Mid-20th Century Research Articles

The Issue of Provisioning Garrisons of Regular Troops in Southern Western Siberia in Correspondence of Military, Mining, and Civil Authorities of the Region in the mid-18th Century

Intensive transformations in the administrative environment in the South Siberian outskirts during the second third of the 18th century led to the emergence of a special kind of communication, namely, intersectoral. The problem of provisions supply delivery for the regular forces in the south of Western Siberia in the regional and local administrative discourse of military-departmental, mining, and civil authorities in the middle of the 18th century is considered in the paper. The author analyzes the office documentation which was one of the key channels for the implementation and reflection of administrative interactions between various verticals of power in the early Imperial period. Intersectoral communication at the regional level was largely open while at the local level there had been attempts to limit it deliberately. It is shown that the development of a renovated model, algorithms for the procurement and food supply for military teams took place during the official correspondence of 1747–1749, when the structures of the three branches of government had significantly different positions. The circumstances of discussing the food supply issue in the power discourse revealed in the article indicate that there were tangible manifestations of competition between civil and departmental authorities in the regional and local administrative system of the middle of the 18th century.

Our Heritage: Hungarian Protestant Antiphons

During the Middle Ages, the seemingly diverse liturgical practices across Europe were actually rooted in stable centers with long-standing traditions, with the Hungarian archbishopric center, Esztergom, notably contributing its own variant known as the Esztergom rite. This regional custom became the basis of liturgical practice in all of Hungary until it was replaced by the official Roman liturgy in 1630. The Esztergom rite, characterized by a blend of European and Hungarian traditions, influenced Hungarian Protestantism, leading to the development of vernacular plainchant, particularly flourishing from the mid-16th century onward. This resulted in a unique repertoire of Protestant vernacular chant, primarily found in gradual books. Research confirms that the majority of Hungarian Protestant graduals were not influenced by foreign models, but can be traced back to local medieval traditions, especially those of Esztergom. Keywords: antiphon, Hungarian Protestant Gradual-books, medieval Hungarian tradition, Esztergom/Strigonium rite.

Analysis on the Customers Usage of Gift Cards and Gift Vouchers through Online Payment in Coimbatore

In the dynamic landscape of contemporary consumer culture, the concept of gift-giving has undergone a profound transformation. Gone are the days when selecting the perfect gift involved hours of browsing crowded malls and meticulous consideration of personal preferences. Enter the era of Online Gift Cards—a revolution in the art of gifting that has not only streamlined the process but has also added a new layer of versatility and personalization to the age-old tradition of exchanging presents. A Online Gift Card, in its simplest form, is a prepaid card that carries a monetary value and is typically issued by retailers or businesses. These cards have transcended traditional gifting norms, offering recipients the freedom to choose their desired items from a vast array of products or services. The evolution of Online Gift Cards has been a fascinating journey, marked by technological advancements, shifting consumer behaviors, and a redefinition of the emotional and social aspects associated with gift-giving. The origins of Online Gift Cards can be traced back to the mid-20th century when retailers began experimenting with the idea of providing customers with a convenient alternative to traditional gift certificates. However, it wasn't until the late 20th century and the early 21st century that Online Gift Cards truly gained widespread popularity, becoming a ubiquitous and preferred choice for both gift-givers and receivers. The transition from tangible, paper-based gift certificates to sleek, plastic cards with magnetic strips or electronic chips marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of gift-giving. One of the primary reasons behind the meteoric rise of Online Gift Cards is their unparalleled convenience. Unlike traditional gifts, which may require exhaustive deliberation and might still miss the mark, Online Gift Cards empower both givers and recipients with flexibility. Givers no longer need to navigate the labyrinth of individual preferences, sizes, or colors, and recipients no longer have to feign enthusiasm for ill-fitting sweaters or mismatched kitchen appliances. Instead, the Online Gift Card offers a passport to a retail wonderland or a digital marketplace where the possibilities are as diverse as the personalities of the recipients.

Mellan artefakt och geofakt. Glättstenar i samiska kontexter från 1700- och 1800-talen

Smoothing stones from Sami contexts in the 18th and 19th centuries. Smoothing stones of green stone/field stone are sometimes found in both Sámi and non-Sámi contexts from the Iron age and the Medieval period. Usually they are associated with leather or textile production. This paper discusses the findings of natural smoothing stones at three Sámi dwellings in Hälsingland and Gästrikland, central Sweden, dated from the end of the 18th to mid-19th centuries. The stones are interpreted as used in leather and textile production but also that they played a significant role for the maintaining, and development of Sámi traditions, in a time of forced sedentary habitation and assimilation.

