Classical Studies Research Articles

Systematic identification and repurposing of FDA-approved drugs as antibacterial agents against Streptococcus pyogenes: In silico and in vitro studies

Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus - GAS) is a human pathogen causing wide range of infections and toxin-mediated diseases in human beings of all age groups with fatality of 10–30 %. The limited success of antibiotics and the non-availability of vaccines makes GAS a global burden. The multi-subunit RNA polymerase (RNAP) is a validated bacterial therapeutic target as it is involved in transcription and can arrest growth. Of the five subunits of this enzyme complex, the β-subunit (RpoC) has attracted specific attention as a drug target, particularly in the switch region. Here we attempt to repurpose non-antimicrobial drugs to act as RpoC inhibitors against S. pyogenes. In this study, 1826 FDA approved drugs have been identified through high-throughput virtual screening. Free Energy Perturbation (FEP) based binding free energy calculations have been performed at the final step of the virtual screening funnel to ensure high accuracy in silico results. Three compounds identified have been tested for susceptibility of S. pyogenes MTCC 442 strain and two antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates of S. pyogenes using microdilution assay. Among the three, two drugs Amlodipine Besylate (Amd) and Ranitidine hydrochloride (Rnt) have shown inhibition against all the tested strains and its mechanism of interaction with RpoC has been studied. The docked complexes were analyzed to understand the binding mode of the drugs to the target. Classical Molecular Dynamics studies for RpoC-Rnt complex and the two stable conformations of RpoC-Amd complex was carried out. Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD), Root Mean Square Fluctuation (RMSF), Radius of Gyration (RoG) and Solvent Accessible Surface Area (SASA) of the complexes were plotted and studied. The thermodynamic parameters of protein-drug were experimentally determined using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC). Infrared spectroscopic studies and Fluorescence quenching studies provided insights into the secondary structural changes in RpoC on binding to the drugs.

‘Dance against the void’: Derek Jarman, dance, queer classical receptions

Abstract This article considers three moments from the beginning, middle and end of Derek Jarman’s artistic career: Lindsay Kemp’s opening dance in Sebastiane (1976), Jarman’s words on a performance by Michael Clark in the 1980s, and Jarman’s last film Blue (1993), while holding onto the affective registers of his final diary entry (1994). Considering the ways in which Jarman indexed the ephemeral myth-making processes of queer life and art, the author develops a new kinetic-temporal methodology for exploring reception based on the fleeting queer modalities of dance. As such this article makes a series of important connections between classical reception studies, queer theory, critical theory, and dance studies. It argues that, despite the fleeting, erotic, and partial engagements with the past offered by Jarman — which challenge ideas of fixity or lineage — an identification nevertheless emerges with the hierarchies of white supremacist imperialism.

Participant Self‐Reference, Under‐Determination, Generalisation, Vagueness, and Ambiguity in Political Discourse: A Contrastive Analysis of Parliamentary Debate and Twitter Usages*

AbstractThe main aim of this chapter is to analyse under‐determination, generalisation, vagueness, and ambiguity in the speaker's self‐reference strategies used in Catalan parliamentary debate and Twitter. Parliaments are one of the main arenas where politicians develop their activity. On the other hand, Twitter allows politicians to build their own public image and to be in touch with voters, and citizens in general, in a more direct way. The theoretical background of the analysis includes the classical studies on deixis and on person deixis in Catalan; Goffman (1981)'s participation frameworks; functional linguistics and the ethnography of communication, and Twitter communication analysis.In this corpus‐driven analysis, parliamentary discourses and tweets of two members of the Parliament of Catalonia are analysed. The corpus has been drawn from their speeches in the 2020 general politics debate and from the Twitter messages they published in the same period, in autumn 2020.

Identification of a cryptic functional apolipophorin-III domain within the Prominin-1 gene of Litopenaeus vannamei

