110 research outputs found
Metallographic investigation of Early Bronze Age armbands from Western Switzerland (ca. 2200–1500 BC): new highlights about early manufacturing processes
No full textThe Valaisan-type armband (a specific type of bracelet) is a typical metallurgical production from the western area of Switzerland belonging to the classic phase of the Aare-Rhone group (BzA2a, ca. 2000-1800 BC). This investigation aims to (i) characterize the metal composition, (ii) reconstruct the thermomechanical treatments applied during the manufacturing process, and (iii) gather information on the possible exploitation of the local ores coupling metallography and chemical analysis. The results show that each armband is manufactured from a hammered sheet of copper-based alloy, containing either tin (up to 3.0 wt.%) or a combination of antimony, nickel, and silver. In several cases, it is assumed that minor elements are already part of the original ore, suggesting a conscious selection of copper veins. In other armbands, a direct addition ofcassiterite(SnO2) to the copper matrix is hypothesized based on the material composition and features of the inclusions. Microstructural features are coherent with a procedure that combines mechanical deformation (with a total deformation degree between 70 and 76%), annealing, and quenching, coherently with more recent productions (Late Bronze Age). The analysis of inclusions, rarely performed during metallographic investigations, provides precious evidences on thermal treatments applied during the manufacturing process and shows that annealing was carried out at low temperatures
A multilevel event history analysis of the effects of grandmothers on child mortality in a historical German population (Krummhörn, Ostfriesland, 1720-1874)
No full textWe analyzed data from the historic population of the Krummhörn (Ostfriesland, Germany, 1720-1874) to determine the effects of grandparents in general and grandmothers in particular on child mortality. Multilevel event-history models were used to test how the survival of grandparents in general influenced the survival of the children. Random effects were included in some models in order to take the potentially influential effect of unobserved heterogeneity into account. It could be shown that while maternal grandmothers indeed improved the child’s survival, paternal grandmothers worsened it. Both grandfathers had no effect. These findings are not only in accordance with the assumptions of the “grandmother hypothesis” but also may be interpreted as hints for differential grandparental investment strategies.
Specific identification of three low molecular weight membrane-associated antigens of Helicobacter pylori
No full textBackground: A large number of Helicobacter pylori proteins are antigenic, but antibodies to these proteins persist in spite of the eradication of the infection. Methods and results: The analysis of sera from H. pyloriinfected and non-infected patients, before and 3 and 5 months after eradication, showed that the antibody response against unknown H. pylori antigens at 32, 30, 22 and 14 kDa in sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis decreased by ≥ 60% at 3 months and ≥ 70% at 5 months after treatment. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry allowed the identification of eight proteins at these positions: neuraminyl-lactose-binding haemagglutinin precursor, 3-oxoadipate CoA-transferase subunit A. elongation factor P, peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein precursor, hypothetical protein HP0596, adhesin-thiol peroxidase, 50S ribosomal protein L7/L12 and subunit b′ of the F0 ATP synthase. Three of these eight, expressed as recombinant proteins (32 kDa neuraminyl-lactose-binding haemagglutinin precursor. 30 kDa peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein precursor and 22 kDa hypothetical protein HP0596), reacted specifically with sera from infected patients, while the 14 kDa 50S ribosomal protein L7/L12 cross-reacted with one out of five sera from H. pylori-negative patients. The other recombinant proteins did not show significant immunoreactivity. Conclusions: Four low molecular weight antigens were identified by these methods, three of which were specific. Immunoreaction with these three proteins (neuraminyl-lactose-binding haemagglutinin precursor, peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein precursor and hypothetical protein HP0596) could provide a serological assessment not only of H. pylori infection, but also of eradication
A multilevel event history analysis of the effects of grandmothers on child mortality in a historical German population
No full textWe analyzed data from the historic population of the Krummhörn (Ostfriesland, Germany, 1720-1874) to determine the effects of grandparents in general and grandmothers in particular on child mortality. Multilevel event-history models were used to test how the survival of grandparents in general influenced the survival of the children. Random effects were included in some models in order to take the potentially influential effect of unobserved heterogeneity into account. It could be shown that while maternal grandmothers indeed improved the child’s survival, paternal grandmothers worsened it. Both grandfathers had no effect. These findings are not only in accordance with the assumptions of the "grandmother hypothesis" but also may be interpreted as hints for differential grandparental investment strategies."evil mother-in-law", child mortality, Germany, grandmother hypothesis, grandparents, infant and child mortality, kin selection, Krummhörn, life history theory, menopause, multilevel event history models
Opposite effects of maternal and paternal grandmothers on infant survival in historical Krummhörn
No full textOn the basis of church register entries from the Krummhörn region (Ostfriesland, Germany, 1720-1874) we looked at the question whether the existence or non-existence of grandmothers had an impact on the reproductive success of a family. We found that fertility (measured by intervals between births) was not influenced by grandmothers. However, maternal grandmothers tended to reduce infant mortality when the children were between six and twelve months of age. During these six months, the relative risk of dying was approximately 1.8 times higher if the maternal grandmother was dead at the time of the child’s birth compared to if she was alive. Interestingly, the existence of paternal grandmothers approximately doubled the relative risk of infant mortality during the first month of life. We interpret this as being the result of a tense relationship between mother- and daughter- in-laws. We found that Krummhörn grandmothers could be both helpful and a hindrance at the same time. Geographic proximity tended to increase the effects found. If this ambivalent impact of grandmothers on familial reproduction could be generalized beyond the Krummhörn population, the hypothesis that the evolution of the postgenerative life span could be explained by grandmotherly kin-effects would have to be stated more precisely: the costs of social stress in the male descendency would have to be subtracted from the benefits of aid and assistance in the female descendency. At any rate, the Krummhörn data do not offer a role model for grandmothers who provide unconditional assistance, an effort which in itself could have explained the evolutionary extension of the human life span.