Political Dynasties in Canada

Abstract Using a unique dataset of legislators' electoral and biographical data in the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the federal parliament, this article analyses the extent to which family dynasties affected the career development of legislators since the mid-18th century. We find that the prevalence of dynasties was higher in provincial legislatures than it was in the federal parliament, that the number of dynasties in the Senate increased until the mid-20th century, and that the proportion of dynastic legislators at the subnational level was similar to the numbers seen in the United Kingdom during the early 19th century. Our results confirm the existence of a clear career benefit in terms of cabinet and senate appointments. In contrast to the American case and in line with the United Kingdom experience, we find no causal relationship between a legislator's tenure length and the presence of a dynasty.

‘The Subversion of Dialects’: Changing Attitudes towards Rural Varieties of Galician

The gheada and the seseo are the two pronunciations most stigmatised by the top-down standardising tradition of Galician from the mid-19th century. Social stereotypes of peasantry, ignorance, and vulgarity were built on them. Nowadays, those stereotypes are the basis for indexical pointing. These pronunciations were outlawed from schools in the past. Today, despite having been considered standard by The Royal Galician Academy since 1982, they are almost absent from the classrooms, including those of Galician language and literature. This situation is detrimental to the linguistic capital of its users as compared to that of standard speakers. Nonetheless, since the end of the 20th century, there has been a social resignification of the gheada and seseo, symbolically used to express authenticity, ethnolinguistic adherence, and/or socio-political and cultural resistance. Currently, the emergence of vernacular language ideologies (VLIs) counterbalances the weight of standard language ideologies (SLIs) on these phenomena. This article analyses the linguistic attitudes of a sample of young people towards these two dialectal varieties as opposed to the standard pronunciations. It also identifies the indexical associations of contrasting varieties and their evolution over time. For this purpose, the matched-guise technique in combination with semantic differential scales (SDSs) has been applied. The results show that whereas standard pronunciations index social success, dialectal pronunciations index solidarity. However, while the standard indexical values are very stable, a rise in dialectal ratings is observed over fifteen years, which means an improvement of the attitudes towards them. As in other European minority languages, this phenomenon indicates a process of value levelling of the linguistic varieties and the growing weight of the VLIs in late modernity in Galicia.

SOME COMMENTS ON THE RELATIONS OF THE BUKHARA EMIRATE WITH THE OTTOMAN STATE IN THE 1950S AND 1960S

This article examines the diplomatic and political relations between the Bukhara Emirate and the Ottoman State during the 1950s and 1960s. Despite significant geopolitical changes in the mid-20th century, these relations were characterized by a mix of traditional alliances and modern strategic interests. The study explores key diplomatic exchanges, trade agreements, and cultural interactions that defined the bilateral relations of this period. By analyzing historical documents, treaties, and correspondences, the article sheds light on the motivations and implications of the Bukhara Emirate's foreign policy towards the Ottoman State. Furthermore, it highlights the impact of these relations on regional stability and the broader geopolitical landscape. Through this investigation, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of the historical dynamics that influenced the interactions between these two significant political entities in the mid-20th century.

Organization of Educational and Extracurricular Activities of Students of Imperial Universities in the mid-19th century

Organization of Educational and Extracurricular Activities of Students of Imperial Universities in the mid-19th century

Tetanus– a case report highlighting the challenges in diagnosis and treatment

Tetanus has become an increasingly rare infectious disease due to the development of successful vaccination programs in the mid-20th century. In resource-rich countries, mainly unvaccinated or partly vaccinated risk groups are affected, whereas tetanus still remains prevalent in resource-limited countries. The decreasing incidence in developed countries has hindered clinical trials evaluating the best treatment modalities for tetanus infections. Current guidelines are based on a small number of studies and case reports. So far, these studies have shown potential benefits of treating tetanus infections with benzodiazepines, magnesium sulfate and baclofen. Additionally, several treatments have been shown to be useful in stabilizing and supporting patients with tetanus. However, each treatment modality has limitations, from negative side effects to logistical challenges, especially in developing countries. Therefore, further knowledge is required to evaluate the best use of each treatment and to further optimize patient care. This knowledge can contribute to the reduction of the burden of disease in countries where tetanus remains prevalent and where resources are limited, though vaccination is the most effective method to achieve this. This case report describes the treatment of a Dutch patient with tetanus infection and illustrates the role of benzodiazepines as well as other key aspects of treating patients with tetanus.

