Modern Times Research Articles

Shrewdness and Coup d’œil: The Cognitive Attributes of the Consummate General (Greek Antiquity, Byzantine Era, Modern Times)

Abstract This article tests Everett Wheeler’s hypothesis that the Greek concept of ankhínoia finds its equivalent in the 18th-century military writers’ notion of the coup d’oeil by comparing treatises on the art of war written in the two periods. After highlighting the different meanings of the coup d’oeil in 18th -century military terminology, Carl von Clausewitz’s approach is examined in his new conceptual way.

Effect Of Viral Marketing And Celebrity Endorsers On Purchasing Decisions For Somethinc X NCT Dream Skincare At TikTok Shop

The development of the internet shows that there is growth in more and more internet users worldwide, and Indonesia is one of them. However, in modern times this has spread widely to the economic and entrepreneurial fields, so the term E-commerce or online trading has emerged to meet daily needs such as Tiktok Shop. The success of Tiktok Shop in Indonesia is due to the way business actors change promotional strategies using viral marketing and celebrity endorsers to get public attention and viral news on social media. This study aims to determine the effect of viral marketing and celebrity endorsers on purchasing decisions for something X NCT Dream skincare at TikTok Shop. The method used is a Quantitative approach with the type of associative research is data collection by distributing questionnaires using an online system via Google form with as many as 200 respondents. Data processing was then analyzed using IBM SPSS 25 Version for Windows. The data analysis used is Multiple Linear Analysis. All hypotheses show significance. The conclusion is that the influence of viral marketing and celebrity endorsers has a significant and positive effect on purchasing decisions for something X NCT Dream skincare at TikTok Shop.

The psychophysiology of music-based interventions and the experience of pain

In modern times there is increasing acceptance that music-based interventions are useful aids in the clinical treatment of a range of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including helping to reduce the perception of pain. Indeed, the belief that music, whether listening or performing, can alter human pain experiences has a long history, dating back to the ancient Greeks, and its potential healing properties have long been appreciated by indigenous cultures around the world. The subjective experience of acute or chronic pain is complex, influenced by many intersecting physiological and psychological factors, and it is therefore to be expected that the impact of music therapy on the pain experience may vary from one situation to another, and from one person to another. Where pain persists and becomes chronic, aberrant central processing is a key feature associated with the ongoing pain experience. Nonetheless, beneficial effects of exposure to music on pain relief have been reported across a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, and it has been shown to be effective in neonates, children and adults. In this comprehensive review we examine the various neurochemical, physiological and psychological factors that underpin the impact of music on the pain experience, factors that potentially operate at many levels – the periphery, spinal cord, brainstem, limbic system and multiple areas of cerebral cortex. We discuss the extent to which these factors, individually or in combination, influence how music affects both the quality and intensity of pain, noting that there remains controversy about the respective roles that diverse central and peripheral processes play in this experience. Better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie music’s impact on pain perception together with insights into central processing of pain should aid in developing more effective synergistic approaches when music therapy is combined with clinical treatments. The ubiquitous nature of music also facilitates application from the therapeutic environment into daily life, for ongoing individual and social benefit.

BIOLOGY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR: ITS ESSENTIAL ASPECTS

In terms of Biology humans are just another species on this planet, but when it comes to explaining the biology of the context of Human behavior, it really becomes very tough. Humans have the physiology and anatomy similar to that of a cave man, yet the level of our intelligence has far evolved in comparison to the extent that the cave man anatomy and physiology becomes inadequate to serve to the needs of certain aspects of human intelligence of modern times which essentially functions beyond the level of just survival (for example in animals), and is capable of performing such advanced functions as retaining a huge past memory and can anticipate a future situation. This in many ways has made us far superior to the animal world, yet many of us get messed up in handling our intelligence properly and either develop chronic stress, indulge in violence or mishandle the adolescence related issues of our teenagers. Biologically speaking human behavior is determined largely by how our brains are shaped by developmental and evolutionary processes, at the heart of which lies the genetic and epigenetic changes and environmental impact. Because at any critical moment brains are to decide about any bit of a behavior, therefore the knowledge of underlying brain anatomy and physiology is important. This article is about explaining how biology makes a sense to human behavior and is essentially focused on its three important aspects, i.e. adolescence, chronic stress and violence, which are described in detail in the following paragraphs. KEYWORDS: Amygdala, Brain Reward System, Dopamine, Endocrinology, Homeostasis, Neuropsychology, Prefrontal Cortex. Striatum.

