Historical Signs Research Articles

“Historical signs in the landscape”: Ecosystem services, motivation and challenges of pollarding in Western Norway

Pollarding in agroforestry systems was traditionally an important practice for fodder acquisition in Western Norway, as well as in many other parts of the world. The practice has long been in decline, but to maintain cultural landscapes and biodiversity enhancement from pollarding, farmers now receive a public grant for each tree they pollard. In this interdisciplinary study we investigate which ecosystem services modern pollarding practices provide, under the influence of the current pollarding policy. We have performed both in-depth interviews and a quantitative survey targeting all pollarding farmers in the county of Vestland in Western Norway. We find that bioresources obtained from the branches from pollarding are to some extent still taken into use, mainly in the form of tree fodder for farm animals and firewood, but a lot of the branches remain unused. Biodiversity benefits are obtained from preserving old trees that often are located on agricultural land as solitary trees, as these trees provide important habitats, particularly for species growing on the bark, such as lichens and mosses, or within the decaying wood, such as, for example, fungi and insects. The modern practice of letting branches rot in the field provide habitats for insects and hence additional benefits to biodiversity. For the farmers, the main motivations to pollard are the cultural, aesthetic and historical values of pollarded trees. They see few disadvantages with pollarding, and most of them plan to continue in the future. The grant provides an incentive for pollarding, but our results indicate that the practice would continue without it, although less than now, especially with the establishment of new pollards.

Urban phenomena as "sites of memory" in "Open City" by Teju Cole

The purpose of the work is to analyze the autofictional novel by the modern American writer Teju Cole "Open City" using memory studies' optics. Relevance is ensured by an appeal to one of the most important genres of modern literature, autofiction, which combines and fundamentally non-distinguishes documentary and fictional discourses, and the use of the methodological apparatus of the cross-disciplinary sphere of memory studies. The subject of the study is the urban chronotope of New York after the 9/11 terrorist attack and its specific memorial loci. The artistic text in this case acts as a medial representation of reality, and the urban space in it is perceived and can be analyzed as a text. One of the founders of memory studies is French scientist Pierre Nora, whose term "sites of memory" becomes the basis in this work. The narrator of the novel "Open City," Julius, in the process of flaring through New York, perceives the city as a semiotic space, reading the markers of the urban chronotope as memorable and/or historical signs. "Sites of memory," located at the junction of living memory and frozen history, become the most important loci that fix the individual and collective commentary of social history, while being pushed out of the sphere of relevance into the sphere of the forgotten, whilst the narrator of the novel occupies an intermediate position due to the ability to reactualize historical events and memorial narratives, albeit only at the personal level. Such a comparison of "I" and "others" allows to address the issue of national identity and reveal the specifics of the American nation as focused on the future, and not on the past, and erasing the "Sites of memory" from contemporaneity.

"THE RHINOCEROS" BY EUGÈNE IONESCO AND "TANGO" BY SLAVOMYR MROŻEK: SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE SPACE-TIME ORGANIZATION

The article analyzes the characteristic features of organizing artistic time and space on the example of the plays "Rhinoceros" by E. Ionesco and "Tango" by S. Mrożek, which are traditionally considered classic examples of European theatre of the absurd. The basis of the nature of the theatre of the absurd is the destruction of the stage illusion, which manifests itself in various formal and content categories, among which the key role belongs to the chronotope.
 Common to the dramas of both authors is the space-time, which can mostly be characterized as conditional, undefined and without specific historical signs. Actors who function in such a chronotope are to a certain extent abstract, devoid of individual features. In the drama "Rhinoceros" time is outlined only cursorily in the remarks, which makes it impossible to determine a specific historical dimension and transports the viewer into a certain kind of conditional timelessness, emphasizing the universality of the idea. The artistic space, subject to the general logic of the plot, thickens with each action, shrinks from the size of the square of a provincial town to a room, and the main character, finding themself in a dead end, realizes their doom and the only possible need to fight for the preservation of their own human nature.
 In the drama "Tango" the mixing of time layers can be traced in an arbitrary way, which is additionally emphasized by a specific construction of space, the main feature of which is chaos. The first and second acts represent the living room of a solid residence of a Polish middle-class family of the early twentieth century, but all the interior elements are in complete disarray, which is a reflection of the anarchic views of the characters, permissiveness and leveling of traditions. In the third act, instead, we see the previous living room, in which order and coziness reign, but this very demonstratively ordered space contrasts sharply with the attempt to make death and violence an integral part of the ideology.

