3,455 research outputs found
Rainbow Valley as embodied heaven: L.M. Montgomery’s narrative spirituality in Rainbow Valley
No full textIntriguingly, L.M. Montgomery’s generally realistic fiction is filled with fantastic elements. This article argues that by following Montgomery into the heavenly fairyland of Rainbow Valley, readers can discern a joyful, creative, imaginative, and integrated image of spiritual life in the conversations, the characters, and the magic valley itself
Befriending the darkness: L.M. Montgomery’s lived theodicy in Anne’s House of Dreams
No full textIn Anne’s House of Dreams, which Elizabeth Epperly calls Montgomery’s most philosophical novel, Montgomery delves into painful topics of loss, suicide, bad marriages, ill-timed love, poverty, and the beautiful-terrible consequences of duty. The result is a complex and nuanced consideration of faithful living in the face of unexplainable evil that functions as a lived theodicy in story form.
“I reckon when the darkness is close to us it is a friend. But when we sorter push it away from us—divorce ourselves from it, so to speak, with lantern light—it becomes an enemy.”
—L.M. Montgomery, Captain Jim in Anne’s House of Dream
The marine bird Asiahesperornis from the Cretaceous of northern Kazakhstan
No full textFossil bird material is exceptionally rare in the Mesozoic of western Asia. With the notable exception of the Upper Cretaceous foot-propelled diving bird Asiahesperornis bazhanovi from northern Kazakhstan, the only bird fossils described from this region have been bone fragments from the Upper Cretaceous of Uzbekistan. In this paper, all material referred to date to the hesperornithiform Asiahesperornis is reviewed and re-described. New postcranial elements of this taxon from the holotype Kushmurun locality (Maastrichtian Zhuravlovskaya Svita) are presented, and the taxonomic history and likely affinities of this ocean-going bird are discussed.<br/
Bird communities following high-severity fire: Response to single and repeat fires in a mixed-evergreen forest, Oregon, USA
No full textFire is a widespread natural disturbance agent in most conifer-dominated forests. In light of climate change and the effects of fire exclusion, single and repeated high-severity (stand-replacement) fires have become prominent land management issues. We studied bird communities using point counting in the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion of Oregon, USA at various points in time after one or two high-severity fires. Time points included 2 and 3 years after a single fire, 17 and 18 years after a single fire, 2 and 3 years after a repeat fire (15 year interval between fires), and >100 years since stand-replacement fire (mature/old-growth forest). Avian species richness did not differ significantly among habitats. Bird density was highest 17 and 18 years after fire, lowest 2 years after fire, and intermediate in repeat burns and unburned forest. Bird community composition varied significantly with habitat type (A = 0.24, P < 0.0001) with two distinct gradients in species composition relating to tree structure (live to dead) and shrub stature. Using indicator species analysis, repeat burns were characterized by shrub-nesting and ground-foraging bird species while unburned mature forests were characterized by conifer-nesting and foliage-gleaning species. Bird density was not related to snag basal area but was positively related to shrub height. Contrary to expectations, repeated high-severity fire did not reduce species richness, and bird densities were greater in repeat burns than in once-burned habitats. Broad-leaved hardwoods and shrubs appear to play a major role in structuring avian communities in the Klamath-Siskiyou region. In light of these results, extended periods of early seral broadleaf dominance and short-interval high-severity fires may be important to the conservation of avian biodiversity
What species-specific traits make a bird a better surrogate of native species richness? A test with insular avifauna
No full textThis is an electronic version of an article published in Biological Conservation. Carrascal, L.M. et al. What species-specific traits make a bird a better surrogate of native species richness? A test with insular avifauna. Biological Conservation 152 (2012): 204-21
Electrocution of raptors at power lines in Central Kazakhstan
No full textAlong three transects of medium voltage power lines in the steppe of Central Kazakhstan, surveys for bird casualties were carried out in summer 2006 in order to estimate the quantitative and qualitative impact of power lines on bird mortality in this area. In total, 409 dead birds of 34 different species were found. Raptors represented 44 % of the total (179 individuals, 10 species). Most of them died due to electrocution. The proportion of raptors strongly varied between early and late summer, the increase in August suggests that especially young birds are prone to electrocution. The density of raptor casualties varied from 0.1 to 7.6 birds per line km and month. Adverse effects of power lines on bird life could be avoided by changing the pole construction (use of suspended insulators) or protective measures (e. g. caps).Zur Bestimmung des qualitativen und quantitativen Ausmaßes des Stromtodes von Vögeln in Zentralkasachstan wurden im Sommer 2006 Transektzählungen entlang von drei Mittelspannungsleitungen in dieser Region durchgeführt. Insgesamt wurden 409 tote Vögel (34 verschiedene Arten) gefunden, davon 44 % Greifvögel (179 Individuen, 10 Arten). Der Großteil starb durch Elektrokution. Der Anteil der Greifvögel variierte stark zwischen Früh- und Spätsommer. Der Anstieg im August lässt vermuten, dass Jungvögel besonders gefährdet sind. Die Greifvogeldichte betrug zwischen 0,1 und 7.6 Vögel pro Transekt-km und Monat. Durch veränderte Mastenkonstruktion (hängende Isolatoren) oder Schutzmaßnahmen (isolierende Hauben) kann viel zum Vogelschutz beigetragen werden