Inhibition of Shikimate Kinase from Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by Benzimidazole Derivatives. Kinetic, Computational, Toxicological, and Biological Activity Studies

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats in modern times. It was estimated that in 2019, 1.27 million deaths occurred around the globe due to AMR. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, a pathogen considered of high priority by the World Health Organization, have proven to be resistant to most of the actual antimicrobial treatments. Therefore, new treatments are required to be able to manage this increasing threat. Under this perspective, an important metabolic pathway for MRSA survival, and absent in mammals, is the shikimate pathway, which is involved in the biosynthesis of chorismate, an intermediate for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids, folates, and ubiquinone. Therefore, the enzymes of this route have been considered good targets to design novel antibiotics. The fifth step of the route is performed by shikimate kinase (SK). In this study, an in-house chemical library of 170 benzimidazole derivatives was screened against MRSA shikimate kinase (SaSK). This effort led to the identification of the first SaSK inhibitors, and the two inhibitors with the greatest inhibition activity (C1 and C2) were characterized. Kinetic studies showed that both compounds were competitive inhibitors with respect to ATP and non-competitive for shikimate. Structural analysis through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that both inhibitors interacted with ARG113, an important residue involved in ATP binding, and formed stable complexes during the simulation period. Biological activity evaluation showed that both compounds were able to inhibit the growth of a MRSA strain. Mitochondrial assays showed that both compounds modify the activity of electron transport chain complexes. Finally, ADMETox predictions suggested that, in general, C1 and C2 can be considered as potential drug candidates. Therefore, the benzimidazole derivatives reported here are the first SaSK inhibitors, representing a promising scaffold and a guide to design new drugs against MRSA.

Archaeobotanical data from the Sabor Valley reveal shifting moments in landscape and agriculture in NW Iberia during the Holocene

NW Iberia is dominated by Atlantic climate areas that favour pollen preservation, useful for palaeoecological studies. However, the region also includes Mediterranean sectors in which preservation of such palaeoenvironmental evidence is more difficult. To overcome these constraints, archaeological plant macroremains can be used to help characterize flora and vegetation dynamics at a local and regional level. To fill the gap in knowledge in an understudied Mediterranean region, a large archaeobotanical study was conducted at the river Sabor valley, NE Portugal. With 13 archaeological sites sampled for charcoal, fruits and seeds, it allowed the study of vegetation throughout the Holocene, starting in the Mesolithic up to Modern times, with some chronological gaps. Tree taxa dominates the older period and an expansion of shrubby taxa since Bronze age was observed. Diversification of plants used during the Iron Age and Roman period suggests an intensification of resources exploitation and deforestation. These trends seem to be related with changes in human settlements and productive strategies. During Prehistory, agricultural fields were established in flat and wide areas, and, during Iron Age, fortified granaries were used to store large amounts of grains, particularly free-threshing wheat. Drastic changes in settlement during Roman times and the establishment of small farms producing wine and/or olive oil were testified by the occurrence of Olea and Vitis in both anthracological and carpological datasets. Data from more recent periods is scarce. Results highlight that the combination of several proxies and integration of archaeological evidence helps to understand ecological dynamics in areas without pollen data and contributes to the characterization of heterogeneous areas under diverse climatic conditions and with a variety of social trends.

Securing File Storage by Hybrid Cryptography

The proliferation of digital data in modern times necessitates robust security measures to safeguard confidentiality and integrity. This paper introduces a "File Storage System using Hybrid Cryptography," a pivotal solution addressing the pressing need for secure file storage and retrieval. Hybrid cryptography merges symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques, ensuring a resilient and reliable data protection mechanism. This system leverages the strengths of symmetric encryption's speed and efficiency while integrating the key management advantages of asymmetric encryption. Through an exploration of historical cryptographic foundations, the emergence of hybrid cryptography, and contemporary file storage challenges, this paper highlights the importance of such an approach. The proposed system's phases, from encryption to decryption, elucidate its implementation and efficacy. Future research directions are outlined, focusing on enhanced key management, performance optimization, multi-platform integration, and user-centric solutions. Challenges such as quantum computing threats, scalability, and integration with emerging technologies are discussed. The conclusion emphasizes the significance of hybrid cryptography in addressing data security concerns amidst escalating digital data volumes, offering an efficient and secure framework for data storage and sharing. The research gaps identified prompt further exploration into quantum-resistant systems, scalability optimization, user-friendly interfaces, cross-cultural legal considerations, ethical implications, sustainability, and integration with emerging technologies.