Graduate Teacher Education Students Use and Evaluate ChatGPT as an Essay-Writing Tool

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been evolving since the mid-20th Century when luminaries such as Alan Turing, Herbert Simon and Marvin Minsky began developing rudimentary AI applications. For decades, AI programs remained pretty much in the realm of computer science and experimental game playing. This changed radically in the 2020s when commercial vendors such as OpenAI and Google developed generative AI programs (ChatGPT) and (Bard) using large, language modelling (LLM). As a result, generative AI is now being considered for use in all walks of life including education. In Spring 2023, when ChatGPT burst into the public psyche, twenty-five education students in the author’s graduate seminar were invited to participate in a qualitative study using ChatGPT as a tool for completing an essay assignment. Fifteen (N=15) accepted the offer. The purpose in doing this was to give students in this seminar the opportunity to use ChatGPT in a supportive environment and to collect qualitative data from them on their experiences using ChatGPT. All of these students have master’s degrees in education and experience as teachers in New York City schools. Their training and experience give them keen insights into pedagogical practice making them ideally suited to evaluate ChatGPT as an instructional tool. This article reports on the results of this study. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, AI, ChatGPT, Graduate Teacher Education, Qualitative Research

La personnalité juridique de l’État

The conceptualization of the State as an entity endowed with legal personality has played a central role in the development of French and German public law, and is also one of the fundamental principles of public international law. The first theories viewing the State as a legal person emerged in the mid-19th century, and were still widely discussed at the beginning of the following century. Curiously, however, Swiss scholars were not as enthusiastic about the matter than their foreign counterparts. In Switzerland, while it is traditionally accepted that the State, the cantons and the municipalities are legal entities, neither the dogmatic basis for this personality, nor its material scope, are really clear. The present contribution examines this apparent shortfall, drawing on the various theories of the person-state developed in France and Germany, and on the concept of legal personality under public law, to examine the legal position of the state in Swiss law. It concludes that the State is a legal person governed by public law by virtue of customary law. It is argued, however, that the distinction between legal personnality under public-law and legal personality under private law must be relativized with regard to their material content. Thus, the legal personality of the State is not intrinsically different in scope from the legal personality enjoyed by private persons. In Swiss law, the personification of the State does not explain what makes it a distinct legal phenomenon, nor does it constitute a conceptual necessity. On the contrary, it is a pragmatic response to the need to make the State a center for the imputation of rights and obligations.

Catch of Reesa vespulae in Heritage Environments.

The skin beetle Reesa vespulae is regularly found beyond North America where it originated. The larvae cause considerable concern in museums, as they damage hides or furs in addition to being a special source of damage to collections of dried plants in herbaria or collections of insects and other zoological specimens. Reesa vespulae arrived in Europe in the mid-20th century and was associated mostly with stored food products, but over time, it has become recognised as a museum pest. Although it is still uncommon and may only be observed in a small fraction of museums, when the insect is found in large numbers, it can cause problems. Catches from blunder traps in Austrian museums and from an online database in the UK were used to track changing concern over the insect. As a single female beetle can continue to reproduce because the species is parthenogenetic, its presence can persist over long periods of time. Although small populations in museums are typically found in the adult form, the larval forms are more common where a site is infested by high numbers, perhaps because the larvae and adults must range more widely for food. Although R. vespulae can be controlled using pesticides, it is also possible to kill the larvae within infested materials through freezing or anoxia.

The house of tomorrow is a living being today:

“The house of tomorrow” hides a whole genealogy of mechanistic projects, developed under a perspective of energy and resource self-sufficiency. Since the mid-20th century, disciples of Buckminster Fuller and the New Alchemy Institute have been creating fully autonomous functional prototypes thanks to regenerative metabolic cycles. Today, it is essential to contextualize these mechanistic models to the demands of contemporary society. Evolving the theory of dwelling, implies adjusting the domestic space to our current need to build a reconciliation between environment and home. In order to achieve an approach towards the constitution of a self-sustainable habitable ensemble, it is crucial to demonstrate the role that architecture plays here as a mediation mechanism. It is precisely by understanding the metamorphosis undergone by the self-sufficient habitat, that the principles on which to build “the house of today and tomorrow” can be clarified.

History and evolution of surgical treatment for spasticity: a journey from neurotomy to selective dorsal rhizotomy.

