Traditional Understanding Research Articles

Standardization of Bindu Pramana for Different Kalpanas of Nasya

Nasya is one among the five important Panchkarma procedures. The unit of measurement used to explain the Nasya dosage is Bindu. One Bindu is typically understood to be one drop (0.05ml) in Ayurvedic practice, while Acharayas defines Bindu as one Shana, which is ten times the commonly used dose. This study addresses the traditional understanding of Bindu and how it should be standardized for various Nasya Kalpanas. A few publications previously published discussed the standardization of Bindu Pramana for Sneha Kalpana of Nasya. However, our classical books do not provide a standard Pramana for another Nasya Kalpana, such as Ksheer, Swarasa and Kwath Kalpana. Thus, for these Kalpanas of Nasya we are attempting to standardize Bindu Pramana of Nasya. Method and Material: 40 volunteers aged between 18 to 40 years were considered and in each group for Ksheer, Swarasa and Kwatha Kalpana of Nasya, irrespective of sex and age were selected for the study. Group A: 40 people were asked to dip their fingers up to 2nd interphalangeal joint in cow milk and all drops dribbled were considered 1 Bindu. Group B: 40 people were asked to dip their fingers up to 2nd interphalangeal joint in Tulsi Patra Swaras and all drops dribbled were considered 1 Bindu. Group C: 40 people were asked to dip their fingers up to 2nd interphalangeal joint in Dashmoola kwath and all drops dribbled were considered 1 Bindu. Conclusion – The study showed variations in dose of Bindu as per the different Kalpanas of Dravya used for Nasya.

Personal Autonomy and Human Corporeality: What Protects the Right to Personal Integrity?

This paper discusses the controversial and evolving nature of the right to personal integrity in the context of modern legal discourse, with a specific focus on its intersection with bodily boundaries and bio- and digital technologies. It points out that the traditional understanding of this right may no longer be sufficient to protect individuals, especially given the advancements in digital technologies, the Internet of bodies (IoB), as well as the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.This research highlights the ongoing debate and legal complexities surrounding the right to personal integrity and personal autonomy, especially in the face of technological advancements, and suggests the need for a broader perspective to safeguard human dignity and physicality, both in the physical and digital domains. For these purposes, the evolving legal landscape is explored, with reference to the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).We believe that the classic concept of the right to personal integrity no longer ensures the security of the individual, and in order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to expand its scope taking into account the human dignity, especially in the context of the continuous progress of bio- and digital technologies.

Cracking modes and force dynamics in the insertion of neural probes into hydrogel brain phantom

Objective. The insertion of penetrating neural probes into the brain is crucial for advancing neuroscience, yet it involves various inherent risks. Prototype probes are typically inserted into hydrogel-based brain phantoms and the mechanical responses are analyzed in order to inform the insertion mechanics during in vivo implantation. However, the underlying mechanism of the insertion dynamics of neural probes in hydrogel brain phantoms, particularly the phenomenon of cracking, remains insufficiently understood. This knowledge gap leads to misinterpretations and discrepancies when comparing results obtained from phantom studies to those observed under the in vivo conditions. This study aims to elucidate the impact of probe sharpness and dimensions on the cracking mechanisms and insertion dynamics characterized during the insertion of probes in hydrogel phantoms. Approach. The insertion of dummy probes with different shank shapes defined by the tip angle, width, and thickness is systematically studied. The insertion-induced cracks in the transparent hydrogel were accentuated by an immiscible dye, tracked by in situ imaging, and the corresponding insertion force was recorded. Three-dimensional finite element analysis models were developed to obtain the contact stress between the probe tip and the phantom. Main results. The findings reveal a dual pattern: for sharp, slender probes, the insertion forces remain consistently low during the insertion process, owing to continuously propagating straight cracks that align with the insertion direction. In contrast, blunt, thick probes induce large forces that increase rapidly with escalating insertion depth, mainly due to the formation of branched crack with a conical cracking surface, and the subsequent internal compression. This interpretation challenges the traditional understanding that neglects the difference in the cracking modes and regards increased frictional force as the sole factor contributing to higher insertion forces. The critical probe sharpness factors separating straight and branched cracking is identified experimentally, and a preliminary explanation of the transition between the two cracking modes is derived from three-dimensional finite element analysis. Significance. This study presents, for the first time, the mechanism underlying two distinct cracking modes during the insertion of neural probes into hydrogel brain phantoms. The correlations between the cracking modes and the insertion force dynamics, as well as the effects of the probe sharpness were established, offering insights into the design of neural probes via phantom studies and informing future investigations into cracking phenomena in brain tissue during probe implantations.

