Initial colonisation by Rhizocarpon geographicum in the Tatra Mountains

Previous lichenometric dating of young geomorphological forms in the Tatra Mountains has been hindered by differences in the determination of initial colonisation of fresh rock surfaces by the Rhizocarpon geographicum lichen.In order to determine precisely the time needed for the first thalli to appear on newly exposed rock surfaces,two experimental sites were created in 2013.The results from these sites were compared with the measurements taken on boulders in debris formed by a 2013 debris flow.In 2018,the largest thalli measured within the experimental sites and the debris flow area reached a size of approximately 2 mm.Based on this,the time of initial colonisation of rock surfaces was determined to be 5±1 years,which is about half the period previously described in the literature.

Italian Colonisation & Libyan Resistance to the Al-Sanusi of Cyrenaica (1911 - 1922)

This paper seeks to analyse Italian Colonialism in Libya from 1911-1922 against the backdrop of the anti-colonial Sanusi Order.Part A sets the colonial context and the ambitions of the European powers in North Africa(and the Maghrib).Part B outlines the emergence of the Sanusi resistance as well as the origins and evolution of the Order from the mid-1800’s to a religious-politico organisation by 1911.Part C investigates the Turco-Italian War(1911-12)whereby Italy officially occupied Libya,examines the role of the Sanusi resistance during the first colonial war,subsequent conflicts and the years of the Accords(when a semblance of peace appeared to be on the horizon),and concludes briefly on the impact of the Sanusi Order.

Experiences of being old and receiving home nursing care. Older South Sami narrations of their experiences—An interview study

The Sami people who are the natives of Scandinavia are not a homogeneous group. They consist of different groups of Sami populations of which the South Sami population are one small group. For the South Sami this means a problem;they have to struggle against a general ignorance about the Sami people and culture, which also may affect received home nursing care. The aim of this study is to describe individual South Sami experiences of being old and receiving home nursing care. A sample of 10 older persons with South Sami background was chosen for this study. Narrative interviews were conducted and qualitative content analysis was used to identify and categorize primary patterns in data. The experience of being an old person with South Sami background who receives home nursing care was understood through the use of the following four themes developed from the informants’ own narratives: “Experience of losses in life”;“Feelings of being less valued”;“Feelings of gratitude”;and “Experience of meaning in daily life as old”. The main finding is that the South Sami population still is exposed to an ongoing subtle colonisation. Therefore, it is important to prepare and teach nurses who work in the South Sami area in cultural care, traditional values and beliefs specific to the South Sami population.

Les indigènes à la Grande Guerre dans Le Mensonge de dieu de Mohamed Benchicou

《La Grande Guerre》 a été le basculement de l’Humanité toute entière d’une dimension vers une autre, jusque-là inconnue. Des armes d’extermination massive apparurent et s’ enclencha la marche des peuples vers la mort. Ainsi débuta le siècle des grandes découvertes. Les historiens ont relaté les faits, les écrivains aussi, les rescapés et les invalides ont raconté leurs supplices à ceux qui ont consenti à les écouter. Cependant les passions demeurent aussi inébranlables que fut grand le désastre d’une 《 Guerre 》 déclenchée 《Pour venger la mort d’un archiduc et d’une duchesse assassinés des mains d’un étudiant fou…. 》. C’est ainsi que Lakhdar, Belaid, Amadou, Saidou…, indigènes des colonies des puissances, moururent pour de mauvaises humeurs royales. Les auteurs de ce siècle en parlent toujours avec le même ressentiment que celui suscité chez leurs prédécesseurs, dépeignant des personnages aussi variés que furent diverses leurs origines et leurs douleurs, livrant une guerre à des peuples qu’ils n’ont jamais connus pour les hair. Qui sont ces apatrides ? Pour quelle cause ont-ils mené cette guerre ? Auraient-ils été en quête d’une Patrie ou d’un honneur abusé ? Cette quête a-t-elle abouti ? N’aurait-elle pas été léguée à leur postérité ? Quelle a été leur influence dans cette 《 Grande Guerre 》, sur l’autre et quelle a été la sienne sur eux ? Sont-ils quelque part héros ? Ont-ils plut?t servi de cobayes dans des laboratoires à ciel ouvert, dans un siècle de grandes expérimentations scientifiques ? Nous tenterons de répondre à ces interrogations à travers Le Mensonge de dieu de Mohamed Benchicou.

TOWARDS A GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF CAPTURED ENEMY FIGHTERS

The prevailing narrative instructs us that humane treatment of captured enemy fighters is down to white knights from the western parts of the European continent with their codes of chivalry, or alternatively, the Swiss businessman Henri Dunant. This contribution challenges that narrative for overlooking, or being ignorant of, the way that societies around the world have approached the matter of the captured enemy fighter. Traces of some of the critical principles about humane treatment that we see in our present law can actually be found in much older societies from outside of Europe. A more accurate and representative way of understanding humanitarianism in the treatment of captured enemy fighters can and must be crafted, with the prevailing Euro-centric account balanced with practices, cultures and faiths from elsewhere. The quest to achieve more humane treatment in armed conflict is first and foremost a battle of the intellect. Narratives and conceptualisations that are more inclusive, recognising and appreciating of the ways of the rest of the world are likely to be more effective in communicating humanitarian ideals. This work adopts a new method of approaching the richness and diversity of the treatment of captured enemy fighters over time and space. This new framework of analysis uses six cross-cutting themes to facilitate a broader international and comparative perspective, and develop a more sophisticated level of understanding. The first theme is how older and indigenous societies approached the matter of captured enemy fighters. The second focuses on religions of the world, and what they teach or require. The third section examines the matter of martial practices and codes of ethics for combatants in certain societies. The fourth category engages with colonisation and decolonisation, and regulation （or non-regulation） of the treatment of captives of war. Fifth is the issue of modernisation and the impact it has had on armed forces and fighters, including on the treatment of captives. The final issue is the shift towards formalised agreements, beginning with the first bilateral agreements and then the multilateral codification exercise that began in the mid-19th century and continues to this day. This framework for analysis leads into a final chapter, presenting a fresh and holistic view on the evolution of prisoner of war protections in the international order. It provides a different way of looking at International Humanitarian Law, starting with this effort at a global understanding of the treatment of captured enemy fighters.

