History Research Articles

Influence of More Mechanistic Representation of Particle Dry Deposition on 1850–2000 Changes in Global Aerosol Burdens and Radiative Forcing

AbstractRobust estimates of historical changes in aerosols are key for accurate constraints on climate sensitivity. Dry deposition is a primary sink of aerosols from the atmosphere. However, most global climate models do not accurately represent observed strong dependencies of dry deposition following turbulent transport on aerosol size. It is unclear whether there is a substantial impact of mischaracterized aerosol deposition velocities on historical aerosol changes. Here we describe improved mechanistic representation of aerosol dry deposition in the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) global climate model, ModelE, and illustrate the impact on 1850–2000 changes in global aerosol burdens as well as aerosol direct and cloud albedo effects using a set of 1850 and 2000 time slice simulations. We employ two aerosol configurations of ModelE (a “bulk” mass‐based configuration and a configuration that more explicitly represents aerosol size distributions, internal mixing, and microphysics) to explore how model structural differences in aerosol representation alter the response to representation of dry deposition. Both configurations show larger historical increases in the global burdens of non‐dust aerosols with the new dry deposition scheme, by 11% in the simpler mass‐based configuration and 23% in the more complex microphysical configuration. Historical radiative forcing responses, which vary in magnitude from 5% to 12% as well as sign, depend on the aerosol configuration.

Shugāʿ Bin Fāres Al-Dhuhulī (430-507 AH/ 1039- 1114 AC.) and his Book in History

Shugāʿ Bin Fāres Al-Dhuhulī (430-507 AH/ 1039- 1114 AC.) and his Book in History

From Image to Flesh in a World Seen from the South

Abstract This interview with the intellectual historian Gary Wilder explores the philosophical and methodological theses in his overall work, particularly focusing on his 2022 book Concrete Utopianism. The conversation explores such themes as relationships among solidarity, filiality, and freedom; the forces and fears of normative claims; the definition of an image; and the place of the flesh in a critical Marxism, among others. This is the second conversation in a series initiated by Salma Shamel (PhD candidate at New York University) with anthropologists, historians, philosophers, and media theorists whose work is located at the intersection of intellectual history, critical theory, and historical change.

Predominant types of regional cold waves in North China and their historical changes

Cold wave (CW) events in East Asia have a significant impact on the social economy, ecosystems, and human health. Based on daily CW records from October to March during 1980–2019 and K-means clustering, this study identified two types of regional CW (T1 and T2) in China. T1 regional CWs mainly struck Northeast China, whereas T2 regional CWs primarily affected the northern and eastern regions of China. Compared to T1, T2 regional CWs were more intense, lasted longer, and had a broader region of influence. During 1980–2019, there was a significant increase in the frequency of T1 regional CWs, while the frequency of T2 regional CWs showed no trend. Although amplification of the Siberian high was observed in both T1 and T2 regional CW events, there were differences in the wave train patterns in the middle troposphere between the two regional CWs. During T1 regional CW events, a wave train with negative–positive 500-hPa geopotential height anomalies over Siberia–Mongolia weakened the East Asian trough, causing an eastward movement of cold air from Siberia. The increasing trend of T1 regional CW frequency may be attributable to the linear trends of 500-hPa geopotential height caused by global warming. The wave train associated with T2 regional CW events formed ridge–trough–ridge circulation anomalies over the Ural Mountains, Mongolia, and North China. This led to a southeastward intrusion of the cold air. The conclusions of this paper indicate that the Siberian high amplification and mid-tropospheric wave train pattern should be jointly considered in forecasting regional CW events in China.摘要寒潮事件对东亚地区的社会经济, 生态系统和人体健康影响巨大. 根据1980−2019 年间10月至次年3月的每日寒潮记录和K-means聚类, 本文识别出了中国两种不同类型的区域性寒潮(T1 和 T2). T1区域性寒潮主要影响东北地区, T2区域性寒潮则主要影响华北和东部地区. 与T1区域性寒潮相比, T2区域性寒潮强度更强, 持续时间更长, 影响范围更广. 1980–2019年期间, T1区域性寒潮的频率显著增加, 而T2区域性寒潮的频率则没有趋势变化. T1和T2区域性寒潮事件均与西伯利亚高压增强有关, 然而与它们相关的对流层中层波列明显不同. 在T1区域性寒潮事件发生期间, 西伯利亚-蒙古上空出现负-正模态的500-hPa位势高度异常波列, 削弱了东亚大槽, 导致西伯利亚冷空气东移. T1区域寒潮频次增加趋势可能与全球变暖引起的500-hPa位势高度的线性趋势变化有关. 与T2区域寒潮事件相关的波列则在乌拉尔山脉, 蒙古和华北地区形成了脊-槽-脊环流异常, 导致冷空气向东南方向入侵. 本文得出结论, 由于两类区域寒潮影响不同, 西伯利亚高压增强和对流层中层波列模态在我国区域性寒潮事件的预报中应综合考虑.