Clinical investigation and management of Brucella suis seropositive dogs: A longitudinal case series.

Brucellosis in dogs caused by Brucella suis is an emerging zoonotic disease. To document clinical characteristics, serology, microbiology, and clinical response to treatment in B. suis-seropositive dogs. Longitudinal study of 27 privately-owned dogs. Dogs that tested positive by serology, culture, or real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were included in the study. Clinical (physical examination and imaging) and laboratory (serology, hematology, serum biochemistry, and qPCR or culture) assessments were made at baseline and after approximately 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Dogs were followed for 10 895 dog days, with 17/27 dogs completing the 18-month follow-up. Ten dogs had signs consistent with brucellosis before enrollment (n=4), at baseline (n=2) or during follow-up (n=6), with 2 dogs experiencing relapse of historical signs. Antibody titers persisted for the duration of follow-up in 15/17 dogs (88%). Radiographic (n=5) and ultrasound (n=11) findings, of variable clinical relevance, were observed. Brucella DNA and organisms were detected in 3 dogs, all of which had clinical signs, including in the milk of a bitch around the time of whelping. Brucella DNA was not detected in blood (n=92 samples), urine (n=80), saliva (n=95) or preputial swabs (n=78) at any time during follow-up. Six dogs underwent treatment, all of which achieved clinical remission although remission was not reflected by decreasing antibody titers. Most dogs with B. suis infections have subclinical infections. Serology is poorly associated with clinical disease. Excretion of organisms appears rare except in whelping bitches. Clinical management using antibiotics with or without surgery is recommended.

Rubble of War Take an Active Meaning in Urban Design

This article is a part of a research that is structured on the analysis of the definition of ruins and rubbles and then shows the real present state, through cartographic, historical, urban and territorial surveys of different stories of cities destroyed by acts of war (since the Second World War until the most recent conflicts with the war in Lebanon). The study was divided in parts relating to the material dimension of the destroyed city and the intrinsic spatial conformation, as results of acts of war such as: hills of rubble and modifying coastal lines as a result of piles of inert materials and also general waste. So the city gained a renewed post-war image, a different spatial identity and another orography that, now, asks to be revealed. Following the war, in effect, what remains is nothing more that a collection of urban materials often without any value that, in their physical state, occupy space and reveal other, unexpected urban and territorial pictures. However, rubble take a meaning in urban design, take an active role in geographical plane and show an alternative means to describe the overlapping and solidification of historical signs.

A review study for Toxocariasis

Many researchers reported rates of infected dogs with T. canis and cats with Toxocara cati all over the world. The degree of tissue damage in the host and the concomitant elicitation of signs and symptoms are varied in different invaded tissues. The liver, lungs and central nervous system, including the eyes, are considered the most sensitive organs. In addition, the number of migrating juveniles and the age of the host. Inflammation manifests as eosinophilic granulomas. The immediate hypersensitivity responses to dying and dead larvae in the viscera, including the lungs, liver and brain, produce symptoms characteristic of VLM. The current review discusses the Toxocara sp. infection from the historical background, taxonomy, lifecycle, pathogeneses, clinical signs, epidemiology, diagnosis, control and treatment. And provides an overview of existing literature and data on the Toxocaraiasis with their references.

EXPLORING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF WILDERNESS NARRATIVES IN EUROPE. REFLECTIONS FROM VAL GRANDE NATIONAL PARK (ITALY)

Wilderness is an important concept in the discourses and policies concerning contemporary European protected areas, inherently challenging in terms of sustainability. Since its designation in 1992, the Val Grande National Park, located in northwest Italy, has been portrayed and promoted as a wilderness area, thereby enhancing tourism, whilst disregarding the historical signs of human activity. In this paper we explore the wilderness concept, focusing on the narratives developed in the area, that changed from a strict conservationist approach to a more utilitarian one, influencing the National Park’s policy-making. The research is based mainly on the content analysis of several literary texts. We conclude that wildernessneeds to be reconceptualized so that contemporary European protection policies might become more effective, and we may use our knowledge of nature to promote sustainable development.