Ecological succession of benthic organisms on niche-type artificial reefs

As part of efforts to restore fishery resources and recover damaged coastal ecosystems,artificial reefs are often anchored on the seafloor in coastal zones,to provide new habitats for marine organisms.The aim of the study was to describe the structure of a community of benthic invertebrates colonising a niche-type artificial reef(AATN in Spanish).Nine structures were anchored at depths of 16±1.5 m for 99 weeks(22 months)in the Area of Benthic Resource Management and Exploitation(AMERB)in coastal waters of the Region of Bio Bio,Chile.The results showed that,at 3 months from submersion of the NTAR,much of the artificial substrate remained bare and there were only low levels of specimens of Balanus sp.barnacles,showing mean coverage of 11.26%,and even lower proportions of Rhodophyta,with mean coverage of 0.34%.At 6 months,the presence of hydrozoans was seen,decreasing the coverage of the barnacles,which was aided further at 8 months with the arrival of barnacle predatory invertebrates.At 8 months,new benthic invertebrates appeared and competed for the substrate.These included sponges and algae.At 99 weeks,the hydrozoans dominated the substrate,followed by barnacles and Rhodophyta,the first colonising organisms,leading to colonisation by motile macro-invertebrates,mainly consisting of crustaceans,echinoderms and molluscs.The AATN artificial system provides an ideal substrate for the development of early ecological succession and the use of this technology should be feasible in the recovery process of habitat damaged by anthropogenic actions and climate change.

Survey of Staphylococcus aureus in a general pediatric population and focus on isolates with three clinically relevant toxin-encoding genes

Background In children, surveys on Staphylococcus aureus have focused on specific infections, situations or strains but no study has so far given an overview on S. aureus isolation without any selection. Here, we describe the overall bacteriologi-cal and clinical characteristics of S. aureus isolation in children, with a special focus on isolates harbouringtst,sea, and/or luk-PV genes, respectively, encoding the three clinically relevant toxins: toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, enterotoxin A and Panton–Valentine leukocidin. Methods Data associated with S. aureus isolation were reviewed: isolation site, infection status,tst,sea andluk-PV genes, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern,agr typing. Results Three hundred and seventy-seven isolates retrieved from 328 children during S. aureus infection (55.2%) or colo-nisation (44.8%) were included.tst,sea and luk-PV genes were amplified in 14.3, 9.5 and 5.8% of the isolates, respectively. These isolates were significantly more frequently retrieved during infection (69.1%) than colonisation but differences were observed according to isolation site. Methicillin-resistance was found in 7.2% of the isolates, 78% of which harboured ≥ 1 of the targeted toxin-encoding genes. Conclusions This first comprehensive study of S. aureus in children showed S. aureus to be mainly retrieved during infection and a high rate of colonisation, not limited to the nasopharynx. Predominant infections were skin and soft tissue infections wheretst was most frequently detected.luk-PV was most commonly detected during bone and joint infections. Isolates harbouring targeted toxin-encoding genes were significantly associated with infections but a quarter of children were asymp-tomatic carriers representing a reservoir for dissemination of isolates with virulence potency.

Iran and the Philippines:In the Pursuit of Constructive Engagement

The importance of maritime silk route which connects the ancient Persian Gulf waterways to the Indian Ocean and leads towards the Pacific has made this fluidity of trade and missionary movements reach the southern Philippine shores.This early century interaction offered an opportunity to synthesise and acculturate Persian and Arab ideas and cultural values and practices into the construction of the pre-colonial Filipino identity,culture and traditions as expressed in religious,commercial,linguistic and sociocultural dynamics which until the present time have still remained visible yet‘underappreciated’in Philippine society.This article will look at how colonisation and decolonisation theories shape modern Filipino identity by marginalising pre-colonial foreign influences of Persians,Arabs and Indians including other early indigenous values in favour of‘superior values’as introduced by colonisers:the Spaniards and the Americans.In advancing the arguments,the article explains how‘imagined community’as an alternative discourse aided in constructing modern Filipino culture and identity today.To give emphasis on the formation of the Philippine-Iran relations,this paper also focuses on the historical and contemporary variables that help shape the cordial bilateral relations,along with a presentation of issues,challenges and opportunities on how the two countries-the Philippines and Iran-could advance more in their relations.Finally,the research suggests that constant but salient variables presented in the relations such as the presence of new generation of Iranian-Filipinos living both in the Philippines and Iran,Iranian businessmen,and the larger pool of Iranian students in the Philippines could be utilised by both governments to help in advancing Philippine-Iran relations in various fronts including but not limited to cultural and community engagements but also in educational cooperation,trade transactions and political engagements.