Василий Гущинский — последний «босяк» на эстраде

The article examines the establishment and development of stage feuilletons in the 1920s-1930s on the example of Vasily Gushchinsky. On the pre-revolutionary stage, couplet singers performing as ‘tramps’ were very popular. After the revolution, Vasily Gushchinsky (1893–1940) continued the traditions of the ‘ragged genre’, trying to adapt it to the challenges of new times. Gushchinsky managed to preserve the language and speech style of ‘tramps’ and appeared in the image of either a militant renegade dissatisfied with innovations and the Soviet order or a plain fellow, an active member of the society under construction. Theatricalism and clown tricks helped to enhance the artistic expressiveness of the performed repertoire, while complex props allowed remaining within the framework of the attraction-feuilleton and the created image, playing on current events. Basically, those were poetic feuilletons in the form of rayok and couplet songs combined into ‘evenings of satire and laughter’. The years of the first five-year plan posed the question of new content even more acutely for Gushchinsky. He began to perform mostly free poetic feuilletons. They continued to expose the true face of an average man, a tradesman, and a former nepman, and at the same time, glorified the pathos of heroic deeds and positive changes in the construction of a new society, which was the first step towards the general trend of creating a positive feuilleton. In the 1930s, the image of an average man lost its acuteness. The variety art was forced to raise the subjects of historical changes and a new person. In search of a new feuilleton form, variety artists started to attract ‘partners’, thus artificially creating a conflict and performing ‘false dialogues’.

Neglected tracts of the brainstem: transverse peduncular tract of Gudden and taenia pontis.

The anatomy and function of the brainstem have fascinated scientists for centuries; however, the brainstem remains one of the least studied regions of the human brain. As the authors delved into studying this structure, they observed a growing tendency to forget or neglect previously identified structures. The aim of this study was to describe two such structures: the transverse peduncular tract, also known as the Gudden tract, and the taenia pontis. The authors analyzed the potential effects of neglecting these structures during brainstem surgery and the implications for clinical practice. After removal of the arachnoid and vascular structures, 20 human brainstem specimens were frozen and stored at -16°C for 2 weeks, according to the method described by Klingler. The specimens were then thawed and dissected with microsurgical techniques. The results of microsurgical fiber dissection at each step were photographed. This study revealed two previously neglected or forgotten structures within the brainstem. The first is the transverse peduncular tract of Gudden, which arises from the brachium of the superior colliculus. This tract follows an arcuate course along the lateral and ventral surfaces of the midbrain, perpendicular to the cerebral peduncle, and terminates in the nuclei of the transverse peduncular tract within the interpeduncular fossa. The second structure is the taenia pontis, which originates contralaterally in the interpeduncular fossa. It becomes visible at the level of the pontomesencephalic sulcus and extends to the base of the lateral mesencephalic sulcus, where it divides into several thin bundles. Along the interpeduncular sulcus, between the superior and middle cerebellar peduncles, it reaches the parabrachial recess and enters the cerebellum. Recently, with increasing understanding and expertise in brainstem research, surgical approaches to this area have become more common, emphasizing the importance of a detailed knowledge of the brainstem. The two structures mentioned in this paper are described in history books and were widely studied in the 19th century but have not been mentioned in modern literature. The authors propose that a deeper understanding of these structures may prove valuable in neurosurgical practice and help reduce patient comorbidity.

