Key Moments Research Articles

Similar Narration of the Other: Lârî’s Narration of the Battle of Çaldıran under Ottoman’s Influence (1514)

The Battle of Çaldıran in 1514, which took place between the Ottoman Empire under Sulṭān Selīm (d. 926/1520) and the Safavid Empire under Shāh Ismāʿīl (d. 930/1524), is a key historical moment. Its interpretation, however, differs markedly between Ottoman and Safavid historical accounts. Ottoman narratives herald it as a resounding triumph, while Safavid accounts portray it as Sulṭān Selīm’s failed attempt to completely subjugate their empire. This study examines the instrumental role of Lārī, a Safavid expatriate living in the Ottoman Empire, in the production of his historical treatise ‘Mir’atü’l-advār ve Mirkātü’l-Ahbār’. It argues that Lārī, animated by loyalty to the Ottoman perspective and antipathy towards the Safavids, deliberately endorsed the Ottoman version, despite his intimate acquaintance with Safavid sources. His chronicles portray the Safavids as deviating from Islamic principles, thereby sanctioning Sulṭān Selīm’s military incursion. This study emphasizes that the sixteenth-century rivalry between the Ottomans and the Safavids gave rise to different paradigms of behavior, shaped by different ambitions such as the pursuit of material gain, social status and prestige. In this context, Lārī serves as a prominent case in point.

Beyond Explored Functionals: A Computational Journey of Two-Photon Absorption.

We present a thorough investigation into the efficacy of 19 density functional theory (DFT) functionals, relative to RI-CC2 results, for computing two-photon absorption (2PA) cross sections (σ2PA) and key dipole moments (|μ00|, |μ11|, |Δμ|, |μ01|) for a series of coumarin dyes in the gas-phase. The functionals include different categories, including local density approximation (LDA), generalized gradient approximation (GGA), hybrid-GGA (H-GGA), range-separated hybrid-GGA (RSH-GGA), meta-GGA (M-GGA), and hybrid M-GGA (HM-GGA), with 14 of them being subjected to analysis for the first time with respect to predicting σ2PA values. Analysis reveals that functionals integrating both short-range (SR) and long-range (LR) corrections, particularly those within the RSH-GGA and HM-GGA classes, outperform the others. Furthermore, the range-separation approach was found more impactful compared to the varying percentages of Hartree-Fock exchange (HF Ex) within different functionals. The functionals traditionally recommended for 2PA do not appear among the top 9 in our study, which is particularly interesting, as these top-performing functionals have not been previously investigated in this context. This list is dominated by M11, QTP variants, ωB97X, ωB97X-V, and M06-2X, surpassing the performance of other functionals, including the commonly used CAM-B3LYP.

Spontaneity and Control: Friedrich Hayek, Stafford Beer, and the Principles of Self-Organization

Friedrich Hayek, the Austrian economist, and Stafford Beer, best known for engineering socialist Chile's CYBERSYN project, met exactly once, at the 1960 Symposium on the Principles of Self-Organization, hosted by the Biological Computer Laboratory at the University of Illinois. Independently, in the decade that followed, Beer and Hayek each sought to apply the principles of self-organization to the design of economic institutions. They were joined in the belief that the full enjoyment of human liberty would require a self-organizing world economy. To understand why, this article delves into the explanatory logic and intellectual history of “self-organization.” I use points of convergence between Beer's thought and Hayek's to reframe a key moment in the history of neoliberalism.

Navigating outpatient care of patients with type 2 diabetes after hospital discharge - a qualitative longitudinal study

BackgroundThe transition from hospital to outpatient care is a particularly vulnerable period for patients as they move from regular health monitoring to self-management. This study aimed to map and investigate the journey of patients with polymorbidities, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), in the 2 months following hospital discharge and examine patients’ encounters with healthcare professionals (HCPs).MethodsPatients discharged with T2D and at least two other comorbidities were recruited during hospitalization. This qualitative longitudinal study consisted of four semi-structured interviews per participant conducted from discharge up to 2 months after discharge. The interviews were based on a guide, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. Patient journeys through the healthcare system were represented using the patient journey mapping methodology.ResultsSeventy-five interviews with 21 participants were conducted from October 2020 to July 2021. The participants had a median of 11 encounters (min–max: 6–28) with HCPs. The patient journey was categorized into six key steps: hospitalization, discharge, dispensing prescribed medications by the community pharmacist, follow-up calls, the first medical appointment, and outpatient care.ConclusionsThe outpatient journey in the 2 months following discharge is a complex and adaptive process. Despite the active role of numerous HCPs, navigation in outpatient care after discharge relies heavily on the involvement and responsibilities of patients. Preparation for discharge, post-hospitalization follow-up, and the first visit to the pharmacy and general practitioner are key moments for carefully considering patient care. Our findings underline the need for clarified roles and a standardized approach to discharge planning and post-discharge care in partnership with patients, family caregivers, and all stakeholders involved.