The evolution of neurosurgical approaches to spasticity spans centuries, marked by key milestones and innovative practitioners. Probable ancient descriptions of spasmodic conditions were first classified as spasticity in the 19th century through the interventions of Dr. William John Little on patients with cerebral palsy. The late 19th century witnessed pioneering efforts by surgeons such as Dr. Charles Loomis Dana, who explored neurotomies, and Dr. Charles Sherrington, who proposed dorsal rhizotomy to address spasticity. Dorsal rhizotomy rose to prominence under the expertise of Dr. Otfrid Foerster but saw a decline in the 1920s due to emerging alternative procedures and associated complications. The mid-20th century saw a shift toward myelotomy but the revival of dorsal rhizotomy under Dr. Claude Gros' selective approach and Dr. Marc Sindou's dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning. In the late 1970s, Dr. Victor Fasano introduced functional dorsal rhizotomy, incorporating electrophysiological evaluations. Dr. Warwick Peacock and Dr. Leila Arens further modified selective dorsal rhizotomy, focusing on approaches at the cauda equina level. Later, baclofen delivered intrathecally via an implanted programmable pump emerged as a promising alternative around the late 1980s, pioneered by Richard Penn and Jeffrey Kroin and then led by A. Leland Albright. Moreover, intraventricular baclofen has also been tried in this matter. The evolution of these neurosurgical interventions highlights the dynamic nature of medical progress, with each era building upon and refining the work of significant individuals, ultimately contributing to successful outcomes in the management of spasticity.

Chinese Financing and Domestic Politics in Sri Lanka—Parallel Evolution across Mid-20th vs 21st Century Episodes of Bilateral Interactions

Abstract: This article studies the parallel evolution of Sri Lanka’s domestic politics and China’s foreign financing in Sri Lanka’s post-independence era through four lenses, namely, political opposition, political gains, economic structure, and institutions. We focus on the bilateral relationship prior to Sri Lanka’s economic liberalization and the aftermath of the middle-income transition and add three major findings to the literature. Firstly, Chinese economic engagements continue to have substantial political opposition in Sri Lanka. But the nature of such opposition evolved from ideology-based to sovereignty-based anti-China sentiments, which heavily correlate with elections. Economic relations with China have continued to evolve as political gains, which helped maintain government popularity in the short-to-medium term and exceeded the costs inflicted by political opposition. Secondly, the nature of the bilateral economic relationship has become more complex, moving from being purely government-to-government to involving multiple actors: Chinese policy banks, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and the private sector. Thirdly, despite differences, Sri Lanka’s governments have utilized economic relations with China for short-term political gains and to avoid structural reforms, especially in the run-up to Sri Lanka’s sovereign default and unprecedented economic crisis in 2022. We conclude that China’s approach to ongoing debt restructuring will affect domestic politics around China’s engagements and affect how the bilateral economic relationship evolves.

Environmental behaviour of iron and steel slags in coastal settings

Iron and steel slags have a long history of both disposal and beneficial use in the coastal zone. Despite the large volumes of slag deposited, comprehensive assessments of potential risks associated with metal(loid) leaching from iron and steel by-products are rare for coastal systems. This study provides a national-scale overview of the 14 known slag deposits in the coastal environment of Great Britain (those within 100 m of the mean high-water mark), comprising geochemical characterisation and leaching test data (using both low and high ionic strength waters) to assess potential leaching risks. The seaward facing length of slag deposits totalled at least 76 km, and are predominantly composed of blast furnace (iron-making) slags from the early to mid-20th Century. Some of these form tidal barriers and formal coastal defence structures, but larger deposits are associated with historical coastal disposal in many former areas of iron and steel production, notably the Cumbrian coast of England. Slag deposits are dominated by melilite phases (e.g. gehlenite), with evidence of secondary mineral formation (e.g. gypsum, calcite) indicative of weathering. Leaching tests typically show lower element (e.g. Ba, V, Cr, Fe) release under seawater leaching scenarios compared to deionised water, largely ascribable to the pH buffering provided by the former. Only Mn and Mo showed elevated leaching concentrations in seawater treatments, though at modest levels (<3 mg/L and 0.01 mg/L, respectively). No significant leaching of potentially ecotoxic elements such as Cr and V (mean leachate concentrations <0.006 mg/L for both) were apparent in seawater, which micro-X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (μXANES) analysis show are both present in slags in low valence (and low toxicity) forms. Although there may be physical hazards posed by extensive erosion of deposits in high-energy coastlines, the data suggest seawater leaching of coastal iron and steel slags in the UK is likely to pose minimal environmental risk.

Intraoperative Ultrasound: An Old but Ever New Technology for a More Personalized Approach to Brain Tumor Surgery.