Contested Heritage(s) – The Case(s) of the Battle of Blood River (December 16th, 1838), Dundee and Nquthu, South Africa

Battlefield tourism is a well-established niche in cultural and heritage tourism the world over. This paper explores the contested nature of a specific battlefield in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where two separate museums exist to memorialise the same event, but from two perspectives. The Battle of Blood River (December 16th, 1838) remains a contested event in history books, portrayed from Afrikaner and AmaZulu points of view at the Blood River Heritage Site and Ncome Museum, respectively. People interested in visiting battlefields are slowly dying out, and if South Africa wants to take advantage of growing Battlefield Tourism in the future for surviving generations of those involved in these battles, a new approach will be necessary to sustain and develop this niche of cultural and heritage tourism in the country. This paper uses netnography to analyse the internet footprint of this historical event through the museums’ websites. The paper argues that a more balanced and two-sided perspective should be given at both museums to grow and develop the interest in battlefield tourism across South Africa and encourage mutual visitorship to both museums on the same battlefield site.

Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE-Schroth) can reduce the risk for progression during early growth in curves below 25°: prospective control study.

The main treatment aim in mild scoliosis is to prevent progression and if possible, to avoid bracing. Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis Specific Exercises (PSSE) are curve pattern specific exercises, based on 3D self-correction and activities of daily living training. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PSSE - Schroth, as an exclusive treatment, during the riskiest period of rapid growth. Prospective control study. Outpatient treatment. Adolescents with scoliosis. One hundred and sixty-three patients (148 girls,15 boys; mean age 12.6 years, Risser sign 1.1, thoracic (Th) Cobb angle 20.8° and lumbar/thoracolumbar (L/TL) Cobb angle 20.7°) performed PSSE - Schroth exercises in our clinic. They were asked to regularly attend supervised sessions and to follow a home-program at least 5 times per week. Our inclusion criteria were Cobb angle 15°-25°, Risser 0-2 and angle trunk rotation (ATR) >5°, measured by scoliometer. The outcome parameters were the Cobb angle before and after the intervention (improvement or progression were defined as angle difference more than 5°) and the number of patients that finally needed a brace. Average follow-up time was 29.4 months. Control group was consisted of 58 patients (54 girls, 4 boys; mean age 13.1 years, Risser sign 0-2, Th Cobb 19.4°, L/TL Cobb 19.2°), that were retrospectively analyzed and performed general or no exercises. Compliance was self-reported. Statistical analysis was performed by paired t-test. For PSSE - Schroth group, 103 patients (63.2%) remained stable, 39 (23.9%) improved and 21 (12.9%) worsened. The success rate (87.1%) was significantly higher compared to Control group (P=0.002), where 15 subjects (25.9%) were stable and 43 (74.1%) worsened. Similarly, 16 patients (9.8%) from PSSE - Schroth group finally needed a brace, while 39 (67.2%) from control group (P=0.01). PSSE - Schroth reduced the risk of progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) patients, during early growth. Our results are in accordance with the recently published literature, showing the effectiveness of PSSE and their superiority compared to general exercises or natural history. Scoliosis specific exercises can be the first step of scoliosis treatment in mild curves, to avoid progression and bracing.

Electronic Pre-Navigated Patient Intake in Complex Patients: A Zero Net Win-Win

Providing care for patients with pelvic health disorders can be challenging due to their multidisciplinary nature. We describe the successful launch of an electronic, responsive, skip logic–based pre-visit intake in a complex patient population. A responsive intake employing branch logic was programmed targeting multidisciplinary pelvic health needs: urinary, bowel, sexual, and pain symptoms, as well as neurological, rheumatologic, and general medical history. Patient satisfaction, provider’s meaningful work, burnout inventories, confidence in intake process, and documentation time were collected prospectively from urology providers, nursing staff, and administrative staff before and after launch. Meaningful work and satisfaction were improved while burnout and exhaustion decreased amongst all employee types surveyed. Routine utilizers saw increased benefit. Patient satisfaction scores were higher in those who received the pre-intake electronic form than in those who completed paper forms at the time of the visit. A navigated intake form pre-documenting patients can improve the experience of providers, clinic employees, and patients.