Costume formation specialties on Ukrainian areas during the Middle Ages

Purpose of the article is to perform a comparison analysis of reconstructed variants of medieval costumes to discover the main formation patterns. To define strong historical long-term signs in forms and types of outfits. To determine costumes’ architectonics from different periods of the Middle Ages. Methodology. Methodologically author correlated data of practical archeology and art masterpieces. Scientific novelty determes reconstruction of costumes of sideline historical periods from pra-Slavic till the Late Middle Ages allows to discover a chain of permanent and variable signs. Conclusions. Architectonics of pra-Slavic costume had double or probably tipple layered structure which was kept in the Middle Ages as well. The costume basics could be considered a tunic-type outfit. Women had a two-tiered model of breastplate related to German tradition. Also in common is the tradition of embroidering necklaces. The other features of Chernyakhiv and Antes dresses do not match. Corals and amber were used as jewelry since pra-Slavic period. In the outfit of the Ancient Rus two-tiered model is not used. Since the High Middle Ages appeared some elements which after transformation where adopted in Ukrainian folk outfit. In the hat group there were forms of the towel types know as mantles (namitka) or tablecloths (obrus) as well as sewn caps (očipok). In the group of outerwear - the suite (svyta) and the casing (kožuch). These two types of shoulder clothing over the centuries have become buttoned (unlike the old Russian ones).

Cluster of cases of congenital feline goitrous hypothyroidism in a single hospital.

To describe the clinicopathological findings and outcomes of cases of feline congenital hypothyroidism diagnosed in a single veterinary hospital in Santiago, Chile. Medical records were searched for cases of congenital hypothyroidism over an 18-month period. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism based on consistent historical and clinical findings, a low or low-normal serum total T4 and elevated serum canine TSH (cTSH). Six unrelated cats ranging in age from 4 to 19 months met the inclusion criteria. The most common historical signs were small stature and lethargy. All cats had disproportionate dwarfism, delayed tooth eruption, retained deciduous teeth, bilateral palpable goitres and low rectal temperatures. Other findings were bradycardia, obesity, poor hair coat and focal alopecia on the ventral aspects of the elbows and hocks. In all cases, cTSH was markedly elevated. Sequential changes noted after the initiation of therapy included normal T4 after 6 weeks, improved hair coat and increased physical activity by 8 weeks, normal cTSH by 10 weeks and normal physical appearance and dentition after 4months. Goitres shrank markedly but remained palpable. Hypothyroidism was well managed clinically in all cases 2 years after diagnosis except for one cat that died of unrelated causes. This is the first report to describe a cluster of congenital hypothyroidism cases in non-related cats that were presented over a short period of time. Growth defects resolve with treatment, even in cats diagnosed after puberty. Larger, prospective multi-centre studies are warranted to determine the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism in cats.