Although the use of transcranial ultrasound dates to the mid-20th century, the main purpose of this research work is to standardize its use in the resection of brain tumors. This is due to its wide availability, low cost, lack of contraindications, and absence of harmful effects for the patient and medical staff, along with the possibility of real-time verification of the complete resection of tumor lesions and minimization of vascular injuries or damage to adjacent structures. A retrospective study was conducted from June to December 2022. The study included eight patients (three men and five women) aged between 32 and 76 years. Histological examination revealed two high-grade gliomas, one low-grade glioma, and five metastatic lesions. The low-grade glioma appeared as a homogeneously echogenic structure and easily distinguishable from brain parenchyma, whereas metastases and high-grade gliomas showed higher echogenicity, being identified as malignant lesions due to areas of low echogenicity necrosis and peritumoral edema identified as a hyperechogenic structure. The use of intraoperative transcranial ultrasound constitutes an important tool for neurosurgeons during tumor resection. Although it is easy to use, intraoperative ultrasound requires a relatively short learning curve and a good understanding of the fundamentals of ultrasound. Its main advantage over neuronavigation is that it is not affected by the "brain shift" phenomenon that commonly occurs during tumor resection, since the ultrasound images are updated during surgery.

Trash or treasure? A circular business model of recycling plasmix

The production of plastic materials in the mid-20th century brought about transformative changes in consumer goods manufacturing and societal norms. However, this advancement paralleled an alarming surge in plastic pollution, driven by unrestrained consumption. This study focuses on the non-homogeneous and non-recyclable plastic waste (also known as plasmix in the Italian waste management), a residual blend resulting from plastic recycling processes. The main goals are to conduct an in-depth study of the plasmix landscape, to identify integration challenges, and to create a sustainable business model for broader adoption. Additionally, we aim to use life cycle assessment to examine the environmental effects of semi-finished plasmix-based materials that can be used to produce different products. This integrated approach ensures a holistic understanding of plasmix recycling, promoting both economic and environmental sustainability. The study contributes to sustainable waste management practices by offering a strategic approach to transform a challenging waste stream into economic opportunities. By addressing the market viability of plasmix-based products through an empirically supported business model, the research underscores the significance of recycling in mitigating plastic pollution and advancing a circular economy.

Administrative Hierarchy of the Gandan Monastery According to the “Regulations of 1840”

The article is devoted to the analysis of the system of administrative positions in the Gandan Monastery of Mongolia during the Qing era in the context of the distribution of material wealth based on the author’s translation of an archival document entitled “Regulations of the Gandan Monastery”, compiled in 1840. During the study, the author relied on source studies, historical and sociological methods, and also a method of historical and ethnographic reconstruction. The use of these methods made it possible to restore the administrative structure of the Gandan monastery, as well as to identify the specifics of the everyday life and economic structure of the Buddhist clergy of the mid-19th century. As a result of the source study and historical-ethnographic analysis of the text of the “Regulations” and the identification of the main contexts for the mention of Buddhist monastic positions in the “Regulations”, the author came to the following conclusions: most of the cases of mentioning positions are related to the range of administrative and economic responsibilities (control, accounting and distribution of material wealth monastery), while the greatest attention of the drafters of the “Regulations” was paid to organizational aspects of preparing and conducting calendar Buddhist prayers, as well as issues of subordination between lamas. According to the text of the “Regulations”, the material assets that came under the jurisdiction of the Gandan monastery consisted mainly of cattle, food products (meat, pressed tea), pieces of silk fabric (Mong. mangnuγ), as well as various types of ritual hadaks (Mong. sonom-hadak, sambai-khadak), etc. The economic structure of the Gandan monastery was based on regular offerings (Mong. bar’ts) from the rich patrons of the monastery, princes and their closest relatives, as well as on the material support of the aimags-communities located at the monastery. It was also revealed that food surpluses from the offerings were sold, which indicates significant food reserves and, accordingly, the presence of large funds among the monastery leadership. In general, we can say that monastic everyday life in the context of the administrative hierarchy of Buddhist positions and statuses has its own eastern characteristics, it can be considered as a separate type of organization of everyday life of the eastern steppe society, which gradually moved to a semi-nomadic and sedentary way of life.

Women owning Property in mid-19th Century Serbia

The Serbian census of 1862/63 includes information about the property and income of the census population. Most property was owned by men, but a minority of women had some possession of their own. Most of them were either heirs of their husband or their father. This paper will take a closer look at these propertied women and the characteristics of them and their property.