The Apolipophorin-III (apoLp-III) is reported as an essential protein element in lipids transport and incorporation in lepidopterans. Structurally, apoLp-III has an α-helix bundle structure composed of five α-helices. Interestingly, classic studies proposed a structural switch triggered by its interaction with lipids, where the α-helix bundle opens. Currently, the study of the apoLp-III has been limited to insects, with no homologs identified in other arthropods. By implementing a structure-based search with the Phyre2 algorithm surveying the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei's transcriptome, we identified a putative apoLp-III in this farmed penaeid (LvApoLp-III). Unlike canonical apoLp-III, the LvApoLp-III was identified as an internal domain within the transmembrane protein Prominin-1. Structural modeling using the template-based Phyre2 and template-free AlphaFold algorithms rendered two distinct structural topologies: the α-helix bundle and a coiled-coil structure. Notably, the secondary structure composition on both models was alike, with differences in the orientation and distribution of the α-helices and hydrophobic moieties. Both models provide insights into the classical structural switch induced by lipids in apoLp-III. To corroborate structure/function inferences, we cloned the synthetic LvApoLp-III domain, overexpressed, and purified the recombinant protein. Circular dichroism measurements with the recombinant LvApoLp-III agreed with the structural models. In vitro liposome interaction demonstrated that the apoLp-III domain within the PROM1 of L.vannamei associated similarly to exchangeable apolipoproteins. Altogether, this work reports the presence of an apolipophorin-III domain in crustaceans for the first time and opens questions regarding its function and importance in lipid metabolism or the immune system.

Dominant gingers - Discovery and inheritance of a new shell polymorphism in the great pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis.

Color polymorphism is a classic study system for evolutionary genetics. One of the most color-polymorphic animal taxa is mollusks, but the investigation of the genetic basis of color determination is often hindered by their life history and the limited availability of genetic resources. Here, we report on the discovery of shell color polymorphism in a much-used model species, the great pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. While their shell is usually beige, some individuals from a Greek population show a distinct red shell color, which we nicknamed Ginger. Moreover, we found that the inheritance fits simple, single-locus Mendelian inheritance with dominance of the Ginger allele. We also compared crucial life-history traits between Ginger and wild-type individuals, and found no differences between morphs. We conclude that the relative simplicity of this polymorphism will provide new opportunities for a deeper understanding of the genetic basis of shell color polymorphism and its evolutionary origin.

Conventional Cytogenetic Analysis and Array CGH+SNP Identify Essential Thrombocythemia (ET)/Prefibrotic Primary Myelofibrosis (pre-PMF) Patients Who Are at Risk for Disease Progression

ET and pre-PMF are myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) that are each characterized by thrombocytosis but are difficult to distinguish by clinical and histopathological criteria. Moreover, each has the propensity to progress at variable rates to more advanced forms of the disease. The cause of progression to more overt forms of myelofibrosis (MF) or accelerated /blast phase (AP/BP) has yet to be fully understood, making prognostication difficult. To identify patients (pts) who are at risk for disease progression, we retrospectively reviewed the karyotypes from conventional cytogenetics (CC) and array Comparative Genomic Hybridization + Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (aCGH+SNP) of 158 pts with a diagnosis of ET or pre-PMF from 2017 to 2022 at our institution. Among these pts, 58% were female (92 pts) and 42% were male (66 pts), and the median age was 61 years (range 13-92). Mutational analysis was performed in 155 pts, and JAK2 mutations were present in 63% of cases, CALR in 19%, and MPL in 7% of cases. The remaining 11% of pts were triple negative. An abnormal karyotype was observed in 15% (24/158), and the remaining 85% (134/158) were either normal or had non-diagnostic results due to failed or limited peripheral blood chromosome analysis. Of the 111 pts that had aCGH+SNP testing, 6% (7/111) had prior abnormalities as detected by conventional cytogenetic analyses, while abnormalities were found in 30% (33/111) with aCGH+SNP exclusively. In this cohort, 29% (46/158) of pts underwent disease progression. Among these cases, 65% (30/46) had progression to either MF or chronic myeloid leukemia or myelodysplasia, and 22% (10/46) progressed to AP/BP. In addition, 13% (6/46) evolved to polycythemia vera. Disease progression, irrespective of its form, was associated with genomic alterations detected by aCGH+SNP, cytogenetic analysis, or both at the time of first encounter. Of the 46 pts undergoing progression during their clinical course, 65% (30/46) had an abnormal genomic finding by either technology compared to 35% (16/46) who were normal (p<0.001). Strikingly, among 24 pts who were abnormal by classical cytogenetics, 79% (19/24) progressed to either AP/BP or MF compared to only 20% (26/125) who were cytogenetically normal (p<0.001). As shown in Figure 1, there was a shorter progression-free survival among pts who were cytogenetically abnormal as compared to normal pts (p<0.001). Among 134 pts with ET/pre-PMF who were normal or had non-diagnostic results by classical cytogenetic studies, aCGH+SNP testing was performed in 104 cases and additional genomic aberrations were detected in 32% (33/104). Within this group, 30% (10/33) progressed to MF with a trend towards a shorter progression-free survival. In those patients that progressed to MF, the most frequent abnormality was 9p CNLOH occurring in 6 pts. In the remaining 71 pts that were cytogenetically and aCGH+SNP normal, only 11% (8/71) had disease progression. Overall, the combination of both conventional cytogenetics and aCGH+SNP increased the sensitivity of detecting genomic abnormalities from 15% (cytogenetics alone) to 37% when incorporating aCGH+SNP. These data indicate that genomic alterations detected by conventional cytogenetic analyses or CGH+SNP array identify a subset of ET/pre-PMF pts that are at a higher risk of disease progression.