Biofuels Production: A Review on Sustainable Alternatives to Traditional Fuels and Energy Sources

With increased worldwide energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions from the use of fossil fuels, severe problems are being experienced in modern times. Energy is one of the most important resources for humankind, and its needs have been drastically increasing due to energy consumption, the rapid depletion of fossil fuels, and environmental crises. Therefore, it is important to identify and search for an alternative to fossil fuels that provides energy in a reliable, constant, and sustainable way that could use available energy sources efficiently for alternative renewable sources of fuel that are clean, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. In this way, there is a dire need to develop technologies for biofuel production with a focus on economic feasibility, sustainability, and renewability. Several technologies, such as biological and thermochemical approaches, are derived from abundant renewable biological sources, such as biomass and agricultural waste, using advanced conversion technologies for biofuel production. Biofuels are non-toxic, biodegradable, and recognized as an important sustainable greener energy source to conventional fossil fuels with lower carbon emissions, combat air pollution, empower rural communities, and increase economic growth and energy supply. The purpose of this review is to explain the basic aspects of biofuels and their sustainability criteria, with a particular focus on conversion technologies for biofuel production, challenges, and future perspectives.

Contribution of VLF electromagnetic survey to the investigation of Hessdalen lights (Norway)

Hessdalen valley in Norway is known for luminous phenomena suddenly and evenly appearing temporarily. Since several decades, these phenomena are observed by many witnesses, and they are sometimes traced by geophysical devices. The first appearance in modern times was reported in 1981 but systematic observations started during winter of 1984 when the Hessdalen project was launched. Later, Østfold University College led the project and yearly organized one to two field campaigns, with the objective to systematically record and investigate the phenomenon. Till that epoch, detailed tectonics, fault systems and superficial conductive structures remained unknown. Therefore, during the last years, VLF surveys have been performed in Hessdalen valley as part of six geophysical field campaigns which sometimes also included Total Magnetic Field and Self Potential spatial ground measurements. VLF measurements have been carried out on a 20 m average spacing along many traces totaling to100 km length. The entire covered area was about 100 km2.In this paper, we focus on the results of the VLF measurements. Several conductive zones have been found. They are mainly related to mineral deposits (mainly sulfides). The trace at the ground surface of these conductive zones could suggest that they draw an ellipse of 6 by12 km, related to the shape of the gabbro intrusion present in the area and oriented in the SW-NE direction. The results combined with other geophysical data contribute to better understand how the near surface structures (depth less than a few hundred meters) could supply the generation of the so-called Hessdalen lights (‘HL’) and explain why these lights appear inside this valley. The particular geological structure detected in Hessdalen valley may encourage similar campaigns in other areas where similar phenomena are observed.

Does The Sexual Violence The Fault Of Man Or The Fault Of Woman's Stupidity? When Religious Commodification and Offensive Marketing Go Hand in Hand

Religious commodification, especially Islamic commodification has been rampant in modern times. This phenomenon also emboldens brands with religious symbolism to conduct offensive marketing, namely Rabbani. This research further investigates the integration of religious commodification and offensive marketing conducted by the Rabbani brand. This research utilized a qualitative and descriptive approach through the case study of Rabbani offensive marketing. The findings of this research are Rabbani has benefitted from religious commodification practices. This in turn emboldens Rabbani to engage in offensive marketing by attacking Muslim women who did not wear the veil. This research implies that religious commodification could also bring a negative impact, especially if this practice is coupled with offensive marketing. Thus, consumers need to be more critical and not easily convinced by the offerings of products that rely on religious commodification, especially if these products use unethical marketing practices such as offensive marketing.