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India's Vibgyor man ::selected writings and speeches of L.M. Singhvi /
No full textDr L.M. Singhvi had a multifaceted personality - author, jurist, statesman, philosopher and social reformer. A product of many reputed universities like the University of Allahabad, University of Rajasthan, Harvard University and Cornell University, he was the most celebrated Indian public figure of contemporary times. This volume reflects L.M. Singhvi's prodigious scholarship
The role of L.M. Karakhan in the Chinese policy of the Soviet Union (1923–1926)
No full textIn the 1920s, the young Soviet state pursued several, sometimes mutually exclusive, goals in its policy towards China. On the one hand, the Soviet leadership did its best to achieve international recognition and sought to protect its vital interests. On the other hand, it actively promoted the idea of a world revolution. Under those circumstances, the country’s foreign ministry needed experienced, flexible, and pragmatic diplomats. In this regard, the activities of L.M. Karakhan, who was sent as a Soviet emissary to the Republic of China to address these sensitive issues, are of particular interest. The figure of L.M. Karakhan is all the more remarkable because, being one of the architects of the USSR’s foreign policy towards China, he himself has not received much attention in either Soviet or Russian historiography. On the basis of new archival documents and Chinese primary sources the paper attempts to give a comprehensive assessment of L.M. Karakhan’s tenure first as a plenipotentiary and then as an ambassador of the USSR to China. The first sections consider the tasks of L.M. Karakhan’s diplomatic mission in China and the vicissitudes of the negotiations on the Soviet-Chinese agreement on the establishment of diplomatic relations. To that end, the Soviet diplomat, following the directives from Moscow, flexibly maneuvered between various groupings of Chinese elites and resisted the pressure of other great powers’ representatives. The following sections examine L.M. Karakhan’s activities as a Soviet ambassador. The author concludes that L.M. Karakhan consistently defended the national interests of the USSR, skillfully combining a fine diplomatic game and assertiveness, even rigidity at times. The latter was vividly manifested in the most challenging issues of Soviet-Chinese relations, such as disputes over the status of the Chinese Eastern Railway and Outer Mongolia. At the same time, the ambassador took an active part in organizing and supporting the revolutionary movement in China. In fact, L.M. Karakhan served as a central coordinator of the Soviet aid to the Kuomintang, determining both its forms and substance. The author concludes that L.M. Karakhan proved himself not merely as an agent of the Soviet leadership, but also as a politician in its own right capable to effectively address a wide range of tasks, some of which had not originally been intended by his mission. That said it is worth mentioning that the assertive, tough style of the Soviet diplomat often raised a lot of criticism among foreign representatives, since it was at odds with the declared USSR intentions to break with the foreign policy practices of tsarist Russia
Principal Aspects of Olbian History in Works of L.M. Slavin
No full textСтаттю присвячено загальному огляду головних питань з історії Ольвії, які вивчав Л.М. Славін, у контексті
минулих і сучасних досліджень.Научная деятельность Л.М. Славина была всесторонней, однако на первое место он всегда ставил интерпретацию и
хронологию археологических памятников. Вместе с тем ему принадлежит много исторических работ. Самой важной
научно-теоретической разработкой Л.М. Славина была общеисторическая периодизация Ольвии. Л.М. Славин первым
обосновал принципы создания исторической периодизации. Он считал целесообразным разделить историю Ольвии
на ряд периодов, качественно отличающихся друг от друга прежде всего по признакам экономического развития, социально-политической жизни, исторических судеб. Ученый впервые попытался применить комплексную методику
исследования источников для каждого из пяти выделенных им периодов с их подробной характеристикой. В своих
обобщающих работах Л.М. Славин оставил много убедительных выводов и соображений относительно разных вопросов
исторического, экономического и культурного развития Ольвии.Research activity of L.M. Slavin was comprehensive, though his principal aim was the interpretation and chronology
of archaeological monuments. In addition, he was the author of many historical works. The most important theoretical
research development of L.M. Slavin was the general historical periodization of Olbia. L.M. Slavin was the first
who substantiated the principles for historical periodization. He considered that it was expedient to divide the
history of Olbia into several periods first of all on the basis of the evidence of economic development, social and
political life, and historic destinies. Also he tried to apply the comprehensive methodology of monuments research
for each of five distinguished periods and for their detailed description
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