Characterisation and prion transmission study in mice with genetic reduction of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease risk gene Stx6

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), the most common human prion disease, is thought to occur when the cellular prion protein (PrPC) spontaneously misfolds and assembles into prion fibrils, culminating in fatal neurodegeneration. In a genome-wide association study of sCJD, we recently identified risk variants in and around the gene STX6, with evidence to suggest a causal increase of STX6 expression in disease-relevant brain regions. STX6 encodes syntaxin-6, a SNARE protein primarily involved in early endosome to trans-Golgi network retrograde transport. Here we developed and characterised a mouse model with genetic depletion of Stx6 and investigated a causal role of Stx6 expression in mouse prion disease through a classical prion transmission study, assessing the impact of homozygous and heterozygous syntaxin-6 knockout on disease incubation periods and prion-related neuropathology. Following inoculation with RML prions, incubation periods in Stx6−/− and Stx6+/− mice differed by 12 days relative to wildtype. Similarly, in Stx6−/− mice, disease incubation periods following inoculation with ME7 prions also differed by 12 days. Histopathological analysis revealed a modest increase in astrogliosis in ME7-inoculated Stx6−/− animals and a variable effect of Stx6 expression on microglia activation, however no differences in neuronal loss, spongiform change or PrP deposition were observed at endpoint. Importantly, Stx6−/− mice are viable and fertile with no gross impairments on a range of neurological, biochemical, histological and skeletal structure tests. Our results provide some support for a pathological role of Stx6 expression in prion disease, which warrants further investigation in the context of prion disease but also other neurodegenerative diseases considering syntaxin-6 appears to have pleiotropic risk effects in progressive supranuclear palsy and Alzheimer's disease.

Against cortical reorganisation.

Neurological insults, such as congenital blindness, deafness, amputation, and stroke, often result in surprising and impressive behavioural changes. Cortical reorganisation, which refers to preserved brain tissue taking on a new functional role, is often invoked to account for these behavioural changes. Here, we revisit many of the classical animal and patient cortical remapping studies that spawned this notion of reorganisation. We highlight empirical, methodological, and conceptual problems that call this notion into doubt. We argue that appeal to the idea of reorganisation is attributable in part to the way that cortical maps are empirically derived. Specifically, cortical maps are often defined based on oversimplified assumptions of 'winner-takes-all', which in turn leads to an erroneous interpretation of what it means when these maps appear to change. Conceptually, remapping is interpreted as a circuit receiving novel input and processing it in a way unrelated to its original function. This implies that neurons are either pluripotent enough to change what they are tuned to or that a circuit can change what it computes. Instead of reorganisation, we argue that remapping is more likely to occur due to potentiation of pre-existing architecture that already has the requisite representational and computational capacity pre-injury. This architecture can be facilitated via Hebbian and homeostatic plasticity mechanisms. Crucially, our revised framework proposes that opportunities for functional change are constrained throughout the lifespan by the underlying structural 'blueprint'. At no period, including early in development, does the cortex offer structural opportunities for functional pluripotency. We conclude that reorganisation as a distinct form of cortical plasticity, ubiquitously evoked with words such as 'take-over'' and 'rewiring', does not exist.

Inverted U-shaped association between bacillary dysentery and temperature: A new finding using a novel two-stage strategy in multi-region studies.