Challenges to Traditional Understandings of Christology

ABSTRACT The long-studied theological concept of Christology is re-examined. Two new books have been published and are reviewed. The first draws on South American Liberation Theology and argues that any new developments in understandings of Christology must originate from reflective listening to the ways in which poor people and communities approach the biblical text. The second book develops issues first raised at the Girton Conference of 1921 organised by what was then called the Modern Churchman’s Union. After debating Christology in Liberal Theology then and now, it draws on feminist theology, Hindu and Buddhist theology and Palestinian Liberation Theology. Arguments pursued concern a no longer “white” Jesus, colonialism and imperialism and the ways in which the powerful have used Christianity as a controlling and unifying force for their own ends. Traditional understandings of Christology are compared with these new contributions.

Exploring the speed of change: European defence budgets in an age of danger

ABSTRACT This essay explores the theme of speed of change in defence budgets for nations that experience violent deteriorations in their security environments, with a focus on responses to the Russia-Ukraine war. The analysis is innovative in exploiting both long-term historical data and especially collected national data on budget revisions within fiscal years. Recent increases in European defence burdens are comparable to those of European states during the 1930s. The increases are stronger for states that are geographically closer to Russia and, among those states, stronger for larger states. Smaller states tend to choose lower defence burdens, whether or not they are in an alliance. These findings challenge the traditional understanding of free riding within alliances and imply a need for defining new types of state behaviour. Two new behaviours are posited: binding for the case of Poland, and antagonistic free riding for the case of Hungary.

From curiosity to wonder in religious education

This study argues that religious education is uniquely positioned to resist and transcend contemporary dialectics of wonder that serve to diminish, commodify, or instrumentalize the place of wonder in society today. Wonder is traditionally characterized by a sense of importance that accompanies our encounters with mystery. In a world less comfortable with interiority and less willing to accept the sense of ignorance true wonder presupposes, the contemplative element of wonder has largely evaporated, to be replaced by a more fleeting (Schinkel in Stud Philos Educ 39(5):479–492, 2019, 481) and less challenging ‘curiosity’. Curiosity favours mastery over mystery; it elides the puzzlement or contemplation inherent in traditional understandings of wonder. In pedagogical settings, curiosity is increasingly advanced at a catalyst that motivates and directs the inquiry of the learner. However, educational literature continues to note a worrying absence of any kind of wonder in classrooms today (Jirout et al. in Front Psychol 13:875161, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.875161). This study will suggest that the advancement of wonder as curiosity in education only reinforces the very sense of apathy it is designed to counteract in its students. If wonder is recast as curiosity—a ‘skill’ that leads reliably to the ‘right answer’—students will inevitably find quicker, more efficient means to arrive at the required information. Religious education is uniquely equipped to supplement inquisitive curiosity with a more contemplative wonder that eschews easy answers. In doing so, it would equip students to grapple with what modern society has become so adept at evading: the “stubborn there-ness” (Arendt in Medina J, Wood D (eds) Truth: engagements across philosophical traditions. Blackwell Publishing, London, 2005, p. 310) of mystery that characterizes the most meaningful questions of our existence.