Household fuel and direct carbon emission disparity in rural China

Universal access to clean fuels in household use is one explicit indicator of sustainable development while currently still billions of people rely on solid fuels for daily cooking. Despite of the recognized clean transition trend in general, disparities in household energy mix in different activities (e.g. cooking and heating) and historical trends remain to be elucidated. In this study, we revealed the historical changing trend of the disparity in household cooking and heating activities and associated carbon emissions in rural China. The study found that the poor had higher total direct energy consumption but used less modern energy, especially in cooking activities, in which the poor consumed 60 % more energy than the rich. The disparity in modern household energy use decreased over time, but conversely the disparity in total residential energy consumption increased due to the different energy elasticities as income increases. Though per-capita household CO2 and Black Carbon (BC) emissions were decreasing under switching to modern energies, the disparity in household CO2 and BC deepened over time, and the low-income groups emitted ∼ 10 kg CO2 more compared to the high-income population. Relying solely on spontaneous clean cooking transition had limited impacts in reducing disparities in household energy and carbon emissions, whereas improving access to modern energy had substantial potential to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions and its disparity. Differentiated energy-related policies to promote high-efficiency modern heating energies affordable for the low-income population should be developed to reduce the disparity, and consequently benefit human health and climate change equally.

Review Essay

Scott Cook, Exploring Commodities. An Anthropologist on the Trails of Malinowski and Traven in Mexico. Oxford: Peter Lang, pp. 246. 2021. Stephen Gudeman, Enlightening Encounters. The Journeys of an Anthropologist. New York: Berghahn, pp. 144. 2022. Keith Hart, Self in the World. Connecting Life's Extremes. New York: Berghahn, pp. 314. 2022.

Books:Portable Magic: A History of Books and their Readers

Books:<i>Portable Magic: A History of Books and their Readers</i>

Historical change and variability of spectral wind wave climate in the New York Bight

AbstractThe sea surface is a complex superposition of various wave systems, thus, analysing their characteristics provides more meaningful and accurate information compared to conventional integrated wave parameter approaches. The concept of wave family—a population of wave systems within a specific region in spectral space—provides the foundation for investigating the long‐term climatology of wave systems. This study adopts a wave family approach to investigate the climatology of wave systems and their long‐term climate controllers at the location of a coastal buoy in the western North Atlantic Ocean. The frequency‐direction wave spectrum is constructed for a historical 20‐year period by applying the Maximum Entropy Method on directional buoy measurements acquired from the National Data Buoy Center station 44025, located in the New York Bight. The two‐dimensional wave spectrum is partitioned, using the watershed partitioning algorithm, and the occurrence distribution of spectral partitions is calculated to identify predominant wave families. Each of the four identified wave families carries unique characteristics based on spatial formation and duration of propagation prior to arrival at the study site. The study quantifies long‐term trends and variability in wave height of each wave family on a monthly, seasonal and annual level, and their relative importance to the bulk sea‐state climatology. The nexus between the bulk or wave family seasonal wave heights and the climate indices is quantified to identify the wave climate controllers in the study area.

Validation of global precipitation time series products against tree ring records and remotely sensed vegetation greenness.

Global interpolated climate products are widely used in ecological research to investigate biosphere-climate interactions and to track ecological response to climate variability and climate change. In turn, biological data could also be used for an independent validation of one aspect of climate data quality. All else being equal, more variance explained in biological data identifies the better climate data product. Here, we compare seven global precipitation time series products, including gauge-based datasets (CRU-TS, UDEL-TS, GPCC), re-analysis products (ERA5, CHELSA), a satellite-based dataset (PERSIANN) and a multi-source product that draws on gauge, re-analysis, and satellite data (MSWEP). We focus on precipitation variables, because they are more difficult to interpolate than temperature, and show larger divergence among gridded data products. Our validation is based on 20 years of remotely sensed vegetation greenness (MODIS-EVI) and 120 years of tree ring records from the International Tree Ring Data Bank (ITRDB). The results for the 20-year EVI based validation shows that all gauge and re-analysis data products performed similarly, but were outperformed by the multi-source MSWEP product, especially in regions with low weather station coverage, such as Africa. For analyzing long 120-year time-series, UDEL-TS showed superior performance prior to the 1940s, with especially large margins for northern Asia and the Himalayas region. For other regions, CRU-TS and GPCC could be recommended. We provide maps that can guide the best regional choice of climate product for research involving time series of biological response to historic climate variability and climate change.