Multiple Metastases of a Transmissible Venereal Tumor in a Dog

Background: Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a common contagious neoplasm in dogs that spreads through coitus. Extra-genital presentations of this tumor are frequent and usually develop through implantation of neoplastic cells on exposed mucosae. TVT metastasis is rare, and when it happens it’s usually affecting regional lymph nodes and adjacent cutaneous tissue.Case: A female mixed breed dog, with estimated age of 7 to 11-month-old, was rescued from the streets and taken to a veterinary clinic in the city of Porto Alegre, RS. The animal had multiple nodules on its body, vulva, ocular mucosa, and gingiva, along with signs of malnutrition and apathy. Cytological examination of the nodules and vulva was done and yielded a cytologic picture compatible with TVT. Weakly treatment with 0.3 mg/m² vincristine sulphate was used until clinical cure was noted. Approximately two weeks after clinical cure, the dog showed a blue colored eye and was referred for ophthalmological, where it was diagnosed with vision loss due to glaucoma secondary to a neoplasm. The eye was then removed and sent for histopathological evaluation. Histopathology of the eye was compatible with TVT diagnosis. One month after enucleation the animal display dispenia, pain, aggressiveness and epistaxis. The animal was euthanized and submitted for post-mortem evaluation. At necropsy there was a well-defined grayish-white, nodule near the thalamus. Similar nodules were also found on the lung, and anterior chamber of the eye. Histologically, all the nodules were compatible with TVT. Immunohistochemical examination was done, with the neoplastic cells being positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratin, CD79a, CD3 and CD117. Based on the post-mortem examination and clinical history, diagnosis of TVT was given.Discussion: The clinical manifestation of the tumor in the genitalia presented by the animal is characteristic of TVT, but the extragenital presentation is less common. Although extragenital manifestations are well reported, most are due to auto-implantation (contact with the dog’s own genitalia) or hetero-implantation (contact with the genitalia of another dog). Metastases originating from the genitalia are markedly less common (5% of cases), and when they occur, they usually affect regional lymph nodes due to lymphatic communication. However, they can also occur in other organs, such as the liver, kidneys, spleen, tonsils, skin and subcutaneous tissue, bone, CNS, mesentery, and eyes. In this case, it is difficult to determine if the ocular tumor reported was due to metastasis or implantation by direct eye contact with TVT cells, since the animal lived on the street, and it was not possible to establish a more accurate history. The dog in this study was treated with vincristine sulfate; however, the treatment was stopped after one month, when no signs of the tumor were observed. Treatment with vincristine is the method of choice for TVT, since it is highly effective. However, rare cases of recurrence after treatment may occur. In addition, this drug does not cross the blood-brain barrier, and this may have favored the rapid reappearance of the tumor after treatment. The metastases from TVT to the CNS are extremely rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature. However, the possibility of metastases in animals with neurological and historical signs of TVT should be considered in the diagnosis. This case draws attention to the occurrence of TVT in the CNS of dogs with ocular TVT.

Feline chronic gingivostomatitis is more prevalent in shared households and its risk correlates with the number of cohabiting cats.

The aim of this study was to determine whether feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is more prevalent in shared vs single-cat households, whether the number of cohabiting cats or outdoor access represent risk factors for FCGS and whether the number of cohabiting cats is a useful prognostic indicator for standard surgical treatment. Cats diagnosed with FCGS (study group) in the past 5 years at a referral institution were identified. The number of cohabiting cats, outdoor access, number of other cohabiting cats diagnosed with FCGS, ⩾6 month surgical outcome, when applicable, and historical signs of upper respiratory disease among any of the cohabiting cats, as well as patient demographic information, were recorded. Data were collected from medical records and by means of a telephone interview with the owners. The same information was collected from a group of cats of similar demographic characteristics diagnosed with periodontal disease but free of FCGS (control group). Seventy-six cats were included, of which 36 (47%) had FCGS and 40 (53%) served as controls. Bivariate analysis showed that cats with FCGS were significantly more likely to come from shared households, and had significantly more total cats per household compared with controls. Multivariate analysis also showed that cats in shared households had a significantly increased odds of FCGS compared with those from single-cat households. Historical signs of upper respiratory disease and outdoor access among cats within the same household were not associated with FCGS. The number of cohabiting cats was not associated with surgical outcome. Cats with FCGS are more likely to live in shared households. The risk of FCGS correlates with the number of cohabiting cats. The epidemiological features of FCGS may support an infectious etiology. The number of cohabiting cats within a household is not a useful prognostic indicator for standard surgical treatment of FCGS.