Effects of mining activities on social-cultural development: A case of Kapijipanga chiefdom in Solwezi district of North-Western Province, Zambia

Overview: This study examined the impact of mining activities on the social and cultural development of Kapijipanga chiefdom of Solwezi District. The study investigated various ways in which mining activities influence the social and cultural identity of local people. Body of knowledge: The findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationship between mining activities and social cultural development and offer insight for sustainable development and community well-being in Kapijipanga chiefdom of Solwezi District. Methods: The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods and descriptive survey design that sampled local people of Kapijipanga chiefdom, mine workers, headmen and chief. The sample size for this study was 150. Data was obtained from respondents by means of interviews and questionnaires. Tables, graphs and pie-charts were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data obtained. Data was then analyzed manually in some cases and also, a combination of software MS Access, and MS Excel. Results: The results indicated that the effects of mining activities on social –cultural development in Kapijipanga chiefdom of Solwezi District is negative in the sense that social development is strongly influenced by the loss of farmland, houses, and livelihoods in Kapijipanga chiefdom. Additionally, the study found that mining activities has led to the loss of traditional authority in Kapijipanga chiefdom of Solwezi District. This is because mining projects often require the relocation of indigenous communities and villages to make way for mining infrastructure. Recommendation: The government of Zambia through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Department of culture should ensure that mines offer cultural awareness training programs for their employees to increase understanding and appreciation of local customs, traditions, and languages.

EMBRACE THE FLORAL SYMPHONY : FLOWER SHOWS OF THE WORLD

The International Flower Festival & Show is a global event that celebrates floral diversity, creativity, and cultural exchange. It serves as a platform for horticultural enthusiasts, florists, and botanists to exchange ideas and showcase their expertise. Attendees will experience a sensory journey through a kaleidoscope of colors, fragrances, and textures, from traditional garden displays to avant-garde floral installations. The festival emphasizes cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration, with international exhibitors presenting their unique botanical treasures. Interactive workshops, demonstrations, and cultural performances will deepen visitors' understanding of diverse floral traditions and ecological conservation efforts. The event also aims to raise awareness about preserving biodiversity and safeguarding natural heritage for future generations.

Oscillatory Active State of a Pd Nanocatalyst Identified by In Situ Capture of the Instantaneous Structure-Activity Change at the Atomic Scale.

Identifying the active phase with the highest activity, which is long-believed to be a steady state of the catalyst, is the basis of rational design of heterogeneous catalysis. In this work, we performed detailed in situ investigations, successfully capturing the instantaneous structure-activity change in oscillating Pd nanocatalysts during methane oxidation, which reveals an unprecedented oscillatory active state. Combining in situ quantitative environmental transmission electron microscopy and highly sensitive online mass spectrometry, we identified two distinct phases for the reaction: one where the Pd nanoparticles refill with oxygen, and the other, a period of abrupt pumping of oxygen and boosted methane oxidation within about 1 s. It is the rapid reduction process that shows the highest activity for total oxidation of methane, not a PdO or Pd steady state under the conditions applied here (methane:oxygen = 5:1). This observation challenges the traditional understanding of the active phase and requires a completely different strategy for catalyst optimization.

Biological Rhythms Generated by a Single Activator-Repressor Loop with Inhomogeneity and Diffusion.

Common models of circadian rhythms are typically constructed as compartmental reactions of well-mixed biochemicals, incorporating a negative-feedback loop consisting of several intermediate reaction steps essentially required to produce oscillations. Spatial transport of each reactant is often represented as an extra compartmental reaction step. Contrary to this traditional understanding, in this Letter we demonstrate that a single activation-repression biochemical reaction pair is sufficient to generate sustained oscillations if the sites of both reactions are spatially separated and molecular transport is mediated by diffusion. Our proposed scenario represents the simplest configuration in terms of the participating chemical reactions and offers a conceptual basis for understanding biological oscillations and inspiring invitro assays aimed at constructing minimal clocks.