Bayesian Classification for SMS Spam Detection in Mobile Devices

Abstract: The abundance of unwanted spam messages complicates the use of Short Message Service (SMS) for efficient communication in modern times. This study investigates developing and utilizing a Naive Bayes Theorem-based Ham/Spam detection system. Because of its ease of use and effectiveness in text classification tasks, the Naive Bayes classifier is used. A collection of SMS messages labeled as” spam” or” ham” (non-spam) makes up the dataset that was used for testing and training. Preprocessing methods, including tokenization, stop-word elimination, and stemming, are employed to extract pertinent features from the text messages. The Naive Bayes classifier learns how words relate to whether they’re in a spam or non-spam message by looking at some examples from the dataset. Utilizing criteria such as accuracy, precision, and confusion matrix on a separate testing set, the classifier’s performance is evaluated. Additionally, the impact of varying parameters such as smoothing techniques and feature selection methods on the classifier’s performance is analyzed. The experimental results used to distinguishing between ham and spam messages in SMS communication

Authentic Commas Made by Audacious Women

Abstract: This study delves into the courageous commas women continue to make every day in their day to day life on this planet. Over time, women have raised their voices, leading to mass movements and protests. In modern times, women have achieved legal, political, civil, social, economic, and cultural rights. The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens, emphasizing equality. However, women in India still encounter discrimination, injustice, and dishonour. Education plays a crucial role in addressing inequalities and promoting respect for individual human beings. There are remarkable courageous stories exhibited by women who have made a significant impact in various fields. Here are some inspiring women who have left their indelible mark on our country through struggles and traumas and still made viable to create a new society through the help of the legislations.

INTRASPECIFIC DIVERSITYANGIOSPERM TAXA FROM FLORA OF TELANGANA, INDIA

The tendency of intraspecific variation among wild Angiosperms (Flowering plants) has been increasing in the modern times. The reason maybe the climate change, habitat disturbances, geographical isolation. The studies pertaining to the intraspecific taxa is very scanty though they were reported in the classical records (ca. 3000 years). To explore the intraspecific diversity among Angiosperm taxa and find out the intraspecific variations from the Flora of Telangana the studies taken up as part of the doctoral degree. A total of ca. 50 intraspecific Angiosperm taxa reported from the flora of Telangana. Out of them 19 taxa showing the variations in the floral and seed color presented in the present paper.

Menyelami Wawasan Buddhayana dalam Kehidupan Masyarakat Modern: Transformasi dan Tantangan

This research explores Buddhist values as a Buddhistic heritage that highlights inclusiveism, pluralism, and universalism, as well as beliefs in dharmakaya, in response to the challenges of modern times. The research method used is qualitative by adopting a library study approach, by collecting primary and secondary information from various sources such as books, articles, and the Internet. Analysis suggests that acceptance of Buddhist values can provide significant benefits to individuals and contemporary societies, including improved spiritual and emotional well-being. Practices of compassion, social harmony, and simplicity in everyday life are thought to strengthen human relationships and shape more sustainable societies. The promotion of Buddhist values is seen as becoming increasingly important in building a more powerful, harmonious, and cultural society.

Histopathological alterations in the vital organs of Indian major carp Labeo rohita exposed to monosodium glutamate (MSG)

BackgroundMonosodium glutamate (MSG E621) is one of the most popular flavouring agents of modern times and is widely used in many commercially packed food and even in house hold cooking. Previous studies revealed that excessive intake of MSG in diet causes obesity, metabolic defects, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in rats, but no reports are available in the literature about the ecotoxicological assessment of MSG by using fishes as a bioindicators. Since fishes are important consumer in aquatic food chain and directly linked with human health status, the present study was aimed to investigate the impact of MSG in freshwater fish Labeo rohita by using histological biomarkers.ResultsNinety-six h-LC50 of MSG to Labeo rohita was determined (1.5 g/L), and fish exposed to sub-lethal concentration of MSG (1/10th of 96 h-LC50 concentration of MSG (150 mg/L)) showed distinguished behavioural changes like erratic movement, loss of appetite and excessive mucous secretion all over the body as an adaptive syndrome to avoid the direct exposure to MSG in the medium. Histopathological analysis clearly depicts severe damages in the vital organs of fish. In gills, epithelial necrosis, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, primary and secondary gill lamellae degeneration, oedema, fusion of adjacent secondary lamellae and rupture of gill epithelium were observed. The intensity of tissue damage was increased as the exposure period was extended. The liver displayed vein congestion, vacuole formation, degeneration in parenchymal cells and bile stagnation, whereas MSG-treated kidney tissue showed high interstitial inflammation. Among the vital organs gill and liver displayed the highest histopathological alterations.ConclusionsThe present study clearly demonstrated that MSG is toxic to fish and able to cause significant damages in the vital organs as the exposure period was extended. Since the studies on the toxicity of MSG to fish are rare, the present investigation may contribute to the scarce literature on sub-lethal toxicity of MSG to freshwater fishes.

One Page in the History of Starvation and Refeeding.