Bacillary dysentery (BD) has brought a significant public health concern in China. Temperature is one of the main factors affecting BD incidence. Due to the largely different temperature ranges between regions, the classic multi-region time series studies could only explore the relative temperature-BD association and showed that BD incidence is positively associated with relative temperature (i.e., temperature percentile), which does not conform to the laboratory knowledge that both high and low temperature interfere with the survival of bacteria. The association on relative temperature scale also limits the intuition of epidemiological meanings. A novel two-stage strategy was proposed to investigate the association between monthly temperature and BD incidence on the original temperature scale in 31 provinces, China. In the first stage, truncated polynomial splines, as the substitute of the common natural splines or B-splines in generalized additive models, were used to characterize the temperature-BD association on the original temperature scale in each province. In the second stage, a multivariate meta-analysis compatible with missing values was used to pool the associations. The classic strategy based on relative temperature was used as a reference. The average temperature-BD association presented a U-inverted shape, but not a monotonically increasing shape obtained using the classic strategy. This inverted U-shaped association conforms more to the laboratory knowledge and the original-scale association also provided an intuitive perspective and an easily explanatory result. Another advantage is that the novel strategy can extrapolate the province-specific association outside the observed temperature ranges by utilizing information from other provinces, which is meaningful considering the frequent incidences of extreme temperatures. The association between temperature and BD incidence presented a U-inverted shape. The proposed strategy can efficiently characterize the association between exposure and outcome on original scale in a multi-region study with largely different exposure ranges.

Modern Humanities and the Ancient Book: Karl Kerényi’s Media Theory

Abstract Karl Kerényi is now mostly remembered for his monographs on Greek mythological figures in the Bollingen Series and for his collaboration with Carl Gustav Jung from the 1940s on. The radical approach to mythology reflected in this work was Kerényi’s solution to what he perceived as a crisis of the humanities: a disciplinary fragmentation combined with the growing influence of the social sciences in the study of culture. Before he would have turned to the study of myth, Kerényi proposed media history as the foundation for the renewal of classical studies and the humanities in general. In a series of essays written in the 1930s, Kerényi theorized the media of ancient texts as central to cultural hermeneutics. His understanding of textual media as expressive of the essential characteristics of a culture was underpinned by a conservative-humanist critique of modernity. It shows strong affinities with the work of such figures as the cultural theorist Oswald Spengler. Offered as an alternative to what Kerényi considered the scientistic preoccupations rampant in modern academe, this vision is also clearly at odds with most later media-historical research and its interest in the affordances and social ramifications of the materiality of communication technologies.

MYflow - A simple computer program for rheological modelling of mylonites

In this study, we present a new Matlab-derived software, MYflow, developed to perform rheological modelling of high-strain rocks and mylonites. The software handles both monomineralic and compositionally heterogeneous rocks made of various proportions of the most common minerals such as quartz, feldspar, calcite, olivine, plagioclase, micas, pyroxene, amphibole and garnet. The rheology of composite mylonites is evaluated using a suite of mixing models combined with two complementary mechanical constraints derived from the assumption of either uniform stress or strain-rate. Various compositions can be used to run either 0th dimensional rheological models corresponding to classical strength profiles, or 2D maps showing the grain-scale spatial variability of stress and strain rate as a function of composition, grain size and effective deformation mechanism. The applicability of the code, along with its main functionalities, is demonstrated using a model of composite mylonite that reproduces the typical microstructure of rocks deformed in high-strain zones. The software is further benchmarked by modelling the grain-scale distribution of effective deformation mechanism, stress, and strain-rate of three natural mylonite developed under different pressure, temperature, and strain-rate conditions. The outcomes of our modelling approach are compared to the results obtained from classical paleopiezometry studies and evaluated in relation to the processes that yield to partitioning of stress and strain rate in shear zones. Finally, we discuss the significance of mean stress and strain rate in mylonites addressing the applicability of recrystallized grain-size paleopiezometry.

Prelude to molecularization: The double gradient model of Sulo Toivonen and Lauri Saxén

The present molecular investigations of Organizer phenomena show a remarkable connection to the earlier classical embryological studies that used transplantation as a method for making mechanistic models of induction. One of the most prominent of these connections is the dual gradient model for anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral polarity. This paper will discuss some of the history of how transplantation experiments provided data that could be interpreted in terms of two gradients of biologically active materials. It will highlight how the attempts to discover the elusive Induktionsstoffen gave rise to the double gradient model of Sulo Toivonen and Lauri Saxén in the 1950s and 1960s. This paper will also document how this research into the identity of these molecules gave rise to the developmental genetics that eventually would find the molecules responsible for primary embryonic induction.