An In-Depth Literature Review of Remote, Online, and Hybrid Learning with Case Studies of Successful and Failed Attempts

This literature review traces the historical development and changing educational delivery modalities to examine the evolution, application, and effects of remote, online, and hybrid learning models. It offers a theoretical framework outlining important educational ideas and techniques, concentrating on how different learning styles are considered within these paradigms and their difficulties and advantages. The paper emphasizes how significant technology developments have influenced remote learning, especially when combining synchronous and asynchronous learning techniques in hybrid models. Effective course design, learner engagement, technology infrastructure, faculty training, and institutional support are all factors that contribute to successful implementation. The study also contains case studies demonstrating successful and failed implementation initiatives, emphasizing the techniques, instructional approaches, technological integrations employed, and results and outcomes obtained. The analysis suggests best practices and suggestions for educators, institutions, and legislators to improve the effective implementation of various learning models, address possible issues, and offer enough faculty and student support. This thorough literature analysis provides insights into the dynamic interaction between pedagogy, technology, and institutional support in distant, online, and hybrid learning, serving as a significant resource in education and learning.

An Examination of the Writing Process in the Pre-Islamic Arab Period in the Pre-Islamic Arab History Book by Dr. Jawwad Ali

The process of writing in pre-islamic Arabia had several periods and there were several factors that influenced the development of literary writing in Pre-Islamic Arabia, which had five separate periods at each time. This paper aims to examine more deeply the process of literary writing in pre-Islamic Arabia, which is studied through the book Pre-Islamic Arabic History written by Dr. Jawwad Ali. This study uses a literature study that explores Jahiliyyah Arabic literature from the perspective of social, religion and thoughts that influenced Jahiliyyah Arabic literature. The results of the study of Jahiliyyah Arabic literature are expected to increase the understanding of Arabic literature reviewers towards society and knowledge and aspirations about the culture of Jahiliyyah Arabic society from the perspective of historical and literary experiences

Do newer maize hybrids grow roots faster and deeper?

AbstractUnderstanding historical changes in root depth attributes is needed for crop productivity and sustainability assessments, but such information is rare. We explored whether newer maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids grow roots faster and deeper than older hybrids and quantified the role of management and environment on root trait expression. We measured root front velocity (RFV) and maximum root depth in 11 Bayer Crop Science legacy hybrids released from 1983 to 2017 across five environments in the US Corn Belt during 2021 and 2022. Root depth was measured weekly during vegetative stages with manual probes and the maximum root depth at crop harvest with a Giddings probe. Results indicated that the RFV and maximum root depth slightly increased with the year of hybrid release (0.13% per year, p = 0.1) at 8.7 plants m−2. Historical increases in plant density from 4.7 to 8.7 plants m−2 lowered RFV and maximum root depth, but the new hybrids compensated for this loss, resulting in 4% higher RFV and 3% higher maximum depth when comparing systems from 1983 to 2017. The environment strongly influenced root trait expression (&gt;41%). Rain anomaly and soil bulk density explained a portion of this variation. We found a linear relationship between root depth and leaf number (R2 = 0.95) and a nonlinear relationship between RFV and maximum root depth (R2 = 0.77), which can stimulate crop model improvements. Faster and deeper roots were not correlated with maize yields in our environments. This study enhances our understanding of maize breeding impacts on root traits.

Will a re-emergence of ancient infectious diseases pose a new risk to humanity in the coming millennia?