The Role of the Law in Critical Theory: An Engagement with Hardt and Negri’s Commonwealth

AbstractThis paper discusses the role of Law and Legal Thinking in Critical Theory with specific reference to the arguments that Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri offer in their book Commonwealth. The core idea is that Critical Theory is no less radical, but much more concrete, when it is performing not only an external, but also an internal critique of the Law. It shows that the role of the law in critical theory emerges as a problem when the latter claims that ‘there is no outside’ and that ‘the legal base of the system structures our lives.’ It then discusses optimistic and pessimistic strategies to overcome the problem, and argue for a demanding strategy which consist in articulating the external and the internal critique of the law. To make this point, the paper goes back to the epistemic context in which critical attitudes are deployed (the ‘Conflict of the Faculties’), describes the four theoretical moves constitutive of the historical moment in which, at the end of the 18th Century, modern law as we know it was conceived of and founded; and sketches the key moments of the history of the internal critique of the law. It then illustrates the demanding strategy with examples taken from the field of Intellectual Property, and concludes that the Law is malleable and open enough to allow the thinking and practicing of radical alternatives from within the legal system and also that alternatives spoken in the language of the law are no less radical, but certainly, more concrete than others.

Handbook, Standard, Room: The Prescription of Residential Room Types in Sweden Between 1942 and 2023

Norms and handbooks have played a key role in the design of residential rooms in Sweden since the 1940s. Ever since, changes in housing policies have led to varying definitions and regulations of residential rooms, allowing their existence, defining their configuration, and framing their performance. And yet, none of these rooms has been built; they are prescribed room types that belong in the pages of handbooks that validate the framework in which housing design can operate. What are these prescribed room types? What do they look like? Who and what do they include? Have they changed over time? In response to these questions, this article follows the evolution of a set of residential room types in the design handbooks that have accompanied housing policy bills in Sweden from 1942 to 2023. These manuals are not the law itself but operate as an interface for professionals and designers by reflecting the practical consequences of the norm. Diagrams, dimensions, texts, and references to housing literature vary from handbook to handbook to define the specific traits of each type of room. By studying these traits in relation to key moments of Swedish housing politics, the article reveals the role that norms and standards have played in the establishment of the regulatory regime in which housing design in Sweden operates today.

The First Blockchain: Bitcoin, Entropy, Religion

Bitcoin did not suddenly appear in November 2008, at the heart of the subprime crisis. It has matured over a decade, notably through the exchanges of Nick Szabo, Hal Finney, and others, with key moments such as the publication of “The God Protocols” by Szabo in 1997. The theological analogy developed in the introduction to that text, which theorizes smart contracts, raises the question: simple facetiousness, geek irony, or a clue to religious references? By analysing not only the founding texts but also the discussions in the Extropian or cryptography mailing lists in which Szabo and Finney took part, this article seeks to answer whether religious references (vocabulary, imagination, symbolism, structure) may have played a role in the genesis of Bitcoin.

Reflections on Several Landmark Advances in Circadian Biology.

Circadian Biology intersects with diverse scientific domains, intricately woven into the fabric of organismal physiology and behavior. The rhythmic orchestration of life by the circadian clock serves as a focal point for researchers across disciplines. This retrospective examination delves into several of the scientific milestones that have fundamentally shaped our contemporary understanding of circadian rhythms. From deciphering the complexities of clock genes at a cellular level to exploring the nuances of coupled oscillators in whole organism responses to stimuli. The field has undergone significant evolution lately guided by genetics approaches. Our exploration here considers key moments in the circadian-research landscape, elucidating the trajectory of this discipline with a keen eye on scientific advancements and paradigm shifts.