There is a long history of starvation, including reports dated back to antiquity. Despite exceptional scientific developments, starvation still exists today. The medical aspects of starvation were well established in the twentieth century, particularly following studies related to the 1943-1944 Bengal famine in India and starved prisoners of war and survivors of World War 2. The refeeding of the starved victims provided disappointing results. Nevertheless, those studies eventually led to the development of a new branch of research in medicine and to the definition of what is now known as refeeding syndrome. This paper briefly reviews the history and groundwork that led to today's understanding of starvation and refeeding, with a particular emphasis on the observations from studies on starved Holocaust survivors and prisoners of war after World War 2. The relevance of these studies for modern times is briefly discussed.

From Gaze to Rebel: A Study of Female Figures in Art History

This paper discusses the evolution of women's portrayal in art, from objectified figures in early history to empowered subjects in modern times. Initially, women were depicted through the male gaze, embodying idealized beauty or fulfilling societal roles. During the Renaissance, this trend continued with artists like Raffaello Santi, who focused on physical beauty but often overlooked real-life women's experiences. The paper then highlights a shift to representing everyday women, as seen in works like Jean Franois Millet's "The Gleaners," yet these portrayals still echoed traditional gender norms. The narrative progresses with the emergence of female artists challenging these conventional depictions. Figures like Kathe Kollwitz and Sylvia Sleigh reversed the male gaze, empowering women as active subjects in art. The paper concludes by emphasizing the transformation in art from objectifying women to portraying them as autonomous and influential, mirroring societal shifts in gender roles and perceptions.

RECONFIGURING ARTHUR: THE ARTHURIAN LEGEND AS PALIMPSEST IN GUY RITCHIE’S KING ARTHUR: THE LEGEND OF THE SWORD (2017)

The Middle Ages have been a source of interest to audiences around the world nearly since the period ended until modern times. While many themes, stories and characters have been reimagined and recreated, or, in other words, palimpsested, no other has held as much sway as King Arthur, ‘the once and future king’, around whom a constellation of equally celebrated characters aligned and remain as one of the most widely acknowledged medieval legacies in the modern world. Focusing on cinema in particular, this study aims at analysing one of the most recent film adaptations of the Arthurian legend to the big screen, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Dir. Guy Ritchie, 2017), to understand how films and audiences engage in the process of scraping, erasing, and re-writing Arthur in the twenty-first century.

From museum to postmuseum. Immersive environment as a metaspace of a polyloge

The article continues the research of the principles of museum design, which was devoted to such phenomenon as “protomuseum – immersion – spectator” and the visual nature of immersiveness and the spatial and sensory experience of its living. At this stage, attention is paid to the following typology of museumified environments: museum-at-the-crossroads (Modern times/ museum-theater, museum without walls, virtual museum, etc.) through the transition from “museum – techno-immersiveness – spectator” to “postmuseum – immersiveness – non-spectator”. The evolution of digital surfing and the construction of interactive strategies, the conflict of technological immersiveness and the cognitive properties of the viewer’s psyche are considered: what happens to him inside and outside the digital environment? Particular attention is paid to the narrative immersiveness and the role of the museum in the implementation of new “ritual” and “game” practices that can compete with the philosophy of downshifting in an attempt to get out of digital reality, return to the viewer the most important sense of “proprioception” and presence in the moment.

Investigation on Optimized Flavonoid Extraction from Leucas zeylanica and Its Anthelmintic Activity

Extraction has been the primary method of concentrating and obtaining a crude essence of plants, and to an extend fruits and nuts. In modern times, there are many methods of extraction developed from simple maceration to using Soxhlet extractor to microwave assisted extraction and ultrasound assisted extraction. However, the more time saving and energy efficient method for the extraction of plants needs to be investigated. This research explored optimization of ultrasound assisted extraction of flavonoids from Leucas zeylanica and the optimization was done on parameters of sonication time (minutes), water bath temperature (°C), volume of solvent to solid ratio (ml/g) and solvent concentration (%) using response surface methodology (RSM). By measuring the total flavonoid content using aluminium colorimetric method and UV visible spectrophotometry, highest flavonoid yield is achieved with 30.38% increase compared to unoptimized method. This occurred with sonication time of 42 minutes, temperature of 55°C, solvent to solid ratio of 40 ml/g and solvent concentration of 100%. The resulting extract was then tested for its anthelmintic (anti-worm) ability, obtaining 40% efficacy of that of Albendazole.