Mid-20th Century Research Articles

Women and Christianity in Southwestern Nigeria from 19th to mid-20th Century: Implication for Contemporary Churches in Nigeria

Women have played significant roles in the development of Christianity in Nigeria, but with little attention given to their roles in historical accounts. Therefore, this research focuses on the roles of women found scattered in some documented history of Christianity in Southwest, Nigeria from 19th century till mid- twentieth century when missionaries came from America and Europe to Nigeria to establish Mainline Churches and in addition assesses their activities in the African Indigenous Churches (AICs) in Nigeria. The paper leaned on Dorcas Akintunde’s assertion that the official history of churches and Christian ministries in Nigeria takes a very little account of the role of women. She observed that the history of Christianity till the mid-twentieth century when Aladura churches (Praying Churches) were founded was basically patriarchal. Having explained these endeavours, the research also makes some recommendations for women activities in contemporary Christianity in Nigeria. The research uses qualitative approach with primary and secondary sources from In-depth Interview (IDI), participant observations and bibliographical and archival search. Women were found out to have served as missionaries, acted in men’s absence, and deployed their professional expertise on the mission fields, founded churches and were actively involved in pulpit ministry. Hence, their roles contributed significantly to the growth of Christianity in southwest Nigeria.

Therapeutic exploitation of ferroptosis.

Pathological breakdown of membrane lipids through excessive lipid peroxidation (LPO) was first described in the mid-20th century and is now recognized as a form of regulated cell death, dubbed ferroptosis. Accumulating evidence unveils how metabolic regulation restrains peroxidation of phospholipids within cellular membranes, thereby impeding ferroptosis execution. Unleashing these metabolic breaks is currently therapeutically explored to sensitize cancers to ferroptosis inducing anti-cancer therapies. Reversely, these natural ferroptotic defense mechanisms can fail resulting in pathological conditions or diseases such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, multi-organ dysfunction, stroke, infarction, or neurodegenerative diseases. This minireview outlines current ferroptosis-inducing anti-cancer strategies and highlights the detection as well as the therapeutic targeting of ferroptosis in preclinical experimental settings. Herein, we also briefly summarize observations related to LPO, iron and redox deregulation in patients that might hint towards ferroptosis as a contributing factor.

The evolution of the migration industry – how have employers been supported in sourcing their workforce?

ABSTRACT The migration industry consists of actors and organisations (e.g. agents, brokers, agencies, corporations) through which migration is facilitated, organised, and accelerated. Although the migration industry gained prominence in the late 20th century within labour mobility, it has relatively rarely been the subject of historical analysis. This historiographical essay argues that employers’ needs and demands for foreign workers, often ad-hoc, have triggered the emergence and development of the migration industry. Rooted in modern historical debates on labour migration, this essay aims to critically assess various forms of cooperation between employers and commercial actors worldwide and place those strategies within the migration industry. Inspired by dichotomous approach to capturing the relationships identified between employers and actors in the migration industry (i.e. agents and partners), this essay investigates the larger spectrum of types of relationships that have taken place historically. We argue that since the mid-19th century, we have witnessed an evolution of these relationships: from acting as a provider of labour (supplier or agent) to a greater professionalisation and consolidation of the relationship between employers and actors in the migration industry (partners and then allies).

Why together? Archaeology and zoology about medieval leather products on the example of Szczecin

Abstract Many years of archaeological excavation brought to light a rich material, that can be used in research of topics important from a social and economic point of view, such as the character of the production and/or organization, the development of technique and production technology, or the assortment of goods. A deep analysis of the selected categories of artifacts, in this case made of leather, can be used for a double purpose – a reconstruction of the process and conditions of early medieval leather craft formation, as well as a presentation of their role and significance in the activity structure of the inhabitants of Szczecin. Such an attempt to grasp the rules governing the development of one of the most important production branches – leatherworking, has been undertaken on the basis of leather objects that can be found on a mass scale in Szczecin’s cultural layers dated for the period from the early 10th to the mid-13th century. Key to these studies are the results of zoological analyses, which perfectly complement the archaeological conclusions.