"The husband’s mother is the devil in house" - Data on the impact of the mother-in-law on stillbirth mortality in historical Krummhörn (C18-C19 Germany) and some thoughts on the evolution of postgenerative female life
No full text-Germany
Cronache della selva metropolitana
No full textpostfazione alla raccolta di racconti dello scrittore brasiliano Rubem Fonsec
Diabeł czy święty? : kilka uwag o bohaterze powieści Bułata Okudżawy "Przypadki Szypowa albo Staromodny wodewil"
No full textThe present article is devoted to one of the four historical novels of Bulat Okudshava. Making use of the intertextual method, the author analyses the character of Shipov and compares him with other protagonists of Russian literature: Khlestakov, Tshitshikov, Voland. The author points to the possible influences on the discussed novel, such as The Government Inspector and Dead Souls by Nikolay Gogol, Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, or The Troubled Life of Leyzorek Roytshavants by Ilya Erenburg
Development of suppressiveness to Rhizoctonia solani Kühn in soils amended with fresh and composted manure
No full textUse of manure and compost as soil amendments has been proposed as a way to reduce farm input costs, waste disposal problems, and groundwater pollution, and at the same time control plant disease. The objective of this research was to compare the ability of fresh and composted manure to induce suppression of Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn;Soil in microplots was amended with urea, dairy manure, and composted dairy manure, infested with sclerotia of R. solani, and planted with beans. Infestation and planting were repeated two more times. Seedling emergence was greatest in soil amended with manure, and least with urea. Freedom from visible lesions and yield of plant tops were also greatest for plants grown with manure. Soil media in the greenhouse were amended with urea, urea and straw, manure, and compost. All four amendment rates were chosen to provide 75 ppm nitrogen; the latter three amendments added 0.3% organic matter to the soil media. After a 1-week incubation, soil mixtures were infested with 0, 10, 20, or 30 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/g R. solani sclerotia and then planted with radish four times. Radish Health Index (RHI) was used to compare treatment effects on disease. A large value for RHI indicated high levels of seedling emergence and a small size for any lesions. RHI was greatest for seedlings planted with urea and straw, less with manure or compost, and least with urea alone. RHI with urea and straw was greater at all infestation levels than with other amendments, but at 20 and 30 CFU/g infestation, RHI did not differ among the other three amendments. Despite the differences in RHI, the recovery of R. solani in heat-killed beet seed baits did not differ among treatments;In conclusion, all soils became suppressive, but amendments affect the rate at which suppressiveness develops and disease suppression does not imply pathogen suppression. Manure is more effective than compost in suppressing disease at low inoculum levels, but neither amendment is effective at high inoculum levels. Because manure can reduce plant disease better than urea, the value of amending soil with manure exceeds the fertilizer benefit.</p
État présent des études sur la correspondance de Diderot
No full textB. Melançon: The Present State of Research on Diderot's Correspondence.
In this review article, to which is appended a comprehensive bibliography of studies of Diderot's letters, the author shows how there has traditionally been little interest in their study as literary works. Particular series (especially the letters to Sophie Voland) have long attracted attention, but otherwise research has tended to be documentary, or they have been used as a source of biographical information. The author indicates recent interest in the literary qualities of the letters and possible directions for future research, insisting particularly on the need to study the correspondence as a whole.Melançon Benoît. État présent des études sur la correspondance de Diderot. In: Recherches sur Diderot et sur l'Encyclopédie, n°6, 1989. pp. 131-146
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