Historical View of University Libraries in Azerbaijan: ADA University Library Case Study

The article presents a comprehensive overview of the evolution and advancements witnessed by ADA University Library throughout the period from 2010 to 2020. It delves into the dynamic evolution of Azerbaijan’s higher education system, shaped by historical transitions and a drive for global integration. Key moments include the establishment of educational foundations such as the Gazakh Teachers’ Seminary and Baku State University, with the Soviet era solidifying the importance of education. In the post-independence period, higher education underwent substantial reforms, aligning with international standards. The library at ADA University, a prime example of this transformation, transitioned from a modest collection to a state-of-the-art institution with a global footprint. It has contributed to preserving Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage and fostering international collaborations, exemplifying ADA University’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

Retrospective analysis of the construction of the national system of hospice and palliative care in Great Britain

Today, Great Britain has one of the best hospice care systems for palliative patients in the world, which leads to interest in the path of building a Hospice and Palliative Care (НPC) system in this country. The hospice care system is mainly financed by the volunteer sector, which indicates a significant development of the state-society partnership in the organization of НPC. The national НPC system consists of inpatient care, day palliative care, care in the community and emergency hospitals. 2004–2008 is considered the key moment in the formation of the country's НPC system, which will be the focus of this study. For specialist palliative care, the National Health Service of Great Britain allocated almost £50 million a year in those days until 2004. At the same time, volunteer support was about 4 times greater. More than 220 volunteer support groups for palliative patients operated in the country. The success of building a national НPC system is described in the Palliative Care White Paper. A number of interrelated national programs may be used as a standard of palliative care in 20 years by many other countries. The development of the НPC system has influenced the British homes for the elderly, the system of primary care, the attitude to the НPC problem of doctors, local communities and society as a whole, increased the quality and availability of palliative care. Palliative care since those years has been provided 24/7, managed by coordination centers located outside medical facilities and hospices. High national НPC standards and mechanisms for monitoring their compliance have been created. Narcotic analgesia for palliative patients with chronic pain, the necessary medical, psychological, social and spiritual care is mostly available. The public debates the question of a dignified death without restrictions. The value for money of НPC is recognized by British society as acceptable. Therefore, studying the British experience of НPC organization as one of the "best practices" is useful for other countries with less developed НPC systems. Keywords: "best practices", place of death, palliative care quality standards.

A Simulation and Empirical Study of the Maximum Likelihood Estimator for Stochastic Volatility Jump-Diffusion Models

Abstract We investigate the behaviour of the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for stochastic volatility jump-diffusion models commonly used in financial risk management. A simulation study shows the practical conditions under which the MLE behaves according to theory. In an extensive empirical study based on nine indices and more than 6000 individual stocks, we nonetheless find that the MLE is unable to replicate key higher moments. We then introduce a moment-targeted MLE – robust to model misspecification – and revisit both simulation and empirical studies. We find it performs better than the MLE, improving the management of financial risk.

Contribution of Science and Technology to the Country’s National Security

In the face of Nepal's constant vulnerability to major geopolitical forces, the country has yet to fully harness technology to safeguard its national interests. This paper highlights how states, in demanding times, have wielded scientific technology to safeguard their security and address their interests. This paper draws attention to the importance of investment in innovation and research for the survival of a nation. Drawing upon historical, technological, and geopolitical perspectives, this paper explores the pivotal role of scientific and technological breakthroughs in shaping military strategies, and war efforts. The paper examines key moments when innovations such as the development of bow and arrow, gunpowder, RADAR, proximity fuse, cryptography, and computer malware have provided nations, civilizations, and communities with a vital advantage in safeguarding their security. Furthermore, the paper explores the mutual relationship between scientific research, innovation, and economic growth. It highlights how investments in science bolster a country's defence capabilities and foster innovative ecosystems that drive economic prosperity. Ultimately, this paper seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the contributions of science to national security and well-being. Analyzing the relationship between innovation, strategy, and global dynamics; the paper highlights the imperativeness of nations to adapt, collaborate, and harness scientific advancements, to safeguard their interests in an increasingly complex world. Through an enriched understanding of the past and present contributions of science in national defence, Nepalese policymakers, military leadership, and the country’s scientific community can navigate the intricate landscape of national safe guardianship to ensure a secure and prosperous future for Nepal.