Choice of Current and Voltage for North American Commuter Rail Electrifications

Engineers and planners today face challenges of assessing and adopting emerging propulsion technologies for commuter rail, particularly battery and hydrogen power. Early 20th century experiences with electrification technology may offer useful perspectives. When electrifying in the early 20th century, the most important decision facing North American commuter railroads was choosing electrical specifications—first between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC), and then selecting a voltage. As a result, today’s electrified railroads present a sometimes-confusing array of specifications. Beneath the seeming disorder of specifications for legacy installations lies a logic based on the timing and circumstances of electrification, and on the ultimate size and purpose that railroads envisioned for these electrifications. Only low-voltage DC, delivered via third rail, was available for the earliest electrifications. By 1907, AC had entered the scene, and various overhead-wire DC specifications appeared between 1911 and 1930. Since the mid 20th century, 25,000 V AC at commercial frequency has become the default standard for new electrifications (and re-electrifications of older installations). Yet, even this standard has not been adopted for all reinforcements of overhead-wire electrifications, because of the historical overhang of earlier decisions. In situations where standardization of electrical specifications is not feasible, interoperability of equipment may be a more important priority.

Western Domination, Destructive Governance, and the Perpetual Development Crisis in the Arab Region

This article presents a theoretical view that describes how the rooted Western imperial political structure in the Arab region has trapped the latter in a perpetual development crisis. It follows a de facto analysis and contends that Western imperialism has maintained a counter-development of Arab governance since the mid-19th century, which has resulted in a persistent economic deficiency in the region. This article discusses why Washington Consensus endeavors have failed to deliver the promised results in the development of the region, and argues that it has condoned the principal problem, which is the foreign de facto hostile Western strategic rule that has an inherent disinterest in achieving comprehensive development in the Arab region. This article provides an argument against the views that blame the Arab’s economic failures on domestic institutional factors, and maintains that the foreign Western hostile domination is the primary source of the lasting backwardness in the Arab region. This article defines the West as the consortium of European and North American nations that have had imperial enterprises in the Arab region in the modern period. The most notable of these nations are the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

Establishment and Continuity of the Rüstem Pasha Madrasa Library

This article aims to contribute to Ottoman book culture studies regarding collections and foundation libraries. It examines the book collection of Rüstem Pasha, one of the viziers of the Süleyman the Magnificent, in the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library. Rüstem Pasha's wealth of books is emphasized in historical sources. He established a high-grade madrasa in Istanbul in the mid-16th century and endowed a book collection necessary for education. This article compares the books specified in Pasha's endowment deed with the catalog of the collection issued during Abdulhamid II's reign, and its current state to reveal the formation of the collection and how it has survived to the present day. While the endowment deed provides detailed information about the first books endowed to the madrasa, the collection itself and the Hamidian-era catalog provide information about the books that were lost and added to the collection over time.

Movement-colour: moments in a deep time media epistemology

Color and movement present themselves as deeply different phenomena, yet an epistemological history of their concepts reveals how entangled they have been within the Western episteme. This appears not only in scientific or philosophical texts but also, and primarily, in the way specific devices, works of art, media and experimental protocols have been conceived and developed throughout history. This article proposes a deep time media epistemology based on the analysis of a few nodal apparatuses mobilizing both movement and color: Isaac Newton’s optical experiments, Joseph Plateau’s phenakisticope, and Charles Cros’ mid-19th century projects for the recording of colour and movement. These will show how colour and movement have been thought together in Western culture.

PALESTINIAN LITERATURE: A RECORD OF PERPETUAL DISPLACEMENT AND FAILURES

Within the framework of Palestine's international, political, and aesthetic contexts, this study delves into the historical evolution of Palestinian literature, serving as a testament to the people's history of suffering. terrifying trials, and being banished from their whole country. It provides context for reading Palestinian literature and learning about the writers' legacies. As authors seek new ways to play out their histories and express themselves, the study delves into significant topics, such as the British Mandatory from 1948 to 1967, the Six-Day War, and the continuing colonization. In order to claim their displacement and suffering above the constraints of history, Palestinian intellectuals use the mystical power of language. The persistence of Palestinians under Israeli occupation is shown by the evolution of "Writings of Resistance" that began in the mid-20th century and continues to this day. Still going strong now, Palestinian literature cites classics while denying the "horror of history."The literary works of the Palestinian people eloquently portray the hardships endured by the Palestinian people and their continuous fight for survival.