Legal Support for Sovereignty in the Digital Space

Introduction. Sovereignty, that is, the existence of a state independent of the will of other external entities has at all times been the goal for a society united, among other things, by living within the boundaries of its own territories. In the context of globalization, traditional factors of preserving state sovereignty are no longer enough. A serious reason that can influence the sovereignty of a state is the development of technology, namely digital technology. Theoretical Basis. Methods. The subject of this study is the theoretical and legal aspects of ensuring sovereignty in the digital space, as one of the factors of state sovereignty. The study was conducted based on methods of logical and legal analysis. With their help, the components of digital sovereignty were identified, which can be divided into two groups: 1) information security; 2) technological sovereignty. Results. Digital space has its own characteristics: unlike physical space, it has no territorial boundaries and its volume depends only on the technical capabilities of electronic computers. Due to the lack of awareness from the very beginning of the formation of the Internet on the part of all states without exception and the world community as a whole of the danger of user behavior uncontrolled by law and morality, the digital space has acquired the image of a “through the looking glass”, in which the traditional understanding of law and order is blurred, distorted or completely absent . At the same time, the modern digital space is a kind of continuation of the “traditional” physical world and, due to its properties, is one of the components of ensuring state sovereignty. Discussion and Conclusion. Based on the results of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: to ensure the digital sovereignty of the Russian Federation, it is necessary: 1) theoretical development of the concept of legal regulation of the digital space; 2) creating conditions for the development of technological independence in the microelectronics and software industries; 3) development and implementation of state policy on active presence in the digital space as an equal participant in such legal relations by promoting one’s own interests in the global telecommunications network Internet. The process of legal regulation of legal relations in the digital space by the state should be built not only on the principles of achieving accessibility of content, but also ensuring the quality of its content.

THE CULTURAL TRADITION AS A STYLISTIC FACTOR IN THE CHORAL MUSIC OF YU. ISHCHENKO

The author investigated the choral work by Yuriy Ishchenko in the context of the cultural processes of Ukrainian composers' creativity of the second half of the 20th - beginning of the 21st centuries. The research has proposed subject-content levels of studying the individual author's creative dialogue of the composer with the traditions of Ukrainian and European musical culture. It was found that the choral works of Yuriy Ishchenko are built according to traditional principles, but at the same time they carry new ideas and meanings. The dialogical nature of the composer's creative consciousness as a creative personality existing in the cultural space of modernity is described. An attempt was made to determine the stylistic specificity of Yuriy Ishchenko's choral work in the aspect to actualize its representativeness against the background of the functioning of the cultural tradition in the space of further artistic practice. The organic connection between the creative practice of this outstanding representative of the Ukrainian school of composers and the structural levels of tradition as a special form of culture is substantiated. It was established that the choral work of Yuryi Ishchenko demonstrates a new vision, understanding and individual creative reproduction of the cultural tradition as a fundamental basis of the composer's practice. It is noted that tradition acts as the main "regulator" of the dynamic ratio of "old" and "new" in musical culture. The principles of interaction of dynamic (individual-functional-creative) and static (objective-content) complexes of cultural tradition in the space of musical creativity are traced. It has been proven that the choral works of Yuryi Ishchenko are the genre-stylistic "core" of the composer's creative experience, in which the genetic links between the musical art of the 20th century and the traditions of European and Ukrainian culture were actualized. The neo-folkloric and neo-romantic stylistics of the choral works of the Ukrainian composer are personified, as well as their musical and stylistic orientation towards the aesthetics of the "new sacredness".

Novel perspectives on the mechanism of phosphate conversion coating on magnesium alloys

Chemical conversion coating (CCC) is a cost-effective and industrially scalable technique to tackle the issue of corrosion of Magnesium and its alloys, crucial for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by the road transportation sector. Amongst all the possible CCCs, the phosphate conversion coating (PCC) has one of the highest industrial application potential. This article demonstrates limitations in the traditional understanding of Mg-PCC mechanism, primarily dictated by increased local pH near the Mg-substrate leading to double deprotonation of phosphoric acid (H3PO4 → H2PO4− + H+; H2PO4− → HPO42− + H+). The HPO42− further reacts to Mg2+ and subsequent supersaturation of precipitate, MgHPO4.3H2O results in the coating formation. The new hypothesis proposed for Mg-PCC is based on the argument that the second deprotonation reaction is energetically unfavorable, instead, the reaction is mostly limited to the first deprotonation of the phosphoric acid resulting in H2PO4−. This H2PO4− reacts to the Mg2+ and forms an intermediate complex ion, (Mg2+-H2PO4−)+. The Mg substrate, when exposed to an aqueous environment, releases Mg2+, resulting in a negatively charged substrate. The complex (Mg2+-H2PO4−)+ ions are electrostatically attracted to the negatively charged substrate resulting in the reaction responsible for MHPT (MgHPO4.3H2O) coating. This new hypothesis is supported by thermodynamic calculations through density functional theory (DFT) and experiments.