How can outdoor sports protect themselves against climate change-related health risks? – A prevention model based on an expert Delphi study

ObjectivesTo systematically develop an adaptation model to reduce climate change-related health risks for outdoor athletes. DesignDelphi Method study. MethodsA classic asynchronous Delphi study was conducted with a total of three survey rounds. 24 experts from the eight largest outdoor sport associations by membership in the German Olympic Sports Confederation were included as well as 24 medical experts with expertise in sport medicine, internal medicine, allergology, dermatology, infectiology, or toxicology. Based on open-ended questions, panelists were asked to consider prevention measures for sport organizations and clubs. Free text responses were analyzed by qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. ResultsExperts recommended establishing the following eight fields of prevention measures: technical and structural measures; organizational measures; personalized measures; basic, advanced, and continuing education; concepts of action, warning concepts, and financial concepts; cooperation and coordination; campaigns; and evaluation measures. ConclusionsThe pyramid model presented in this study systematizes possible sport-specific adaptation measures on climate change by empirical aggregation of knowledge from scientists, sport organizations, clubs, trainers, and professional athletes. To assess the effectiveness of these prevention measures, sport organizations may incorporate them not only into broader operations but also everyday training routines.

Expansion modes of primate nervous system structures in the light of the Prosomeric Model

The expansion of human and non-human primate central nervous system structures has been a paramount question for classic and contemporary studies in comparative vertebrate neuroanatomy. These studies can benefit from framing data analysis within the Prosomeric Model, which defines a common Bauplan for all vertebrate species, including mammals. According to this model, the vertebrate nervous system is composed of several Fundamental Morphological Units (FMUs) that are defined and delineated by characteristic gene expression profiles. Thus, the expansion of neural structures can be traced back to heterochronic neurogenesis, cell lineage specification, and axon growth in their corresponding FMUs. In the present article, we exemplify the use of the Prosomeric Model as the proper theoretical framework for analyzing the expansion of the cerebral and cerebellar cortices, the pontine nuclei, the striatum, the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system, the thalamus, and the amygdala in primates compared to rodents. We describe the quantitative (volume and neuron number) and qualitative (cytoarchitectonic and cell type differences) expansion of these structures in primates versus rodents and define different expansion modes. Then, we relate these modes to the developmental primary events of specification and secondary events of histogenesis, like neurogenesis. We conclude that the systematic analysis of the molecular regulation of primary and secondary developmental events in each FMU in rats, primates, and other mammals could provide the necessary insight to identify the causal mechanisms of the expansion modes described in the present article.

A mini-review of the pathophysiology of task-specific tremor: insights from electrophysiological and neuroimaging findings

Task-specific tremor (TST) is a specific type of tremor that occurs when performing or attempting to perform a specific task, such as writing or playing a musical instrument. The clinical entity of TST remains heterogeneous. Some TSTs can only be induced by conducting a specific task, while others can be elicited when adopting a particular position simulating a task. The pathophysiology of TST is controversial. Whether TST is an isolated tremor syndrome, a spectrum of dystonic tremor syndrome (DTS), or essential tremor (ET) is not yet clear. Evidence from electrophysiological studies suggests that TST patients have normal reciprocal inhibition responses but abnormal motor cortical excitability, especially relating to the maladaptive long-interval intracortical inhibitory circuitry. The blink recovery study and eyeblink classical conditioning studies demonstrated possible hyperexcitability of the brainstem circuits and cerebellar dysfunction in patients with TST. Functional MRI studies have further shown that patients with TST have reduced functional connectivity in the cerebellum, similar to patients with DTS and ET. Due to variable methodologies and the sparsity of functional MRI studies in TST, it remains uncertain if patients with TST share the connectivity abnormalities between the cortical or subcortical areas that have been demonstrated in patients with DTS. Comprehensive electrophysiological and functional neuroimaging studies may help to elucidate the pathophysiology of TST.

Experimental, DFT and molecular dynamic simulation of Andrographis paniculata as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in artificial seawater

At present, one of the crucial goals in the field of corrosion control practices is to develop sustainable, non-degradable and eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors. Herein, Andrographis paniculata essential oil developed from the leaf part was investigated as an excellent corrosion inhibitor to prevent or reduce corrosion on the surface of mild steel when exposed to artificial seawater. Several characterizations were used to examine the efficacy of the materials, including the classical weight loss study, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamic (MD) simulation and antimicrobial assessment using the disk-diffusion method. The findings indicate that the inhibitors act as mixed-type inhibitors that follow the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Furthermore, the corrosion inhibition potential of major compounds present in the inhibitor was also geometrically optimized and calculated. Last but not least, through the antimicrobial test against 6 bacteria, the extract achieved excellent results against all bacteria, with the highest efficiency recorded at 65.10 % against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Teaching Classics as an applied subject

