselfish Love”. The semantic dominants of the text, being the key components of the field, contribute to the dynamics of the narrative, create an artistic chronotope, reflect the author’s position, and convey the bright features of the writer’s linguistic personality.