Six memorable years on the Arcetri Hill

I have tried to recall the most vivid memories I have of the six years I spent as a student in Arcetri, and above all as one of the many “gattini” who, at a key moment in the evolution of the theory of fundamental interactions, had the great luck to learn the tools of the game in such a lively and stimulating environment.

A Leadership of Refusal: Remaking the Narrative of the Falling Leader

AbstractThe metaphor of the glass cliff is used to describe patterns whereby women are more likely to be selected for challenging leadership positions that have a higher risk of failure. This paper explores how the glass cliff metaphor contributes to a narrative of woman's fall that individualizes a leader's responsibility to avoid risks that may lead to failure. As an alternative, we introduce the leadership of refusal as a feminist resource for remaking the narrative of woman's fall. Refusal is understood as an embodied political and ethical stance that declines to recognize, rather than resists or simply opposes, masculine leadership norms. Through analysis of how three women leaders were represented by the media, former Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, and climate change activist, Greta Thunberg, we analyse key moments of refusal where these leaders breached the masculine order through their embodied performances. We argue that leadership of refusal enables an understanding of how women leaders exercise power in agentic, non‐sacrificial ways. We therefore urge leadership researchers to position refusal centrally, because first saying no in order to take risks towards achieving transformative action is, we suggest, a defining feature of leadership.

The political ecologies of fire: Recasting fire geographies in British Columbia, Canada

How fires burn across British Columbia (BC), Canada is shaped by settler coloniality, timber capitalism, state forestry regimes, criminalization of burning, and Indigenous resistance. Despite the urgency of confronting the fire suppression paradox embedded in settler colonial fire management laws and practices, approaches to studying fire in Canada that foreground Indigenous law and de-center settler colonial governance is scarce. As political ecologists and geographers working and living in the context of unceded and ancestral lək̓ʷəŋən, W̱SÁNEĆ, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ, and syilx territories, we engage with Indigenous feminist scholarship to expose how coloniality and gender intersect in attempts to erase Indigenous sovereignty to structure and naturalize provincial fire policy and its emplaced impacts on Indigenous legal orders. Our analysis contextualizes settler-colonial provincial fire management policy in the purview of Indigenous legal orders to foreground how racial-colonial and gendered politics are obscured when colonial fire and wildfire practices are naturalized. Revisiting key moments in the political development of fire suppression across so-called BC, we contend that the suppression paradox is embedded in and reproduces a colonial logic that widens existing social and economic gaps. These gaps are uniquely gendered, as settler coloniality operates upon patriarchal lines that have actively attempted to erase Indigenous women and Two-Spirit peoples, including the laws and legal authorities that they possess and practice. Considering the 1910 Fulton Commission, we highlight an example of how women and Indigenous people were excluded from the political decision-making structures that shaped colonial fire management practices in BC. These gendered and racialized exclusions bear directly on the exclusion of Indigenous women and gender-diverse folx, and Indigenous legal orders guided by matriarchal lines of fire knowledge.

Patient Learning Pathway: Identifying Patient Competencies in Teledermatology for Effective Management of Dermatological Conditions.

Dermatology consultations in Québec, Canada, face accessibility challenges, with most dermatologists concentrated in urban areas. Teledermatology, offering remote diagnosis and treatment, holds promise in overcoming these limitations. However, concerns regarding patient-doctor relationships and logistical issues exist. This article aims to introduce a dermatology patient learning pathway (PLP) developed by the Centre of Excellence on Partnership with Patients and the Public (CEPPP), focusing on knowledge, abilities, and skills mobilized by patients and their loved ones at key moments of the life course with an illness, as well as emerging educational needs. The PLP development was co-developed with dermatology patient and caregiver partners, stakeholders, and the CEPPP team. The process encompassed stakeholder engagement, exploration, recruitment of patient and caregiver partners, co-development of the PLP draft, and validation through consensus building. The PLP methodology led to the creation of 44 learning objectives, comprising a total of 107 subobjectives. These objectives were organized into 8 phases of the patient life course with a dermatological condition: (1) prevention and predisposition; (2) discovery, self-examination, or observation of a change; (3) first consultation; (4) wandering; (5) consultation with a dermatologist; (6) diagnosis; (7) treatments; and (8) living with it. The dermatology PLP serves as a resource outlining patient competency across different stages of managing a dermatological condition throughout their life course. In the context of teledermatology, the PLP might facilitate patient and caregiver engagement by helping select appropriate information and tools to support active participation in care.