The Variety of Lengger Banyumas’ Performances

This article aims to center on the variety of styles of lengger - a traditional art found in Banyumas, Central Java, Indonesia. The article offers a new approach towards understanding lengger by indicating the development that underwent in the performance structure. The study was conducted in Banyumas, Central Java, Indonesia for the period of over a year, between 2022 and early 2024. Using qualitative approach, this study is aimed to explore the variety of the dance practiced by local actors. By using qualitative approach, data was collected using in-depth and semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. There are 13 participants that participated in this study, consisting of local figures engaged in various lengger activities, such as dancers, teachers, and owners of dance studios. The study indicates that lengger evolved greatly in terms of its dance performance. In order to demonstrate this, I use “dance fragments” – a specific moments of performance, time and space to indicate the development of the art’s structure, based on personal etnographic study. Nine varieties of lengger were identified – lengger klasik, lengger barangan, lengger resmi, lengger muslimah, lengger garapan, lengger calung barasai, lengger selingan, lengger campursari, and lengger modern. Pointing out the various styles of lengger helps further understand the cultural processes and current trends of the society in Banyumas. Having these changes in its structure where dominant trends overshadow the traditional understanding is a way of keeping the art alive, while lengger’s peaceful cohabitation with other arts speaks about the tolerant nature of people in Banyumas.

Ceramic archaeometric studies in the Amazon and Caribbean regions: A review

AbstractArchaeometry had a slow start in the study of Amazonian and Caribbean ceramics, practiced almost exclusively by professionals outside of the archaeology discipline, primarily geologists, physicists and chemists, but is now slowly gaining track among archaeologists. In this paper, we summarize the archaeometric research done in the last thirty years in ceramics from the Amazon and Caribbean regions, emphasizing its main questions, aims and future developments for archaeometry in Latin America. Archaeometric studies are a growing field of research and improve understanding of past networks, technological knowledge and cultural traditions.

A super-efficient gel adsorbent with over 1000 times the adsorption capacity of activated carbon

It was observed that a super-efficient gel adsorbent system (RRQG@CDC) could be obtained when a matrix material of polyquaternium gel with a flat distribution (RRQG) was loaded onto a skeleton material of cyclodextrin carbide (CDC). The results showed that the adsorption capacity of RRQG@CDC towards dyes was 1250 times higher than that of commonly used activated carbon, enabling highly efficient purification of dyeing wastewater through superior adsorption. In addition, RRQG@CDC demonstrated adaptability to a range of different pH values and salinity conditions, showing super-efficient adsorption abilities towards various types of dyes. Moreover, simulated scale-up tests confirmed the feasibility of this super-efficient adsorbent for practical engineering applications. An enhanced quasi-planar electrostatic adsorption mechanism model was established, which has changed the traditional understanding of adsorption mechanisms. Furthermore, the waste residues of RRQG@CDC, after dye adsorption, can be directly utilized as high-calorific fuels, showcasing the resourcefulness of these residues while eliminating the risk of secondary pollution. In conclusion, this study achieved a remarkably efficient and resource-based purification of dyeing wastewater by developing a highly effective adsorbent system.

Phytochemicals of Alpinia zerumbet: A Review.

Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm is a perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae family widely distributed in the subtropical and tropical areas of South America, Oceania, and Asia. Multiple plant parts of A. zerumbet have been traditionally used as medicinal sources, each with different clinical uses. These variations may arise from differences among the chemical components and/or accumulations of the active compounds in each part. Therefore, this review summarizes previous studies on the phytochemicals in A. zerumbet and reveals the similarities and differences among the chemical constituents of its multiple medicinal parts, including the leaves, rhizomes, fruits, seeds, and flowers. The results contribute to the scientific validation of the traditional understanding that A. zerumbet possesses different medicinal properties in each plant part. In addition, this review provides directions for further studies on the phytochemicals of this plant.