Tricyclic antidepressants: An update

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are a class of psychotropic medications primarily used in the treatment of major depressive disorders, although their indications extend to a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. This class of medications was one of the first to be developed for the treatment of depression, marking a revolution in the management of this condition in the mid-20th century. The aim of this study is to present a narrative review in the form of an update on the pharmacokinetic properties, pharmacodynamics, indications, and side effects of tricyclic antidepressants. For this purpose, a narrative review in the format of an update was carried out, which analyzed 42 manuscripts. TCAs have various pharmacological and therapeutic properties, low cost, but their major limitation is their side effects. Since the clinical trials for this class were conducted well before the launch of new antidepressants, new research is needed to allow comparison of these groups within the same methodology and with more up-to-date statistics.

Race, immunity, and lifespan: Unraveling the effect of early-life exposure to malaria risk on lifespan

We investigate a historical experience to measure the long-term effect of malaria on lifespan among infected survivors and identify a factor that mitigates malaria’s effect. Using a sample of Union Army veterans born during the mid-19th century and their lifetime records, we show that exposure to high risk of malaria at birth or in early life substantially shortened their lifespan. The legacy of exposure to malaria is robust while controlling for lifetime socioeconomic and health conditions, fixed effects, and considering selection bias. Additionally, we include the US Colored Troops sample of black veterans to analyze racial differences in the effect of malaria exposure on lifespan. Exposure to malaria did not lead to a shorter lifespan among black veterans. Evidence suggests that genetic immunity to malaria in black veterans might contribute this heterogeneity.

The effect of farming techniques on degradation of DDT in historical cotton farms

DDT was used in the mid 20th century for crop and livestock production. After use, DDT and its degradates DDE and DDD (collectively DDX) remain in the environment for decades. A few studies have reported that the rate of degradation of DDT into its metabolites is affected by various farming techniques like tillage, irrigation, and use of fertilizers. However, most of these studies did not evaluate active farms, and none of them focused on the Southeast US or historical cotton farms. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine if different farming techniques affect the decomposition of DDT in Walton County, Georgia, where farms historically grew cotton. Five Walton County farms were sampled for soil, and churches were sampled as control sites. The extensive land history of the farms was recorded, and the soil levels of p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDD, o,p’-DDT, and o,p’-DDE were measured using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. All farm sites had detectable levels of p,p’-DDT, p,p’-DDE, and p,p’-DDD, while few sites had detectable levels of o,p’-DDT and o,p’-DDE. Tillage was found to speed up p,p’-DDE degradation, but there was no effect on p,p’-DDT degradation. Plowing was associated with an increase in decomposition of p,p’-DDT, but p,p’-DDE and p,p’-DDD were not significantly increased. The largest difference in the degradation of DDT was based on the fertilizer type. Natural fertilizer sped up degradation of p,p’-DDT and p,p’-DDE; synthetic fertilizer increased p,p’-DDE degradation, but not p,p’-DDT degradation.

Harmonizing Innovation: A Journey through the History of Computational Music

The history of computational music traces a fascinating journey of innovation and creativity, intertwining disciplines such as computer science, mathematics, music theory, and psychology. From its inception in the mid-20th century to its current state of sophistication, computational music has evolved into a multifaceted field encompassing algorithmic composition, digital signal processing, machine learning, and interactive music systems. Pioneering works such as Roads' "The Computer Music Tutorial" and Biles' "GenJam" exemplify the early endeavors in digital sound synthesis and algorithmic composition. The roots of computational music extend back to the 1950s and 1960s with the pioneering efforts of Max Mathews, John Chowning, and Lejaren Hiller, laying the groundwork for future advancements. Technological breakthroughs in the 1970s and 1980s, including the advent of digital audio workstations and FM synthesis, further propelled the field forward. The 1990s and 2000s witnessed democratization and accessibility with the rise of affordable software tools and online collaboration platforms. Today, computational music continues to evolve with the emergence of deep learning and generative AI techniques, albeit accompanied by ethical considerations regarding copyright ownership and algorithmic bias. In conclusion, the history of computational music underscores the transformative power of technology in shaping musical expression and invites us to explore new frontiers where creativity knows no bounds.