Production innovation and environmental protection in the management of rural landscapes: the UNESCO vineyard landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato

In Italy, the landscape appears more and more as the essential element of a sustainable economic development linked to environmental peculiarities and food excellence. In agriculture, the winning aspect of production is no longer measured, in fact, in merely “organoleptic” terms, but also through the issues of environmental protection and care and careful landscape management, as a cornerstone of quality and typical products. In this regard,production - in a broad sense related to wellbeing and leisure, as well as wine - absolutely needs places identifying it, since its value is intimately connected with the quality of the original rural landscapes. These landscapes - that still today represent an element of strong characterization of the single territorial realities - are those that denote a balanced intervention of man on the natural elements; they are those that offer a clear presence of historical signs and legible links between structure and land use. In recent years, agriculture appears to be increasingly responsible for carrying out a plurality of functions, in addition to the acknowledged traditional ones. The maintenance of the hydrogeological structure, the preservation of landscapes with significanthistorical-cultural values, and the maintenance of biodiversity are all the more important. In this perspective,farmers can certainly contribute to conserving and effectively producing high quality landscapes, through a careful “care” of the land in which they work, so as to maintain and strengthen the characteristics of formal quality and historical identity, by avoiding scrupulously useless compromises. A case study of great interest to verify the concreteness and general applicability of this type of reasoning is represented in Piedmont by the territories of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2014, where there are interesting research and experimentation activities in the fields of agricultural sustainability and territorial planning.

Spomen-česma Kralja Aleksandra Prvog Karađorđevića, Beograd, Lisičji potok

One of the few spaces that Belgrade features, which are part of nature shaped by humans for their needs, in addition to the Topčider Theatre (quarry), and the Tašmajdan Arena (quarry), is the space of Lisičji Potok in Dedinje, also originating from a quarry. At the same time, this space is landscaped and features a memorial drinking fountain, made in a series of activities on the part of the civil society aimed to decorate Dedinje and preserve the memory of King Alexander I Karađorđević, whose court is in the immediate vicinity. Landscaping this area, constructing the memorial drinking fountain, and their later devastation are also part of the history related to the fate of this drinking fountain and its surroundings. In addition to presenting this ensemble as one of the well-known public facilities in Belgrade, the plan of the reconstruction of both the facility and the space includes the restoration of the lost features and symbols, related to both. By restoring the historical signs of the designed space, as an ambient, and the memorial drinking fountain in it, Belgrade would get a unique rounded cultural and natural monument.

The Odesa Film Festival: Focus on Body and Soul

An article examines the chronology of philosophical conceptions focussing on body and soul, shows the development of the biotechnology, as human being aspiration for realization of the cartesian dream about absolute control above the body. It analyses the selection of films within the Odesa International Film Festival with the aim to research how filmmakers decode global cultural and historical signs of nowadays existence. A festival presented a tendency that appears in crisis epochs, namely, focus on the interrelation of body and soul as a cultural study problem. Films of OIFF with the theme of body and soul came out on the first plan as a practice of escape in the period of duty apocalypse with hope on a rescue. We are not separated and divided. The understanding that our civilization is an entire organism with one soul, must produce a turn in our attitude, that can save ourselves and give an opportunity to accomplish the transfere to the new level of development.