Horses, gender, and (queer) masculine desire, or how experimental found footage film recycles three Hollywood films

Abstract Although the experimental found footage film recycles Hollywood films so that the outcome may radically differ from the original story, there are no accounts on how it adapts images from mainstream cinema to represent human–animal relations, linking to gender and masculinity. To fill this gap, I discuss how experimental film Horsey recycles footage from three Hollywood productions—Reflections in a Golden Eye, The Swimmer, and The Black Stallion—to construct a new narrative, which displays a very close conformity to the prior text, shifting the focus to human–horse interactions. Raising questions about the traditional understanding, scope, and limits of adaptation in avant-garde film studies, Horsey fits in with the broader tradition of cinematic recycling of mainstream cinema as it exemplifies intertextuality as a direct form of quotation, taking quotation as appropriation through cuts, detournement, compilation and free association. Particularly, following Guy Barefoot’s understanding of adaptation as an intertextual form of recycling, Horsey is distinctive in its sole use of found footage from the three Hollywood films as it fully acknowledges the recycled material, strongly alluding to the original stories, and simultaneously re-processes them through a collage of pre-used footage, slow motion, washed-out colours, and an altered soundtrack. Despite appearing to merely extract images and sounds from Reflections, The Swimmer, and The Black Stallion, Horsey emerges as a productive site for recycling Hollywood cinema, placing it into new contexts and audio-visual configurations and offering more complex, engaging ways of looking at how humans connect to horses.

Cultural Presentation of the ‘Turk’ in the history of Pakistan: From Monarchy to Modern State

History represents itself in language and historiographical performance reflects cultural patterns. Both history and historiography not only pass through cultural windows but also create certain cultural impressions of understanding that become the dominant agent in the extension of historical meanings and identity. The importance of history is developed both with the reflection of cultural codes and creation of its own system of understanding. This relationship between the history and culture is important and diverse in case of Pak-Turk relations. Politically, Pak-Turk relations started in 1947 after the creation of Pakistan. On the other hand, this relationship dates back to the dates that encompass the history and historiography of Pakistan, the advent of Arabs in Sind for example. Following the historiographical patterns of historiography of Pakistan, this paper takes the advantage of time and analyzes the cultural representation of the ‘Turk’ from the early medieval period till now to have a cultural outlook of political, social and religious formations that represented the ‘Turk’. It focuses on the historical dialogue between different shades of political relations, Social formations and religious proximities. Paper argues that although ‘Turk’ is an integral part of ‘History of Pakistan’ yet its cultural representation through history and historiography is different on the basis of time. Its presence is essential as compared to its mode of presence. It has passed through different formations of time and its current locale is modern. Continuity of Pak-Turk relations requires more modern symbols for the representation of meaning of their recent historical ties. It also stresses on the question of existential irrelevance of traditional cultural understandings of relationship and focuses on the establishment of future contingent means for strong relations

European Musical Didactic Traditions – Comparative Analysis Between Romania and Italy

This article delves into the evolution and diversity of musical didactic traditions across Europe, with a special focus on Romania and Italy, underscoring how technological, social, and cultural changes have shaped music education over centuries. It presents a thorough analysis, comparing teaching methods, the impact of composers and pedagogues, and the role of technology in music education. The study highlights the unique pedagogical approaches of Romania and Italy, influenced by their rich musical histories and cultural contexts. Romania’s music education, characterized by a blend of folk and classical traditions, emphasizes auditory learning and improvisation, but also by training exceptional instrumental techniques. Italy, known for its classical music heritage, combines technical rigor with interpretive freedom. The comparison reveals both similarities, such as a shared tradition in classical music and a balanced approach to tradition and innovation, and differences, like the diversity of repertoire and the adoption of technology in teaching. The article concludes with the importance of these traditions in shaping future generations of musicians and suggests future research directions for a deeper understanding of musical didactic traditions in Europe. Keywords: musical didactic traditions, comparative analysis, Romania, Italy