What bycatch tells us about the diet of harbor and gray seals and overlap with commercial fishermen

Northwest Atlantic harbor (Phoca vitulina vitulina) and gray (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) seal populations are recovering from early to mid-20th century exploitation, increasing their biological interactions and bycatch in Northeastern US commercial fisheries. We evaluated the seals’ diet composition and compared their prey to commercial catches to assess trophic overlap and potential competition with commercial fisherman target catches. We obtained 148 harbor and 178 gray seal stomach samples from bycatch events that occurred between 2004 and 2018. We learned from the hard part remains that the majority of seals bycaught are young-of-the-year (≤12 months old) that consume a wide breadth of prey across three trophic groups. There was a general dichotomy in extrinsic factors associated with seal diet in which 45% trophic niche separation was explained by non-overlapping harbor and gray seal phenology and pup haul-out locations that are adjacent to active fishing areas. Prey size estimated from fish otoliths and squid beaks recovered from stomach contents showed that gray seals consumed larger prey than harbor seals and prey sizes from both seals showed limited overlap with prey sizes caught by commercial gillnet fishermen. The most important prey to both seals included large (>20 cm) and small (≤20 cm) silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis), (≤40 cm) red hake (Urophycis chuss), gulf stream flounder (Citharichthys arctifrons), medium (21–40 cm) white hake (Urophycis tenuis), and (<50 cm) Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Important prey to harbor seals that did not overlap with gray seals were Acadian redfish (Sebastes fasciatus), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), longfin (Doryteuthis pealeii), and shortfin squid (Illex illecebrosus). They contrasted with prey important to gray seals that did not overlap with harbor seals: yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea), sand lance (Ammodytes spp.), Urophycis spp., and fourspot flounder (Hippoglossina oblonga). Despite the potential bias associated with opportunistic bycatch sampling, this study demonstrates the importance and value of utilizing carcasses retained from bycatch events, is complimentary to newer methodologies (i.e., DNA meta-barcoding), and fills data gaps in our understanding of the role recovering harbor and gray seal populations have on Northeastern US regional food webs.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Look Back, a Look Forward.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a comprehensive approach to the management of patients with chronic lung disease that encompasses exercise, education, and psychosocial support. The development of PR programs began in the mid-20th century with the appreciation that exercise provided real benefit in chronic lung disease and that effective disease management involved patient education focused on medications, lifestyle changes, and lifelong regular exercise. Initially PR was primarily facility-based, but today PR is extending into the home with telemedicine, and this is encouraging a real partnership of patients and professionals supporting self-management. The evidence base supporting PR as a safe and effective modality has grown exponentially over the last 4 decades, and PR is strongly endorsed by virtually all the major professional societies. Importantly, PR has also clearly been shown to be cost-effective. Challenges remain, however. Access is still very limited for a variety of reason (logistics, financial, patient motivation) that need to be addressed. More focused and personalized exercise programs and monitoring strategies that encourage a patient's lifetime commitment to the principles of PR need to be developed and refined. The opportunity to really impact important clinical outcomes exists with PR, and this needs to be exploited.

Los Angeles' Ethnic Cinemas

The author investigates ethnic movie theatres in Los Angeles in the mid-20th century, situating them in the city’s cinema landscape. By tracing the history of the LA German-language theatre, the La Tosca Filmbühne, she highlights how the cinema attempted to create a community of Germanness through its exhibition practices. She positions the audiences’ draw to these movie theatres in the context of Alison Landsberg’s notion of prosthetic memory, regarding the films screened there as evoking images and reminiscences of the viewers’ home countries. Through extensive archival research, the author also highlights the other Angeleno ethnic cinemas – Spanish language cinemas in particular – to examine what role foreign language theatres played in the cinemagoing communities of immigrant populations.