Overview of microbial studies in sandflies and their progress toward development of paratransgenic approach for the control of Leishmania sp.

During their whole life insects are exposed to the impact of different microbes from various sources. The role of microbes in the life of insects is of immense importance, and there is an ample of evidence showing that microbes can affect different aspects of insect physiology, behaviors as well as their potential and capacity to transmit pathogens. Sandflies are main vectors of Leishmania parasites – causative agent of leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is a difficult, disfiguring and if not treated deadly disease ranked among the top 10 neglected tropical diseases. In comparison to other medically and veterinary important insect vectors where microbial investigations already progressed toward field studies and practical application of paratransgenic approach, in the field of sandflies and leishmaniasis control microbial investigations are at their beginning. This mini review provides a summary of the key moments in the overall microbial studies in sandflies and highlights the urgency of detailed microbial investigations to progress toward the development of paratransgenic approach.

Selective Attention (SA) and Perceptual Inhibition (PI) Throughout the Lifespan

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyze the development of Perceptual Inhibition (PI) and Selective Visual Attention (SVA) across lifespan, identifying key moments of change in the direction of development. A total of 810 Argentinian participants, ranging from 6–80 years, were included. The results revealed that PI and SVA followed similar patterns, characterized by a linear function with three phases and two significant transition zones. The first phase spanned from childhood to early adolescence, showing a rapid and constant improvement in PI and SVA efficiency until 11 and 13 years. Subsequently, the next developmental phase is more extensive and lasts about 40 years. This phase is characterized by stability with a slight decline. In older adults another transition was identified, with a progressive decline until 80 years. It is important to note that the decline in older adults was much slower than the rapid improvement observed in childhood and adolescence, suggesting that the decline in older adults was not an inverse mirror image of their early development. PI showed a continuous improvement between the ages of 6 and 11, reaching a similar level of performance as young adults. On the other hand, SVA indexes showed a linear and progressive improvement from 6 years of age, but the first transition in the other direction was registered at 13 years of age. In summary, this study highlighted that both PI and SVA followed nonsymmetrical developmental patterns, with rapid early improvements in childhood and adolescence, and a slower decline in older adults.

An Examination of Identity Crisis in Ruskin Bond’s The Blue Umbrella

This paper deals with the theme of Identity crisis in Ruskin bond’s “The Blue umbrella”. While reading close to the text and analysing the character development, the paper tries to explain about how the little girl, Binya struggles with questions of self-identity. She struggles with the questions of belonging and societal expectations. By examining the key moments in the story, such as Binya’s accession of the blue umbrella and her interactions with other characters, the paper examines the internal dispute and external influences which mould Binya’s sense of self. Also this paper examines the identity formations and the human experience of navigating through periods of uncertainty and self-discovery.

Leo Trotsky – the Path to Revolution

Relevance. The article highlights the biography of one of the leaders of the Bolshevik Party, Leon Trotsky. He was an example of a passionate personality. Thanks to his organizational and oratorical qualities, the Bolsheviks organized an uprising in October 1917 and seized power in the country. Bringing in new historical facts provides an opportunity to rethink key moments of the past. In this regard, the article is relevant and in demand.The purpose of the article is to highlight the path of the leader of the Bolshevik Party, Leon Trotsky, into the revolution and his active participation in the revolutionary process.The objectives of the research are: a historical analysis of the revolutionary leader's life path, an assessment of the events of 1917 and the Civil War.Methodology. The article is based on the principles of consistency, objectivity and historicism, which have been supplemented by chronological and historical-comparative methods.The results of the scientific research prove the importance of studying the role of passionate personalities in history. It is shown that at the beginning of the XX century Russia was "infected" by the revolution. Revolutionary ideas attracted significant masses of young people from different strata of the population. One of such prominent representatives of the revolutionary youth was Leon Trotsky. His organizational and oratorical talent was reflected in the revolutionary events of 1917. Despite the huge number of opponents and difficult historical realities, Leon Trotsky and other leaders of the revolution were able to rally millions of Russian citizens to fight against external and internal enemies and win a difficult and bloody Civil War.Conclusions. Trotsky became one of the leaders of the Bolshevik party, which was popular among the broad masses. Through all his activities, he proved how great the role of a passionate personality in history can be.