AbstractThis article discusses the opportunities and challenges of teaching Classics as an ‘applied’ subject. It outlines the development of a new module at the University of St Andrews which asks student teams to research and design a project that draws on ancient sources, practices or ideas to address a challenge in the 21st century, such as ‘fake news’, racism, or climate change. It distinguishes Applied Classics from Public Classics and Reception Studies, defining the former as ‘the purposeful application of carefully-chosen aspects of antiquity as a useful intervention in a contemporary challenge.’ It also underlines its value as a form of ‘Citizen Scholarship’, a branch of academia that builds bridges to activism and has tangible impacts, creating change (not just disseminating knowledge) in the wider world. The article considers the ethics of Applied Classics; the mentoring that students require, to work in novel ways and on topics well outside their comfort zones; and the assessment challenges that come with project-based learning. It reflects on the skills that students acquire from this kind of module (in leadership, collaboration, creative thinking, critical self-reflection and outcomes-focused thinking), on their sense of empowerment as they identify ways to translate their studies into socially impactful work, and on the contributions they can make to wider debates about the future of Classics as a discipline.

The evolution and diversity of actin-dependent cell migration.

Many eukaryotic cells, including animal cells and unicellular amoebae, use dynamic-actin networks to crawl across solid surfaces. Recent discoveries of actin-dependent crawling in additional lineages have sparked interest in understanding how and when this type of motility evolved. Tracing the evolution of cell crawling requires understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying motility. Here we outline what is known about the diversity and evolution of the molecular mechanisms that drive cell motility, with a focus on actin-dependent crawling. Classic studies and recent work have revealed a surprising number of distinct mechanical modes of actin-dependent crawling used by different cell types and species to navigate different environments. The overlap in actin network regulators driving multiple types of actin-dependent crawling, along with cortical-actin networks that support the plasma membrane in these cells, suggest that actin motility and cortical actin networks might have a common evolutionary origin. The rapid development of additional evolutionarily diverse model systems, advanced imaging technologies, and CRISPR-based genetic tools, is opening the door to testing these and other new ideas about the evolution of actin-dependent cell crawling.

Analysis of the Transformation and Influential Factors of Western Female's Social Image from the Perspective of Mass Media

This paper analyzes the evolution of the Western female social image and the influential factors from the perspective of mass media. The research background highlights the historical process of female emancipation, which has sparked the development of a more diverse and pluralistic social imagination about female social image. The paper aims to determine the significance of mass media in driving these changes through a classic case study of garment advertising. The highly summarized research content includes an in-depth review of historical and documentary evidence, an analysis of the correlation between transformation of females social image and the media, and an examination of various influence factors that have contributed to the change of Western females social image. Additionally, the paper examines the role and significance of inclusive concepts in this process. Predictions for future trends in females social images are also made with academic rigor. The research result conclusion presents novel insights and discussions on the interplay between the female social image, traditional media, and the fashion industry, providing a comprehensive understanding of the forces driving changes in the social image of females. The significance of this paper lies in offering insights into the past, present, and future implications of these changes, contributing to a better comprehension of the complex relationship between traditional media, culture, and females social image and garment. This topic assumes great significance as it facilitates a deeper understanding of the current social status and position of women in modern society, thereby bolstering the comprehension of society and culture.

Earthquakes Parameters from Citizen Testimonies: A Retrospective Analysis of EMSC Database

Abstract We aim to compute macroseismic parameters (location and magnitude) using the BOXER code for the first time on the citizen testimonies, that is, individual intensity data points (IDPs) at the global scale collected and made available by the LastQuake system of the European–Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). IDPs available for different earthquakes are selected to eliminate those that are geographically inconsistent with most data; then they are clustered spatially based on various methods. For each cluster with at least three IDPs, a macroseismic data point (MDP), corresponding to an intensity value assessed for given localities as in classical macroseismic studies, is computed by various central tendency estimators (average, median, and trimmed averages). Finally, macroseismic parameters are obtained by MDP distribution using two location methods of BOXER code. For each earthquake, we used raw and corrected intensities and 132 different combinations of grouping methods, estimators, and BOXER methods. We assigned a ranking to the combinations that best reproduce instrumental parameters and used such a ranking to select preferred combinations for each earthquake. We analyzed retrospectively the reliability of the parameters as a function of time and space. The results are essentially identical using original and corrected intensities and show higher reliability for BOXER’s method 1 than for method 0; they are dependent on the geographical area, and generally improve over time and with the number of IDPs collected. These findings are useful for the future real-time analyses, and for evaluating the location and magnitude of earthquakes whenever a sufficient number of IDPs are available and with a distribution such that MDPs can be derived and the BOXER method applied.