Возрождение (середина XIII – середина XVI столетия). Грани гуманизма. Часть I

The essay is dedicated to exploring the art and culture of the Renaissance period, heralding Modern times, spanning from the mid-13th to the mid-16th century. This part of the work highlights the artistic achievements of the Middle East during the specified period, particularly in architecture, poetry (including the rise of humanism). Turning to European culture, the author specifically addresses the art of the Orthodox world (primarily focusing on church painting and, to a lesser extent, on the Ancient Russian Znamenny chant), noting its influence on the currents of the Renaissance. The author delves into the Gothic style, somewhat contrasting traditional notions of the Renaissance period (a kind of “counterculture”), across its various manifestations in visual arts, music and literature. Special attention is given to the central part of Renaissance art, tracing its evolution from the Early Renaissance (masterpieces of sculpture in Gothic cathedrals) to the Proto-Renaissance (paintings and frescoes by Italian masters, the emergence of psychologism in painting, the literary movement of Dolce stile nuovо marking the transition from the Middle Ages to Modern times, Ars Nova in musical art). The exploration of this theme will continue in the next part of the essay.

Transformation of Modern Chinese Maritime Strategy: A Study on Zheng Guanyings Maritime Defense Thought and Practice

In the mid-19th century, the Qing Dynasty faced continuous internal and external challenges, leading to a severe crisis in governance. Geographically, China is a typical maritime-continental composite country, and its extensive coastline poses a significant challenge to maritime security. However, after several invasions by foreign powers from the sea, the already weak late Qing maritime defense rapidly deteriorated. Numerous intellectuals dedicated themselves to the pursuit of strong maritime power and comprehensive maritime defense, among whom Zheng Guanying was prominent. As one of the pioneers of modernization reforms, Zheng Guanying had a deep understanding of the Qing courts maritime defense work. His long-term engagement in the self-strengthening movement enabled him to absorb various experiences in maritime defense from both domestic and foreign sources, thereby forming a complete and systematic maritime defense ideology through continuous practice. qq It possesses significant relevance even today.

Important aspects of carbohydrate metabolism disorders development in hematology/oncology patients during therapy with glucocorticosteroids: a review of the literature

Glucocorticosteroids are highly effective anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents. The drugs were introduced into therapeutic practice from the mid-20th century and are still widely used in the treatment of various diseases. They are an integral part of the treatment of patients with hematological malignancies. One of the clinically significant complications of glucocorticosteroid therapy is steroid-induced carbohydrate metabolism disorders. Diabetes mellitus is one of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, which are the main non-oncological cause of death in the population and a significant treatment complication in patients with malignant neoplasms. Early detection of the disease and improved treatment efficiency increase the survival rate of patients with various types of neoplasms. It is also important to pay attention to quality of life improving in cancer patients after treatment.The aim of this review is to analyze the pathogenesis features, as well as predictors of early detection and prevention of possible complications of persistent hyperglycemia in patients with hematological malignancies.

Electron-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide into formaldehyde and methanol

Since the mid-19th century, there has been a steady increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, leading to global warming due to the greenhouse effect. CO2 can be utilized to obtain a large number of organic compounds. The formation of these compounds depends on the methods of CO2 processing, which include biological, thermal conversion, photochemical, and plasma methods. Most of these methods involve the use of catalysts. One of the plasma methods is the electron-catalytic method using a barrier discharge. Studies on the catalytic conversion of CO2 into methanol and formaldehyde were carried out on a laboratory setup consisting of two sources of low-temperature plasma – dischargers, one of which contains a heterogeneous catalyst. Water vapor was used as the source of hydrogen. The formation of methanol and formaldehyde was investigated under different operating modes of the setup. The effect of sample aging for a day was determined. As a result, there is an increase in the concentration of methanol in the sample from 5.8% to 49.74% and formaldehyde from 4.1% to 50.01% for different operating modes of the setup. The observed results are explained by a sharp increase in the yield of oxygen-containing radicals and , which are formed by the interaction of ozone, formed from CO2 in the discharge zone, with aqueous solutions.