Infectious diseases including smallpox, the black plague, cholera, and others have been responsible for the loss of millions of lives over the past millennia, prior to the development of effective treatment strategies during the recent century. Throughout history, epidemics and pandemics are known to have occurred intermittently throughout the world for over 2,500 years. During the 20th century, many of the causative infectious agents were identified, the evolution of vaccines and antimicrobials were developed, resulting in treatment strategies and public health measures that brought about the resolution and presumed virtual eradication of some of the infectious agents. Cholera is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, and outbreaks continue to occur, with the most recent epidemic in Haiti following the massive earthquake of 2010 despite the development of effective vaccines and supporting public health measures. While smallpox was deemed to have been eradicated by the WHO, the recent discovery of Alaskapox, a novel strain of orthopoxvirus that is genetically similar to ‘old-world’ smallpox claimed its first fatality in January 2024. The bubonic plague also continues to reappear in clusters, most recently in rural Oregon in the USA in early 2024. Thus, the emergence of variants of these and other devastating ancient diseases continues to require diligence in establishing and delivery of public health measures and therapeutic options to ensure the plagues of former millennia remain in the history books and not in the community during the present and future generations.

Hydrological responses to historical and predicted land use/land cover changes in the Welmel watershed, Genale Dawa Basin, Ethiopia: Implications for water resource management

Study regionWelmel watershed, Genale-Dawa Basin, Ethiopia. Study focusThis study aimed to analyze the hydrological impacts of land use/land cover (LULC) changes in the Welmel watershed for 1990–2020 and to predict the LULC change impact on the hydrological status in the year 2050. The hybrid land use classification technique for classifying Landsat images; Cellular-Automata Markov (CA-Markov) for prediction of the 2035 and 2050 LULC; and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for hydrological modeling were employed in the analyses. New hydrological insights for the regionThe findings revealed that from 1990 to 2020, significant alterations in the hydrological regime occurred due to historical LULC changes in the Welmel watershed, which are expected to continue in the 2035 and 2050 periods. Forest cover loss and expansion of agricultural areas, which occurred from 1990 to 2020, have resulted in increased annual flow (6.18%), wet seasonal flow (10.21%), and surface runoff (25.32%), and reduced dry seasonal flow (6.34%), groundwater flow (17.17%, and evapotranspiration (0.36%). The 2035 and 2050 LULC indicate further increased annual flow, wet seasonal flow, and surface runoff, and reduced dry seasonal flow, groundwater flow, and evapotranspiration. The study also stated the hydrological impacts of the LULC changes at the sub-watershed scales. More noticeable changes in hydrological components have been observed at the sub-watershed scale, mainly associated with the uneven spatial distribution of LULC changes. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, water resource managers, and local communities in formulating strategies to enhance water resource management practices in the Welmel watershed and similar regions. It could also be for researchers and Academia who can be benefited and it can be used to supplement global goals like Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Hydroclimatic Vulnerability of Wetlands to Upwind Land Use Changes

AbstractDespite their importance, wetland ecosystems protected by the Ramsar Convention are under pressure from climate change and human activities. These drivers are altering water availability in these wetlands, changing water levels or surface water extent, in some cases, beyond historical variability. Attribution of the effects of human and climate activities is usually focused on changes within the wetlands or their upstream surface and groundwater inputs. However, the reliance of wetland water availability on upwind atmospheric moisture supply is less understood. Here, we assess the vulnerability of 40 Ramsar wetlands to precipitation changes caused by land use and hydroclimatic change occurring in their upwind moisture‐supplying regions. We use moisture flows from a Lagrangian tracking model, atmospheric reanalysis data, and historical land use change (LUC) data to assess and quantify these changes. Our analyses show that historical LUC has decreased precipitation and terrestrial moisture recycling in most wetland hydrological basins, decreasing surface water availability (precipitation minus evaporation). The most substantial effects on wetland water availability occurred in the tropic subtropical regions of Central Europe and Asia. Overall, we found wetlands in Central Asia and South America to be the most vulnerable by a combination of LUC‐driven effects on runoff, high terrestrial precipitation recycling, and recent decreases in surface water availability. This study stresses the need to incorporate upwind effects of land use changes in the restoration, management, and conservation of the world's wetlands.