CULTURAL SIGNS IN TEXTS OF LATGALIAN BANDS

During ten years, since Latgalian popular music has returned to the mainstream Latvian music stage, 44 Latgalian music albums have been released. The lyrics of these songs are written by musicians, Latgalian and Latvian poets and as a result of teamwork of poets and music authors. The subject of the present research is represented by cultural signs in the song texts of Latgalian bands; the research object is song lyrics of Latgalian bands. Sources selected for the research are the song texts of Latgalian bands and performers: "Borowa MC", "Bez PVN", "Dabasu Durovys", "Green Novice", Laura Bicāne, "Kapļi". Some musicians and bands use Latvian and Latgalian folk songs in their music, yet they are not discussed in the present research. Other musicians use works of Latgalian poets, which are mentioned here only for comparison. Therefore, the key focus is on texts written by musicians themselves, collected from the released music album brochures and from correspondence with band members. The texts of schlager music bands are not examined here either, as they are worth making a separate research.It must be admitted that cultural signs in the examined texts do not occur particularly often, although the feature of the post-modernist culture is related to reassessment and mock of previous culture, the song lyrics are still rather romantic, traditional and compliant with the requirements of mass culture. The use of cultural signs is not characteristic of bands "Green Novice", "Bez PVN" and performer Laura Bicāne, therefore, the song texts of bands "Borowa MC", "Dabasu Durovys" and "Kapļi" are analysed the most. The research has been carried out based on the method of structural semiotics (J. Lotmans, R. Veidemane) by analysing cultural signs found in the selected texts.The signs related to cultural history are rather traditional: Latgale, Latgalians, rarely, some specific natural or geographical objects relevant to cultural historical events or associated exactly with the Latgale region. However, the search for territorial and ethnic identity and its construction for oneself and others (mostly, neighbours of other regions) is one of the main questions in the lyrics. As the mentioned bands "Borowa Mc", "Dabasu Durovys" and "Bez PVN" play popular, mass-oriented music, their texts are mostly intended for broad public, therefore, the first features that characterize the song lyrics of Latgalian bands are the cultivation and preservation of stereotypes. These stereotypes are divided into two groups:1) favourable, emotionally uplifting, sometimes even rousing self-confidence; 2) critical, prejudiced, causing negative atmosphere and emotions.The poetical rock band "Kapļi", which belongs to an alternative direction of Latgalian music and has ironic, sarcastic texts, sing about cultural signs related to Latgale in a completely different way. Their lyrics show a different view of things that are holy, inviolable, and indisputable to many Latgalians.Regarding cultural signs representing the folkloristic level, it must be noted that in this research ‘folkloristic’ is meant in the broadest sense of this word (not only folk compositions, but also events, objects, things that have become a part of folklore over time, often becoming subjects of literary tales), for instance, Pinocchio, the main character combines several characters: a fool, a body-builder, and even a lyrical ego seeking for its own identity. All character appearances, which are reflected in other songs about the modern hero, suggest that the character avoids activity or makes the new world unstable by drawing, making it from plasticine, using the phone, and consequently, creates a virtual world which is modern and transitory. "Dabasu Durovys" reveals their life philosophy and search for meaning with the help of historical cultural signs, for instance, the river Rubicon, known from ancient times, meaning the breaking of links to the past and not returning to previous situation, or the royal court of the Sun King, that symbolizes absolute monarchy, or Napoleon, etc.“Little man” and his daily life are related to another group of cultural signs. Depiction of daily life in poetry shows on the one hand that the author values the place and time of his life; on the other hand it demonstrates an artistic approach to everyday reality. These texts usually convey tragically ironical feeling and show modern typical dramas right beside us. Such characters most frequently appear in the texts of the bands "Kapļi" and "Dabasu Durovys".Even though cultural signs do not appear in the texts of Latgalian bands frequently, they are diverse. Cultural historical signs, which appear in patriotic and ironic lyrics, reveal authors’ homeland Latgale and Latgalians with their typical positive and negative stereotypes. Cultural signs related to Latvia and Europe highlight ironically sharp reality of emigration and infrequent visits to Latvia and are bound to several historical periods, which are mostly related to domestic, rarely social political situations.

The Ideas and Methods: Realization of Modern Artists of Kazakhstan in Creative Works through Colour Distribution of Paintings - Muratbayev

The article features color combination and painting techniques of the Kazakh artists, such as Muratbayev, Muratbayev, Bube Belly, Akzhan Fbdieva and Nartay Zhardemov. Realization of color combinations can be accomplished through the following way: all of creative works/images, which come together in tone and color correlations, are proportional to visual image; the main integrity of fine art works is only the image in the soul of the artist - “work in soul”. The main part of Art works/paintings is being in harmony within themselves. Hence, the artists of modern era in Kazakhstan have been able to use harmony techniques in their art works. A person is in harmony with nature. It can be seen from mountain shapes, valleys, trees and grasses, animals and birds, which are perceptive to human brain and human eyes. Crucial factors have been rhythm and symmetry, the eternal harmony of creators. The universal manifestation of rhythm and symmetry leads to single order of all that are present in nature. 21st century’s Art of Independent Kazakhstan is expressed through аesthetics, language, implements of the high visual art. Art of Independent Kazakhstan is covering continuity of cultural, political, historical signs of the modern art. Therefore, paintings of Independent Kazakhstan are unique in their structure. They have been developed for 25 years in correlation with other art forms, improving the new directions, as well as forms and genres. The art works and paintings of Independent Kazakhstan form their own aesthetic language, specific modern methods, national traditions and particular art language of the graphic works, as well as the new directions of Kazakhstan’s paintings that have resulted from certain specific factors. That is why it is important to understand the main directions of Visual Art of Independent Kazakhstan’s artists, along with the color combination and painting techniques that they have used. Hence, that is what this paper is addressing.

MARCAS DE IDENTIFICAÇÃO ÉTNICA DE ITALODESCENDENTES EM CASCAVEL/PR

Italian immigrants, in addition to linguistic variants and culture, introduced and recreated in Brazil some of their values, such as the appreciation of work and the heroism of venturing into new lands. These characteristics comprise some of the signs of identification of this ethnic group, as well as the stigmatization they suffered due to their own way of speaking. Some Italian descendants whose predecessors settled in the South and who currently live in the city of Cascavel, Parana State, based on one-to-one interviews, through a semi-guided questionnaire, talked about these historical signs, which identify them as Italian-descendants.

Impairment Assessment of Female Sexual Dysfunction

Abstract Impairment assessment of female sexual dysfunction using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), Fifth or Sixth Edition, must be performed using appropriate evaluation and objective findings to support ratable sexual dysfunction. In both editions, sexual dysfunction is discussed in Chapter 7, The Urinary and Reproductive Systems, and Chapter 13, The Central and Peripheral Nervous System. In the fifth edition, the maximum impairment rating for female sexual functioning is 35% whole person impairment; in the sixth edition, the maximum is 20%. In terms of rating female reproductive organ impairment, the fifth edition gives consideration to the differences between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Table 7-9, Criteria for Rating Permanent Impairment Due to Vulval and Vaginal Disease in the fifth edition is used to rate female sexual dysfunction; three classes are identified, and, although age is not a specific consideration, this edition discusses differences between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. In the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition, Table 7-10, Criteria for Rating Permanent Impairment Due to Vulval and Vaginal Disease, is used and provides four classes, two of which have severity grades. Each class addresses historical signs and symptoms of vulvar or vaginal diseases, vulval and vaginal physical alterations, and potential effect of altered vaginal anatomy for vaginal delivery (if premenopausal). Neurogenic sexual dysfunction is combined with other related impairments using the Combined Values Chart.

Bowing Australia's Outback Fences: A Sonic Cartography

The Great Fences of Australia project of Jon Rose and Hollis Taylor finds the duo crisscrossing the continent in pursuit of their instruments. They draw on bass and cello bows to reveal the sonic properties of diverse fences, including the iconic Rabbit-Proof and Dingo Fences. Their bowed fence explorations are the result of a collision among the biophony, the geophony, and the anthrophony, as evidenced by five transcriptions from their many road trips. The sonic complexity of fences is echoed in the rich metaphors that they suggest. Outback landscapes may be experienced as awestruck splendor as well as read for historical signs, both ancient and modern. Following on this, the duo joins the landscape as documenters, facilitators, and catalysts—as sonic cartographers sounding the land, the lives, and the politics of the Australian outback.

The historical boundedness of psychological knowledge and the ethics of shared understandings.

Psychological claims concerning human activity, character, deviance, and life are thoroughly embedded in the practices of contemporary social worlds. Originating in ordinary language, psychological terms circulate not merely as science but also as history, making such claims historical artifacts about what kind of beings we are, and most important, what we can portend to be. Psychology as a codification of optimal human being is an inherently moral science, and as such all our claims are subject to an “ethics of shared understanding.” This is not merely an obvious ethics of standards such as enumerated in the various professional codes, which are meant, after all, to protect the autonomy of psychology. Instead we are confronted with an ethic of understanding possible human kinds that requires us to weigh scientific expressions within the forms of life they potentially express. Such a view means that psychological knowledge claims are not just ‘natural kinds,’ even if they satisfy the claims of the gatekeepers of science. Instead, they are embedded in historical communities and carry the historical signs of their origins. What forms of life our knowledge claims give expression to will depend on the ethical commitments we make in the bargain.